Fate to Reign

The Royal Court

Castilla led Wren and her sisters through the halls. Cal, Peter, Gabriel, Samuel, and Noah were following just behind them. Wren had noticed something back at the library. When Castilla had mentioned the Royal Court, Cal's eyes went wide. She couldn't tell if it was from surprise, or fear. Whatever it was, it planted a uneasy feeling in Wren's gut. What exactly was she walking into? Will they ask us to leave? Wren thought. Don't be ridiculous. The worse they could do is force you to stay. They reached a set of massive doors. The biggest doors Wren had ever seen. They were twenty feet high and a deep mahogany. Rich images of soldiers riding to battle and unraveling scrolls were carved into the wood. It took both Gabriel and Samuel, which were bulky with muscle, to push them open. Inside was a large room with about twenty chairs in a horseshoe formation. There were four chairs on a raised platform behind the other chairs. There was a table in the center of the horseshoe, with five chairs. Wren gulped. The room was packed with people. Every single chair was occupied, except for the five in the center. The people sitting in the horseshoe all looked middle aged, with high quality clothing. The four people on the platform looked ancient. Like they were pulled right out of a history book. There was one man and three women. Their beady eyes were sunk into their wrinkly faces, and stringy gray hair clung to their heads. By how old they looked, they should have been slouching in their chairs. But their backs were stick straight, their withered hands folded in their lap. Castilla ushered Wren and her sisters forward and they stepped into the room. The boys started to step forward, but Castilla stopped them. "Oh, no." She said, pushing them back. "This is strict Royal Court business. Keep your little noses out." She fixed her eyes on Cal and Peter as she said it,
like a mother scolding her children. Castilla's mother had been good friends with all their fathers, and Castilla felt like she was a short of aunt to them all.

"Why do you get to go in?" Peter pouted. Castilla smiled.

"I'm head of the council, therefore I'm required to oversee these types of meetings." She said. "It'll be over quickly. No need to worry." She didn't sound so sure about the last part. With a swish of skirts, Castilla entered the room and the huge doors slammed shut behind her. No sound could be heard through the stone walls.

"Come on. There's no way we're passing up listening to something this good." Cal said, turning away and walking briskly down the hall. The others followed.

They were in one of the storage rooms, behind the council room. The wooden door had many cracks and holes in it so they could all hear and see what was happening perfectly. The Hadley sisters were seated at the table in the center if the horseshoe, and everyone's eyes were on them. Rowan looked a little nervous. Avery looked like she was trying to shrink in on herself. Rose looked bold as always, but there were traces of uneasiness in her eyes. Even Annabelle looked a little scared. His gaze stayed longest on Wren. She looked like someone was about to deliver her death sentence. Cal's gaze was transfixed. The Royal Court wasn't exactly the kind to let you off the hook easy, they came down ruthlessly on someone who they thought was trouble.

"What year was it in your world when you came through?" A woman from the crowd asked.

"1900." Rowan answered. A man was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment.

"And none of you had knowledge of this world, or the legend?"

"No, ma'am." Rowan said.

"Interesting." The woman mumbled, sitting back down in her chair. "Which one of you is the oldest?" Another woman from the crowd asked. The Hadley sisters looked at Wren. Wren was sitting up almost too straight.

"I am, ma'am." She said. A man shot up to a stand.

"Enough with these meaningless questions!" He shouted. "How do we know these aren't traitors or spies?" A couple people in the crowd looked at each other. The man continued.