The Battle of Kingdoms and Clans

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Hecate

The smell of brewing tea and coffee wakes me up slowly. I open my eyes to see the sun has likely been up for a while now. I rub my eyes and slowly get out of bed. I glance at the clock and see it says 11:20. Wow, I really must have been tired, so I smile and make my way to my closet. I enter and then see my cloak is missing and it hits me. The memory of last night. The encounter at 3am before dawn. The red hair and violet eyes.

Shit

In a panic I start to think of how this will unfold. I sit on the floor in my closet going over every scenario. The only people that would know the cloak, scarf and throwing star is mine would be Cassandra and Rebeka... and now, Felix. What would the king do if he found out? Would he throw me in the dungeons? Would he post more guards at my quarters trying to assure I stop my madness and become the wife I was expected to? Would he think I'm part of the rebellion and throw me in the dungeons?

Would he kill me?

"Hecate! It's almost high noon and you haven't come out of that cave of yours. Come have some coffee." Rebeka was to escort me to the local market today for a lesson on how to gather the best ingredients in order to make a fine meal for my.... Husband. The reality is that we were visiting a friend in the village for herbal poisons. She was really teaching me what poisons to use and when. I take a deep breath and come to terms that my sneaking to the training circle has finally done me in. I change into a white dress with red embroidered flower designs. It's a dress that identifies me as the princess but simple enough to be comfortable in. I could die in this... I think, it would look nice at least. I grab my brush and sigh as I make my way to the common rooms I share with Rebeka. Brushing my hair out, I try to be calm as to not let her be aware of my uneasiness.

"Wow, It's about time." She says with a smirk on her face. She pours me a cup of coffee and hands it to me as I sit in the chair by the small coffee table. I inhale the smell as if it has summoned me to finally be awake. As I take my first sip she places a cloth covered box next to me. "I found this outside the door this morning.." I put my coffee on the cork coasters that Rebeka loves so much. They have what she calls harvest black lilies on them, beautiful flowers. I take the box and admire the cloth. It's black with red embroidered roses intertwined with red vines. I notice, tied underneath the top, is a small square piece of black paper. A note of sorts. I untie the knot carefully and take the folded card. Nothing on the outside but I open it to find that it too is black. Something I've never seen before. The note is hand written in bright red ink.

You should be more careful princess. Training is at midnight. - F

Confused, I continue to open the box and find my cloak, scarf and at the bottom, my throwing star. My mouth drops as I hold up the clothing and look at Rebeka who is staring at me with eyes wide open.

"You, dear girl, have some explaining to do." She says with a disappointed look. So I start to explain what happened last night at the training ring. Im clearly flustered and haven't felt so uneasy in years. I'm pacing the room and glance at her only to see her trying to hide a smile.

"What?!.. What is so funny? My impending doom?!!" I ask in anger.

She. Laughs. "If by impending doom, you mean accepting the comments of a mysterious man, who you described as gorgeous, might I add, then sure." She says nonchalantly as if we were discussing something as normal as the latest society gossip. She laughs again, "Honey, the only thing you need to worry about is how colder it is today than yesterday. Grab a sweater and let's get going to see Bellatrix." And with that she takes her cup of tea and turns to her rooms to gather her outerwear and satchel.