by V. St. Clair
“Thank you, Hanna. I won’t fail myself.” She let go of her nerves, relaxing even as a sharp knock sounded on the outer door.
Hanna is right. I’m not being dragged into this like a screaming toddler. I’m making a strategic alliance for the good of my family and most people would kill for the opportunity to be in my place.
Her personal feelings didn’t matter. They never did. For the first time she was fully able to understand that she bore the surname ‘Elaria.’
I am not a person. I am a planet.
“Good. Then we’d better see who is banging on your door.”
“At this hour, it can only be Shellina.”
Jessamine’s suspicion was confirmed when she opened the door and her sister nearly toppled into her. Shellina was already fully dressed for the day in surprisingly businesslike attire, carrying a covered plate of breakfast in one hand and her wedding binder in the other.
“Good, you’re awake—why did you put on your armor? Oh, it doesn’t matter for now, I suppose—we’ll get you changed at the venue. Are you hungry? I brought breakfast. You should eat; you’ll need the energy. Oh good, Hanna’s here! I’m just about to meet the florists at the Laurel, but I was hoping you could—”
“Shellina, stop and breathe.” Jessamine rested her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “Everything will be fine. We’ve got hours before the ceremony and I know you’ve been driving the vendors like a taskmaster, so everyone will be set up perfectly.”
Her sister vented a girlish laugh and said, “You’re right, but I want everything to go off without a hitch, so I’m going to be manic until it’s over. I woke up three times last night with nightmares about the dinner napkins being the wrong color—well, they were multicolored, actually, and it was garish—clashed with everything.”
Jessamine laughed, releasing some of her tension.
“Then go on to the Laurel and give those florists hell. I’ll see you at lunch.”
“Remember, lunch is at one o’clock at the—”
“Yes, yes, I remember.”
“Be sure you keep your comm on in case I need to get a hold of you. I’ll see you soon!” Shellina beamed and threw her arms around her before leaving so quickly it looked like someone was chasing her.
Four Provo-Majors stood guard outside her door, and Jessamine stepped outside and greeted them. Gareth was there, which was good, but Andro was there too, which was bad since he was likely a part of Fox and Parl’s plot to murder her.
“Can someone take this?” She passed the plate of covered food off to Jora. “I’m not hungry right now. Don’t tell Shellina.”
Jora lifted the cover slightly and studied its contents.
“I’m happy to take this off your hands, Excellency. Let me, uh, take it to the kitchen and dispose of it…” He grinned when she waved him off, and went to find somewhere private to eat his breakfast.
The next part of Jessamine’s day was less amusing. People seemed to think she’d be in a fog of bliss, and they kept stopping her in hallways to push their agendas on her in the hopes of getting approval before she could think better of her decision. She disappointed them all, but between people making demands on her time and everyone else in the building stopping by to congratulate her, wish her luck, or offer words of advice and encouragement, she was exhausted by lunch.
I’ve got to move Parl’s body before anyone has a reason to go on two-eighty one.
She pushed the intrusive thought to the back of her mind, determined to focus on the wedding.
“I think I’ve encountered every human being who works or resides in the Augenspire today,” she groaned to Gareth as the others checked the aerial speeder for threats, eager for conversation.
“I’ll be glad when this whole circus is over and everyone goes home. Not to speak ill of your wedding, of course, just the logistic complications involved with it.”
“I imagine you’re all going to be twitchy tonight, out of armor and surrounded by civilians.”
“None of us have been looking forward to it, but we’ll endure. Reya is threatening to equip so many weapons beneath her dress that I won’t be able to dance with her without gravely injuring myself.”
“With all the security screening Shellina has at the Laurel, Reya might have a hard time getting through the door.”
Gareth shrugged and said, “Some of the Majors already petitioned the Vicerina for permission to carry weapons, and given her reluctance to let the general populace and the Gifted near you, she eventually agreed.”
Jessamine raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“Why didn’t she see fit to mention this important detail to me?”
Gareth made an abortive gesture and said, “I think she doesn’t want you to think she doesn’t trust your judgment by arming a bunch of people who aren’t technically supposed to be guarding you while you’re making a show of confidence.”
“That’s all well and good, but there are a few Majors I don’t want armed and near me tonight…” she growled through clenched teeth. “Which Majors got permission from Shelly?”
“Initially it was Andro, Kristoff, Jora, and Pierce who approached her. Lorna did some fast thinking and managed to barge in and convince Shellina she should permit all of us to be discreetly armed, to better protect you without seeming like we’re protecting you.”
Jessamine exhaled.
“I need to have a talk with my sister about who she trusts. But at least my allies will be as prepared as any of my potential enemies, so I suppose that’s something.”
Gareth looked stony when he said, “I promise you, Vicereine, I won’t fail again. They won’t get you.”
The shadow of her father’s death seemed to loom oppressively over them in that moment, until Zenaya returned from the speeder and pronounced it properly maintained and free of threats.
