Realm of Wolves

The Handmaiden

Asai walked away. His shoulders drooped, he shuffled his feet scuffing the floor as he made his way down a dimly lit hallway. His posture is slumped, his shoulders curled into themselves as if they were carrying the weight of something they could hardly bare. The Prince who saved me from certain death; the prince who stood tall, exuded confidence, and radiated strength this morning at the sacrificial ceremony looked tired and weak. 

“This way I will show you to your room” I nod my head and followed Keylyn. We headed in the same direction as Asai, but where the prince turned into a room and closed himself in. Keylyn and I continued down the hall then turned right up a flight of stairs.

Pictures of various battle scenes followed us up the flight of stairs, where Keylyn turned left. He headed down another hallway. We passed two solid wooden doors before stopping in front of the third.

“This will be your room.” Keylyn said opening the doors and motioning for me to step inside.

The room much like the rest of the house has grey stone walls. The roof however has wooden beams. On the far right wall sits a decently sized bed. My body swooned at the sight of it urging me to take just one short nap. 

“You must have had a long day Ms. …”

Keylyn paused waiting expectantly. I stared at him confused not sure what he wants me to do or say?

“Your name?” he asked a hint of impatience in his voice.

“Talia Noor” I said a tired smile pulled at my lips.

“Ms. Noor…” He paused feeling the weight of the name on his tongue before he continued on with his sentence “I understand that the last thing on your mind is to attend a party. But I’m afraid you must endure it.”

“I will leave you a moment to go find you a hand maiden. She will help you get ready for the party.”

I nod my head “What am I going to wear?”

“Prince Asai will provide clothing for you.” Keylyn answered “Any other questions?”

I shake my head. It seems like Keylyn either doesn’t like me or he thinks I am a burden or liability, or maybe even all three.

Keylyn gave a stiff nod before backing out of the room. Left to my own devices my mind started to wonder, though too tired to form a complete thought. The room that I am in has a dark purplish navy blue tapestry of the night sky. I briefly wonder if the artist drew this free hand or did he model it after  a certain location.  

Other than the tapestry and the large bed the room didn’t have any furnishings. If I wanted to have a seat I would have to sit on the bed and that would be a bad idea. Sitting on the bed would led to me wanting to have a lay down which will led me to wanting to close my eyes for a few seconds, which would end in me deeply asleep on the bed, and missing the Crown Princes party.  

Just as I was about to give in the door opened. Keylyn stepped in beside him is a chimera. In my world, chimera is the offspring of a shifter and his animal self. A wolf, bear, feline, etc. shifter have both human and animal DNA. Because of this it is possible for them to sire or birth children of human and animal partners. 

The Chimera has bluish grey fur all over her body. Except for the fact that her ears resemble wolf ears and is situated on the top of her head, she ultimately posses human features. Her eyes are different colored one is blue while the other is brown. When Chimera has two different colored eyes its because they adopted the ability to shift like their shifter parent. Their human form however isn’t always quite human. She is a little younger than I am maybe in her mid to late teens. 

“This is Nymera” Keylyn introduces her to me

The girl curtsied her gaze remained on the floor at our feet.

“She will help you get ready for the party”