Anyone else slightly less conscientious would have just let the damn thing eat him and dealt with the fallout from the death of a foreign envoy. I was tempted to let him have his way and get eaten. It would have been much easier for me, all things considered. It would have been far less risky for the protection teams. I probably won’t be there next time to run the teams. “If you plan to go back to negotiate the next round of trade goods, it’s important that you understand at least some of the dangers.”
Someone else will likely be running the teams, and anyone else will be less inclined to risk Fey's lives for an apparently suicidal human. Oh, well. I don’t like Duke Kempe much anyway.
Kenric kicks me under the table. I shrug and drop the subject. I talk about seeing the glowing sea, but leave out the leviathan. It was an incredible sight in its own right. Meanwhile, Jannick keeps trying to inch his feet closer to mine. The whole dinner feels uncomfortable, and I’m going to have to put this pup in his place. I tuck my feet up and let him hunt fruitlessly. Kenric is slightly amused and slightly angry. No matter. Ellisar won’t be any kinder to this heir than he is to this king. All I need is to survive long enough to leave this place.
If this is my welcome dinner, it’s not going to be pleasant. I’m not looking forward to it. I sigh and keep pretending I’m having a lovely time. It’s draining, and I’m already tired from traveling. I just want to curl up with Kenric and sleep. The dancing is about to begin, and its supposed to be a celebration of my arrival and the sealing of this trade deal. Kenric and I will need to dance a bit. No one can leave before the king does, not even the queen. Kenric is worried about how tired I am and suggests that I sit while he stands behind me. Rosaniya is here as a chaperone, and she has sent for Halaema and Melina.
Arthion is still pouting in the room, refusing to leave for fear of sullying her skirts on the messy floor. I agree that this place is not up to our standards, but so far, it hasn’t been too terrible either. The men make it worse. They come and ask my chaperones to dance, while others try to draw Kenric away from me.
Melina has refused all requests to dance, and Kenric has stayed close to me, telling everyone who asks that the voyage was difficult for me and that I still haven’t recovered from it. Kenric leads me out to the dance floor a few times, and we dance. He’s graceful but careful not to show off here. Ellisar was right to ask why he lets these lesser males lord over him.
Finally, the king grows bored with the game and retires with the queen. The moment they’re gone, we take our leave and return to our rooms. Jannick isn’t pleased but can say nothing. I’ll have to avoid him as well until I can put him in his place.
Once we are back in our rooms, Kenric sits me down, and we talk about what this wedding will be like. The first night is apparently going to be quite public, with the crowd looking for signs of my former virginity. I laugh, thinking that Kenric is pulling some prank on me. Melina and the other ladies assure me that this is the custom here. I am horrified. Nothing that passes between Kenric and myself should be a public spectacle. Arthion pulls me into a quiet, urgent conversation about which shop to visit and what to ask for.
Then, she lectures Kenric on his part in all this. Kenric agrees easily, so Arthion turns back to me.”It’s easier when the man participates, but not strictly necessary. You wouldn’t be the first girl to fool her new husband, even if you’re... inexperienced or even if you’re not. Men are fools about this stuff. Many things can rupture a maidenhead for a girl besides a man. A hard fall can do it. Having your horse buck a little can do it, too. Lifting something too heavy can, or any number of things. These fools would have you set her aside just because of that.”
Apparently, all that’s needed is a bit of my blood and some acting. That seems simple enough. Even easier since I can heal myself, but Arthion doesn’t need to know that. This whole thing is apparently going to be some big production, and Kenric will have to display the cotton pad with the blood on it for all to see. It’s barbaric and embarrassing, but this is the price I pay for Kenric. I’m not thrilled about a sample of my blood flying off our balcony like a flag since there are a lot of uses you can put someone’s blood to in spells.
I’ll be replacing that with a bit of blood from one of the cats that roam the palace and burning the one with my blood just to be sure no one else gets their hands on it. I look at Kenric, “This is a barbaric and humiliating ritual. I’ll go along with it, but you’re going to have to make up for this. What happens in a bed chamber between a man and a woman is supposed to remain there. I suppose I can close my eyes, grit my teeth, and get through this public spectacle, but I am not pleased. Are there any more surprises that I shall have to endure as part of your uncivilized mating rituals? Best to tell me now so I can start preparing myself to endure it.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Sheepishly, Kenric shrugs before explaining, “We’ll go to the temple and make our vows. There’ll be a feast and a celebration afterward. There will be performers and some dancing. We’ll come back here and prepare for the deflowering.”
Melina nods, “Most women prefer to have a special nightdress to provide them with some privacy. Most men prefer to have some special pants for the same reason. You’ll both get into bed. The good news is that you’ll be under the covers. Everyone will be standing around the bed watching.”
