Living a life knowing exactly how you’ll die is quite exhausting. Growing up, I found my ways to escape the haunting truth, the distractions providing a peace of mind. I hated thinking my future included killing my own mother, even though her erroneous behavior proved the prophecy fortuitous. As I entered my formidable years, avoiding all possibilities of ever having a child of my own was a top priority, dreading the inevitable outcome. Outside of the palace walls, away from preening eyes, I visited apothecaries, relying on their discretion in exchange for tinctures limiting my chances of bearing a child. My mother foolishly believed keeping me under the watchful eye of the guards provided a convenient barrier thwarting any dalliance with men of whom she didn’t approve.

Hulda and I walked out onto the palace grounds, in my resolution to introduce her to my daughter. Our feet crunched under the familiar gravel path, surrounding the castle, and headed to the maze of bushes, tall enough to meet my hip. The bushes outlined the garden, every square holding a different variety of Clydonia’s treasured plants and flowers, flowing beautifully over the landscape. We trailed slowly along the path, the sky turning a jewel-toned blue as the three moons lit up our evening. My back stiffened suddenly, my godly instincts alerting me to an additional presence. I placed a hand on Hulda’s arm, stopping us in our tracks. Turning around, I faced Rune, still without the swathes of cloth covering him. He bowed.

“What–what are you doing here,” I stammered, specifically remembering dismissing all the guards, especially him. The last thing I needed was for one more person to notice the distinct shared features between Penelope and Rune.

“Einar suggested I accompany you on your walk,” he held out his hands at his side.

Withering a stare, I asked saltily, “And Einar gives the orders?” He blinked, mouth open, and, after another beat of silence, ran his hands through his hair, “Would Your Majesty prefer I take leave and find another part of the palace to guard?”

I rolled my eyes, annoyed at myself for acting so abominably, “No, join us. Please keep your distance though. Hulda and I have sensitive subjects to discuss.” A flash of hurt crossed his face, replaced instantly with a mask of indifference and he bowed again, allowing us to pace ahead of him.

We resumed our silent walk until Hulda observed, “Your time away did nothing to lessen your temper, I see.”

“Hulda, just because I found it in my best interest to keep you alive a few moments ago does not mean I’m guaranteeing your safety. Please keep your observations regarding my personality to yourself.”

She coughed, presumably covering her laugh, “You get that from your father, you know.” My chest tightened, and I fought the urge to scream at the top of my lungs. Instead, I said in a hushed whisper, masking the pain, “Don’t.”

Bowing her head in deference, she changed the subject, “Your daughter. Does she know?”

“Up until today, she was under the impression no world outside of the planet we resided on existed. She assumed we were humans with very normal lives. And then, as soon as I inherited my mother’s powers, she took on my own. I’ve had very little time to explain anything to her as I’m trying to tread carefully. And she doesn't even know our native tongue.” Hulda clicked her tongue. “Careful,” I warned, my tendrils of power wrapping around me, ready to strike at any minute.

“What about her father,” she asked instead. I mentally prepared for this question. Steadying my breath, feigning the emotions of a grieving widow, I explained, shakily, “A human. He died. A long time ago. She never knew him.”

A hiss escaped her, “She’s a half-human.” Forgoing all pretenses and acting purely on instinct of protecting my daughter and our secrets, I growled and whirled on her. Using nothing but my powers, I crossed my arms in front of me and the tendrils did the rest, rooting her to the spot, stopping any speech from escaping her wicked mouth. Rune approached my side and halted, widening his stance, preparing to strike at my command. “Do not speak of what you don’t understand. She is the princess, future ruler of our world, and a god in her right,” her eyes narrowed at my insistence, so those tendrils snaked their way around her throat. Her chin jerked upwards. “I swear it on the ancient dieties, the creators, if you so much as utter one word remotely offensive, I will not hesitate to cut off your head and display it in the hall. Do I make myself clear?” My tendrils slipped enough for her to croak a one-worded yes. Releasing her for the second time, my body shivered under the draining use of my powers. Staggering slightly, I bumped into Rune, who caught me and held me up, lowering his mouth to my ear. “Are you ok, Your Majesty?”

Steadying myself and resting an hand on his, I replied, “Yes, just tired is all.” Hulda zeroed in on me, composing herself once more, “Your Majesty needs to rest. You are not used to weaponizing your powers in such a way.”

Rune’s next words sent a shock to my heart, “Perhaps if you stopped baiting her, she wouldn’t exhaust herself by protecting what she holds most dear.” My mouth dropped open, and I stared up at him, his face full of rage. Hulda addressed me, jerking her chin to him, “You’re going to let a guard speak to me with such disrespect?”

