Ashes of Roses (Tales of the Latter Kingdoms Book 4) (6 page)

BOOK: Ashes of Roses (Tales of the Latter Kingdoms Book 4)
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But after all that was done, and His Grace had retired along with the other combatants to tidy up for the reception, I rose from my seat and offered Lyarris my hand. “Time to see the candidates at last.”

Almost as one the other nobles sitting in the box rose as well, for of course they could not remain seated in the presence of the Emperor. Lyarris smiled, and took my proffered fingers, getting up with a graceful rustle of her silken skirts.

“The moment you’ve been waiting for,” she replied.

“I will admit to some curiosity.”

“Only some? Then I mistook the gleam in your eyes when you mentioned the girl with the red hair.”

I bowed slightly, acknowledging the jab, then straightened, my expression sobering as our mother drew near.

“Whatever you’re whispering about, stop,” she told us with a fearsome frown. “It is not seemly for the Emperor and the Crown Princess of Sirlende to be trading secrets like little girls passing notes in the schoolroom.”

Ah, Mother, what a singular gift you have for sucking all the joy out of an occasion
. But I only treated her to a bow as well, then said, “I fear you have caught me, Mother, for I was teasing Lyarris about her particular interest in the Duke of Marric’s Rest.”

At my words my sister’s eyes widened, and she said hastily, “And teasing is all it was, I assure you.”

A sniff. “Well, I suppose you could do worse, for all that his mother was a nobody out of South Eredor. At least he is a duke…and unattached.”

After making this last salvo, she sailed past, Lord Hein trailing nervously after her. Gods forbid if she should find anything amiss with his preparations — the pavilions not sufficient for the crowds, the iced wine not adequately leavened with fresh fruit. I certainly could find no fault with anything so far, but my mother excelled at picking things apart until she found something to dissatisfy her.

I looked over at my sister, whose normally serene expression appeared somewhat cloudy around the edges. That “unattached” comment had been intended to wound, I had no doubt — a reference to the Earl of Fallyn’s son, who had decided that he loved another.

“Never mind what Mother says,” I remarked, and took Lyarris’ arm so that I might help her out of the somewhat cramped box.

“I try not to, but sometimes…” She faltered, but then lifted her chin and essayed a bright, false smile, as we had just emerged into the hazy afternoon sunlight, and were in full view of the watching crowds. They would wait in their seats, as custom required, until we had taken our places in the great pavilions set up to house the festivities.

I gave her arm a slight reassuring squeeze.“Sometimes it is difficult, I know.”

We made our way along the hard-packed earth of the path that followed the perimeter of the jousting field, on past the stands and into the welcome shade of the first of the pavilions, the silver and black of the imperial banner fluttering from a hard spire of dark iron at its apex. Ten guards had fallen in around us as we walked, but I was so used to such things that I hardly paid them attention anymore. Still, neither my sister nor I said anything further until we entered the pavilion, when Lyarris looked around and exclaimed,

“Oh, it’s lovely!”

Truly, it was. As with the guards, I was so used to the pomp and splendor of living in the palace that I tended not to notice the luxuries around me, but here was beauty of a different sort. Autumn flowers and leaves in warm tones swagged the support braces, and more flowers and fruits had been set out in intricate arrangements on the tables, which fairly groaned with food, even though this had been intended as a simple reception and not a full meal. Apparently Lord Hein had a different concept of “simple” than I did.

I saw the gentleman himself standing off to one side, appearing to hold his breath as my mother inspected the spread for herself. Hoping to forestall any criticisms, I went to him at once and said, “You truly have exceeded my expectations, Lord Hein. If this is what you have managed to accomplish on the first day of the festivities, I can only imagine what is to come on the next four!”

He bowed deeply, relief clear on his lean features. “Your praise is most welcome, Your Majesty.”

“Has the wine been properly iced, Hein?” my mother inquired. “It is such a warm day, I am sure it will all melt before an hour has passed.”

A quick apologetic look at me. I nodded slightly, and the seneschal turned to my mother, saying, “We have put by a great store, Your Majesty, so I am quite sure that it will last the afternoon. Here, let me put your fears to rest.”

And he fetched her a goblet himself, although of course a man of his stature should not be performing such a duty — servitors lined the canvas walls of the pavilion, standing ready to fetch and carry as need be. Then again, my mother always did take pleasure in exercising her own power whenever the opportunity presented itself.

As it seemed the offering of iced wine and fruit was enough to placate her for the nonce, I caught Lord Hein’s eye and said, “And the candidates…?”

