Sometimes her parents took their meals in the rooms, and sometimes they spent all day with their children. Every day Joan's heart raced and wondered if or when she would see them. It was not up to her to enter their space. Even as their child, she was their subject and had to wait to be called upon like anyone else. Their rooms were in a separate wing of the castle, so it was impossible to accidentally come across them. They called upon their children only when other business didn't take precedence.

Prince Edward spent more time than his sisters did with their parents. Joan was jealous, but Isabella urged her to keep those thoughts to herself. He was prince and heir. He was just going to be more important. Whenever the girls did see the prince, he was unusually elusive about what he and the king spoke about. He would just tell them it was important and above their heads to understand. Edward hinted that he would soon be given a leadership role because he was getting older. Joan pointed out he was still a child too.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Edward yelled before storming off.

One sunny morning, the king called his daughters to his study room. Joan had not been in the room before. There were stacks of papers everywhere, books scattered on the bookshelf, and a large map on the table. King Edward sat at a chair in front of the map. He was just such a larger than life figure, tall, broad shoulders, a big bushy beard with some grey in it. Joan was in awe of his presence. He commanded any room he was in by his nature.

"My girls! I want to show you something." The king gestured to the map. Joan looked at it, but she had never seen such a big map before. "Your mother grew up in a trading village, here in Hainault," he said, pointing to a place across the sea. "She learned diplomacy as a girl. It is important that you girls understand the way of things."

Edward's finger landed on an island surrounded by waves and a sea serpent between island and the rest of land. "See, England is here," he said, pointing to the brown shape. Joan could read the word England on it. "Here is the English Sea, a narrow water, and then here is France. After King Charles died, I, being the nearest male relative through my mother, should have inherited the crown when he died. Here is Aquitaine, which the pretender king Philip has stolen from me. These here and here are lands I inherited from my mother when I came of age."

"The She Wolf?" Joan blurted out, repeated the oft-mentioned nickname she had heard.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Edward slammed his fist on the map. "Where did you hear that name?"

"I don't remember," Joan stammered. It was true, she had heard it repeated so many times she hadn't seen any offence in it. She heard a name, the mysterious and mean queen that was her grandmother.

Edward's expression softened. "Dears, it is true my mother was wicked. I believe she was at first a dutiful wife to my father, but he did not love her or provide for her. She and her lover overthrew and killed my father and ruled in my name until I was old enough to command my own throne. Aye, what mettle it took to seize my rightful throne, but I did and I'm a strong king because of it."

"What happened to her?" Joan asked.

"She has her own residence in Norfolk. You met her when you were a babe. You see, the Bible teaches us to honour thy mother and father, just as you honour me. My mother brought me into the world, and I don't fear she will try and take my throne, so I leave her to live as she wishes."

"What happened to her lover?" Isabella asked.

"He was hanged for being a traitor." King Edward looked down at the map. "See, this area to the west of France is the Holy Roman Empire. There have been many disputes over borders between the two countries. I think the emperor and I can come to an understanding that benefits us both. I will just need an audience with him."

Isabella looked at the map. "Where is Castile?"

King Edward pointed more south than France. It was far from England.

"Father, may I have a word alone with you?" Isabella asked.

"My darling, of course. It is my intention to spend some alone time with all of you." They both looked at Joan. "Little Joan, your time will come. Will you give your sister and me a moment alone?"

The thought of alone time with her father filled her with joy. She skipped out of the study outside to the courtyard. Her brother was playing with a wooden sword alone.

"Can I play?" Joan asked.

"I'm not playing; I'm practising. When I go into battle, I will have to be a good fighter. I will kill many soldiers."

"What battle? We won't be at war when you're old enough to go to a battle," Joan pointed out.

Prince Edward continued to swing his sword. "Someone will always challenge England, and I will smash them down like the brutes they are." He suddenly swung the sword against Joan's arm.

"Ow!" she cried out.

"No mercy!"

There was a blackness to his eyes that scared her, and she ran inside. She ran to her room, but she knew better than to tell on the prince who would be king.

No one would punish him for striking his sister. He was prince and heir, everyone constantly reminded her to excuse him. He would never apologise. He could get away with whatever he wanted unless her parents chose to step in, and they rarely did. Such things were true for the king as well, but the king was kind. The prince was mean and had always been mean. Joan didn't want to see the day Edward would have total authority when he ruled England.