Chapter 12
Branches scratched arms as she ran through the forest, someone was watching her, waiting to strike, even tonight the moon shone traitorously bright. But it was up ahead, the tiniest scrap of cloth tucked into a vine, her fingers curled around the parchment and snapped her biscuit.
“You’re brooding again.” Thalia whispered, touching her shoulder.
“Just thinking.” She dusted away the crumbs and took the General’s hand once more.
Everywhere he went, she went, they were the most inseparable pair now that he had understood it was in his best interest to love her. Even after that unpleasant night in a cave, something nice to show her is how he phrased it, but they had different ideas of nice. Although she’d had a lovely necklace made from the emeralds she’d found, but despite her grand plans for jewellery he’d only gifted her three pieces and said the rest must be exchanged for gold. It was all well and good for the commoners, but not all that good for her wardrobe.
“Are you bored?” Despite his much calmer demeanour, he could be quite rude at times. “You don’t have to sit here, you can sit over there and sew.”
“I was listening, you want to keep your iron to forge weapons for our new army.” She leant against his arm, sighing gently. “A very good idea.” It was mostly taken from her own ideas, she was sure. “But tomorrow is our coronation and we were supposed to visit the temple today.”
“I am quite busy, love.” There he went, professing his love as though it mattered not who heard. “Later, or Abraxas can take you now.”
“You will take me, my arm hurts and you said-“
“The physician said it was a bruise nothing more, don’t make a fuss before others. It’s unbecoming.” His arm stiffened under hers, he did not like for her to criticise him in any capacity. Especially not before his men. “That bandage is just for show.”
“If that’s what you want.” She wheeled out her perfected downcast look, it was the easiest way to work him over.
“Fine, I’ll come.” His scowl wasn’t entirely true, it was more him showing off before his generals. “But don’t ask to go to the beach and look for shells, I’m not in the mood.”
“I won’t ask for anything.” It was the perfect response, a soft, docile whisper that manage to reach past his prickly exterior and would practically guarantee he’d change his mind. “I won’t upset you anymore.”
Abraxas said something softly but she didn’t quite catch it, although her ability to speak the Calchosi language had vastly improved she still needed people to speak slowly and clearly for her to understand. It was another one of her many shortcomings, apparently. Something was coming and the place she needed to be, the safest place, was by the Generals side. She could feel it, hear it, Kari may tell her it was dreams but her dreams were growing stronger and stronger. They were hardly dreams anymore, she felt the effects of them even when she woke. It was very odd.
“I hope you’re thinking happy thoughts about our celebration, just as you promised.” He cared a lot about what she thought lately.
“I’m thinking that I hope it goes your way because you promised me a necklace if it did.” She took his arm as she descended the chariot, the temple sparkled before them as young priests hurried about in preparation. “You said that if you were happy, then I can be happy.”
“That’s not exactly what I said.” He motioned for Thalia to follow behind them, she’d followed in a chariot with Zesiro. “But keep thinking them.”
They didn’t go straight to the main chamber of the temple but instead took a detour along a corridor lined with flower trees and stopped before a hidden pagoda in the gardens. It was encased in pomegranate trees so that only small glimpses of the white walls could be seen through the thick blanket of leaves. It was another temple of sorts, a much older one, the floor was covered in colourful tiles and paintings of a goddess adorned every wall, but there was no statue, no bust, just old paintings flaked with age. It should be a beautiful place but instead a heavy cloud of desertion hung in the air, no matter how loved this goddess was she had been lost to the passing of time. The pink marble of the alter was cracked and bare of offerings, she should give an offering if only for the camaraderie of being a forgotten woman.
“Stand still.” The General pulled her around, moving her to the wall. “Look straight ahead.”
“Why-“
“Just do it.” He cut her off, lifting his hand to cover her mouth and nose. Barely touching her. “Stay still.”
