Page 22 of Glass and Bone
“Women cannot sit on a throne without a man by her side, Theo. You know that. Everyone knows that.”
“Just because a tradition exists does not mean it has to continue.” He responds. My eyes meet his and he starts to back up towards the open doors. I know he keeps trying to leave, but I selfishly want him to stay.
“I don’t foresee a change in tradition in this lifetime, nor the next.” I laugh softly. His eyes soften as he listens. “I know my place in this world, my father has made it very clear to me.”
He surprisingly walks closer to me instead of leaving and lightly steps off the last step of the raised platform to the balcony. When he is only a foot away, he raises his hand. The back of his fingers lightly brush the bandages on my face. My breath gets caught in my throat in surprise and my eyes focus on his. He looks sad, hurt, as if he can feel my sorrow.
“Are you in pain?” He whispers, his soft breath cascading over me, bathing me in the scent of grass and spring air. My eyes flutter, wanting to close, but I keep them open.
“As much as to be expected.” I respond with a voice that was mostly air and his eyes meet mine. Theo drops his warm fingers to my chin and slightly tilts my head up. I force my head to still instead of leaning into him like I really want to do.
“Your neck.” His voice trails off as his free hand brushes the bruises I am sure are there and the cut that feels tight. I find my mind wanting to flinch, but my body disagrees. I fight against the urge to step into him. “It’s like you can see his hand, gripping you.” His voice catches in his throat and he takes a step back. His eyes meeting mine again before clearing his throat. “I apologize. I shouldn’t be touching you like that.” I shake my head, ignoring him, willing my racing pulse to slow.
“I will be alright, Theo.” He nods, but I can tell it bothers him. “Your brother, is he kind?” I ask, hoping his answer is yes.
“My brother is much like our father, but he does care. He did inherit some of our mother’s genes despite popular belief. He will treat you well, I presume, but,” He stops, and I nod, urging him to go on. “Tobias has never been one to enjoy the company of just one woman. While I am not sure what his plans or feelings are when you are concerned, I wouldn’t be surprised if he entertains others during your marriage. It is quite common for kings to have mistresses, even though I find the idea abhorrent.” He frowns. “But I am not to be king, so my opinions are unrelated.”
“Thank you for your honesty.” I smile. “Finding someone who speaks the truth instead of lies to gain something is quite rare in court, so I appreciate your candor.” He doesn’t return my smile, he just nods.
“I have something for you.” His eyes widen as he digs into his pocket, holding one hand out as a gesture to wait, and pulls out a black velvet bag.
He hands it over to me and I hesitantly take it. The velvet is soft, smooth, and tied together with a thin leather strip, much like the one he wears in his hair. The bag is weighted with something heavy. I glance at him nervously before untying the leather cord and dumping the contents onto my hand. Ice cold glass lands on my palm and I gasp.
The glass arrowhead lays against my skin, shining against the brightness. It’s a little larger than my hand, and black leather has been tied around the base of it, providing a handle to hold. It is slipped into a sheath that looks like it belongs on my thigh. Theo took the piece of glass once stained with a mixture of mine and Aleksander's blood and turned it into a dagger. It’s beautiful.
“Theo,” I whisper as I stare at the weapon in my hand, the glass reflecting green in the sunlight. “Thank you.” I smile up at him and his eyes relax. He must have been nervous, but he offers me a relieved smile. He turns back towards the balcony and walks to the edge, his hands resting on the marble railing. I take a step forward to follow him, but he turns and looks at me over his shoulder.
“I will see you later, princess.” His voice is strained, saddened. He looks at me briefly before fully turning towards the courtyard and then he jumps off the balcony. Gasping in surprise, I race towards the railing to see where he landed. I don’t know how far up we are, but as I reach the railing, I see him staring up from the grass below. He gives me a sad smile before walking into the palace and out of sight. My eyes linger for just a second before I allow them to wander, my fingers wrapped around the leather hilt of the dagger.
