The Ashen Queen

by Sidney Gray

  CHAPTER 4

  Sofia waited until the others had all left before grabbing the bag she had hidden earlier. She weaved back through the gardens to the front corner of the wall that surrounded the palace. No one ever came this far from the palace, so the gardeners left it alone, preferring to spend their energy on the gardens where the Queen frequently held parties, like the one later that day. She could see why the Queen loved spending all her free time out there, it was beautiful and peaceful. She could hear the birds chirping and smell the flowers all around her as she walked. It didn't take her long before she reached the small clearing in the corner of the gardens, it was well hidden by thick overgrown bushes, and she had to push her way through a small gap.

  Bree was already waiting for her; she was mostly hidden by trees and bushes except for her bright red hair. She jumped out of the bushes when Sofia arrived crossing her arms and pretending to look mad.

  “Took you long enough, princess!”

  Sofia grinned and ran forward to hug her tightly, she had only had two true friends in her whole life, and Bree was one of them. Sofia didn't know how she would have ever survived the last couple of years without Bree. Bree was an innkeeper's daughter from the city, and she loved exploring just as much as Sofia; they had met the first time Sofia had found a way through the palace wall. She had stumbled upon it by accident while exploring the gardens, it was only a small hole, hidden right in the very corner of the wall, not big enough for a grown man but she and Bree could just squeeze through. It must have been made by someone with earth magic to be able to get through the wall they thought, but she still didn't know how they had been able to put a hole in the magical barrier around the wall, it had been made long ago using ancient magic. As far as anyone else knew the only way in or out of the palace grounds was through the front gate, which was heavily guarded.

  She had tried to sneak out the front gate once when she was ten, but one of the guards had earth magic and had felt her coming, and she had been taken back to the palace to the King. He had been kind and merely cautioned her about the dangers of leaving the palace grounds and sent her on her way, but he kept her father back afterward. When her father had finally come out of the King’s office, she had felt the waves of anger radiating off him, it was the first time she had ever been truly scared of her father.

  Afterward, she wondered if he was more angry at her for trying to leave or because she had been caught. He was a proud man, and a disobedient daughter was an embarrassment to him. The King had made sure to always have a guard with earth magic stationed at the gate since then, but her father had kept a closer eye on her after that, restricting everything she did. She hadn’t been allowed to go anywhere on her own, and it had been a lonely couple of years for her, but eventually, her father had become busy with other work for the King and loosened his grip on her life. She had started exploring again and had been lucky to have found the hole and even luckier to have found Bree.

  Sofia had been very naive back then, and if she hadn't had Bree to guide her, she might not have survived her first trip beyond the palace walls. If only Bree had been born into the right family, she would have loved to have her by her side as a Guard.

  Bree was able to manipulate air and had trained a lot as a child but after her youngest sister was born her family couldn't afford to send her to the training center in the city and she was needed to help at the Inn. So, unfortunately, she just wasn't strong enough, and her family wasn't respected enough for her name to have made it on the list, there was no way the Queen would ever allow her to choose Bree.

  Bree was very different to the noble girls Sofia was used to, she swore for one and talked a lot, she ate like a boy and didn’t care what anyone thought, she was carefree and adventurous, and she showed Sofia every part of the city, the good and the bad.

  Sofia learned more about the city from Bree then she ever had in any of her lessons.

  They talked about everything, and she trusted Bree to keep her secrets as she kept hers.

  “Sorry, training ran late,” Sofia said as she reached over to pluck a few bits of leaf out of Bree’s hair before she flopped onto her back on the grass.

  “Argh I’m so sore, Mal has been training us so hard lately because of the tournament, I don't know why since only Cole and Jack are competing.” She complained.

  Bree groaned, “Really Sof, I can’t believe you’re complaining, do you know how much I would love to be training with Nicholas Clark, I can just imagine him hot and sweaty, and with no shirt on.” She stared dreamily into the distance.

  Sofia rolled her eyes. “Gross, I can’t believe you actually like Cole.”

  Bree dropped onto the grass beside her.

  “Please just sneak me into one training; I’ll be your best friend.” She begged, clasping her hands in front of her and fluttering her eyelashes, she was always so dramatic.

  Sofia laughed again pulling her into a hug, “You are my only friend Bree.”

  Bree hugged her back. “That's not true.”

  “The girls at court don't count; You're the only one I can trust.” She had learned that the hard way.

  “Fine I guess I’ll just have to rely on my imagination, but can you at least tell me you found out some new gossip from the terrible two,” Bree asked, she loved drama and gossip, and she knew Sofia regularly spied on the Hallewell twins, who she had dubbed the terrible two.

  “Yes, that I can do,” she said laughing, “apparently Chelsea has her sights set on the young Lord Sutton. After his older brother ran off with that waitress, he will now take over the family when his father passes.”

  Bree gasped, “scandalous.”

  “of course he is also engaged,” she added.

  Bree snorted, “but that would never bother Chelsea of course.”