“Ah, yes, Your Majesty. My staff is directing them now to their designated locations. We have counted four hundred and twenty-seven, so we are dividing them into groups of a little more than one hundred each and guiding them to the four other pavilions. This one will be kept for the use of the Imperial household only, should you wish to escape the crush if necessary.”

My mouth twitched, but it appeared he did not notice, or at least affected not to. “Excellent plan, Lord Hein.”

“Yes, you must needs have a hidey-hole to flee the throngs of adoring would-be brides,” Lyarris murmured, suppressed laughter clear in her voice.

“Hush, or I’ll have Mother down on you again.”

This threat had the quelling effect I had hoped for, as she fell silent at once. Still, her dark eyes were dancing, and I was glad to see it. At least our mother’s casually cruel remark had not made a lasting impression.

Now that the moment had come, I actually experienced a few pangs of nervousness. Foolish, of course. I was the Emperor of Sirlende, and they were merely girls, young women who of course would be on their best behavior.

But there were so
very
many of them…

Still, there was nothing for it. I took in a breath, then walked a pace or two, at which point I stopped and looked back at my sister, who had not moved.

“Are you not coming with me?”

“I am not the one in search of a wife, Torric,” she said calmly. “I think it better that I stay here, in the imperial pavilion, whilst you make your rounds. It is safer, for the last thing I want is some girl from the country who has never been to the capital to think me a rival for your attentions.”

“Traitor,” I replied, but I winked at her, to show her that I meant for the word to have no bite.

She gave me the warrior’s salute then, one fist to her breast as she bowed toward me. “Seize the day, brother.”

“I have no doubt of that.”

Any further exchange would be seen as a delaying tactic, so I turned away from her once again and made my way to the next pavilion over, which had been set up some ten yards from the one secured for imperial use. Four guards accompanied me, although what they could do to protect me from a horde of over-zealous noblemen’s daughters, I was not certain.

As I approached I heard an excited chatter of feminine voices, a hubbub which stilled almost immediately as I entered the large tent.

Good gods, there really were more than a hundred of them. Of course I had spent my whole life at court events where those in attendance numbered far more than that, but the young women seemed so concentrated in that smallish space, especially when one considered that I, the four guards attending me, and the four other servants pressed up against the walls were the only men in the place.

Such a sea of glinting color and staring eyes and shining dark hair! Quickly I scanned the group, but I saw no flash of russet among that crowd of black and dark brown. This was only the first pavilion, I reminded myself, and I should not be surprised that she was not here.

The young women were silent, staring at me, and although I had ridden in parades and reviews, traversed the narrow streets of my capital with all eyes on me, somehow that attention had not seemed as intimate, as focused as what greeted me now. Several of the girls had their mouths hanging open slightly, as if they were not quite sure they believed what they were seeing.

Before the silence could become too awkward, I said smoothly, “Greetings, ladies. I thank you for coming, and invite you to partake of the hospitality offered. There is wine, and fruit, and sweetmeats and cheeses and breads. Come, we are here to get to know one another. Mingle, I beg you.”

Perhaps the notion of the Emperor of Sirlende begging them to do anything was too much. I heard a few nervous giggles, followed by some whispered exchanges, and at least several of the bolder girls moved toward the refreshment tables. As if a spell had been broken, the servants sprang into action, filling goblets, handing over small silver plates heaped with delicacies.

Somehow I thought I would have rather waded into the thick of battle than plunge into that group of suddenly lively young women, but my sister was right — I had brought this on myself. Recalling the falsely bright smile she had given the crowds just a few moments earlier, I assumed one of my own and made my way into the throng, nodding as names were thrown at me from all sides — “Marika Tredaris, Your Majesty” — “Alanna Krendil, Your Majesty” — and knowing I would never be able to retain enough to match a face to a name.

Not that it mattered, as none of them were the girl I sought.

I spent a little less than an hour in the first tent, then made my excuses and hastened to the second pavilion. Perhaps she would be there.

But no, once again the red-haired young woman eluded me, and I was forced to spend another hour smiling and nodding and acting as if I would recall them all, when in fact they were all a blur to me. Several were quite pretty, and others seemed charming and sweet, but none of them made any deep impression. It was as if, once I had seen the girl with the gleaming dark-copper hair, I had eyes for no one else.

The third pavilion was a repeat of the first and second, and inwardly I began to despair, wondering if she had left early, had looked upon the crowds and become intimidated, had slipped away before she ever came to one of the great tents. After all, she had looked oddly hesitant, unsure of herself. I could see how a shy girl might be overwhelmed by such a proceeding, especially when she must come unaccompanied by a parent or even a maidservant.

