The organ began to play the national anthem. The people in the chapel would be expecting her to come in soon. He took her arm and led her to the back entrance of the chapel. “Let us see how that works out.”
She followed him, almost unaware of where she was or what she was doing. Before she was able to think clearly about all this, she found herself standing next to Orlando in front of the same priest she’d seen every Sunday of her life.
His words were garbled to her ears, like she was underwater. Just when she felt she would scream, Orlando took her hand.
“It will all be fine,” he whispered.
The priest was still talking, but she barely heard him. Her mind was focused on the man beside her.
“Don’t think about the King,” Orlando said. She stared at his eyes. “He’s trying to confuse you.”
She didn’t know how he knew this, but she felt the truth of his words. Maybe things would work out after all.
Soon, the priest spoke the last words, and they were married.
Mariana had a vague memory of speaking the necessary words and hearing Orlando do the same. She had a ring on her finger, and they turned to face the paltry crowd, who stood and applauded.
“We did it,” Orlando said in her ear. “We’re married against the King’s wishes.”
She said nothing as she glanced at her father ,who stood next to her mother, their fingers entwined. Neither of them appeared glad their daughter was wed to the man she loved. However, the Fire Stones in the King’s crown were as bright as flames. Was it a sign of his anger?
Orlando was right. They had gone against her father’s wishes. She’d gotten what she wanted. Why didn’t she feel more victorious?
Chapter Seventeen
As Mariana sat at a long table that had been set up in the main ballroom of the palace, she thought how different this wedding feast was from those she had attended for her siblings.
The kitchen staff had done their usual excellent job of preparing more food than the present company could eat, but this time that preparation hadn’t taken days.
The table, which was much smaller than what Liliana had, was covered with three kinds of game birds, two platters of sliced beef, and a large ham, as well as bowls of roasted and boiled vegetables. The aromas were enticing, but Mariana wished there were more.
More guests, more food, more gowns.
She’d only had one change of clothing after the ceremony, instead of the three or four that were customary for a royal wedding. Courtiers still spoke admiringly about how her mother had worn a new gown for each part of the meal, which lasted a full day with dancing and entertainment between courses.
Clearly her father had instructed the staff to have all the courses available immediately after the ceremony, because the soups were already at their places when they sat down, and the desserts—only two cakes and one bowl of trifle—sat on a side board, waiting to be served.
Mariana tried to smile and look delighted for the benefit of her friends, but inside, she knew this was another subtle message her wedding was not as important as her sister’s or her brother’s.
Orlando stared with his mouth open, his eyebrows lowered, at the food. He sat across from her at the middle of the table, which seemed minuscule to Mariana compared to the vastness of the ballroom.
“This much food could feed the entire village for days,” he said.
She tried to see it the way he did. In her experience, a meal like this would be enjoyed only by the people at the table. She had no idea what happened to whatever was left. Never before had she thought about it.
“You’re a pig farmer,” the King said, smiling at Orlando, but Mariana recognized it as a dangerous smile. It was the same one she’d seen just before he’d banished a former friend from the kingdom for eighteen years.
“Yes, sire,” Orlando said. His eyes flicked toward Mariana, and she tried to silently reassure him.
“If you are so concerned about hungry people in your village, isn’t that something you can fix?”
“I do what I can, sire,” Orlando said. “Many families find themselves short on gold these days, what with taxes so high.”
Mariana felt her heart pound in her chest. Rarely did anyone challenge the King at this table. When it did happen, it never ended well for the challenger.
“As you are not part of the nobility, Pig Farmer, you have no concept of what it takes to run estates, let alone a kingdom. I assure you, the taxes on the people are less than they can pay.”
“Is that so, sire?” Orlando took a sip of his wine and set the glass back on the table. “So a man who raises cattle for milk and beef can afford to pay seventy pieces of silver per head? When milk prices are only twenty copper a gallon?”
The King continued to smile and all other conversation stopped. Mariana saw her mother, at the other end of the table, clasp her hands together just under her chin.
“As I am not a farmer, perhaps I don’t understand.” The King took a leisurely sip of his wine and motioned for the steward to refill his glass. “Doesn’t each cow give more than one gallon of milk? Seems that would easily earn the farmer enough for his taxes.”
“If that same man had no need to feed and clothe his family, and the tax was only due once a year instead of once a month.”
“Orlando,” Ramone said, “I wonder how you met my sister.” Her brother sat at Mariana’s left, and he winked at her.
“We met…” Orlando’s voice trailed off, and Mariana realized they hadn’t discussed these kinds of details.
“In the Talla marketplace.” She jumped into the conversation. “Last year. It was a few days after we arrived at the palace. I had a question for the dressmaker, and I knew she would be there.”
“The dressmaker?” her mother asked. “She never said anything.”
“It was a surprise, Your Majesty,” Orlando said. “Progenna Mariana wanted her to make you a new gown for the opening of the social season.”
Mariana wished she could jump across the table and kiss him. He smiled at the Queen, who furrowed her brow in confusion.
