The Veil of Trust

by S. Usher Evans

  "She did." I gestured to my simple dress. "I don't know where I might wear it, though."

  "Sit down," Luard said. "I think I can do something with your hair."

  "You?" I glanced up at him. "I don't think I want to know where you learned such a skill."

  He made a face as he picked up where I'd left off, running a comb through my locks. He gathered a section of my hair and braided it from my scalp down, fastening the pin to the point where it gathered behind my ear. A simple look, and perfect.

  "Thank you," I said when he'd finished. "I'm so grateful you're here today."

  His blue eyes shone with tears, and one dripped down his face. "I would be nowhere else."

  Luard escorted me out of the sleeping hut into the bright morning. Birds chirped nearby, replacing the normal sounds of the camp. It seemed today our queen had given them a reprieve from training, or perhaps they had given themselves one. The blue sky was cloudless, and a cool breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees—almost as if it were sent from Niemen itself.

  As we drew closer to the crowd, my brother's sniffles increased and I nudged him. "You can't cry like this. I'll be a mess. Just hold it together for a few more minutes."

  A stringed instrument began to sing as we came into view of the gathering. Asdis's beautiful voice echoed across the camp, serenading us with a beautiful Niemenian song.

  Between us was the entire camp, all wearing their dress uniforms or nicest tunics. Even the young children had been scrubbed and their hair combed—no doubt Beata's doing. They were split into two groups, leaving a path for Beata and me to walk. When the music changed, they turned in unison to face me, reminding me strongly of the first time I'd done this.

  "Ready?" Luard asked.

  I nodded.

  He stepped into the space between the two groups, his arm steady as emotion sapped my strength. As we drew closer to the front, the faces became more familiar, the smiles wider, until I passed Nils, Hagan, and Ivan, the latter of which squeezed my hand as I passed. It was all I could do not to lose it there.

  Luard stopped at the front of the group, releasing me. He pressed a kiss to my wet cheek.

  "I love you, Kitty Kat," he whispered. Then, wiping his cheeks, he left me to join his guards.

  The music changed once more, this time to the Forcadelian royal march. Down the makeshift aisle, Beata stood arm-in-arm with Brynna.

  My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight of my bride. She wore a simple white dress, her black, curly hair tumbling down her shoulders. She wore very little makeup, opting for a single flower in her hair, and her smile could've been visible from Niemen. Her gaze locked with mine, and her grin, if possible, grew larger.

  She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

  Brynna stepped forward, taking Beata with her, and my bride stumbled a little by the abrupt move. I stifled a giggle as she blushed, and beside her, Brynna ducked a smile. Their walk seemed both interminable and too short. Before I knew it, Brynna and Beata stood next to me.

  "Here," Brynna said, giving Beata's hand to me. Then she kissed both Beata and me on the cheek, before retreating to Luard, wiping her cheeks hurriedly.

  "Hey," Beata said softly.

  "Hey," I replied.

  "Are you two ready?"

  Felix had joined us, wearing a dress uniform from Forcadel. It was empty of his usual badges and medals—and with a glance at Jorad, who was wearing plainclothes, I knew where he'd gotten it.

  "Let's get married," I said, squeezing Beata's hands.

  "Welcome," Felix bellowed, loud enough for those in the back to hear. "And thank you for joining us today as we celebrate these two beautiful people and the new life they're starting today."

  Behind me, Luard began to sob, and Brynna comforted him.

  "There are some who might think that this sort of ceremony is superfluous or unnecessary. After all, we are preparing for war. Our countrymen are suffering. Why should we celebrate?" His gaze landed on me. "Because even a small light in the darkness is still a light."

  Beata caught my gaze and smiled, squeezing my hand.

  "The brides have asked that I keep this short," Felix said. "So we'll get to it. Your Majesty, Your Highness, if you will."

  Brynna nudged Luard and took his arm as they rejoined us at the front.

  "I, Brynna-Larissa Archer Rhodes Lonsdale, do hereby give my permission for these two incredible women to wed," she said, her voice tight.

