Fairest (5 page)

Merely pretty!
She was ravishing. The tailor's cousin needed new eyes. My own eyes could barely take her in. Ivi was only a few inches shorter than I, but she was fragile, almost insubstantial. Her honey-colored hair shone as though a bit of sunlight was caught in each strand. Her skin seemed to glow from within, like porcelain. Her bones—in her cheeks, her jaw, her wrists—were more finely shaped than the stem of a crystal goblet.

She and I could have belonged to different species. She was ethereal, and I was base. I'd been a fool to imagine the slightest connection between us.

She advanced in measured steps, as the ceremony required. Her expression was serious. Her gaze was on King Oscaro, except for a peek around the hall. She saw our astonishment and flashed a smile—of triumph, I thought—and then became serious again.

She joined King Oscaro on the stage, and we took our seats.

Sir Uellu, the choirmaster, sang, “King Oscaro!”

The whole wedding would be sung, of course.

“Yes, Ayortha!” King Oscaro's bass voice was full and rich.

Sir Uellu sang, “Maid Ivi!”

Ivi coughed.

The flutist missed another measure.

Ivi whispered, “Yes, Ayortha!”

Several people groaned. Everyone pitied her for losing her voice on her wedding day, but we felt fear as well as pity. This was unlucky. This boded ill. At home in Amonta a sore throat was cause enough to postpone a wedding. But a royal wedding, I supposed, with so many dignitaries attending, couldn't be postponed.

Sir Uellu turned to face us. He sang, “Ayorthaiana!”

We sang, “Yes, Ayortha!”

After that, Sir Uellu sang that this was a marriage of three: King Oscaro, Ivi, and Ayortha. The maiden who married the king also married the kingdom, and the kingdom married her.

Sir Uellu likened king, queen, and country to the Three Tree, which grew only in Ayortha. The Three Tree wasn't one tree, but three: the white obirko, the red almyna, and the black-barked umbru. Their trunks grew no more than an inch apart, and their roots and branches mingled.

Sir Uellu began the “Three Tree Song,” also known as the “Song of Ayortha.” Everyone joined in.

I'd sung the “Song of Ayortha” hundreds of times, but never with the king. I wanted to remember everything—the smell of the courtiers' perfume, the king's joy, the bride's beauty (and her whisper), the prince's ears, his dog, the birds trilling, the singing statues.

The king sang his Wedding Song, declaring the reasons he loved his bride.

Ivi smiled. She touched her throat and was silent.

After the ceremony, the duchess and I joined a receiving line in the corridor outside the Hall of Song. Perhaps fifty people were ahead of us. The line started to move. The duchess stepped forward. I hung back.

“Aza!”

Feeling rising panic, I moved up. I shielded my face with my hand. I hadn't expected to meet the king and the queen and the prince. If I'd known, I'd have thrown myself out of the coach on the way here.

Peeking between my fingers, I saw Prince Ijori, with Oochoo at his feet, greet the guests and announce their names. The duchess and I moved up again. I tried to reason myself out of my fear. Everyone would be polite. The king and queen would be too caught up with each other to pay attention to me. The prince would be too occupied with announcing the guests.

I concentrated on the royal couple and the prince, attempting to prepare myself. The king and queen's love for each other was unmistakable. She leaned into him and clung as tightly as real ivy. He beamed at her and looked prouder than an Ayorthaian lyrebird. As I watched, Ivi's expression turned impish, oh-so-adorably impish. She touched her husband's cheek and whispered in his ear. For a moment he looked discomfited. Then he exploded into laughter, and she looked vastly pleased with herself.

Feeling I was intruding by watching them, I looked instead at the prince, who cocked his head in a doggy way when a guest spoke to him. He traded witticisms with the guests. He seemed to have a light heart and a clever tongue.

When a guest reached the king, he held her hand or put his arm around her shoulder. Ivi whispered, “Thank you,” to each one—I couldn't hear, but I could read her lips. She smiled the same smile each time, too, brilliant, but automatic and lacking warmth, nothing like the melting smiles she bestowed on her husband.

I grew desperate. Only a dozen people were ahead of us.

Most guests spoke their congratulations, but some sang a verse of their own composition. One guest had a flawless high soprano. She wasn't as beautiful as the queen, but she was a beauty, dark skinned with a face of gentle curves. She sang,

The duchess whispered, “We expected the king to marry Lady Arona, who would have been a much better match. And we wouldn't have had such an inauspicious wedding, either, if Arona had been the bride.”

Not necessarily. Lady Arona might have had a sore throat, too.

Ivi's smile faded. She smoothed a stray lock of gray hair behind the king's ear. She was demonstrating her claim to him. She was jealous!

King Oscaro patted Ivi's hand. Now
I
was jealous. The gesture was so loving. No one would ever pat my hand that way.

He spoke, loud enough for me to hear, “Thank you, Lady Arona. Your good wishes can hardly fail to come true.” He paused and then burst out, “Arona, is my Ivi not a wonder?” He turned to Ivi. “My dear, you are always lovely, but tonight you outshine the stars.”

Ivi looked smug. Lady Arona seemed to take the king's remarks with good grace. She curtsied and started off, down the corridor.

Four people now separated the duchess and me from the prince.

“Your Grace?” I said.

“Yes?”

“I forgot …” What could I have forgotten? “I forgot my handkerchief. I'd better fetch it. I'll—”

“Nonsense. I'm not going to wait—”

“You needn't—”

“How dare you interrupt me!”

Two people remained before us.

“Your Grace, I can't stay. Let me go. I must go.”

She understood. “Don't be silly. I didn't bring a companion in order to be alone.” She stepped closer to the prince.

I followed her. I was uglier than a hydra. I was as big as the corridor. There was nothing to look at but me.

Prince Ijori announced the duchess. I stood frozen.

She stepped forward. “Congratulations, Sire. Congratulations, Your Majesty. I hope you'll be very happy.”

I didn't move. I stared at the floor. My blush was as red as raw meat.

The duchess said, “Aza! The king is waiting!”

I
HEARD A GIGGLE
behind me. I took a half step forward. Then I froze again. I couldn't do it. I decided to run.

But Oochoo saved me. She came to me, tail wagging madly. I reached down and stroked her long silky ears.

Then Prince Ijori was at my side. He put his hand on my elbow and guided me forward. “Have no fear. The king is dangerous only when he's hungry. What is your name, so I may tell him?”

“A-aza.” I had to repeat myself three times before my voice was strong enough to be heard.

I stood two inches taller than the king, hulking over him.

“My dear,” he said, taking my hand in his, “if only the ogres were as afraid of me as you are.”

He was so kind! I forced out, “Congratulations, Sire.”

“Thank you.” He passed me along to Ivi.

I curtsied.

She let go of the king and took my hand in both of hers. Her smile seemed genuine now, different from the smiles she'd bestowed on everyone else. “I know how you feel.” Her whisper had a Kyrrian accent. She licked her lips. “I was terrified when I arrived here. Petrified! And the wedding ceremony! I'm relieved it's over.”

I was thrilled. I struggled and got out, “You're very gracious, Your Majesty. Congratulations.” I curtsied without falling over and hurried after the duchess.

The queen had spoken more to me than to anyone else!

It was barely dawn. I heard a peep and then a trill. A lyrebird sang from atop the curtain rod. I heard more birdsong outside my window and from the corridor beyond my door. The birds made for a charming awakening.

We should bring songbirds into the Featherbed. I'd have to tell Father.

I had the morning to myself, and I hoped to explore. The duchess was going to see an old friend. Then we were to attend a centaur performance in the tournament arena. I would see my first centaur.