Chapter Eight
Reunited
Kieren and I were soon married, and five years later, we were crowned King and Queen of Kulornia. Villagers from every kingdom came to pay their respects to the new rulers of Kulornia.
"Your highness," a farmer knelt before me, "Please accept the sweetest tomatoes from my farm."
"Thank you." I smiled at the peasant, remembering that I was one, too.
"Your majesties," I heard a familiar voice, "Please accept this pouch of silver as a gift."
I looked up from the farmer to see my five sisters, and a great anger raged through me as I realized that the pouch of silver was the remnants of the payment that they had received for turning me in.
"Thank you for your gift," I spoke to them kindly, "Are you all siblings?"
"Yes, your majesty," Grace replied, "Our mother was too busy to make the trip, but she sends her blessings."
"Our brother, Seth, will be here soon!" Stella blurted out, and Angel elbowed her sister in the ribs.
"Is your mother worried about your journey here?" I asked them with complete sincerity while Kieran greeted the other well-wishers.
"She is, your majesty," Adelaide replied. "We are a long way from home."
"And she doesn't trust that your brother will protect you?" I queried.
"Well, the truth is, your majesty, we lost our youngest sister five years ago."
I tried to look curious, "Oh, and how is that?"
It was Grace who spoke up, "We lost her to a pack of wolves in the forest."
"More like a pack of slave traders!" I thought, but spoke to my sisters with kind words, "Oh, It must have been very hard for you dears."
"It was." My sisters feigned sadness.
I wanted to know more, "Why don't you girls join me at dinner, tonight, with your brother?"
Adelaide and Stella, without thinking, brightened up, "We would love to, your majesty!"
I smiled, "Very well, come to the palace throne room at noon."