Kenric will... umm... break the seal, so to speak, and wave the cotton pad around to show it, then everyone will leave so you can have a proper wedding night. I admit that it’s awkward for both of you, but that’s how it’s done here. We’ve all been through it. I’ll help you gather everything you’ll need.”
My face is burning at the thought of all Kenric’s liegemen and their wives crowding around our bed.
Kenric gives me a wry grin. “In this case, just being a lowly viscount means it will be a handful of barons. If I were a duke or an earl, my liegemen’s liegemen and their wives would also be invited. Be glad you’re not the queen. You wouldn’t be under the covers, and everything would be on full display.”
Gods above! Poor Grethe.
I frown back at him, “Doing all this under the covers is degrading enough without having to provide a floor show. You know your king was trying to arrange things so that I’d have to marry one of the princes instead of you.”
Thank the gods! At least that’s not in my future. How humiliating for poor Grethe.”
Swallowing hard, Kenric grabs my face with both hands. “Víl?, love. I promise I’ll make it up to you. I promise I’ll be as gentle as I can and do my best to make sure it’s over quickly.”
Mutely, and almost in tears, I nod. Kenric wraps me in a hug and tries to comfort me.
Meanwhile, Melina tries to distract me, “We’ll need to go shopping tomorrow and find a dressmaker so they can finish your dress on time. Any jewelry you need will also have to be made. We’ll need to get some other things made for you, too.”
I nod in agreement, “It’s already going to be a rush. Who makes the Queen’s dresses? That’s probably a good place to start to find someone capable. If they can’t do it, they’ll be able to recommend someone.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kenric wince at the expense. If I have to air my naughty bits in front of all his liegemen, he’s going to suffer a bit, too. I assume that, if nothing else, they’ve all pissed on the same wall at some point, so they’ve seen his naughty bits. Most of the time, before Kenric, sex has been a quiet, rushed, and awkward affair, often a bit desperate while trying not to disturb the rest of the war band.
Some Fey enjoy that kind of public display and even having others watch or join in, but I’m not one of them, despite living so closely with my war band for so long. There's not much privacy when you sleep with fifteen others packed into a room that barely fits all sixteen bedrolls. Nightmares and other bad reactions to the stresses of our situation were common. Being poisoned with mind-altering substances like hallucinogens and aphrodisiacs by the creatures we fought was also common. Either they needed some comfort or grounding, or I did, or both of us did.
That was a brief moment of peace, stolen in the quiet between battles while most of the rest of the war band was asleep. We all knew, since there wasn’t enough space or safety to bathe, but the unspoken rule was not to mention it.
Melina snaps me out of my thoughts. “What color dress, Princess Víl??”
Hmm… The aspen dress is mainly a dark red. Perhaps I should choose something in a different color. “Since everything else is so strange, what colors are common here?”
Melina nods, “Blues, Burgundies, Greens, and Browns are common choices. Black and white are considered to be ill-omened.”
I look at Melina. “What about yellow or orange?”
Melina nods again. “Not as common, but not unheard of either.”
I have some golden brocade. It’s not Fey silk, but it’s woven so tightly it seems made of gold. I might be able to replicate it in copper if I find a moment when no one’s watching. I also have other fabrics, including shades of peach to a coppery orange, heavily decorated with pearls, gems, and embroidery. I’ll be glorious.
I smirk at Kenric, who laughs. “I should have guessed clothing would ease your distress. It’s the one adorably feminine thing you do. I can’t say I mind too much. You always look so stunningly gorgeous. I can’t wait to steal a kiss or three.”
Rosaniya, Arthion, and Halaema gather around me. “We’ll be telling Ellisar about their barbaric customs, too. Don’t worry. We’ll make sure you get called back home. This will not be the last time you see us, dear Víl?.”
Rosaniya sighs, “I hate abandoning you to them, but I simply cannot stay here in this horrid place. We’re leaving in the morning, so we can be sure to catch your ship back. Write to us and stay in touch. We’re all terribly concerned about you. I’ve been hearing the most abominable rumors about this king and some of his habits. It seems that many of the dukes and other lords aren’t any better. I suppose it’s true when they say like draws like.
“I’m not that worried,” Arthion shrugs. “Melina says she can have more ladies here tomorrow. Stick close to them and Kenric. If they abuse you, Ellisar won’t take kindly to it at all. He didn’t want you to come here in the first place. I’m sure there are a few things in that trade agreement he can use to tie them in knots if they do anything to you.”
Halaema hugs me. “Oh, Víl?. This is just dreadful. If we don’t go, we could be stuck here for months, maybe even years. If we do go, you’re left here to face these savages and their uncivilized way of life alone. I hate leaving you like this.”
- Which alliance feels most fragile right now?
- If you were the queen, who would you cut loose first?