Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“It goes without saying, my queen,” Seph replied.
I decided to turn my thoughts to just how long I had to sit there before it would not be rude for me to take my leave.
“Are you and yours quite ready to take the arena tomorrow night?” Seph asked.
“Yes, we are,” Mother answered.
My sisters were.
Not only had they prepared before we left, we had stopped often on our journey to practice the drills we would be doing, becoming accustomed to the feel of the air, which was much different, and the heat, as well as allowing our horses to do the same.
Yes, my sisters were ready.
I wasn’t so sure about me.
“Why don’t we let you two friends speak,” Melisse cut in, rising to her feet. “Tomorrow will be full so I’ll walk my princess to her tent before finding my own.”
By the goddess, I adored Melisse.
“My queen,” she nodded to my mother. “Seph, as ever, lovely to see you.”
“And you as well, faithful lieutenant,” Seph replied.
I rose and said my farewells, giving more attention to Drey than Seph.
I did this wondering why he was in that tent. Assigned to Fire City, he should be involved in some healing effort, or at his prayers, not visiting queens.
I thought no more of it when Melisse took my elbow and led me to the flaps.
We hit the cool night air and cloudless starry sky of the Firenz desert and Melisse did not speak until we were well out of earshot of Mother’s tent.
And then she said, “He has nothing to do and he’s a gossip. He’s probably beside himself, all these goings-on happening in the city where he’s been assigned.”
That brought forth an interesting point.
“Do you know why a Go’En of his stature was assigned outside the Dome City?” I asked. “It’s unusual. A high priest of his standing, they normally reside permanently in the city-state.”
“I’ve no clue and I don’t care,” Melisse answered. “The machinations of the Go’Doan have never been of much interest to me.”
I wished I could agree.
For my part, I found them fascinating, but sometimes not in an enjoyable manner.
However, there were more important things to discuss.
“We must speak of Mum.”
She patted my elbow where her fingers were still wound.
“Not to worry. I’ll take you to your tent, then go back and talk with Lucinda and Agnes. I’ll make certain they find a way to cut the Go’Doan’s visit short. I’ll see to it she has a potion. She’ll be refreshed by tomorrow.”
I stopped us and turned to my mentor, my mother’s most trusted lieutenant, as well as her, and my, most trusted friend.
“The maneuvers she’s designed—” I began.
“She’ll be fine,” Melisse assured.
“She simply watches them, but we’ll have an audience of tens of thousands, and she’ll—”
She rolled up on her toes and captured my eyes with her astute hazel ones.
“Be fine, Elena. Do not worry.”
“It’s impossible not to worry about my mother,” I muttered.
She started us walking again. “And this is but a part of the plethora of beauty that makes you.”
I wanted that compliment—a rare one from Melisse, who preferred to allow actions to speak louder than any words—to make me feel better.
But I did not feel better.
Tomorrow, for the first time, I would meet my future mate.
But before that, myself, and my sisters (but it was worth repeating, myself) had to put on a show for tens of thousands of people, including queens, future queens, princes and kings.
I cleared my throat and asked, “Do you know much of Prince Cassius?”
“I know he’s a good strategist. I know that his father, like your mother, but for reasons not like your mother, protected his sons so if one was off to battle, the other was not. This he did to protect his heirs, not his sons, not his family, as your mother does when Serena goes to battle, but you patrol. Your mother knows Serena was built for battle, and you for patrol.”
She stopped speaking as she often did during our talks to ascertain her point was made.
I nodded my understanding as I often did during our talks to assure her of that.
Only then did she speak again.
“I have also heard tale that his men are loyal to him, very much so, like blood brothers.”
As we walked, she purposefully bumped into me.
“And I have heard he is extremely handsome,” she finished.
I bit the inside of my cheeks.
Her tone gentled.
“You must let go your feelings for True,” she advised.
“I’ve already done that,” I told her what was mostly the truth, (actually, more like partly the truth). “I have meditated much on it, but as things stand, the simple matter of fact is that I have no choice.”
“You don’t, my sister-daughter,” she whispered. “For that I am sorry. But I must say, as fine of a male as he is, I never thought he was right for you.”