Dragon Twins (Pending rewrite)

Chapter 8

Aldi

"WHAT THE bloody hell was that?" I woke up from sleep.

"Huh?" Rebecca was rummaging through my closet, pulling out clothes to wear for today's lesson.

I checked myself for scales, but all I saw was pink flesh. That was weird, I thought. Ever since I entered this castle, weird things have been happening.

Rebecca set a bowl of porridge on the coffee table in the middle of the room. "Hurry up and eat, your first class is with Kalliarkos, and he doesn't like late people."

Oh great, Kalliarkos. I already have great memories with him. I quickly ate the porridge and had Rebecca lead me to the first class.

I opened the door to the classroom. Kalliarkos was at the desk at the front of the room, sorting through some papers. While he was busy, I took the opportunity to look around the room, which was sparsely furnished. A bookshelf took up the back of the wall, and a chalkboard took up the front wall. I sat down at the desk that was obviously for me, since it was the only one.

"Ah, Kiara, you're here." he set down the papers, and stared at me.

I set my chin on my hand and stared back. "If you're just going to stare at me, maybe I should just head back to my room." He was wearing the same clothing from the day he had caught me, and his hair and mustache were slicked back with grease.

"A little bird told me that you like to read," he said, after a bout of silence.

"And if that little bird was right?" I asked, smoothly.

"Who was the first king of Mordar?"

"Odin Highmourn."

"His brother?"

"By brother, I'm guessing you mean his twin, Gerald Highmourn." I smirked at him.

He smirked back, "How did they both die?"

Now this question stumped me. In my history lessons with Draco, I read that Gerald had slain Odin, to gain power, but committed suicide immediately after. Other theories suggest that they both died in a great war, which is named as the Great War of Mordar. One day, both Odin and Gerald Highmourn vanished off of the face of the earth.

I took the smart route and said, "There are no accurate records that state how they both died."

He clapped his hands together, "Very good. I guess with being a thief, you'd need to learn the history first." I stayed silent, waiting for his next question.

"How many regents are there in court?" he continued.

"Twenty, with you being the Prime Regent. You'd take over if the King and Queen died and Aden wasn't old enough to rule."

"Or you yourself aren't old enough to rule. Technically, you are the older twin."

"But doesn't the ascension go to the male line?" I don't think I could handle ruling a country, let alone be the princess of one.

"For other countries, yes, but for Mordar, the ascension goes to the eldest son or daughter of the Highmourn family. Which would be you." At my silence, he continued. "The twenty regents come from twenty houses. I myself coming from the Kalliarkos family. The other nineteen you'll learn about later."

"Now what do I call you? Lord Kalliarkos? or Prime Regent Kalliarkos?"

"Please just call me Jared," he picked at his mustache. "I feel Kalliarkos is too much of a mouthful."

~~~

After my lessons with Kalliarkos, I called on a servant to lead me to the greenhouse.

I guess that was a mistake.

When I opened the doors to the Greenery, I think all the ladies of the court had a heart-attack. I was still in my shirt and trousers, and I'm guessing that that isn't the appropriate wear for Luncheon.

"Aldi! What are you wearing?" The queen ran up and patted me down. I didn't question why she called me that.

"Clothes?" I flustered. For someone who's famous for being a crook, I get embarrassed quite easily. New things seem to be happening lately.

"Ah, well. I guess, since it's your first day I'll let it slide." She smoothed down her skirts. "Now come sit and eat."

I was still being stared at as I sat down. The lady to my right was vaguely familiar, plump, and smelled roughly of smoke. Her blue eyes trailed down my body, evaluating. When finished, she smiled warmly and said, "Good Afternoon, may I introduce myself to you?" Like I knew that she needed my approval for her to introduce herself. Like there was no one else in the room of importance to her.

"Go right ahead," I say through gritted teeth.

"My name is Julliana Kalliarkos. You might've already met my husband." And that's where I recognized her. I haven't really seen her in person, but I've seen enough portraits to show that the artists were probably paid double to use the wrong proportions.

"Aldi, from Harrowsville, but you probably already knew that." I nod towards the queen. "It's a pleasure to meet you." I stated a far out city, so as to not make people suspicious.

"Aldi," the queen said, 'interrupting' Julliana and I, "I want to introduce you to all of the ladies of the court."