14. Chapter 14
The next morning was a blur. We had been given a change of clothes out of courtesy, and I quietly thanked the giants that Beralt’s servants found me an extra pair of riding trousers and large tunic instead of some overly gaudy dress.
He probably thought this was an insult, or was trying his hand at an odd power play, but little did he know I more than favored the moveable material.
On that note, he also hadn’t seen me or my sister in over a year.
I smiled at the thought that he must still envision two princesses who followed rigid rules and Wielded sparingly.
Oh, the look on his face once he realized we were rewriting the rulebook and using our power for the good.
My Wielding rose into an elegant display of teal orbs in my palm as I rechecked myself in the mirror.
“Beautiful as ever,” Peiro said at my side as he fully wrapped me in his arms, the both of us looking at one another in the mirror.
I playfully swatted at his arm. “Cheeky as ever.”
Peiro placed a tender kiss on my head as he wrapped my braid around his fist and pulled my head back, exposing my neck.
“That’s not what you said last night.” He planted kisses across my shoulders, lightly nibbling the skin, and up to my jaw, making my toes curl.
Brazen memories of tangled limbs and sheets flooded my thoughts.
He let go of his hold and flipped the end of my braid over my shoulder. “Are you ready?”
Was I? Not only was I nervous to see how Beralt would react to seeing us, but could I keep my Wielding under control, especially after yesterday? I lifted my hand in front of us and let the orbs continue to twirl amongst one another.
Their dance was mesmerizing.
“I think so.”
“And your calm?” I thought back to last night and Peiro’s guidance—staying in the present, grounding myself to my senses, focusing on what was real.
I took a deep, steadying breath and nodded. “I pray to the giants that Ora is ready.”
“I think you and your sister are more than capable of dealing with a man who seems…” He paused with a raised brow, taking a look around the room with the overstuffed chairs and pillows. The walls barely showed an inch of space with all the grandeur. “Excessive.”
We left the room side by side and spotted Sury and Ora at the end of the hall.
It was hard not to scoff at our surroundings because it turned out that our given room was no different than the rest of the manor.
The stone walls were covered in floor-to-ceiling paintings and mounted trinkets of all kinds.
Windows stood in intervals, adorned with curtains that could only be described as… garish.
But the view beyond them was absolutely breathtaking.
Wind-carved mountains, said to be blessed by Guean, giantess of air, and rolling hills dotted the land below.
The city appeared like the rest of what I had seen, all carved into the base of a mountain, molded into the shape it was needed.
Plains and trees painted the edges of the distance, granting the stone just enough color to magnify the natural beauty.
The closer we got to the others, the wider my eyes became as I took in the attire lended to my sister.
The dress looked like it was made of a similar fabric as the curtains, with overskirts of nearly twice her width that made her look like she was hiding a table underneath.
I tried not to laugh as I noticed the stomacher was a different pattern altogether.
I didn’t have time to look at her shoes or stockings as she quickly threw me a venomous glare. Sury quickly and quietly shook his head, a warning of my sister’s wrath.
“Not. A. Word. Out. Of. You,” she said through clenched teeth.
“You look”—like someone vomited over a flowerbed and called it fashion—“like a queen.“ I even threw in an exaggerated curtsy, but not before I swatted Peiro hard in the stomach for him to bow.
“His servant said this was the only thing they had lying around.” She crossed her arms, the tight stitching popping at the movement.
Strong footsteps echoed down the hall, pulling our attention to Fyom. He, too, donned a simple tunic and trousers that were in similar shades to mine and Sury’s. Peiro’s seemed to be made of some sort of leather.
“This is so not fair. Why does everyone else get pants but me?” Ora huffed her agitation. “First his insubordination yesterday, and now this?”
“Good morning, my queen. You look exquisite,” Fyom said with a deep bow of his own.
Ora rolled her eyes and turned toward the stairs to the level below. “Let’s get this over with before I lose the years of practice of holding my shit together.”
“What did I say?” Fyom loudly whispered to Peiro and Sury, who only shrugged their shoulders.
“Aurora, where are we meeting Beralt?” I said on her other side as Sury cradled Ora’s arm in his. Together they descended the stairs.
