The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning

by Melissa Collins

  She couldn’t let him leave her alone in this place. The halls were unfamiliar and the courtiers didn’t appear the most inviting. They didn’t know who she was. Beyond a source of entertainment and gossip, she was nobody to them. “Please, Your Grace,” she called out, barely managing to stay on her feet as she caught up to him. “I did not intend to sound ungrateful. I was merely concerned about your reputation, as well as my own.”

  He gave no pause, keeping his eyes locked on the palace doors, his tone steady and stern. “People have already seen us together. They will say what they want regardless of what we do at this point. If you are going to survive at court, you must learn to stop caring.”

  Stop caring? What strange advice coming from a man of his rank. Reputation was essential if you sought respect from the courtiers. Her parents spoke of it frequently when discussing life at court. She wanted to press him on the matter, to find out what he meant, but he was already moving through the palace doors, leading her into the massive foyer of the Emperor’s home.

  Guards were positioned at either side of the entrance, spears erect, clenched tightly in their hands, intimidating Kaori by their presence. Their eyes followed her, heads stationary, subtle in their watchfulness. She shuddered involuntarily, pushing onward to try and break free of their gaze.

  Inside the palace courtiers nodded to Therek in greeting, men bowing, ladies dipping low, their skirts billowing out, lashes lowered demurely. Kaori watched Therek in mild fascination at his dismissal of the greetings, returning the nods of the men while ignoring most of the women. An occasional lady of Vor’shai heritage received a sharp glance to acknowledge their presence while the others stood in humiliated silence as he brushed past them, seemingly oblivious to their hopeful smiles.

  The corridors twisted and turned, courtiers becoming more scarce deeper into the core of the palace. Therek led Kaori to a tall, gilded door at the end of a long hall, grasping the wide handle to push inward with nothing more than a faint creak from the hinges. Hesitant, she followed him inside, the sight of the room taking her breath away. It was larger than any antechamber she’d seen before, golden trim and lavish furnishings decorating the room from one end to the other. Fresh flowers added a soft floral fragrance to the air from where they hung from sculpted vases on the walls. A heavy-curtained doorway could be seen near the back of the room, providing a sense of mystery, intriguing Kaori, curious as to what might be behind it. She took a step forward, finding her progress halted by Therek’s strong hand upon her shoulder.

  “If you are concerned about your reputation, I suggest you not go wandering about in here,” he replied coolly. Flustered, Kaori lowered her eyes to the floor, falling into step beside Therek again as he motioned her toward another artfully painted door leading to the left. Where were her manners? These rooms were Therek’s private quarters. She had no doubt about that. His knowledge of their layout combined with his insistence to keep her at a distance… regardless of what he said, it was obvious he bore at least some concern for what the courtiers would say about them.

  Her surroundings were enough to quickly diminish the embarrassment at her earlier impertinence. The corridor they traveled down was immaculate, domed at the ceiling where skillfully painted artwork depicted scenes from Carpaen mythology. Kaori was familiar with the stories played out with each brushstroke. Images of the human gods in various stages of war and peace, meticulously painted down to the last detail. The mural stretched over the length of the dome and onto the high walls, accented by impressive candlelit chandeliers which cast their flickering light over the surface. In awe at the design, Kaori failed to notice Therek come to a stop in front of a wide door near the end of the corridor, her body clumsily colliding with his. Embarrassed, she took a step back, prepared for him to chastise her. To lecture her about paying better attention to her surroundings. Instead he said nothing, straightening his shoulders with a controlled intake of air, pausing only briefly before pushing the door open to gesture Kaori inside.

  Afraid of upsetting Therek further, she did as he instructed, hurrying through the door, nervous. She wasn’t sure what to expect. The room was dark aside from the light filtering in from the corridor, providing enough illumination for Kaori to make out the shape of an elegant canopy-style bed at the center of the floor, its gauzy curtains drawn back, welcoming her to the comfort of the warm blankets pulled tightly over the pillows. She was so tired. What would it hurt if I lay down for a minute…

  “This will be your room during our stay,” Therek explained, cutting through Kaori’s wistful thoughts. “I will have a servant come and light the candles. There is a bath through the door at the back. Try to clean yourself up.”

