The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (3 page)

Aiva found her way into the royal box, skirts held tightly to prevent tripping over the fabric. She could hear the roar of the crowd, circled around the field, anxious for the tournament to begin. She slowed her pace to allow Calie to catch up, moving again toward the regal figure of her mother at the center of the dais seating. Shaelyn was at the Queen’s side, eagerly leaning forward to gaze out at the list, scanning the area for the first sign of the competitors’ approach. Her long black hair resembled Aiva’s though with less wave to the strands, hanging straighter, requiring more work to achieve the tight curls which now dangled along the sides of her high-boned cheeks. Dirt covered the hem of her delicate citrine dress. It didn’t take much for Aiva to figure out who Shaelyn watched so anticipant of. A look of expectance filled her light-blue eyes, anxious for the sight of Herryk. It was almost frustrating to see her sitting there, oblivious to how ridiculous she looked.

“Where is Father?” Aiva asked, taking her place at her mother’s right side, instantly aware of the empty chair where the King should be. A hint of worry could be seen in the Queen’s eyes, forcing a smile, clearly afraid of alarming her daughter.

“He and General Cadell decided to participate in the joust rather than the planned duel. Thankfully, I was able to convince your father to simply display his skill in a single tilt against the General,” Leyna sighed. “I do not think he realizes how worried I get when he and Cadell get to playing. They are both men, therefore they feel the need to show off their strength.”

“That is the best part about the joust,” Shaelyn chimed in, glancing away from the list for only a moment before directing her attention again to where the competitors would enter. “All these men are performing for us. I find it courageous.”

Aiva tried to contain her laughter. “We will see if you still find it courageous when your dear Lord Herryk gets thrown from his horse.”

“Herryk will not be thrown,” Shaelyn frowned. “He is the strongest one out there.”

“I would wager my Lord Kaemin could de-horse your man. If you were willing to make it a bit of sport,” Calie smiled innocently from her seat, leaning forward to rest her chin on Aiva’s shoulder from behind. “What do you say, Shaelyn?”

The Queen laughed quietly to herself, straightening against the high back of her chair. “You are lucky my husband is only performing for show, or I would wager you both that King Thade could best your Lords.”

“Oh, I have plenty of coin to spare, Your Majesty,” Calie winked deviously. “King Thade is tilting against my father, after all. Perhaps some sport on who will win that match?”

“I must also place my bet on the King, then.” Aiva removed a fan from the pocket of her wrist pouch, waving it in front of her face, surprised by the warmth in the air. It was unusual for that time of year. She was used to a bit of a chill while watching the festivities, the remnants of the winter temperatures having dissipated earlier in the month than normal. “Calie and I have placed our bets. Come now, Mother. Shaelyn. Will you both be joining?”

“I wager my purse on my husband. Any further bets will have to remain between you girls,” Leyna nodded. A roar erupted from the crowd at the approach of the first two men, their horses parading around the arena. A soft smile curled at the edges of Leyna’s lips. Following her gaze, Aiva recognized the familiar armor of her father, visor up, lance held high, waving proudly at the people in the stands. King Thade guided his horse around the rails, coming to stop in front of his family, the silver in his eyes shining brightly in loving adoration at his wife.

“Milady,” he bowed his head, holding the tip of his lance out to the Queen. Gracefully she rose to tie a golden ribbon of shimmering fabric around the weapon, cheers growing wilder from the onlookers to see their King and Queen.

Elbows propped on the rail, Aiva leaned over the edge as far as she dared. Thade looked over to her, craning his neck to hear her over the cacophony around them. “I have placed my money against Calie’s. If you only have a single tilt, make it count, Father.”

He chuckled to himself, giving a sharp nod of his head before lowering his visor to make one more lap around the field, confidently displaying the favor of the Queen. Aiva sat back in her seat, head cocked to one side with a questioning gaze at her sister.

“What is it?” Shaelyn wrinkled her nose, confused by Aiva’s gesture.

Lost in their own amusement, Calie and Aiva started to laugh. “The wager, silly,” Aiva smirked. “Are you in? Our father against Calie’s?”

“General Cadell is more practiced. I prefer not to bet on something that isn’t a guarantee.”

“You doubt our father? Traitorous,” Aiva gasped, playful in her manner. Her mother’s laughter mingled with theirs at Shaelyn’s expense, the three women ignoring the unpleasant pout they received in return. Shaelyn disliked being the focus of any jokes. Her reaction to it, however, only made the others enjoy taunting her more.

