The Beast Within Us

Chapter 1: ↭ Yara

↭ The harsh battering of the brisk wind brought the foul scent of the capital to Lady Yara Wheiler's senses before her travelling party had even reached the city limits. It was well known that the dense population of Pitis was primarily made up of fleabottom, the lowest social class known for their immense poverty. While fleabottom was found everywhere throughout the kingdom of Audor, the poor lowborn flocked to the capital due to the sheer amount of commerce squashed in such a large city.

Yara's chestnut curls fluttered from the security of her furred cloak as her escorts reached the city gates. Her dainty gloved hands loosened on the reigns of the giant bay mare she was mounted on as the guards granted her party entrance to the city. The group of soldiers that surrounded her in a protective formation was silent as the clattering of equine hooves sang with each step against the rugged cobble path. Yara's banners knew that they would be rewarded upon returning back to her home in Strathmoore, as the wardeness was often requiring escort to the bustling capital on the king's orders.

King Serell Audor often summoned the noblewoman to the capital, and the group had travelled the long trip enough times that Yara had began to recognize each of the market stall owners as she passed through the bustling market square and up the giant stone stairs that led to the king's castle. She was sure that they had long recognized her as well, perhaps before she had even taken notice of the lowborn merchants. It was no secret that Yara Wheiler, Warden of the North, was betrothed to King Serell Audor of Pitis.

The woman suppressed her disdain for the courtship, as well as the king, more often than not. Her true feelings on the king and her promise to be queen was as daunting as it was unfortunate. Yara had grown in close proximity to the king, their fathers had been close allies after Yara's father helped the king regnant wage war on the Hewani. It had been the 'mutual' disgust for the race of animal-human hybrids that the pair had bonded over. Yara, however, refused to believe that her father had actually despised the mistreated race for their cursed affliction, rather went along with the king's orders for the sake of the realm, just as she was doing now.

Yara was happy to stretch her stiff legs from the long journey after stabling their horses and climbing the remaining steps to the castle gate. It was then, free from the onlooking citizens of the capital, that Yara could properly access her party and sort out her whirling thoughts before they arrived in the throneroom where the king would recieve them. She quickly scanned the lined faces of her banners that frequently escorted her on these journeys, her dark eyes searching for any reason at all to attempt a hasty escape from the king's city and back to her stronghold in the deep bosom of the northern tundra. The five men accompanying her looked as usual, their serious expressions mirrored her own as she gazed intently on their faces. None of them dared stare back at her except for Darryn, a soldier she had grown quite fond of that served as the captain of her military forces and her personal shadow of protection. His deeply lined olive skin peeked from beneath his armor and Yara saw his hazel eyes meet her own as she offered a short nod in his direction.

Yara had no living immediate relatives and no friends at all except the middle-aged soldier. He had served as swordmaster for her father when he was younger, and now served her in his prime. In addition to the fact that he was required to protect her life at all costs, Darryn often served as a listening ear and a loyal companion. How many times had she gazed on his face and wished she was free to choose her own life? Enough times was the answer.

As the door to the throneroom allowed them passage, the soldiers took formation at her rear and Darryn's handsome face was long forgotten as her boots led her gracefully across the polished marble tile of the great hall. The king's throne was empty for now, the arrogant man often choosing to make a delayed entrance for superiority and Yara's onyx eyes traced the exquisitely carved mineral of the marble chair. She only drew her eyes from the massive throne when the servant's voice announced the king's arrival.

"You are now standing in the presence of Serell Audor, First of His Name, King of Audor and the First Men, and Protector of the Realm." As his titled spewed across the silence of the great throneroom, Yara Wheiler knelt before her sworn king, not allowing herself to gaze upon his face until absolutely neccassary.

"I come on behalf of your summons, your grace. How may I serve you?" ↭