King Erick Vincorne had spent the time he had in his rooms going through the many many documents left for him to review. From minor things such as formal complaints that really could be handled by someone else to the formal documents of land and estate. Worst of all was the letter from his half-brother Balder. It wasn’t anything bad per se, just that he plans to host a very large party. Erick did not envy his brother’s extroverted tendencies, but he struggled to keep up with them.

That was when he heard a knock on his door. With a sigh Erick set aside his current stack of papers and called whoever it was inside, not bothering to wait for the announcement that was sure to come. Either it’s Aunt Martha coming to chastise me yet again, or Esther coming for dinner. One of the servants had brought in silver covered plates of food only a few moments before, but Erick had too many documents to go through for him to just sit and wait for his guests. Looking up, he saw that it was neither Aunt Martha nor Esther, but his Beast Master Flora Acker.

Flora nervously stepped into the room as the page opened for her, then hovered by the doorway, unsure of what to do with herself. King Erick had seemed surprised by her arrival, and it left her uneasy. Thankfully she didn’t have to say much as the King’s page came in.

“Your Majesty.” The boy said with a bow. It occurred to Flora that she still hadn’t learned his name despite seeing him so often. “I regret to inform you that your sister Lady Esther will not be able to make it to dinner tonight.” There was a brief moment of what looked to be panic written across the King’s face, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared, leaving Flora wondering if it actually happened. “I’ve also been told to inform you that your Aunt Martha will be joining you.” The boy finished with an uncomfortable shift in standing. He obviously did not like being the bearer of bad news, and with good reason as King Erick became visibly upset at this statement.

“I did not invite her this evening.” King Erick stated, implying more than he said. Flora looked nervously at the boy.

“She insisted the family always has dinner together.” The boy’s throat bobbed nervously, and Flora could see a slight tremble in his hands as he tried to keep still. I should say something, but I probably shouldn’t. I don’t want to risk his wrath, but this poor boy doesn’t deserve being caught between two dragons like this. Flora glanced nervously between the two as King Erick chose his next words carefully.

“Then let the guards know that she is not to come in. I will have words with her later.” The boy swiftly bowed and exited the room at the command, leaving Flora alone with him. She couldn’t decide which was worse right now, having dinner with the King and his irritable Aunt, or or having dinner alone with the King in an irritable mood. She didn’t move, she was unsure of what to do in the moment and decided on lingering by the door. King Erick sighed.

“Forgive me Flora, I had meant to give you a warmer introduction to the castle than this.” He rose from the small table he was working at by the right side of the room and made for the larger table in the center of the room, positioned in front of the large hearth by the back wall. Flora noted that he walked with a slight limp, favoring his left leg. He must still be hurt from falling yesterday. Why hasn’t he had a healer take care of it? Being the King, Flora figured that something like that would have been swiftly and easily cared for.

“I suppose you could sit anywhere then.” King Erick waved a hand to the table, and Flora gave him a brisk thanks as she made her way over. It was larger than the table he was at but much smaller than the table in the dining hall, sitting only six people as opposed to the larger twenty.

King Erick eased into the seat on one end, and Flora briefly considered which seat to take. Too close would be awkward and presumptuous, but taking the seat on the other end might seem rude. I guess the same could be said about putting space between us. Why does this have to be so complicated? Flora fretted before finally choosing to sit in the seat to Erick’s right, taking the risk of sitting close to him rather than offending him. He gave her a brief look before removing the silver covers on the food platters, revealing a dinner of cooked game bird and hearty vegetables. What was that look for? Why did he do that? Flora didn’t have time to process the question as King Erick began to speak.

“I must apologize for my Aunt’s behavior this morning. She can be…” Erick paused, wincing as he reached for a plate of food. “Disagreeable, at times.” He finished, sitting back in his seat.

