Chapter One
Aiva made her way through the halls of the palace, her arm linked with that of another young woman, their heads tilted in toward one another. They whispered as they passed by a group of young men, giggling to notice the boys watching them. She was used to such a reaction these days, her matured figure more noticeable to the men at court now that she had been accepted into society as a woman. The girl at her side possessed a more youthful appearance, her long brown hair hanging straight down her back, tiny braids woven into its length, adorned with shimmering silver beads interspersed throughout. Her soft amber eyes glowed brilliantly against her fair skin, brightening her petite features.
“This is going to be exciting,” the girl said in a hushed tone, following Aiva’s lead down the long corridor, quickly finding their way toward the private wings of the Tanispan palace. “My father’s men have prepared a joust in honor of the occasion, and I hear he and the King might duel, for the entertainment of the crowd.”
“I am sure my mother is less than pleased with the thought,” Aiva chuckled, stepping through the large arching door into her chambers. She liked to enjoy her peace and quiet before large events. Once she set foot in the hall again there would not be a moment of silence from the other courtiers. As the heir to the throne, Aiva was required to put on a good show for them all. She would be the image of perfection. But it would take some time for her to feel ready to play the part.
Today was no exception. It was the largest celebration of the year, held in honor of her mother and father, as well as General Cadell, for their victory over the Ven’shal forces. It had been forty-eight years to the day since the lich Arcastus and his men were defeated. Every year on that date the military put on a display of sport for the royal family, followed by one of the most prestigious balls in the world. The King and Queen of the neighboring island of Mialan were always in attendance, while occasionally the event would be graced with the presence of the Ovatai Chief Okivra, though he was not a very sociable man.
The only part of the event which Aiva looked forward to was the arrival of several friends whom she only had the pleasure of seeing a few times throughout the year. Her cousin, the Royal Consul’s daughter, Jaslyn Diah, was one of her dearest friends and confidants, next to General Cadell’s youngest daughter Calie. Aiva feared the Consul might not be in attendance at the celebration this evening due to his wife’s delicate condition, expecting another child in the next few months. It wouldn’t be the same without Jaslyn there. She could only hope the Consul’s wife would feel up to the visit.
“Prince Edric will be at the festivities, I hope?”
Aiva closed the door, making sure the lock was secured, a soft laugh escaping her lips at the question. “Calie, you should not worry about my brother so much. I thought Kaemin Strethil was courting you currently. Has something changed that I am not aware of?”
“No, but Lord Kaemin is not the prince. A girl cannot help but dream,” Calie blushed, pressing her palms against her cheeks to hide their pink tint. “What about you, Aiva? Do you have anyone for your hand at the ball this evening? Herryk Tercsin, perhaps? He is usually quite dashing.”
“He is also very much infatuated with my sister,” Aiva rolled her eyes at the thought. Her sister Shaelyn had only just recently turned twenty-five and since then had become quite a favorite of the men at court. Most specifically, she had caught the attention of a young man, Herryk, the son of General Cadell’s Commander, Zander Tercsin. Herryk was a handsome man, Aiva didn’t argue the fact, but he was also a bit of a romantic; and Shaelyn was almost as obsessed with him as he was with her. Whenever she heard the name Herryk she would swoon in one of the worst displays Aiva had ever witnessed. It disgusted her to even think about it.
Romance was something better left to her younger siblings. As the eldest daughter, Aiva had more responsibilities now that she was out amongst society. There was hardly time for games with boys and flirting. She was constantly in training for the day she would take over the throne and since her mother had given birth to the twins, their care had also been a part of her daily routine. The duties were time-consuming enough without adding frivolous notions of love to her already strained mind. Most times she didn’t take issue with the busy schedule. Tonight, however, she was pleased to think that the twins would be in the care of Lady Faustine, not yet old enough to participate in the celebration.
Calie watched her curiously, trying to read the expression on her face. “There must be someone you hope to dance with tonight. Those boys we passed in the hall looked very interested.”
“I am the Crown Princess of the Levadis family. Of course they are interested. That does not mean they liked anything other than my title,” she sighed, flopping down on the sofa in the sitting room with a significant lack of grace. “Honestly, Calie. Men are frustrating. I am beginning to think I may never marry.”
“You are only thirty-one. There is plenty of time to find the right man.”
“Not for me. Do you have any idea the pressure I deal with in finding a suitable match? My grandmother,” Aiva turned her gaze heavenward. The thought of her alone was enough to make Aiva want to scream. “She is constantly reminding me of what happened to her daughters and how I should already be married and providing children to secure the Levadis line. I think she suffers from paranoia that she will die and then all of her grandchildren will choose not to reproduce. My parents, thankfully, are a bit more understanding. Though I know my mother would like to see me at least attempt to find a groom. I simply do not have the time. Or the desire.”
Eyes filled with concern, Calie came over to settle herself on the sofa next to her friend. Aiva could feel Calie’s stare, searching her gaze. “I think you should make an effort tonight,” she suggested. “Just give it a chance. Dance with some of the boys. Maybe talk a little. Surely one of them will catch your interest. There has to be at least one man in Tanispa that can make your heart flutter the way Shaelyn claims Lord Herryk does to her.”
