Becoming the Werewolf Queen
Chapter Three
KEYARA
She rushed into the kitchen at a run, skidding to a stop beside Anne at the oven, breathing hard from the stairs of the tower.
By the way the women were all chatting and laughing, enjoying the usual slowness of the morning when most of the residents were still sleeping, Keyara knew the news of the Kodians’ impending visit had not yet reached the castle.
It was no wonder; the guards were short-staffed and had been for years. Keyara hadn’t seen a single one on the wall this morning.
It was a mystery how Pershing was able to hold on to his kingdom in this state, but she knew they weren’t a terribly desirable or important kingdom.
Though they were a small kingdom compared to the rest of the realm, Levia had once boasted vast and productive farms that had supported their kingdom well under the rule of her parents.
The crops they had farmed had given them trading power, and they enjoyed a good relationship with the other kingdoms.
But in the years since her parents’ deaths, the villagers had slowly moved away seeking better prospects, feeling little loyalty to their new ruler, and the lack of workers had made the farms difficult to support.
Soon they would barely bring in enough to feed themselves, much less hope to trade.
“Key!” exclaimed Anne. “What has gotten into you?!”
“King Ash,” she said breathlessly. “He’s here. I saw him from the tower.”
Jenna gasped. “Already?! Why didn’t he send a messenger ahead?”
“I don’t know, Jen,” she replied, finally catching her breath. “But it was him, I’m sure of it. I saw his flag.”
“All right,” said Anne nervously. “Let’s think. What can we possibly serve them? The provisions were arranged for next week. We’re down to scraps here. How many were with him?” she asked Key.
“About a dozen men, it looked like,” she replied.
Anne let out an exasperated breath. It was a lot of extra mouths to feed with the state of their kitchen.
“I can go pick the blackberries from our secret spot by the cabin, and we can make a nice tart,” said Jenna helpfully.
“I’ll have to tell Pershing where I got the blackberries,” sighed Anne sadly.
Key knew that meant the end to their secret stash, which had served them well over the years on the nights they returned home with empty bellies.
“I guess that can’t be avoided,” continued Anne. “All right, go, Jenna. Pick as many as you can.”
Jenna grabbed a couple of baskets and rushed out of the kitchen as Anne turned to the other girls hovering nearby, awaiting instructions.
“Marjorie, tell your brother to check his hunting snares. Bess, go to the root cellar and bring up whatever is still worth eating down there.
“I know the carrots are close to turning, but hopefully some are still in good enough shape.
“Daphne, go let the captain of the guard know King Ash is approaching, so he can announce the arrival. The fool is probably still sleeping after all the ale I served him last night.”
The girls all nodded and rushed out to do her bidding.
“Oh, I hope there are rabbits in the snares. I can at least make a stew. I know we have plenty of good potatoes left. Hardly fit for a visiting king, but what can I do,” muttered Anne.
“I can’t pull food out of thin air. Pershing will just have to understand.”
Anne was starting to panic, Key could tell. She hardly ever referred to Pershing as anything other than His Lord while inside the castle walls, for fear he might overhear.
“Ma, what can I do?” asked Key, wanting to help.
Anne’s head snapped up; caught up in her plans, she had clearly forgotten Key was even there.
“You have to get out of here, like you always do!” Anne exclaimed sharply. “It’s too late to send you to the village on a supply run excuse but get back to the cabin. You can help Jenna pick the berries. Then stay there!”
Keyara thought back to that feeling that had overtaken her on the tower as she had looked out at the approaching king. She shivered in recollection.
As much as she wanted to listen to Anne, a larger part of her needed to see King Ash for herself.
“Is that really necessary?” she asked slowly, uncertain how Anne would interpret her reluctance to stick to the plan.
“I know this visit will take a lot of work, and Helen is still gone visiting her mother. I can help you prepare everything.”
Anne just looked at her, a suspicious glint in her eyes. Key continued, flustered. Anne could always read her like a book.
“I mean, it’s been so long. I’m eighteen now, and he never even met my…the old king and queen.” She quickly corrected herself, even though just the two of them were left in the kitchen.
Careful, always be careful.
“But his men—”
“He picked all new guards when he became king,” Keyara interrupted. “Men his age he trained with.”
Key was studious about keeping up to date on matters of the realm. She listened through doors as much as possible and read everything she could get her hands on.
It was important to her as the rightful heir, even though she might never be able to take her place as ruler, and she was proud of the knowledge she had managed to attain over the years about the different kingdoms.
“Please, Ma,” she finally said weakly. “I never get to be here for the important things.”
Anne sighed in defeat. Key knew she needed the help too much to refuse.
“You may be right. There will be much to do. And now that you’re an adult, your absences will start to draw attention. I doubt you’ll be able to stay a kitchen maid for long, now that you are of age.”
“But no need for you to draw attention to yourself,” Anne said sternly, pointing at Keyara while she bit back a smile.
“Go back to the cabin and help pick berries, at least for the formal arrival. When business matters are underway, you can come back and help, but stay out of sight as much as possible.”
Keyara nodded, kissing Anne’s cheek happily. It was as much as she could hope for. She took off her apron and headed out the back door of the kitchen, relishing the bit of freedom she had been given for once.
Continue to the next chapter of Becoming the Werewolf Queen