9. The Royal Family
nine
The Royal Family
*AZADEH*
I try not to relax too much and not to feel too safe here, or I might end up disappointed because this all sounds too good to be true. Seeing the king in person joke around with his children and dote on them is heartwarming. I can’t even remember the last time my father hugged me or talked to me.
And I don’t even know my mother.
The food is delicious too, different from what I am used to. It’s made for the cold weather with freshly hunted meat and plants that grow in these lands. Once we have finished dining and the maids—omega wolves—as Prince Caelan explains to me, take the plates away, we chat for a while.
“Princess,” Flinn, the mischievous one of the triplets, starts.
“You can call me Azadeh,” I tell him. “This goes for all of you.”
“I like this,” the king says. “But only if you drop the titles and formalities too.”
Oh dear, what did I get myself into? But I was the one to suggest it, so I can only nod. “I can at least try.” I pause. “Sorry, Pri-… Flinn. What did you want to ask?”
“What do you like to do in your free time?”
“I read a lot,” I admit. “And study.” As the gifted princess who was locked away, I didn’t have much to do. So, I tried to read and educate myself as much as possible. “And I liked tending to the gardens.”
“It’s a pity you know how to horse ride,” Alana sighs. “I already begged Dad to let me teach you in case you can’t.”
“Alana is our best horse rider,” Gillean says proudly.
“I think you can still teach me some tricks,” I admit. “I haven’t been riding in many years.”
“And you, Simin?” Alana asks.
Simin was completely entranced by the whole situation. She didn’t expect us to dine with the whole royal family - at home she was never treated as much more than a maid by everyone else but Shayan and me. This type of acceptance is all new to her, and I can almost feel her anxiety next to me. “I… I don’t know how to ride, just the basics,” she says shyly. “Today was just a necessity. But I have never learned it.
Alana perks up. “I can show you.” She turns to the king. “You wouldn’t mind, would you?”
“Absolutely not,” the king beams. “Azadeh’s friends are ours. Little Simin, you should take Alana up on her offer. It will be fun.”
Simin is terrified of horses but swallows down her fear and nods. The fact she made it through yesterday and today on a horse’s back shows how persistent she can be. But I doubt she planned on sitting on the back of a horse again. “Thank you, Princess Alana.”
“Goddess,” Alana chuckles. “No one calls me princess, dear.” She turns to face Shayan. “What about you, General?”
Shayan chuckles. “I don’t think I need riding lessons, Princess Alana, but thank you for the offer.”
“Oh, Alana, you really have a thing for these slightly gruff men or women, don’t you?” Flinn comments, making the whole room either groan or laugh. “Watch the goddess mate you to someone younger than you,” he teases.
Alana chuckles. “Well, I assume the moment I find my mate, it won’t matter.”
“Are you really not nervous that they might not live up to what you dreamed of?” Kilah asks. “I have such specific expectations. I’m sure you have them also?” While sounding like a light comment, there is something in Kilah’s tone, something slightly judgmental. If I caught it, I’m sure the others did too.
Flinn looks like he wants to say something, but Alana beats him to it. “Of course I have dreams. I think everyone does, but they are very vague. I’m sure reality will be different, but it doesn’t mean it will leave me disappointed.”
Kilah crunches her nose. “Are you seriously telling me you wouldn’t mind if your mate was of lower rank?”
“That’s the least of my concerns,” Alana says.
“Come on, now you are lying,” Kilah says.
It looks like the king is about to chime in, but before he can do so Nevyn speaks. “I, for one, hope that my mate can play chess. I like that game,” he says in all seriousness. He looks so shy, but there is a hint of resolution in his eyes.
He managed to loosen the tension though.
Caelan laughs and tousles his hair. “Or you could teach them how to play.”
“Yes, it could lead to some steamy interaction,” Flinn says. “Strip chess,” he adds, making the room holler in laughter.
I look at Kilah for a moment, noticing how unhappy she looks. I’ve not interacted with her much yet, and I don’t want to judge her without knowing her, but years in solitude with only watching people in secret have made me perceptive. From what I’ve seen so far, she tries to be perfect and to fit into a certain image she has created for herself. My heart hurts for her, because she is not successfully fooling her family, but also because I know how it feels to hide who you are.
“I’m sorry you had such a harsh welcome to our lands,” the silver-eyed prince, Endellion, says. Never in my life have I seen such eyes, and for a moment I get lost in them.
“Was it a harsh welcome?” I ask.
“Well,” he chuckles. “You were first surprised by a blizzard and then attacked by werebears.”
“Oh right.” I feel flustered for having forgotten that. “It’s just… the people welcomed me so warmly,” I admit.
“About the blizzard,” the king starts. “I would like to know more about that.”