  “No I think she actually likes the challenge, I'll keep you updated, I think it will definitely be interesting,” she said with a laugh. “Other than that it’s just the usually snide comments about everyone else, oh I almost forgot.” She reached over and grabbed the bag of food she had dropped earlier, handing it Bree, “I don't think I'll have time to bring any more until after the tournament is over.”

  During one of their first trips through the city, Sofia had noticed a lot of people sleeping on the streets, and she had asked Bree about them. Bree had given her a strange look and told her they were homeless. Sofia had been horrified, she had never known people lived like that, it was the first time she realized how sheltered she had been and ever since she had been bringing Bree bags of food and herbs stolen from the kitchens so she could give them out to the homeless. Sofia pulled out a raspberry tart she had grabbed especially for Bree, and she grinned at her squeal of delight.

  “You know how to make a girl happy,” Bree mumbled through a mouthful as she started levitating and Sofia laughed harder, whenever Bree was excited she started levitating.

  “We are really busy at the moment anyway,” Bree said after finishing off the tart, “I had to beg Father to let me leave today, he even hired extra people to help at the Inn and you should see outside the city, there are already tents everywhere, and stalls have been set up. Everyone is trying to get the best spot along the road so they can catch the attention of the noble families on their way to the arena. I just hope Father lets us go. It would be so exciting.”

  “Don't worry Bree, I'm sure he will, with everyone at the arena there will be no need for you at the inn,” she reasoned.

  “Even if it's just one day, just a chance to see him up close.” Bree sighed blissfully.

  Sofia groaned, not Cole again, Bree had had a huge crush on Cole ever since she had seen him fight in a small city tournament a couple of years ago. All the young girls in the city did, along with a few older women.

  “You know if you met him you would change your mind.”

  “It’s different for you, you grew up together.”

  “Yes although he hasn't actually grown up much.”

  “Really I
think he looks very grown up,” Bree said winking.

  Sofia laughed, “I meant he hasn’t matured.”

  “I know,” Bree sniggered, and they both fell into a fit of laughter.

  “Don’t worry I'm sure you'll see him at the parade at least,” Sofia added when she caught her breath. At the end of the tournament, all the winners were paraded around the city in open carriages for everyone to see.

  “Well, of course,” Bree said matter of factly, “he has to win, nobody else stands a chance, Father said the whole city has bet on him to win.”

  “Really?” she asked, she hadn't expected that, although she shouldn't really be surprised, he was technically royalty.

  “Yes, I've heard competitors talking in the Inn. Apparently, Cole is the one to beat.”

  “Hmm, I wonder if the other noble families think the same,” she wondered aloud, then groaned “argh, I'm tired already, just the thought of all the people I will have to meet and talk to.”

  “Oh, of course, I didn't think about that. Your mother must be putting the pressure on you.” Bree said sympathetically.

  “Yes, she is, speaking of which, I should get going before she sends guards looking for me.” She dragged herself to her feet, hugging Bree tightly before she made her way slowly back to the palace.

  CHAPTER 5

  When Sofia had been born her family had been given a wing of the palace, the wing was large with its own separate kitchen, dining room and sitting room. It had four separate bedrooms each with their own bathroom, and a small sitting room and they also had their own servants and guards.

  Sofia walked through the main door to their wing and one of the servants, Julia, rushed towards her and discretely handed her a sealed envelope. Her mother must have heard her come in because the door to her parents sitting room burst open, Sofia quickly made the envelope invisible before her mother could see it and tucked it into her dress. She knew her mother would burn it if she ever saw it and who knew what her father would do if he found out she had been writing to her grandfather. Luckily for her, Julia had been with them forever and adored her grandfather, so she had been happy to help Sofia sneak letters to him.

  “Where have you been Sofia? We’re going to be late,” her mother snapped, she was elegantly dressed with not a hair out of place, Sofia couldn't remember a time her mother had even looked imperfect.

  “We still have hours mother, there's plenty of time.” she sighed.

  Her mother ignored her and grabbed her arm, marching her towards the main sitting room. “You're covered in dirt! Where on earth have you been,” her mother was obsessed with cleanliness, and she used her earth magic to easily sweep the dirt of Sofia with a wave of her hand.

  “Maybe she has a secret lover, and they were just fooling around, it would explain why her hair is such a mess,” Evelyn said snidely from the doorway of her room. She couldn't help herself, she always had to make a snarky comment. Their mother just ignored her, too busy fussing over Sofia. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, pulling out the tangles, it wasn’t that bad she thought as she caught a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror before her mother ushered her into the sitting room.

  Sofia glared at her sister as she walked past but held her tongue, she knew better, fighting with Evelyn would only earn her a lecture from their father or worse.

  She didn’t bother to answer her mother, all she ever wanted was freedom; her mother would never understand that. All she cared about was status, money, and power, just like her father.

  “Sofia, answer the question, your training finished over an hour ago,” her father said calmly, suddenly appearing in the sitting room doorway with his arms crossed, Evelyn hovered in her doorway smirking.

  She tensed, “Just in the gardens.” She didn't ask how he knew when her training had ended, he always knew everything, it wouldn't surprise Sofia if he scared the servants into giving him information on her whereabouts.

