Becoming aware once again of her rigidness, Aiva tried to relax, smiling her most charming smile at Onuric, silently applauding him with her eyes for his successful efforts. At her approval, he released his hold on her, immediately stepping back to stand at his father’s side.
“Our thanks. Your daughter is lovely, Your Majesty,” Okivra nodded to Thade. “Does she fight like her mother?”
“Every chance she gets,” Thade smiled. Aiva felt his hand come to rest on her shoulder proudly. “She is still young, but improves every time I see her.”
Okivra gave a half-bow to Aiva. She believed it to be a compliment, though with him, it was impossible to know with any certainty. “An admirable trait in a lady,” he stated. “While peace is preferred, it was an honor to fight alongside your mother. Perhaps someday we may have the honor again with you.”
Aiva’s confidence grew somewhat at the Chief’s kind words. It was always a boost to her ego when anyone compared her to the Queen. She could only hope to be the same as her mother when she ascended to the throne. “I look forward to our continued friendship with your people,” she dipped low before Okivra, her eyes rising to meet her father’s, pleased with her own performance in front of their most trusted ally. Thade couldn’t have looked happier in that moment. Finding the time opportune to part ways, he offered Okivra and Onuric a final welcome to the palace and helped to lead Aiva back toward the thrones, leaving Edric behind to continue the conversation.
She felt guilty walking away from Edric while he remained in the company of the Chief, though she was somewhat grateful. With Edric now lost in conversation with the Ovatai, she was free of his company and able to roam as she saw fit. Familiar faces were scattered throughout the ballroom. It would be no trouble finding someone with whom she could seek to socialize until the party was further underway. Dancing would begin soon enough, and at that time distraction would come easily.
Upon returning to the throne, Thade released Aiva’s hand, giving a light pat on her back. “Try to enjoy yourself tonight, Aiva,” he smiled, waving her forward to the crowd of people still filing into the room. “You tend to lose yourself in the formalities at times. Your mother and I would very much like to see you meet some new friends. Our troops have all returned from their time in Siscal. There is a full court here. Plenty of people to meet.”
“You do not have to mask your intended words, Father. I know you imply that you and Mother desire me to meet a strapping young man and fall madly in love with him so he and I will marry and have children and put grandmother’s conscience at ease.” At the horrified expression on Thade’s face she broke into a soft laugh, leaning in to kiss her father gently on the cheek. “Do not worry, Father. I have no intention of fulfilling all of these demands in a single night.”
“Ah, you had me worried,” he chuckled, the crease in his brow remaining, softened only slightly by her admission of jest. “Your mother and I wish to see you happily married as much as any parent would, but neither of us are quite ready to see you so grown up. The only reason I urge you to meet anyone is for the sake of your grandmother. We have fought with her on many occasions to allow you the freedom you’ve experienced so far. I cannot guarantee we will be able to keep her at bay for much longer.”
“Have you politely reminded her that you are the King?”
Thade sighed, gazing solemnly at Aiva through his bright silver eyes, dimmed somewhat from the sadness she could see there. “As King, it is my duty to secure the throne’s heir. It is customary for the eldest daughter’s marriage to be arranged, most times prior to her twenty-fifth birthday. Such was the case with my eldest sister. You may not know this, but General Cadell was once promised to marry Princess Amari before her untimely death.”
Aiva’s smile faded away. The royal customs involving daughters seemed unfair. Restricting. As the heir, it felt as though she should have some say in the matter, but instead she was bound by convention while her siblings were allowed to sit back and merely enjoy the luxuries of their privileged lives. They had no concerns. They weren’t required to do anything other than take up space in the royal palace. “If the heir is so important, then why did grandmother not arrange your marriage? Or your brother’s?”
Thade raised his hand to silence her at the topic of his late brother being raised. “Have some respect for the deceased. There is no need to shout.”
“The volume which I speak does not change my question.”
“Then think over your inquiry for a moment and use some sense,” Thade sighed. “You know the customs of our people well enough to know that the marriage of a son is far more complicated than that of a daughter. I do not speak of this to upset you, Aiva. But you need to keep it in mind. Your mother and I have been trying to allow you the choice but you show no interest in the men at court. All I ask is to see you try. There is no harm in speaking with the boys your age. Anything which will show progress toward a decision.”
Shoulders bowed forward in dejection, she nodded her head, understanding what her father was trying to say. She felt guilty for having brought up the death of her uncle. At times she wondered if her mouth and her brain were against one another. “I am sorry, Father,” she whispered, shaking her head, embarrassed by her behavior. “I promise – I am trying. It is not easy. You must know that.”
“Love is never easy. And marriage is less so.” Thade glanced over to the throne where Leyna was seated, his eyes brightening somewhat at the sight of his wife, their gazes meeting, smiling at each other as if in silent communication. “Your mother and I were lucky, but it took a great deal to reach our current happiness. My hope is that you will require less hardship to discover someone who makes you feel the way I do whenever I see her.”
