Ravens are white. Old wives tales, as her father put it, told of a time when ravens were black, but no one she’d ever asked had ever known anyone who could claim to have seen one. Yet as Breanne stood in the Great Hall staring up at the colored windows with mid-morning light streaming through, she could swear that the raven on the other side of the yellow window was black. What an omen that would be if it were true.
Breanne stood in front of the kings’ column to the right of her mother’s throne. From here she could observe without being in the way. Caitriona stood to the Queen’s right as if she was next in line. Padraig sat in their father’s chair, as was his right, learning how to fairly judge the complaints and quarrels of the commoners. Queen Ashling was hearing from her people today. Breanne looked over the crowd for her father. Lord Viceroy Malachi was usually standing where her little sister was.
“My Lady, who do you look for?” Maryn, her handmaid and constant companion, asked as she craned her neck trying to see what Breanne saw.
“My father. It’s unusual for him to miss this.” Breanne scanned the hall for the tall salt and pepper-haired man that was her father.
The great hall was filling with people from all parts of the kingdom. Most of the Lords never attended, unless they were being accused of a heinous crime. Governor Luuk Jinsed from Drake's landing stood on the Queen's left at the bottom of the stairs of the dais in front of the queens’ column. He too was scanning the crowd. She didn't know the man on his right, but every few seconds they would converse, and a young page would run outside and return shaking his head. The other man, probably in his mid-thirties, was only a few inches taller than herself with chestnut hair and tanned skin. If she had to guess, he was probably from the southern coast, either Pallavicini, in the kingdom of Navin, or Marwood, in the kingdom of Dakshin. He was dressed finely in silk and leather, so he must be a nobleman. Breanne walked behind the columns and through the passage behind the throne, coming out a few yards away from Governor Jinsed.
"Governor." Breanne greeted him from behind, putting a hand on his shoulder so as not to startle him.
"My Lady," he bowed to her, as did the other gentleman. "May I present Lord Zaquiel Carrio of Pallavicini."
"Your Highness." Sir Zaquiel bowed low and kissed her hand. He used the long 'R' indicative of someone raised in the pearl capitol.
Her father would be proud of her correct assessment of Sir Zaquiel. "I have seen your Page running to and fro from the entrance, whom are you expecting?"
"I apologize, your Highness, if we have disrupted your attentions. I may have urgent business with the Queen when my messenger arrives." Governor Jinsed inclined his head to her as he spoke.
"About Queen Sabiya?" Breanne asked. She knew Sabiya was stirring up trouble and was curious as to how bad things had gotten in the Southern Kingdom of Navin.
"Queen Sabiya is dividing our kingdom. She takes resources at the expense of the people." Sir Zaquiel's eyebrows knitted together and his mouth pulled down at the sides.
"It's a small matter to take up with her Majesty." Jinsed put a hand on Zaquiel's shoulder, an indication, Breanne guessed, that such matters were not for her delicate ears.
The page returned at that moment and the two men excused themselves and left the Great Hall with the page. Her mother and father had been talking about unrest in the Navin two days ago. High Prince Daylin made accusations that Queen Sabiya murdered her husband and the prince’s brother, King Nilos. Now there was a division of the people. Pallavicini stayed with the High Prince and the Queen held the capital of Madhya, which bordered the kingdom of Dakshin. Her father had heard there were factions within Madhya that supported Daylin. Her parents and Padraig hadn't known she had entered the dining room as they were talking, or they would have changed the subject. There was no need for her to worry about state affairs. Caitriona had entered behind her and the talk changed to family matters. Mostly the impending engagement ceremony to Prince Tirvan, heir to the throne of Dakshin.
Her sister Cait was more excited about the engagement than she was. Sometimes Breanne wished Cait was the one to marry the Prince, but the thought of her sister being a queen someday was enough to make those warning hairs stand up on the back of her neck. Breanne took issue with the fact that Dakshin treated women as subservient to men, and as such, women couldn’t hold positions of power or inherit property. Being the queen of Dakshin was just a fancy title for royal baby maker. She secretly wanted to bring change to that kingdom, be the hero who brought equality to the people. But that was a far-fetched dream, she knew that the obstacles in her way were greater than one queen. Cait had no such desires, she didn’t spend time understanding the needs of the people, she didn’t even treat the castle servants with any respect. Dakshin seemed perfect for Cait, except… there was something dark in her sister that the title and power of Queen would make everyone's life worse. Breanne’s marriage to Prince Tirvan would not only ensure an alliance with Dakshin against Queen Sabiya but also save the people from a self-centered and vain future queen.
The crowd of people in the hall dwindled, but neither her father nor Governor Jinsed and Lord Carrio appeared again.