“From here on, all bride candidates will sleep in the same hall, share meals together, and live together. Each of you has been assigned a room in the same hall and your things have already been moved there. You will be escorted there shortly,” Rakin said, pulling a small piece of paper out of the inner pocket of his robe and looking it over. He put it back after only a moment and turned his attention back to them.
“Your personal clothing has been put into storage. For the duration of the competition, to ensure that everyone is equal, all candidates are required to wear the clothing provided. This will help identify you to the rest of the palace and allow us to more easily find you should we need to. You will find several changes of your dresses already placed in you rooms.
“So that you can better rest and settle, you will all be allowed the remainder of the day free. You may explore the palace as you wish, but must not go into any area that you are told is forbidden. You must not leave the palace without permission either, as the city is not always as safe as we would like. Meals will be served in the dining room at the end of your hall and will be at eight in the morning, noon, and six at night respectively unless otherwise indicated. You are expected to eat with everyone. If you have any questions, please refer them to the guards and serving girls who will be assisting you. I thank you for your attention and will speak with you in the morning,” Rakin finished, giving a quick raised-arm bow. He turned without another word and walked towards the archway to his right, followed closely by the two guards who had been closest to the dais. They were gone in moments.
While several of the girls looked at each other or towards the archway that had swallowed Rakin and the guards, Evony looked around the edge of their little cluster and the garden. Movement drew her eye and she saw a soldier dressed in a chestplate engraved with a lion and a red cloak heading towards the dais. His clothing and armour were good, and far better than most of the guards Evony had seen, but they were still not as good as the legate’s. She still thought the man was reasonably high ranked. An optio at least was her guess.
The soldier didn’t climb the dais, only walked around so he stood in front of it. He cleared his throat as twenty pairs of eyes went to him. “If your brightnesses will follow me, I will escort you to your hall.”
He didn’t wait for a reply, but marched towards the breezeway. After a moment of hesitation, the crowd surged forward, and in punctums, the man had a chattering, rainbow tail. Evony let the others pass her, deciding to take up the rear. It made the most tactical sense since she assumed only she and the man leading them were trained in combat. Not that she really expected to be attacked but she didn’t want to risk anything. Admina held back as well and walked beside her.
Moving down the breezeway for a while, they passed occasional people who stopped and gave them a wide, staring berth. They passed a few other gardens, most heavy with flowers, along with a few stone-floored courtyards, one of which held a fountain. That garden had looked delightfully cool and Evony made a mental note to remember where it was for later.
Their escort turned them away from the main building and down the covered walkway that led to one a few dozen passus away, near the wall that encircled the whole palace complex. Like the main building, it was made of limestone and was surrounded by an overhanging roof held up by more alabaster columns, each of their tops carved with various plant life.
As they got closer, Evony noted that this limestone was a touch more yellow than that of the main building. She wondered if that meant it was newer or not. Then again, she wasn’t too familiar with stonework like this. Her people mostly made their buildings out of wood. Around her, the girls’ footsteps and chatter echoed as they got under the building’s roof. She glanced around as they were led straight in through the nearest arched opening.
Evony welcomed the cooler air inside, looking around the main hall they were in. Its floor had been left as limestone, the columns that supported the roof of the same material and less carved than those outside. A quick left turn brought them to a hall that allowed them all to spread out, and had they wanted, they could have walked with five of them shoulder to shoulder.
This hallway was lined with wooden doors, which ended ahead in a wider room that Evony could just see through the crush of girls who were milling about in the middle of the hall. Each of the doors had a piece of papyrus with a name inscribed on it, fastened above a coloured circle of fabric that had been nailed into the wood. Evony had to admit that this area, much plainer and quieter looking than some of the other rooms she’d seen, appealed to her.
“This will be your home for the duration of the competition,” their escort said, bowing deeply with a hand raised. “I am Centurion Levka, and I will be in charge of your safety and your guards. If you have questions for me, please ask one of your guards and they will relay it to me. I will take my leave so that you may get settled.”
Levka bowed to them again then headed back the way they’d come, the girls parting for him like he was the prow of a ship and they the waves. Watching him go, Evony studied the man. He was definitely fit, his wide biceps and corded calf muscles drawing her gaze where they could be seen under his tunic and armour. His blond hair and blue eyes were also exotic and she mentally added him to her list of candidates. She’d have to speak with him first before she could really put him on her list, but at last, Evony was beginning to find men of potential.
“This is practically a hovel!”
The raised voice drew Evony’s attention. One of the two remaining girls dressed in silver was staring at the open door to a room, her upper lip twisted. “They can’t expect us to stay here!”
Her eyebrows up, Evony, with Admina trailing behind her, found her room, which wasn’t hard since it was the only door with yellow fabric circle. She opened the door, curiosity piqued. Inside her square room was one of the raised mainlander beds she would have to get used to, a plain wooden wardrobe that she presumed held more of what she was wearing, and a small wooden desk and chair. Her pack had been laid carefully at the foot of the bed, her bow and quiver leaned up against the wall just as neatly. Bigger than her room at home, Evony couldn’t understand what the other girl’s problem was.