His eyes shrewdly flickered between her face and the wall for a few moments, prickles of unease ghosted along her scalp as he studied her with his dark gaze. Water was softly dripping somewhere as he continued to stare, sometimes he got like this and she needed to pull him back around. It wasn’t that hard, all she needed to do was paint herself into the perfectly harmless princess he wanted her to be. She pressed a soft kiss to his palm and his eyes softened, it might be humiliating to play the fool but it was far less dangerous than facing his wrath.
“You don’t like my nose?” She placed a bracelet on the alter.
“I adore every part of you.” There was no emotion behind his words as he placed a few gold coins on the alter, but he wouldn’t need to lie if it was just the two of them. “You must miss your brother very much.”
“I wish he would send a message or something.” Even the slightest whisper that she hadn’t been abandoned here would be welcome, to go from being so loved to merely tolerated was painful. “Did he offer me, or did you ask for me?”
“I needed a wife.” He shrugged, motioning for her to follow. “You’d have married whoever your brother saw fit.”
“Tom-“
“Alina, you know I don’t like these self-serving questions.” He took her hand to hurry her along. “You are my wife and we are perfectly happy together.”
“Only for the past eight days.” And not perfectly happy.
“Due to your behaviour, don’t bring up your past transgressions and spoil my mood.” He said something else, but she didn’t understand it.
Any and every unpleasantness between them was always ascribed to her behaviour, even a soldier he had whipped just yesterday was somehow mapped to her apparent brusque attitude in the morning. She didn’t feel pity for the whipped man, Zesiro had whipped a few rude servants in her honour, even she had been whipped, but she had a problem with the blame he placed on her shoulders.
They had walked through the ceremony from their arrival to their promenade past the commoners to the eastern chamber with the sacred pool, it was a long rectangular marble pool with translucent curtains barely obscuring it from sight. This was where they’d become one with the gods. The priest spoke quickly and Thalia was translating, but it was mostly boring and instead she stared at the open ceiling and tried to image the stars reflecting in the pool at night.
“Then your attendants will disrobe you, the General will enter the pool and-“
“But the whole court will be here, Thalia, that’s not right-“ They already mocked her, to see her like that would only provide more material.
“Quiet.” The General scolded, his mood had been rather strange since they’d entered.
“Everyone will see me, please Tom.” Her throat felt thick, it wasn’t just the ladies of the court but his men too.
“If you are worthy of being queen, you’d understand the importance of this.” He turned back the priest. “Continue.”
She would be ridiculed for months, years perhaps, whilst the General underwent the anointing of a king she was to stand unclothed at the edge of the pool and watch. They mocked her for everything, her accent, her size, the way her features were so different from theirs, now they would scrutinise her body and find fault with its every curve. Never had she felt shy, or insecure, until she arrived in this place. Now there were parts of herself she hated that she didn’t even know one could hate, the apparent sing-song lilt to her voice, the curls of her hair, and even the way her feet were rather flat. She’d never given much thought to her feet, but apparently it was something to fret over.
Only after the General had received all his rites would he turn and beckon her to the pool, only then would she be afforded some slight reprieve from the stares, he would anoint her and she would receive a blessing from the priest and then they would leave the pool and be crowned. It wasn’t clear if they would be given robes before or after the crowning but she would pray it would be before, it seemed completely unnecessary not to. There was much that needed to be done if she was to be seen in such a way tomorrow, every part of her body needed to be primped into perfection to lessen any teasing that might come around.
Her hair couldn’t be loose else she’d emerge from the pool like a drowned rat, something with braids and jewelled pins would work, and she would need henna, and gold dust, a deep exfoliation, she would need everything. Her toes should be painted and ankles adorned with gold cuffs, her wrists should be smothered in jewels, her status should be obvious to all who looked upon her. No, she couldn’t wear her hair up. The General often remarked about the bumps on her spine, he said she needed to eat more as though he hadn’t starved her for weeks on end, people would see that and laugh. She should wear her hair down. But to wear it down would get it wet and it would drip over the fresh robe, it would dry awfully, a braid could work if she kept perfectly still.
