Chapter 75: Episode 075: Escort Me.
"I hope I didn’t find you at the wrong time?"
Queen Tanith stepped into the small cabin bedroom. The hem of her dark green dress swept softly across the wooden floorboards. Caius had opened the front door for her and guided her straight to the room.
Tanith didn’t carry her usual terrifying aura today. She looked like a tired, very worried younger sister. She had dark shadows under her eyes, proving she hadn’t slept well in days. She walked over to the simple wooden chair beside the bed and sat down near Rue.
Rue immediately shook her head. She pulled the thick white blankets up a little higher, making sure Theron was perfectly comfortable resting on her lap.
"No, you are right on time," Rue said softly. "Good morning, Queen Tanith. It is really good to see you."
"I was actually going to come find you at the palace later today," Rue added. She felt a little bad that the Queen had to come all the way out into the woods just to check on her.
Tanith offered a soft, sad smile. She looked at Rue’s pale face and her incredibly thin wrists resting on top of the blanket. She could clearly see that Rue had just recovered from being sick.
"You belong right there in that bed," Tanith said gently. Her voice was smooth, but it held genuine concern. "Caius told me how sick you were. We were all very worried about you. I am just glad to see you sitting up and holding your baby. The house feels much warmer today."
Rue looked down at Theron. The baby boy was chewing happily on the edge of his blanket. His golden eyes were bright and full of life. She felt a warm, quiet love fill her chest. She really was glad to be awake. She gently rubbed his small back to keep him calm.
"I need to talk to you about the Northern Wolf Kingdom," Rue said. She looked back up at the Queen, keeping her voice steady. "I need to go there."
Tanith nodded slowly. She folded her pale hands neatly in her lap. The rings on her fingers caught the morning sunlight shining through the window.
"I agree," Tanith said quietly. "You should go."
Rue blinked in surprise. She expected the Basilisk Queen to argue with her. She expected Tanith to tell her it was too dangerous for a weak human girl to travel across the wild continent. She was ready to beg if she had to.
"You are not going to stop me?" Rue asked.
Tanith shook her head. "I cannot stop you," Tanith whispered. "Because we desperately need answers. And I need my sister back."
Tanith leaned forward in the wooden chair. She stared down at the floorboards, taking a very shaky breath.
"Ever since the night of the festival, Iris has completely shut down," Tanith admitted. Her voice sounded incredibly fragile. "She is a bit better after you left last time, and socialises, but it’s like she is running from someone or something. She had to return to the Wolf Pack, so you should go there now."
Rue felt a sharp ache in her chest. She remembered how bright and warm Iris always was. The Wolf Princess was like a warm blanket to everyone and even reminded her of her own mother.
"She saw her friend," Rue said softly. "He is alive. That’s what put her in a state of shock. Maybe there is more to this story."
"We buried an empty box," Tanith whispered bitterly. "The Wolf Tribe told us he died in the border wars."
Rue gently placed her hand over Tanith’s pale fingers. The Queen’s skin was cold, but Rue held it tightly. She didn’t think about anything else. Iris was her friend. Iris made her smile when she was overwhelmed. Now it was her turn to help.
"I will find the truth," Rue promised. Her voice was not loud, but it was incredibly firm. "I will go to the Northern Wolf Kingdom. I will find out exactly what happened and bring the old Iris back, no matter what it takes."
Tanith did something she rarely ever did. She genuinely smiled.
Tanith stood up from the wooden chair, leaned over the bed and wrapped her arms gently around Rue. It was a careful, warm hug.
Rue hugged her back, resting her chin on the Queen’s shoulder. It felt really nice.
Tanith pulled back and looked down at the baby resting on Rue’s lap. Theron let out a happy little squeal and reached his chubby hands up toward the Queen.
"And how is this little warrior doing today?" Tanith asked. Her voice instantly turned bright and sweet.
Tanith reached down and gently picked Theron up. The baby boy giggled loudly, completely fascinated by the shiny silver jewellery hanging around Tanith’s neck. He grabbed a silver pendant and pulled it directly toward his mouth to chew on it.
"Oh, we do not eat that, little one," Tanith laughed softly. She carefully pulled the necklace out of his tiny grip and bounced him gently on her hip. "You are getting so big and strong. Your father is taking very good care of you."
Caius was leaning quietly against the bedroom doorway. He smiled proudly at the compliment.
Rue watched the Queen play with her baby. It was a beautiful, simple sight. It made Rue realize that the beastmen were not just scary monsters. They were real people with real feelings. They just wanted to keep their families safe.
After a few minutes of playing, Theron started to rub his eyes. He let out a very wide yawn. Tanith gently handed him back to Rue. Rue tucked him carefully under the white blanket, patting his small back until his eyes fluttered shut.
Tanith smoothed the front of her green dress. Her face turned serious again. She was back to being a ruler.
"Now," Tanith said, looking at Rue. "We need to discuss your travel arrangements. The journey to the North is incredibly long and highly dangerous. You cannot go alone."
"I know," Rue said. "Caius cannot come with me right now, and Knox cannot enter wolf territory."
"Exactly," Tanith agreed. "Which is why I have already chosen the perfect person to go with you."
Tanith turned her head toward the open bedroom door. "You can come in now."
Princess Gianna walked into the bedroom.
She looked incredibly grumpy. She was wearing a thick, dark leather travel tunic and boots instead of her usual pretty silk dresses. She had tiny silver daggers strapped to her thighs. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest. Her dark hair was tied back in a messy braid. She glared at the floor, kicking at nothing in particular.
"Gianna?" Rue asked, completely surprised to see her dressed for a real fight.
"Don’t look at me like that," Gianna muttered, rolling her eyes. She threw herself into the empty wooden chair next to the bed. She slouched down low and let out a dramatic sigh.
"Gianna will be your official escort to the Northern Wolf Kingdom," Tanith announced proudly.
Gianna immediately threw her hands up in the air.
"This is unfair!" Gianna protested loudly. "I am a Princess! I am not a carriage driver! I don’t even like the cold weather. The North is completely frozen. My beautiful scales will freeze solid. Why do I have to go? Why can’t you just send a bunch of boring soldiers with her?"
"Because soldiers do not have your specific set of skills," Tanith replied calmly. "And don’t you want to see your brother. He will teach you some character."
"I have plenty of character!" Gianna whined. She crossed her arms again and pouted heavily. "I don’t want to go. Brother Axel will lecture me again. I am not going to do it. You can’t make me."
Gianna opened her mouth to complain even more. She looked ready to throw a massive temper tantrum right there in the quiet bedroom. She puffed her cheeks out, looking exactly like a spoiled younger sister.
Rue didn’t want to hear shouting. She was still very tired from the fever, and Theron was sleeping peacefully on her lap. She looked at the grumpy, complaining Princess. She saw right through the bad attitude. Gianna was not really angry. She was just acting like a stubborn teenager who didn’t want to do her chores.
Rue took a quiet breath. She looked directly into Gianna’s eyes and spoke with gentle sincerity.
"Please, Princess Gianna, escort me."
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