down. Maddox and Preta thanked her profusely. Tears rolled down Preta’s face in pure joy.
“Astrid, could you please ask Stella to throw something together for me to wear. I hear she’s your best fashion designer. I’m afraid these rags of mine simply won’t do.” Preta had quickly composed herself, as if she couldn’t wait to pull Stella into this.
“I will definitely find out. I must be getting ready as well. Could you both go welcome the guests? We’ll be down soon.” Astrid hopped from her chair and hurried up the stairs before they could answer, but she didn’t need an answer knowing all too well how much Maddox loved being the center of attention. Maddox and Preta headed down to the pavilion where they graciously welcomed each guest as though they were already married.
Queen Lisette yawned and headed down to her room, locking the door behind her. She sat at her dressing table and swept her brown hair into a chic up do, letting a few random curls frame her face. She dipped her eye pigment brush into a little pot containing powdered gold, and applied it very carefully to each eyelid. As she gazed at herself in the mirror, she thought about what it was like to become queen and all of the blessings and the hardships she had endured throughout the years. She suddenly felt anxious about passing the crown to Astrid who was so meek and delicate, and she worried that Astrid might not be up for such a challenge. Taking care of Yantra was easy, but maintaining diplomacy with other countries and other worlds was no simple task. Any young heir to the throne could be easily taken advantage of, so with that in mind she decided it would be best to train Astrid for four years before passing the torch to the young princess. Most kings and queens didn’t have the luxury of formal training since they usually inherited the position upon the prior ruler’s death. Although they grew up aware of what may lie ahead, there wasn’t very thorough preparation for such a role and the delicate balance of Yantra required the utmost care. Queen Lisette also thought by passing the crown to the princess prior to her death, Astrid could always come to her for advice. The queen finished applying her makeup and slipped on a beautiful, white gown and suddenly felt a little dizzy. Feeling excited and tired at the same time, the queen lay down for a few moments.
Upstairs, the girls were dressing in gorgeous gowns designed by Stella. Stella hoped to have her own boutique one day where she could design for everyone in Yantra. Right now, she was only commissioned to design for the royal family but she saved every dime for her boutique. The girls applied glossy pigment from fuchsia Aloe to their lips, brushed pigments of powdered purple, pink, and dark blue from the Abyss Sunflower over their eyes, and used powdered Gold laceflower to apply beautiful swirling designs along the sides of their faces and butterflies on their cheeks in the Mieran style.
Astrid stepped carefully into her shimmering blue, purple, and green silk gown that had a scooped back to make room for her wings. Attached to the heart shaped neckline, the delicate cap sleeves were shaped like petals and fell delicately off her shoulders. The asymmetrical hemline was accented with a slit that wouldn’t be too revealing but would be useful for dancing the night away. Her silver gladiator shoes, fingerless baby blue gloves and the medallion from Celestine and Gemmeth served as final touches. Stella’s dress was a simple, long gown with a draped neckline that tied around her neck. It was the color of gold that accentuated her long, curly blonde locks. While Astrid chose to wear her thick hair in a high ponytail, Stella just braided the sides of her hair back and let the rest hang down.
“You look amazing.” Stella admired her work.
“Well I do have the very best fashion designer in Galara,” Astrid said, smiling at Stella. She knew she had to break the news as gently as possible. ”Stella, I have something to tell you.”
Her smile suddenly faded away.
“What is it? Is the dress too long?” She immediately started scanning the dress for any possible errors.
“No! The dress is perfect. It has nothing to do with the dress.”
“Good. You had me worried for a minute.”
“You should sit down.” Astrid lead Stella to a huge, fluffy chair attached to the ceiling by Lavender Moosewood vines that were sturdier than any wire cable. She clutched Stella’s hand, knowing how deeply this news would devastate her.
“Okay. You’re scaring me. Whatever it is, just tell me.”
“I have bad news. Maddox asked to wed Preta tonight at my party.”
“They just met, “Stella stammered.
“I guess they have been together longer than we thought. Preta also had a request. She wants you to make her a dress.” Astrid felt horrible relaying the news to her best friend. She knew how much this had to hurt.