“My king,” Beta Quinn turns to Gillean. “I think we should postpone the discussion about what happened and why til tomorrow.”
“You are right,” the king stands up. “Our guests traveled a long distance. General Shayan, I have had a suite prepared for you on the second floor. Royan, Tynan and Quinn are on the same floor.”
Shayan shows him a small but grateful smile. “Thank you, King Gillean.”
“Azadeh, your new room will be next to Kilah’s. And Simin will get the room next to yours.” At his words Simin’s eyes widen, while Kilah looks happy at having me close by.
This gesture means more than anything else. The fact that I am next door with one of his own daughters means he has put me on one of the floors where the princes and princesses reside, and on top of that he made sure that Simin is close by.
Also, I know it’s a huge honor for Shayan to be living on the same floor as ranked members of a pack.
“Thank you so much,” I say. “I don’t have words that can convey how thankful I am.”
“You don’t need to be,” he says. “I told you we want you to like it here.” He turns to his children. “Girls, show Azadeh and Simin to their rooms, will you?”
“Of course.” Kilah looks excited.
“Nevyn, help Quinn and Royan to show General Shayan around.” He turns to the triplets, and while everyone is distracted, I steal a glance at them. They are all so different. Caelan is blond and has rough and wild hair going almost to his shoulders. Endellion’s hair is black and only slightly curly, but an inch or so longer than Caelan’s. And Flinn’s hair is fiery and short. “Boys,” Gillean says, “stay here with me, so that we can discuss the werebears.”
The princes’ faces turn serious at their father’s words, but they still make sure to bid me and Simin a goodnight. It’s only when we truly go separate ways in the castle that I realize how tired I am. The place itself is beautiful, it’s sturdier built with bricks than the palace at home, but the inside is decorated warmly.
“It’s fascinating,” I say to Alana. “How the castle looks. I was expecting stones and bricks, but the interior is beautiful.”
“I know, a lot of people say that when they first see it,” she chuckles. “Even those from our own lands. It’s called the Ice Castle for a reason.”
“It blends into the landscape,” Kilah hurries to explain to me. “And symbolizes the kingdom and its snow and ice, with its white bricks.”
“It’s stunning,” I reassure them.
“Do you like it too, Simin?” Alana asks.
It’s lovely that Alana includes her that way. I was contemplating including her in the conversation, but I don’t know how to socialize, I don’t know how to talk to others. This whole thing here is utterly exhausting. It’s just because of Alana that I’m not terrified.
Simin nods. “It’s beautiful. Ice Castle fits it. I was expecting something dark, but this… it feels so homely inside.”
“I’ve seen pictures from your home,” Alana says. “The vast deserts, the cacti, the oases and also the palace. It’s so open and light. And here, everything feels heavier and darker. It must be strange to be in such a different place.”
“It is different,” I admit. “But the kindness of the people made me forget how different it is.” I pause. “Different doesn’t mean bad.” I look at Simin, and she nods.
“You don’t need to be so shy,” Alana encourages her. “It’s just us girls.”
Simin looks at me helplessly, and I decide to explain it to them without beating around the bush. “Simin and I are best friends, but the hierarchy in our country, at least in the palace, is even stricter than with the werewolves. You live in packs, and disrespect might get you punished, but harmless banter won’t. Where we are from, it could cost you your head.”
“King Naseem is harsh,” Simin states before she pales slightly.
“Don’t worry, no one here cares what you say about him,” Alana confides in her.
“Literally, our father hates him,” Eibhlin says with a giggle. She was quiet until now, just listening to us, but now she seems to warm up.
“Eibhlin, don’t say that,” Kilah berates. “It’s inappropriate.”
“Why?” she shrugs. “It’s the truth.”
Eibhlin now comes closer to walk next to me. I haven’t talked much to her during dinner, but now that I can take a closer look she really looks like a little angel, at least on the outside. She is dressed entirely in black though. “You are the youngest?” I ask her.
“Yes,” she giggles. “And they make sure to constantly remind me of it.”
“She looks younger than she is though,” Kilah explains. “She is already sixteen.”
“Really?” I eye her curiously, noticing how she carries a porcelain doll with her.
“You should act more your age,” Kilah tells her. “I’m surprised you don’t get bullied more.”
“Oh, a group of kids tried to,” she says with a smile. There is a glint in her eyes when she says it that makes me pause for a moment. I know that look. Shayan or my brother Kiyan have it sometimes when they go on a hunt.
“Really?” Alana furrows her brows now and looks at her. “And what did you do?”
“I told their leader that if they don’t stop, I will come to them in their sleep and poke their eyeballs with a needle.” She laughs at her own words, her laughter resembling a bell that echoes through the hallway, while the rest of us stare at her with wide-opened eyes. “What?” she pouts. “It’s not like I would have truly done that… just maybe appeared with a needle next to his bed and scared him.”