“I don’t remember getting a new gown as a gift, Mariana.”
“Queen Alexandria, the dress was more complicated than Beatrice expected. The fabric Mariana chose would not have been right with your lovely eyes. Beatrice had to order a different one, and with the rebels attacking all the shipments, it didn’t arrive in time. Since the dress wasn’t made last year, we wanted to surprise you with it this year.” Then to Mariana’s shock, Orlando chuckled. “I guess that surprise has been ruined.” He shook his head and shrugged as though amused by the whole situation.
The Progenna stared at her new husband. He was flirting with the Queen, and to Mariana’s surprise, it was actually working. All the guests were listening to this exchange, and the tension level in the room had lessened.
She stole a glance at her father, but he did not seem amused.
“I think it’s all quite romantic.” Ursula sat to Orlando’s left, with Liliana’s husband and Ramone’s wife, Victoria, between her and the King. “Meeting a stranger in a marketplace, just by chance, and finding out this is the man you’re going to be with for the rest of your life. It’s not something that happens to people like us.”
“No. It certainly isn’t.” The King picked up his glass of wine and stood.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” he said.
Everyone focused on him and raised their glasses.
“To Orlando of Talla, an unexpected member of the royal family. I hope you will turn out to be everything I expect you to be. I have given you my daughter. I’ll be watching to see how she is treated. I charge you to be sure I have nothing to regret.”
He raised his glass. Mariana had never heard him give such a toast at any family wedding before. He certainly didn’t threaten Liliana’s husband.
Orlando stood and faced the King, his own glass of wine raised. “Thank you for allowing me to wed your daughter, Your Majesty. I am h
onored to now be part of your family, and as such, I ask one boon as a wedding gift.”
Mariana’s father stared at the man, scowling, but before he could respond Ramone stood.
“I think that’s an excellent idea, Father, and I am surprised you didn’t already offer.” He turned to Orlando. “Normally, such a gift is offered at the formal announcement of a royal engagement. Apparently, as such an announcement was not given, my honored father has forgotten. As Cognate Prince, if it is within my power, you may have your boon.”
Ursula and Liliana began to applaud. “Yes, Father. A boon.”
The King’s face grew red, but Mariana knew it wasn’t embarrassment for being shown up by his children. He was angry, but he was also stuck. He couldn’t deny the boon now without appearing to be vindictive and cruel.
Mariana knew that was one thing he never wanted his children to think, regardless of how he behaved toward those he saw as criminals.
After a moment, he schooled his features and appeared as though all this had been good-natured teasing.
“Of course, Orlando. You are now my son-in-law, husband of my daughter. It would be my pleasure to grant you a boon.”
“Thank you, sire. My brother-in-law, Elnys, husband of my sister, was falsely arrested for the attack on the royal caravan a couple of weeks ago.” He walked over to where Adindira sat.
“As you can imagine, even though she has put on a brave face for the festivities today, this has greatly distressed my sister.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “As a boon, I ask for his release.”
****
“Thank you for letting her have the wedding.” King Jonathan poured another bit of brandy into his glass. “It was nice of you.”
“Nice.” Alexandria placed a small piece of wood on the already blazing fire. “She got away with defying us.”
“What else could we have done?” he asked. “What reason could I have given her for refusing to let her marry the man she claims to love?”
She sat across the table from him, her chestnut-brown hair released from its customary tight braids and falling softly over her shoulders. Jon realized her anger at him had hardened her face into a fearsome mockery of the exquisite beauty she’d once been. Even after nearly twenty years, she held onto that betrayal like a talisman, refusing to set it aside for even an hour.
“You are the King. That should be enough.”
“She is my daughter, Alex. I want her to be happy. We want all the children to be happy.”
“She did it only to defy us.” His wife shook her head. “She doesn’t love that pig farmer. How could she?”
“Maybe she does.” Jonathan shrugged. “Stranger things have happened, you know.” The words were out of his mouth before he realized it.
Alexandria glared at him. “Maybe blood tells, after all. Like father, like daughter, I suppose.”
Jonathan swallowed, but plunged on. “But we’re safe now, right? He might not be Leo, but Orlando is a commoner, an Insensitive. Her powers will atrophy. The words of the ceremony froze her power and nothing more can happen. It is what we wanted.”
“Maybe,” the Queen said. She stood. “Well, at least she won’t be in the palace anymore. That’s something, I suppose.” Without another word, she left him alone—again.
****
From the wan light that came through the open hatch above his head, Elnys figured it was early evening, too soon for the last meal of the day, so he braced himself. Perhaps today was the last one of his life. It was almost a relief to know something was happening.
Did Adindira know? Was she waiting at whatever place of execution they were going to take him to? Would she watch him hang, or would the King display his abilities again and set him on fire?
“Stand up.” That was the voice of the man who had been with the King a few days ago. Or had it been yesterday? Or maybe a month ago? Time didn’t mean anything anymore. He’d been in the dark with only the appearance of meals to give him any sense of days passing.