My footsteps were slower as I approached the final pavilion, some of my eagerness gone. In my mind I had already convinced myself that she had left, and that I would have to settle for one of these other girls, none of whom had so far captured my fancy. I entered the tent, and again the voices of the young women went silent immediately as they stared at me. This group seemed more wary, and I thought I could understand why — after all, they had been waiting for some time for me to make my appearance.

“My ladies, my deepest apologies for making you wait so many hours. I do hope that you have found the refreshments pleasing, and that you have not been made too uncomfortable by the wait. It is my — ”

I had been about to say that it was a very great pleasure to meet them all, empty words, if necessary ones, but my breath seemed to catch in my throat. At last I had found her.

She stood off to one side and toward the back, but by some miracle there was an open space before her, so I was able to see her face clearly this time, see the rosebud fullness of her mouth and her pretty little nose and the unusual amber-green of her eyes beneath the arched russet brows. For the time it took my heart to beat three times, our gazes caught and held. I saw her make an odd little gesture toward her throat, as if she, too, found it hard to breathe. And then a tall girl took a step or two to her right, and the young woman I had sought was obscured again, the contact broken.

Still, it was enough. She was here. She had not fled, or decided the throng was too much competition for her. Ah, no. There could have been four thousand girls here today, instead of merely four hundred, and they still would not have offered her any true challenge.

But although I wished to go directly to her, to ignore the eager faces of all the other young women, I knew that would be a churlish thing to do. Oh, I would speak to her, no doubt of that. It would have to appear unforced, however, something which occurred naturally as I made my rounds in the pavilion. How long that would take, I did not know, and the wait would most likely be excruciating, but eventually I would meet her.

And how I would have to pretend that I was interested in anyone else, after I had seen her, I had no idea.

I did guess, however, that the next four days were going to feel very long indeed, if I could not spend them all exclusively with her.

Chapter 5

A
shara

O
h
, he truly was the handsomest man I had ever seen. I had thought surely the stories must be exaggerations, that everyone said the Emperor was so very attractive simply because he was, well, the Emperor. But no, now that I had seen him, I thought in truth that the stories had not been effusive enough in their praise.

The wait had been unbearable, standing in this stuffy pavilion for the greater part of three hours, sipping sparingly at the iced wine so I should not get tipsy, eating just as carefully of the foods put out, which were far richer than what I was used to. The last thing I wanted was to make myself ill with sweetmeats and cheese.

I had hoped to make the acquaintance of some of the other girls, to help pass the time a little more comfortably, but none of them seemed inclined to be friendly, and indeed several of them had flashed me openly hostile glares. Perhaps it was that none of them knew me; I saw several of them chattering with one another, and guessed they must know each other from court, or perhaps if their families’ estates bordered one another. I had no such acquaintances to fall back upon, and so tried to make myself as inconspicuous as possible, staying away from the refreshment tables and trying not to think of the hours passing, and of my aunt having to suffer my stepmother’s whims. I could only hope that my stepmother had been so wearied by getting Jenaris and Shelynne ready that she had taken to her bed soon after they left, thus leaving Aunt Therissa to manage only my kitchen duties.

At least you have had some luck
, I told myself,
for neither of your stepsisters are here, and it would not have been much fun to attempt to avoid them for the greater part of three hours
. True, with so many girls divided amongst four pavilions, the odds had not been terribly high that we would end up in the same place. Still, it was a relief, not having to dodge them.

But then I knew the weary hours of waiting had been worth it, for
he
entered the pavilion at last. All conversations stopped dead as he apologized for the wait, and told us that he hoped it had not been too terrible. And he paused suddenly, his dark eyes seeming to pierce the crowd to meet mine. I could scarcely breathe. I could do nothing, but stare back at him, taking in the fine sculpted lines of his jaw, the straight strong nose, the sooty black hair held back from his brow by a circlet of gold. How tall he was, and how broad the shoulders under the doublet of fine figured silk in a deep wine shade!

The moment passed, and he seemed to find his voice, to speak quite normally to the girls to either side of him, some commonplace about being glad that the day was not too warm, and that he hoped they found the iced wine to their liking. They giggled and simpered and hastened to say that everything was just so, and how kind of him to be so concerned for their comfort. And I found my hand tightening around the stem of the silver goblet I held as a wave of irritation passed over me. Did they know how foolish they sounded, how empty-headed and silly?

I was surprised at myself, for I had never been the jealous sort. Then again, what opportunities for jealousy had ever presented themselves to me? Oh, I envied my stepsisters their warm beds and their pretty clothes and new shoes, but that was different. Some might say I had only been desiring things that should have been mine as well. After all, it was my father’s wealth, the rents from my father’s estate, that paid for their gowns and shoes and hair ribbons.