  Luard inhaled deeply. "And I, Luard Aleksander Hasklowna, do hereby give my permission, on behalf of Queen Ariadna, for my baby sister to wed the love of her life."

  Together, they handed Felix a pair of golden rings. Then Brynna helped Luard back to their place in the crowd, rubbing his back.

  "Bea," Felix began, looking at my bride, "repeat after me: In the name of the Mother."

  "In the name of the Mother."

  "I, Beata, take you, Katarine, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer…"

  Her brown eyes sparkled and her voice never wavered as she promised herself to me. When she finished ("This is my solemn vow"), she smiled.

  "Kat," Felix said, looking at me, "repeat after me: In the name of the Mother."

  The words came out, but I didn't remember saying them. All I knew was I would never let anything come between us. Not distance, not politics, not even our differences of opinion on how to organize my sitting room back in Forcadel.

  "This is my solemn vow," I finished.

  "Let us pray," Felix said, covering our joined hands with his. "O Mother, please bless these two, and all of us, as we journey through these next few treacherous weeks. Help Bea and Kat speak in love and not anger and keep them safe from harm. In Your name."

  "Amen."

  Felix grinned at me. "Well, go on and kiss her."

  I didn't need to be told twice. Gathering my new wife in my arms, I captured her soft lips with mine as cheers erupted behind us.

  Chapter 47

  I'd never seen Celia's camp so light and full of love. Everywhere I looked, smiles and laughter echoed between the walls that had formerly been solely for stoicism and fear. It was what I hoped all of Forcadel could look like one day.

  Watching Beata and Katarine exchange their vows had been one of the most moving experiences of my life. What they had, how they looked at one another—that was true love. The kind that lasted for decades, that was written about in song and fable. It was a terrifying concept to feel something so fully, and yet, it made me want the same for myself one day.

  The crowd dispersed toward the mess hall, which had been similarly transformed by garlands and ribbons in every corner. A cake stood at the front of the room, with an entire roasted pig nearby. The soldiers had given themselves assignments to serve and assist, though many of them stopped to congratulate the new wives as they made their rounds.

  "Brynna," Katarine said, coming to kiss me on the cheek, "thank you for this."

  "I did nothing," I said, squeezing Beata's hand. "I'm just grateful that you two have found each other."

  We were interrupted by Ivan and Asdis, and I took my cue to leave them to enjoy the festivities. I retreated to the back of the room to fill my goblet and watch the action. The music struck back up and the brides took to the floor, followed by a very emotional dance with Katarine and Luard. Then the soldiers joined in the fun, dancing fast and slow and everything in between.

  Nils and Hagan proved to be the best in the group, dazzling all of us with complex spins and dips. Each took a bride for a turn around the floor, earning cheers—the loudest coming from Luard. When the music grew slower, the mess hall filled with couples once more.

  "Ah," Felix said, sitting down next to me. "This is beautiful, isn't it?"

  I nodded. "I've never been to a wedding before."

  "That's not true. You went to your aunt's when you were a child." He chuckled. "And as I recall, you spent the whole time with a sour
look on your face."

  "Sounds about right," I said with a genuine laugh. "How are you feeling?"

  "I'll be sore tomorrow," he said, rubbing his ribs. "But Kat's worth it."

  Katarine and Beata came twirling by, laughing as they swayed together.

  "I wish August were here," Felix said softly. "He would've been crying worse than Luard."

  I cast a look at Katarine's brother, who seemed to have enjoyed his share of the wine as he wiped his moist cheeks. "I don't know if that's possible."

  "Perhaps," Felix said, coming to stand. "Well, we can't have our queen sitting by herself all night. Come dance with me."

  "Dance?" I shook my head. "I don't dance."

  "I'll teach you. There's nothing to it."

  Before I could answer, he snatched my hand and led me out to the center of the hall and gently pulling me toward him. The melody was still slow, and everyone on the floor seemed lost in their own little worlds.

  "Relax," Felix said, sliding his hand around the small of my back, sending a zing of fire from his fingertips across my body. With the other, he threaded his fingers through mine. "Just let me lead you."

  "When has that ever worked?" I asked with a smile.

