“How could I trust anything they say?” Edric exhaled in exasperation. “You saw it for yourself. They speak lies. They work through deception so they can win me like some trophy for their family. I’m beginning to wonder if maybe my Uncle Enaes had things right after all. Perhaps he discovered early in life that love was impossible as a prince and chose to simply take advantage of the women before they had a chance to do the same to him.”
“Please tell me you aren’t considering becoming like him. You are an honorable man. I would hate to see you become a disreputable creature out of bitterness for the wrongdoings of a single woman.”
“No, I could never live like that. But I can’t continue to live like this either. I need away from this place. I need to go somewhere – anywhere – the way my father did. Where the women don’t know who I am or my true position here in Tanispa. It’s the only way I’ll ever find someone who might truly care about me and not my crown.”
“Where would you go? You don’t have the luxury of secrecy on your side the way your father did. Your name is known beyond the borders of Tanispa. Regardless of where you went, you would be familiar to the Vor’shai women in the neighboring countries – unless you’re considering a wife of differing heritage from your own…”
Edric blinked, glancing at Callum in his peripheral vision. A different heritage? The thought had never crossed his mind. He desired a Vor’shai wife. Humans lacked any qualities which captured his attention, and the mixed breed Esai would never prove acceptable. He couldn’t expose his children to the ridicule of being less than pure blood. To weaken their internal energy by combining it with the emptiness of the other races. He held no ill feelings toward the people outside Tanispa. He merely preferred not to attach himself to them. “Now you see my dilemma,” he sighed, flopping back against the bench. “I wonder if I should seek a wife from one of the lower ranking families who do not frequent the court. There are respectable ladies out there somewhere. I have to believe that.”
“Respectable ladies will not debate with you the way you seem to desire,” Callum chuckled, patting Edric on the back while rising to his feet. It was a comforting gesture. A way to make light of Edric’s doleful mood and bring a smile to his face. “I’ll see what I can do to help. There are plenty of good men who serve in the military. Their families aren’t all familiar with court and several have daughters who might be suitable for you. Perhaps we could arrange for you to come visit Aiva and I in Escovul for a while after the baby is born. We would both enjoy your company and I’m sure your sister would appreciate your assistance with the newborn. And I can prepare a military gathering to introduce you to the men and their families. Does this sound acceptable?”
A smile twitched at the corners of Edric’s mouth. Acceptable? It was exactly what he wanted. Time away from the palace. Meeting new people. The perfect escape. He couldn’t have asked for a better plan from his friend. “I think that sounds perfect,” he grinned. Not wanting to appear too excited by the prospect, he let his fingers thread casually through his hair, slowly climbing to his feet. They’d been away from the party too long. It was best they not linger in the courtyard. “In fact, I think that might give me something to look forward to which will allow me to take some enjoyment from this celebration after all.”
“That’s the spirit,” Callum chortled, motioning Edric toward the cobblestone walk. “We will find you the perfect girl. One who is equally stubborn and capable of intelligent conversation. Such a woman exists. I have faith in it.”
“Of course you do. You’re married to that woman,” Edric laughed. “The trick will be finding another one with those qualities.”
Pushing through the doors Edric and Callum made their way through the spacious hallway toward the foyer where the guests continued to arrive. The night was young. Judging by the lack of music coming from the ballroom, the musicians had yet to begin playing. Not that he cared about dancing. Although he felt a newfound happiness at the thought of escaping the palace, it did nothing to make him desire association with the false women present at the party. He didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of his company.
“On second thought, stubborn might not be what you want either,” Callum said suddenly, quickly breaking away from Edric, his pace hastened to a brisk run toward the crowd standing outside the ballroom door. Confused by his abrupt departure Edric tried to keep sight of him through the waves of people, hurrying to keep up.
“Callum, what’s wrong? Where are you going?”
At that moment Edric caught a glimpse of a lady standing in the entryway of the ballroom, her face immediately recognized through the crowd. Aiva. What was she doing out of bed? She was surprisingly deceptive in her appearance, giving no indication of her delicate condition or the poor health she suffered. Her cheeks were painted to give the illusion of color against her pale complexion, the long curls of her ebon hair draped elegantly over her shoulders, shimmering in the candlelight of the chandeliers. Edric’s only comfort was in the realization that she had chosen a dark burgundy and gold gown that didn’t require a tight-fitted corset, the empire waist perfectly concealing the extra pounds she’d fussed about so often since her arrival to Sivaeria.
To his relief they managed to fight through the courtiers in time to reach her before the doorman had a chance to announce her arrival. The King and Queen couldn’t be allowed to know she was out of bed. They would be absolutely livid. And that wasn’t accounting for how their grandmother would feel about the situation. She didn’t take kindly to placing any child at risk, let alone the unborn successor to the throne.
“Aiva, what are you doing?” Callum hissed, quickly taking his wife’s hand to lead her away from the room. “The doctor gave you very specific orders that you are not to be on your feet. You are not well.”
“I am with child – not dying. It’s my sister’s twenty-fifth birthday. I will not spend the night of the celebration in bed.”