This feeling, though — this was different.
I
wanted to be the one talking to him, although I hoped I would not tilt my head in such a silly way, nor giggle and blush, if I should be lucky enough to exchange words with him.

He passed through the crowd, smiling as he went, although as he drew closer I thought I could see some strain in his face, some weariness at having to maintain so many conversations at once. And I thought of how many other such exchanges he must have had this afternoon, in all the other pavilions, before he ever came here. The poor man must want nothing more at the moment than to get away from all of us, to be someplace where he could have some peace at last.

But then he was there, standing only a few feet away. Immediately I dropped a curtsey, and hoped it did not look too clumsy. I had been practicing, but without a mirror or anyone to give me any direction, I had no idea whether the honor was passable or not. “Your Majesty,” I murmured.

“Ah, I had told everyone that we might dispense with such things, but it appears you all are determined to maintain the proprieties.” His voice was warm and rich, with an edge of amusement to it. “Your name, milady?”

“Ashara Millende, Your Majesty.”

He nodded. “A lovely name for a lovely young woman.”

I could feel a flush rise in my cheeks, and I saw several of the girls in my vicinity shoot dagger-sharp glares at me. He had been universally pleasant and charming so far, but this was the first time I had heard him utter a compliment to anyone. And for it to be directed at me —

“I thank you, Your Majesty.”

“And have you been enjoying yourself, Ashara?”

Of course I could not tell him the truth, that I had been alternately bored and uncomfortable for most of the afternoon. It was not his fault — if I had not been so late, then perhaps I could have been in the group included in the first pavilion, and therefore not had to wait until the very last to see him.

A pleasant lie seemed the best response. “Yes, I have, Your Majesty. Everything has just been lovely.”

“Excellent.” He paused, and it seemed as if he intended to say something more, but then he smiled at a pair of girls standing a few paces away from me, and turned to them to ask how they fared.

Disappointment flared in me, but I knew he simply could not spend any more time with me than he already had. I would have to be satisfied with that brief exchange — and really, it was far more than many of the other girls had gotten.

Indeed, it appeared I was not the only one who thought so, for as soon as the Emperor was out of earshot, two girls turned on me with sour expressions, the taller one demanding, “How is it that
you
should command so much of his attention? For I have never seen you at court.”

Her tone was imperious, and, judging by the matched set of rubies around her neck and hanging from her ears, she was clearly from a family of some importance. For a second or two I wanted to cower, sure that she would catch some whiff of the kitchens about me and turn me in for the impostor I was. But then I reminded myself that I certainly appeared to all watching eyes to be as well-dressed as she, and she could have no idea of my true situation.

“As to that, my lady, I cannot say. I would not presume to second-guess what His Majesty does.” I shrugged, and I could see the strange girl’s eyes narrow as she took in the richness of my gown. “Perhaps you will be luckier tomorrow, and he will wish you a good day then.”

Her mouth tightened. Under most circumstances I would have said she was pretty enough, with her long-lashed dark eyes and rosy cheeks, but her expression was anything but pleasant. “Do you have any idea who I am?”

“As to that, I do not…although I am sure you are about to enlighten me.”

She drew herself up. Standing thus, she was perhaps an inch or two taller than I, although I did not care too much for such minor differences. “I am Brinda Aldrenne, daughter of Baron Lhastir Aldrenne. And who are you?”

I made myself shrug, although inwardly I found myself glad that she was the daughter of a baron, and not a duke. Yes, she outranked me, but not by as much as I had feared. “If you did not hear me when I gave His Majesty my name, then I shall repeat it for you if I must. I am Ashara Millende, and my father was Allyn Millende, a baronet.”

A little light of triumph gleamed in her eyes. It seemed she thought the difference between baron and baronet to be somewhat greater than I did. She sniffed. “I have never heard of him.”

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t have. He was never overly fond of town, and so we did not travel here often.” I paused, then looked her up and down before adding, “And now I am beginning to see why he did not care to spend much time in the capital. If you will excuse me.”

I sketched a curtsey and hurried away, moving to the refreshment table as if that were the sole reason for my leave-taking. In truth, though, my heart pounded, and I could feel my hand shaking as I extended it to one of the servants so he might refill my goblet.

Whence had come such boldness, I could not say. Certainly I had not been trained to stand up for myself. My existence heretofore had depended on staying in the background, on never uttering a word that might seem forward, let alone impertinent. But I found I did not much care for how Brinda Aldrenne had addressed me, and it seemed quite a natural thing for me to stick up for myself. Here there would be no consequences; indeed, it might have been a wise move for me to assert myself early on, so that those watching would know that I was not some meek milksop to be trodden upon in their quest to catch the Emperor’s eye.

