The Ashen Queen

by Sidney Gray

  At last, they were allowed to leave, and she hurried to follow behind Alex to the training grounds, eager to avoid her mother. It would be their last training before the tournament, and she needed to let off some steam.

  She poured all her energy and frustration into her training until she was utterly exhausted.

  “If you keep going like that you won't have any energy for the party tonight” Jack commented at one point.

  “Honestly I was avoiding thinking about it,” she replied.

  Training ended, and she went back to her room and took a long bath to soothe her aching muscles. The servants had already filled the bath with oils and rose petals and one of the servants, Julia, gently combed out her hair, humming to herself.

  Her mother burst through the door interrupting them.

  “What in heaven's is taking you so long; we need to start getting her ready.” She snapped at Julia.

  “Sorry my Lady,” she said quietly.

  Her mother stormed out again yelling at another servant as she went. Sofia groaned sinking lower in the bath. She couldn't even get a little privacy.

  CHAPTER 10

  The party that night was held in the ballroom, which was reserved for only special occasions. It was a large rectangular room with four archways leading to balconies along one side. Beautiful blue curtains sparkling with silver stripes flowed down from the windows and silver vases filled with blue flowers decorated every table. The silverware sparkled and the people even more. The ladies, in particular, seemed to be covered with as many gems as possible, everyone trying to outdo each other.

  It had been six years since the last tournament, and the nobles had all been in the same room with each other. Even though Lord Emsworth wouldn’t stop talking about his ship and the Sutton’s were practically falling over from the number of jewels they were wearing, she was surprised that everyone was mostly civil. It seemed they were all on their best behavior.

  Her mother flowed around the room, greeting everyone as she passed while Sofia and Evelyn trailed behind. She was in her element and loving every second of it.

  Evelyn, however, did not seem her usual self but before she could wonder why dinner was announced and she hurried to take her seat at the royal table next to Alex. The food was incredible just as the Alex had promised but unfortunately, she wasn’t really in the mood to enjoy it.

  After dinner she stayed by Alex's side, as instructed by her mother, making small talk with the other Ladies while the Lord’s argued about who was going to win the tournament. It was obvious some of the Lords were fishing for information about Cole and Jack, but Alex wasn't giving anything away.

  She had already noticed Lords making bets around the room. According to Bree, most of the city was betting on Cole to win, but she wondered who the nobles were betting on.

  She was distracted from her thoughts when someone dropped a glass of wine, a couple of servants rushed in, and the mess was gone in an instant. She took the opportunity to excuse herself for a minute while she used the bathroom.

  On the way back she ran into Lady Richmond, and they had a very entertaining conversation. Her husband had been in charge of the border as long as Sofia could remember, so they often had delegates from Bordonia with them, and she had picked up quite a few swear words from them and had a lot of stories to tell. Unfortunately, her mother soon found her and dragged her away, to her annoyance, on to a respectable group of ladies where she was pulled into more tedious conversations. More often than not they were about the dress she was wearing, which she struggled to answer as her mother had picked it out, but her mother also seemed to have a sixth sense and would appear at her elbow almost immediately. She didn't mind really, it saved her having to make something up, she made sure to give the appropriate compliments on their dresses as well, although she found most of them awful, the style this season was feathers, and some ladies thought that to mean the bigger, the better. Unfortunately, it just made them look like large brightly colored birds. Thankfully the Queen did not follow the trends, and her mother always followed the Queen, so Sofia was not forced to look like a peacock.

  She caught sight of Mal as he wove through the crowd, he was often required to attend these parties, but she had learned over the years that he was very good at hiding, he was always seen often enough that the King was happy but always seemed to avoid actually dancing and interacting with people. She wondered how he was doing in a room surrounded by the most important noble families in Arandale considering his immense dislike of them, of which she still she wasn’t sure the reason for. He had never told her, no matter how often she asked.

  She also noticed Elizabeth Sutton had managed to trap Cole in a corner and he looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable. She thought about rescuing him but then remembered their conversation the other night and decided against it, maybe it was spiteful, but she was glad to see him suffering a little.

  Later that night a group of musicians set up in the corner of the room and started to play. The King lead Queen Marianna out onto the dance floor to a round of applause, and they glided around the room effortlessly.

  She looked around the room and saw Alex watching her, he smiled and strode towards her.

  “Care to dance?” he asked with a little bow he held out his hand. Sofia couldn't help but smile as she took his hand and he led her out onto the dance floor.

  She felt the heat from his hand on her back through her dress as he pulled her close, she avoided his gaze, suddenly nervous, concentrating on the people around them. From the corner of her eye, she saw him frown, and he looked like he wanted to say something, but luckily it was a fast song, so there wasn't a chance for him to speak, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know what he was going to say; she had enough on her mind at the moment. If she could just make it through the next week, she would worry about it then.

  The song ended, and before Alex could talk they were in interrupted by a Lord asking her to dance, and she barely got a moment's rest after that, it seemed every Lord in the country wanted to dance with her. Some more than once, like Lord Herman, he talked a lot and stepped on her toes, after their third dance she was grateful when they were interrupted by Lord Richmond.

