13 Chapter Nine: Long Live The Queen

ERICIA STARES OUT of the Queen’s Study at Princess May, standing in the courtyard with a bow and arrow, demonstrating to the trainees her extraordinary skills in archery. With every bull’s eye shot, she’s applauded for her mastery. The coaches adore her; the trainees are all talking about her; the servants of the palace are all bewildered by her beauty and skill; she’s everyone favourite person ever at the moment –everyone except Prince Henry’s.

Henry is sitting at the end of the courtyard –Ericia can see him. He’s mildly interested in the events happening before him which have seemed to gather the attention of everyone in the surrounding area. Henry sits with a tall glass of water brought to him by a servant. He shakes his hand when the servant suggests something –perhaps an umbrella, Ericia thinks, since it’s quite hot outside.