The Tiger Within Chapter 58

Published at 3rd of September 2019 01:31:18 PM Chapter 58

The Garden at The Royal Palace

The garden was bathed in the golden glow of the morning sun, filtering down through the trees in little beams . A cool wind spun and danced lazily through the woods bringing out the hints of autumn's promise to come soon . The cooler weather was welcome after such a long hot summer . It was a relief for the animals who lived in the garden as they went about their lives within the garden walls . Most of the creatures steered clear of the main clearing where the humans spent the morning with their young .
Advertisement
The two Queens and their grandsons sat quietly visiting while grinding ink from stones as they waited for the Emperor to join them . He had been slow to rise this morning and they were waiting fairly patiently, enjoying their time as a family . The grandsons smiling and laughing with each other while the little girl sat quietly by herself, her little table empty .

Raina had learned a long time ago that these gatherings were not meant for her . She and Grandmother Evelyn would sit off to the side and embroider or practice their calligraphy off to the side . However, she felt a little out of sorts without the elderly woman there to give her purpose and direction . She wasn't even sure how to get the ink and paper required to being practicing . . . She felt even worse with the draping face mask to cover the bruise on her cheek .

Raina looked around a bit awkwardly for a moment, and noticed no one was paying her any attention and her gaze was drawn to the Cold Palace sitting on the hill just beyond the garden path . A sad sigh escaped her as she fingered the edge of her face mask . Empress Evelyn always had a way of making her feel better . "I miss you…" She whispered as her tiny hand wrapped around the little pendant on her chest . A idea struck her at that moment as she looked at the little forest path beside her . 'No one will miss me…' she thought glancing at the Queens who were still busy with their boys .

Without another thought, little Raina knocked the ink and her brush off the desk a little harder than she had to . The brush landing near the tree line . She stood and walked over acting as though she was going to pick it up . She stole a single glance back at the Queens before continuing to walk into the woods as if she belonged there . The child didn't notice Queen Fae who watched her disappear into the woodlands .

Knowing Raina's age, there should have been a sense of duty for Queen Fae to stop the little one from wandering into the gardens . True, they were not necessarily dangerous for the child unless she came across a untamed beast or a environmental danger . However, there were so many beasts and paths to get lost… Queen Fae chuckled glancing up at the Cold Palace . "Don't blame me because you failed to teach your granddaughter . " She whispered imagining Empress Evelyn's distraught expression when she learned Raina was missing . How dare her son consider this brat to interfere with her Grandson's attentions .

Unaware that she had been seen, Raina wandered deeper into the woods . Her sense of direction was still developing and this area of the woods was curiously relaxing for her . A sensation she hadn't felt in the main palace much . Enjoying the sites and sounds around her, Raina noticed a little fairy standing on the edge of a flower .

The Fairy was about 4 inches tall with pretty delicate wings . She looked as if she had tied a leaf around her chest and stepped into a upside down lotus blossom to form a tiny skirt for herself . Something seemed playful and teasing about the way she spun around the flower petals . Raina was entranced and walked closer to the lavender haired fairy . The Fairy waved at the little girl, tilting her head to the side and flashing her a friendly grin .

With a girlish chuckle the Fairy waved for Raina to follow and took flight . She flew deeper into the woods and little Raina followed curiously . The Fairy led her off the path and into the woods themselves . With no signs of other wildlife, the child felt safe until she glanced back at the path… only to find she didn't see it .

"Mally? Queen Fae?" Raina called softly hoping for the first much more than the second, but she was lost . She wasn't quite sure what direction she had come from . Tears pricked Raina's eyes as she looked back to the fairy . However, the fairy had disappeared having achieved her mischief .

Chapter end

Report