  “If I may Lord Herman, I have yet to dance with our future Queen.”

  “Of course,” she said, smiling at apologetically at Lord Herman.

  Lord Richmond was an exceptional dancer and a lot of fun, just like his wife.

  The night passed surprisingly fast but still, she hurried into her room after saying goodnight to her mother, her father had already disappeared into his office. He hadn’t spoken a word to her on the walk back, so assumedly she hadn’t done anything wrong that night. She entered her room and was surprised to see Lucy on her lounge asleep. She stirred having heard Sofia come in.

  ”Finally, I wanted to hear all about the party.” She mumbled sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

  “It wasn't very exciting, don't worry, you didn't miss anything.”

  “That's easy for you to say, you were there!” She exclaimed. “Please, you have to tell me everything.” She begged.

  She sighed, “fine but not here.”

  She leaned over and scooped her sister up, carrying her into her bedroom as Lucy giggled like mad. She dropped her onto the bed and jumped on after her, too tired to bother changing. They talked and talked until finally, Lucy fell asleep. She pushed her hair out of her sister’s face smiling, she was still so innocent, she hoped she stayed that way for as long as possible.

  Sofia couldn't remember ever being that way as a child. She had always been treated differently. She had been full of energy as a child, but instead of playing outside with the other children she had been forced to sit inside with her nanny, where she was taught to be quiet and well behaved. She had been given all the toys in the world but all she wanted was to play in the mud and run around like the other children, it wasn't fun on her own.

  She had once begged her nanny to take her outside, and she had
had the best time playing with the other children, but her mother found out, and the next day her nanny had been replaced. That’s when she stopped asking and learned to sneak around instead and discovered her ability to turn invisible. She didn't know what she would have done if she been born with another ability.

  She had been so excited when Evelyn was born. Finally, she would have someone to play with, but her mother had decided she was too young to play with toys and hired her a governess. She rarely saw Evelyn growing up, although she supposed Evelyn hadn't had it much easier, she had grown up in Sofia's shadow, the same expectations but none of the attention and she had envied Sofia her whole life because of it.

  Lucy had been luckier. By the time she came along their mother was too distracted with the other girls to worry too much, she had been given more freedom, and she had had a great nanny growing up, who spoilt her and snuck her outside to play in the gardens.

  The girls had all adored Martha, but it wasn't long before she was replaced. Sofia suspected her mother didn't like them getting close to the servants. Now Lucy was old enough they didn't have a nanny at all.

  She sighed and closed her eyes, it had been a long night, and she was so tired she didn't even have the energy to change into a nightgown. She heard a knock at her door and groaned before she dragged herself up onto her aching feet to check who it was.

  She opened the door to find Alex standing with his hand in his pockets, looking tired. His tie was undone and his hair a mess, like he had run his hands through it many times. But still he was as handsome as ever, and her stomach fluttered.

  She ignored it focusing instead on what he was doing here, she couldn't remember the last time he had shown up at her door.

  “Did I wake you?” He asked quietly.

  “No.” she replied, shaking her head, “Long night?” she asked cautiously after a pause.

  He chuckled softly, “Yes, very.”

  She hesitated briefly before she opened the door wider for him to come in. It was probably a bad idea, her mother would think it improper, but there must be something important on his mind for him to show up like this especially, she looked behind him, without his guards.

  “No guards?” she asked

  “I can survive without them, occasionally.” He replied.

  “I know, it’s just unusual.”

  “I snuck out,” he admitted.

  “Wow I’m shocked.” she joked but she actually was shocked, she didn't think he ever went anywhere without at least one guard.

  She walked over to the lounge closest to the fire hoping to get some heat from it, the maids had lit the fire earlier, and the embers were still burning. Alex stayed standing.

  “I know I just wanted some time alone.” He replied, sounding distracted.

  “So you came here to be alone?” she asked raising an eyebrow.

  “Yes, no,” he said half laughing “I was out walking, and I just realized….” he turned to her suddenly serious. “You were right the other night.”

  “About what exactly? I am right about a lot.” She said as she leaned back against the lounge crossing her arms.

  He snorted a laugh. “Not as much as you think you are.” He started pacing, and she was suddenly worried, he was acting too serious.

  “We haven't spent a lot of time together in the last couple of years, and I'm sorry if you thought I had replaced you. I never meant to, I just got busy and distracted.” He paused thinking. “My father and the council, it feels like they plan out my entire day. It’s just been a lot, and it doesn't give me time to do anything else I want to do.” he started pacing again. “These past two years have gone so fast, I thought I would have longer to just be a child. It feels like it changed overnight, one day a child, the next day a king.”

  “I know exactly what you mean.” She said as she reached up and pulled him down onto the couch beside her. “And I’m sorry too, I hadn't thought about the fact you were probably feeling the same way. You always seem so calm and in control.” She said she had just assumed he was fine, but she realized now he was probably just putting on the same show she was.

