The Beginning of Everything by Kristen Ashley Page 0,42
of Mum.”
She patted my elbow where her fingers were still wound.
“Not to worry. I’ll take you to your tent, then go back and talk with Lucinda and Agnes. I’ll make certain they find a way to cut the Go’Doan’s visit short. I’ll see to it she has a potion. She’ll be refreshed by tomorrow.”
I stopped us and turned to my mentor, my mother’s most trusted lieutenant, as well as her, and my, most trusted friend.
“The maneuvers she’s designed—” I began.
“She’ll be fine,” Melisse assured.
“She simply watches them, but we’ll have an audience of tens of thousands, and she’ll—”
She rolled up on her toes and captured my eyes with her astute hazel ones.
“Be fine, Elena. Do not worry.”
“It’s impossible not to worry about my mother,” I muttered.
She started us walking again. “And this is but a part of the plethora of beauty that makes you.”
I wanted that compliment—a rare one from Melisse, who preferred to allow actions to speak louder than any words—to make me feel better.
But I did not feel better.
Tomorrow, for the first time, I would meet my future mate.
But before that, myself, and my sisters (but it was worth repeating, myself) had to put on a show for tens of thousands of people, including queens, future queens, princes and kings.
I cleared my throat and asked, “Do you know much of Prince Cassius?”
“I know he’s a good strategist. I know that his father, like your mother, but for reasons not like your mother, protected his sons so if one was off to battle, the other was not. This he did to protect his heirs, not his sons, not his family, as your mother does when Serena goes to battle, but you patrol. Your mother knows Serena was built for battle, and you for patrol.”
She stopped speaking as she often did during our talks to ascertain her point was made.
I nodded my understanding as I often did during our talks to assure her of that.
Only then did she speak again.
“I have also heard tale that his men are loyal to him, very much so, like blood brothers.”
As we walked, she purposefully bumped into me.
“And I have heard he is extremely handsome,” she finished.
I bit the inside of my cheeks.
Her tone gentled.
“You must let go your feelings for True,” she advised.
“I’ve already done that,” I told her what was mostly the truth, (actually, more like partly the truth). “I have meditated much on it, but as things stand, the simple matter of fact is that I have no choice.”
“You don’t, my sister-daughter,” she whispered. “For that I am sorry. But I must say, as fine of a male as he is, I never thought he was right for you.”
That made me stop us again.
“Truly?” I asked.
She nodded. “He is gentle. He is good. He is,” a small, sad smile, “true. And because of that, there is no balance.”
“But, we agree on all things,” I told her.
At that, she shook her head. “I do not know. I take men for pleasure. I took them to have my daughters. I did not take one as mate. But I would think, especially for you, it would be most boring to spend your days with a mate with whom you agree on all things.”
She started us walking again and kept speaking.
“You are Nadirii. You embody who and what we are, not simply because you are our princess, but because you are you. You are warrior. I know you and I know there will be times you’ll wish to put your feet up and enjoy a glass of wine and harmony. But it is in your blood to fight for what is good and right and just and to know those around you know and respect your mind. And so I do not think an eternity of peace is what would fill your heart with gladness.”
“I’m not like Serena. I don’t need to be at odds with everyone around me.”
“But you are like Serena in that you need things that you find challenging. True would never be a challenge to you. I fear, with the Dellish prince, you mistake friendship for passion.” She paused before she concluded, “I also believe you will discover the difference very soon.”
She couldn’t be more correct in her thoughts.
For I had no choice.
“All will be well, my sister-daughter,” she assured me. “And you will be happy.”
I thought of the Unicorn card I had turned some weeks before.