4. Rorin
Rorin
Felix leads the way towards our rooms leaving only a trail of two guards behind us rather than the five we were accompanied by earlier.
“Here we are.” With his hands on the knobs of the double doors, he pushes, revealing a suite following the same color palette as the castle. The blood red drapes frame a wall of large windows, but the view outside is much darker than home. “There is a sitting room, a bedroom through that door there and the bathroom suite is to your left once you enter the bedroom.” He paces around the room before turning to me, “Prince Rorin these will be your rooms during your stay here and Sir Will you will be directly across the hall. I will leave you both to rest now but if you would please join me in an hour for dinner. The guards,” he motions to the two that followed us, “posted outside of your rooms will lead you to the dining hall.”
He exits swiftly, leaving both Will and I to watch him move down the hall where his body simply vanishes into the darkness at the end of it. Will nods a thanks to our guards before closing the door. “This all feels very…odd.” He says as he starts to fidget around the room - snooping .
“Sit down Will, no bogeymen is going to pop out of the stone walls.” I pause looking around dramatically. “I’m pretty sure she’s down the hall.” When my eyes land back on him, he’s frowning in my direction.
“I am your guard Rorin, it’s in my job description to protect you, which entails checking all areas for potential hazards.” He scoffs, continuing his investigation.
“It was odd though, you’re right.” I concede, waiting for his reaction. Three, two, one…
His body slowly rolls back up to straight, his head swiveling around like an owl to look at me. “What was that?” And there it is . “Did you just admit that I was right about something?”
“You are positively insufferable.” I try to stop the direction of this conversation but it’s already too late. His grin is growing wider by the second. He continues on with his taunts for several more minutes, before I start to feel annoyed. “Are you done, Will? We need to rest up, we have dinner with Felix in forty-five minutes.” I fold my arms beneath my head leaning back to close my eyes. “Wake me up will you?” The sound of him getting up to head into his own quarters is the only indication I have of him leaving.
He mocks me with an, “ I was right” and an, “ I told you so .” before he closes the door.
With a few minutes alone to myself, I find my mind drifting back to the tiny queen. She took an audience with me drenched in blood - I wonder if this is a common sight around here or if it phased anyone else in that room besides Will and I. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my parents in a state other than pristine. My father especially has a penchant for keeping up the “proper image” as he calls it. As a kingdom of healers and portal masons, we are meant to be seen as new age, brilliant, and peace driven. Little do they know what a hypocrite their king really is .
Will woke me up with an obnoxious greeting. Still riding his high of me conceding to agree with him three quarters of an hour ago.
As promised, the guards delivered us to the dining hall where Felix is already seated to the right of the queen’s chair. Looking up from his papers, he nods at us in greeting. “Gentlemen, I see you found us alright. Rooms comfortable enough?” He asks.
“Yes, thank you. Quite the display, your court. And a dragon! Incredible you managed to fit it indoors.” Will supplies. Well that was subtle , I think. I shoot him a quick glare for being so obvious.
Felix offers us a guarded smile as he sets down his paperwork. “Yes, well, our queen and her familiar prefer to be in close quarters.”
“Of course.” I interject before Will can blunder the conversation any further. “We only meant to imply that we weren’t aware any dragons were still around. Let alone docile. Most of our scholars thought them to be extinct.” Will gives me an apologetic look as he picks at his food in front of him.
“Vada is anything but docile I assure you.” Felix states. His hands are placed in his lap and he makes no move to eat the food in front of him. “Now, the queen will be meeting you promptly at daybreak. I’ll have clothes delivered to each of your rooms this evening for you to wear tomorrow. I trust that will be met with your approval?” He blinks at me, waiting for my reply.
“Clothes? I don’t understand. It’s a negotiation…what would be inappropriate about our regular clothing?” Will asks. Felix looks him up, down, and tilts his head, clearly contemplating whether he wants to answer that.
“The queen…likes to multitask. I thought it would be prudent for you both to wear comfortable attire. She prefers to keep things a little informal.” He replies curtly .
“Informal?” Will’s tone pitches up an octave.
Her head of council’s shoulders sag. “Sir Will, I understand you come from a long line of noblemen in your family. Am I correct?” Felix’s head cocks in the same predatory manner as Eveera.
“Yes, you’re correct.” He answers.
“And yet, you were chosen for military duty. To act as Prince Rorin’s personal guard, quite out of standard procedures.” I see Will’s eyes flash.
“I was second in line. I’m proud to hold this position.” I smile, for as much grief as I give him, he’s never failed his role.
Felix wipes at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “Mm. Oh I have no doubt you take pride in your work.” He challenges again. I can see the gears working in Will’s head as he quietly agrees, pleasing Felix with the answer. “You see, no matter how averse to formalities our queen may be. She is still our queen, making us quite proud to serve underneath her.” His tone is even and steady as he lays that truth before us.
I use the moment to switch the inquisition back to Felix. “Speaking of Queen Eveera, is she not joining us tonight?” I catch he slightest crack in Felix’s cool and professional demeanor.
“No. She has other…court matters to deal with presently. She’ll be along later, I’m sure.” He motions for the staff to come over and clear our plates. Will and I exchange glances. “Would either of you want a nightcap? I would very much like to hear more about your request for the use of our armies, if you don’t mind?” Here’s your opening , I think. If I can get Felix as head of her council to side with us on the matter he can usher her into the same direction.
“Yes, of course I…” Movement slipping out of the wall panels cuts off my line of thought - do they just move through walls around here? My gaze snags on the queen, clad only in an excruciatingly tight, short-sleeved nightgown and calf high military grade boots. She has on her hips a low slung belt filled with weapons - most notably throwing stars. Interesting choice. And despite having met her only a few hours ago somehow I am not even surprised to see she has more blood spattered all across her neck and face. The black snake tattoos coiled from wrist to shoulder ending at her sternum however, is a surprise.
She walks briskly past the table, not sparing any of us a single glance. Instead, she reaches for one of the exiting servants trays, grabs a few rolls and stomps out of the room.
Felix’s brow twitches in concern. “Ezra.” The name an order, and a built guard with blonde hair tied back moves off the wall. He nods at Felix, following quickly on the heels of the queen, ending the bizarre interruption. “Now, I believe you were just about to tell me your hypothetical plans for our military.”
I straighten my jacket, sitting up taller in my seat. “Before we move on to that…is she always covered in blood?” I ask looking at Felix directly.
A collective “Yes” from every person in the room sounds. My stomach dips, the realization that being around her is most likely going to end up with my blood on her skin and clothes.
What have I done?