A New Era: Kalparainia Chronicles Book One

Chapter Four

It had been two days and I was silently panicking over the fact that my mother was going to be arriving at Kyrain Castle at any moment. Along with that, Williem had suggested that I start up the Royal Court-which hadn't been active in the last four years...since Xander's mother passed away. He claimed it was the best way for me to meet the Lords and Ladies of Kyrain, and also the easiest way for me to choose my own Ladies-in-waiting, and Williem also suggested that I tour Kyrain while it was still safe to do so. I wasn't expecting so much difference between my marriage to Xander and my mother's marriage to my father.

Celeste seemed to be a bit aggravated by the difference. How was I to know that I would actually be busy doing things around the castle-getting used to my Royal Guards following me around everywhere, Jillian was kind of rendered useless due to Williem's diligence, and the last two days I hadn't been able to really spend any time with Celeste. The main thing I had been doing... I was mentally preparing myself for asking Mother why I was treated with such indifference. Byron had said that there was a reason behind it, Jillian had hinted at knowing the reason as well... while Celeste, she was either pretending not to know, or she truly had no idea what the reason was.

"Your Grace, Queen Charlotte Thane," Williem bowed as Mother followed him into the sitting room Celeste, Jillian, and I was sitting in. Williem looked at my mother unflinchingly, "Queen Charlotte, is there anything I can get for you?"

"I'm fine," Mother waved Williem away. He straightened himself and stood beside the door, earning a glare from my mother, "Don't you have anything better to do than stand around?"

"My place is by my Queen," Williem stated bluntly.

"Can you bring me some more of that tea, Williem?" I asked to ease the tension a bit.

"Of course, Your Grace," Williem bowed deeply.

I was actually surprised Mother didn't notice the eight knights around the room, but I guessed that she thought they were decorations since not one of them had moved yet.

I took a deep breath as I gathered my nerve, but Mother let out an exaggerated sigh, "You couldn't even be bothered to greet me outside. Where are your manners?"

I straightened and shook my head at Sir Jamison-who was behind Mother, "Why do you treat me with such indifference, Mother? Byron said that there's a reason why you've been so cold towards me, but it wasn't his place to say anything."

"He was right, it's not his place to say something," Mother glared at me, "and how dare you question me like this! Do you have any idea what I'd given up to raise an ungrateful child such as you?"

I could feel eight sets of eyes on me...waiting for me to do something or signal to them. I'm not in Heartstone anymore. This is my home. Not hers. That thought seemed to send some strength into me, "I have no idea what you gave up. All I want is to know why you don't care for me the way you do Celeste or Byron...and you didn't raise me. Governesses raised me until they deemed me too old."

"You'll have to ask your father," Mother narrowed her eyes at me. "That's assuming he lives through this war."

"Enough, Mother," Celeste stood to her feet. "You have no reason to be disrespectful in Alyse's home. She only asked you a question, and I believe she deserves to know the truth."

"I would never shame myself in such a way," Mother glared at me.

"Then excuse me," I stood. "I have to get ready to get everything up and running."

"Alyse," Celeste reached out for me.

"I hope you'll join me later, dear Sister," I forced a smile. "Mother...if you're going to be disrespectful-you can go home."

As I left the sitting room, my Royal Guards followed me out of the room. I couldn't see my mother's reaction, but I was sure she nearly jumped out of her skin when they finally moved. I just needed to get away from her. Jillian kept at my side the entire time. She didn't even give Mother a chance to speak to her.

Williem spotted me and frowned, "You're not wanting your tea, my Queen?"

"Next time, all you have to do is say a word, and we'll throw her out of the castle, Your Grace," Jamison growled out. "Even if she is your mother, she needs to show you the respect a Queen deserves."

"Ah, so what I've heard is true," Williem frowned. "I'll be sure to keep your mother way from you, my Queen. Come, you can have your tea in the library. I'll go ensure that you don't run into Queen Charlotte unless you wish to."

"Thank you, Williem," I sighed.

The walk to the library seemed to be a lot longer than it really was. The look on Mother's face. The contempt and disgust when she looked at me or thought of whatever came to mind when she looked at me... It was clear in my mind, and I knew that Mother didn't care for me the way I had always wished she would. I thought that it would change once I got married, but that wish didn't come true. Still, despite that disappointment, I held my head high, and I let my mind wander endlessly to what my mother was so ashamed of.

"Here is your tea, Queen Alyse," Williem gave me a gentle smile as I sat down.

I took the tea and looked around the library. It was huge. The cedar wood bookshelves stretched up high. Everywhere I looked there were books. I was pretty sure that the entire history of Kalparainia was stuffed into the library of Kyrain. For a brief moment, my mind was taken off of the way my mother had acted. Her behavior wasn't very becoming as the Queen of Heartstone. Williem left the library-I assumed it was to truly ensure I didn't see Mother again unless I wanted to.

"Jillian..." I sighed.

"Yes, Your Grace?" Jillian stood so fast it made my head spin.

"You said that if my mother didn't tell me the truth, you would," I looked at her.

"Is that what you wish, my Queen?" Jillian asked.

I took a deep breath, "Yes."

