“You know she would.” Lidia interjected. “And I will go with her. She is your sister and, if I may be so bold, you are like a sister to me—one of the only friends I’ve ever had. I’ve lived my entire life, not just in your family’s service, but in your service. I shan’t stop now.”
I sighed, knowing further argument was pointless. Lidia was right about Dayna. When the girl had her mind set on something, all the armies of Hell couldn’t dissuade her. “I suppose I need to get dressed for this evening,” I said after a long pause.
“About that,” Dayna said, heading toward the wardrobe. “I have a particular dress in mind that would be perfect for the occasion—the one Mother bought for you last year.”
Lidia frowned. “That thing is awful… no offense,” she added, looking at the ground.
“Yes, well, Mother did not think so. It was in fashion, at the time,” Dayna said.
I crossed my arms in front of my chest and cocked an eyebrow at my sister. “What are you up to?”
“I just do not see any reason for you to go through great lengths to look your best for him like you care what he thinks. Maybe if he finds you unattractive, he will change his mind.”
I wished that were the case, but I had seen the determination in King Cathal’s eyes. He saw me as a challenge, and he wanted nothing more than to break me. Do your best, wretched king. Whatever he did, I refused to break. It was not a part of who I was.
“I doubt it will work, but I certainly have no desire to encourage his advances.” I rubbed my hands together. “Ladies… do your worst.”
Lidia and Dayna both jumped into their work with excitement. It made me laugh to see how eager they were to make me as unattractive as possible. Lidia began by coercing my hair into a ghastly number of braids. She then coiled each one on top of my head so it looked as though I had tiny birds’ nests all over my head. I was almost embarrassed to be seen by the court, but I did not really care what they thought of me. Because of my magic, they had refused to accept me. What did it matter if they disapproved of me being less than beautiful?
“If this was not for a worthy cause, Sister, I would be embarrassed to be seen with you,” Dayna admitted. “Although, your face is still much too pretty. Maybe we should overdo the rouge and powder.”
“Good idea,” Lidia responded.
“Dayna, I don’t want to look like a rosy-cheeked specter,” I argued.
“You will be considered less if we cannot dissuade Cathal,” she countered. “Have at it, Lidia.”
There was a knock at the door. Before I could respond, Dayna hurried to answer it. She pulled the door open a crack, peered through, and the opened the door fully, allowing Lizzy to enter.
Her eyes were so wide it was comical as she looked me over. “What have you two done to her?” Lizzy asked as she began to circle me.
“Have you met her future husband?” Dayna asked.
Lizzy shook her head. “I have been out all morning tending to the sick in the village.”
Now it was my turn to look at her with surprise. “Since when do you nurse the ill?”
Lizzy shrugged. “I decided I should take more of an interest in helping others.”
“And you decided this just about the same time our guests arrived? Why?” Dayna asked.
“Because we have so much and they have so little. And having another kingdom come in showing off all their wealth just made it more apparent that I should be helping.”
“I think that is very noble of you,” I said as I smiled at my younger sister, but I could not help but wonder if there was an ulterior motive for Lizzy’s actions.
“Yes, yes.” Lizzy waved my comment off. “Now, explain to me why you look like you are attempting to win the ugliest princess contest.”
“Dayna and Lidia are attempting to put Cathal off his pursuit of me. They think if they make me unattractive, he will not want me.”
Lizzy frowned. “Word around the palace is that he is exceedingly handsome.”
“Handsome or not, he is the biggest horse’s ass I have ever had the displeasure of meeting,” Dayna said, clenching her jaw so tightly it looked as though it might break.
“Allete, is this true?” Lizzy questioned.
I nodded. “She speaks the truth, I’m afraid. Cathal was awful. He desires nothing more than a brood mare to break and bear his offspring, which he made perfectly clear.”
Lizzy’s expression reflected the horror I felt. Dayna recounted the events of our morning walk around the grounds with my future husband. Lizzy’s face burned brighter and brighter with anger as Dayna continued.
“You have to tell Father.” Lizzy pleaded.
“That is what I told her.” Dayna agreed.
I shook my head, once again explaining why that could not happen. “I will not cause him guilt over what cannot be changed. If Father backs out of the arrangement now, his actions would be a declaration of war, which our coffers cannot afford.”
“How can you sacrifice your happiness for us?” Lizzy asked. “Allete, your life will be one of anguish if you marry this fool.”
“Duty above all else.” Lidia interrupted. “She is so much like Father.”
My heart clenched painfully in my chest as I considered all I would be giving up by marrying Cathal. I would never see beyond the Tara castle walls, I would never fall in love, and I would probably never truly be happy again. Shaking off the fear and disgust, I pulled on the strength instilled in me by my royal parents.
“I will do what is necessary. Now,” I pulled my shoulders back and lifted my chin, “we have a banquet to attend and my future husband to embarrass. Let us take joy where we can.”
Dayna laughed and clapped her hands like an excited child. “I cannot wait to see his face when he lays eyes on you.”
Lizzy shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Tis sure to be an interesting evening. Lead the way, dear Allete. Lidia, please sing a funeral ballad. Our sister is walking straight into the arms of the devil, himself.”
“Always a ray of sunshine, Lizzy.” Dayna huffed. “I am sure your presence among the sick lifted their spirits immeasurably.”
I coughed to cover my laugh. If nothing else, the night promised to be entertaining. My sisters would make sure of it.
“Why is power so corrosive? I am learning that weak men seem to desire power more than others. Weak men are never satisfied, because they lack the strength to deny themselves what is not theirs to begin with. May the gods give me strength to quash my own weakness.”
* * *
~Torben