Chapter 34 Inez
INEZ
SANGLORA MANOR, ATTAR
Inez sits in her solar with Marko on her lap and her serving women around her. She is waiting. She knows what is coming, isn’t surprised when one of her pages announces an arrival from the Rose Palace. A herald, here to tell her that Emperor Atticul has commanded her presence.
Four days ago, when Damon left she had assured him she would make her own plans to leave Attar and return to her parent’s home in Swen.
But she’d had to abandon those plans when she received word this morning that all routes out of Attar were guarded.
She is sure those guards would have orders to prevent her from leaving.
Since then, she has been bound only to wait for Atticul’s command. She has no doubt he will claim her. Now there is nothing to stop him.
When she reaches the street outside Sanglora, she finds a carriage awaiting her. Black and bearing Atticul’s sigil of a golden bird perching upon an arrow. There are a dozen guards with the carriage. Surely more than is needed to escort her.
As Inez approaches, the carriage door opens and from it climbs Atticul himself, Emperor of Azuria.
He wears an outfit of mourning black. Black boots and breeches.
A black jerkin embroidered with black thread.
He is clean shaved apart from a small scrap of a dark beard and his usual moustache.
He is scented with strong oils, heavy and musky.
His eyes dance with merriment. He has a glass pipe of moonleaf in his mouth and the emperor’s crown atop his head, despite the fact he has not yet ascended.
He removes the pipe from between his lips and exhales smoke, looking Inez up and down.
“Fair Lady Inez,” he says. “I am delighted to inform you that Gelen the Green, the newly appointed High Word of Zai has overturned previous objections to our marriage. I am here to accompany you to the Rose Palace as my betrothed. You will ascend with me as Queen in less than a moon’s turn. ”
Inez feels a rush of panic, as beside her, one of the guards takes hold of her arm, crushing the silk of her yellow day gown.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” she says, voice shaky.
“I must prepare. Take your carriage. I will follow you with my own household and belongings when I have made the arrangements.”
Atticul smiles slowly. “No, Inez. I fear I have already waited far too long for you.”
“Then please, I must take my handmaidens.” She turns to the women who have followed her down from the solar.
Atticul looks at the handmaidens. “You may bring three. That one,” — he points to one of the fairest — “and those two.” He indicates two of the others. A pair of twins with golden hair, aged only eighteen summers.
Inez nods. There is little point in arguing. She still has Marko in her arms. “And my dog,” she says. “I must bring my beloved pet.”
Atticul eyes Marko unpleasantly. In response, Marko makes a soft growling noise, but Atticul says, “Very well.”
Inez steps into the carriage, holding Marko tightly. Damon will learn of this, she thinks. And Damon, for all his faults, will never allow her to be wed to Atticul.