Clasping Aiva’s free hand gently, Edric watched Callum’s face, mildly amused by the expression settled over his features. It was incredible the way he could go from the calm, perfectly composed Captain to a flustered and desperate husband within an instant. Aiva had an effect on him unlike any other woman with a man. She was too headstrong and stubborn. Edric wanted a woman who would challenge him, but he wasn’t sure he would be capable of handling a mate like his sister. He respected Callum for being able to keep up with her. Knowing his friend, he could only assume they were perfect for one another.
They covered the length of the palace in record time, their breathing eased once they were out of sight from the foyer still filling with guests. Aiva’s protests were building, no longer restrained for the sake of the curious courtiers. “Please,” she pleaded with them, struggling to break free of their grasp, finding it impossible against the two men. “You cannot expect me to lie in that bed for months on end without occasionally rising to get my blood flowing again. I will go mad from the monotony of those four walls. I beg you not to confine me to that room.”
“You make it sound as though we’re torturing you,” Edric frowned, relinquishing his hold on Aiva, allowing Callum to wrap his arm around her waist protectively. She was safe with him. His only fear was how far she was willing to go for her freedom. “We are worried about you, Aiva. Your body is under enough stress without adding more to it. If you don’t rest, you risk losing the baby. Do you want to chance that?”
“I’m concerned about my health and the child’s, so don’t think for a second that I’m not. I simply cannot lie there in that silence. My intent was not to move around at the party. There are plenty of chairs in the ballroom. I could make an appearance to quell the rumors which are sure to abound at my absence. No harm would come from that.”
“How can you be so sure?” Callum asked, the sadness in his eyes unbearable for Edric to see. It was obvious how worried he was. How much the child Aiva carried meant to him. Edric couldn’t claim to know how he felt, but he could imagine th
e fear. The constant distress. Given her delicate state of health, the reasons for his unease were far greater than any Edric had witnessed his mother experience during her pregnancies. Even with the twins there were few complications. The amount of stress heaped upon Aiva and Callum was somehow worse than that which the King and Queen suffered. They needed to be more careful than usual. Which meant Aiva would have to listen to her husband.
“Listen to Callum, Aiva,” Edric replied calmly, coming to his friend’s defense. If they both urged her, it was possible she might be more inclined to obey. “Maybe in a few days we can have the doctor decide if you have improved enough to take a bit of exercise. With his approval, we could all go for a walk in the courtyard gardens. Will you try to endure a little while longer? For our sake as well as the baby’s?”
The determination in her eyes slowly started to wane. She was giving in. How could she not? The desperation in Callum’s expression was too much for Edric to take, let alone for a woman who loved him the way Aiva did. To see him in pain would torture her more than being imprisoned within her chambers. “Callum, do you really intend to make me stay in that room?”
“I would take your place if I could and you know that, Aiva. The torture is mutual, I assure you.”
“I cannot bear the thought of lying there alone for so long.”
“You will not be alone,” Callum eased his hold around her waist to embrace her tenderly, turning her body toward him. Edric could see the love in his eyes. The way he gazed into Aiva’s morose expression. “I will spend every moment I can at your side. I would be there with you tonight had it not been required of me to make an appearance at the celebration. As soon as I’m able to take my leave, I will be with you again. It is only for another hour.”
It tore at Edric’s heart to watch the two of them. More than anything he wished there was something he could do which would ease their suffering. Nothing short of a miracle would be capable of such a feat. Until the baby was born and Callum was guaranteed extended time at home with Aiva, the stress would remain. For the evening, all Edric could offer them was a few extra minutes in each other’s company. “Callum,” he stated calmly. “Why don’t you see Aiva back to her room and sit with her until she falls asleep. I will entertain the guests and excuse your absence until you return.”
A glimmer of hopefulness sparkled in Callum’s eyes, a silent show of thanks obvious in their depths. “Are you sure? You weren’t keen on being there yourself…”
“Don’t worry about me. You and Aiva are more important. I will be fine.”
Stepping away from Callum’s arms Aiva moved toward Edric, the gentle smile on her face enough to ease his mind. He accepted her embrace, welcoming the warmth of the gesture while being careful not to hold her too tightly, afraid of somehow injuring the child she carried. “Thank you,” she whispered, brushing a soft kiss upon his cheek. He couldn’t help smiling at the happiness evident in her gaze. At a loss for words he simply nodded. Nothing he could say felt appropriate in that moment.
He stood motionless in the hall as Aiva returned to Callum’s side, watching the two moving away toward Aiva’s room, arms linked, leaning against one another in an affectionate display. The familiar pang of jealousy fought to surface from the back of Edric’s mind. This wasn’t the time for that. It was wrong to envy two people who currently suffered the way Aiva and Callum did. For all they had been through, and continued to endure, they deserved happiness, however brief it might be.
Once they were out of view he was faced with the weight of what he’d taken upon himself by offering his assistance. He wouldn’t have Callum to help bear the torment of the party. But what different was this from any other celebration from the past several months? Years, even. Since Callum and Aiva moved away it had been normal for him to attend social gatherings alone. At least he could take comfort in knowing Callum would join him later. With her husband at her side, Aiva would have no difficulty finding sleep. He would just need to keep his chin up for a little while.
