4. Reyla
4
REYLA
L ord Briscalar opened the door and gestured for me to enter ahead of him. I found myself inside a small room with a staircase leading down. A railing encircled the opening except on this side, and a narrow walkway on the right led to a wall and another door. Was Lore inside there?
Stop thinking about him.
I tightened my grip on the nyxin and took the stairs with Lord Briscalar to the base where we exited out into a long hall with doors on each side.
“There are five cabins on this level,” he said, urging me down the hall. “The king’s suite is, naturally, the largest, though I will say that yours is equally grand.”
“Lovely.”
“My quarters are here.” He paused, waving to the first door on the right, then the left. “Lord Lorant sleeps here when he’s not lounging on the deck.”
“Lounging?”
“Visiting with the crew.” He grunted. “While it’s probably not my place to speak of such things, many believe Lord Lorant is entirely too comfortable with those . . . How shall we put it?” He huffed. “Those who are less fortunate than us.”
“What do you believe?”
He blinked as if no one had ever asked him something like that before. “That the amount of power a person can wield doesn’t define them.”
Interesting answer; it warmed me to him already.
“Are you referring to the powerless?” Did they use them as crew? No, I’d seen some sailors using magic.
“There are distinct classes of people at Evergorne. High lords and ladies with the most power, lessers who can wield, though not much, and a few without any power at all. I assume it’s the same where you come from?”
I didn’t see myself as someone better than anyone else, but others at Evergorne might. “There are many with less power than us.” I was basically powerless myself, though I’d been assured I had considerable potential. Perhaps by the time I’d gone gray, I would figure this out. “Lord Lorant visits with the crew?” I prompted, curious despite my determination to forget about him.
Shadows flickered across Lord Briscalar’s face. “Some would say that he should remain among those of his station.” He continued down the hall with me trotting behind him. The nyxin, who needed a name, studied everything. Probably looking for escape routes, though he was stuck on the ship until we made port in Evergorne .
I’d always enjoyed hanging out with the villagers during my down time at the fortress, so I could understand why Lore did too. I wasn’t snooty, but I assumed that would be my new role in life.
Could queens hang out with those considered below their station? I wasn’t going to avoid anyone solely due to their ability to use magic.
“I don’t know anything about boats,” I said brightly, to change the subject.
“A ship, my lady. Please refer to it as a ship.”
I winced and stretched for a polite smile.
He stopped again. “Allow me to help you in this. It’s important that you don’t appear . . . How shall we say?” He sucked in a breath. “Unworldly.”
“Oh, I’m anything but.” Right.
His gaze traveled down my frame. “Once we arrive at Evergorne Court, we’ll replace what you brought with you with clothing befitting our future queen.”
“I can’t wait.” Ugh. I didn’t mind wearing gowns on fancy occasions, and it was fun having my hair arranged every now and then, though I abhorred anyone fussing. But how could I defend myself in a flouncy skirt? “I prefer pants. Tunics. I brought some with me.” At least three complete outfits.
He gasped. “Our queen never wears tunics and pants.”
“Never?”
“Never,” he vowed.
We’d see about that. “Can’t I wear them while we travel, not when I’m at Evergorne Court?” I lifted a smile. “I insist.”
“I see. Allow me to continue.” He pivoted. “The front of the ship is called the bow and the rear, the stern. There are three levels on this ship, the deck that you’ve seen, this level, plus the lower one where the crew has bunks.”
“Where’s the cook?”
“Our cook, who crafts everything exquisitely from simple ingredients with a magical touch I haven’t found anywhere else, has quarters on the lower deck as well. His kitchen is located there, though the food we dine on is brought up to this level.” He nodded to the door at the end of the hall. “The captain has quarters through there.”
I appreciated him sharing this information with me. “How many crew are on the ship?”
“The captain.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “Three mates who oversee operations and navigation, the boatswain supervises the ten deckhands, our delightful cook, plus me.” Pivoting, he continued down the hall, stopping at the last doors on either side. “King Merrick’s suite is on the right, and yours, my lady, is on the left.” He swept that door open and gestured for me to step inside, closing it after we’d entered.
I lowered the nyxin to the floor and after looking up at me with concern, he locked his nose on the floor and started exploring.
I looked around too.
Like my suite at Lydel Court, this one was made up of a sitting area, though much smaller than that at the manor, with a door on the left.
“Your bedroom lies in that direction,” the lord said. My bag dropped to the floor with a dull thud beside him. “Did you, perchance, bring a gown for the wedding? ”
Would he have a fit if I hadn’t?
“It’s in my bag.” When Tempest insisted, I took the dress from her, grumbling while I stuffed it in among my things. At least I’d get some use from it tonight.
His concerned look shot to my bag, and his voice wavered. “Delightful. Allow me to show you the rest of your suite, my lady.” He walked through the door on the left and into the bedroom with me following.
