“And what is this meeting about?”
“Why, actually I think it has to do with,” he hesitated, “your future.”
“My future? They are determining my life in there and I can’t go in?” She was livid now.“ Is Prince Rudolf in there? Lanis Ethelred, perhaps?”
“Ah…I don’t know—I don’t think so,” again he glanced at the clerk who wanted no part of this. “Your Highness, please calm down. I suspect they can hear you.”
“Good!” she shouted. “They should hear me. I want them to hear me. If they think I am going to just stand here and wait for the verdict, to see what they will decide my fate to be, I—”
“Arista!”
She turned to see the doors to the throne room open. Her brother Alric stood trapped behind the guards who quickly stood aside. He was wearing the white fur mantle Julian insisted he drape over his shoulders at all state functions and the heavy gold crown that he pushed to the back of his head. “What is your problem? You sound like a raving lunatic.”
“I’ll tell you what my problem is. I’m not going to let you do this to me. You are not going to send me off to Alburn or Warric like some—some—state commodity.”
“I’m not sending you to Warric or Alburn. We’ve already decided you are going to Dunmore.”
“Dunmore?” The word hit her like a blow. “You’re joking. Tell me you’re joking.”
“I was going to tell you tonight. Although, I thought you’d take it better. I figured you’d like it.”
“Like it? Like it! Oh yeah, I love the idea of being used as a political pawn. What are they giving you in return? Is that what you were doing in there, auctioning me off?” She rose on her toes trying to get a look over her brother’s shoulders to see who he was hiding in the throne room. “Did you have them bidding on me like a prized cow?”
“Prized cow? What are you talking about?” Alric glanced behind him self-consciously and closed the doors. He waved at Julian and Jacobs shooing them away. In a softer voice he said, “It will give you some respect. You’ll have genuine authority. You won’t be just the princess anymore and you’ll have something to do. Weren’t you the one that said you wanted to get out of your tower and contribute to the well-being of the kingdom?”
“And—and this is what you thought of?” She was ready to scream. “Don’t do this to me Alric, I beg of you. I know I’ve been an embarrassment. I know what they say about me. You think I don’t hear them whispering witch under their breath? You think I don’t know what was said at the trial?”
“Arista, those people were coerced. You know that.” He glanced briefly at Hilfred who stood beside her holding the lost shoe.
“I’m just saying I know about it. I’m sure they complain to you all the time,” she gestured toward the closed door behind him. She did not know whom she meant by they and hoped he did not ask. “But I can’t help what people think. If you want, I will come to more events. I will attend the state dinners. I will take up needlepoint. I will make a damn tapestry. Something cute and inoffensive. How about a stag hunt? I don’t know how to make a tapestry, but I bet Bernice does—she knows all that crap.”
“You’re going to make a tapestry?”
“If that’s what it takes. I’ll be better—I will. I haven’t even put the lock on my door in the new tower. I haven’t done a thing since you were crowned, I swear. Please don’t sentence me to a life of servitude. I don’t mind being just a princess—I don’t.”
He looked at her confused.
“I mean it. I really do, Alric. Please, don’t do this.”
He sighed, looking at her sadly. “Arista, what else can I do with you? I don’t want you living like a hermit in that tower for the rest of your life. I honestly think this is for the best. It will be good for you. You might not see it now but—don’t look at me like that! I am king and you’ll do as I tell you. I need you to do this for me. The kingdom needs you to do this.”
She could not believe what she was hearing. Arista felt tears working their way forward. She locked her jaw, squeezing her teeth together breathing faster to stave them off. She felt feverish and a little light-headed. “And I suppose I am to be shipped off immediately. Is that why the carriages are outside?”
“Yes,” he said firmly. “I was hoping you would be on your way in the morning.”
“Tomorrow?” Arista felt her legs weaken, the air empty from her lungs.
“Oh for Maribor’s sake, Arista—it’s not like I’m ordering you to marry some old coot.”
“Oh—well! I am so pleased you are looking out for me,” she said. “Who is it then? One of King Roswort’s nephews? Dearest Maribor, Alric! Why Dunmore? Rudolf would have been misery enough, but at least I could understand an alliance with Alburn, but Dunmore? That’s just cruel. Do you hate me that much? Am I that horrible that you must marry me to some no account duke in a backwater kingdom? Even father wouldn’t have done that to me—why—why are you laughing? Stop laughing, you insensitive little hobgoblin!”
“I’m not marrying you off, Arista,” Alric managed to get out.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re not?”
“God no! Is that what you thought? I wouldn’t do that. I’m familiar with the kind of people you know. I’d find myself floating down the Galewyr again.”
“What then? Julian said you were deciding my fate in there.”
“I have—I’ve officially appointed you Ambassador of Melengar.”
She stood silent, staring at him for a long moment. Without turning her head, she shifted her eyes and grabbed her shoe from Hilfred. Leaning on his shoulder, she slipped it back on.
“But Bernice said Sauly brought a list of eligible suitors,” she said tentatively, cautiously.
“Oh yes, he did,” Alric said chuckling. “We all had a good laugh at that.”
“We?”
“Mauvin and Fanen are here,” he hooked his thumb at the door. “They’re going with you. Fanen plans to enter the contest the church is organizing up in Ervanon. You see it was supposed to be this big surprise, but you ruined everything as usual.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice quivering unexpectedly.
“Oh now, don’t start crying.”
“I can’t help it.” She threw her arms around her brother and hugged him tight. “Thank you.”
———