They flew a short distance from the Augenspire to the military compound. A wedding-day lunch was always difficult to plan, as it was meant to send a calculated message. Most ordinary people chose a favored restaurant or business for the occasion, and popular venues advertised and competed for the honor. Jessamine had decided to honor her ground and aerial forces by dining with them, which had the Provo speculating as to why they were being snubbed.
Good, let them know I’m displeased with them. What are they going to do, try to kill me harder?
The Majors dropped her off at the outer gate, as they had been deliberately excluded from this event. They looked a little wary of letting her out of their sight, but she walked calmly into the compound and was greeted immediately by Shellina, Ground-Leader Skye, and Sky-Leader Rolf.
Her sister had changed clothing and was wearing a short, gauzy blue dress that complimented her skin tone. Andrea and Vince looked strange out of uniform, both wearing civilian-style suits, though they were in grey and white as a nod to their military colors.
“Jessa, good, you’re here! You’re five minutes late, and I was starting to worry—why are you still wearing your armor?”
Jessamine shook hands with the others and led the way, answering Shellina as her sister caught up to her.
“I am the titular commander of the entire military, and I am here to have lunch with them today. If anyone should be in uniform, should it not be me?”
Shellina mulled this over for a moment and then seemed to latch onto the idea.
“You’re right—good thinking. It sends a clear, strong message of support. At first I thought you were crazy for not wanting the Minors and Majors here, but they get so much attention anyway I think it’s brilliant that you’re keeping this just for the normal troops. You really are quite good at being Vicereine. I hope someday I can be as good—not that I want to be Vicereine, of course—I just mean in my role as Vicerina.”
Jessamine stopped walking and faced her sister, who suddenly looked anxious.
“You are good, and I’m proud of you. I know I don’t tell you that enough, and that’s my fault, but you’ve been working so h
ard recently and you’ve done so well with all of the additional duties I’ve dumped onto you. Thank you for everything you do, even when I don’t appreciate you enough.”
Shellina looked momentarily stunned, her expression twisting into something that looked oddly like grief before she got control of herself.
“Well, now you’re just trying to make me cry, and you’d better stop it or my makeup will run down my face and I’ll look like a madwoman at your luncheon,” she rambled in her usual voice, though she was clearly touched by the words.
The open pavilion between barracks had been under construction for weeks, now boasting a series of long, polished tables running as far as the eye could see. It looked like the entire military had turned up to eat lunch with her, and they stood and applauded when she entered their line of sight and followed Shellina to her assigned seat at the first table.
Darius was already waiting there, standing at the far end of table while she moved to the head. He looked relaxed in a navy blazer and slacks, his hair gelled flat against his head. Around the table were other hand-picked people by both parties—Jessamine’s retinue on her end and Darius’ on his. There was a raffle earlier in the week at her request, and ten random members of the military were mixed in with them as well.
She remained standing and motioned for everyone else to sit, aware of the monitors set up to broadcast her table to the troops who were farther away.
She accepted the microphone Shellina offered and said, “Good afternoon. I want to thank you all for joining me for lunch on this important day.” She glanced down the table briefly and accidentally made eye contact with Topher, who was sitting directly to her right and was only here because he was Shellina’s date for the event. He looked ridiculously handsome in a black suit, his hair tousled slightly by the breeze.
Looking away to prevent herself from faltering, she continued on with her address.
“It has been an eventful year. We have had friends come and go, and as I look out I see old faces and new ones, all a part of our family and here for a common purpose. Not too long ago we suffered the loss of my father and the chaos and uncertainty following such a tragedy.” She paused, and the entire world seemed to fall silent around her. “I know his loss affected not only me, but everyone who knew him and believed in him—in our family.” She took a breath. “Now I stand in his place, hoping to continue his work to lead Elaria into a new era of peace and prosperity. Today is a day of celebration, of progress and growth, and I cannot think of anyone better to share it with than the men and women who fight for our world. So today lunch is on me—but you should thank my sister if you enjoy it, because her taste in cuisine is infinitely better than mine and she made sure we’d have the best.”
A round of appreciative laughter and cheering erupted at that, and Shellina stood up to give an embarrassed curtsey.
The microphone turned off but the displays remained on. Jessamine took her seat and servers flooded the area with carts of covered plates.
“Good job,” Shellina said approvingly, keeping a covert eye on the serving staff to make sure everything was going smoothly. “Though now if anyone hates the food they’re going to blame me for it.”
“I’m sure it will be delicious,” Sky-Leader Rolf assured her, sitting on Shellina’s left, just past Hanna and one of the raffle winners. He was sitting beside his husband and across from Ground-Leader Skye and her husband.
Topher hadn’t spoken yet, and Jessamine felt a tension around him that she sincerely hoped no one else could spot right now. To break the ice she said, “How was your morning? Are you on duty today?”
“No, I have been relieved of my shift schedule for the day to accompany the Vicerina wherever my presence is required for ceremonial tasks.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” She felt a momentary stab of envy at the thought of her sister spending the day with Topher, but she let it pass. “Has everything been going according to plan?”
“There was a small incident involving a rose with a crushed petal, which nearly drove the Vicerina to homicide, but otherwise, no issues.”