King Erick seemed to have released his anger, or at least most of it, and Flora finally felt safe enough to actually take in the room they were seated in. It was a much larger common room than her own, with a large marble fireplace in the back bracketed by two tall windows draped in midnight blue curtains. The mantle of the fireplace was decorated with intricate scenes of unicorns and dragons, looking almost playful on the right end and on the brink of war on the other end. A symbol of the end between the warring clans. Flora recalled. There was a second smaller fireplace to the left of the room, similarly decorated and lit.

There were doors to either side of the common room, and Flora assumed that the King had several chambers not unlike her own. The thought of his bedchambers did not come immediately, as she rather pictured how large his library must be compared to hers, but when the thought did come it was hard to shake. Don’t be foolish, he’s a king and you’re just a glorified servant. Flora berated herself.

Flora loosed a breath, grateful for the release of tension. “It’s really alright, Your Majesty, I don’t mind terribly.” Flora lied, trying her best to appease her King. While Lady Martha had made her feel unwelcome at best and despised at worst, the woman hadn’t actually done much to harm Flora, and she was able to go about her day as fine as anything.

“It’s really not, her poor manners get worse by the year.” King Erick grimaced. “I’m just glad my Crop Master and Game Master weren’t there.” He sighed, closing his eyes as if exhausted by just the thought of his aunt. “Then she really would have unleashed hell on us.” King Erick finished the statement with an unpleasant stab at his food, and Flora tried not to wince.

Flora didn’t say anything, not knowing what to say. There was clear animosity between the two, but Flora didn’t want to risk making it worse by asking questions. King Erick looked at her, and seemed to read all her questions from whatever expression she held before him.

“I’m sorry, Flora. She just…” He paused, taking a moment to collect himself. “She just doesn’t like humans.” He finished quietly, picking at the food on his plate. Oh. Well, that certainly explains a few things, but leaves so many more questions. Like, why? Flora remained quiet, her dinner plate still untouched.

Erick coughed, breaking the silence. “Perhaps we should change the topic?” He suggested, looking at her with an expression she couldn’t read. He seemed uncomfortable, upset, and worried all at once. Flora simply nodded in response, and King Erick gave a sigh of relief, the tension in his shoulders seeming to lift almost imperceptibly. “How about you tell me more about yourself?” He asked, his face returning to the usual impassive expressions he held, but with a hint of curiosity.

So Flora told him about her life on the farm where she grew up. She told him of her mother and father, her brothers older and younger than her, and how illness had taken most of them three years ago save for her, her father, and her youngest brother. She told the King of how she left after that, not sharing too much of how the loss had affected her father and making it seem like she only wanted bigger and better things for herself. She told him of the farmstead before she left, how it had the most beautiful rolling hills and lovely sheep that dotted the hillside. Of the oxen that her father used to till the earth, of the chickens her younger brother trained to follow their oldest brother before he was lost to disease. King Erick said little aside from asking questions and giving polite responses. He asked her more about her time before she joined the castle’s employment of animal handlers, mentioning his brief visits to her family farm during the Spring and Fall inspections.

Right, Flora reminded herself. As the oldest son, his father took him to many of the realm’s dealings from a young age. Flora remembered the few times she had seen the young King Erick, always quiet and always distant. She even remembered her brothers inviting him to play in the yard while the adults did all the grown up work. Even with his father’s approval he still refused. She hadn’t brought it up, but King Erick mentioned it anyway.

“I’m sure you all thought me strange as a child. I suppose I’m not much better now.” Erick told her with a wry smile, returning to poking at his half eaten food.

“Wha- I mean, no, Your Majesty.” Flora quickly replied, trying to assure her king. I mean, perhaps strange isn’t the right word. More like… Far away. Flora didn’t voice this thought, and King Erick gave her a brief assessing look, as if weighing her words to his experience.