He’s a very different man than I am used to. The only men I came in contact with at Chatis were guards who barely spoke. Tobias isn’t even like his brother, at least from what I’ve gathered so far. He seems so sure of himself, so comfortable with everything, but I guess they are both similar in that aspect. One thing I do find curious is his revelation of his brother's inability for monogamy.
I shouldn’t be surprised; he is right in stating it is quite common for kings to have mistresses. I just always wanted to marry someone who loves me, andonlyme. Maybe we could grow to love each other in the future, or maybe our marriage will be just that in name.
I find myself overwhelmed at the idea of being with a man, not in an intimate way, but being near one all the time. As a lonely princess, companionship is not something I am used to, and I am going to have to learn to navigate it.
Glancing out to take in the grounds, I strain to see the ocean. It’s still hidden behind buildings and an endless forest of trees, but I can just barely see a sliver of waves. I’ve never been to the ocean before. The closest I have been to that expansive of a body of water is the lake back home. I am hoping I am not as captive here as I was in Chatis. Maybe I’ll be able to visit the ocean, even swim in the salty water. I am not sure what Tobias has planned for us, or the king for that matter, but I am feeling more hopeful than I have in years.
This is a chance to start a new life, one I hopefully have a small amount of control over, especially if Tobias is distracted by other women, even if the thought of being in a loveless marriage makes me want to vomit.
I slip the dagger back into the velvet bag and hide it under one of the plush couch cushions. I am not sure if I am allowed to have such a weapon and I don’t want it to be taken away. I have to admit, having one makes me feel a lot safer. While I know the palace is generally safe, especially with armed guards following me around, the uneasiness about this situation is still haunting me.
Chapter Ten
I change quickly, finding my comfort dress hung up in the dressing room. Long lace sleeves and a tight bodice that flares out loosely on the hips. It’s black with a deep gray slip underneath, hugging my body like a warm embrace. I slip a pair of black sandals on and then step out of the dressing room. There is a large mirror leaning against the wall next to the partition and I hesitantly step up to it.
My hand instantly flies to my face as I take in my appearance. My skin is pale, almost as ashen as the king’s. While the majority of my skin is covered, my neck and face are enough to make me want to cry. I have a clean bandage taped to my forehead, partially covering my hair line. There are dark circles under my eyes so purple I look as if I have been punched. My cheeks are red and not from blushing, but from the hands that have slapped me. I choke against a sob as tears well up in my eyes. My hair is a giant mass of unruly, tangled ringlets. I try to run my fingers through it, but they get caught. I turn away from the mirror and walk over to the vanity sitting next to it and sit down.
The beige wood has three drawers and an oval mirror attached to the back of it. I pull open the drawer on the left and find a bunch of cosmetics. Powders, creams, sticks of kohl, and colored lip paints fill the small drawer. I close it and open the one in the middle. I thankfully find a hairbrush, ribbons, and hair pins. I grab the brush and start hastily pulling it through my tangled hair. I can hear it ripping through the curls, probably causing more damage than it’s worth, but I don’t stop.
The tears pour freely down my cheeks as I stare at my reflection. Once my curls are detangled enough, I put it in a quick braid to get it out of my face. I take one of the thin strips of black ribbon and tie it around the end, securing it with a bow. I throw the braid over my shoulder and stare at my reflection again.
I have never looked as ragged as I do now. Even after my many lashes and whippings, I haven’t looked as close to death. My tears are quick to dry up, but the stuffiness in my nose is here to stay. I hastily wipe away at my nose and cheeks, my heartbeat racing. I want nothing more than to scream and to break things. I rip the bandage off my forehead and throw it onto the table. The scab lifts slightly and blood begins to pool under it.
Get it together, Elaenor.
My head drops into my hands, and I let out a soft whimper. Too much has happened, too much has gone wrong the last few days. Would things have been different had I been traveling with more guards? What if I had been traveling with any of my ladies? Would we all have been killed? Would one of them have offered themselves in my place? No. I would never allow that. I would have done anything I could to protect them.
A soft brush on my shoulder makes me scream as I jump back and nearly fall out of the chair. My fingers tighten on the hairbrush in a death grip, ready to use it as a weapon.
