Soft footsteps come from behind me, bringing me back to my reality and the task at hand. “Magnificent, isn’t it?” Ivan says.
I turn to face him, slowly nodding. “An understatement, but yes,” I respond.
“This was one of Etta’s favorite spots,” he says sadly.
“I can see why…How is this possible? What if it rains?” I ask, gesturing to the missing wall.
“You can’t tell, but there’s an invisible barrier that acts as a wall. It allows sound through, but it keeps the critters and the weather out.”
My jaw drops. Yeah, Cally will be absolutely green with envy.
He claps his hands together. “Well, are you ready to meet the Herd?”
“Can I say no?” I ask, smiling.
He returns the smile, but again, it doesn’t meet his eyes. He looks exhausted. “I wish. This way.”
He turns, and I follow. He leads us to a solid wooden door that blends in with the wall. He opens it to reveal two females and a male seated at a round table. As soon as the door opens, they immediately stand and bow.
I clear my throat. “Er—hello. Please…rise,” I stammer, feeling my face flush again. “I’m sorry, I’m not used to the bowing. Is that necessary?”
They all straighten. “That’s something you’ll have to get used to,” Ivan says, “It’s the most basic form of respect for a person of royalty. You should expect people to bow to you. If they don’t, that is a serious sign of disrespect. You’ll adjust, and you’ll learn how to respond appropriately.”
I understand what he’s saying, but I’m not sure if I’ll get used to it. At least not anytime soon.
Ivan gestures to the group of hybrids. “Mae, this is the Herd. We’re responsible for advising you.” He nods to a female with short ivory antlers poking through her thick red hair, which shocks me. Although I have antlers, I’ve never seen another female with antlers before. “This is Elle.”
Elle smiles softly, her amber eyes soft and warm.
Ivan motions toward the male next to her. “This is Luca. And on his other side is Holly.”
Luca is older, seeming to be Ivan’s age, so I assume he also served my father during his reign. He’s tall and lean, just like Ivan. His antlers stand about six inches tall, standard for a male deer. Bags are evident under his brown eyes, and his gray hair is disheveled, reminding me that they have just lost three people they worked with every day.
“I’m sorry for your loss. I didn’t know my father, but from what Ivan has told me, you all worked closely with him and his family. I appreciate your service and your commitment to the throne,” I say, looking at each of them. Honestly, I feel like it was the first thing I’ve done this entire day that felt like something a future queen would do. I stand a little taller.
A flicker of surprise passes over Luca’s face before he recovers. Holly has yet to say anything to me, opting to survey me with a cool expression. Her light green eyes seem to be assessing every move I make, but there’s an emptiness in them, too. She catches me looking at her and bows her head, some of her blonde hair falling forward with the movement.
“Ivan has told us about the…circumstances that you have found yourself in. I’m sorry for your loss, too. I’m sure this is a lot to take in,” Elle says.
“You would be right,” I say with a soft laugh.
Ivan cuts in, “I think the first order of official business is the announcement of your presence and new title. Before we begin that, though, I’d like to say that we work as a team here. I cannot stress enough how we are your most trusted allies. We all worked for your father and his family. We are loyal to the throne and to you. Please reach out to any of us with any questions. We’re a family here.”
“Yes, we are. Luca here is a bit prickly at first,” Elle says, elbowing Luca in the ribs. He flashes her an annoyed look. She continues anyway, “But he’ll come around. We’re all devastated by the loss of the family, so we appreciate your patience with us as we try to wrap our minds around their untimely deaths.”
Holly stands silently, wringing her hands but nodding.
After the introductions, we finalize the details of the announcement that will be formally sent out at the end of the day. It takes about an hour to decide the wording and how much information to divulge. Finally, we all agree on the message that will be sent out. Luca stands to submit the document and message to the proper correspondents across the kingdom.
“Let’s take a break for now,” Ivan says. “Elle, would you like to escort Mae to lunch?”
Normally, I would feel uncomfortable having to be escorted anywhere. But truthfully, I’m relieved that Ivan has instructed someone to help me find my way around here. Otherwise, I would be utterly lost.
“Of course,” Elle says brightly. “Holly and I would be happy to do that.”
“That sounds great,” I say. “Before we head out, though, could I speak with you for a second, Ivan?”
“We’ll be just outside,” Elle says before she leaves the room, Holly following closely behind her.
