Wysteria

Chapter 4

Sorry about the hiatus :(. Not edited :)

Trust /trəst/ - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something.
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The morning is colder than ever. No more dove's chirp on my ice-covered windowsill. It sits behind long black curtains that end just above the seat of the bay. I can see out to the sky from here, in the middle of my large bed. The sky is entirely black, save from the thousands of twinkling stars. Even my mothermoon says goodbye tonight, not a sliver in the sky. I turn away from the window and blink into the blackness. Soon the storms will be upon us.

Later in the morning, I am woken by the almost silent swish of my doors pulling open. The swirling of skirts brushing ankles bring my eyes open, and I lock eyes with Vizen.

"Good Morn Queen Amaris." She grins, flinging my furs to the floor. I groan and throw an arm over my face, ignoring the babbling of my closest friend.

"You have your first official council meeting this morning." Vizen says.

I turn onto my stomach, blocking out her voice.

"-breakfast in-"

My pillow covers my head immediately as the curtains are drawn back.

"-your face and all-, Amaris?"

I mumble something sounding like English, I believe. Truly, I'm halfway back to my dream. Floating in the sky, soaring past the clouds and to the Moon. To be with my mother.

"Amaris, you can't sleep now. Didn't you hear me? Breakfast will be here in twenty minutes!" Vizen approaches faster than I can process this early, and tugs my pillow out of my arms.

Ignoring my very many protests, she begins pelting me until the feathers burst in an array of colors, dyed to match the fabric.

"Vizen! This was a gift!" I exclaim, clutching the feathers in a fist.

"Get up." She stares me down. "Go wash your face and I will tend to the pillow."

"Yes Mother." I roll my eyes. My body spins around the bed and to the floor, which is heated, and I head towards the en-suite. Many of the floors in the castle is heated, save the kitchen, due to the harsh cold of our province.

My kingdom, Wysteria, houses 18 provinces. Each province consists of packs, or rogues or warriors. My province, Wysteria Court, is the home of the Crown. My castle, my army, my parents are here, where I have lived for 21 years. Wysteria Court is beautiful, filled with icy mountains and snow banks, blood red ice flowers and electric storms. To survive in Wysteria Court is to survive the brutality of nature. Or so I've been told.

After breakfast, I head into the inner walls of the castle. Being as grand as it is, there are parts of the castle I haven't seen. Especially since they have been off limits until this very day. Today will mark my first official council meeting. Typically, we hold non traditional meetings in a less formal sitting, where we discuss my given duties and my progress of the month. This, this will be different.

I am greeted on all sides, at random, from my staff. I know most that I past, as they have been here since before my time, and possibly well after.

Josiah is somewhere behind me, trailing at a distance that he believes is enough for privacy. Unfortunately for me, I am always well aware of my guard detail. Soon Josiah will switch places with another of my detail, while he takes his leave for the day. He prefers the night shifts, he once requested of me to switch him. Something about sleeping while the world is unsuspecting, and lurking when they aren't.

I make it to the hallway in just enough time, allowing Jedd to catch up to me.

"Nervous?" He asks, gently touching my elbow. Josiah's hair is slicked back, curling softly around his ears the way his twin's does. His eyes watch mine intently, almost as if to reassure that I mean what I say.