by Terah Edun
Thanar gave him a lazy look. “I’m not, am I? I think that’s for her to decide.”
“I’ve stated it and so it will be,” shouted Sebastian.
Ciardis’s back stiffened. She didn’t necessarily disagree with Sebastian’s sentiment, but no one spoke for her.
Thanar flicked a smile. “Perhaps that’s something you should discuss with your wife-to-be.”
Turning his attention to Vana smoothly Thanar said, “This engagement announcement needs to be done before the nobles meet.”
“Yes,” said Vana shortly. “Well before. We can’t have them saying they didn’t know and we hope to have the companions appear at the meeting in a show of strength anyway.”
Thanar nodded while Ciardis stared at the people around her planning out the biggest announcement of her life, while she stood in a daze in the center of the room.
You put this into motion. They’re only following your lead, she whispered to herself. Then why do I feel so lost?
“What about the emperor?” Thanar questioned while looking at Sebastian. It was a forthright question with no menace behind it, as if they hadn’t been snarling at each other over Ciardis like she was the last scrap of meat on a bone a minute before.
“Protocol demands that the emperor be notified immediately,” Sebastian said coldly.
Vana nodded. “Then here’s what we’ll do. Thanar and I will go to the Companions’ Guild now.”
“Now?” echoed Ciardis amazed.
Vana gave her an impatient look. “What better time than the present? We’ll have them gather for an imminent announcement within the hour. With luck, the new head of the Companions’ Guild will be present and they can throw their support behind us.”
“Right,” said Ciardis, still wary.
“You and Sebastian will go see Emperor Bastien Athanos Algardis and obtain his permission for your upcoming nuptials. His support would be even better,” Thanar said.
Ciardis opened and closed her mouth.
“The man just imprisoned my mother,” she protested weakly.
“Not to mention that he’s not who he seems—” said Sebastian.
Vana cut them both off. “It doesn’t matter. Unless you want to cut his head off tonight, the man is the acting head of this empire and therefore has to the power to smooth our way in the nobles’ court. I do believe he made you a promise of support once upon a time, Ciardis, if you did his bidding. Since you completed that task, it’s time for the emperor to follow through with his end of the bargain and support your cause before the court, both the fight against the blutgott and the marriage.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he doesn’t know that you know his secret,” said Thanar.
“As well as the fact that it solves two problems with one solution,” finished Vana. “If you two lovebirds are focused on a future marriage and fighting a god, you’ll be too busy to snoop around his imperial skirts.”
“Or so he thinks,” Sebastian said as lines furrowed his brow.
Vana nodded. “Exactly. But first things first. We have the engagement announcement, the emperor’s blessing and the guild’s support. Now get dressed and off with the both of you to the emperor’s audience chamber. I believe this is the perfect time to drop in on him as he’s having an open court session with all imperial citizens welcome to petition him within the hour.”
Ciardis gulped. Vana smiled. “Now be good imperial citizens and go petition your emperor. Thanar and I have things to discuss with the Companions’ Guild.”
Before Ciardis could protest, before she could even ask what they possibly had to discuss, Vana and Thanar were gone. Leaving Ciardis and the prince heir staring at each other in uncomfortable silence.
Chapter 13
Ciardis let out a deep breath. “It doesn’t sound like we have much of a choice.”
A smile crossed Sebastian’s face and then disappeared just as quickly as his features closed off. She liked to think of that as his prince mask. Now if only he could learn to not use the mask when it was just the two of them.
“No, we have our marching orders.”
She nodded.
He turned to leave her chambers. “Then let’s convince my loving uncle that we love each other, shall we?”
Ciardis watched him disappear through the doorway. As he left, she whispered, “But we do love each other.”
She stood alone with no servants, no extra clothes, and just her thoughts to keep her company. For a good twenty minutes all was silent as Ciardis tried to figure out what she was going to wear and what she could possibly say to convince the most powerful individuals in the land that they wanted to be on her side.