Straightening my back, I nodded my head, “He has every right to speak the truth, Hulda.” A trill of laughter distracted me, my daughter and Kiki somewhere close by. Wanting to shove Rune as far away as possible but keeping my cool, I gently rested a hand on his and muttered, “Would you mind standing guard over there?” I motioned to a cluster of bright yellow bushes a fair distance behind us. He pursed his lips and offered a curt nod. Hating the way I hurt him, I added, “It’s just–Penelope…this is all very overwhelming for her. Maybe the less people around, the better?” His eyes softened infinitesimally before turning and stalking to the bush.

“Over here!” I called out as their voices drew closer. Kiki’s brown hair pulled up in a knot on top of her head peaked over the maze of bushes first. I held my breath, waiting for them to turn the corner, darting worried glances out the corner of my eye to Hulda who stilled. My daughter’s form came flying around the corner into the square where we waited.

“Mommy!” she squealed, running into my open arms. Scooping her up and pulling her into my chest, I twirled us around, and her laughter filled the air, lightening my soul. Gently placing her down and catching my own balance, I kneeled in front of her. “How are you enjoying the palace grounds, my love?” I asked, tucking a few pieces of red hair behind her ear. She grinned, glancing at her aunt, “I love it, Mommy! It’s big…so big! Are we staying here forever?” Kissing her on her forehead, I promised, “Cross my heart, forever and always.” Her hands clapped together in glee as she jumped up and down.

Hulda cleared her throat and I stood, placing myself next to my daughter. “Your Highness,” she addressed Penelope, approaching slowly. My daughter furrowed her brows and scooted closer to me, wrapping an arm around my leg.

“It’s ok, my love, this is a coworker of Mommy’s,” I explained as Kiki joined Penelope’s other side, protectively.

Hulda’s responding laugh startled my daughter as her grip tightened around my leg. Sensing her fear or my wariness of the council member’s potentially erratic behavior, Rune moved swiftly from his station, despite my command, and stood at Penelope’s back. Hulda attempted another step, but my powers held her in place. She narrowed her gaze at me and said, “Your Majesty, forgive me, please. I only wanted to properly greet my great-niece.”

“Step back, Mother,” Kiki bit out, and Penelope looked up at me for an explanation. A gentle shake of my head had her shrugging her shoulders and fixing her gaze back on the interaction between Hulda and her aunt.

“Kikana, it’s so good to see you. Where is my son?” she asked.

Kiki cocked her head and smiled, devilishly, “He’s off with a guard…exploring.” She relished rattling her mother by mentioning her brother’s preference towards the same sex. “And is it so good to see me? I could have sworn you had a hand in adding my and Alexi’s name to the list of the former queen.”

“Kikana, I always knew you had a flair for the dramatics, but what in all the ancient dieties are you talking about?” Hulda slipped into our native tongue, eliciting another confused look from my daughter. Rune tapped me on the shoulder, but I ignored him, confused by Hulda’s feigned innocence of the plot to kill her daughter.

Kiki responded in Clydonian, “Mother, the list. Alexi and I were next. After…” my stomach clenched, but she refused to utter his name. Hulda’s face fell into disbelief, “No. Kikana, stop. You are making up horrible accusations!” Rune tapped again, and I waved him off, stepping forward, “Hulda, stop, please. Stop pretending you didn’t know what would happen if they stayed. I saw it…I knew what my mother had planned. You really expect us to believe you had no idea? After what happened?”

Her mouth fell open, and her eyes filled with tears, “It is not possible…my sister…she would have never…”

I scoffed, and Rune’s insistent tapping interrupted again. Whipping around, I controlled my temper and asked as politely as possible, “What?”

He jerked his head to his side, and my eyes widened at my daughter clinging to his leg. “My love, what are you doing?” I asked, my heart beating wildly at the sight of her so comfortable with him. “Mommy, you all are speaking in words I don’t get. I want a snack.” She tugged on Rune’s leg and stared up at him, “You know where the snacks are. Take me?”

“O–ok, Your Highness…I mean–as long as it’s fine with your mother.” I closed my eyes and nodded. She flung herself into my arms and kissed my cheek before gluing herself to his side again. I mouthed thank you and they turned to head to the palace. Once they were out of earshot, I turned back to Hulda, whose red face and tear-stained cheeks did nothing to assuage me of any guilt. Closing the distance between us, I fisted a handful of her dress, using only my strength to lift her off the ground, gathering all my courage to speak the next words, resurfacing a memory I hoped to have stayed buried forever. “So you’re telling me my mother would never kill your children. Not even after she killed her own husband? My father? How do you figure, Hulda? Please…enlighten us.”