  "There's a first time for everything."

  It was difficult to relax into his touch, but soon the slight movement of his hand against my back eased me into trusting him. We swayed as I found my footing in this new movement. His breath tickled my forehead, reminding me how close we were. But as soon as the tempo increased, he released my back and grinned devilishly at me.

  "Felix, I don't think—"

  "You run on rooftops. I'm sure you're very graceful."

  I wasn't, but I gave it a good effort. Midway through the song, Nils broke in and took me from Felix, flinging me and spinning me with wild abandon. I could do nothing but laugh and let the Niemenian throw me around. When it was over, he handed me back to Felix with a kiss to my cheek.

  "We'll have to practice," he said, tapping my nose. "For your wedding."

  My eyes widened and I laughed nervously as Felix reappeared for another dance. He pulled me close, and our noses almost touched. Even though the music had slowed again, my pulse had not.

  "What is it?" Felix asked. "You look upset."

  I shook my head, but caught Jorad's, who offered me a genuine grin and a thumbs-up. Felix is in love with you, he'd said.

  "Why did you sacrifice yourself for me?" I asked softly. "Is it because you love Forcadel, or because…"

  "I would sacrifice myself a million times for you," he said.

  "But because I'm the monarch, or because…" My face was on fire. "Because you actually care about me? About Brynna the person."

  "Can't it be both?" Felix said. "It's true, I would've done the same for August or your father, but you…I do love you, Brynna."

  My heart skipped but I pushed my excitement to the side. "You know that if I get back on the throne," I said slowly, "you'll have the same problems we had in Forcadel. My role as queen, marriages as alliances—"

  He tilted his head closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "If you're willing to climb mountains and wade through swamps for the country you love, I know that if you want us to be together, you'll make it work." He pressed his forehead to mine. "And I was foolish to doubt you."

  I fell into the rhythm of the music, allowing myself to smile as we swayed together, his forehead against mine, his thumb making circles on the back of my hand. I didn't care who saw us, who noticed the grin on my face. Nor did I worry about what might happen in the future. This moment was perfect.

  "Your Majesty," Jorad said, bowing low. "I hate to interrupt."

  Then why did you? "What is it?"

  "Elisha returned. She brought this."

  He handed me a note and my heart dropped into my stomach.

  Bring the ond to Galden, and I'll give you the other girl.

  "Brynn?" Felix asked. "What is it?"

  "That son of a bitch," I whispered, balling up the paper. "You enjoy the festivities. I'm going to go deal with this—"

  Felix grabbed my hand before I could run and pulled me back to him. "What is it? What's happened? Is it Ammon?"

  "No," I said. "Beswick."

  "Beswick," Luard said, walking over. "What's happened?"

  "Beswick?" Now Katarine and Beata joined our small group. Had my face been so easy to read?

  "It's nothing to concern yourselves with right now," I said, forcing a smile onto my face. "Just stay and enjoy the wedding."

  "Beswick's taken Aline, and he sent Elisha back with a message," Jax said behind me. "There, now you don't have to ruin anything."

  Felix went pale, and Katarine shared a look with Beata.

  "I'll take care of this," I said, backing away from them. "You all stay here and—"

  "Not a chance," Beata said, ending any further arguments. "We all knew Beswick would resurface eventually."

  I wanted to argue further, but that would just waste time I didn't have. "Meet me in my office in ten minutes."

  "Do you want us to clear the mess hall?" Luard asked, looking around.

  "No," I said, glancing to the hut out the front door, where the twirl of smoke had been absent since early this morning. "My office."

  I changed out of my dress and into my tunic, already feeling more like the leader again. But before I joined the rest of the group, I went to Nicolasa's hut. I had a hunch Elisha was there—it was the first place any of us went when we were injured or scared. The younger girl wore a dark tunic and a blanket draped over her head and shoulders and the mug of calming tea steamed up to her red and tear-streaked face. She looked unharmed. For that, at least, I was grateful.

  She gasped a sob when I walked into the room and ducked her head lower.

  "I'm s-sorry," she whispered. "I f-failed you."

