“Good. You wore the dress I gave you. It is a touch too big, I see, but it will do.” My mother peered down her nose at me. I despised the fact she remained proper even when no one watched.
“Yes, Mother, it is a lovely dress. Thank you.” And I hate it, I thought silently.
“Come,” she dismissed me, “The herald is about to announce our names. Let us enter.”
Two guards opened the high, golden double doors, and we stepped into the grand hall.
I had never set foot inside this room before. It took my breath away. Black marble, with shimmering, golden veins running throughout its surface made up the floor. On the far wall, opposite the entrance, a large sun-shaped window framed with gold welcomed any who stepped through the hall doors. From the ceiling hung matching golden chandeliers, the candles within them casting a glow of warmth. Square tables edged an open dance floor at the center of the hall. The tables were draped with black linens, golden dishes scattered upon them. Black and sparkling gold filled the space from wall to wall. I gasped in delight and felt my mother place her hand on my back.
“Lucien Caldura, son of Queen Jelena. Mirrabel Caldura, wife of Lucien Caldura. And Zephyra Caldura, daughter of Lucien and Mirrabel Caldura and granddaughter of Queen Jelena,” the herald’s voice boomed throughout the hall.
My parents and I made our way toward one of the tables.
“You will sit here, Zephyra, with those of your own age from the other kingdoms of Sarantoa. Tonight is for socializing and making new friends.” My mother pushed me in the direction of a table with two girls and a boy, who did indeed all appear close to my own age.
I didn’t want to sit with these strangers. I wanted to sit with Adelaide—or even my own parents would have been better. I didn’t like meeting new people, especially those as young as myself, who didn’t feel the need to hide their judgements.
I went anyways. I knew better than to defy my mother. She would make me pay later if I argued with her—especially here in front of all these people.
My parents went and took their seats by another couple with pale blond hair and skin even fairer than ours, probably from Ventosa, the Kingdom of Air.
The two girls at my table, I guessed to be from Terra. Their brown hair, brown eyes and darker skin gave them the earthy appearance of their kingdom.
The boy who sat beside me had hair as black as ebony… I hadn’t seen his eyes because I’d avoided making eye contact with him. Almost everyone with hair that dark came from the Kingdom of Water, so he must have come from Aquila. I couldn’t be sure, simply because none of us bothered introducing ourselves.
Shortly after, the herald announced my cousin’s parents Faya and Bardin followed by Adelaide. My lips parted in awe at Adelaide’s appearance. She radiated more than ever in a shimmering coral gown that caught the light from the flickering candles as she descended the great staircase down into the hall. Her golden curls were styled in an array of loops and braids, and upon her head rested a golden tiara making her truly look like the princess she was. I noticed the other guests all had their attention focused on her as well. I smiled inwardly, for I saw only adoration in their faces. Pride filled me. She’d be the loveliest queen someday.
As she slowly promenaded to the head table, where the rest of the monarchs from the other kingdoms sat, she caught my eye and gave me a quick, reassuring smile. The corners of my own mouth turned up in response, but then I looked down at my silverware and pretended to study it. I didn’t wish her to see any sadness at the pang of regret I felt at not being able to truly share this grand night together.
My mind still on my cousin, I almost didn’t notice when one of the servants walked by our table with a tray full of little crystal goblets. Each held a deep red liquid that sparkled like the blood of the divine; Celestia Sanguis. I quickly picked one off the tray and downed the red liquid in one swallow. Instantly, calmness settled over my nerves and warmed my heart. I closed my eyes and sighed with pleasure.
“Aye! Do you even know what that is, girly?” one of the girls from Terra shot at me. She had straight sable coloured hair and fierce eyes.
“It sure looks like she does,” said the other girl, who looked almost identical, except her hair was wavy and her eyes softer.
“I wasn’t talking to you, Ephera,” she glared at the girl beside her before turning back to me. “Speak for yourself, girly. Hmm? Do you or do you not know what you have just drunk without a second thought?”