Not bad. It wasn’t huge, but there was plenty of space around the bed. Side tables had been bolted to the floor to keep them from shifting if we encountered rough seas. I took in the floral-patterned chair I could sit on if I wanted to do my own lounging, sans those of “lesser station”.
“Your bathroom is through here.” He continued to the next door on the left, sweeping it open. “I do enjoy a nice tub bath in the evening, don’t you, my lady?”
“Yes, I do.” The bathroom was also smaller than the one adjacent to my suite at the manor, but the tub appeared large enough for two. I studied the vials of scents lined up inside the narrow, glass-fronted cabinet beside it, spying sponges and bars of soap, plus a few items I’d never seen before that must be used in the tub. I’d explore them later.
“Your closet is through here.” He opened a door on the inside wall of the room. “During the ceremony, I’ll hang up your clothing.” His mouth pinched. “Please. I insist.”
“Thank you,” I said, relenting. “That’s quite kind of you.”
He sniffed. “It’s my solemn duty, my lady.”
I spread my lips wide. “Yes.”
“We should have things ready on deck for the wedding shortly. Are you sure I can’t assist you with dressing? My ancestors have served the king’s family for many generations, and I assure you, I’ve been trained in every hair arrangement technique imaginable. I’m also quite gifted in selecting the perfect jewelry to not only enhance a gown but the lovely lady wearing it.”
He sounded so kind, I almost gave in and told him he could do it.
“No, no, I’m fine.” I patted his arm and smiled. “I do appreciate your offer.”
“Very well. I’ll wait outside your suite to escort you to the top deck. Please don’t take long. Lord Lorant will become impatient.”
I was sure he would.
“I’ll bring food, a bowl for water, plus whatever else your pet might need. How do you expect him to tend to his toileting needs?”
Such a polite way to put it. “Could we place a pan with dirt in the suite? Maybe a short tree?”
He looked down his nose at the nyxin who was sniffing around the perimeter of the room. Would he lift his leg against the wall? That could be a problem. “There is no dirt on this ship, let alone trees.”
“Wood chips?” The cook must use a real fire to prepare our meals.
“That could be arranged.”
“Do so.” There, now I sounded queenly. “I’d like a designated area in this room with wood chips that will be kept clean as he uses them, plus another area on the main deck. ”
“Why, my lady? Surely you don’t intend to leave your suite other than for your wedding at sea and then to . . . visit the king?”
They did expect me to sleep with him. It was all I could do to not scowl. I enjoyed sex, but with a stranger? Never.
“I plan to take in fresh air on the deck throughout the journey and the nyxin will remain with me. Please see that this is taken care of.”
He bowed. “Of course. I’ll do so during the ceremony.”
“Thank you. That will be all.”
“I could draw you a bath, my lady.” He minced his feet in place, his fingers fretting against his chest. “At least let me lay out your wedding gown.”
“I can handle that myself.”
His spine sagged. “If you wish.”
“I do.”
He heaved another sigh. “For future planning purposes, what time would you like to dine in the morning?”
“Seven.”
“That’s early.”
“Do you sleep in?”
His breathing came in shudders. “Never if my lady needs my attention.”
“Then I’d like tea and a light . . . repast brought to my suite at seven in the morning.” If I hadn’t assisted the queen of the now dead Bledmire king, I would have no idea how royalty should act. I’d gotten a solid lesson right there, ranking almost equal to the lessons I’d taken when I was little that taught me how to train dragons and wield swords and blades with deadly precision.
“Very well. I’ll wait in the hall to escort you to the wedding.” After giving me another deep bow, he left.
Once the door had shut, I heaved my own sigh. I knew this was coming. Not marrying Lore, though I wouldn’t exactly marry him. He was the “assassin/bodyguard” proxy .
But marriage to a king I’d never met?
When Kinart was alive, and I still could dream, I’d envisioned the day he and I would wed. I’d wear a beautiful dress, and when I stood beside him, he’d grin and the light in his eyes would reflect the love I had for him. The elder would marry us and our friends would cheer when we kissed.
Kinart would whisper he loved me.
We’d have a long, happy life together. Children, maybe. Lots of love for sure.
My eyes stung, and I didn’t hold back my tears. I’d grieve for him forever. No one else would ever take his place in my heart.
The nyxin came over and sat beside me, licking my hand. I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him while sniffling back my tears. I could cry in my bed later. For now, I had to act like the fluffy lady Lore believed me to be.
Rising, I retrieved my bag and dropped it on the bed, releasing the fastening at the top. I had to dig to find Ember’s Shadow , the magical book I’d stolen from the fae. Holding it against my chest, I sat on the bed and laid it on my lap. I started flipping through the pages.
Blank. All stupidly blank .
“Why won’t you tell me everything I need to know?” I snarled at it.
I’d already learned it would only share information it felt was needed. It must assume I could handle this on my own.
“I can’t,” I said. “I really can’t.”
