Chapter 165: The Raven Throne

Pronunciation: Kyrosia (Kih-ROW-shyah)

*****

~ ZARA ~

My fears eased somewhat as the week progressed.

The days were full of stuffy luncheons, more etiquette and political instruction from Mother Estow, though it was far less formal now with only three of us. We met in a room they called the parlor and sat around with drinks and small cakes while Mother Estow answered questions, or instructed us on how to handle certain social or political tensions.

And we began to discuss the various kingdoms on the Continent, how they aligned or stood against each other, who were David's allies, and who were enemies, or cold opposition to his throne.

I found those discussions fascinating—the intricate ways the kingdoms interacted with each others' economies and cultures. Though I struggled to remember a lot of it without getting mixed up.