“She’s right.” Raena took my other hand. “No one is born knowing how to rule a kingdom. Lukas had to learn too. Give it a few years, and you’ll be just like Queen Cora.” Her face brightened, while mine only drained of colour.
“She was furious today, though. All the rulers were.” I hung my head, letting it flop into my hands with a groan. “Ididn’t think it was possible for someone to be so angry.”
Ivy scrunched her nose in thought. “Well, I suppose you did sort of point out some very valid flaws in their leadership system…”
Raena eyed her with a scowl.
“Sorry,” Ivy muttered. “At least things can only get better from here?”
A knock sounded at the door. My heart stuttered as the three of us sat up. Perhaps Lukas was back? Maybe with a plan to fix all this? But then the door creaked open to reveal a young guard holding a tray of steaming food.
“Princess Naria?” the guard stammered. “You said you were hungry so I had the servants fetch you something. They said Queen Cora wanted you to have this.”
“Thank you.” I gathered my skirts and pushed myself up from the bed, making my way towards her. Just as I approached, she placed the tray onto a nearby table and lifted the silver lid.
My stomach churned.
“Ancients, what is that smell?” Ivy gagged.
Far too many glazed over eyes stared back at me as I struggled to even look at the bizarre ‘meal’. It appeared to be some kind of fish, but then it also had strange tiny arms and smelt more like what came out of the backside of cattle. The creature’s grey scales looked barely cooked, and even though it had been placed on a cream plate and decorated with vegetables, a good healer could probably bring it back to life.
“That’s poerfish.” Raena’s nervous voice cut through the stench. “It’s considered a delicacy here.”
“Adelicacy?” I dry-heaved. Snatching the lid back from the guard, I slammed it over the fish.
“It’s not exactly my favourite meal either,” Raena mumbled, fidgeting with the lacy hem of her blue gown. “But this is definitely a bad sign…”
“What do you mean?” Eyes narrowing, I stepped away from the tray.
“Everyone in Ryntook knows poerfish is an acquired taste,” she explained. “And my family are good friends with Queen Cora. She’s a kind soul, she’d never want for a visitor to feel unwelcome.”
My throat began to dry. I knew where this was going.
“You must’ve really,reallyupset her today with what happened in that meeting,” Raena went on, dropping her skirt to run a finger through her dark curls. “Oh, Naria, this is not good for your kingdom at all.” Shaking her head, she paused in thought for a moment before announcing, “I’m going to have to talk to Cora.”
My eyebrows shot up. “What?”
Raena sighed. “Well, I was planning to surprise the Queen with a grand entrance at the Oceans Ball next week. I just know she’ll be delighted to see me here again, in my home kingdom.” Grinning, she pushed herself up from the bed, the soft fabric of her gown trailing behind her. “But since you are in such dire need of my help, I will speak with her tonight and see if your reputation can be salvaged.”
“Oh Raena that’s very nice of you, but—”
She cut me off with her palm. “Do not worry yourself. I already have a lovely gown to wear this evening, and I’m sure the Queen will still be in awe at the ball when she sees the new gown I’m having made by my Ryntook tailors.” Leaning in closer, she lowered her voice with a grin. “I’m having dressesmade for yourself and Ivy too, but let’s keep that between us for now.” She giggled while Ivy tried her best to hear our whispers.
“Thank you, Raena,” I chuckled. “But that was not what I was going to say.”
“I’ll bring Erik along if you’re worried about safety,” she said in a louder tone, making her way towards the door. “I’m sure the Queen will approve. She used to have athingfor guards,” she laughed.
I shook my head, smiling. Raena really didn’t have to do that. This was my mess, and if anyone should be visiting Queen Cora, it should be me. But still, I was grateful for her help. I thanked her one last time before she swept through the door in a blur of blue chiffon and giggles.
“Poerfish?” I offered to Ivy.
A pillow, narrowly missing my cackling face, was her only response.
Hours later, I was still locked away in my bedchamber. The poerfish had been eaten by the very grateful seagulls who’d caught it after I tossed it out onto my balcony, and the sun had long since dipped below the blue horizon. Ivy, however, refused to leave my side. She stayed lounging against my teal pillows, even despite there apparently being a party in the main hall to celebrate the arrival of all the rulers – a party I’d obviously lost my invitation to.
Although, I’d be lying if I said I was upset. Instead of dressing up in her finest gown, Ivy had visited her own new room before returning with her chest of herbs. We’d spent the evening re-organising the plants into their little drawers and tossing any that had expired into the ocean below.
It was nice to take my mind off my racing thoughts. But my bliss only lasted for another hour or so before the door swung open and Lukas charged inside, a stack of parchment in his arms.