“I—Uh—Yes, I do,” I stuttered, feeling my nerves return. “I have heard stories of its delicious flavour and was excited to try it. That’s all.”
The straight-haired girl narrowed her eyes at me
The other girl, Ephera, laughed. “Don’t be so sour, Shausana! Forgive my sister. She can be harsh sometimes. Of course, you are excited—as are we!” She snatched a goblet for herself. “Come now, Shausana, let us try Celestia Sanguis too.” She handed her sister the tiny goblet, and then she took one for herself.
The boy beside me, who still hadn’t uttered one word, gripped one of the goblets. He looked a few springs older than the rest of us girls. Surely this wouldn’t be his first taste of the sacred drink.
“Go on, Zephyra, have another. We shall make a toast. It won’t kill you to have more than one.” Ephera tilted her chin towards the tray.
“Too many, and you might get sick—or so I’ve heard,” I said, thinking of my mother’s warning.
“These goblets are tiny. Surely one more shan’t cause any harm.” Shausana pinned me with her eyes and raised her brows, daring me to take another and join their toast.
“All right, one more.” I picked up another goblet, not wanting to disappoint the others.
“To Noctis De Celestia!” Ephera lifted her glass.
“To Noctis De Celestia!” the other three of us repeated and clanked our tiny goblets together before swallowing them down.
My heart raced as the liquid hit my belly once again. Perhaps children from the other kingdoms were more accepting and wouldn’t make fun of me.
A horn sounded, and we turned to hear the herald announce, “Citizens of Sarantoa from near and far, the Queen of Solis! Queen Jelena Caldura!”
My grandmother entered through the large black and golden doors. She descended the stairs, flanked by two of her ladies-in-waiting. The sight of her brought tears of joy. She’d chosen to wear a magnificent gown of yellow and orange encrusted with tiny topaz jewels. Her silver hair was pinned up, a golden crown with a sunburst at its center rested upon it. She looked like a sun goddess.
Queen Jelena made her way to the center of the head table and sat with Adelaide and the other kings and queens of Sarantoa. Queen Jelena placed her hands on the arms of her chair and spoke in a voice that carried throughout the grand hall. “Kingdoms of Sarantoa, on this Noctis De Celestia, we give thanks to you for coming to celebrate with us—and to our goddess, Celestia, who loves us all. Now, to begin the celebrations… let us feast!”
The hall broke into a cheer.
The speech finished, a number of servants in simple black silk uniforms brought trays filled with steaming food to each of the tables. The sound of goblets clanking and people conversing resounded around the many tables. The aroma of the food made my mouth water. Before long, a tray filled with fresh vegetables, bread, stew, duck and salmon sat before me. The meal tasted as delicious as it smelled. Our kitchen staff had worked hard to prepare the food for this night. I daresay we had the best cooks in the realm.
I sat in thoughtful silence as I ate my dinner while the other three spoke candidly of their home kingdoms. I’d guessed correctly. The boy, it turned out, was indeed from Aquila.
After our dinner, trays were cleared, and then the servants came back around with more goblets of Celestia Sanguis. I indulged in one more. Then, they brought out the tiny lavender cakes. Seeing the dessert, I thought of Gisela and how she’d be at the Temple of Celestia by now. While I appreciated that I finally got to celebrate the night a
s an adult, a part of me wished I could be with my handmaiden. One of the mini cakes was set in front of me on a cute little golden plate, breaking me from my thoughts. As I picked my little cake up and went to take a bite, something moved in my vision. Across its surface, crawled a brown bug with a swollen belly and tiny legs. I gasped in horror, dropping the cake onto the table. I let out a blood-curdling scream.
The others at my table went silent… until Shausana burst out laughing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.
“Shausana…” Ephera tried to stop her sister as she herself covered her mouth.
The boy beside me shook his head and spoke to me directly for the first time. “It’s only a little bug. No need to be so dramatic.” He flicked the bug off the cake and squished it beneath his boot.
