Yelin chuckled. “Aye, my king.”
The palanquins containing the royal family passed Andervale’s Church of Luminance. The immense structure was so large that it blocked the sun with its towering grey steeples, grander than most chantries back home.
Emery slid the shutter closed and looked to his loving wife who was brushing her thinning hair. He struggled to tell if she was smiling or frowning.
“Are you feeling up to this? If you are still unwell, we can request that you be taken to your quarters as soon as we get there,” Emery said.
“Of course, my love.” Her voice, while scratchy, still had the same softness that Emery had fallen in love with. It was the sort of voice that hinted at a kind soul. “I will be fine. It would be rude of me not to be properly received by our hosts.”
“Pfft,” Emery scoffed. “As if Tobius Seynard has any manners left in that decrepit mind of his.”
“Emery, hush. We are not here to trade petty comments. I don’t want any of that, not today.”
Emery poured some purple wine from a pitcher into a goblet and handed it to her. “Drink up. It’s a hot day outside.”
“Nice and cool in her, though. Thankfully.”
The palanquin continued uphill into the Chateau as the king and queen groomed themselves ready to be presented.
“Did you sleep alright?” Emery asked.
Sirillia shrugged. “I had that same strange dream again. Waves of blood upon rocks. The decaying husks of shellfish in a never-ending sea.” She scratched her head; even saying it out loud sounded ridiculous.
“I will ask for one of Tobius’s apothecaries to give you something to help you sleep better tonight. A dreamless sleep will do you good.”
“What is sleep without dreams, my love?”
“In your case, a sound sleep!”
Sirillia sipped at the sweet wine. “I can’t believe our little girl is being wed today,” she said.
Emery nodded, reassuringly tapping his wife’s outstretched hand.
“I… I want to be happy for her,” she continued with some hesitation.
“Now, now,” Emery said. “You were her age when you were married off to me. And look how well that has turned out for all of us?”
His wife smiled back, accentuating her crow’s feet. “Few are as lucky as we have been. Most marriages result in surprise bastards and unhappy wives.”
“Do you remember our wedding night back in Dawnhill?”
“Like it was yesterday.” Sirillia could practically hear the bells ringing and feel the falling petals brushing against her face.
“I fondly recall my father stumbling during his speech and falling into our cake,” Emery joked.
Sirillia could not hold back a grin. “In front of everybody!”
“It was a mess,” Emery laughed. “It really was a night I will never forget. The jesters claimed he could not wait for the toasts to end and needed to eat right then and there.”
Sirillia’s laughing slowly silenced as she was drawn back into despair. No matter how hard she tried, fear gripped Sirillia like a vice. Fear for her daughter, a deep fear that only a mother could ever truly understand.
“Worry not, my love,” Emery said calmly. “All is well, and all will be well from this day onward.”
“I know,” Sirillia said. She organised the ruffles on dress.
“Ciana is very lucky to be marrying a prince from such a prominent family. She will be looked after for the rest of her life, living on the Emerald Sea, with pristine views of the Midsummer Gardens and servants to attend to her every need.”
Despite Sirillia’s nodding, Emery could still sense her hesitation and concern.
“House Seynard may have once been our adversary, but her sacrifice will bring peace to all. This wedding has to happen.”
“I know,” Sirillia said.
“So, let’s make the most of it, for Ciana’s sake.”
The palanquin lurched to a halt and the servants carrying it lowered it to the ground. Trumpets played outside and Ser Yelin unlatched the door and swung it open.
“Let us embrace peace,” Emery whispered to his unsure wife, before stepping from the palanquin, holding his neck up high with straight shoulders, out into the sunshine to a large group of applauding royals and nobles.
Chapter 6 - The Meaning of Blood
Little had changed inside the keep of Castle Bower since the last time Katryna had set foot within, so many years ago. She hesitantly stepped into the main foyer with Prince Finnigan, her handmaiden Trish, and her procession of guards and servants with whom she had ridden with.
Several Infinity Guardsmen stood out, their armour gleaming red and white. Katryna noticed that there seemed to be a lot more guards around than she could ever recall.
Katryna could feel eyes all over her from the many servants and courtiers going about their business in the castle. Some wondered who she was. Others who recognised her wondered why she was back. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but one that Katryna forced herself to disregard.
“Strange being back?” Finn asked.
“Definitely,” Katryna said. “Wish it were under better circumstances.”
“I’m just glad you are home for good.”
Katryna saw Finn’s face light up. For good? He thinks I’m staying for good? Katryna rubbed her clammy hands together, taking a long breath in. One thing at a time.
Despite growing up in the opulence of Castle Bower, the sheer wealth surrounding her still stunned her.
Two silver chandeliers hung high above their heads, alight with hundreds of wax candles. The metal of the chandelier’s column was engraved with ornate flower patterns.
An elegant circular rug covered in colours of summer lay on the floor of the foyer. The walls were decorated with hanging linen banners, adorned with the sigil of House Bower and Camridia, and along the flanks of the entrance hall, archways stood atop huge rising columns of pure white stone.
Katryna had forgotten what it
