CHAPTER THIRTY #2
The rain began to clear as we approached early evening, and Abigail, along with the other two girls, began finishing touches on my wedding look.
I was clothed in nearly a dozen layers. First there were my under things, all made of sheer satin and lace.
My breasts were lifted high and secured within a bra by one girl as the other tied the white ribbons of my underwear into neat bows on either side of my hips.
They slipped a sheer lace dress over my shoulders.
The material only closed around my belly and flowed out at my waist into panels, leaving my bra and underwear on display.
A corset was tightened across my waist, and my breasts were hoisted even higher.
Next came a paneled skirt, followed by another, and then another.
Layers meant for Brennan to publicly remove for the bedding ceremony.
My body began to feel weighed down as each new layer was secured.
Finally, there was the white satin overskirt full of shimmering pearls and beads secured around my waist. One that was miraculously appropriate for the wedding.
Almost too appropriate. I hadn’t remembered Abigail packing it, or seeing it in the wardrobe.
I almost wondered if that had been done on purpose, as if the wedding had always been planned to be sped up, but how?
How could anyone have known what would happen with the attack on me, and the chimera attack on Brennan?
Jaron’s black armor flashed in my mind. Batrir’s armor. Something was wrong, but I didn’t know what.
The final article of clothing was laced up my back, a pale violet corset with golden thread, and the finishing touch, a golden belt.
The sun began to show itself outside, the rain stopping, and I took my final look in the mirror, almost dizzy with what was reflected back.
Abigail and the girls had done a beautiful job preparing me.
And I—Olivay—was stunning. Tiny braids full of white jasmine flowers had been threaded through my curls, the shining dark locks flowing out toward my breasts.
Gold and silver beads shimmered against the gown with every turn I made.
And there was no denying that my skin was glowing.
Olivay’s skin. All that remained was a white veil in place of Orsete’s blindfold.
One of the girls had been sewing the fabric in the corner, and finished just in time.
I took one final look in the mirror, knowing it was happening.
The wedding was not going to be called off.
The girls who’d helped me dress finished packing away my clothing and personal items in the trunks.
They’d be moved to the honeymoon suite tonight.
But I was leaving something important behind.
Something that could not be found. I sent all three girls into the hall, telling them I needed a moment alone to pray to Kavrar and Orsha–the Spartvan versions of Kavrir and Orsete.
Once alone, I raced for the pillow where I’d stuffed my bag.
I opened it, checking that all of the parchment pieces were still there.
The image of Alyra. And then my mother’s necklace.
I ran my fingers over the eagle wings, the sun and moon etchings, and then popped it open.
I caught sight of my image, and something stirred in the back of my mind, like a memory, but I couldn’t place it.
Almost like I was remembering myself through Brennan’s eyes.
Then I took in my mother’s drawing of Orsete, and I prayed for strength, and for guidance to get through the night.
I slid it all into the nearest trunk and resealed it. Then called out to Abigail to alert my guards and escort. I was ready to get married.
My stomach twisted as we entered the hall, flanked by a dozen guards in blue cloaks.
Kienan appeared. His dark curls, a match for Olivay’s, had been pulled back behind his head.
His skin was more pale than usual, there were dark circles under his eyes, and he was walking stiffly with one arm resting in a sling.
“Are you alright?” I asked, genuinely concerned. He’d also faced the chimera twice, and been injured both times. It was miraculous he survived.
“I’ll live,” he joked, his eyes looking me up and down. “But you, Cousin, are a vision. When Brennan sees you, he will … Well, he’ll be very pleased to see you.”
I closed my eyes, knowing that wasn’t true, but I tried to smile anyway. “Shall we?” I asked.
He held out his uninjured arm, and I took it, feeling the weight of my skirts and beads and corsets weighing me down with every step we took outside. Lord Dovan, the same man who had first guided me to the tourney appeared, no doubt one of the bedding witnesses sent for by the king.
“Ah, congratulations, Princess Olivay, Your Highness.” He bowed.
