Speak

Chapter 12

                  

If it was humanly possible for her, a small hum would have been escaping Scarlet's throat. The King had called their lesson quite early, explaining to the two girls that he had a rather important meeting that late morning. Free until her afternoon training, Scarlet wanted to take this chance to explore the grounds of her new home. In the few weeks she had been there, she had yet to go outside beyond her balcony. Turning a corner, she gasped and stumbled back. She had run straight into another being. Catching herself before she could fall on her behind, Scarlet quickly looked up. Her face, already flushing, grew redder as she met glowing, golden eyes. Bringing her hands to her chest, she did her best to mouth the word 'sorry' to Theo. She then pointed to her hair, holding a thumbs up. Perhaps a compliment on her new tawny-braids would help the werewolf not be too angry with her. Theo only frowned, moving past Scarlet.

Her heart begun to race. Theo was angry with her, she had gotten a werewolf mad. She had never done anything of the sorts before, so she wasn't sure what to do or how to fix it. Turning, she watched Theo round a corner, the tail of her dress flicking behind her. Sighing, Scarlet glanced up to the ceiling before starting back on her way.

~~~

Scarlet stepped carefully around the hunched over gardener. With eyes glanced down, she avoided his tools, and was able to see him set a little bundle of slowly budding white flowers into a hole. Sensing her eyes, the gardener held up a new bundle towards her. "They're called Jasmines. Beautiful, aren't they? The King asked for some to be put in- asked for them by name. Here, have a sniff." Leaning forward, Scarlet took a small whiff. The scent was near heavenly. Pulling back, she smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

"Scarlet!" Renee came up the path, walking faster than normal. "Finally! The King has summoned us- well you, but you know. Come on." Not even fully registering what had happen, Scarlet picked up her skirts to run after Renee. Seeing how fast her friend walked when freed from the confinements of a skirt had Scarlet second guessing the idea of pants on a woman. Remembering the past few afternoons, spent training in the second skins with Claudia, her thoughts quickly turned against the idea of pants. She would settle for running in skirts, as she always had.

Catching her friend as she slowed to enter into the kitchen, Scarlet huffed. Claudia's dream of whipping her into shape was still in the beginning forms. Renee glanced to her friend, the corner of her left mouth lifting in a smirk. "Beat you, again." Scarlet frowned, and slightly swatted at Renee. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself!" Renee grabbed Scarlet's hand, leading her through the kitchen. As they exited out into the hall, Scarlet freed her hand.

'What does the King want to talk about?'

Renee shrugged. "I don't know, all I know is I was in the middle of planning the memoir of my life when Enaro, one of the Guards for the King, told me he wanted to see us at once." Scarlet gave Renee a tip of her head. "What?"

'Memoir of your life?'

"Okay, okay, you got me," Renee held up her hands in defeat. "I was in the library, trying to see how many books I could balance on my head when I had a pillow between them." Scarlet's risen eyebrow was all Renee needed to understand the unspoken question. "I got to seven." Scarlet smiled at her friend, her chest moving in a silent laugh. Her chest stopped moving as they slowed, stopping in front of the King's office closed door. Two guards stood in the same spots the last time Scarlet had been here, the day she first met the King. With neither girl saying a word, the guard to their left moved and opened the door.

"Isos?" The King questioned the guard. He bowed, and announced the two humans had arrived. "Send them in, send them in, thank you." Isos moved aside, allowing the two to cross over the threshold. Scarlet watched the door close behind them, "Your highness." Renee's voice had Scarlet spinning back to face the King. Grabbing her skirt, she curtsied. "Scarlet, Renee. Thank you both for coming so soon." Scarlet's eyes scanned the room, and grew wide at the sight of a mirco-braids pulled back into a pony tail. Scarlet took a quick step forward, her hands moving so fast that Renee almost didn't catch it. Alarmed, the King looked to Renee. "Um, she says that if this is about this morning that she didn't mean to bump into Theo. She was so caught up in her own mind, that she just didn't see her. She's sorry." The King looked at Scarlet, puzzled. As Renee translated for her, the werewolf facing the King stood and turned. "Theo?" The King looked absolutely bewildered.