“Join me in the gardens, the King of Karth is walking with his wife and he enjoys your presence.” The General helped her down from the chariot, neither of them had spoken directly since the cross words in the temple.
“I have a lot to prepare for tomorrow.” But she still held his hand a little longer, just to keep his mood pleasant.
“Princess.” He inclined his head coldly, but a frosty evening with him was far better than endless taunts from the court.
“Thalia have hot water brought to my rooms, and two barrels of the rosewater the General gifted me, and we need milk, and the sugar paste-“
“Leave it with me, you need to relax.” Thalia linked their arms, reeling a quick list to a hovering servant. “I’ve been preparing for weeks.”
“You’re coming, you’ll be with me right to the end.” She’d even set aside some jewels for Thalia to wear. “You are my dearest friend, I hope you know that.”
“All the flattery in the world won’t convince me to spend five hours painting your arms and legs.” But Thalia would, for more reasons than they should speak of.
Ewers of hot water were continually delivered to the room over the next six hours, she went from the tub to the bench, to the second tub, and back into the first more times than she could count. It would only take one flaw and the humiliation would start once more, there were so many things they mocked her for and most had been started by the General. She shouldn’t care of their opinions but this was her life now, Kari had left her here and she must find her way forward. Her prayers had taught her one thing, change was coming and she would survive the course.
“Stay still.” Thalia chided, pinching her leg. “What’s the problem now?”
“Are you sure my prayers made him love me?” For all that he said he did, sometimes it seemed he might not. “You said my strange dreams were reminders to pray, but I think they’re warning me of something. I’ve heard-”
“What did you dream this time?”
“That I was in a forest, searching for something.” She forced herself to stay still. “I should tell him, I know I should.”
“He’ll call you insane as your brother does, just keep this between us. You prayed and your prayers were answered, you asked to be safe and loved and now he protects and dotes on you.” Thalia carefully traced patterns along her calf. “Dreams are just dreams, for both our sakes let it rest. Don’t speak anymore of this.”
“That’s very pretty.” Perhaps it was better not to speak of them, life continued whether she did or not.
“It’s for the best, you’re happy now and you’ll be queen.” Thalia gave her leg another pinch, she’d moved again.
Happiness wasn’t exactly how she would describe her current state, a calm acceptance was a more apt description and it was that acceptance that made things bearable. She wasn’t going home, she would never be as loved as she’d been at home, she was only slightly under Kari’s protection yet he’d not bothered enough to send an envoy to enforce that. She was little more than a peg in his plan, in all their plans, but even a peg could find happiness. She liked the flowers that were carefully cultivated underneath the balcony, the fresh juices the General had brought to her every afternoon, the pretty dresses and warm cloaks, all that was a balm on the cloying unhappiness that tinged her every thought.
If you didn’t look too deeply, think too hard, if you drew a thick veil over the abuse she’d suffered at his hands, then it wasn’t so unbearable. Life was no more than the moment she lived in, sometimes if she had something to look forward to then she could live in that coming moment instead. Now she was thinking too deeply, better to turn her mind to simpler things like what she would stitch onto his next tunic.
“I’ll bet that’s your juice.” Thalia finished wrapping her arm with the protective linen and went to the door.
The people loved her, the General seemed to love her and he’d even gifted her his prized horses- although he still rode them as she didn’t know how, but beyond that she was merely tolerated. The high priest liked her, that had helped guide the people’s love, from the first time they met he’d welcomed her so warmly and bid her to pray with him that for a moment she’d almost forgot to be home sick. The voice at the door was familiar, really familiar. It couldn’t be-
“Anisa?” She leapt to her feet.
“And Nyota, and Hazina, or are we not important?” Her cousin Hazina rushed forward to embrace her. “Baba received notice of your coronation, by chance he had been sent to watch the northern lands, so we were only a week’s sail away.”
“Is Hami here?” Uncle would be defending the border, but her cousins would not have been allowed to travel alone.
