The High Seas Queen

Chapter Six: Breakfast Party

The next morning, I waited in the throne room for the rest of the party. I barely slept, and even when I did, it was restless and filled with vivid dreams. Dreams of what was and what could happen flitted behind my eyelids as I tried to rest. Toss and turning into the early morning, I decided that trying to get any more rest was going to be a futile task. Not wanting to waste time in bed, I got up to stretch and as guards and staff of the place began to wake and move into the halls, there was a low buzz and the smell of breakfast in the air drew me in. I followed the smell to the kitchen and found our head cook, Amy. The shine of her scales shimmered as she moved quickly from counter to counter, trying to prepare the meals for the day. I moved into the room and cleared my throat.“ Amy, what do you have for us today?”

My voice startled her as she whipped around, still holding the knife she was using to cut veggies. I didn't move away as she did this and chuckled at her surprised face. She turned back and put the knife down before looking towards me and bowing low, and an apology fell from her lips. “Oh! Queen Ashera. I am terribly sorry for the mess. What can I help you with this morning?”

I thought about her request and decided to put a breakfast order in for me and the generals. The meeting room where we usually have our meetings was where we decided to meet this morning, since it had a large table and sound-proof rooms it was the perfect space to conduct any talks about sensitive information. Unless you have a 14-year-old princess who just found the secret passages behind the walls, then nowhere is safe. Smiling as I thought of that memory, I ordered, “Five breakfasts for the meeting room this morning, please, Amy. Just whatever you are already preparing will be fine.” Her face lit up in curiosity. She definitely had something she wanted to ask about, more than likely about the black siren that had entered the palace with me just last night. I gave her a hard stare, letting her know that now was not the time to ask about it.

When I left the kitchen, I took a moment to just watch all the people moving around the underwater castle. A sense of panic filled my chest. These people, my people, could be in trouble, and I wasn't sure I could protect them. I quickly made my way into the meeting room in hopes that it was still empty and would allow me a moment to relax in order to release the tension that bound my chest, making it hard to breathe. I was rewarded with a darkened, cool room. No one had been in the room yet, which gave me the room I needed to work through the panic. I had just started to steady my breath when the door opened, and I heard a voice follow.

“Ashera? Why is it so dark here?” I froze. I didn't want him to see me like this and ask questions, but even as his hand landed on my shoulder and turned me around, I wasn't really worried he would see his Queen falling apart but that he would see a flaw in his betrothed. Leon was the calmest of all my advisors. When I was asked to marry him after looking at his profile, it took me no time at all to say yes. I had been through a hundred potential candidates, and by far, the one that brought me the most ease was his. Even watching him fight was like looking at artwork. The way he danced around his opponent was precise, fluid, and here he was in front of me.

“Leon, what are you doing up so early? We didn't plan on starting the meeting for a while yet, breakfast isn't here, and I haven't had the chance to…” I was clearly rambling, he just held my gaze and waited while I trailed off about Amy and the food she was making. When I finally stopped and took a moment to allow silence into the space, he gave me a cheery smile as he drew me in for a hug.

“Why are you so nervous, my Queen, there’s no need to be scared of little me.” I closed my eyes, scoffing a little at his remark as I sunk in and just allowed him to absorb my negative thoughts, allowing myself at this moment to be his fiancé and not his Queen.

Peace washed over me, that is until we heard giggling and coughing coming from the entrance to this room. I opened my eyes and peered over Leon's shoulder and saw the rest of the group had come in while we embraced, and now they were just watching us. I scanned their faces, making a mental note of who would be helping the night guards tonight. Gail and Sebastian were flushed from laughing, ‘two’ keeping count in my head how many I should say will be joining them tonight. Korrin seemed to be just embarrassed and sorry she didn’t knock, ‘still only two’, I thought to myself as I moved on to the last face. Wren’s eyes were like daggers firmly placed on where Leon still held my waist. The glow they gave off felt foreboding in the still darkened room.

“Let’s get this party started.” Gail did never handle the quiet well. She gestured to the tray of food her and Korrin were carrying and moved to put it down on the table. I, on the other hand, had walked past the group and fairly loudly told the guards to let their officer know that Sebastian and Gail would be joining them tonight on duty. The guards gave me sly smiles, doing their best not to start laughing; they just nodded at me. I flicked on the light and took in the arguing that immediately started. Sebastian was annoyed and started to curse at Gail, who apparently ‘had seen us come in here and thought it would be funny to sneak up on us.’ “Oh don't even Crabby, you also wanted to see what they were up to.”

The scene was so funny, as Gail poked Sebastian in the chest and called him by the nickname, that I immediately doubled over laughing. When I finally stopped, my cheeks and sides ached pleasantly, and all eyes in the room were on me.

“Let’s eat, and then we can get this meeting started.” I sobered and called over my shoulder as I moved towards the table and sat down, making myself a plate of food. Leon and Korrin on my right, Gail and Sebastian to my left. Wren took a seat at the end by Sebastian, and we ate in serious silence, remembering why we were really meeting this morning.

After we all ate and the plates were cleared away, we all settled down quietly, waiting for someone to start the meeting. Gail started to fidget, and I caught a glimpse of Leon and Wren in a stare off again. I was the first to break the silence. “Alright, Monarchs, we are here today because Wren, Ruler of Octopoda, has claims of an attack on the underwater world. Is that accurate?” We all looked at Wren, who remained emotionless. He nodded to confirm this with us. “Tell us of your proof and what you believe we have to fear.” As my words ended, only then did I see a flash of emotion on his stone face.

“Let me tell you about what I saw above the waves before the madness.”