“Because he’s as powerful as you. He has to come willingly to you. You cannot force it. He has taken the first step in asking you to attend the ceremony. Sanction the wedding.”
“I will not do it. You cannot ask me-” She broke off. “She will take him away. You said she likes Cambaron. They will live at that cold castle and give me grandchildren I will never see.” She tossed her head and turned away. “I will not let her do it. I will think of something.”
“Throw her into prison?”
“Perhaps that wasn’t a good idea,” she conceded.
“Make her welcome in Kazan.” He paused. “Or I will return with them to Cambaron.”
Her eyes widened. “You would desert me?”
“You sent me to him in the beginning, and he has dominated your life since the moment you left that weakling husband and came back to Kazan. I’m growing weary of this conflict between you. I told you how to make peace.” He said with abrupt forcefulness, “You want a son? I will give you one. He will not be Jordan and will probably be as big and ugly as a gorilla, but he will be yours.” He added softly, “As I am yours.”
“You would not leave me,” she said unsteadily.
“Free him and free yourself, or I will claim my own freedom.”
He turned on his heel and walked away from her.
“Blast you, Gregor, you cannot leave me!”
He did not look back.
Marianna paused in the arched doorway leading to the garden, her gaze hungrily going to the little boy playing by the reflecting pool.
She scarcely recognized Alex as the thin Gypsy she had left many weeks ago. He had gained weight, and his curly hair was neatly trimmed. He was garbed in a quilted tunic and boots similar to the ones she had seen other Kazan children wear on the streets of Rengar. The ravin’s influence, no doubt, she thought grimly. She wondered what other influences the woman had brought to bear in her absence. The ravin, too, was a woman who wanted to leave her mark.
Well, she would soon see. She drew a deep breath and then called, “Alex!”
He turned and saw her. He did not speak for a moment and then uttered a joyous whoop and ran toward her.
Her eyes closed as her arms enfolded him. So warm and dear.
However, he almost immediately tore away from her. “You shouldn’t have gone away,” he said fiercely. “I’m very angry with you.”
“I had to go. I didn’t want to leave you.”
“That’s what Ana said. She said you wouldn’t have left me if it hadn’t been very important.”
“She did?” Marianna asked in astonishment.
Alex nodded. “But you should have taken me with you.”
“There was a possibility I might have had to meet the people who were bad to you.”
A shadow crossed his face. “Did you?”
She nodded. “But they will never trouble you again, Alex.”
His expression didn’t lighten. “You should have taken me with you,” he repeated. “It wasn’t fair. You’re my sister. You didn’t let me take care of you.”
“You were taking care of the ravin.”
“I would still have come with you.”
“I thought you liked her very much.”
“I do like her, but that’s different. We don’t belong to each other.” He frowned. “You must promise not to go away again without telling me.”
A surge of warmth and joy rippled through her. “I promise.” She gave him a quick hug. “I have something else to tell you. Jordan and I will wed tomorrow.”
A brilliant smile lit his face. “That means that you’ll be with him forever, doesn’t it?”
“That’s exactly what it means,” Jordan said from the doorway. He came forward to stand beside them. “As you’re Marianna’s eldest male relative, I’m here to ask you for her hand.”
Alex nodded gravely. “But you must treat her very well.”
“I shall endeavor to do so,” Jordan said with equal solemnity. “You must remind me, if you see me faltering.”
“I will.” Alex turned to Marianna. “Do you have to ask Ana for his hand?”
“Good heavens, I hope not.” She made a face. “I don’t think the ravin likes me as much as she does you.”
“Ana,” Alex corrected.
“Why don’t you like us to call her the ravin? It’s her title, Alex. Just as the servants at Cambaron call Jordan His Grace.”
“That’s different.” He frowned. “When people call her the ravin, it reminds me of the big black birds that used to swoop down and raid the cornfields near the castle. Ana’s not like that.”
“Her enemies would not agree,” Jordan said dryly.
“But she has no enemies here, so she should not be called that.” Alex turned to Marianna. “And I think she would like it if you asked permission to marry Jordan.”
“I don’t believe this is the time to ask her anything,” Jordan said. “Though I did ask her to attend the wedding.”
“You did?” Marianna asked. “Why?”
“Because she is his mother,” Alex said in disgust. “Don’t be stupid, Marianna.”
The mother he would never acknowledge, and yet he had invited her to share the important day. “Why?” she asked again.
Jordan shrugged. “A whim.”
No whim would have prompted such an action from him. “Did she say she would attend?”
“Of course she will come,” Alex said.
Jordan smiled. “If she deigns to honor us with her presence at dinner tonight, perhaps you will be able to persuade her.”
The ravin did not honor them with her presence at dinner that night, and neither did Gregor. After they had eaten and put Alex to bed, Jordan strolled with Marianna back to her quarters.
“How does one marry in Kazan?” Marianna asked.
“Much as it’s done anywhere else. The ceremony will be held in the palace chapel. I’ve chosen Gregor as my
“What is a
“The guardian for my bride. It’s an ancient tradition from the time when a tribal leader would send an emissary to another chieftain to fetch his bride. They would often have to journey though hostile territory, and the bride was a great prize. Therefore the emissary had to be the bravest and the boldest.”
“Gregor, the
“He will meet you at the door of the chapel and bring you to me. We kneel facing each other, and the priest says words. Then we exchange vows before witnesses. I’ve asked Gregor to find an appropriate gown for you to wear.”
“What is appropriate?”
“Brides wear sky blue in Kazan. It’s considered the color of felicity.”
“And what do grooms wear?”
He looked at her innocently. “Why, white, of course. The color of virginity. All bridegrooms must be virgins in Kazan.”
“Truly? It is-” She stopped as she saw he was chuckling. She made a face. “It’s well you were only joking. They would never permit us to wed unless that requirement changes. What color do grooms really wear?”
“Black, for mourning.” He took a step back as she turned on him. “A small jest, love. There’s no color designated for men. We wear what we please.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
“Even in Kazan life is sometimes unfair for women. Though the ravin is doing all possible to alter that state.” He stopped before her door and inclined his head in a slight bow. “Good night, my love. Until tomorrow.”
