THREE DARK QUEENS
are born in a glen
SWEET LITTLE TRIPLETS
will never be friends
THREE DARK WITCHES
all fair to be seen
TWO TO DEVOUR
one to be queen
On the island of Fennbirn every generation three triplets are born, all equal heirs to the throne...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Nimue Murtra and Kaiden Milone walk hand in hand on by the docks of Sealhead Cove. Both dressed in loose well-made clothes of white. It is a beautiful day to take a stroll outside. And they have been cooped up in the Milone House too long.
She has been by Kaiden's side for weeks, helping him and his sisters to cope with the execution of Kaya from the poisoner queen's hand, as well as the absence of Luci Milone sent to the temple. The Milone house has become a house of ghosts, but with Nimue there the gaping hole, where the two girls used to be, has slowly started to fill. Laughter and smiles are there in the house again.
Life is too short, Nimue thinks, clasping Kaiden's hand even tighter. Hiding their affection for one another has slowly become a thing of the past. And she is glad for it, she doesn't have the stubbornness to resist anymore. Though they still argue. And always will.
The air by the docks is fresh and salty. Boats toil and bob in the harbour. Their familiars tread behind them, and the fox and the wolf make a fine pair. Both sleek and fat from the best of the catch. Nox especially. Though the people of Wolf Spring have turned their backs to the Milones, the strength of their gift has not wavered.
They stop for a moment to admire the view, not venturing any closer. But watching from a safe distance as the fisherwomen and men are all bringing in their nets from the morning, with an array of crabs, lobsters and fish. They will have a break. Perhaps swap shifts. And then set out again in their boats for the evening and afternoon catches. It reminds Nimue of home. Bastian City has Bardon Habour and lies by the eastern coast while Wolf Spring has the west and Sealhead Harbour. The sea breeze is nothing new to Nimue.
"Shall we fetch some oysters for your mother?" Nimue proposes, resting her head on Kaiden's shoulder, "or should I go?"
They are both silent for a moment and Kaiden turns to look at Nimue, weariness in his eyes.
"No," Kaiden says stubbornly, "we will both go, the people can't hate my family forever."
Nimue nods in agreement. They can't. But people can be vicious. And the sting is still fresh.
On evenings before she has walked through Wolf Spring streets alone, when she passes taverns she hears the whispers about the Milones. That they're cursed, their ancestors reached for the throne and failed, that they are rebels and traitors, still wanting to end the queensline. Though none would dare say it to her. And of course it is nonsense. The Milones have no political ambitions anymore.
But Nimue is still an outsider, they won't talk to her directly, a naturalist brought up by warriors. And Nox doesn't help on the streets. They all fear the wolf. But that is useful at times.
"More fool them if they do, they will lose out on the ripest of apples and the best sea catch, the Nicholsons can't compare," Nimue says, thinking on the family that has so recently risen up in station thanks to the Black Council, thanks to her foster mother. It is hard but she knows Pele did what she must.