“Of course, he’s introducing the emissary.” Anisa glanced around the sitting room, handing a basket of caked to Thalia. “Your husband is so handsome, you’re lucky. You should see who I’m supposed to marry, he’s barely taller than you.”
“If he is a good man, then you won’t care how he looks.” The General had the looks of a god, but the temper of a monster.
“Easy for you to say, your husband seems to do nothing but sing your praises.” Anisa sighed, helping Ara pour the tea. “How kind you are, how skilled at the loom you are, how sweet, quiet, and gentle you are. I wonder if he even knows you at all, I recall you being loud and bossy.”
“Tell me of home?” Better to change the subject.
It seemed both nothing and everything had changed at home, her cousins told her all the court gossip, all the drama, every tiny thing that had happened at home, they told tales so funny she could barely breathe, but when they asked her for stories she had none. There was no gossip, no funny tale, nothing that she could offer from this court. What could she tell them? How she’d been locked in the room behind them, how she’d tried to run away, how he’d tried to slit her throat after inviting her to sit at dinner then ignored her until she was almost kidnapped.
“She probably spends her days staring into his eyes.” Anisa giggled. “Is that so?”
“Or are the ladies not welcoming?” Nyota’s careful eyes saw all. “I found it hard to settle into my husband’s household, the threat of Hami meant nothing to the cruel tongues of his sisters. But I am a princess, although not as highly-ranked as you, pull that rank and they’ll fall in line.”
“It’s not that easy.” Not when she was practically despised, nothing more than the butt of every joke. “I’m still struggling with the language.”
“That’s because you lived in the capital all your life, we can speak most of the island languages fluently.” Nyota passed Thalia a tray of cakes, urging her to take the largest. “Dearest Thalia, I hope you’ve been treated accordingly here?’
“I-“
“Here they treat her like a servant.” To say a slave was so cruel. “They don’t understand that as my body servant she is my closest companion.”
“Then you must rectify that, we will tell Hami.” Nyota shrugged. “Thalia is under your father’s protection, same as you and I. We need not allow their vile practices to hurt her.”
“The General keeps me comfortably roomed and clothed.” Thalia never complained, not before others. “I have it better than most.”
“It should be better than all.” Nyota looked around, scrutinising the room. “Where are all your things, and why is this the King’s room?”
“I don’t know.” At least that was true.
“Alina, you don’t seem at all yourself. Is all okay?” Anisa nudged Hazina. “You look thin, and so very tired.”
“I’m homesick.” The first tear fell, scalding her cheeks with the shame of failure. “I’m lonely, I’m frightened, I feel so stupid all the time. I want to be at home.”
“We should cheer you up, Hazina tell a servant to fetch us wine and bring a musician. Anisa open the balcony doors and let some air in, Alina you just sit there until your hina dries, Thalia fetch Alina’s robe.” Nyota stood, stretching her arms high overhead. “This is your court Alina, just like at home.”
“I suppose so.” It didn’t feel so.
At first she didn’t care for the fun, but after a few cups of wine and once Thalia had rinsed away the dried hina she couldn’t help but giggle. The musician had been placed in the antechamber of the sitting room to allow them privacy and they were dancing the secret women’s dances from home, it wasn’t that they were bad dances but legend have it that should a man see you he’d fall for you dreadfully. There were legends of women using these dances to attract princes, others of pleasing the moon goddess and being gifted a child in return, but truthfully they were simply fun dances that allowed a single woman to be the centre of attention. A privilege not often afforded.
Despite a few odd glances none of her cousins mentioned her strange living arrangements, when they saw she had no room of her own to retreat to they said nothing, when they saw her belongings were crammed into a single trunk Nyota complemented the carvings, when no servant came by to see if they needed anything Anisa simply summoned one.
“Alina, come to the balcony and we will talk as married women.” Nyota took her arm, steering her from the room. The palace should be alive with the preparations for tomorrow’s celebration, but the courtyard below her balcony was carefully quiet. “Tell me Lina, was your wedding night as awful as reports said?” Nyota linked their arms, drawing her close. When they were younger, before Nyota’s father was sent to watch the northern expansion, Nyota had been her world. “He seems rather taken with you, I hope all is well?”
