Tova's Four Kingdoms

TOVAI turned nineteen years old today. I’ve been living in the castle for thirteen years, learning what it takes to be Queen, wife of the High King. My teachers have not all been kind; I have scars across my shoulders from one of the harsher teachers who believed children needed to have information beaten into them. My favorite teacher is Lady Ulka, the current Queen of Oremgoth. She teaches me about her duties, how to be a high bred lady and how to support my husband in politics. I also have history and geography lessons which I hate. The teacher is a mean wizard who has no patience with my stumbling over the pronunciation of towns and villages I will probably never visit. He stands over me and shouts, his foul breath making it hard for me to breathe. I study hard so that these lessons are not overly long.My favorite classes are the ones outside. I take riding lessons from Olf, the groom. The castle keeps horses, but also keeps a dozen Sleipner beasts, the eight legged ho

TOVA Birgir led the way back to the stable, not allowing me to take my time on the way back.  I was a little miffed at him and at the High King; it was my birthday and I certainly didn’t want to spend it in uncomfortable dresses with my hair pulled up too tight and shoes that pinched.  I wanted to wear my buckskin leggings with a shift over the top and my hair loose and not contained.  I wanted to be riding Bo through the glades.  I didn’t want to be a lady, the next Queen.  I wanted to just be Tova. I was sitting in my bath after being fussed at by Frida for my black eye.  She had disappeared to gather supplies to make me presentable tonight and I lay back, sighing with relief.  I didn’t like being chastised like I was a child, though in their minds I was still the scared six-year-old that showed up smelly and cowed.  I lay back and let my feet float to the top of the water, idly watching my toes when the outer door to my cham

TOVA If I had thought my torment was over because the acting High Queen Ulka had said it was to be over, I was mistaken.  I underestimated the sheer pettiness of women, and the pleasure men take in watching us fight. I had made it through the soup course without mishap, speaking to no one and not minding at all.  I usually sit in the corner, so I don’t have the opportunity to observe and watch people and I was enjoying it.  I tried hard to do it astutely so that no one would notice.  That is why I wasn’t aware that I was being spoken to until I was. I realized Queen Marta was speaking to me.  “I’m sorry?” I said, smiling and leaning forward a little so I could see her better. She smiled sweetly at me and repeated.  “Do you enjoy your studies?” I smiled back at her.  She seemed like she was genuinely interested.  “Yes, your highness, I do.  Of course, I enjoy some more than others, but they are all i

TOVA I looked at High King Erik with alarm.  He was in my bath chamber, and I was naked under the water.  The bubbles hid most of me, but he was my betrothed, and there was nothing improper about him being here.  He was High King.  He could be anywhere he wanted to be. He was also irritated with me.  I am used to him being angry with me, but usually just because I was existing, not because I’ve actually done anything.  I should have been very afraid, knowing how volatile and brutal he could be, but I wasn’t.  I was angry. I still had enough self-preservation to know that I should not provoke him while he was angry.  I lowered my eyes while I considered my words. “And now you’re ignoring me?” he continued to shout.  Okay, that’s it.  Forget it.  I’ll probably be whipped tomorrow morning, but he was making me mad. “Yes, High King.  I am ignoring your question.  I refuse to lie to y

ERIK My mother left my chambers and I sat and thought a few minutes, and my mind kept returning to how lovely Tova looked tonight, especially when she stood up from her bath.  The memory of the water and bubbles streaming off from her form made me hard again and I licked my lips in arousal.  I sighed, gathered up my things and went to visit one of my concubines. Nita was my newest acquisition, purchased from her father a six months ago from a small fishing village.  I had been riding with my groom when I saw her on the edge of the lake and had to have her.  I spoke to her father and the deal was made.  A bag of gold for his daughter.  He was pleased and she, not so much. I know the women of my harem are easily jealous and not kind to newcomers, but she handled herself well.  She had her own tiny apartment that was built into the seventh hallway, traditionally where the concubines are housed.  They have their own courtya