“No more complaints, no more talk of blasphemy or discussion of the border conflict. We are two royal princesses; it is not our place. When in public, we discuss fashion and food and the handsome knights fighting at the Tourney. Who knows who could be listening to us right now, or who could walk in that door as we speak?”
“You’re right,” Ciana repeated, taking another bite of the apple. “Damn my father for forcing me into this.”
“At least Ashen will not suffer any longer, now that peace has been struck.”
Ciana grimaced. “He thought he could just give me away to some useless prince without even asking me. I thought he cared for me.”
“He does care for you. He made the decision he thought was best for everyone.”
“It’s not what I wanted!”
Jodie yawned as she put on her shoes and jewellery. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the previous night and was feeling it weigh heavily in her head like a headache.
“I take it you had a late night?” Ciana asked, noticing Jodie’s tiredness.
“I met with Wesley in the early morning, as planned. Only got a few hours’ sleep.”
Ciana nodded. “How did he take it?”
“As we expected,” Jodie said without a shred of emotion. Playing with Wesley’s heart and mind was where she felt the weakest and most vulnerable. She had to keep focus on not letting it affect her.
It’s too late now to go back.
“I heard him sneak out quite late, he didn’t return until dawn,” Ciana said.
“He was quite devastated.”
“Didn’t seem too worried beforehand.”
Jodie gulped. “How do you mean?”
“Well…he was able to consummate our vows without too much fuss. Seemed nervous at first, but that wore off fast.”
Jodie was taken aback by the statement. Of course they were going to sleep together, what were you expecting? It is tradition, she told herself.
She made sure to keep her feelings deep down and hidden. She needed to maintain face and continue the path her and Ciana had already begun down.
Ciana was not exactly pure before her wedding night, Jodie knew. She had had lovers in Dawnhill before, despite her young age. Jodie trained her to feign innocence and naivety for her big night so that no one suspected as such; if her father were to find out that she was not a virgin, it would be disastrous for the Blacktree name.
Any feelings Jodie had once had for Wesley had vanished with time. So why did the thought of Wesley laying with Ciana make her stomach twist? Perhaps the thought of him enjoying sleeping with such a young woman?
“You look surprised?” Ciana said.
“I… I am surprised. I wasn’t expecting him to be… capable, so soon.”
It made her wonder though, what was going through his head? To claim that all he ever wanted was her, yet be able to be intimate with another only hours before?
She could not tell if she felt jealous or resentful. Nonetheless, it did not matter.
“That’s good news,” Jodie said. “It will make things easier for us in the long run.”
“The sooner we break him, the sooner I can leave this shithole,” Ciana laughed. “Never thought I’d miss Dawnhill so much.”
“Oh, Andervale isn’t that bad,” Jodie said. “Of all the places in the world to be, we at least are in a beautiful one.”
Ciana shrugged. “If you say so. Come now, we need to get to the tournament before it begins.”
Down within the outer bailey of Chateau Cardell by the main gatehouse, servants and squires were setting up the tournament field, with half-statured Anai slaves in rags going about most of the heavy work.
The oval-shaped field was enclosed by wooden fences, with empty spectator boxes rising on one side, enough to seat thousands of nobles and city folk. Enormous flags and banners with dozens of sigils and colours hung around the tourney field.
Knights in shining breastplates and coloured capes were gathering outside their tents, tending to their horses, sharing drinks, and kitting up.
Jodie and Ciana made their way down to the tourney grounds. Together, their beauty forced onlookers to stop and stare. Both women shone like gemstones in their natural splendour, adorning expensive dresses and accessories, walking side by side with strength and grace.
The grounds were alive with excitement, watched over by dozens of city watch. They were directed by the captain of the watch, Sir Isec Batir, up into the spectator box reserved for the royal families. It sat in the centre of the row of boxes along the tourney grounds, offering a splendid view of the field as it was in the final stages of preparation.
Jodie spotted her husband Petir, seated next to King Emery. The men both wore tightly-fitted black tunics decorated with silver stones, the colours of House Blacktree.
Like father, like son.
“She’s finally awoken!” Petir joked. His unshaven face scratched Jodie’s mouth as he stood up and forced a kiss on her.
“Too much wine the night before, I think,” Jodie lied.
“Not to worry, you’ve arrived just in time,” Emery said, remaining seated.
Behind him were a group of his royal guards in their House’s colours, including the red-faced Ser Yelin Mortimer.
“The jousting will be starting soon,” Emery explained.
His ruffled sleeves blew with the breeze. The king’s golden crown sat neatly on his smooth black hair. Jodie wondered to herself if she’d ever actually seen him without it on.
Jodie took her seat with Petir, while Ciana shuffled over to sit in between the Blacktree and Seynard families.
On the far side of King Tobius sat his two youthful daughters, Dena and Lisbeth. Dena had long brown hair, while little Lisbeth sported