I shot off my chair and looked at them each in turn, not noticing the hall’s attention had fallen on me. Hot tears burned my eyes. I didn’t know how the bug had gotten there, but at that moment I was sure it had been no mistake that it’d ended up on my cake, out of all of the cakes in the whole hall.
Suddenly, I became aware that everyone had their eyes on me, including my mother. In my disgust and embarrassment, I wailed at the three at my table, “Celestia curse you! You will all pay for this!” I heard gasps as I turned and ran out of the hall.
Perhaps I had overreacted in the moment. It probably wasn’t any of my table-mates’ faults. But the fact that they’d laughed at me during my moment of weakness had hurt. A wound had grown and festered within me from the many seasons of ridicule I had endured by the peers of my own kingdom. I’d felt something inside of me break, and as I sprinted up the stairs and down the halls of the palace, a searing heat grew from within the core of my body. I wondered if it could be an effect of all the Celestia Sanguis I had drunk. It felt as if my own skin would burn off my body. The heat grew from within and radiated outward. I thought mayhap I might burst into flames and join Celestia in her realm. But then I reached the stream in the gardens and jumped into its cool waters. The water steamed off my skin, taking the scorching feeling away with it.
There I sat, in the middle of a cloud of steam within the palace gardens, soaking wet and bawling my eyes out, when my mother found me. What had I done?
“Look at you,” she tutted. “You have ruined the dress I gave you! You’ve ruined this night for me! You’ve ruined everything! This is unacceptable, Zephyra. You acted like a spoiled little brat. And you cannot curse other people like that—”
“I apologize that I have ruined everything, Mother. I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment to you,” I interrupted, not wanting to hear anymore of her cruel, unforgiving words.
She pulled me out of the stream by my arms, my ruined dress sticking to my body. My hair, a sopping wet mess, had come undone.
“An apology is simply not enough this time. You know you’re expected to behave like a lady of the court. This is the last time you will ever embarrass this family. You’ve given me no choice but to punish you.”
“Whatever you see fit to punish me with, I’ll understand.” I expected her to lock me in the tower for the night or take away my books. What she said next… I didn’t expect it.
“Good, then you will understand that I must send your dear Gisela back to her home land—”
“No! Not that, Mother, please not that! Anything else!” I fell to my knees and begged her; unable to believe she would do such a thing. Yes, I often wondered if she had a heart. But this…
She smiled in triumph. “I know you and she have become close like friends, and right now, you deserve to have something meaningful taken from you. Anyways,” she went on, “It’s not healthy to be friends with the staff.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks like warm rain. “It’s unfair to her! She didn’t do anything to deserve to be sent away! You cannot do this!”
“Well, she has you to thank for that, doesn’t she?” She pressed her lips together tightly.
“Fine.” I raised my chin defiantly. “I shall never attend another Noctis De Celestia celebration again. I’ll spend each one at the Temple to honour the time Gisela took me there to give thanks to our goddess.”
“As you wish. You won’t be able to embarrass this family during Noctis again if you’re absent.” She sniffed, and then she spun on her heel, leaving me alone.
I sank lower to the ground, defeated. I wanted to lay there and cry forever, but I knew if I did, I would never get to say goodbye to my handmaiden. I picked up my wet skirts and ran to the Temple of Celestia to find her.
Chapter 3
I approached the Temple, still soaking wet. The commoners awaiting their turn with our goddess peered at me. I ignored them and pushed straight through the wooden entrance doors.
One of the priestesses noticed me and came to greet me. She was older than the priestess I had met the previous spring, but just as graceful in the same white robes they all wore. She took one look at me and rushed to my side with concern. “My goodness, girl. Are you all right?”
“N—no,” I sobbed, trying to catch my breath. “I must speak with Gisela. Is she—?”
Gisela appeared from around the corner, a worried look fixed on her face. “Zephyra! What are you doing here?” She lowered her voice, remembering her place. “Not here. Come with me.” She handed her borrowed robe to the priestess. “My thanks, Priestess. Happy Noctis to you.”