“Oh, do not even mention Shaelyn,” Aiva wrinkled her nose in distaste. “The girl knows nothing of love.”
“How do you know? Maybe she does. Have you ever even kissed a boy before?”
Aiva closed her mouth, blankly staring into the distance. It was not a subject she wanted to discuss. And how could she? If she admitted the truth, Calie would want to know names. How embarrassing it would be to tell her friend that she’d been so close to Callum. Calie’s own brother. It had been fifteen years since she’d last seen him, but the memory of his farewell never faded. At times she’d even tried to force it from her recollection by imagining his face replaced by some other boy at court. Nothing ever seemed to work.
She wondered, even now, what Callum was doing. After his departure for the military, he’d sent an occasional letter, always directed to her brother Edric, filled with a line or two in which he requested a hello be passed along to the royal family. Over the last several years the correspondence had been fewer and further between. His training had become more rigorous, not allowing him the opportunity to write with any frequency. Aiva never dared to ask the General about his progress. Cadell was a smart man. She feared he might notice something in her eyes or tone which would belie the innocence of any inquiry she might make.
“Aiva?”
“Hmm?” She blinked, pulled from her reverie by the sound of Calie’s voice. “Oh, right. Yes. Of course I have kissed a boy before. I have kissed lots of boys. It means nothing,” she lied. Awkwardly she rose from the sofa, moving to check her reflection in the mirror, hands smoothing over any stray strands of ebon hair, not wanting to arrive for the joust looking a mess. “Kissing is ultimately pointless. Nothing but lips against lips. Do you not agree?”
“I cannot say I do. When Lord Kaemin kisses me, I feel all – fluttery inside. My heart races. If you want my opinion, I think it is very important. Maybe you just are not kissing the right boys.”
Aiva laughed at the thought. The right boys? If
only Calie knew! “Calie, you should not be kissing Lord Kaemin anyway. If your father found out, he would discharge him from the military and send you to the temple to live out your days as a priestess. Honestly, I do not think their bland-colored smocks would do anything for your complexion.”
Humor felt hollow all of a sudden. A familiar depression settled over Aiva. One that had tormented her for months. Absently she ran her fingers along the smooth skin of her pale cheeks. Staring back at her in the reflection was a woman, though in her heart she still felt like a child in many ways. She didn’t feel prepared to deal with the responsibilities of an adult. Her existence felt empty. Smiling for the courtiers, pretending to be pleased with the heritage she was born into, while plagued with the burdens that came along with it. Chin up, shoulders back. Put on a show. And in the process she had to learn how to deal with the problems presented by the citizens on a daily basis, care for her younger siblings, keep up with her studies, and at the same time somehow find a husband who fit the standards of her grandmother. Some days she feared she would let her entire family down. It would be so much easier to simply run away. To secretly join some distant military the way her mother had as a child. Now that would be an adventure!
A faint smile passed over her lips at the thought. If there was any chance of slipping out of the palace unnoticed, she would have contemplated the idea more than was healthy to consider. Anyone else would kill to be in her position. Instead, she wanted nothing more than to get out of it. To experience life outside the palace walls. “Your brother is so lucky,” she said, wistful at the thought of how much fun Callum must be having. Out abroad, living on his own. Far away from his family. To see the world! There was so much that she wanted to do. To explore Myatheira from corner to corner. And Callum was doing just that. Living the life that she wanted – and leaving her out of it. Completely forgotten, exactly the way she knew it would be. How could she blame him? She wasn’t sure if she’d have remembered to write home to anyone if she was in his position.
“My brother?” Calie peered at her, confused. “What does he have to do with my father sending me off to the temple?”
Flustered by her drifting thoughts, Aiva shook her head, turning away from the mirror with a forced smile. “Nothing,” she stated calmly. “I do not know what I was thinking. Should we be going? The festivities will be starting soon.”
Excitedly, Calie rose from the sofa. Her motions were emphatic. Far too anxious. It drew Aiva’s curiosity. “I would like to get a good seat. Lord Kaemin will be competing in the joust. I gave him my favor to ride with. He said he will wear it for all the other soldiers to see.”
“My goodness, Calie!” Aiva exclaimed. “You two are becoming quite a pair. Might I expect to be attending an engagement celebration soon?”
She didn’t think it possible, but Calie’s smile grew wider, eyes twinkling, seemingly intoxicated by the thought. “I do not know, but I think it could be so,” she gushed. “He has been acting strangely as of late and made mention of desiring to speak with my father on some matter, though he would not specify what. Oh, Aiva!” Calie rushed over to take Aiva’s hands in hers, dancing gleefully around in circles. “Can you imagine?”
Through the gloominess of her mind, Aiva tried to be happy for her friend. And she was happy. Kaemin Strethil was a prominent man in the Tanispan military. A decorated soldier. More than capable of protecting Calie, the way Callum once asked Aiva to do. But Calie was getting older. She was a woman now. All Aiva could hope for was that Calie made the right decision. “Do you love him?” she asked quietly, unable to contain the question.