  Before Kaori could argue, he was gone, disappearing through the door and down the corridor toward the antechamber. Uncertain of what was appropriate, she stepped lightly into the hall, watching him walk away until he was no longer within her line of sight. He was such a confusing man! It was impossible to know what he was thinking. He was accommodating while at the same time he didn’t look pleased about having her there. His aloofness irked her. How was she supposed to trust him to protect her parents when he was incapable of showing even a hint of emotion?

  Despondent, she dragged her feet while moving back into the room, wanting to enjoy the expensive furniture and artwork but finding her heart empty. None of it meant anything. Luxury was useless when her parents languished in some cold dark cell, enduring whatever torture the Emperor considered justifiable for the actions they were to be punished for. The actions they were innocent of. It didn’t seem right that she was being granted such comforts. “I will not be here long,” she consoled herself, letting her fingers weave lightly through her hair, lost in thought. The Emperor would see reason. She wasn’t going to leave the palace until he did.

  Kaori felt like a thief wandering through the corridors of the palace. She finished her bath, allowing one of the servant girls to assist in combing her hair, releasing some of the tangles which accumulated throughout the long trip from Rothdara. In her haste to leave home, she’d forgotten to bring additional clothes, leaving her with nothing to wear aside from the dirt covered dress she arrived in. Not that it mattered. Her goal was to convince the Emperor to release her parents. What she wore would do little to sway him. It was about the words she chose.

  The speech ran through her mind, changing and shifting based on every possible response the Emperor might give. Preparation was key. Hesitation would do nothing to benefit her parents. The Emperor had to perceive her as an adult. A woman capable of making her own decisions and thus able to accept the punishment for her crimes. Regardless of whether she had completed the Vor’shai rituals, if the Emperor considered her mature enough, it was possible he might heed her requests and allow her to take her rightful place in the cell.

  She was surprised to discover Therek nowhere in sight when she exited her room, tiptoeing down the elaborate hall between her quarters and the antechamber. After several moments of waiting she gathered the courage to call out for him, receiving no response from anywhere within the room. The silence was thick, leading her to believe he had long since departed. The difficult task would be finding him. She didn’t care if his intention was for her to stay behind. They were there for her parents. She would be present when he spoke with the Emperor. She didn’t care what Therek had to say.

  Memory served her remarkably well, the twists and turns of the maze-like corridors coming back to Kaori from when they first arrived, picturing the route in her mind. Evening had fallen, the halls filled with more curious faces than she recalled from before. The courtiers watched her, turning up their noses at her simple attire and lack of glittering jewels compared to the other women. On occasion she caught herself staring at the ladies, awed by their beauty and grace. They moved with incredible fluidity, their slender figures cinched tightly in their bodices of expensive velvets and silks, gemstones of every shade sparkling from their fingers and wrists, dangling from their ears
, draped from their necks – they wore more finery on their bodies than Kaori possessed in all her jewelry cases back home.

  A masculine set of dark brown eyes caught Kaori’s attention from across the hall, their steady gaze watching her, intrigued, curious, revealing no disdain like so many others while instead possessing a deep fascination. Anxious to get away from the man, she ducked into the crowd, weaving through their rigid forms, ignoring the looks of antipathy cast in her direction. She didn’t want to think about how she must look to these people. All that mattered was finding her way to Therek or the Emperor. If only she knew where they were.

  “You look lost, Milady.”

  She froze, stiffening in fear. It would be rude to walk away without saying anything though she had no desire to strike up a conversation with any of the pompous courtiers she’d tried so hard to avoid. Slowly she turned around, lifting her gaze to meet with the familiar brown eyes of the human male she’d noticed before. “It is my first time at the palace,” she said softly, dipping into a curtsy before him. She didn’t know who he was, but if he was a member of the Emperor’s Court, it was required of her to show respect.

