The Beginning of Everything by Kristen Ashley Page 0,137

as chieftains. All of these men were either my father’s age or older.

There were six of them.

They reportedly didn’t get along either.

Or all support Mars.

For the barons, the presentations were anything from small chests of gold coins, diminutive chests of Firenz emeralds, amethysts, or topaz, or a pouch of Firenz rubies.

Altogether, or even separately, it was an extraordinary offering.

When the chieftains of the tribes came through, the presentations changed.

Chests of silver coins. Ceremonial daggers. And one tossed down two large hides of dense but short-haired fur from some animal I wished I’d seen before its hide was taken (and wished the hide wasn’t taken—I had to admit, I could enjoy a thick fur on a cold Dellish night, but it still gave me a sorry feeling, so I tended to seek a blanket instead).

I did see some vague surprise, and even slight approval, that I wore my marital hoops.

But there was nothing but censure for my lovely gown.

As lovely as it was, it had been a mistake.

The Firenz knew of Dellish fashion and our bent to cover bodies.

The red gown I’d worn for the parade had been a success for it indicated my desire to adapt to my new country, to be a Firenz queen to my new king.

This one said the opposite.

It was odd, how something so inconsequential, for a woman especially, said so much.

His people probably wouldn’t care in the slightest what Mars wore. Or True, Aramus, Cassius.

But me, somehow, I spoke volumes putting on a gown of which they disapproved.

This upset me.

Though it was also a lesson I learned well.

And I was glad I’d decided on a different wedding gown.

Perhaps I’d win a few of them the next evening.

Regardless of my misgivings, Mars had taught me a different lesson on our first meeting, and Elpis had reiterated it when she explained what would happen at this ceremony.

And my small part in it.

“You will be queen, Silence,” she’d said, holding my hand and looking into my eyes. “Of Firenze. The throne is only as powerful as the man who sits it, his strength, his courage, his intelligence. And that includes the woman he chooses to sit by his side.”

She squeezed my hand, got closer and finished.

“You meet eyes, every eye, Silence. These will be your people, but they will also be your subjects. You do not bow to them in any way. They bow to you. And that is all.”

I’d nodded.

But in the moment, I found it difficult to meet the dark eyes and dark stares of the tall, formidable men standing before me.

Though I did it.

After the presentations were done, Mars took my hand as he had Farah’s those days before when I’d first laid eyes on him, and he pulled me from the cushions.

He then tucked my hand to the side of his chest. I lifted my skirts with my free hand.

And we stepped down the three steps that led to the podium.

And as Ha-Lah met Aramus behind us, Farah met True, Elena met Cassius, and with Elpis at the lead after them, the others filed out in order of importance after the betrothed (Queen Ophelia, King Wilmer and Aunt Mercy, King Gallienus, Sofia, Serena, my mother and father, etc.) we headed into the hall for the short trek to the formal dining room.

“That wasn’t so bad, no?” Mars murmured, clearly reading my mood.

“I wore the wrong gown,” I murmured in return, very much not looking forward to sitting at the head of the room with all the other intendeds, being the center of attention.

Though it was more.

I felt something curious forming in the pit of my belly and I sensed it didn’t have anything to do with what had happened during the presentations or what would happen next.

“Your gown is lovely,” he replied.

He’d said my other gown was “becoming,” and although one could argue the semantics of each word, one could not argue the tone in which he’d said them.

Yes, I was glad I designed a new wedding gown.

“You did well in there,” he said, putting some pressure on my hand at his chest in a way that made me walk closer to him. “I am, as ever, proud of you, little monkey.”

That made me feel better.

Under the eyes of many, we walked into the dining room. The barons and chieftains had been met by their wives, older children (as in my age) and lieutenants. There were other important personages about as well, and this meant the room was ten times as full as it