Page 105 of Royally Drawn

KEIR

Istood in my mother’s kitchen when I got a call from my aunt. I knew I had to answer it.

“Hello, Auntie Nat,” I said.

“Great. I was worried I might not get you. I know you had sailing plans.”

“We haven’t left yet. Lars is held up with something,” I said.

I’d come home and spent a few weeks up north with my mother. While Lars and I weren’t besties, we were better than we were a year ago. We often went out with Peder to improve matters.

“Good. I need you to go to a funeral.”

“What? Has someone died?”

“Yes. I’m in Germany, or I would go.”

“I am on holiday. Who is it for?”

“I know you are. It won’t take but a minute. Promise.”

“Duncan cannot go?”

“Duncan is in New Zealand.”

I groaned. The last thing I wanted to do was go to a funeral. I returned home a week ago. I wasn’t supposed to be back on duty untilJune. I tried not to think about where they would send me next or for what.

“Where is it?” I groaned.

“The Dowager Queen of Neandia has died. We need to send someone.”

My stomach churned.

“No, no, no. Auntie, anywhere but there.”

Lars entered the kitchen, making eye contact with me like he knew something was up.

“You don’t have a choice. These are orders. Are you being insubordinate, Squadron Leader Inverness?”

“Fucking hell,” I groaned. “If I have no choice, I will go.”

I soon hung up and stared at Lars.

“You got the call?” Lars asked.

I nodded. “Are you?”

“Cici is competing. She just rang me. Uncle Olav is sending me in her place. Can you fly me? I’m just assuming?—”

“Yeah,” I said. “I have no choice. Mamma, please tell Auntie I cannot go. This is not an important funeral. The woman was a cunt.”

“Cunt or not,” Mamma said. “She told you to go. She makes the rules. If Olav or Natalie say jump, you all say how high.”

“But Neandia… Mamma, please.”

“Don’t whine,” Mamma said. “You’re thirty-two years old. You can handle going to a funeral.”

“He doesn’t want to see Ingrid.”

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