“Has anyone seen Lord Starkon?” Roskva asked the staff. But everyone she asked had no idea where he went off to. Roskva sighed as she checked every conceivable place she could think of to look. Finally she ended her search in the kitchen where the staff were preparing for dinner.

“I don’t suppose Lord Starkon has been through here, has he?” Roskva asked.

“No your grace,” One of the kitchen staff curtsied to her and returned to her work. Roskva sighed and leaned on the counter. Feeling small in the giant kitchen. She had always felt so cramped in the tiny kitchen back home but this didn’t seem better.

“Your grace?” The chef asked, approaching her. “May I chop the vegetables?”

“Oh! Yes! Right.” Roskva jumped away from the counter to let the chef get to the counter.

“Is something the matter, your grace?” The chef asked. “You seem troubled.”

“It’s nothing, just.” Roskva played with her fingers for a moment. “I got a bit upset with Aneira. They aren’t getting along with Starkon and I just want them all to get along. They’re always so cold, to everyone.”

“Is that so?” The chef said sympathetically. “Their majesty isn’t very social then?”

“No. I mean, they’ve been more social now than I’ve ever seen them.” Roskva admitted. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen them around so many people in my life.”

“I can’t imagine what that’s like. Being a solitary person and suddenly being surrounded by people. Every single one of them, begging for your attention.” The chef said. Putting the chopped vegetables into a bowl. “Not that I’m meddling or anything.” Roskva frowned and looked down to the stone floor.

“I guess that makes sense.” Roskva admitted. “I just want so badly for us to be a real family.”

“Families are like rivers. No two are the same.” The chef imparted wisdom, as well as offering a slice of cucumber. “They all have different twists, turns, terrains, and even different speeds. Take it for the beauty it is.”

“Huh, thanks.” Roskva said as she ate the offered vegetable slice. “Thanks for all the advice.”

“Thank you and your sibling for getting fresh produce into the city.” The chef smiled. “Thanks to you two, my family can eat like real royalty every night.”

“Ha, I forgot Aneira implemented that,” Roskva laughed. “If nothing else, Aneira will make a wonderful king.”

“Agreed. Long live the King!” The chef called and the entire kitchen echoed. Roskva laughed,

“Thanks again!” Roskva called as she left the kitchen. She felt a bit sheepish once alone with her thoughts. Though she wasn’t alone for long.

“Roskva?”

Turning around, Roskva saw Starkon coming down the hall waving at her.

“I heard you were looking for me.” He said. “Something I can do for you?”

“Yes! I-I mean no. I saw you storm out of Aneira’s room.” Roskva said, “I wanted to apologize on their behalf, for whatever they said to upset you. I’m sure they didn’t mean it.”

“Think nothing of it.” Starkon said with a wave of his hand. “I’ve been called worse.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Roskva said instantly. Covering her mouth. “They’re under so much new pressure and new circumstances. You understand, right?”

“Of course.” Starkon said, he walked alongside Roskva down the hall. “I was trained since the day of my birth to take over this kingdom. Hence why I was concerned about Aneira, it took me a lifetime to learn how to cope.”

“They’re picking it up quickly.” Roskva encouraged. “And with you and I helping them, they’ll be unforgettable.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“We can only hope.” Starkon said.

“Aneira, you can’t keep me out forever.” Bellaire called, knocking on the door. Aneira held their face in their hands. “Look, I can help. Just let me!”

“I don’t need help!” Aneira finally snapped. They took a few more breaths. “Everyone is always trying to help. You can’t help. There is nothing you can do to help.”

“I can! You won’t let me!” Bellaire yelled.

“There is never a quiet moment!” Aneira shouted through the door. “Always, there are voices! Always, there is someone! Alive or dead they are always there! I can’t sleep! I can’t rest! There is no rest!”

“I can keep people out.” Bellaire said.

“But you can’t keep them out.” Aneira whispered. Not daring to turn around where the spirits were all arguing amongst themselves. “They go through walls. There's no escape.”

“What? Aneira, I can’t hear you.” Bellaire pushed her ear to the door. Hearing muffled noise but unable to make it out. “Speak up.” Aneira sighed, their forehead pressed against the door. They longed for their quiet farmhouse, where the loudest things were the old braying donkey.

“I’ll be here. When you’re ready.” Bellaire said, giving up. “I’m not going anywhere.” Aneira heard the creak of the wood as Bellaire sat herself comfortably against the door to wait. It brought the smallest amount of comfort to Aneira. They sat up against the door as well, looking at all the spirits inhabiting their room. They all looked back at them expectantly.

“I don’t know how to help you.” Aneira said, keeping their voice low.

“You are a Do’laeth aren’t you? Bathed by the waters?” One of the spirits spoke, stepping forward from the mass to be better seen. “Lay us to rest.”

“I’m.” Aneira tried to object but their mother came back to their mind. Their mother always said they were to join the family business. “I don’t know how. I lost my mother before I could learn.”

“Excuses. It’s in your blood!” A noble looking spirit broke out of the crowd.The pinched face scowled at them.“Every noble is born able to rule and there is no reason a Do’laeth cannot lay a spirit to rest! It is your whole being, your only purpose! So seize it and stop whining!”

The spirits began up their cacophonous racket. Aneira covered their ears but the noise bypassed their physical body and made noise in their head. Inescapable.

“I’ll figure it out but I need silence! I need rest! “ Aneira said. “I promise I’ll figure it out but you have to give me time!”

“You’ve had time!”

“They want time!? They should speak to the Queen!”

“Wait!”

A new smaller voice spoke up and silenced everyone. Aneira looked up at a small child who walked through the walls and addressed the crowd.

“I think they have earned a bit of time.”

“What do you know?”

The child looked at Aneira and smiled.

“The spirits of the city believe they have done right by the people. There is still much to be done, but our families have better lives now.”

The room fell to silence and Aneira breathed a sigh of relief. A ghostly sob drifted through the walls. Aneira looked around at the spirits who crowded their room but they all were looking at the wall. None of them had been the source. Aneira stood up, carefully they opened the door and Bellaire jumped to her feet.

“I heard you yelling, are you okay?” She asked.

“I’m fine. I just need a second.” Aneira said. “Can you look into… whatever history exists for the river and the Do’laeth? History, legend, myth, anything. Okay?”

“Okay. Sure.” Bellaire nodded. “Does this have something to do with your abilities?”

“Yes.” Aneira said. “Thank you,’ Another ghostly wail drifted through the room. Aneira wandered off, distractedly waving at Bellaire as they followed the noise. Following it down halls and stairs all the way to the portrait hall.

“Hello? Is someone in here?” Aneira entered the hall, closing the door behind them. The portrait hall was empty, only the portraits noticed their entering. Aneira inspected the corners, trying to avoid looking up at the portrait of their father.

“Aneira. That’s your name? The eldest one, correct?”

Aneira froze. Right beneath the portrait of their father, was the ghost of the former Queen. Aneira backed up to the door again.

“Please don’t yell at me.” Aneira said as they scrambled for the handle. The Queen said nothing but watched Aneira sadly. Aneira’s scrambling finally found the handle but they couldn’t find the energy to leave.

“I know you want to be laid to rest, I’m working on a solution.” Aneira said.The Queen still stared at Aneira. “Yes. I am Aneira. My younger sister is Roskva.”

“You are the one who is to take the throne, yes?”

“Yes.” Aneira said,

“Then we must speak. Follow me.”

Aneira swallowed the thickness in their throat, and followed the spirit through the quickly darkening halls.