Jillian sat beside me and looked into my eyes, "She's not your real mother."

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My head was spinning with everything Jillian had told me. Even hours later, I couldn't believe it. I wanted to confront my mother about it, but... I had a feeling I would just get more lies. Jillian had told me that my birth mother was Jaylen Byrds, the crowned princess of Green River who was locked in Heartstone's Towers until her death. I listened to what Jillian was saying...praying that she was wrong. She claimed that my father had forced a three-way relationship upon Charlotte Thane, wed Jaylen and forced himself upon her until she gave him a child-something to hold over the people still loyal to the Byrds. Once Jaylen gave birth-to me-Charlotte ordered her execution and made a public display of it.

Jillian explained that was why I hadn't been able to leave Heartstone until I married Xander. Out of fear that the people would tell me the truth about everything. Jillian claimed that I looked exactly like Jaylen...

"Would you like us to do anything, Queen Alyse?" Jamison asked. "You seem on-edge."

I shook my head as I continued to think. I desperately wanted to confront Mother about this, but how was I to know if she was being honest? What if she came back at me with more excuses as not to tell me the truth? It makes a lot of sense though... Mother was forced to raise another woman's child...one who her own husband shamed her with. How can I expect her to admit to any of this? I had always thought that I must have gotten my looks from father's own mother or something, but... why else wouldn't I be able to leave the walls of Heartstone Castle? Why would my mother give her love towards only two of her children and treat her third as though it was a plague on this earth?

"I didn't mean to upset you, my Queen," Jillian stated.

"How did you know about this the entire time?" this must have been the third time I asked this question, but my mind wasn't processing anything at the moment.

"I was around four years old when I was forced into Queen Charlotte's service. I was forced to stay by her side-even when I'd seen Princess Jaylen. I was forced to watch-not only as the beloved heir to Green River gave birth to you, but...like everyone else who held out hope she'd escape somehow-her death." Jillian looked down at the ground, "My mother kept saying for years if Green River would have held onto it's military, there would have been no way for Heartstone to invade."

"If you'd like for me to order the Queen of Heartstone to be locked in a tower, just say the word," Williem offered with a small smile. Is he trying to make me laugh? "Or how would some fresh air do? There's about an hour of daylight left, and I'm sure it would do you some good to get outside, my Queen."

"Perhaps some fresh air will clear my mind," I nodded. I kept telling myself that not knowing what to think was normal. A huge part of me wanted lash out and force the truth out of Mother... could I even still call Charlotte my mother? Everything that Jillian had said actually made sense. Celeste probably would have accused the handmaiden of lying if she had heard what Jillian had told me, but why else would I be treated with such indifference? Even my father treated me as though I was only an unwanted guest in their home.

"No matter what, my Queen, we are by your side," Williem told me gently. "The late Queen adored Princess Jaylen-they were close friends. She often stated how wonderful a Queen Jaylen would have made herself, and if you don't mind me agreeing with Jillian-which I doubt will happen often-you do look a lot like Jaylen Byrds."

"You knew her?" I asked as he led me outside, the Royal Guard and Jillian close behind us.

"Yes," Williem nodded. "She'd come to Kyrain's Royal Court every spring and spend a month or two with Queen Serra. They actually spoke about forming a betrothal if Princess Jaylen ever had a girl, so that Green River and Kyrain would be joined and ruled together."

I looked up at the sky, "How would you get the person who truly knows what happened to speak about it?"

"You wish to confirm this?" Williem placed his hands behind his back and looked around. "I can procure something that will help. A witch in town brews potions and tonics. I can get a truth potion from her-if you wish." A witch? They have witches in Kyrain? Didn't Kyrain outlaw witchcraft like Heartstone did? Williem seemed to sense what I was thinking and sighed, "Kyrain is the only Kingdom that doesn't dish out the death sentence to witches. Many all over Kalparainia call Kyrain a safe haven for them to live. The only time we'll sentence a witch to death is if they cause harm to the people or land."

"The truth potion won't harm my mother?" I asked.

Williem shook his head as a couple of the Royal Guard shifted a bit, "It'll hurt you more. The truth will spill out of her mouth. Even the things you don't want to hear."

"Get it please," I looked at Jamison. "Do you think what I'm doing is wrong?"

"My Queen, as you've heard me and the men suggest before-we'd gladly throw her into the tower if you wished it. Truth Potion is less exciting for us, but it is useful," Jamison nodded.

"If you want us to lock her up afterwards we will," Erik added.

"Possibly 'accidently' lose the key as well," Maurice chuckled.

I felt myself smile a little bit as the rest of the men started making "jokes" about locking my "mother" in one of the towers of Kyrain Castle. I knew that in all actuality-the eight of them were being serious about it. I gave Williem a slight nod, so that he knew that I wanted to try the truth potion. It didn't stop me from being skeptical. How was I to know if this "truth potion" would truly work? What if it was just some ploy by a woman who was claiming to be a witch?

"I'll go speak to Old Gertrude tomorrow morning," Williem bowed. "That way you can see the castle village."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," I sighed.

Please...please let this work. I hated using deception to learn the truth, but what choice did I really have?