  “That was easy enough to deduce,” the man smiled, lightly clasping Kaori’s hand to kiss the back of it. His head cocked curiously to one side to find her hand bare of fancy jewels, holding it up higher as if to show her his discovery. “I heard about you,” he mused, quiet, calculating. “Rumor was that a woman rode in with the Duke of Avishul this afternoon. You can imagine the questions which abound, however, I did not expect he would make you so easy to spot in a crowd.”

  “He has no reason to conceal me from the courtiers.”

  “No, but for your sake, it would make your stay more pleasant if your every move was not being scrutinized by the local gossips. Blending in makes life in the palace easier to tolerate.” Realizing that he still had hold of her hand, the man carefully lowered it back down, his eyes never straying from Kaori’s. “May I inquire of your name?”

  Her name. Would anyone recognize it? Her parents rarely came to court, finding life in Rothdara more peaceful and fulfilling than the constant masquerade required in society. It was unlikely he would know her. Mention of her parents might be a different story. For now, it was best she not let on too much. “Kaori,” she stopped herself from finishing the name. Family titles were too obvious. She needed to stay out of notice, especially if news had spread of her parents’ arrest. “And what of you, sir? I am unable to present myself appropriately to a man of whom I know not the station of.”

  The man chuckled, nodding to her, apologetic. “Ah, silly me. I am Osrik Tuwar, Duke of Buldan. It is a pleasure to meet you… I…” he trailed off. For a moment Kaori thought she spotted a hint of embarrassment in his brown eyes. “I do not mean offense, but… is it Lady Kaori or…?”

  “Or?” she stared at him, unsure of what he implied.

  He cleared his throat, laughing uncomfortably. “Well, your presence at court is not necessarily indicative of status…”

  Warmth flooded Kaori’s cheeks, burning in the tips of her ears at the realization of what the man meant. Without a family name or a hint at her heritage, he couldn’t assume her to have any rank worthy of a title. “It is Lady Kaori, yes,” she stammered, humiliated. “You will have to forgive my unwillingness to state anything more about myself. I came to the palace with the Duke of Avishul on business and I do not think it wise to say much until that business is concluded.”

  “It is not my intent to pry,” he nodded, the smile returning to his lips. Casually he let his gaze sweep over the hallway, coming to rest on a young human woman amidst a group of courtiers. Her blonde hair was long, partially upswept in a mass of perfect ringlets falling over her shoulders to frame her face. The woman’s complexion was darker than the nobles of the north, sun-kissed from the desert sun, deepening the vibrant blue shade of her eyes. She caught the man’s stare, nodding to him in greeting, her head starting to turn away before catching sight of Kaori. The distance was too great for Kaori to hear anything the woman said, though it was obvious that she was presenting some polite excuse to her company, a radiant smile crossing her lips before taking her leave.

  As the woman approached, Kaori fumbled over the wrinkles in her dress, wishing that she’d brought something more suitable for being in the presence of Carpaen’s finest nobles. Her thoughts had been so focused on her parents. Clothing was the furthest thing from her mind while at home, yet now she could see the error caused by her distraction. Appearance was important. The Emperor wouldn’t think her worthy of an audience if she couldn’t conduct herself with some manner of respect and dignity. Regrettably, that included the way she dressed.

  “Have you acquired a new friend, Buldan?” the woman smiled, offering her hand expectantly to the man who accepted it without question, gently lifting it to press his lips against the thin fabric of her dainty glove.

  The man chuckled, motioning toward Kaori with a nonchalant wave. “It may be presumptuous of me to assume she considers me a friend, but I have acquired a new… acquaintance, shall we say. Lady Kaori, I would like to introduce you to Lady Salene Ingyll, Countess of Argha.”

  Mechanical in her movements, Kaori dipped into a low curtsy, forcing her smile to remain visible despite the growing frustration she felt in regards to the man’s behavior. Her gratefulness for his kindness mingled with irritation in his keeping her from finding Therek. The longer she dawdled with the courtiers, the less chance she had at getting to speak with the Emperor before he retired for the evening. “It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lady.”

