Page 112 of The Tsarina's Favorite
“I told you,” Klessa said pointedly, “you shine.No matter what.”
“But like this?”
“So pretty.So dumb.”Klessa patted my cheek.“Yes.Like this.Like anything.I would know you.”
A woman true and fair, indeed.And I loved her very much.
“Alaina,” I interjected, content to be affectionately ridiculed but aware of how left out my bride must feel, “these are my friends.My truest friends.”
Alaina glanced at Drook, then Klessa, and then back to me.I could not mistake the question in her eyes.
“I will tell you all about how that came to be,” I assured the princess, “tomorrow.”
No one responded to that, all eyes cast down to the floor, knowing the likelihood of our survival.
The crowd hushed behind us, and I gazed up in the direction of most turned heads.The tsarina had entered, taking her place in her balcony box, as if attending a theatrical event and not the forced wedding of nobles she had condemned to death.Her Allemandian lover took position beside her.
Rumors abounded about the Baron and the nature of his relationship with the tsarina, many citing him as the one who wielded the power because the tsarina was too caught up in her own pet interests.But not having seen him in her presence, I suspected that many of those rumors might have come from the man himself, looking to bolster his own reputation at court.The tsarina only seemed to tolerate him now due to the point she wanted to make to me: if I had just said yes, then I would have been up there beside her instead, titles, wealth, and reputation intact.
The tsarina’s personal diviner shambled out moments later with help from several younger members of the religious order.His sparse hair and black robes made the wizened face resemble a skull, an ill omen to anyone with eyes to see it, even to a follower of the Great Holy.
Klessa and Drook took their respective places beside Alaina and me, all of us falling automatically into the roles we were required to play in this farce.And farce though it may be, punishment as might have been intended, I could not have wished to have anyone else beside me at such a time than the three people I held nearest and dearest to my heart in this era of trial.
The diviner’s shaky voice rose and fell in unbalanced cadence as he announced the purpose of the festivities: to honor The Kind and Fair.
All sat in rapt attention, less on his words and more on the princess who was being forced to marry the court pet.No one announced that Alaina was losing her titles, but the occasion certainly implied that her titles had been reduced to nothing.
An acolyte carried out the usual blood sacrifice, this time a hare, at the basin.The diviner droned on, heedless to the act and the couple he had been charged to bless for the festivities.
“The tsarina, in her continued devotion to The Kind and Fair, has offered her best,” the diviner finally looked up from the book in front of him to gaze at Alaina, “and her favorite,” at which point he looked at me.The untamed brows did a wild dance upon realizing the strange tableau Alaina and I created with court entertainers as our attendants.“May this union between the representatives of Ilyichia and the Otherlands ensure our mutual prosperity for the years to come.”
The younger helpers guided the diviner out to where we stood.Another followed with the traditional white satin cord stretched between his hands.
“Do you, Princess Alaina,” the diviner continued, “offer the one beside you a share of your position and your life?”
“I do.”
“And will you take it to husband for the prosperity of Ilyichia?”
Klessa added in a whisper, loud enough for me to hear but likely not loud enough for the diviner, “Even though he is a stubborn fool who will constantly frustrate you?”
Alaina’s brows shot up as she dampened a smile.“I will.”
“And do you — er....”The diviner stuttered and stumbled, figuring out how to address me.
“Prince of birds,” Drook supplied and then stared the diviner down in challenge.
“Er, do you, prince of birds, offer the one beside you a share of your position and your life?”
“I can give you nothing,” I told Alaina.
“You have given me everything.”She took my hand and squeezed it.“Everything that matters.I don’t need anything else.Go on.”
I returned my attention to the diviner.“I do.”
“And will you take her to wife for the prosperity of Ilyichia?”
“Even though she be but an ordinary human and as small as me?”Drook asked.
