Page 114 of The Tsarina's Favorite
The negligence about garments to keep me warm served only to remind me of the malice behind this entire situation.The tsarina understood my objection to being cold, so what better way to ensure my discomfort until it finally killed me?I did not doubt that it had been intentional.
“You need gloves at least,” Klessa insisted.But of the three of them, no one had hands my size, and none of the guards would voluntarily give up theirs.She switched her hunt to a muff and could not find anyone in ready distance who possessed one.“I worry about frostbite.”
I might have been more worried about frostbite too, if I had any hope of surviving through the night.My feet, even more than my hands, burned in the cold.But I only needed to keep Alaina alive, and I could do that even with frostbitten extremities.
“I will keep him warm,” Alaina assured her.
Another detachment of guards approached from the end of the processional, and I gave Klessa and Drook another round of embraces.They did not willingly release me, even when the guards stood at my back.
“Tell the others,” I charged them.I let go and stepped back so that they would not be subject to any physical redirection the guards might inflict due to my delay.“And pray for us.”
The guards separated us, guiding us to our respective places: Drook and Klessa toward the rear of the processional, Alaina and me toward the front.Alaina wrapped herself around my arm as if I had any idea more than she did about where we were to go.I followed our guards, glancing behind us when the sounds of others began filling the frozen air.Alaina glanced over too and then buried her face against my arm.
I understood her shame and embarrassment and fear.I no longer shared in it, but I hated not being able to shield her from it.
The guards marched us to a rolling staircase, several people holding the base beside an elephant.
“Look.”I directed Alaina’s attention to it.“Is that Ivan?Should I introduce myself?”
She lifted her face away from my arm to see what I pointed out.She brightened a little at the recollection of earlier conversations, before everything had gone horribly wrong.
“Up,” said a guard behind us, likely wanting his portion of his duties to be over so that he could get out of the cold.
Alaina went first, reaching for my hand so that she could be assured I was not far behind her.I followed her up the staircase.At the top, she backed into me.A golden cage, fitted with braces and blankets and belts to keep it atop the elephant, awaited us.Outfitted like a carriage with two small stools, the door hung wide open.
“I can’t,” Alaina said.
“It’s traditional to carry a bride across the threshold, is it not?”
I scooped Alaina up, unwilling to let the guard have an excuse to touch or mistreat her, and carried her through the cage door.He shut it behind us.The lock engaged.
Alaina still wrapped up in my arms, I sat on one of the stools, a detail deliberately considered since there was enough space for wings and tail.
“They locked us in,” she whispered.
“I am accustomed to this,” I reminded her.“I’m sorry.”
“How?”she murmured, prying herself slightly more from my arms so that she could look at me.“How do you bear it?”
“I didn’t think I would at first.”I released her lower half so that she could better sit, although she seemed disinclined to release me fully.“Drook and Klessa reminded me that, no matter my circumstances, I was not alone.And then, when deprived of their company, a princess came my way.”
“This princess,” Alaina said, curling up against my chest, “did she make life better for you?”
“She tormented me to the point of distracting me from my troubles.”
“Hmm.Surely, no princess I know then.”
Ivan shifted beneath us, alerting me to the commencement of our procession.I cast a glance down to the elephant’s attendants, also bundled in fur coats and accessories, who were leading the creature.No one had much thought for us.Doubtless, they too thought this a ridiculous demonstration and longed to be inside and in front of a fire.
Alaina grabbed my right hand, free from holding her, and tucked it into her coat.I appreciated the gesture, but I did not think a little momentary warmth would help much with the trial ahead of us.
“Do you want my hat?”she asked, gesturing to the white fur that sat atop her head.“I know how much you hate being cold.”
“You keep it.”She needed it more than I did, and all of this would be for naught if anything happened to her.“Having my wife tucked up against me is keeping me sufficiently cozy.”
“Your wife,” she repeated as if she forgot that we had just been married.
Ivan lurched, and the cage rocked on his back.Through the gates and into the crowd, the shouts and cheering and noise flooded us as if the courtyard walls held back a tide.