“If it wasn’t well?” She laughed lightly.
“War, probably.” Nyota shrugged, turning to face her. “So think carefully what you are about to tell me, and what you tell Hami.”
“It was very awful, but that has passed.” War would end terribly, probably more so for her. She would be a prisoner, the General’s last defence against her families wrath. “But Nyota, I want to come home.”
“Tell me, was it painful?” Nyota ignored the last part, instead waiting for her to nod. “And I’m sure you were quite frightened?” She nodded again. “And you’ve kept quiet about your strange dreams?”
“I have.” Not like she ever really had a chance to speak.
“It seems whatever unpleasantness between you has dissolved and he is quite taken with you.” Nyota squeezed her arm. “You will find your place here, but for now just find your place in his heart. My own marriage was a painful one, until he loved me.”
“Was he-“
“Crueller than I would ever care to say, I’m sure you can understand.” A look of understanding passed between them. “I was the enemy princess, beloved niece of the king who’d conquered his father’s lands and taken the throne. He despised me. But I made myself dear to him, I never complained, never fought back. I sewed his tunics, poured his wine, arranged entertainment for his feast, and one day he decided to love me.”
“So there was no apology, no retribution?” What an empty existence.
“There was no pain, no humiliation, there was kindness.” Nyota shrugged. “You can hardly expect more from a man like that. Believe me Lina, it is I who wears the crown. I have whatever I want, now.”
“I have nothing, not even a room of my own.” Perhaps a few weeks ago she’d have cried, but now there was nothing but acceptance.
“The more he loves you the easier things will get, focus only on that Lina. Find his love and it will come.” Nyota pulled her back to the sitting room. “Dance with me.”
“I need to dress for dinner.” And spend some time alone, perhaps she enjoyed being alone.
“No, dance.” Nyota pulled her back to the sitting room.
It wasn’t exactly new information that she would have to put up with this, it simply wiped out the hope that Kari would take her home. So better not to think of it, better to dance and lap up the compliments from her cousins who’d always proclaimed her the best dancer. Of course she was lauded the best dancer, the only lessons she’d regularly had were the harp, needlework, and dancing. Useless lessons really. Anisa clapped then collapsed in a heap of giggles as Nyota inclined her head, slowly she followed Nyota’s direction to the now wide-open door and saw the General watching her with a small smile. Men shouldn’t watch these dances.
“I didn’t know you were there.” She’d almost snapped at him for not knocking, almost. “You shouldn’t see this, it’s not-“
“He’s your husband, it doesn’t matter.” Nyota laughed. “Come sisters, let’s ready for dinner.”
As her cousins disappeared she quickly set about tidying away there things, Thalia was rushing to tidy away the cakes they’d been picking at and she was sure the General would rage about the mess they’d made. He despised mess, or frankly he despised seeing any evidence of her existence in his rooms.
“Come greet me.” He was still stood by the door. “Thalia, leave us.”
At least he’d called Thalia by her name, it was a vast improvement.
“Tom, I’m sorry about the mess.” She stood before him, holding her elbows. “They came here, I didn’t invite them-“
“I invited them, I wanted to see you smile.” He cupped her cheek, as he had often. “I have something for you.” He pulled a pearly-pink shell from his pocket. “Are you going to smile?”
“I would smile more if you allowed me to display my shells in this room?” She still offered him a smile, heart pounding in her chest. “If you would like, if not I don’t mind.”
He ducked his head to kiss her and she tilted her face to meet his lips, her kissing had vastly improved but Thalia had made her swear on her own life that she would never tell the General they had practiced. It wasn’t like they were doing anything wrong, it was simply a few kisses between friends, they often kissed on the cheek so a kiss on the lips was hardly different and Thalia was much kinder than him.