Turning around to ask Admina if the room was normal, Evony realized the other girl wasn’t there. She looked out the door and saw her coming out the room across from Evony’s. Admina caught her focus and smiled. Evony returned the expression, glad the other girl was nearby. She hadn’t realized how wearing it was to be surrounded by strangers all the time until now. Having a friendly face made all the difference.
While the rest of the girls slowly filtered into their own rooms, Admina joined Evony in hers and asked, “What should we do now?”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the palace,” Evony said, itching to get a better lay of the land. “Would you like to join me?”
Admina’s smile was all the answer she needed.
* * *
Emperor Galen Fuscienne, the man who had conquered the world, had a headache. He massaged his temples with one hand, the other holding the list of bride candidates. He sighed and looked over the list again.
The first test had gone about as he’d expected. As planned, they’d been able to get rid of five of the girls before formally moving any of them into the palace, along with one more for not returning in time. Leaving the first round to Rakin had been the right decision. It had been useful to see how they acted without knowing he was present.
His gaze ran down the names of the removed girls. He had little to fear from Gormain or Simin. They were loyal clear through, and had proved that over and over again. Bialis and Harkin were relatively loyal and, provided nothing changed majorly, he doubted they would turn on him. Zelenka and Porfirio were the ones he’d have to watch.
Galen leaned back in his chair and sighed. Closing his eyes to the mountain of paper that filled his desk, he focused on t
he problem at hand rather than the endless reports that ran his empire. At times he wished he could go back to when he’d been a boy, when he’d been able to run away from things like this, when he didn’t have to watch every word and every gesture. When Callisa had still been alive—
He snapped straight and opened his eyes. There was no point in thinking about that. She was dead. He took cold comfort in the fact that he’d made sure every single person who’d had a hand in her death had followed her, those he’d been able to get his hands on he’d ensured had died screaming. He’d avenged her.
Galen thought that Callisa would have approved of his current scheme. Certainly Balint and Rakin did, and getting the two of them to agree was a rare enough occurrence that he thought he had made the right plan. Bringing a girl from every noble family would help him smoke out those who plotted against him, as well as give him leverage against them. And if he was able to find a suitable woman to bear his heirs, then that was all to the better. Preferably a nobly born girl of intelligence and personality, someone he could actually talk to. Though at the moment, he thought he’d settle for someone who was loyal and wasn’t completely without a brain.
He looked back at his list. Some of the names already stuck out to him for various reasons. The girl from Argentia was as pretty and as ambitious as the rumours had painted her, while her friend, the girl from Regem was more subdued in both respects. The Yarkona’s daughter had carried herself well, and had at least had a good answer. Not that he’d expected anything less. Her family’s reputation preceded her.
A few of the girls had surprised him. The Rector from Miletum’s answer had been unexpectedly good, considering how she’d seemed frozen when the challenge had begun. She’d bear watching. Especially given her brother’s ambitions. The rumours about him... Well, if even half were true, then there was a very real chance he was involved in the plot against him.
Galen’s lips thinned. If they’d had more than rumours, more than the handful of whispers about people moving against him, he wouldn’t have had to resort to something as unconventional as this competition. But if there were threats against him, he’d crush every last one of them. He wouldn’t show them any weakness they could exploit. And if they wanted to challenge him, then he’d show them how he’d managed to rule independently since he’d ascended to his throne at sixteen.
Hand clenching unconsciously, the sound of paper crinkling broke the route of his thoughts. He shook himself and focused back on the task at hand. His eyes skimmed the paper, pausing only occasionally. The Alani girl seemed to be steady, her answer had been more than he’d expected. He’d liked the Gavino’s daughter’s response as well. His gaze stopped at the last name on the list, the one they’d almost forgotten to include. Princeps Evony of Aureline.
He lightly drummed the fingers of his free hand on the arm of his chair. She was the girl who had most surprised him. From what he’d heard, Amazzi were barbarians that lived in camps, hunted each other for sport, and killed any man who dared land on their island without permission. Only a handful of traders called into Silvinsula’s lone dock, and those that did were tight-lipped enough about it.
But the Aurelines, chief among the Amazzi clans, were the first of the noble families who had sworn themselves to his family. Barbarians they might be, but the warrior women were fiercely and completely loyal to the head of the Fusciennes. Though he had heard some stories that said while they were loyal, they weren’t always respectful, especially if they didn’t care for the man in his position. He half-wondered what they thought of him.
Still, if the others were like this Evony, he might have to rethink his belief on their barbarism. She’d had one of the best answers and had shocked Rakin even more than she had him. She also seemed friendly with the Miletum girl and they couldn’t possibly have met previously. Evony would bear watching, if not for reasons of loyalty. She could prove useful. He hadn’t thought to have more eyes inside the competition other than some of the servants, but if she seemed steady...