Then the household mistress from hell returned.
Flinging open the door, Mary Marlstone strode into the room as if she owned the entire chamber and all of its contents. Ciardis lifted her chin and prepared for battle. Sebastian could talk to the woman all he liked, but she was damned sure not going to be disrespected like a woman he had dragged in off the streets again.
Mary eyed her from the doorway as she paced into the room. Behind her came three maids. Their eyes lowered, their hands clasped demurely in front of them, and every inch of their outfits pressed into conformity. Not a strand of hair was out of place, not an eye peeked up at Ciardis. They stood behind Mary like three stone dolls. Behind them came three male servants. Each carrying a rather large trunk. All three men were maturely dressed in a butler’s uniform with their hair freshly shaved. She could tell because the edges of their hair that had previously formed the edge of a beard were still damp from the razor.
Ciardis blinked and took in the strange ensemble of six servants. Except for Mary, they looked as different as night and day from their first appearance when she arrived. They even acted different.
Mary stood silently before her.
Finally Ciardis spoke. “May I help you?”
Mary Marlstone did the one thing Ciardis least expected. She dropped down into a low and respectful curtsey, with each of the servants behind her bending or bowing along with their mistress.
I must have entered the Aether Realm, Ciardis thought numbly to herself, or fell asleep. Perhaps it’s all a dream?
Then Mary Marlstone and her entourage rose.
The woman spoke in a tone Ciardis would have reserved for the wake of a deceased relative. “Lady Weathervane, please accept my humble apologies for this morning’s reception. We weren’t prepared.”
Sebastian! Ciardis called out.
What? Are you under attack? I’ll send guards!
Yes, I mean no. I mean your wet nurse from hell has gone insane.
She got the distinct impression of immense confusion from him. Then a moment later their minds merged and he saw through her eyes. In turn, she looked through his eyes and viewed his chambers. She saw Sebastian bat away the attentions of a butler trying to assist him into his robes with irritation.
She looks perfectly sane to me, Ciardis.
She’s gone nuts. She actually apologized to me. Think she’s here to kill me?
She felt him nearly choke on his words. No, I don’t. Just listen to what she has to say.
Suspiciously, Ciardis said, This is your doing, isn’t it?
Sebastian sighed in her mind, Just hear the woman out, Ciardis. It’s not every day you get an apology from a Marlstone.
Ciardis blinked and he was gone. She was left alone once more with the household mistress and her staff.
The woman watched her warily. She had lowered her hands to clench the skirt in front of her. Angrily, Ciardis thought. But a moment later she let in the slight thought that perhaps, just perhaps, it was a sign of nervousness.
Ciardis asked a question instead. “What do you mean ‘not prepared?’”
The woman’s spine stiffened but she answered Ciardis in a clipped tone. “We had not expected anyone to come to Empress Ryana’s quarters until the next emperor took the throne. For close to two decades these
hallowed halls have been empty. Empty of residents, empty of laughter, and empty of guests.”
Ciardis blinked.
“You mean since the death of Sebastian’s mother no one has stayed here?”
“That is correct.”
“Then what about the servants assigned to these quarters, then?” Ciardis said as she walked over to take in a closer look at the servants arrayed behind Mary.
“Understaffed and striplings on top of that. I do my best to train them, but it is not always easy. As soon as I get them up to standard, one of the emperor’s chamberlains has an urgent request put in for new household staff needed elsewhere. Urgently.”
Ciardis came back to stand in front of Mary Marlstone.
She was beginning to understand the whispers and the giggles from this morning. If Mary was the only fully trained staff member here, it made sense that the servants assigned to these desolate quarters wouldn’t know how to act around the mistress and master of the house.
But that still didn’t explain Ms. Marlstone’s snide commentary.
Ciardis looked over at her. “But what I’m most curious about is your reaction to me. You don’t like me very much, do you?”