Now she knew to trace his lip with her tongue, to softly nip his lower lip but never take charge, to let her hand rest against his chest as he ducked to meet her lips. Kissing with him was rather awkward due to their height, so it was much better when they were both sitting as she didn’t need to balance on her toes and he didn’t need to stoop.
“I left with harsh words, but I shouldn’t have.” He broke the kiss, pressing his usual finishing kiss to her forehead. “If I’d have known you were locking yourself away to make yourself pretty for me, I would have been much kinder.” He winked, placing the shell on a small table. “Are you thinking pleasant thoughts about tomorrow?”
“You always care what I think?” Since the cave incident it seemed he wanted her to always be happy.
“Thoughts are powerful.” He shrugged. “Now go dress for dinner, I have a letter to write.”
***
There were many things that didn’t quite add up; how six of eight siblings could all die in strange circumstances, why she knew almost nothing of her mother’s country, why she knew almost nothing of her own country, why Kari had up and left after speaking in depth of the need to settle his sister, and why the only goddess she prayed to was a moon goddess who wasn’t even prevalent in the pantheon of her people. All ruling families lied, all pretended they were descended of the gods, but one story, one that seemed to lead to his little wife, didn’t seem like such a stretch.
“The princess is happy.” Abraxas stood beside him, watching the princess sitting with her cousins. “Things are going well for us.”
“The fields?” It had rained intermittently, nowhere near the desired amount but more than nothing.
“Nothing yet, but it’s very early.” Abraxas took a cup of wine from a passing slave. “We’ve had no more attacks and the King of Karth is ready to sign a trade agreement.”
“Don’t you think it’s odd, she looks nothing of her kin yet everything of the statue of the goddess Selene. We can’t do it, I took her to the ancient temple and-“
“Tom, mate, don’t do this. Don’t play with the gods, they blessed you with a vision and we will fight beside you to the end. But don’t take more than they offer.” Here it was, a lecture from the son of a lord. “You just don’t understand, the gods can be-“
“You believe you understand the gods better than I, because you were born in a palace and I in the street?” Yes, even now he was seen as an outsider. “Next time your wife upsets mine, I’ll whip you both. Go and tell her that.”
All he needed to do was get through tomorrow, to emerge from the pool anointed and be accepted by the remaining lords and his people. He’d promised the gods and empire, he’d promised them huge temples, he’d promised everything to the goddess who’d lifted him from the battlefield, to the god who’d kept him this side of the veil for days, but a year had passed and he’d achieved nothing. They were turning on him, he could tell. He had been chosen, he was strong, smart, gifted, but it threatened them.
“It’s a big day tomorrow.” Nyota, Alina’s oldest cousin, stood beside him with a smile. She was an incredibly attractive woman, and he’d had the pleasure of her conversation once before. She was witty, clever in a way that rivalled most men, she was the kind of woman he’d wanted.
“It is, you believe your cousin up for the job?” He hailed a slave, calling for two glasses of wine.
“If you’re up for the job, so is she.” Nyota took the offered glass. “I assume as queen she’ll have the queens rooms? I remember them from a few years ago, the late queen had decorated them so beautifully. Shame about Queen Julia, I liked her.”
“You couldn’t have liked her that much, not if you put my name forward to Kari.” He moved closer, daring her to step back. He could smell her heavy amber perfume, see the gold flakes glitter against her copper skin. “Is that your loyalty?”
“They called you a devout man, I only spoke your name to protect her.” Nyota turned, the beads of her long braids chiming softly. “Do you ever find her strange?”
“Strange how?” He followed her gaze, Alina glanced towards them with a slightly confused look but her cousin Anisa stole her attention once more.
“Things she says, or does-“
“She can only just speak the language, everything she says is strange.” He laughed and Nyota joined him, a breathy laugh so unlike the high-pitched giggle of his wife. “I know why I was gifted her, Kari told me she was insane and it seems he was right. She has no sense.”