  “With who?” Her mother demanded.

  “No-one.”

  Her mother gasped as if that was the most horrifying thing in the world, “the future queen should not be seen wandering the gardens alone,” she scolded as her father studied her, she glared back at him. He was a tall, foreboding man with a constant stern expression, but it wasn’t just his demeanor the scared people, it was his ability. She wasn't sure how it worked, but he was able to make a grown man cower in fear just by looking at him. It was why he was Captain of the King’s Guard.

  She could feel the fear growing in the back of her mind the longer she looked at him, her hands started to shake and she broke eye contact and strode past him into the sitting room, she hated herself for giving in, but she couldn't stand it any longer. It brought back horrible memories of her childhood, cowering in fear underneath her father's gaze until she was covered in sweat and it felt like her heart would explode out of her chest. It was his punishment for misbehaving, and she hadn't been a particularly well-behaved child, so it was a good thing her father had been away a lot. She had dreaded when he returned from his trips.

  Sofia had always suffered the worst growing up, being the most disobedient but Evelyn had her share as well when their father thought she talked too much or said the wrong thing. The only thing Evelyn and Sofia had ever agreed upon was that Lucy; their younger sister, should be protected from their father. They had often taken the blame when Lucy did something wrong, like the time she had broken a vase in their main hallway, she had only been trying to make the plant grow, but Evelyn had covered for her. There had still been times when they hadn't been around to protect her though, and she hated her father for hurting her sweet sister.

  “The Queen mentioned a new statue in the gardens and said I should have a look at it,” she lied quickly, focusing her attention on the dresses her mother had lined up for her, trying to appear unconcerned.

  “You should not be wandering the gardens alone, don't let it happen again,” her father said shortly over his shoulder as he left, presumably going to his study where he spent most of his time when not with the King.

  Sofia glared at his retreating back, her mother had already forgotten about the exchange moving onto more pressing concerns, like the state of Sofia’s hair. She spent the next two hours standing in the middle of the room being poked and prodded. Her mother fussed over every detail before announcing she was finally ready. Just in time too or she would have pushed Evelyn out the window. She spent the entire time complaining that her dress wasn't as nice as Sofia's, but of course, their mother paid her no attention which only aggravated her more. Evelyn's had a magical ability with fabrics, she could create beauty out of anything; cotton, wool, silk. When they were children she had prided herself in always making the most beautiful dresses until one day their mother forbade her, she had decided that making clothing was servants work and it was beneath Evelyn. Evelyn had of course been furious, she had loved the attention she had gotten when people saw her wearing her dresses, and she had complained ever since about the quality of the servants’ work. Luckily, Evelyn was still allowed to make tapestries, and she had thrown herself into creating the most beautiful tapestries in the whole city; the Queen was so impressed by her work that she had one hanging in her sitting room, something Evelyn loved to brag about.

  Sofia often thought about how much easier it would have been if Evelyn had been born first. She loved court life and being the center of attention. She was exactly like their mother in that way.

  Lucy, on the other hand, while she was a miniature version of their mother in looks, their personality couldn't be more different. In fact, Lucy reminded Sofia so much of their grandfather, they were both so kind and loving.

  She missed him so much, their grandfather, he was the only person who had ever encouraged her sense of adventure and just let her be herself. When they were younger, they had spent every summer at his castle in the country, and he had taken the girls all over the countryside teaching them everything he knew. It had been her favorite time of
year, up until her father and grandfather had gotten into a huge fight, and they hadn’t been to visit him since.

  Sofia often wished Lucy had been able to spend more time with their grandfather, she had still been quite young the last time they visited, and she wasn't sure how much Lucy remembered about him. Luckily she was still able to communicate with him through letters, but it wasn't the same.

  She didn't know how her father could possibly be his son, they were complete opposites. Her grandfather used to say Sofia took after her father, she did have his dark hair and blue eyes, but she didn't think that was what he had meant. Other than looks the only similarity she could find was that they both hated the court life.

  Finally, they were all ready, and Lucy stood and stared at herself in the mirror with wide, excited eyes; she was still so innocent and was just excited that she was finally allowed to attend a party. She had no idea how boring it was going to be. Normally, Lucy had to sit around and watch while everyone prepared but today she had been dressed up just like everyone else, and she could barely stand still.

  “Now Lucy, as this is your first party I expect you to mind your manners. All the mothers there will be judging you. You must do well if we are to find you a husband.” Her mother started fussing over Lucy's dress, getting rid of creases and dust only she could see.

  “Mother, she’s only ten!” Sofia exclaimed annoyed, “in case you have forgotten child marriage isn't legal in this country, maybe you should focus on finding Evelyn a husband,” she continued trying to distract her and stop her ruining Lucy's night. Lucy hated when their mother got mad and tried her best to make her happy, but she deserved some fun tonight at her first party.

  “It's never too early to start looking Sofia,” her mother scolded her, “and we already have a perfect candidate picked out for Evelyn.”