Mary blinked at her like a startled owl. “My, you’re a forthright one, aren’t you?”
Ciardis smiled. “Being evasive hasn’t really gotten me anywhere.”
“Very well,” Mary said. “May I speak frankly?”
“Please do.”
“I don’t know you, but I’ve heard rumors about you. Rumors that say you’re trouble.”
Before Ciardis could interject, Mary held up a hand. “I have no problem with trouble. I was trouble myself in my youth. What I have a problem with is you endangering my boy.”
“From what I’ve heard,” Ciardis said softly, “he’s been in danger his whole life.”
“Aye, and he doesn’t need more of it.”
“No,” Ciardis agreed. “What he needs is someone who can stand by his side and defend him if necessary. Someone who isn’t a dainty wallflower who can do nothing but dance waltzes and pick out draperies. He needs an equal.”
“And you are that equal?” Mary’s tone had a touch of ice.
Ciardis shrugged. “I’d like to think that I am.”
“Humble, too,” the woman murmured. Ciardis couldn’t tell if that was meant sarcastically or not. She decided it didn’t matter.
“So what will it be, Ms. Marlstone?” Ciardis said. “Can we work together to protect our prince heir? Can you accept that I will be his wife and rule this household like a proper wife as well as run amok in the empire like a very improper wife?”
A smile twitched on Mary Marlstone’s face. “I think I can, Ciardis Weathervane.”
“Then I think we understand each other,” Ciardis said.
“I’m sure the boy will be relieved—he came to me frantic that I say something to you,” Mary said with a rare laugh.
Ciardis flashed a hesitant smile. Then she looked over at the chests. “What have you there?”
A satisfied gleam entered Mary’s eyes. “The dresses and finery needed to outfit you for the nobles’ court meeting of your life.”
This time a truly delighted smile split Ciardis’s face. Just what she needed.
Hour later she was dressed in a long-sleeved emerald gown that artfully hid the still-healing scar going up her right arm and her hair had been combed and coiffed into perfection. She was ready to meet the emperor as his future daughter. A tad nervous as well. She didn’t know how Bastien—or, rather, Maradian—would react. Although she had faith that Vana’s assumptions were right. He would see this engagement and marriage as a further complication in her life that would keep her mind off his imperial person.
Ciardis smoothed the rich brocade of her gown down the front. Let him think that. It would lure him into a sense of complacency, and when he least expected it, she and Sebastian would strike.
At that moment a knock on the door sounded and there stood Sebastian in formal dress with an ornamental sword at his waist and enough gold on his mantle to buy and sell an entire fleet. She almost blinked at the dazzling jewels that arrayed his chest.
Mary said, “I’ll have a servant sent to announce your presence in the emperor’s audience chambers.”
Ciardis barely heard her. Her entire being was focused on Sebastian.
Walking forward he took her outstretched hand and kissed the back of her flesh.
She had a minute to wonder when he had gotten so good at that in the last year before he turned to Mary with Ciardis’s hand on his arm and said, “My love is a vision, Mary. You outdid yourself.”
The woman flushed and tittered. If Ciardis hadn’t seen it with her own eyes she wouldn’t have believe it was possible to get the sturdy woman with the disposition of an unimpressed walrus to nearly swoon.
Careful to keep her voice low, Ciardis leaned over and whispered into Sebastian’s ear, “Not to interrupt your celebration, but why do you look like you’re dressed for a coronation and I look a tad less refined in sumptuous silks?”
She wasn’t trying to find fault with Mary’s outfit. In fact, until Sebastian stepped into the room in his refinery it was perfectly fine. But if she noticed the difference in wealth between their garments, the nobles that wandered the emperor’s court surely would.
Sebastian lifted his arm that wasn’t currently entangled with hers and slipped his hand behind her head to cup her upper neck beneath her ringlets of curls. Then he turned her toward him as if he intended to kiss her. He didn’t, but the maids in the room erupted in a flurry of giggles anyway. Mary’s irate hisses and shooing motions quickly silenced them. Reluctantly they fled into the hallway.