It hadn’t escaped his notice that she openly bore arms, and Balint’s report of how she’d gained entry had shown that the Amazzi reputation for strength of arms was well-deserved. She was different from the other girls, in a way he found hard to describe. It might be something of the way she carried herself. Or the way she walked. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. Still, it wasn’t important for the moment. She was still in the competition and he’d have plenty of time to figure her out as things progressed.
Galen’s gaze fell to the stacks of paper on his desk and he sighed. Even when there were plots against him, the paperwork never stopped. A brief glance out the window and the sunny day outside, then back at the pile decided him. The reports could wait. He could use a walk and the fresh air. It wouldn’t hurt to have people see him walking around as if he was unaware of the plot against him. The longer it took those moving against him to find out he knew, the better.
Chapter 3: Exploring
Evony led the way out of the building they’d just entered, Admina a step behind her. Rather than follow the breezeway back to the main building, she stepped out between the columns and crossed through one of the gardens that always seemed to border the walkways.
The bright sunshine made Evony squint as sweat formed on her back and neck, which she did her best to ignore. The garden, filled with big white, blue, and pink flowers, buzzed with numerous fat bees. Their droning gave a feeling of calm, warm sleepiness that made Evony think back to childhood days of running through fields barefoot, of napping underneath trees and playing at adventures with her sisters.
But she had her duty to perform, and to do it well, Evony needed more information. So she shook off the impulse to run about like she was a child again and continued through the garden into the grassy expanse that lay between it and the wall.
She assumed that was forethought and approved. With a few dozen passus of empty grass, it would be almost impossible for an invading force to sneak up to the palace without being spotted. And that only if they could get by the walls. Really, the only way she could see the palace falling was through treachery.
Turning as they reached the centre of the grass and Evony and Admina headed down along the wall, away from the building that now housed them. “Do you know the palace well?” she asked Admina. She realized she really didn’t know much about her new friend and had to admit to being curious. As well as figuring an insider’s perspective could only benefit her.
Admina shook her head. “Miletum is a great distance from here. Not as great as Gormain or Aoi, but very far. It’s my first time here. If I hadn’t been summoned...I don’t believe I’d have come without the call the emperor sent out. My brother—He was considering a match for me with Azar, Deniz, or Flanna.”
“Your brother? Why would he be considering the match? It’s your decision, is it not?” Evony asked, frowning.
Her friend’s eyes were wide as she looked at Evony. “My brother is Rector. Our father passed this last year. We have only just come out of mourning,” she replied, her focus dropping to the grass. “He is to decide the match for me. He... This competition has interfered with his original plans.”
Evony’s gaze narrowed. To let anyone besides yourself choose your lifemate seemed like sheerest insanity to her, and doubly so for your brother. She also didn’t much care for the way Admina spoke of her brother, especially given the way she’d acted with regards to staying in the competition.
Admina appeared sweet, kind, and intelligent. Maybe a little shy and hesitant, but with time she thought that could be fixed. Inwardly, Evony nodded. She liked Admina and thought she would make a solid empress. She certainly would be of no danger to the emperor and would likely be a gentle partner. Which, given the stories she’d heard of the emperor, he needed as a balance. Provided the emperor seemed a decent sort and that Admina was interested, she would do her best to help her wi
n the competition.
But now she needed something to break the growing silence between them. It was a heavy thing, and more oppressive even than the heat of the day. Evony glanced around, and noticed the long stone and wood building they were approaching. Her nose twitching at the familiar scent of hay, sweat, and droppings, the unique combination alerted her to what the place had to be.
She smiled and Admina and tilted her head at what her nose told her was a stable. “Do you ride much?”
Admina looked up at her then, staring for a moment then shook her head. “I can, but I’ve never ridden for much more than an hour or two.”
“We’ll have to go out. I can teach you some tricks, if you want to learn. And nothing is better than racing across the ground on a horse, with the wind in your hair and the sun on your back. We Amazzi do a lot of riding, so I’ve got more than my fair share of tricks. Though I was sad I couldn’t bring my mare with me. But she wouldn’t have liked the journey by ship, and I would have worried about her.”
“What does being Amazzi mean? I have only heard a few tales and I’m certain time and distance distorted them,” Admina asked as they strolled past the stables. Several heads hung out of the windows in the side of the stable, a rainbow array of horseflesh.
While she itched to examine the mounts and perhaps try the paces of a few, Evony looked away from the horses to answer her friend. “We are the Amazzi, a people. There are several clans of us and all of our people live on Silvinsula. I’m of the Aureline clan. My clan has long had a relationship with the head of the Fusicenne clan, or Adnuhom as we call him, and so are considered something of the leading clan. Though, in reality, each clan governs themselves.
“Silvinsula is primarily forest, with some meadows and a few rocky areas near the shores. Most of our horses are small and nimble because of it, easily able to get between the trees. Our villages are hidden among the trees. Some of us even choose to build houses on some of the larger trees. And we always keep enough supplies and space up there in case someone were ever stupid enough to invade us. And since we’re all trained warriors, they likely wouldn’t get that far. Though most of us have our own occupations since war is not something that will feed or clothe you.”
The Emperor's Arrow Page 3