Begrudgingly he turned to make his way toward the foyer once again. The closer he came, the gentle sound of music could be heard drifting through the halls from the ballroom. It was a relief to Edric. Although he hated the thought of dancing with the ladies in attendance, he had no qualms in offering his hand to his sisters. If he occupied his time with family, there was less chance of having to entertain anyone else. Sidonie and Audri would no doubt dance with him, even if Shaelyn couldn’t be lured away from her beloved Herryk. Jaslyn may also be convinced to share a song or two. It was even tempting to request the hand of Callum’s sister simply for the sake of sparing himself the torture of the other wretched women. Calie might be quiet and generally unpleasant, but she would suffice for a single dance. By then he could only hope Callum would have returned to spare him.
Satisfied with his plan, Edric entered the foyer, keeping his pace casual. There was no need to rush inside. He was nearly to the door when a commotion erupted from the entranceway to the palace, drawing his attention from the party. Abrupt in his motions he came to a halt, staring toward the guards who blocked the path into the foyer, preventing someone from gaining access to the building. From where he stood it was impossible to see who they were speaking to. Their voices were raised. He could hear a woman, the sound of her voice unfamiliar. Her words were unclear, thickly accented in a way Edric had never heard before. A foreigner? Who would have need to come to the palace at this late an hour?
Forgetting about the party he began a slow walk toward the door, his curiosity getting the better of him. If this woman was giving the guards trouble, he would have a good excuse for avoiding the celebration by coming to their aid. At the very least it might prove more exciting than twirling about aimlessly on the dance floor. He much preferred the thought of making himself useful. Very few opportunities ever arose for him to do so. He had no intention of giving up a chance now.
Removing her coat Neomi draped it casually over her shoulder, exhaling at the relief of the cool breeze that washed over her. The temperature in Tanispa was warmer than she anticipated. Her father had warned her it would be different from Ethrysta. Had she known exactly what he meant, she would have worn a more suitable wardrobe. There were only so many articles of her clothing which could be removed to accommodate the weather. If she took anything else off, she would be in no way presentable to meet with the Vor’shai royals.
One of her father’s men led the way through the muddy landscape. Though she hated to admit it, the journey had been easier with him there. Very few of her people had ever traversed the road from Ethrysta to this foreign place and many of those who had done so no longer survived, be it from age or war. She was excited to see this land for herself. To finally see a country other than her own; their people and their culture. It was rumored to be far different from the Ovatai. In a way she was worried about her lack of knowledge regarding the Vor’shai. How was she to know what was appropriate behavior when speaking with their rulers? Conduct was most likely different than when approaching the Chief. She would need to be careful not to offend them if she was to have any hope of gaining their assistance.
“You have been quiet,” Moinie said suddenly, lengthening her strides to match her friend’s, taking her place at Neomi’s side. “Does something trouble you?”
“The oppressive heat has stilled my tongue. I assure you, it is nothing,” she stated calmly. It wasn’t a lie. Although there was much on her mind, nothing could be considered troublesome. Merely thoughtful. This was her first venture away from home. There was much to consider. “Do you know of the Vor’shai? Anything of their customs? It is important that we make a good impression when we arrive.”
Moinie smirked, a short laugh escaping her lips, amused by Neomi’s words. “I must correct you on that detail. It is important that you make a good impression. The rest of us are only here to accompany you on the journey. You will speak with the King and Queen alone.”
“That does nothing to change my inq
uiry. What do you know of them? I have never seen one of their people. It will be difficult to appease them without some inkling of their culture.”
“I only know what Onuric has told me,” Moinie shrugged. “He has a low opinion of their people. Your father might have been a better person to ask.”
“Onuric is bitter because our father required him to immerse himself in the ways of the Vor’shai – for specifically this very reason. It is unfortunate my brother’s pride has prevented him from making the journey with us.”
“Your brother’s pride prevents him from doing many things. Try not to hold this single incident against him. Can you blame him for not wanting to beg for help?”
“Who says we must beg?” Neomi lifted her chin proudly. She had no intention of begging. There was no shame in a simple request. If the Vor’shai refused, she would make no attempt to change their mind. She wasn’t against asking for help, but she was above beseeching them beyond that. “Perhaps Onuric has forgotten that they, too, once came to us for aid. It would be rather hypocritical of them to think less of us for doing the same.”
Moinie said nothing, her eyes set on the road in front of them. They had to be getting close. The journey was tedious and tiresome. Neomi was ready to be done with it. She was fatigued, no doubt made worse by the unfamiliar heat. Her body wasn’t accustomed to the weather. It might have been easier to endure if not for the drastic shift in climates between Nahedu and here.
She was fascinated by the change in scenery. Trees were scarce in the snowy lands of the north, yet here they were plentiful. And tall. Their branches stretched up toward the nighttime sky, swaying in the breeze, the creaking of the wood echoing through the quiet countryside. Through the leaves she caught sight of what looked to be a light, flickering from somewhere in the distance. A candle? Was there a home nearby?
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Page 11