“You look as beautiful as Orsete herself. Or, Orsha, shall I say? Absolutely stunning. Please, allow me to lead you to your wedding ceremony.” He turned, and we followed him out of the lodge and to the clearing where we’d gathered the night before.
“Has there been any word from my ambassador?” I asked. “Lord Brandon?”
“I’m afraid not. But don’t you worry, your cousin is here, and you’ll be House Lafir soon. A member of the royal family.”
I nodded, my heart sinking, and took in the scene around me.
With the sun out and the rain finally stopped, I could easily see the trees I’d been dragged through by Jaron’s men.
I’d tried not to think about them all day.
I hadn’t heard word beyond that they’d been transported to the Lafir dungeons back at the castle.
I just hoped it was done already, that the executions were over.
That despite everything else happening, I could at least put that to the back of my mind.
The rest of the trees across the clearing looked different in the daylight.
Fresh drops of rain still sat on the green leaves.
A cool gust of wind—almost cold, and still fresh with rain blew across the clearing.
And in the distance, I could hear the birds chittering.
A blue robin fluttered past. Well, at least there weren’t any chimera nearby. For now.
I turned my attention back to the gathered guests.
There had been several dozen nobles and knights present for the hunt over the last few days.
Around half of the men who’d traveled here had been out searching for the wild boar.
Some of those men were gone now. Perished in the fight against the chimera.
I knew that, yet seeing the number of wedding guests before me was still a surprise.
There were twice as many people here as there were when we first arrived.
I couldn’t even imagine how many carriages the horses had to bring through the country to get here while I was getting dressed.
At least a dozen guests were knights who had not partaken in the hunt, but who I recognized from the tourney.
Likely they’d arrived by moonstag. Here and there, I’d heard them landing outside my window.
The assembled crowd before me and Kienan had parted, leaving in the center a strip of grass lined with jasmine petals, the aisle for me to walk down.
At the end of the row, just before the edge of the clearing, two tree branches had been staked into the grass.
Purple silk cloth threaded with golden thread from House Lafir wrapped around the branches.
A rope was strung between the tree branches.
Another layer of purple silk hung between them, along with lace ribbons reminiscent of the ones I wore at the tourney, and that Brennan took with him on the hunt.
Finally, bouquets of jasmine had been tied to the two posts.
It was simple for a royal wedding, but it was beautiful.
The purple silk complemented my bodice, and the flowers were a perfect match for the ones in my hair.
Again, as if it had been planned in advance—coordinated.
But it hadn’t been. Who in their right mind would have planned for something like this?
Wanted this? Not King Tirian. A man who chose to announce the engagement of the bride and groom with two days’ worth of jousts and melees, with endless parties and feasts, and a reenactment of Orsete and Kavrir’s meeting, was not a man who wanted a last-minute wedding in the woods.
King Tirian wanted the pomp and circumstance, wanted more days of events to show me off to his people, to ensure that there was no question about the legitimacy of our union. He couldn’t afford otherwise, not when he was a second son. And not when he’d given away one of the symbols of the crown.
Batrir’s black armor. But I couldn’t think about that now.
I looked over at the guests, and my throat went dry.
They were beginning to notice my presence, turning to face me.
Well, King Tirian would get what he wanted.
There were certainly dozens upon dozens of witnesses who, by the end of the night, would be able to swear to the legitimacy of our marital union.
If stories of my attack were spreading, then the wedding night stories and tales of our public bedding were about to run rampant.
But I couldn’t think about that yet, because it was starting. A musician softly plucked the strings of a mandolin. A tune I knew well. A style of playing I knew even better.
Thomas. Finlay stood beside him, his palm hitting his goatskin drum, his beats careful and slow.
“We’ll wait for the high priest,” Kienan said quietly. “He’s coming from behind the trees, with Brennan and King Tirian. When they reach the posts, we’ll begin our walk.”
I nodded.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“More than you know.”
He shrugged. “You’ll be all right. A few quick words, repeating back what the high priest says, and then it’s over.”
The wedding ceremony would be, but I didn’t want to bring that up with Kienan.