  "Oh, no," I said, crossing the room to sit next to her. "You did exactly the right thing. You brought me the message."

  "S-she made me r-run, but t-they caught m-me," Elisha continued with a small hiccup. "They t-told me t-that if I didn't t-tell you that they'd…that they'd…"

  "Shh," I whispered, cupping her wet cheek. "You did great. You're here, and we're going to rescue Aline. But I need you to take a deep breath and tell me everything you know."

  She took another long drink of the tea to calm herself. She was scared, but Celia's training kicked in as she forced herself to calm down.

  "We were doing what you said," she began in a clear voice. "Screwing up Beswick's business. Mostly, we were getting to his food shipments before he could and giving them to the people. That made him real mad."

  "I bet," I said with a smile. "You cut off his money supply."

  She nodded and took another sip of tea. "We had a good thing. I'd keep watch, Aline would do the Veil thing, and we'd both escape. But I guess…" She swallowed hard. "I guess he got smart. Last night, we were surrounded before we could… And I didn't…"

  "It's fine," I said, rubbing her cheek before she lost it again. "Where are they now?"

  "I don't know," she said. "But they want you to meet them in Galdon tomorrow night." She shivered. "I ran all the way. Didn't get tired once."

  "Then you rest," I said, coming to stand. "You've done remarkably well, and more than I ever expected of you. I promise, we will get Aline home."

  I helped her lie on the cot and tucked her in, giving her one final pat on the cheek for good measure. Then, I left her to find Nicolasa out in her mint garden.

  "Thank you," I said. "She's resting now."

  "She's strong," Nicolasa said. "One day, she will make a great warrior. Just as you did."

  I put my hands on my hips, exhaling the tension from my shoulders. Although it was hard, I let go of the urge for revenge and focused on the problem at hand. Beswick had made his move—clearly, he wasn't in the mood for friendship. And if I wanted to defeat him this time, I needed to keep myself unemotional.

  "Do we still have hyblatha around her
e?" I asked. It was a common herb in calming teas, but in powder form caused violent hallucinations.

  She nodded. "Before you arrived, Celia was having me stock up. We should have nearly fifty bags ready for use. But there's no tinneum."

  The antidote. It grew in Niemen, and Celia had been in the process of importing it to grow in Forcadel. "I have a few pieces left. We'll just have to ration it between all of us."

  She looked up at the sky, something unreadable crossing her face. "There's a storm coming. A terrible energy gathering to the south. I fear it will come unrelenting and unmerciful."

  I turned to her, a chill skittering down my spine. Nicolasa's predictions were never wrong. "How do I prepare?"

  "Pray to the Mother," she said. "It's all any of us can do."

  Chapter 48

  I walked into Celia's office, now very cramped with Luard, Felix, Jorad, and Jax…and Beata and Katarine already out of their wedding attire and in dark tunics, albeit holding hands.

  "You two shouldn't be here," I said softly. "You should be off enjoying marital bliss. We'll handle this."

  "That horrible creature has taken one of our own," Beata said. "How can we celebrate?"

  "And I'm on your Council," Katarine replied. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

  "How's Elisha?" Jax spoke softly and without his usual sarcasm. Clearly, he'd bonded more with the kid than I'd thought.

  "Resting. She's in good hands." I sat down at the head of the table and folded my hands together. "Beswick wants to meet in Galdon tomorrow night. If we bring him the bag of ond, he'll hand over Aline."

  "Or he's planning on killing you," Luard said.

  "Probably, but he won't get that chance," I said. "What I would like to do is find a way to maneuver our forces into the city without him knowing. We did this before when we met Keiran in the city, but Beswick's bringing everything he's got. So we should be prepared."

  "How many people are we talking about?" Luard asked.

  I sat back, chewing my lip. "At one point, Beswick had hundreds, maybe close to a thousand, people working for him. But he suffered a blow after Ilara took over—nearly half the names in that notebook had either left town or disappeared. I'd wager his muscle force did the same." I hated having to peg a number when I didn't know, but I had to make an assumption. "Let's say he brings a hundred."