“She wants a dress?” Stella’s voice shook with rage as Astrid nodded and cast her eyes to the ground. Stella hopped up and went to Astrid’s closet. She found a dress she’d made for Astrid to wear to the last school dance. She completed a couple little alterations and threw it on the ground.
“There! There’s her dress.” Stella’s stomped on the dress as she left for the party.
Astrid believed that, good or bad, they were in for an unforgettable night.
VII. The Party
The dream, the lure, is the prayer’s answer,
Which can’t be plotted on any chart-
As we know the world that’s coming together
Without our knowing is falling apart.
—Peter Cole
When Astrid descended from her home and down the sloped stone walkway leading to the pavilion, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The trees glimmered with thousands of blue and white gemstone lights and a large canopy covered the Moosewood planks that formed the dance floor. Surrounding the canopy was one long banquet table for the royal family along with their close friends and royal guests, small banquet tables on each side of the canopy for the staff to the royalty, and round tables along the opposite side of the dance floor for everyone in the village who could make it. All of Yantra had been talking about Astrid’s party for months and it was undoubtedly the largest event in many years. For his birthday, Maddox had chosen a very small group of friends to celebrate with on a private island in Seraphi in order to avoid mingling with the commoners. Astrid however, had decided anyone would be welcome to attend and celebrate with her.
Princess Astrid only expected a good turnout from fellow Yantrans, but she didn’t expect the throngs of teenagers from Seraphi and Miera. Even more surprisingly, the dictator of Vovros attended with his family. Lines were forming outside the pavilion hours before the party. Zander and his friends set up rows and rows of extra chairs behind the royal banquet table and on each side of the stage. The droves of guests were getting restless, but enjoyed the ambience all the while. Three of Astrid’s favorite musical groups were performing that night, so they each took turns tuning their instruments and performing sound checks on stage. As the first band began warming up, Maddox and Preta stationed themselves in the center of the dance floor, warmly welcoming each guest before Zander showed them to their seats. Astrid sidled up to Preta and told her she could find the dress hanging in her room. Before Preta could make any more unreasonable demands, Astrid slipped away through the crowd so she could catch up with Stella.
Everything about the party was exquisite. The tables were decorated with long, purple silk table runners and centerpieces featuring exotic flowers. Silver and blue ice clover gleamed next to the abyss sunflowers of Miera with their gradient shades of red and purple. Long sage and orange laceflower from Seraphi were tucked in between, symbolizing prosperity, wisdom, and beauty.
Astrid felt like a rock was stuck in her throat as she and Stella walked past Azaran, the dictator of Vovros, who was seated beside his fourteen year old son, Yuri. Azaran glared at Yuri, who was too shy to look up from the table. Maddox came over to the table with Preta to break the uncomfortable silence. Astrid worried it was all an act for Maddox, but she was determined not to let him ruin her evening.
Despite the fact that it was Azaran who kil
led her father and who ultimately banished Celestine and Gemmeth, Astrid maintained hopes that one day Yantra and Vovros could see eye to eye. She only wanted peace, however much she might despise Azaran for hurting her family and treating the people of Vovros like slaves. Astrid did all she could not to clench her fists in anger thinking about the dictator drugging his citizens with Coix salt in order to work them to death. She would never stand for anyone in Yantra working thirty-eight out of forty hours in a day. The slaves of Vovros were expendable and Azaran preferred that they die an early death while they were still of use to him, rather than becoming a burden to Vovrosian society. Azaran and his advisors were pitiless and cold-blooded, but Yuri secretly hoped that he would be able to change Vovros. Yuri wished that one day his citizen’s lives would no longer be devoid of meaning. It was his only wish to be the kind of ruler that Astrid would admire.
Queen Lisette had always ordered her children to be polite, but there would be no treaties and certainly no marriages binding the two countries together. Astrid was more than happy to oblige. She couldn’t stand the abuse so many lived under, but she knew her place was to be as cordial as possible in order to maintain peace.
“Well, hello Azaran…Yuri. Thank you for coming all this
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