Alone in the Dark

Queen's Tea

Wyn put down the correspondence from Rael, feeling exhaustion eating at her as she struggled to form a coherent thought. There had been official news and requests for her position as an ambassador to Sellexu but there had also been the hidden musings of a friend. They wrote in Cleandrian to one another like they spoke it, to say things that prying eyes could not understand. And even beyond the carefully hidden words, Wyn could sense her friend's struggle in Aupana and felt herself torn between conflicting feelings pulling her in a few directions. Although the Sellexun court was recovering from the drama of the winter, Wyn felt welcome here.

Shiar was recovering, and she had formed a formidable friendship with Lyana that Wyn knew she would miss when they were no longer working and living together daily. And then there was her childish infatuation with Caelur. It made her want to request a permanent assignment to Sellexu as ambassador and also to request to leave on the morning tide. Eventually he would need to arrange a marriage and Wyn knew she did not want to watch that process even begin.

Wyn was also pulled to return to her friend's side. A court that had developed power structures under the previous Regency that did not like being curtailed and refused by what they still considered a young, untested Queen surrounded Rael. Every day, Rael had to put on a mask of authority and hide any weakness from the very people who should be her closest allies. Add to that the fact that Rael was worried sick about the man she had fallen in love with and facing a daily reminder that he was missing.

And they all knew, in the back of their minds, that the longer it took to find Kanny, the less likely it was that he was alive. There had been no ransom or message, no demands in return for his safety.

Add that all up and Wyn knew that she needed to be making plans for returning to Aupana or at the very least, preparing to rejoin Rael when the Alliance Council sat in the spring. That time was fast approaching and with everything that had transpired, Wyn had barely kept up with the preparations and news coming from the island.

Wyn sighed and stood from her desk, stretching before locking away her papers, followed by the office itself. Seeing her two white cloaked Foxes, which had arrived as her personal guards a few months ago, reminded her of her other friend hunting in the frigid cold of winter for her brother. The Foxes here, both with their hoods up to obscure their features, were so similar in size and movement that Wyn couldn't tell which one was the male and which one was the female. They fell in behind her silently as she made her way toward her apartments.

Rounding a corner, Wyn came face to face with Victoria and offered the woman a formal bow. The Foxes behind her were still getting used to facing off against Sellexun soldiers, and she could feel their bodies tense as the Royal Guards shifted easily to allow Wyn and Caelur's mother to stand beside one another.

"Lady Wyn, you look like you haven't been taking care of yourself." The Queen Mother murmured softly. Before Wyn Could reply, Victoria laced her arm through Wyn's and directed her path toward the Royal apartments. "Come sit down to a tea with me."

"I've been doing my best, m'lady, but helping Lyana out every night, I feel like I couldn't eat or sleep enough to catch up with those demands." Wyn breathed, her movements tired as she walked beside the other woman.

Caelur's mother raised a brow and smirked knowingly. "You could let someone else help."

"No, she's my friend. Lord Shiar is my friend, it's the least I can do." Wyn shook her head stubbornly, feeling the concern for both of them bubble to the surface of her words. "He's making significant improvements though, I don't think I'll be needed much longer."

"Ah, yes. Spring is coming, and they must need you back in Alliance for when your Regent arrives." Victoria murmured curiously, her tone belying a question more than a statement.

"Yes. We need to re-evaluate what my position will be, in the future and I have been looking forward to helping in the Cleandrian Library." Wyn wished she had enough energy to communicate how much she was looking forward to exploring the knowledge of the world that had been collected and saved.

As it was, she merely stepped into the sumptuously decorated apartments of the Queen Mother, finding herself in a small sitting room where she was offered a chair. Once they were settled, Wyn continued. "I am thinking of putting in my candidacy for a councillor, actually. I was going to wait a couple more years while working on the projects here but Sellexu seems to be self-sufficient in terms of our meal-houses and schools. A seat on the council is the next logical goal for me. I'm hoping I can convince Nerini to stay there with me, to help training the new Guard they've proposed."

Surprise showed briefly on Victoria's features, before her expression became understanding. "You have no other ambitions? No marriage offers to your family?"

Wyn offered a gentle smile and shook her head. "Perhaps marriage down the line, but I've found a niche in my service to my Regent and the Alliance. I have an ability to be of help somewhere and I find it rewarding."

And Wyn was sincere in that sentiment. She knew that Sellexun women were raised to see marriage as the ultimate ambition in life. But in Aupana, they were taught that women could succeed outside of procreation. She would not mind falling in love eventually but she felt a deeper calling to be of service for people and would focus on that. Even if she stayed single for the rest of her life, Wyn knew that what she achieved and her friends around her were enough to keep her happy.

Surprisingly, she saw understanding on Victoria's face as they were served tea and sipped it gently.

"There are many in Sellexu who would like to see you stay here." Victoria offered slowly, watching as Wyn added a couple spoons of sugar to the strong Sellexun tea that she had not quite gotten used to yet.

"Oh, don't take all this as me looking for a reason to leave!" Wyn started in surprise. She put her cup down and reached over to put a hand on the woman's, meeting her eyes. "I have felt so welcome and at home here and almost feel like my friends here are as close as family. I sometimes think I could stay here for another couple years but I'm going to outlive my usefulness. And I hope that most of my friends join me in Alliance, this summer at least."

"Have you spoken to my son about all this?" Victoria had a thoughtful frown on her features, eyes searching Wyn's face for something Wyn didn't think the woman found.

Wyn paused in thought before she shook her head. "No. I was going to approach him once Lord Shiar was on an actual road to recovery. The two of us truly haven't had many moments to speak in the last few weeks. We've both been very busy with our own tasks. I haven't spoken to him one on one since the trial, now that I think on it."

The Queen Mother continued searching her face, before finally inclining her head and taking Wyn's hand in both of hers. "My son is somewhat of a blockhead at times, Lady Wyn. You must tell him of your intentions when you get a chance. I think he assumes you'll be here for the next thousand years. He's become used to having you around and would be very surprised if you were to just leave without warning."

"I'm sure he's a very busy man, mum." Wyn said softly, blushing and looking at their hands. "He has been more than kind and welcoming to me, and I value the respect and kindness he has shown me, both as an ambassador and on a personal level. Aupana has enjoyed a very honourable seat at his court this winter. Even with all the strife. But a King only has so much time in the day, and I'm probably low on his priorities to worry about."

"Girl, you tickle me with your modesty and kindness." The woman laughed softly and squeezed her hand. But then Victoria merely winked at her and turned the conversation. "Come, let's go over the numbers for your newest school, I've heard you've included a fighting class for the girls? That is sure to be a hit!"

Wyn launched into an explanation of her adaptation of a self defence and combat class, partially designed with the help of the two Foxes that stood respectfully along the wall, features covered, watching the Queen's Guards with rapt attention.

And by the time the tea was done, Wyn was far too exhausted to do much more than fall into bed for a brief nap before she was expected to meet with Lyana to help with Shiar's healing.