Chapter 5

• I stood outside the door and watched as Rena opened another box and looked in. I’d never been a personal guard, so I wasn’t sure if I should offer to help, just stand here—or what I should be doing. In truth, I felt a bit unnecessary standing outside a door in a palace that was both heavily guarded and warded against unlawful entry. I wasn’t going to complain. I still couldn’t believe I’d been posted here. I would do whatever it took to protect her, but what dangers were really in here?
• She stopped and looked at me. “This room is bigger than Alona’s apartment.” She glanced around, “and yet I still feel like the walls are closing in on me.” She touched her rounded stomach briefly. “I need something to take my mind off—” she waved her hand in the air, “everything.”
• I wasn’t sure if I was meant to reply or just listen.
• “Do you know where my office will be?” Flipping her long pale hair over her shoulder, she came over and stood in the doorway.
• I nodded, “I was shown it, yes.” I motioned to the stairs, “It’s on the main floor.” I looked at the floor in front of me for a moment, “until you’re settled, then you can have it moved to the underground chambers if you like.” I glanced up to gauge her reaction.
• Rena bit her lip, “I think I’ll stay above ground for now.”
• I nodded. “Would you like to go to your office?”
• Looking around the room, she nodded, “yes, please.” She quickly moved to grab her phone off the bed. “I’m honored to be asked to help.”
• I motioned for her to go first. “I’m not exactly sure what you’re going to be doing.”
• She grinned at me over her shoulder. “According to Daxx and Alona, I’m going to be weeding out the garbage that ends up on the Kings’ desks.”
• We went down the stairs slowly. I wondered if I should lead in case she slipped. Annoyed at second-guessing myself, I stepped quickly to walk beside her on the wide staircase. “I personally don’t know how they find time to govern and fight the war.”
• Rena smiled at me, “I think it’s wonderful that the royal family aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.”
• I recalled some of the battles I’d been at, particularly the old quarry that was now simply a pit of mud. It felt like it had taken a week to get all the mud off. I remembered how covered all the royals had been as well. “No, they’re not.” I smiled.
• Rena paused for a second. “Finding out I’m part of the royal family was a bit of a shock, but now that I know them and everything they do, I’m so proud to be here.”
• I cleared my throat, “I didn’t ask if I’m to address you as princess, lady or…”
• She shook her head. “I don’t want a title.” She nodded, “I just want a family.” She grimaced, “I’ve been stuck with two over-bearing brothers and, well, you met my dad—other family is wonderful, and the best part is they know I don’t age and why.” She paused in step, “I have distant relatives out there and I can never meet them.” A look of sadness briefly appeared before she stared walking again.
• I hadn’t thought of what it would mean to live on the other side and not age like a normal human. I frowned. What she had gone through was so far beyond my imagination or knowledge.
• We walked in silence until we reached the door to her office. I motioned to the door across the hall, “that’s the kitchen,” I pointed a door further down, “my room is there.”
• Straightening her shoulders, she opened the door and stepped inside. “It’s almost as big as my room.”
• I watched her walk along and touch the ornate filing cabinets and then walk over to the large table in the middle of the room. With a grin, she went over to the big desk with the computer sitting on it. “Now,” she looked back to me, “how do I go about getting this process started?”
• “Oh,” I hurried over to point at a list I’d been shown on her desk. “All the department supervisors are listed right there.” I shrugged, “call them, I guess?”
• She nodded slowly, “easy enough.” She went around the desk and sat down. “I was told only important reports and issues are to be brought to the kings, everything else I’m to set up a committee to decide a direction, or designate who is to deal with any pertinent issues.” She looked at the list for a moment, “I suppose I should start with the office director.” She smirked at me, “I don’t know what that is.” Blowing out a breath, she nodded again. “This is what I needed. Something to do.”
• I watched her for a moment, then went back over to stand outside the open door. Now what?
• ~
• Three hours later I was sitting in a chair outside the door, watching people come and go. Rena had brought me the chair, and to be honest, if I sat here doing nothing for much longer, I was going to fall asleep.
• “Well, that looks like a hard gig.”
• I looked up from the floor to see Princess Paisley and Princess Autumn standing in front of me. I got up and motioned in the room. “Rena has been getting the ball rolling.”
• Queen Daxx came up behind them. “Good. The crap that lands on Troy’s desk is ridiculous.”
• I glanced in the room again. “She seems quite excited to be doing it.”
• Autumn snorted, “after being stuck in an apartment this long, I’m not surprised.” She looked behind her to see Princess Bethany and Princess Kara coming to them.
• I noticed all of them were dressed for battle and wondered if they just wandered around dressed like that. So far being a palace guard was nothing like I’d imagined it would be. The same went for the royals. They were not the typical royal family I’d pictured for most of my life.
• Princess Paisley looked in the room and watched Rena talk on the phone and nod, while looking through a stack of papers. “You should come with us.” She looked at me and then turned to the Huntress, “she should come with us,” she shrugged, “one more guard can’t hurt.”
• The Huntress nodded slowly while looking me up and down. “I like that she’s our size and a guard.”
• Queen Alona and Princess Bethany came down the hall.
• “Kinsley is coming with us.” Daxx told them.
• Queen Alona smiled, “The more the merrier.” She gave me a smile and stepped inside Rena’s office. “Do you have plans for the next few hours?”
• Rena motioned to the piles of papers spread around the large table, “only to figure out what all of that is, and how I can prevent all the trees in Alterealm from being cut down to print it.”
• “I am thrilled you’re going to simplify my king’s office work.”
• Rena grimaced. “I hope I can.”
• “We’re going to borrow your guard.” The Queen gave me a quick look.
• “Oh. Yes, I don’t think I need a guard unless I leave the palace—considering these piles, it may not be for a week.” She went over and picked up one of the piles.
• “Make sure you take breaks and eat.”
• Rena nodded, “I don’t think I have a choice, Mitz has been in here three times already.” She started looking through the pages she held.
• “I’ll let you get back to it.” Queen Alona inclined her head and came back out. “Shall we?” She motioned down the hall.
• “Criss and Reagan are meeting us with the guards out back.” The Huntress said.
• I cleared my throat, “Where are we going?”
• “To look for portals.” Princess Kara told me. She stopped and looked at me, “please don’t call us princess constantly.”
• The Huntress laughed, “told you it got annoying.”
• “Portals?” I glanced from her to the—Daxx.
• She nodded, “Rea can see where the mages—or more importantly where Arwan has used magic.”
• I adjusted the strap holding the case for my blade on my back. “You have an idea where to look?”
• Paisley glanced back at me. “No, but we seem to find something every time we go looking.”
• I didn’t know what that meant, but I followed them.