"HMMM who might you be?" She asked the little girl in her sweetest voice. The toddler smiled at her bashfully."I three." The child replied proudly, raising up three fingers. Raina chuckled.
"She asked who not how old you are, dim wit." Keen laughed a bit coldly and the child"s bright expression dimmed. Fire lit in Raina"s heart as she saw her own broken hearted past in the child"s eyes. She turned her fire on Keen.
"Don"t pay him any attention. What is your name, little one?" Raina snubbed him still focusing on coaxing the child.
"Dryn." She replied softly and Raina carefully poured a small cup of tea for Nathaniel, and Daniel before turning to pour a tiny cup for Dryn. Seeing how she was the eldest girl, she began doing what she would do in Shadow Veil. Afterall, Mommy had always poured the tea for Grandpa, uncle Mordrin, and daddy in Shadow Veil. However, she didn"t pour a cup for Keen who shot her a look.
"You missed my cup." Keen tried to demand but Raina set the pot down and took her seat.
"No, I was taught not to reward bad manners with respect." Raina replied as she took a tiny sandwich and little lemon cake off the table for herself. "Remember to blow on the tea, Drynala." Raina added with a kindly tone. This would be good practice for her baby sibling.
"I must say, you have grown up quite a bit in the last few months… it"s been nearly a year. You should be turning 8 here soon… shouldn"t you?" Nathaniel asked smiling a bit smuggly. He couldn"t help but he overjoyed by the way Raina put Keen in his place.
"Yes, next month. Mommy, Daddy, and I will be going to the Festival for it." Raina replied a bit excitedly, she was careful to keep that excitement contained but she was still a child and her face glowed with antic.i.p.ation.
"Festival?" Daniel asked, and Raina couldn"t help but smile. She had missed the twins obvious patterns. One speaks then the other and both following the other"s mind. It was much like the Storm Twins.
"Yes, my birthday falls near the harvest festival in the Frost Lands. We are going to go visit the Frost Royals so I can hear the Zither Masters." Raina explained honestly unaware of the response this would get not only from her cousins but their Nannies.
"You mustn"t tell lies." Nanny Tae chided her, while laying a napkin out for Keen who disregarded it anyway.
"I am not lying. Mommy said she would take me." Raina replied calmly, her heart was a little uncomfortable being called a liar. Grandpa said there was nothing worse than to be a Liar and a cheat because these things led to greater evils such as murder and dishonor. Raina knew she was young, and still learning but she knew lies were not okay.
"That woman apparently taught you to talk back as well." The Nanny replied dismissively and the twins looked at eachother. Then to the bird on the tree near them. Nathaniel wiped his mouth and put his napkin on his plate. The bird took flight.
"Kyera is my mother. Not "That woman" and she is a Princess and should be addressed as such." Raina replied her voice sharp as she glared at the older woman, her expression clearly intimidating.
"She is nothing more than a forest peasant who snuggled up to your Aunt"s husband like a harlot." Nanny Tae replied sharply.
"You are wrong, Nanny Tae. Smart people do not speak on subjects they do not understand." Raina replied curtly.
"How dare you. The First house of The Frost Forest does not recognize that creature as part of our family then she is NOT Clovis" wife. Stop dreaming child." Demanded Nanny Tae with a glare. She was infuriated that this weak brat would try to stand up to her. She was nothing but a ant to be squished under Empress Kera"s heel. The child didn"t back down, and turned back to finish her sweet. "As I thought. About time you behaved like a child, you motherless brat."
Raina didn"t even flinch. She unhurriedly wiped her lips with her napkin as Daniel stared at the Nanny. "That is too far, Nanny Tae. You should not speak that way." Nathaniel told her angrily. Both twins stood up from the table.
"You two sit down and eat your meal. Your father released hour nanny too soon. Both of you could use a swift tanning of the hide." Nanny Tae replied, her anger making her forget who she was talking to. The tension in the air quickly warned her to turn around.
Standing at the gate, was a tall man with black hair and green eyes built like a warrior from head to toe. There was a dark aura filled oppression seeming to drift off of him.