“Erm,” Alana clears her throat. “I promise, Eibhlin isn’t a psychopath.”
“Just a bit,” Kilah adds.
“I just like horror stories,” Eibhlin tells me. With her golden locks, she truly looks so innocent. Looks can be deceiving though. This girl is certainly not a pushover, and although I’m a little creeped out, I find it fascinating. “I’ve heard you saw the white woman?”
“What?” Kilah and Alana say in unison.
“So, there is a story about that?” I ask, exchanging a gaze with Simin. “Tynan and Royan told me it’s nothing, just a myth.”
“Yes, it is a myth,” Alana says. “We have plenty of them circling around. The problem is that more and more of them seem to come alive.”
“Myths have a reason for existing,” Eibhlin chirps. “People just forgot someone or something existed, and then they labeled it as myths.”
“It can also be a metaphor though,” Kilah points out.
The topic seems to be of interest to her also, so she forgets to be her regal princess-self and actually engages with her sisters. I smile discreetly. In a way, she reminds me of myself.
“Royan said there have been sightings,” Simin says.
“That’s one way to put it,” Alana shakes her head. “A week ago, our older brothers were saving a village close to the borders of no-man’s land,” she explains. “They were attacked by something. A worrying occurrence recently. When they returned with the surviving villagers, something continued to chase them.”
“Did it really happen, though?” Kilah wants to know.
“Endellion saw it and heard it,” Alana says. “So did Flinn.”
“But, maybe they imagined things,” Kilah offers. “A snow monster doesn’t exist.”
“Kilah, they aren’t idiots,” Alana says sharply. “And they are alpha wolves with strong senses.”
“No-man’s land?” I ask. “You mean the land where we passed through when traveling here? Are the people there in danger?”
“No, that’s just a small strip of land,” Alana explains. “Technically, the whole Kingdom is surrounded by no-man’s land, but not all of it is dangerous. It’s the villages that are close to the North mountains that have been attacked recently.”
“Like Alana said, it’s on the other side of the lands,” Eibhlin explains. “There are the huge mountains and a vast empty land, unlivable and uninhabited. Lots of myths and creepy stories surround it. I can lend you some books, if you want, Azadeh.”
“Don’t bore her,” Kilah whispers.
“She can tell me if I bore her,” Eibhlin points out in a loud voice.
“Actually, I would like to know more about your myths and legends,” I say. “Not just concerning this no-man’s land, but also in general. About your traditions, history… I thought maybe you’d have some good books to recommend.”
“I have some good history books,” Kilah says. “And some about our family’s history, the castle and etiquette.”
I nod happily. “That’s fantastic. Thank you.”
“I can lend you my books about myths and legends,” Eibhlin offers.
“I would love that, too,” I admit.
“Customs and geography from me,” Alana says. “I like to horse ride, and as a horse rider, you need to know the geography of the land.”
“We’ll have a lot to read,” Simin chuckles.
“Now, we have chatted all the way up here and haven’t shown you around properly,” Kilah says, sounding disappointed.
“You can show me around tomorrow,” I offer.
“Really?” She looks at me happily. “I could pick you up before breakfast.”
“It’s a lovely idea, Kilah,” Alana points out. “But maybe Azadeh wants to sleep?”
“I’m used to getting up early,” I assure her.
“Wonderful,” Kilah smiles brightly. “You don’t need to come, Alana.”
“Well, thank you,” Alana snorts. “Lucky for you I have the horses to attend to tomorrow morning.”
“And I want to sleep in,” Eibhlin says.
“Then it’s just the both of us,” Kilah says before Alana clears her throat. “Oh, I’m sorry! And Simin, of course.”
“Actually,” Simin nestles with her clothes. “If it’s possible, I’d like to sleep in too. Do you mind, Azadeh?”
“Not at all,” I reassure her.
“Well, here we are,” Alana says as we follow the girls through a corridor. “This floor and the one above belong to the royal family,” she explains. “Nevyn is on this floor too, but on the other side.”
“My room is there,” Kilah points at the last room on the corridor. “This one is Simin’s,” she says as we pass by it, and the one between hers and mine is yours.”
“Your father is really generous,” I say.
“That’s who he is,” Alana explains. “Oh, before I forget, we have running water in the bathroom, just pull the strings.”
“Really?” My eyes widen in awe.
“Werewolves are used to working with witches,” Alana says. “Our palace witch is pretty good. It’s thanks to her that we have this luxury.” She pauses. “Do you need help with anything, Azadeh and Simin?”
We both shake our heads, and I take Simin’s hand to squeeze it. “We’ll unpack our luggage together and then go to bed,” I say, actually happy that I will have a few moments with Simin now. There is so much to talk about.