Kingdom Call

Chapter 1

~Lynne~

"Miss Lynne, the marshal is back," Junith whispered.

Sighing, Lynne Maers nodded back. She rose and dusted herself off as best she could before collecting herself. "Alright."

They exited their shared loft space and walk downstairs as confidently as possible to meet the marshal. Lynne tripped over and tumbled down the steps. She cringed at the sight of the black leather boots in front of her face and stood up quickly.

The marshal stood impatiently with a notepad and a stern look on his face. He frowned at the sight of the girl in front of her. This is it, Lynne told herself, he isn't going to let you off the hook like that again.

"Good afternoon, Lynne Maers," the marshal greeted coolly. "I assume you know why I am here?"

"Is it wrong to believe you wanted to visit an old friend, Keeves?" Lynne asked passively. She watched his expression sour at the word 'friends.' Rile him up some more, why don't you.

He grunted. "'Friend' is a subjective term, Miss Maers, especially considering you have been the prime suspect for a number of thefts in the past year."

"Is that the only reason?" Her breathing was shaky from nerves, but it wasn't the thought of going to jail that frightened her.

Uriso Keeves grunted. "I believe that is for another time, Miss Maers."

Rather, it was the thought of not going.

"What you believe is not the question here, now is it? It's what the public wants, right? What the royal family wants, what the nation wants." She stared him down as he put away the notepad. It seemed as if he would finally break. She crossed her fingers behind her back. Please break.

"I try to keep it formal, Lynne, but you know I can't do it."

"Then leave and send back someone who can," she replied. "I don't want to go through this again, Uriso. Good day."  

~Sorine~

A crash. A shout was heard from across the corridor. Footsteps scuttled outside, but Sorine Hebenus knew for sure that no one would come. At least, she reminded herself, no person of their own free will.

Small voices echoed through her chamber door until a knock sounded. "Princess... Are you okay?"

Another one. She sighed and said, "I'm okay," as quiet as she could. A head popped through and startled her; she had never seen this boy before. His white-gold hair sat atop a shaking head that matched his frightened gaze, and Sorine remembered what he was here to do. Calm the loud princess before the whole castle crumbles. "I'm alright."

The boy shrank back at her words, his hands moving to cover his ears before he remembered it would be disrespectful. She wished he would have. "Are... are you sure?" he stuttered. His body language and tone of voice reminded her to quiet down, lest she scares away another of her brother's servants.

Sorine nodded, deciding it was best not to use her words. Turning away from the door, she waved him off as politely as her hands could seem. She heard rushed steps as the boy disappeared into the hallway and the door slammed. Running away as fast as his legs can carry him. Far enough to not be in pain should the princess make another sound. Sad for her, but she would have done the same.

It was how it always went. She makes a ruckus, her brother sends a poor, innocent child to clean up the mess. Still, she couldn't blame him. It was not his fault she was as loud as thunder.

~Celosia~

The water splashed all over the classroom and groans were heard as everyone looked at Celosia Deleveigh in annoyance. "Another one?" she heard. The literal flames died down, but soon the verbal ones took to the grounds.

"I'm sorry" was all she could say.

"You are such bad luck, Deleveigh," Luka Joie complained. "You always ruin everything."

"I'm sorry," she repeated, "I didn't mean to."

"Just like yesterday when you 'didn't mean to' light the library on fire?" Lillia Enz asked sarcastically. "All the coals spilled from the fireplace right when you went near it!"

"Or last week when you 'accidentally' burnt all the plants in the Harper Gardens?" Jennis Jeans called from across the room. "Who in all the kingdoms brings a magnifying glass out in the sun?"

"...Our teacher?"

Darwin Orun rolled his eyes. "Not to inspect a bunch of highly flammable plants."

Celosia cringed at their words as the rest of the class began to name the various times she had gotten in the way of their learning. The professor shouted for all of their attention, but Celosia knew it was no use. As fireproof as she was, the complaints from the class burned into her skull.

She had always told her aunt she was cursed. Fire was destructive and horrible.

A curse and a gift are not so easily distinguished, my dear, her aunt's voice echoed inside her head. Whatever you think, use it wisely and honor it always.

She brushed her fingertips on the edge of a flower and watched it crumble to ashes. "A curse is a curse and nothing else."

~Dara~

"Hey, gorgeous," the drunk man cooed.

Dara Danes shrunk back at the man before remembering this is what she was supposed to do. Her job was to serve the customers here, no matter how drunk they may be. No matter how hard they hit on her. No matter how much they wanted to take her away and take advantage of her very being. "Another glass, hm?" It was despicable.

"How about... you, me, my place," he slurred with a creepy smile. "I promise to be good, sweetheart."

A simple suhaman would do the trick, Dara thought, in a glass of strong vodka. "I'm flattered, sir, really." With a dash of ashoak leaf.

"Danes! Another round for the party over here!" Dara stifled a sigh and made her way around the bar with more drinks, leaving the drunk man to his own perverted thoughts.

She was appalled by the sheer amount of drinks these people had. Martinis, wine, vodka, spirits of any sort. "These people were soon to be drunker than that man back there," she muttered in disgust at the table of ten all joking around and partying with each other. Not even noticing their server in front of them. Not when she served their drinks, not when she asked if that would be all.

"Danes! Drinks in the corner, will ya?"

Not when others called for her by name. She was used to it, though. Not being cared for, not being treated right. It came with the background.