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t change much.” He stated, breaking eye contact and leaving Flora feeling almost… Empty, as if his stare had taken something from her. She swallowed nervously. “I’ve kept you here long enough, and I’m sure you’re very busy tomorrow. You’re dismissed for the night, unless there was anything else?” He gave her a questioning look from the side of his eye, pausing from his grabbing the silver lid for the dinner platter.

“Uh, no, Your Majesty. I’ll see myself out.” Flora got up and bowed to the King, and he politely waved her away. She turned and left the room, and noted just how late it was as she passed by the clock on the fireplace mantel.

Flora quietly closed the door behind her, passing the guards with a polite nod before finding herself face to face with Erick’s Aunt, Lady Martha.

Lady Martha already seemed to be in a sour mood, sitting on one of the cushioned chairs in the hallway just outside of the King’s rooms. When she spotted Flora, she went from sour to furious, and Flora nearly quaked at the look the woman gave her. Lady Martha rose, her movement looking predatory in every sense of the word. Flora could sense the guards behind her stiffen as Lady Martha prowled towards her.

“And what, exactly, are you doing in my nephew’s room?” Lady Martha’s voice was colder than ice, her gaze raking over Flora as she stared down her nose at the young Beast Master. Flora did not respond, nearly gaping as she looked for the words to say that would appease this woman. “Exactly as I thought, you’re just another one of his passing fancies.” The woman scoffed. Flora almost didn’t know what she meant by the term, before it dawned on her exactly what Martha meant by it. Anger and embarrassment caused heat to flush to her face, and yet Flora still had nothing to say that wouldn’t further the issue.

How dare she insinuate something like that? I would never! Even if he had asked- I mean, I shouldn’t say no to my king but- No he wouldn’t ask something like that. Flora’s thoughts tumbled as she remembered that while the King had been known for entertaining women, nothing of the sort had been mentioned since his parents died. Either they were idle rumors, or he had at least put a pause on things to mourn his loss. Flora didn’t really like the latter of the two options.

Lady Martha began to speak again, but was interrupted by a loud cough. Flora turned around to find King Erick had come out into the hall, and was standing much closer to her than she realized. How did he do that? How had I not noticed him? Flora nearly panicked at the sight of him staring down his Aunt, his eyes pure malice as he confronted her.

“I don’t believe I called for you, Aunt.” Erick’s voice was colder than ice, and Flora inched just a touch to her left, out of the path of the two dragons. Lady Martha scoffed.

“It is tradition to eat dinner with your family, but I see you were too occupied with other things.” Lady Martha threw the accusation at his feet, and King Erick bristled at it.

“I suppose dinner without you constitutes as a passing fancy then?” He retorted, making it clear that he had heard their conversation. Lady Martha began to speak but Erick held his hand up for silence, and she wisely obeyed. “I do not care for your recent behavior, and I care even less for your baseless accusations. It would seem I need tor remind you that your stay here is optional, and that I do not need to keep you here.” King Erick’s voice was harder than stone and colder than a winter storm as he stared down his aunt, shoulders squared and eyes full of fury.

The two stood like that for what seemed like an eternity, Flora and the guards saying nothing. Eventually, Lady Martha broke and bowed to her king. “As you wish, Your Majesty.” She drawled out the last two words, keeping low in her bow until Erick dismissed her with a sharp flick of his head. He watched her leave, one predator assessing another, before returning to his room. He barely acknowledged Flora or the guards, and as the door shut behind him Flora was left with a pit in her stomach.

When Flora returned to her own rooms, the feeling hadn’t gone away. Anxiety and worry ate away at her as she pulled off her clothes and got ready for bed. Spot was lounging on the corner of her bed, fast asleep. She had noticed the new teeth marks on the foot of the bed, and made a note to get some chew toys and rub spice on all the furniture before she left him unattended again.

With a sigh she fell into her bed, Spot lifting his head at the disturbance. He quickly made his way over to her and plopped down next to her, curling up in the crook of her armpit. Flora wrapped around him and fell into an uneasy sleep, dreaming of farms, fires, and dragons.