“Sorry, I was too distracted by this monstrosity that I forgot to tell you—we’re meeting his wife for breakfast.” She didn’t even need to say his current wife, the poor soul.
I shook my head in confusion. “Beralt is still not meeting with you?” Anger jarred through the pit of my stomach.
The bastard is really trying my patience, I whispered to myself.
You could always force him to bow to you…or your sister, I suppose, Sun Killer.
Sun Killer? This was not the time to hear the voice. Will you just give up?
Why do you care so much about people respecting your sister’s rule? Her power? Yours is far mightier than hers will ever be. So one must bring in the light, the other shall bring the darkness. Kill her and be done with it.
You’re wrong, I hissed back, indignation rekindling.
Time will tell. You fight me now. But one day you’ll acknowledge your greatness, you will submit, then all will bow before you.
Resentment continued to strengthen as the ink slithered across the front of my mind. Why wouldn’t it ever go away? My frustration built more at the fact that this thing hounded me, in addition to Beralt being an oaf. I’d swear that even the crested walkers had better social graces than this ass.
“Phe, are you okay?” I felt a hand grip my arm, jolting me to stop.
I blinked as I looked at the concern on Ora’s face, realizing I had stopped moving. “Yes. Why?”
Ora furrowed her brow as she looked me up and down. “You were mumbling and your eyes… That silver ring is shining bright again. Are you sure you’re alright? Why don’t you lie back down? I don’t mind handling this…”
I stamped down my impatience. “Yes. I’m fine. Let’s get this over with so we figure out why Beralt is considering forfeiting his life by defying us and attacking you.” With determined steps I led the rest of the way down the stairs, where a woman waited at the bottom.
Upon seeing us, she quickly turned her head down and curtsied low to the ground. “Good morning, Your Highnesses. It is a pleasure to meet you finally.” She rose to stand. “My name is Melisanna Beralt, Lord Ivan’s wife.”
She appeared just a few years older than us, which meant she was a handful of years younger than Beralt.
Her deep auburn hair was pulled back and tucked into a silver circlet.
The gemstones matched her bright blue dress, which all failed in comparison to her bright sea-glass eyes.
I immediately felt sorry for her, knowing this was Beralt’s sixth marriage.
All the women had birthed him daughters; none seemed worthy if they didn’t provide a son.
Barbaric.
We all dipped our heads to acknowledge the lady.
Melisanna’s smile faltered when she took in Ora’s dress, but she quickly fixed another smile in its spot.
“Apologies for my greeting to come a day after your arrival. After yesterday’s events and my daughter needing attention, I couldn’t pry myself away before nightfall.
But with your permission, Your Highness, I would be honored to host you for breakfast.”
“Oh yes, your daughter,” Ora began. “Congratulations to you. The bundle of joy has to be about…”
“Seven months old, Your Highness. Apologies for Ivan missing the court session to plan your coronation ceremony. We didn’t necessarily plan for Isla to be born so early…” Melisanna quickly stopped talking and covered her mouth with her hand as her eyes grew wide, realizing a personal error.
“That is quite alright. As it turned out, his involvement wasn’t even necessary.” Ora quickly laughed to soothe the woman’s embarrassment. “On the contrary, I’m happy to hear he was home safe to celebrate the birth of your daughter.”
Melisanna bowed her head and smiled. “Thank you, Your Highness—“
“Ora. Please call me Ora.”
Melisanna turned her body to the rest of us as she continued the introductions, all of us nodding politely before we followed her down the halls.
The lady seemed warm and engaging, unlike the guards who walked a few steps behind us with eyes like they were ready to attack at the signal, and very much unlike her unfortunate husband.
Each hall was as excessive as the last, until we arrived at a small banquet room.
Hardly any trinkets adorned the smooth sandstone, showcasing its natural beauty with light tans and browns swirling within a large, empty hearth off to the side.
Bright sunlight poured in from the windows that faced the most beautiful scene I’d witnessed in a long time.
My heart ached at just how much it reminded me of home.
More jagged mountains stood high in the distance, light gray from where the sun beamed down.
Such a strong contrast to the rolling green fields and dotted trees that snaked through the ground, no doubt following a small stream.