“Then I should not waste time which could be spent meeting the young men in attendance this evening.” Aiva tried to smile but it was more difficult than she remembered. Her confidence was slipping. There was more riding on her little game of revenge against Callum than she’d realized before. If her parents saw her mingling with the men, it would give them hope. The only downside was her guilt. She’d promised her father that she was trying to find a husband, though in truth she’d given it very little thought. Maybe tonight was the time to start. To make her promise to the King less empty. Besides, how difficult could it be to talk to the men? With any luck, she could be surprised to discover one of them to be tolerable.
Thade gave a slight nod, stepping away to place distance between them again. “Have fun, Aiva,” he added with a smile.
Fun. Yes, that was what she wanted. The ballroom was her playground. Turning away from her father, she tried to regain her composure, pushing aside the disheartening conversation. There was no need for her to be self-conscious. She was the Crown Princess. None of the men in the room would dare decline an invitation to talk or dance. Several had already caught her attention. Perhaps one of them would be capable of retaining her interest up close.
The shoulder-length brown hair and soft green eyes of Calie’s beloved Kaemin were among them. He wore the formal jacket of his military uniform, black and gold suiting his fair skin and well-built physique. At his side was another gentleman in similar attire, unfamiliar to Aiva, though intriguing. A bright flash of his rich maroon eyes drew Aiva in, catching his gaze from across the crowded room. His black hair was long and pulled back away from his face, the strong features of his nose and chin prominent. Gracefully she made her way over to Kaemin’s side, determined to acquire an introduction.
“Your Highness,” Kaemin bowed, taking her hand to kiss the back of it with a more ostentatious display than that of Edric and Onuric. “My friend here was just telling me of the misfortune he’s suffered of never making your acquaintance. How serendipitous your arrival is.”
“And who might this friend of yours be?” she asked coyly. Retracting her hand from Kaemin, she offered it to the man at his side, batting her lashes at him playfully. The man accepted, eager yet calm, his kiss lingering a bit longer tha
n she was used to. He looked hypnotized by her. Distracted from everything else in the room.
“Princess, I am honored to introduce you to Lord Dacian Ellis.”
The man winked at Aiva, releasing his hold on her hand to deepen his bow. “Ah, no formality is necessary. The Princess may call me Dacian.”
“Dacian Ellis?” Aiva mused. The name rang no bells. He was unknown to her. Though that held no surprise, given the disinterest she’d had in men of military standing, and his wardrobe gave no question of his choice in profession. “I regret to say I have never heard of you.”
“Dacian has been stationed on a ship in the Nahpoa Sea off the coast of Siscal for a few years. A member of Commander Zerne’s unit.”
Aiva tensed at the mention of the name. “Zerne?” she raised her brow, inquisitively glancing over to Kaemin. “Callum Zerne?”
“What other would there be, other than his father?” Kaemin chuckled.
She averted her eyes, not wanting to let either of the two men see her discomfort. Commander? Since when had Callum gained any such rank in the military? And without any mention of it from anyone in her family. Surely Edric was informed of the promotion. “Forgive me,” she stated, quickly regaining her steady demeanor. “I assumed you referred to Callum, though I was unaware of his achieving the title. That is a rather prestigious position.”
Dacian nodded in agreement. “Yes. One he’s held for several years now. Rumor has it that he was called back to Tanispa to be presented with a new title, however. After the bravery he exhibited against the Luquarrian raiders, we expect him to be named Captain before long.”
“Captain?” Aiva blinked. She didn’t want to believe what she was hearing. “What makes you think that? No one has held that position since the Queen herself during the war against the Ven’shal. It takes more than just a good show to deserve a rank of that degree.”
“Oh, it wasn’t just a good show.” Kaemin’s smile widened, facing Dacian with a knowing grin. “I wish I could have been there. Dacian might be able to better tell the story.”
“No, that is quite alright,” she cut them off, her desire for the conversation quickly ebbing away. The idea of her plan was to forget about Callum. So why did it seem like his name was suddenly on everyone’s lips? A cruel joke. “Lord Kaemin, I daresay your arm is quite empty. Where is Calie? I expected her to be at your side.”
“She is presently in the company of her mother and will be late arriving to the ball. From the sounds of things, Lady Valeska was to attend the celebration this evening, but has since changed her mind. Calie hopes to change it back. Her father was rather disappointed. He has yet to arrive himself.”
Shaking her head sadly, Aiva felt sorry for General Cadell. She knew how much he loved his wife, though Valeska disliked court to an extreme beyond that which made any sense in Aiva’s mind. For the sake of their children, it seemed rude for her not to attend this evening. Their son had returned after being away for so long and their youngest daughter was on the brink of engagement. “Well, I will have to request the first dance with you, then,” Aiva smiled at Kaemin. Innocently. He was possibly the last man in the room she intended to flirt with, next to Onuric. Even with her devious plan set in motion, there was time to spare in a dance or two with her friend.
“The first may be all I can spare. Once Calie arrives, she will have every dance of mine thereafter.”
“I, however, have every one free if the Princess has need of a partner,” Dacian gave a dashing grin. Aiva couldn’t help giggling at his attempts to impress her. He was handsome enough. It was certainly an acceptable thought to dance with him once or twice.