Elnys raised his face to the speaker. He opened his mouth to ask what was happening, but nothing came out but a croak.
“Stand up, man.” His visitor grabbed Elnys’s arm and hauled him up. Elnys struggled to get his feet under him. The motion felt awkward and unfamiliar.
His shackles clattered to the floor. He’d never felt the man unlock them. He rubbed his wrists and tried to raise his arms.
“There will be time for that,” the other man said. “We have to go now, before the King changes his mind.”
Time for that? Elnys felt himself being pulled toward the stairs, but he stumbled onto the first step. “Wait,” he managed to rasp out.
“There is no waiting, man. You’re being released. We need to go now.”
“Released?” Elnys crawled up the stairs, his escort behind, urging him forward. “What?”
They reached the top, and while they were still at the garbage dump and the odor of the refuse filled the air, Elnys could smell the fresh early-evening air under it all, and tears filled his eyes. He’d lost any hope of experiencing this again.
“Thank your brother-in-law,” the man said. Elnys could see him in the dim light. A man about the King’s age, he had light red hair shot through with gray and blue eyes with wrinkles of fatigue on the edges.
“I don’t understand.” Elnys wanted to fall to the ground, his legs weak from disuse, but he refused to show this to an enemy.
“Orlando, the pig farmer, married the Progenna, and your release was the boon he asked the King for.”
Elnys thought his brain must have suffered from his imprisonment because nothing this man said made any sense. Orlando didn’t even know the Progenna. How could he have married her, let alone ask for a boon?
“I know this is confusing,” the man said, smiling. “You’re free. I have a carriage here to take you home.”
Free. That word Elnys understood. He stumbled to the carriage and fell into it.
Adindira. He would see her soon.
****
“I’ll sleep in the barn,” Orlando said as he dropped her last bag on the floor of the bedroom. Mariana stood near the end of the bed, looking around.
“You don’t have to,” she said, but she avoided looking at the bed. “I mean, we are married, and it is our wedding night. Aren’t we supposed to…?”
She bit her lip and, when their eyes met, color rushed to her cheeks.
“Mariana, we barely know each other. I know what a normal wedding night is, but this isn’t normal. I didn’t expect anything.”
He heard her soft sigh of relief. He wondered if he should be insulted, but he had to admit he felt exactly as she did.
“Maybe we should talk about all of this,” he said. “Why don’t we go into the other room? I think the less time we spend here, the better. At least for the time being.”
“Thank you.”
She sat down in the only chair near the dormant fireplace in the main room. He went to the kitchen, which was at the far end of the room, and began fixing some coffee.
“Your father is going to be checking up on us, you know,” he said as he worked.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I thought he’d believe this was real.”
“Why would you think that?” He looked over his shoulder at her. “He isn’t a stupid man.”
“I never thought he was stupid,” she said, “but I also never thought he paid much attention to what I was doing in my life.”
Orlando pulled a stool from the corner of the room and sat to face her. “He had planned for you to marry Valentine. He had to have a reason.”
She nodded. “You heard him. Pir Leo doesn’t have a lot of power, so he didn’t mind marrying an Insensitive. It makes sense.”
Orlando nodded. He was sure the King wanted to make sure Mariana’s powers were blunted, but Mariana wouldn’t know that.
“The words of a royal wedding ceremony are different than those of a commoner wedding,” he said. “What was all that about
Sensitivities being offered back to the Divine Elements?”
To his surprise, she blushed. “It’s a married couple thing.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze.
“We’re a married couple now.”
With a small, quite adorable little groan, she said, “It has to do with activity in the bedroom. The words the Elemental Priest says are a spell. They bind a Sensitive’s Abilities until the couple completes the bonding ritual.”
“Completes?” He scowled for a moment, then comprehension dawned. “Until they consummate the union.”
He wouldn’t have thought her face could get any redder, but again, she surprised him. “Yes. It’s supposed to keep people from getting married for less than honorable reasons.”
Now he grinned at her. “Like we did.”
“Yes, I suppose, but in our case, it hardly matters. I mean, neither of us have any Abilities to offer to the other one.”
“So, the words were just said because it’s a normal part of a royal wedding?”
Mariana shrugged. “I suppose. To tell you the truth, I was so overwhelmed by everything, I don’t even remember most of what he said.”
“Well, all of that is beside the point,” he said after a moment. “We need to figure out a way to make this relationship work, at least as far as your father is concerned.”
“I do want it to work,” she said. “We’re married. That’s a permanent thing. It has to work, or we’re both going to be very unhappy.”
“Good,” he said. “So, we can’t have you sleeping at my sister’s or something like that. It wouldn’t help our cause if rumors started there were problems here already. Let me stay in the barn for the time being. I’ll start planning an addition to the house tomorrow.”
“An addition?”
He chuckled at the surprised expression on her face. “We’re married, and I’ve been living here as a single man for many years. No one would question it if we build onto the house, and we can add a room for you.”
Her eyes showed her relief, but it didn’t last long. “Won’t people believe we’re going to…have a baby if you add a room?”
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