The Tale of the Huntress

11. A Threat to Peace II

It was only a short time before the soldiers began to arrive. They acted as guards for Queen Mathilda and most of the city kept quiet and asked no questions. A few individuals came to her with their concerns but she was such a wise woman that everyone always left her hall content with her responses. Not only this but the staff that worked for her knew what was going on and helped her keep a veil over the eyes of her people. The huntress admired her leadership although her methods of protecting her people were a bit questionable. Even so Nova and Lilium happily accepted when beckoned by Bertram to come into the hall for their weekly brunch as a few soldiers were leaving.

"Have they found the mage yet?" Nova asked quietly and the elven boy shook his head as soon as he knew that the coast was clear.

"Nothing. The King has not replied to milady's letters either so I believe they are nowhere near the end of their search. I'm afraid that this will take a lot longer than she initially hoped." Both of their faces fell with the news but they slapped on smiles when another soldier came from the halls with Mathilda animatedly talking to him. He didn't seem very interested in her but as soon as he caught a glimpse of Nova his facial expression changed. Lady Mathilda was left blinking in confusion as he made his way a bit faster in a beeline towards the huntress.

"You must be Nova, the one this creature can't seem to stop talking about," he commented, flashing a charming smile at her. Mathilda was not amused at being called a creature and the normally calm Queen glared daggers through the back of his head.

"Call her a creature and you won't be talking anymore," Nova replied, picking up on her friend's offense to the term. The elven child clasped her mother's hand in an attempt to take her focus off of threatening a soldier. He let out a bark of laughter surprising all of the figures in the hall.

"An amusing woman too. How about you leave your daughter under that one's care and we go get drinks tonight? Maybe you can entertain me for the night," he continued and Nova was having none of it. She covered her child's ears and shot him a look that only a beast would give its prey.

"How about you shove that invitation up your arse, sir," she growled fiercely back. A shadowed look came to his eyes before an unnerving smile creeped onto his face. It seemed to those watching that electric tension was flying between their stares. Lilium pulled her mother's hands down from her pointed ears and gave her a comforting squeeze to grab her attention. The huntress's green eyes drifted to her daughter and her soul calmed.

"Careful with that tongue of yours, it might get you into trouble one of these days," he spoke, all flirtatious intent gone from his voice and replaced with a harsh threat. Their eyes remained locked in an intense glare until he finally left the hall. Mathilda let out a breath that she had been holding and her hands found their way into absentmindedly twirling the loose strands that had fallen out of her bun. Nova waited for her to calm a bit before approaching her with a question.

"What was he doing here? He didn't hurt you did he?" came her questions as she walked a bit closer to put her hand on the Queen's shoulder. The Pastiel mumbled something under her breath before actually replying. Bertram stayed perfectly still at his place near the wall and looked between the two as per usual.

"Oh Kaden only wanted to intimidate me as if I knew something about the Whisperer. Honestly, the nerve of these soldiers," she exhaled with a frustrated sigh. Nova smirked slightly at the pleasant quirks of the Queen. She was a level-headed Pastiel for the most part but when things got her riled up, she began to sound like an upset house wife.

They had their brunch with a bit of content chatter, all thoughts of the rude soldier cast aside for the time being. Lilium ranted to Bertram about all of the things she was beginning to learn from a private tutor that Lady Mathilda demanded that she had. Although the male elf was disinterested in the topic of conversation, he still listened intently to the little ones ramblings simply because all who met her couldn't help but adore her.