The Dance of the Keepers

Chapter 35 Princess in Peril

The morning of the parade rolled in cloudy with a damp chill to the air and I was glad I could put an extra layer of clothes underneath my Keeper uniform. Kyle gave me a ride on his motorcycle to the palace and despite arriving half frozen, for once we were just on time.

The place was in an uproar, guards, servants, and even a few guests, hustling and bustling about, finishing the preparations. The royal family was still at breakfast which was where we Keepers assembled, standing by the windows like life-size figurines while the delicious smells of fluffy biscuits, eggs, fresh fruit, and a variety of other options wafted into our nostrils, making my stomach grumble in complaint. My two slices of toast from earlier were feeling pretty meager in comparison.

"Daddy, do they have stand there watching us?"
Princess Cymber whined.

"It's making me uncomfortable."

The King chuckled and gave his middle child a sympathetic smile.

"Yes dear, the Keepers are here to protect us on this exciting day."

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Cymber, they've all but ruined my appetite."
The Queen shook her head ruefully, placing her napkin on top of her half-finished plate.

I found irony in the situation, considering they were perhaps the only people in the entire kingdom who didn't have to fear the Keepers.

"Our deepest apologies, your majesty."
Grayson spoke to the Queen.

She simply nodded in his direction without bothering to reply.

"So son, what lovely lady will be joining us this year on the float?"
The King asked Ranen, steering the conversation in a more pleasant direction.

"Lady Abberthorn."
The Queen answered for her son.

Ranen didn't openly display his opinions on this arrangement, but I noted his jaw clenching more than was necessary to eat a forkful of scrambled eggs.

"Oh how lovely, she's a Fire Wielder is she not?"
The King questioned.

"Yes, a splendid young woman, very refined."
The Queen responded.

"Excellent choice Ranen, my boy."

"You have mother to thank for that."
Ranen replied, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Our son had some grandiose idea to invite one of the competitor girls. Can you imagine the scandal? Luckily, she had sense enough to turn him down."

Hearing the Queen put it that way almost made me wish I'd accepted Ranen's numerous pleas for me to accompany him. It might have been worth it to see her so dreadfully worried about the damage a common girl like me could bring to the Crown Prince's reputation. I wondered if she knew just how much time we had been spending together of late.

"Well, I think it would have been unusual certainly, but not unacceptable."
The King said, giving his son a wink.

"It's probably for the best, however, to stick to tradition and invite someone you're more likely to spend the rest of your life with."

Ranen nodded, his lips pressed into a firm line. I supposed it made sense, he would be expected to choose a bride from amongst the noble bred Fire Wielders within the next few years. The girl he selected had to be at least seventeen years of age and not having gone through her Culling yet. One of the perks of becoming a royal family member, you got to keep your wielding ability. Ranen couldn't wait too long, or choosing such a young bride would simply be scandalous.

The conversation turned to politics and court drama between the King and Queen, Ranen occasionally adding his required sprinkle of words. The Princess Cymber sat pouting, apparently still displeased with the dark shadows watching her nibble away at her breakfast.