“I wasn’t that upset…” Shellina teased, causing Topher to raise one eyebrow and say, “Your face turned so red that your nose began bleeding, and you demanded a replacement rose be acquired within the hour or you would rain down hellfire on the entire assembly.”
Shellina nudged him pointedly with her foot beneath the table and said, “Well, they did find a replacement.”
One of the raffle winners began nervously complimenting Shellina on the excellent food choice, which temporarily drew everyone’s attention except for Topher’s. His voice was pitched low when he asked Jessamine how she was feeling.
Parl’s body is rotting on two-eighty one in a room only I should be able to enter, yet somehow he was told about Shellina’s promotion before I accidentally murdered him and I still don’t know who did it. I am getting ready to marry a man I have absolutely no interest in, and my father won’t be there because he was killed by terrorists in his own government.
“I’m fine,” she assured him, wondering whether she had ever been less “fine.” This wasn’t the time or place to explain any of her true feelings, though she would need to, soon. “I’ve just been smiling and shaking hands with people all day and now my face hurts.”
“Well, this is your day, after all.”
“Is it?” she asked softly before she could stop herself. Topher’s mouth tightened slightly, and Jessamine shook her head, forcing herself to be more cheerful. It was one thing to vent her unhappiness on Hanna, but she would not let anyone else see her misery.
She remained ruthlessly pleasant and cheerful for the remainder of the meal, and by the time it was over, her cheek muscles ached from all the smiling. Hanna tried to pull her aside for a private word, but Topher got there first.
“Before you go, Vicereine, there’s something I need to tell you when we’re less busy.”
“Something important?” Her heart raced, wondering if he was keeping a secret as dire as hers. Or perhaps he already knew her secret and was trying to broach the subject to get her to confess? “You can tell me now…”
“No—well, yes, it is important, but today is not the day to get into it. I did something stupid and I’m fairly confident you’ll be upset with me for it, so I’ve been dragging my heels on confessing my sins. You have more important concerns today, but I wanted to at least mention it so I won’t be able to ignore it once you have more time to demand an explanation.”
Jessamine raised her eyebrows. She could count on one hand the number of times Topher came to her and admitted to concealing his own stupidity, which meant this was serious. She was half-tempted to pull him to the side and demand an explanation right then and there, but it would look bad for her to disappear with a Provo-Major in the middle of her wedding day, especially when there were already rumors about the two of them.
Besides, if I make him confess something important, I’ll feel compelled to tell him about Parl. This wasn’t the day for it.
“Alright then, I won’t forget.”
“I’m counting on it.” He inclined his head respectfully and backed away, turning to join Shellina, who captured his arm cheerfully and presented him to some acquaintance of hers like a trophy.
Jessamine walked around shaking hands as long as her sister would permit it, only regretfully allowing herself to be dragged away when it seemed like Shellina would have a heart attack in the middle of the pavilion. The last person she spoke to before Shellina hauled her back to the speeder—ranting about tardiness—was Darius.
“Hey,” he caught her hand before she could enter the speeder, maintaining eye contact. “I know today has been a madhouse, and Shelly might actually combust by the time it’s all said and done, but we’ll get through this and then things will go back to normal.”
He gave her a sympathetic smile and Jessamine was touched by the gesture, though she had no idea what “normal” even meant to her anymore.
Darius grinned appreciatively and said, “See you soon.”
Jessamine released his hand and climbed into the speeder, feeling unsettled as it took flight and carried her to the Laurel. Somehow Darius’ kindness made her feel even worse about marrying him, like she was lying to him. It would be so much easier to hate him if he had no redeeming qualities.
Well, I am lying about my feelings…but he knows this was a match of politics and not of personal regard.
More than ever, she wished she could talk to her mother or father about this and seek their reassurances. She felt like she was making a horrible mistake, though she could hardly cancel the wedding at this late hour.
Thinking of them only served to make her feel sorry for herself, so she banished the thought of them once more, pushing her feelings as deep beneath the surface as she could manage but still feeling uneasy.
Most people feel doubt on their wedding day, she assured herself.
The Laurel was beautiful; Shellina had outdone herself with the planning. They walked through the venue admiring the flowers and vines trailing up granite columns around the space, the warm lighting giving the impression of a rustic palace from a fairytale. Thousands of chairs were set up in blocks in the open space, bracketing the aisle on both sides. Stone archways framed the doors on both sides of the room, indicating where the bride and groom would enter. For all its beauty, Jessamine didn’t feel any of herself in the décor at all.
This is Shellina’s dream, not mine.
“Hurry up, we have to get you locked in your private rooms before people start coming in.” Shellina towed her along the aisle, past the altar and through a discreet side door that emptied directly into a hallway.
“Security has been at the perimeter doing pre-screenings for hours, so in about ten minutes they’re going to begin letting people in to take their seats. You have about two hours to get ready—the hairdresser is already waiting for you, then makeup, then your dress—”
“Shellina, I understand the process of getting ready,” Jessamine interjected, amused at her sister’s nerves.