14. FOURTEEN
FOURTEEN
Mina
The palace grounds are more massive than they appear from the outside, made mostly of large gray stones and wooden beams, like the mountain and forest were molded to the emperor's will.
Despite the clear sky shining through the windows, the entire aesthetic is dreary.
“The palace used to belong to House Mathias, Emperor Gilchrist’s former home, so it makes sense to honor his heritage by keeping their house colors,” Lady Victoria explains, pointing to the blue and silver accents.
Darius doesn’t strike me as the sentimental type, but it would be rude to completely replace his old family colors. “The main entry and ballroom will retain their design then. The rest of the palace will be divided up to honor each of the former nations.”
Lady Hunter holds open the door to the next room. They are bare and boring, but at least clean from the recent guests from the ball. Most of them returned home after failing to catch Darius’s eye.
“What if we divided the space by each wing? Or present a different former nation on each floor?” Lady Hunter stumbles over the suggestion, cheeks flushing.
Not a bad idea. Each area can remain cohesive while still offering some variety.
“I think that’s a lovely idea. Each of you can design the floors that will represent your home, though that does leave a few unrepresented.”
Lady Hunter manages to shake off her nerves long enough to smile before her gaze drops back to the rug. Lady Elena and Natalie both volunteer to take the former kingdoms near their homes in addition.
Lady Victoria raises her hand. “I’ve visited most of the continent with my father. I’m sure he can find us quality pieces for a good price to furnish the rooms.”
Providing furniture and decor for the entire palace is quite the lucrative contract, one her father won’t be able to deny she had a hand in. Her father was a fool to pass up her sharp mind and business sense.
“I’d like to use local artisans from each region, but I am open to your father’s guild handling the shipment and price negotiations. Will you act as a liaison for the guild and keep their proposals in line?”
Lady Victoria’s smile is downright devious as she curtsies. “I’d be honored. I’ll make sure to keep you up to date on the agreements.” Not only did her father pass her over to join his guild, but now she’s in a superior position. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to see his face.
Lady Natalie and Lady Elena bristle at the idea but are wise enough to hold their tongues. They might as well get used to it. I have no intention of wasting talent, regardless of gender.
Lady Elena stretches her hand, opening and closing it dramatically. She has kept excellent notes without complaining the entire time.
“Why don’t we take a break?” I can push through, but my comfortable flats are more manageable than the heels the others are wearing. “Relax in the garden a bit before we set out to explore the other buildings.”
“I’ll go prepare the tables,” Jaime says.
We make our way to the massive gardens. They hold no candle to Kalisham’s in size, but the variety of blooms is quite spectacular.
Short hedges with clusters of soft purple, blue, and pink petals sit in neat rows, broken up by marble statues with little pools of water around the base.
The entire area is encircled by expansive trees with paths leading to the main gate and the perimeter buildings.
We take our seats around a small table covered in white cloth. The leaves rustle on a hot breeze, casting their dancing shadows over our table. Jaime works fast to get a full spread of drinks set up in the cool shade.
“This is perfect after all that walking.” Lady Natalie tilts her face to the breeze and sighs. Her territory boasts quite a bit of forest despite the walled city it is famous for. Maybe enjoying nature together will be an easy way past her defenses.
“Do you have many gardens like this in Brastrova?” I ask, taking a sip of the strange drink in front of me. A light pink that reminds me of a sunrise sparkles through our glassware, the liquid fresh and sweet, with little red fruit on top.
Lady Natalie opens her mouth to respond, but Lady Elena sits forward and interrupts. “What about in Kalisham? I’m afraid we don’t know much about your home, and I, for one, am dying to know more.”
I wait for Lady Natalie to call out Lady Elena’s rudeness, but she silently sinks into her seat. I bite back a sigh.
The thought of speaking about my family jabs a spear into my chest. With Darius, I could be honest about the details, but here, surrounded by mostly welcoming smiles, I have to lie.
I cannot avoid talking about a place that will be a part of the empire soon. Not without raising suspicion.
I lock my pain away with the very chains weighing down my heart. I summon images of my home and pray that my smile doesn’t look as forced as it feels.
“We have more gardens and green spaces than you might imagine. My home has a larger garden than this, full of roses and jasmine. They are gorgeous. All of Kalisham is.” I swallow a few times before I am able to speak again.
“White, shimmering sand covers the land from shore to shore. Our cities are built on a series of underground water channels, so we boast many fountains and clear pools to relax in.”
Lady Victoria releases a dreamy sigh. “That sounds wonderful, especially in this heat. How are they connected? Are they man-made or natural springs?”
Her naked curiosity makes smiling a little easier. “Oh, there is no greater feeling than relaxing in the pools at sunset as the whole horizon turns orange. They are natural springs.” I leave out how we use Absima to ensure their vitality.
Darius implied that my powers would be ill received, yet I have a feeling Lady Victoria would not fear them. Quite the opposite.
