The Beginning of Everything by Kristen Ashley Page 0,41
arrived just today with great fanfare. He is fearsome, she is even more of a beauty than the stories foretell. The Firenz people rained petals on them, threw coins at their feet and shot flaming arrows in the air as they and their men rode through the streets.”
I would have liked to see that.
I’d never met the King of Mar-el. He didn’t often come to the mainland and the Mar-el people as a whole mostly kept to themselves on their vast island. But I heard he was just as imposing as he was easy to look at.
Indeed, because of their isolation, the whole of the Mar-el people were mostly a mystery. Simply their royals’ appearance at these ceremonies was a strong shift in the way things had been for centuries in Triton.
I hadn’t heard much about his wife, but I was curious about her.
“Of course, King Gallienus and Prince Cassius have been here for over a week,” Seph carried on. “No fanfare with that, like brothers welcomed home, Cassius and his men instantly went off with some of Mars’s lieutenants to hunt or fish in Fire Lake or,” he flipped out a hand, “whatever men of that sort do.”
“Indeed,” my mother replied, caring not what men of that sort did.
G’Seph slid a glance my way before his attention went back to my mother and he carried on.
“And King Wilmer arrived just days ago with Prince True and Wilmer’s little niece. So petite. I must say, Mars has displayed many qualities of his father. He’s most patient and accepting, for a Firenz.” This last was said with just a hint of abhorrence that I reckoned he thought he hid, but he did not. “But I cannot imagine he’s best pleased with that waif. I’ve seen her wandering about the city with a guard of Mars’s warriors as well as Dellish soldiers and there’s barely anything to her.”
Again, I looked to Melisse.
She was plucking at her casings like she’d lost track of the conversation when I knew she had not.
I drew in breath and with it, patience.
“I know Silence personally, and if Mars has persistence, he will find his match is most assuredly pleasing,” my mother said.
“Yes, of course, as any sister would be,” Seph murmured.
“And would it not be worth some thought that perhaps Mars would need to best please his mate?” Mother asked.
“It goes without saying, my queen,” Seph replied.
I decided to turn my thoughts to just how long I had to sit there before it would not be rude for me to take my leave.
“Are you and yours quite ready to take the arena tomorrow night?” Seph asked.
“Yes, we are,” Mother answered.
My sisters were.
Not only had they prepared before we left, we had stopped often on our journey to practice the drills we would be doing, becoming accustomed to the feel of the air, which was much different, and the heat, as well as allowing our horses to do the same.
Yes, my sisters were ready.
I wasn’t so sure about me.
“Why don’t we let you two friends speak,” Melisse cut in, rising to her feet. “Tomorrow will be full so I’ll walk my princess to her tent before finding my own.”
By the goddess, I adored Melisse.
“My queen,” she nodded to my mother. “Seph, as ever, lovely to see you.”
“And you as well, faithful lieutenant,” Seph replied.
I rose and said my farewells, giving more attention to Drey than Seph.
I did this wondering why he was in that tent. Assigned to Fire City, he should be involved in some healing effort, or at his prayers, not visiting queens.
I thought no more of it when Melisse took my elbow and led me to the flaps.
We hit the cool night air and cloudless starry sky of the Firenz desert and Melisse did not speak until we were well out of earshot of Mother’s tent.
And then she said, “He has nothing to do and he’s a gossip. He’s probably beside himself, all these goings-on happening in the city where he’s been assigned.”
That brought forth an interesting point.
“Do you know why a Go’En of his stature was assigned outside the Dome City?” I asked. “It’s unusual. A high priest of his standing, they normally reside permanently in the city-state.”
“I’ve no clue and I don’t care,” Melisse answered. “The machinations of the Go’Doan have never been of much interest to me.”
I wished I could agree.
For my part, I found them fascinating, but sometimes not in an enjoyable manner.
However, there were more important things to discuss.