“Think of it as part of her charm, nothing more.” Nyota smiled, moving closer. “She’s lovely, beautiful and sweet, don’t complicate her. All she needs is kindness, a gentle man, I would like to see her safe.”
“And this place is safe?” He drained his cup, Alina was looking at them again with a strange expression. She looked like she’d just bitten into a sour peach, she looked half furious half serene.
“I think you would keep her safe, seven of her siblings were killed under her fathers watch.” Nyota touched his chest, things were getting rather close for how public they were. “I think you could conquer the northern islands, I think if you headed a campaign my husband would join. You could make her an Empress, wouldn’t you like that?”
“I think an Empress would be far more alluring, she’s simply a silly little princess.” His hand moved to Nyota’s waist. “Tell me, Princess Nyota, how can two cousins be so different?”
“One of us lives on earth, enjoying the pleasures this fleeting life brings, the other has her head in the stars and thinks something is coming.” Nyota laughed again, but her words prickled along his spine. “Be kind to her, don’t think of her silly little dreams.”
“Tom!” Alina half shouted from a few feet away, she looked flustered and a few people stopped to look at them. It didn’t look good. “Tom, you must… you should…”
“Alina shall we go for a walk?” Nyota words were honey, hiding her sting. “Show me the gardens.”
“What were you doing?” She looked between the two of them, wringing her hands. She looked devastated. “I saw how you were standing, so close and-“
“Alina, you know you mustn’t make such outrageous statements. Your husband and I were simply talking, you should hear yourself.” Nyota smiled, diffusing the brewing scene. “You sound-“
“Don’t call me insane.” Her face fell, taking the tiniest step back. “Why must everyone say that?”
“Come here my love, do you have something special to show me?” His voice was loud enough to carry, the picture of an indulgent husband. Things were about to go rather sour. “What do you want to show me?”
“It’s outside.” She took his hand, dragging him towards the gardens. “Nyota, Hami wants you.”
She dragged him through the gardens and into a quiet alcove but the expected tantrum never came, instead she paced around soothing her own arms as she whispered to herself. She was insane. No, she was crying. Once or twice she paused before him but whatever she wanted to say was stuck in her throat, of course it looked bad, he’d been rather cosy with her cousin before the whole court. But he hadn’t done anything, he’d thought of it but simply kept it harmless despite the way she’d been looking at him. Who knew, he would probably be in the market for another wife soon.
“These flowers are pretty.” Once more her mood had flipped and she was the picture of serenity, no trace of tears anywhere about her face. She was talking of a small orchid struggling to break through the rock. “Do you like them?”
“Yes, I do.”
“And this flower is much brighter, do you prefer it?” She pointed to a regal rose, objectively a much better flower.
“The flower I prefer is standing before me.” It was a trap, he could tell. “Is there something you wish to say to me?”
“You can only pick one flower, and I am your wife.” She touched her chest, more to soothe herself than anything. “You cannot have another flower, you can only like one flower.”
“Are you jealous?” The woman who despised him was fighting for his affections, how the winds changed.
“I will be the only queen, you can’t pick any other.” The scowled she pulled was quite ugly, her nose scrunching into a sneer. “I am not insane-“
“Nyota and I were simply talking, a soldier passed too closely and knocked her so I steadied her.” If her family lied to her then he’d feel no guilt in doing the same. “Tell me why you’re upset?”
“If you can’t love me, we won’t be happy. I won’t, I won’t be.” She stumbled closer, a strange look crossed her face. “You never joked with me, you met me with distaste, you-“
“Alina, my gods.” He lunged forward as she collapsed, blood pouring from her nose.
It was the eve of his greatest triumph and things were falling apart. He’d made a promise to the gods, love her, make her happy, he’d do all that and in return they’d bless him with the power he fought for. He was even thinking of changing his path, just slightly. But he’d ignored the promises, tried to cheat the gods, he’d built them nothing, falsified his feelings, turned from her the moment he saw something better. Unless this had nothing to do with the gods? Unless a more mortal force was working against him?