  He laughed bitterly, “hardly, we probably would have known this about each other if we hadn't stopped spending time together, I know that's my fault, I should have made time for you, I’m sorry.”

  “I'm sorry too,”

  “Maybe after the tournament, we can organize some time together? away from everyone, although I doubt we’ll be allowed to leave the palace.”

  “I would really like that,” she said honestly, “but what about your guards?”

  “They are like my brothers, but we still need a break from each other.”

  She nodded, “I don't understand at all how you put up with Cole.”

  “That’s funny he says the same about you.” He said laughing.

  “Don't worry there's plenty of places in the palace we can go where no one can find us,” she said with a sneaky smile.

  “I'm sure you know all of them,” he replied smirking before he suddenly frowned “about the other night, I'm sorry that I yelled, I was just worried.”

  “I’m sorry I yelled too.”

  “I know you sneak out of the palace and if it's something you need to do I don't want to stop you, just please be careful.”

  He looked so worried she didn't know what to say, so she just nodded, and he smiled, relieved.

  “Anyway I should go, it will be a long day tomorrow, and I'm sure you're tired after today.”

  He stood up to leave, and she walked him to the door still thinking about what he had just said. She was thankful he wasn't going to try to stop her, but she didn't realize just how worried he had been.

  He started to walk out, and she opened her mouth to wish him good night, but before she could get the words out, he suddenly turned back and pulled her towards him. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers, it was soft and gentle not like when she had kissed him but no less intense, after what seemed like an eternity, he pulled away.

  “Goodnight.” He said softly before turning and walking away.

  She stood in the doorway for a couple of seconds in shock before shaking her head and walking back to her bedroom, feeling confused but slightly more hopeful than she had in a long time.

  CHAPTER 11

  The first day of the tournament dawned bright and sunny. It seemed the entire city was out on the streets, watching as they rode by in their carriages, or making their own way to the tournament. The tournament was being held in an arena, built outside the city; it would take them an hour to get there by carriage, and the road to the arena was lined with stallholders from all over Latheria selling all kinds of goods. Sofia would have loved to look around at all the stalls, but her father had refused to even consider it when she had asked, adamant it was too dangerous. She insisted she could look after herself, but he hadn't listened. She had considered asking Alex, but after the other night, she doubted he would have thought it a good idea either, so she had to make do with looking out the carriage window as they trundled slowly on their way to the arena. The roads were packed with people as well, but they all moved aside for the nobles in their carriages.

  She actually felt quite excited for the tournament; she had taken a look at the list of potential guards that morning with Bree, who had managed to slip away from the inn while all their guests were sleeping off hangovers. They had met briefly in the corner of the gardens, and she had hurriedly told Sofia everything she knew about each of the girls. It turned out Bree’s love of gossip had come in handy, and they had been able to narrow the list down to six girls. What had seemed like an impossible task was now a lot easier.

  The first of the six girls on her list was Claire Blackwood, she was known to be one of the most powerful girls in the city and would be competing in the tournament. Bree didn't know a lot about her because she tended to keep to herself and she spent most of her time training, but her father was a high ranking captain in the army and from what Bree did know
she was highly respected by all her peers. Claire also had an unusual ability, she was able to create duplicates of herself, it was incredibly rare, almost unheard of. Her father had also been training since she could walk so she could handle any weapon given to her with ease, and she could even get her duplicates to use weapons. There was no doubt Claire would make an exceptional guard, but Sofia wanted to meet her first before actually making any final decisions, it wasn’t just talent she wanted in her guard, she wanted what Alex had, people she could trust and who would hopefully become her closest friends. She was feeling very optimistic, but still, she didn't want to get her hopes up too high, she had to be realistic as well.

  The next name on her list was Kyla Oakes, also competing in the tournament, she was one of only a few girls on the list that Sofia actually knew of. Kyla was renowned for her talent at controlling the weather and was often called out to help during storms. Sofia had heard a few stories at the Stone Inn over the past couple of years. Bree also said she had a large family, with lots of brother and sisters and they were quite poor, so they relied a lot on Kyla to bring in extra income.

  Georgia Tyson was up next. She was a popular girl from the city and came from a very respectable family, her mother was one of the most popular dressmakers in the city. Georgia was a healer, so she wasn’t competing in the tournament, but from what Bree had heard, she was quite talented. Georgia was also one of her mother's picks which automatically made Sofia hesitant, but Bree insisted they should add her to the list.

  Megan, the fourth name, was a wild child according to Bree, but in public, she was very well respected. She was a very powerful telekinetic and was definitely in the running to win the tournament.

  Taylor Prescott, the fourth girl, worked at the palace, Sofia had met her a few times as she worked and trained with the horses, her ability was with animals although neither Bree or herself knew exactly what she could do. Her family lived on a farm on the outskirts of the city, so Bree didn’t know a lot about her, but she had always been friendly the times Sofia had met her. She also wasn't entered in the tournament so Sofia wasn’t sure yet how she was going to decide if she would make a suitable guard.