“Your father will be crushed, Shae. Not a single coin in his honor,” Leyna shook her head, feigning disdain. She only managed to maintain her straight face for a few moments before Aiva and Calie burst into a fit of giggling. Seeing her daughter’s quivering lip, Leyna clasped her hand gently, squeezing it in her own. “Do not weep, child. What would your dear Lord Herryk think?”

Shaelyn inhaled, appalled by the thought. Desperately she patted at her eyes. “You laugh now, Aiva. Just you wait. I will win your money when Herryk rides.”

“I have no reason to bet on Kaemin. That wager will be for you and Calie.”

A new wave of acclamations burst through the air at the General’s arrival, the hooves of his massive horse prancing in a display of control across the arena. He made his way toward them, giving a smile in Calie’s direction. At the end of the row Aiva took notice of Cadell’s wife. It was uncommon for her to be seen at the social events of court. Ever since Aiva could remember, she had detested public occasions, avoiding them under any circumstance. She was always a frail woman, which struck Aiva as odd, given the strength and stature of her husband. Her hair was a deep auburn, worn up tight in an elegant twist, a slight hint of grey at the roots. She clapped encouragingly for her husband, rising to her feet at his approach.

Cadell was positively glowing as he brought his horse to a halt in front of them, lance extended to his wife. “My dear Valeska, I hope you are keeping watch on our young Calie. You know how she gets at these events. Try not to let her lose our entire savings on a single tournament.”

“I have little control over what our daughter does,” Valeska smiled, the lines around her face deepening from the gesture. “She is a woman after your own heart. I am content to see her simply seated in the stands rather than trying to ride in the competition.”

“Maybe next year,” Cadell grinned at Calie. His wife looked disconcerted for a moment before seeming to realize he spoke in jest. Hesitant, she joined in with the laughter, her slender fingers working to tie the ends of her lace handkerchief to the tip of Cadell’s lance. With a quick curtsy she sat down, anxious to divert the attention of the crowd back on her husband.

Aiva was on her feet as the two men positioned themselves, lances at the ready. Her heart pounded in her chest. She didn’t blame her mother for being uneasy with the sport. Many times they had witnessed injuries, some severe, on this very field during tournaments of show. Her only comfort was in knowing that neither man would aim for the head. It was too dangerous. The chance of a lance slipping was too great and Tanispa couldn’t risk losing their King, or their General.

The sound of the trumpet rang through her head. In a clamor of hoof-beats and armor, the men charged, lances lowered. With bated breath she watched the two cross, a sharp crack echoing through the list, wood splinters projecting in tiny fragments from amongst the action. Continuing past, the men slowed their pace, allowing Aiva to get a better look at the outcome. The King’s lance was shattered. The General’s remained intact.

Her mother was on her feet, excited by the victory, while at the same time making no attempt to hide her relief at the display being completed. They cheered loudly from the stands, waving at Thade, offering their congratulations from across the arena. Turning around Aiva smiled at Calie, beckoning her to stand. “Do not be discouraged, Calie,” she chuckled. “You will win it back against my sister when Herryk and Kaemin ride.”

Folding her arms across her chest Calie smirked. “I have no doubt on that one.”

As the crowd began to calm, everyone returned to their seats for the next two competitors. Without the adrenaline of the first match, Aiva found the next few rounds boring. Lacking in any flash. The soldiers were strong enough, but there was nothing about either which made her feel the desire to stand up and cheer for them. Her heart warmed to see the King making his way through the stands, settling himself between Aiva and her mother.

“Ah, I forgot how much more enjoyable the festivities are from this vantage,” he smiled, leaning in to give Leyna a gentle kiss. “You are lucky, dear. Cadell and I discussed the possibility of running the full three passes.”

The Queen jutted her chin out, displeased with the notion. “Oh?” she raised her brow. “Had you done so, you would have finally had need of your private quarters this evening.”

Thade chuckled to himself. Lightly running his fingertips along the side of Leyna’s face he coaxed a smile to her lips. “I behaved however,” he replied quietly. Oblivious to anyone else around who might overhear. “How could I risk upsetting you today, of all days? The celebration is in your honor, after all. You deserve all the attention I can possibly bestow upon you.”