Even so, I took a large swallow of wine to steady my nerves, and was glad then of the crush around me, so I was hidden from Brinda Aldrenne’s no doubt narrowed eyes.

“Nicely done,” came an unfamiliar voice, and I turned to see a girl with tip-tilted dark eyes and quite beautiful curly black hair grinning at me.

“I beg your pardon?” I replied. My tone was probably sharper than it should have been, but that exchange with Brinda had put me on edge.

“The way you put Miss High-and-Mighty Aldrenne in her place. That’s something a good number of us have been longing to do for years.” Another quick flash of a smile, and she dipped a hasty curtsey. “I’m Gabrinne Nelandre, daughter of the Earl of Kelsir — but I promise I won’t mention it again after this. And you said your name was Ashara?”

“Y-es,” I said uncertainly. True, the girl seemed friendly enough, but after witnessing Brinda’s hostility, I did not know quite what to expect.

“Splendid,” Gabrinne replied. “And that hair of yours! I saw how
he
was staring at you — the rest of us might as well pack up and go home. Not that I care. I’m only here because my father said I must, but I certainly don’t want to marry the Emperor.”

“You don’t?” After seeing him, I could not understand why anyone wouldn’t wish to be his wife.

“No, I have far better prey in mind. But — ” She broke off then, for there was some commotion in the pavilion, and we both paused to see what was happening.

It appeared the Emperor, having made his circuit, was now taking his leave of us. A low murmur of discontent ran through the crowd, and he raised his hand and said, “It has been quite the afternoon for all of us, but we will all meet again soon — tomorrow evening at the palace, for a great feast. But until then, my ladies.” And he bowed, then smiled, his features illuminated so by that smile it seemed as if the very sun itself shone within the pavilion.

Then he was gone. Almost at once the exodus began, everyone eager to be out of the stuffy tent, now that the reason for being there had left. Gabrinne turned to me and said, “Well, it appears that is that. But I will look for you tomorrow night, and you must look for me, so we might sit together. It will be amusing to have someone new to talk to. I am so dreadfully bored by most of the girls at court. You, however — you seem different somehow. Until then!” She reached out and gave my hand a quick squeeze before making her way through the crowd.

I stared after her, a little startled by her brash comments, then shook my head. At least she was friendly, and had not seemed to notice anything terribly out of place about me. It would be good to face a grand dinner in the palace itself with an amiable companion at my side.

For now, though — now I would have to get myself home, where I knew the atmosphere would be far from amiable.

M
y aunt had left
instructions with the coachman to wait until I had emerged, and so he was still there when I approached, in an area off to one side of the tourney field choked with other carriages and open hacks and the odd horse, apparently belonging to some young women whose families had not the means to maintain a coach. Whence mine had come from, I did not know, but I was glad that my aunt had foreseen that need and managed it somehow.

The man handed me up into the carriage, and I settled myself on the worn leather seat, at last allowing myself a sigh of relief as he shut the door and went forward to take up the reins. I had survived my first day, and no one had called me out as a fraud, or indeed found anything particularly exceptional about me.

Well, save perhaps the Emperor…

A shiver went over my body as I recalled the warmth in his dark eyes as he had gazed at me, thought of the rich timbre of his voice and the easy courtesy with which he had treated everyone. Truth be told, I had not expected that of him. Somehow I had thought an Emperor must be haughty and cold, certain of his position, his utter superiority. That notion had some basis in fact, for I had heard he could be short of temper at times, hasty with those who displeased him, with little patience for fools. But I had seen none of that today.

Well, of course not. He would be on his best behavior, wouldn’t he, when seeking the young woman who would become his wife?

True. Somehow, though, I thought it was more than that.

And while Brinda had been anything but kind, Gabrinne had seemed as if she might be someone I would enjoy spending time with. It had been so very long since I had a friend. There had been Alysse, many, many years ago, before my father died, but I had not seen her these ten years and more. Of course I could never tell Gabrinne the truth about myself. Even so, it would be enough to have someone to talk to, to help me face the next four days. I did not flatter myself that I would be the Emperor’s eventual choice — yes, he seemed to have found me pretty, but I was not quite so unworldly as to believe he would not eventually choose someone of higher status, the daughter of a duke…or perhaps an earl, no matter what Gabrinne might say to the contrary.

BOOK: Ashes of Roses (Tales of the Latter Kingdoms Book 4)
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