“Our islands aren’t that far apart, yet so different. Instead of desert, Noula is famous for our dense rainforests and waterfalls,” Kailani says.
“Different than the forests here?” I read about the rolling greens of the northern continent, but books failed to do the canopies justice.
“Very. Our trees are thinner but reach tall as if holding up the sky itself. The unyielding humidity yields unique flora as well.”
“I look forward to seeing them in person.”
I relax against the back of my chair, grateful to shift the topic off my home, but Lady Elena continues her inquisition like a dog on a scent.
“What about your family? Any siblings? What’s your king like?”
Her questions seem innocent, but I wonder how many of them come from the adviser holding her puppet strings.
My home is a heavily guarded secret. I may not be able to share much, but I can at least set the tone for the kind of queen they will be serving.
“We are a matriarchy, actually. My mother is queen and my father the prince consort.”
Glasses freeze midair as the information settles over them. Everyone wears shock on their faces except Kailani, who claps her hands. “How wonderful. Do women hold other positions in court?”
“We have no set gender roles. Women and men alike hold political offices, own businesses, and even serve as soldiers. They share the burden of society and family equally.”
Lady Natalie bristles, clutching her drink to her chest. “Soldiers? Women are expected to fight there?” She sounds like I suggested we eat human hearts.
I clear my throat with another sip of the refreshing drink. The pain squeezing my chest loosens, giving way to pride. “No one is expected to do anything.”
Outside of the royal family, at least.
It is ironic that I was so keen on avoiding my responsibilities in the palace, but now I long for those simpler times.
“We offer everyone the same opportunity, but in truth, the majority of our best fighters are women. Like the commander of the royal guard. My family and I all trained under her at one point.”
Lady Hunter studies my physique with wide eyes, her wariness quickly covered by a polite smile. “You know how to fight? With weapons?”
I bite back a laugh. “Of course. It’s part of the royal education, and physical fitness is good for the body and mind.”
They appraise me like I have three heads, but not all in a negative way. I hope the information will bridge any misunderstandings going forward. I won’t judge them for the confines of a misogynistic society. They will learn that things can be different with time.
“When I was a little girl, I begged my father to teach me how to use a sword.” Lady Victoria’s voice drops to a loud whisper. “I fancied myself fighting off pirates one day, but only my brothers got to learn.”
Lady Kailani and I laugh, urging her to continue.
“While I’ve grown out of such notions, it’s nice to know there’s a place where a younger me could have chased that dream.”
“Well, if any of you ever have the desire to learn, I am more than happy to show you the ropes.”
Lady Natalie coughs into her drink. Her smile is stiff as I hand her a napkin. She and Lady Elena don’t look inspired by the notion. In fact, they seem almost upset by it.
“You mentioned having siblings?” Lady Kailani asks, switching subjects.
Had. The word spreads like poison, threatening to close my throat. I work to even out my breaths. I cannot break down or cry or let these women see my pain. They need to believe my family is alive and well.
“Yes. Two elder sisters and a younger brother. What about you, Lady Kailani?”
She waves her hand through the air and wrinkles her nose. “I’m the eldest of seven girls. I'll miss them terribly when they return home after the wedding, but it’ll be nice to have a break from their dramatics for once.”
What I wouldn’t give to bother my siblings again and to be bothered in return. I force a laugh. “I’m sure my eldest sister Fareena can relate. I’m not too proud to admit I caused her quite a few headaches in my youth.”
Thankfully, Ladies Kailani and Victoria begin to trade stories about being tormented by their siblings. Ladies Natalie and Hunter are only children, and Lady Elena offers nothing.
Jaime’s research revealed her brother died in the war, fighting in Darius’s army after their kingdom joined forces. She’s been nothing but underhanded toward me all day, but I understand enough of that pain myself to not press the issue.
Grief is hers to share or hold.
As the sun reaches the highest point in the sky, we lose our shade.
We continue our tour to the outer buildings: a large, towering wooden structure housing supplies and the living quarters for any attendants without a permanent residence in the city; stables filled with large black horses that remind me of Nico; the training grounds—a cluster of three oval wooden buildings; and the barracks.
I’m surprised at how much they were able to fit inside the fortress walls. Everything here feels so compact compared to home.
I want to stop and observe the training, but my companions are starting to limp a bit. Sweat darkens our dresses, and I realize how long we’ve been outside. As we wind our way back to the main foyer, I thank each woman for their time and dismiss them for the evening.
Laughter and stories brought us a bit closer, but more importantly, I gained an instinct for who to be wary of. At least the ones who were obvious about it.
I did not share anything further of my home or family. It hurts to talk of the precious people I lost, but speaking about them also brings a small sense of healing.
Their memory renews my energy, grounding me in the reason I’m here. I only have a few hours left until dinner with Darius, and I intend to have a training plan outlined in time.
If I’m to convince the people of Veloria that women are capable soldiers, I need to make them as deadly as the emperor himself.