The priestess bowed her head, clasping the robe in her hands.
Gisela grabbed hold of my hand and led me out of the Temple and away from its surroundings so we could speak in private. She knelt in front of me. Clasping both of my hands in hers, she looked up at me with questioning brown eyes.
I burst out, “Sh—she’s sending you away!” I stumbled on my words, not caring, for once, how childish I sounded.
“Who? Sending me away where? Zephyra?” She spoke softly, but I saw a flash of panic in her eyes and immediately felt guilty.
“My mother! It’s my fault! She’s sending you home to punish me.”
“Oh dear.” She breathed in deeply to steady herself. “What in Celestia’s name is she punishing you for?”
I told her about the bug and how the girls at my table had laughed at me—and how I’d overreacted and cursed them before running from the hall. I decided not to tell her about the burning sensation that had taken over my body. I wasn’t sure if it had been real or my imagination playing a jest on me.
“Don’t blame yourself, milady, ’tis a harsh punishment; one that you couldn’t have foreseen. Alas, I’m employed by your mother. If she wishes to send me home, then home I must go.”
I tried to swallow back the tears. I was sick of crying. “But you are one of my only friends, and it’s not fair to you to be punished for my actions.”
“Don’t worry about me. I shall be fine.” She smiled up at me reassuringly from her crouched position. “I’ll get to see my family again. As for friends… I’ll miss you too, but you are going to make so many new friends as you go through life.”
I didn’t believe her, but at this point, I didn’t want new friends anyways, so I let it go.
“Look at you. You’re soaking wet. Let me at least dry you and prepare you for slumber as my last task as your handmaiden.”
I nodded as she rose to her feet. “I would like that very much.”
We moseyed on back to the palace and up to my chambers, hand in hand. If only Celestia had blessed me with someone like her for a mother instead of the cold and heartless Mirrabel. But we cannot choose our parents. And for some, that is a terrible misfortune.
Inside my chambers, I slouched against the back of my chair in a clean night dress as Gisela combed out my wet hair.
She finally thought to ask me, “How did you end up soaking wet, milady?”
“I—oh—I fell into the stream.” My gaze dropped to the floor as I wrung my hands together. “After I ran from the hall, I went to the gardens to be alone and accidentally fell into the stream because I wasn’t paying att
ention to where I was going. Mother found me there,” I added.
Before she could answer, a loud knock startled both of us. Gisela rose and went to answer the door to my chambers. I heard my mother’s voice as soon as the door opened and knew she’d come to tell my handmaiden to leave court.
Once they’d finished their exchange, Gisela returned to combing my hair.
Growing impatient with her silence, I asked, “What did she say? When are you to leave?”
“I told her I wanted tonight to say goodbye and gather my belongings, but I must leave in the morning… before you wake.”
“I understand.” I sighed, closing my eyes.
“Now, now, everything will be good and well. You’ll see. You’ll have a new handmaiden, who you can teach to play chess. And I’ll get to see my mother and sister, whom I haven’t seen in nearly four springs.”
“Why have they not come to visit you here?” I turned to look up at her as she put the silver comb down and started plaiting my hair.
“’Tis hard for them. They can’t afford to hire transportation. Besides, long travels are tough on my mother’s old body.”
“Did my mother not pay you and your family well for your services?”
“She did, but most of that went to buying livestock for the farm so that they could live easier and continue to grow their own food. And with me here there was one less mouth to feed.”
“I see. It must be hard for commoners,” I thought out loud.
“’Tis not easy, that’s for sure.” She finished off my braid by tying it with a yellow ribbon, admiring her work.
“I think I would rather work hard than have to deal with royal formalities and jealous peers.” I rolled my eyes as I spoke the last word.
“Ah, but milady, you mustn’t think that way. Many would trade you places in a heartbeat. We all must be thankful for the destiny Celestia has given us.”
The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series Page 3