I was so woefully bad at all this courtly stuff that even a nudge in the right direction would be helpful.
I slid off the bed and tucked the book underneath the mattress. The wily thing had a habit of disappearing, and while I couldn’t stop that from happening, I could prevent someone from stealing it from me.
Time to say I do. I dragged the dress from the bag and held it up, sighing as I took in the wrinkles.
If there was ever a time for my magic to work, it was now.
Pull your magic from the well deep inside you, I was taught. Then think of what you need and speak the words while infusing them with power.
Simple, right? Why was it so hard for me to do even one measly thing, then?
With a growl, I closed my eyes and pictured the well. I could almost see the circular stone structure in front of me, the surface of my power shimmering with potential at the top. I thought about my need to remove the wrinkles from the dress.
“Smooth,” I whispered, pushing all the power I had into the word.
The dress remained unchanged.
My sigh bled disappointment, but I couldn’t stride up onto the deck in my wet leathers or a tunic and pants. I suspected those outfits would deepen Lore’s scowl. I didn’t care about pleasing him, but I didn’t want to embarrass my future husband.
It was clear my life was going to change and not necessarily in a good way. I couldn’t remain a border fortress dragon rider and trainer forever. The king would not have agreed to a marriage with a woman like that. He’d insisted on a willing bride and that she be fae royalty.
If nothing else, my dead father, the former king of Bledmire Court, guaranteed that, though I was going to do my best to forget he’d sired me and focus on my mother, the High Lady of Weldsbane Court he’d murdered. Sadly, you could buddy up with friends of your choice, but you couldn’t select your family.
After peeling off my damp leathers, I washed quickly in the bathroom, the nyxin trotting behind me, sniffing the floor wherever I went. Back in the bedroom, I lifted the dress, hoping my spell had been delayed but finally come through, that the dress’s appearance had improved while I was in the bathroom.
No chance of that.
“Sad,” I told the nyxin. “Truly sad.”
I tugged it over my head and screwed my body this way and that to fasten it in the back, huffing and snarling until I’d finished. I smoothed it across my hips and spun to make the skirt flare. Tempest had gifted me with something lovely. It was too bad I hadn’t asked her to use magic to make it stay that way until I could wear it.
Well, it was the nicest outfit I had. It would have to do.
I went to the vanity and sat, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The sun had pinkened my cheeks, and I hadn’t thought to bring powder or anything I could use to cover the redness .
My hair looked atrocious, some of it still in the arrangement I’d made back at the manor, the rest dangling around my face in loose curls. Kinart used to love brushing my hair, exclaiming about the color, the thickness, and the way it waved. He’d stuff his face into it and suck in a breath, blowing it back against my nape to bring out my shivers.
I needed to stop thinking about Kinart.
He was dead, and I was running away again, hoping this time I could put enough distance between me and his memory. Maybe then I could find a way to breathe.
As for my hair, I mostly hated it, but only because it got in the way when I battled or worked with a dragon. It had been long overdue for a cut when Kinart was killed, and after that, I couldn’t bear to sever the strands he’d adored.
“Fix it.” I’d worked as a lady’s maid. While I hadn’t done hair or make-up for the would-be queen myself, I’d watched the others do it many times. Surely it wasn’t that tricky.
Minutes later, I glared at my image in the mirror. “Alright, fixing hair is tricky.” I was tempted to try magic to arrange it, but tiny bolts of lightning might scorch it off my head. The last thing I needed to do was appear on the deck bald.
No one had arranged it for me when I lived in the fortress except me, so I gathered it at the nape of my neck and secured it with the strip of stretchy fabric.
Standing, I studied my image, not liking how the dress hung or the way it puckered in odd ways here and there due to the numerous wrinkles.
“Enough,” I told my reflection. “You’re not marrying the man you love. This is a proxy thing with a snide pretend groom and a captain speaking the words, not a true elder. Before you meet the king, you can ask Lord Briscalar to use magic to craft a few nice dresses. Then you can lift your chin and greet the king demurely in one of those. Curtsy. Take his hand and hope he has more personality than Lore.”
As I slipped out the door and into the hall, the nyxin tried to follow.
“You have to stay here,” I said, giving him a quick pat before securing the latch.
Lord Briscalar was not waiting like he’d said he would, but maybe he’d gone to the bathroom. Or to order the meal we’d eat after the wedding, assuming we’d sit and eat anything. Did people do that after a proxy wedding?
I took the stairs to the top but still didn’t find Lord Briscalar.
A final glance down made me cringe. The dress really looked shitty. As for myself, I didn’t care what anyone else thought about me, but I was representing Weldsbane Court and my brother. My best friend, the High Lady of Lydel.
I refused to think about the monster who’d ruled Bledmire. At least I’d never been forced to call him Father.
As I shoved the door open, I sucked in a breath to fortify myself for the wedding, cringing while hoping I wouldn’t be too much of an embarrassment to my family.