  “Lady Kaori?” Salene pondered the name, squinting to stare intently at Kaori. Her gaze was intense, causing Kaori to flinch, afraid of what Salene’s judgment would be. “I recognize that name,” she nodded to the man, decisive. “Someone spoke it in conjunction with the Duke of Avishul this afternoon. Would I be correct to assume this is the mystery woman he brought to present to the Emperor?”

  Kaori wanted to die. They were aware of her desire to speak with the Emperor? Just how much had Therek divulged to these vultures? “I would prefer my business not be passed so idly around court,” she stated firmly. She didn’t care if it was rude. These people were intruding on things they had no right to involve themselves in. “Lord Buldan, I appreciate your hospitality, but I must be on my way. Lord Avishul will be waiting for me.”

  “You are going to present yourself in the Great Hall looking like that?”

  She gawked at the man, astonished by the boldness of his statement. “I beg your pardon?” she gasped. “How else do you expect me to look? I have no reason to try and impress the Duke…”

  “It is not Lord Avishul I am concerned about,” Lord Buldan clucked his tongue sympathetically. Trying not to draw attention to them, he draped his arm around Kaori’s shoulder, tugging her in closer to him and Salene, his voice lowered to avoid being overheard. “Lord Avishul will be in the Great Hall with the Emperor, no doubt seated at his side. If you intend to visit the Duke there, I do not recommend you present yourself in your current attire. The Emperor has very strict rules regarding appearances during dinner.”

  “I do not understand. Lord Avishul told me he would have to arrange an audience with the Emperor. What makes you think the two would be together now?”

  “Everyone must go through the proper channels to arrange a formal audience with the Emperor, but the Duke of Avishul and the Emperor have a long standing history with one another. The two always dine together when the Duke is at court.”

  A pang erupted in her chest, unable to fight back the feeling of betrayal she felt at what was being presented. Therek and the Emperor were close? If it was so simple for him to gain an audience, why did he leave her behind to wander the palace alone? It seemed foolish to wait when Therek could have easily walked them straight into the Emperor’s supposedly great hall and requested he address the issue immediately upon their arrival.

  Through her dismay she was aware of the
two humans watching her, waiting for some response. She didn’t know what to tell them. There was nothing to be done about her appearance. “The Emperor will have to accept my company as I am. This garment is all I came with.”

  Salene’s gentle expression fell to hear Kaori’s admission, her eyes shifting to look sadly at Osrik. “If she goes in there as she is, the Emperor will turn her away.”

  “I will not let that happen,” Kaori interjected. She wasn’t going to let these humans sway her from meeting with the Emperor. They had already wasted enough time as it was. If the Emperor was in the Great Hall then that was where she needed to be. “It was a pleasure to meet you both. If you will excuse me, I must be on my way.”

  As she turned away, she could hear the sound of Salene’s voice arguing for her to stop. There was no reason for Kaori to listen. These people were strangers. They knew nothing of the business which brought her to Eykanua. If they became aware of the crime for which she had come to turn herself in, they wouldn’t be so willing to consider her a friend.

  It didn’t take long for Kaori to disappear into the crowd of courtiers gathered outside the Great Hall, bodies moving in and out of a grand arched doorway leading into the main dining area of the palace. The smell of food wafted on the air, tickling Kaori’s nose, reminding her of the fact that she hadn’t eaten in some time. Her stomach rumbled, the sensation almost painful. Grasping at her abdomen she took a step forward, suddenly fearful of entering the room. Salene was right. She didn’t fit in with the rest of the courtiers. The soft violet linen of her dress was simple in comparison to the other ladies draped in the finest silks, vibrant colors signifying their prestigious ranks. Their petticoats gave an elegant bell-shape to the skirts they wore, yards of fabric having gone into the making of such beautiful garments. Hesitant, Kaori glanced down at her own dust-covered dress, the skirt hanging limply down to the floor without the flair of a petticoat underneath.