21

What are you doing??? You can't start here! Back to the BEGINNING with you!

"Princess." Duke Longrier's bow is shallow, but his farmer friend bows so low that he loses his balance and nearly falls on his face. The duke is tall and pretentious looking with his thinning hair slicked back and gold rings glittering with jewels decorating his stately fingers. Rumors persist that he has servants pluck the hair from his knuckles out of vanity. The farmer is sun burnt and quite fat. His shaggy beard hides most of his round face, but does nothing to disguise the fact that he is sweating profusely.

"Queen," you correct with cold courtesy. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Duke Longrier?"

"Justice!" Longrier exclaims dramatically. "I warned your father about the danger he put us in by allowing those mongrels to roam our lands unrestrained!" The portly farmer bobs his head vigorously in agreement.

You arch a skeptical eyebrow. "Mongrels, duke? The werewolves are men just like any other for all but three nights each month."

Duke Longrier chortles with an air of superiority. "My dear, you've never met a werewolf in person, have you? Read about them in your books at great length, I am sure, but you cannot understand until you meet one in the flesh. They are most certainly not men. They are vicious, feral creatures that are as likely to maul you as look at you."

Morkin makes a small coughing sound from his place beside you and turns his armful of ledgers and parchment towards you so that you can read his hastily scribbled note. Take care, sire. He is not wrong about the wolves.

You frown. "What proof do you have that it was werewolves and not wild animals?" you ask.

Longrier purses his lips in irritation. "They are wild animals, your grace!"

"All the same, I'll be wanting to see your proof, duke." You fix the duke with a steely glare and watch him sputter angrily at the indignity of not having his word automatically taken over that of a disgusting werewolf.

"Fine!" Duke Longrier eventually declares in a huff. "Put your people in jeopardy just like your father did! But know this, little queen, the other dukes will hear of this - I swear it!"

You watch the duke stride away gracefully with his bumbling farmer friend in tow. "That could have gone better," you whisper to Morkin.

Morkin nods solemnly. "Sire, I truly hate to remind you of this, but you are only seventeen years old and hardly secure in your rule. Just because he is the first to openly aggravate you, don't make the mistake of assuming that Duke Longrier is the only one plotting against you."

"I'm going to need allies," you say thoughtfully.

"Just so, your grace. Duke Remar was always a loyal friend of your father's," Morkin tells you earnestly. "I could arrange a meeting with him this morning before the coronation ceremony takes place."

Another thought pops into your head. "Or..."

1) Meet with Duke Remar, your father's oldest friend

2) Meet with Gregor Cadsbane, leader of the werewolves