But what fun was there in dancing if Callum wasn’t there? If his mother was creating a fuss, he would likely still be with his father and sister, trying to coax Valeska into coming. Her heart fell in dismay at the thought of wasting her efforts without him there to witness. Pushing the thought from her mind she smiled at Dacian. “I will tell the musicians to begin, then. We should not waste any time this evening when there is much to celebrate.”
She turned away from the two men to make her way through the crowd. The musicians would play if she told them. It was well enough into the night for the music to begin. Her parents weren’t likely to complain. The Queen enjoyed dancing. Starting a few minutes early might be appreciated.
The number of people in the ballroom was impressive. In only a matter of a few minutes the room had filled, making movement through the crowd almost impossible without having to push a few courtiers out of the way. When they noticed who was trying to get by, they attempted to create space, although there was little to be given. By the time she reached the musicians, she was out of breath, no longer certain whether her idea had been worth it. But she was there. To change her mind now would accomplish nothing. Waving her hand she signaled to a man holding a lyre to begin playing. He looked confused at first though quickly caught what she was requesting, frantically motioning to the others to take their places.
With a smile Aiva turned back to the crowd, seeking out the faces of Kaemin and Dacian. She’d lost them in the sea of people. Once the music started, they would find her. She hoped they were already making their way to the dance floor. The first song would belong to the King and Queen. There would be time yet for her to locate her partners.
Standing beside the musicians, she smiled to hear the soft notes begin to fill the room, calming the din of conversation. She didn’t want to start pushing through the crowd in fear of missing her parents dance. It was her favorite part of the evening. The way they looked when in each other’s arms. Even now they found their way to the floor, faces alight, feet carrying them gracefully, Thade leading the moves with absolute perfection. Everyone in the room watched them. Their presence demanded attention anywhere they went, and their first dance at the celebration each year was no exception.
At the edge of the floor Aiva could see Edric standing, her heart stopping in her chest at the sight of Callum, casually positioned at her brother’s side. Frantic, she tore her eyes away, staring into the distance. Had he seen her? She couldn’t let him notice her looking. It would ruin everything!
But why was he there if the rest of his family wasn’t? Or could it be that his presence was the reason General Cadell felt comfortable in leaving the King and Queen unattended while he focused on his wife? And where were Kaemin and Dacian? If Callum and Edric had noticed her, they would approach unless she managed to find a way to look occupied. Busy. Unaccepting of their company.
The music slowed before she knew what was happening, indicating the end of the first song. The floor would be open to anyone for dancing once the King and Queen finished. Her heart raced in fear of being accosted by Callum before she had a chance to set her plan into motion. He had to see her happy. Surrounded by men vying for her hand. It was too soon.
“I believe the next number is ours,” Kaemin stated, pulling Aiva from her thoughts. Relieved, she allowed him to take her hand, grateful for his presence. She was saved. At least the next two songs would be occupied by Kaemin and Dacian. Callum would have to wait, if he even intended to approach her at all. It was foolish to think that he had any desire to speak with her, but it was more amusing for her to pretend that she was the focus of his thoughts. It gave her a strange satisfaction.
Stepping onto the dance floor, Aiva took her position in Kaemin’s arms, their distance proper and aligned. He was a good dancer. She’d always admired that in him whenever they had chance to pair up in the past, before he and Calie had become so close. At times she wondered if there might have been a chance for her and Kaemin if Calie hadn’t fallen so head-over-heels for him. “So, it may not be any of my business, but I have become aware of your courting of Calie becoming rather serious.”
Kaemin chuckled, spinning Aiva out away from him, waiting on his reply until she was back in his arms once again. “Yes, you could say that. She means a great deal to me.”
“Does it ever concern you when you think
of who her father is? I cannot imagine courting the daughter of a man who has full control of your livelihood. If you did anything to hurt her, he could crush your military dreams and have you on the infantry front lines as fodder before you could even blink.” Aiva watched his face carefully to see if her words sparked any fear. She always wondered how he managed to handle the stress of the relationship when he was so reliant on General Cadell.
“Of course it concerns me, however, I have reason to believe my fears will be laid to rest very soon,” he gave a quick grin, winking to Aiva secretively. “You cannot tell Calie, but I have already spoken with her father. He has given his blessing for me to request his daughter’s hand in marriage. I plan to ask her soon. I just am not sure when.”
Aiva gazed up at him happily. Marriage? It was exactly as Calie suspected. Inside it pained Aiva to think of, though she knew it was something which would happen eventually. Her friends were to the same age as she was. They would be finding suitable partners and entering into matrimony. The only difference between them and her was that they were free to find love. If things didn’t change for her quickly, she wouldn’t have a chance at the same happiness. “That is wonderful news,” she congratulated through her troubled thoughts. “Calie has been unable to speak of anything but her hopes of you asking her. I believe there is nothing to fear in her response. You will have yourself a wife.”
“And what of you?” he asked. “Have you anyone in mind for a husband?”
“I am looking. My parents are insistent that I find one soon,” her eyes rolled heavenward. “My trouble is that I know very few of the men at court. I spend so much time in my lessons and learning how to be Queen that I have little opportunity to focus on luring in a groom.”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Page 5