Averting her eyes, Aiva tried not to focus on her parents. It was a sickening display. She never ceased to be amazed at how two people could still be so madly in love with one another after almost fifty years of marriage. Five decades and five children later, they remained loyal. Attached to one another in a way that Aiva had never seen in any other couple at court. She envied it. While her grandmother spoke of sometimes having to sacrifice happiness for the good of their people, the King and Queen were the perfect example that it wasn’t always the case. They sacrificed throughout their lives, but in the end it worked out for them. They were happy. Part of her hoped that one day she might find someone with whom she could share such a bond, though looking out over the crowd – she saw nothing. None of the men were capable of catching her eye.

At Shaelyn’s burst of excited shouts, Aiva let her mind drift back to the present, focused once again on the arena. To evoke a reaction of that extreme from her sister, it could only mean one thing. Lord Herryk was about to ride. Which would mean Calie’s beloved Kaemin would be entering the field as well.

“My wager still stands, Shae. If you dare to accept it,” Calie stated, dangling a small indigo purse in front of Shaelyn’s face.

Proudly, Shaelyn rose from her seat, nodding in challenge to Calie. “I take your coin and double it. Triple if Lord Kaemin is left on his back. Do you have enough faith in your man to rise to the challenge?”

“Goodness, child,” Leyna laughed quietly. Raising her hand she motioned for Shaelyn to return to her seat, shaking her head in disapproval. “It is a game. Calm yourself.”

“It is alright, Your Majesty. I will see her raise. May the best man win.” Rising to her feet, Calie called out at the sight of Kaemin riding into the arena. At his waist Aiva could see the delicate fabric of Calie’s favor dangling from his belt, his attention turned toward the royal family, saluting once to the King and Queen, followed by a sharp nod in recognition of Calie standing behind them.

The two men took their places at the rail, visors lowered. Aiva jumped in surprise to feel Shaelyn’s hand clutch at hers. Fearful. A sudden look of doubt passing over her features. “I have changed my mind. I dislike this very much,” she whispered miserably in Aiva’s ear. “Why do men feel compelled to do these things?”

“Relax, Shae. He will be fine.”

Lightly patting her sister’s hand, Aiva stared out onto the field. In the first pass the men collided with incredible force, though it was Herryk whose lance shattered over the breastplate of his opponent. Rocked from the blow, Kaemin reset himself, returning to his squire in wait while Herryk retrieved a new lance. A trumpet signaled the start of the second pass. Calie’s screams rang out over the rest of the crowd as Kaemin’s lance splintered against Herryk’s helmet. Herryk struggled to maintain his position atop the horse, Shaelyn’s cries of horror echoing through Aiva’s head until his horse came to a halt.

The suspense was too much. On either side Aiva was overwhelmed by the shouts and cheers of her family. She didn’t know who to root for. Both men were close acquaintances of hers. It felt only fair to remain silent or applaud them both equally for a job well done. But there was still a third and final pass to be made. The score was in Kaemin’s favor. As long as he kept himself on his horse, there was a chance at victory. Or a tie. A neutral outcome would be best between Calie and Shaelyn. Aiva knew it might be too much to hope for.

Nervous, she leaned forward, Shaelyn’s hand still clutching her own. With a final charge the men came forward. A loud crack swept through the air, both lances shattering.

In her head she did a quick count of the scores. Kaemin’s second run had served him well. By a single point he was victorious over Herryk, leaving Calie in a wild state of excitement while Shaelyn flopped down in her seat, head leaned against Aiva’s shoulder, sobbing pathetically into the soft fabric of her gown.

“It cannot be!” she wept. “Lord Herryk should have won.”

“Now, now, Shae. It was a good match. And he stayed on his horse. It was an honorable show,” Aiva consoled, lightly brushing her fingers through Shaelyn’s hair. With a half-smile she caught her mother’s gaze, a knowing smile on the Queen’s face.

As Kaemin and Herryk exited the lists, Aiva watched with interest as General Cadell made his way out into the center of the arena, motioning with his hands for the crowd to silence. “Ladies and Gentleman!” he shouted over the roar. “We have a very special show for you, in honor of our King and Queen – and myself, if I may say so.” Cadell chuckled to himself. “I have waited a long time for a chance to see this, and finally I have the pleasure to introduce our next match. A test of swordsmanship. If our two competitors will enter the field at this time!”