Calie paused in her joyous dance. “What?” she breathed. “Of course I love him. Is it not obvious?”
“I would not know. You said it yourself.” Chiding herself for the negativity in her remark, Aiva heaved a sigh, squeezing Calie’s hands tightly. “Do not think anything of my inquiry. It is an important question a woman must ask herself when in your position. Marriage is a big step in your life. You cannot squander it on just anybody.”
“There is no need to worry about me. When I think of marriage, I picture no other man but Kaemin. He is like the piece of me I have been missing my whole life.” Calie blushed, shaking her head dismissively. “But that is not important,” she stated. “My concern is you, tonight. You have been so down lately. Even when your mouth smiles, your eyes frown. Promise me you will try to enjoy yourself. I cannot help but think that a good man might be the distraction you need in your life right now.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Aiva chuckled, her hands brushing over the folds of her celadon dress once more, the soft green shade adding to the smooth, porcelain appearance of her skin. “I will do my best to overcome my head tonight. I will be the belle of the ball. You just wait and see.”
“Good. I expect to see your dance card filled twice over,” Calie nodded. “Now, we should be on our way. My Kaemin will be waiting for me and you have an entire country of men at your fingertips. Let us not leave them disappointed.”
Aiva found her way into the royal box, skirts held tightly to prevent tripping over the fabric. She could hear the roar of the crowd, circled around the field, anxious for the tournament to begin. She slowed her pace to allow Calie to catch up, moving again toward the regal figure of her mother at the center of the dais seating. Shaelyn was at the Queen’s side, eagerly leaning forward to gaze out at the list, scanning the area for the first sign of the competitors’ approach. Her long black hair resembled Aiva’s though with less wave to the strands, hanging straighter, requiring more work to achieve the tight curls which now dangled along the sides of her high-boned cheeks. Dirt covered the hem of her delicate citrine dress. It didn’t take much for Aiva to figure out who Shaelyn watched so anticipant of. A look of expectance filled her light-blue eyes, anxious for the sight of Herryk. It was almost frustrating to see her sitting there, oblivious to how ridiculous she looked.
“Where is Father?” Aiva asked, taking her place at her mother’s right side, instantly aware of the empty chair where the King should be. A hint of worry could be seen in the Queen’s eyes, forcing a smile, clearly afraid of alarming her daughter.
“He and General Cadell decided to participate in the joust rather than the planned duel. Thankfully, I was able to convince your father to simply display his skill in a single tilt against the General,” Leyna sighed. “I do not think he realizes how worried I get when he and Cadell get to playing. They are both men, therefore they feel the need to show off their strength.”
“That is the best part about the joust,” Shaelyn chimed in, glancing away from the list for only a moment before directing her attention again to where the competitors would enter. “All these men are performing for us. I find it courageous.”
Aiva tried to contain her laughter. “We will see if you still find it courageous when your dear Lord Herryk gets thrown from his horse.”
“Herryk will not be thrown,” Shaelyn frowned. “He is the strongest one out there.”
“I would wager my Lord Kaemin could de-horse your man. If you were willing to make it a bit of sport,” Calie smiled innocently from her seat, leaning forward to rest her chin on Aiva’s shoulder from behind. “What do you say, Shaelyn?”
The Queen laughed quietly to herself, straightening against the high back of her chair. “You are lucky my husband is only performing for show, or I would wager you both that King Thade could best your Lords.”
“Oh, I have plenty of coin to spare, Your Majesty,” Calie winked deviously. “King Thade is tilting against my father, after all. Perhaps some sport on who will win that match?”
“I must also place my bet on the King, then.” Aiva removed a fan from the pocket of her wrist pouch, waving it in front of her face, surprised by the warmth in the air. It was unusual for that time of year. She was used to a bit of a chill while watching the festivities, the remnants of the winter temperatures having dissipated earlier in the month than normal. “Calie and I have plac
ed our bets. Come now, Mother. Shaelyn. Will you both be joining?”
“I wager my purse on my husband. Any further bets will have to remain between you girls,” Leyna nodded. A roar erupted from the crowd at the approach of the first two men, their horses parading around the arena. A soft smile curled at the edges of Leyna’s lips. Following her gaze, Aiva recognized the familiar armor of her father, visor up, lance held high, waving proudly at the people in the stands. King Thade guided his horse around the rails, coming to stop in front of his family, the silver in his eyes shining brightly in loving adoration at his wife.
“Milady,” he bowed his head, holding the tip of his lance out to the Queen. Gracefully she rose to tie a golden ribbon of shimmering fabric around the weapon, cheers growing wilder from the onlookers to see their King and Queen.
Elbows propped on the rail, Aiva leaned over the edge as far as she dared. Thade looked over to her, craning his neck to hear her over the cacophony around them. “I have placed my money against Calie’s. If you only have a single tilt, make it count, Father.”
He chuckled to himself, giving a sharp nod of his head before lowering his visor to make one more lap around the field, confidently displaying the favor of the Queen. Aiva sat back in her seat, head cocked to one side with a questioning gaze at her sister.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Page 2