Undeterred, Sebastian looked Ciardis full in the eyes as he said, “It is customary for the Algardis heir going into the marriage to show their wealth and well-being going back to the first emperor and his foreign bride.”
“To show off and show up his bride?” Ciardis said in a sulk as she leaned forward to rest her forehead on his.
His lips twitched into a smile. “No, to prove to his bride that he is worthy of her attentions. In my family’s lore there is nothing that a bride or groom could possess or wear that would outshine the beauty of their presence by their chosen husband or wife’s side. I must wear jewels and gold to impress you, Ciardis. But the very breath you take, the glimmer of silk against your radiant bronzed skin, and the fall of your hair in a crown of natural, simple curls is enough for me to know that I am not worthy of your attentions.”
Ciardis leaned back with a tear-filled gasp. “That was so sweet.”
A smirk crossed Sebastian’s face. “I know. I can’t take credit for it. But I know.”
She giggled and slapped a hand to her mouth to stop the sound from emitting. It didn’t help.
She looked up at Sebastian when laughter threatened to erupt from her mouth and held it back, causing tears to form at the corner of her eyes.
He saw her dilemma. But she was either going to laugh or cry. Ciardis shook her head as her body rocked with her effort to hold back the unbecoming bray.
Then Sebastian decided to help her. He leaned forward and capture her mouth with his own while sliding his hands from the back of her head down her lower back. Pulling his wife-to-be close, they indulged in a kiss that left Ciardis leaning against him breathless, her entire weight upheld by him and a delighted smile pasted on his face.
“All these jewels and gold thread are dratted uncomfortable,” she said in a teasing voice.
“I know, I’m the one wearing them.”
She giggled and then he murmured. “Better?”
“Much better.” It was amazing to Ciardis that confronting a platoon of soldiers in the streets of Sandrin, gave her nothing but a hungry disposition but ask her to face the imperial court and its myriad of rules and customs and she practically broke down into a simpering idiot.
“Well, Ciardis,” said Mary with an approving tone, “if I had kn
own my boy felt that about you, I would have left my objections at the door this morning. If he’s in love, he’s happy. Now it’s your job to keep him safe.”
Ciardis stepped back with a laugh that she couldn’t contain. “I do solemnly swear to keep this man alive.”
“You swear?” Sebastian choked out. “I thought I was supposed to swear that to you.”
Ciardis put the tip of her finger to his lips gently. “How about we both swear?”
When she took the finger away, his eyes had darkened. “I think I can live with that.”
“Good,” said Ciardis, satisfied as she leaned back in for another kiss. This time they didn’t emerge for air until the servant returned with the announcement that the emperor would see them now.
Chapter 14
Stepping back Sebastian turned to the servant and nodded, signaling that he understood the request. In turn, the man bowed deeply at the waist and backed out of the room.
With her hands clasped in front of her, Mary pronounced, “You’re ready.”
Sebastian still had one hand about Ciardis’s waist as he looked up at Mary Marlstone with a shy smile. “I hope so, Mary.”
Mary gave a swift shake of her head and wagged a fat finger. “There’s no hope about it, boy. I told you ten years ago and I’m telling you now: you will one day rule this court and these people. It’s about time they recognized it.”
Sebastian nodded solemnly while Ciardis watched the exchange between surrogate mother and son in something akin to awe. She and Mary didn’t necessarily like each other, but they understood each other. But it still felt rather strange to have to share the affections of the man she had come to love with anybody else, let alone a woman who was both his mother and not his mother. It sounded weird to think it but she had been spoiled in the delusion that everyone either hated or vigorously ignored Sebastian Athanos Algardis in the court of his father, the emperor.
How do I compete with that? she thought to herself miserably.
You don’t have to, Sebastian said with a squeeze of her waist. My affection for Mary doesn’t hold a candle to what I feel for you.