by S. K Munt
‘And the very things that Karol named while describing you.’ Ora stood taller, rested her hands on her hips and sighed while her eyes watched the Rabian float clang by. ‘Now I can’t help but feel like a Wilkes in comparison which is a shame, because I rather like our dear Karol Butler.’
My stomach turned. ‘It doesn’t matter if Karol describes me as a Scarlet,’ I said to her softly. ‘In the end he sees me- and treats me- like Belle, the helpful whore. And you can rest assured that I see him as a carpet-bagger, and nothing else.’
Ora raised an eyebrow and gave me a sidelong look. ‘You don’t find him attractive at all?’
I faced forward and said stonily: ‘There is a big difference between someone being handsome, and attractive to me, and he has caused me distress for his own amusement too many times for me to count, or for him to count to me.’ Ora gave me a somewhat horrified look and I flushed, remembering that I was supposed to be talking her into courting Karol, not out of it! ‘That being said, he has an excess of charm and a wicked sense of humour, and I know that I could come to like him one day... but only as a brother, and only if he proves that he is as good and kind and clever as some people say he is, by marrying someone like you.’
Ora hugged me with one arm. ‘I am glad to hear that, and confess that I hope you can find a way to become like a sister to me with young Kohén’s help.’
I smiled up at her. ‘Then it’s settled- we both want the same things, but from different men. My dream is unlikely to come true and I am well aware of that, as you surely must be- so grant me another wish, and get that ring on your finger so that I might live under a queen’s thumb someday instead of under the shadow of a king’s penis!’
She chuckled. ‘Well, now that I know that he doesn’t have a true love buried away in the harem and in his brother’s mate, I’ll get on it.’ She leaned down and whispered: ‘You know the Barachiel family well... what should I wear to the ball to win his eye, and his family’s approval? I know that Karol doesn’t like Amelia-Rose Choir anymore than I do, but her father has a lot on money and influence you know? And she has that damned pristine reputation…’ she blew out her bangs. ‘I can’t risk her showing up into the ball in something that will steal focus from me.’
I thought that over, but it did not take long for me to come up with an answer. Off the top of my head, I considered outlining the dress that Karol had once requested that Lindy sew for me, but I changed my mind once I realised that that would appeal to Karol for the wrong reasons.
‘Something grand and royal,’ I eventually said. ‘A full skirt- fuller than anybody else’s, with classic lines to appease the duchess, but with a modern flare- either a very bright colour that no one else is likely to pick, and definitely with a hint of skin at your neck and back.’ I smiled. ‘And it’s a masquerade, right? So go with only a half mask, and one with spaces wide enough for your lovely eyes to shine through so people comment on how they match his.’ I clapped my hands together: ‘Oh! Go with something green, I think, for it’s his eye colour as well as yours AND his favourite colour, and maybe with a leafy, vine-like motif to represent Eden? You will be modern, traditional, standout and sexy… and if your skirt is full enough, you’ll definitely be the ‘belle’ of the ball.’ I smirked. ‘Oh, and when you’re getting about in your leisure this week… opt to wear your hair in piggy-tails at some point.’
Ora raised her eyebrow. ‘Huh?’
‘Feed the deviant with an open palm and an innocent smile, and he’ll no longer have a reason to go into that trap of a harem.’
‘I like the way you think.’
‘I like you for acknowledging that I can,’ I held out my dress. ‘Despite evidence to the contrary.’
Together we laughed and then leaned against one another to watch the Rabian float grind by, and my skin tingled with the warmth and excitement of a new friendship, though I knew there was every chance that she was just flattering her way into my confidences, I also knew that she was only doing so because as she’d said, our wiles were the only power we had, and someone so down to earth would surely wield such power fairly- and with women in mind- and that was all I needed to know about her.
29.
When the Rabian float disappeared from sight and the marching band followed it, the parade was considered ‘over’ from our vantage point, and so we were herded back into our carriages. I saw Kohl and Kohén each try and catch my eye, while Kelia pulled them both toward her carriage, and in a moment of treachery, I launched myself into a carriage with Elbert Yael and his wife, and Elfin. I saw Kohén’s eyes widen with surprise when I did so, but I was not trying to provoke him; only trying to remind a pissed-off looking General Hartley that if he wanted to fight for me, he had to fight for Kohl, and that failing to do so would guarantee that I found a way to make Elbert Yael offer Kohl what his own crown would not.
I suffered Elbert tooting his own horn and mine so loudly all the way back to the common that he drowned out the marching band in front of us and gave me a headache, but luckily for both of us, he kept his hands to himself and his comments above my golden belt. Still, by the time we were back within Eden’s gates again, I truly felt as though he’d stuffed my brain with his grand plans and cotton bolls, but I was satisfied to see Atticus throw an arm around Kohl and whisper something quietly into his ear when they disembarked their own carriage back on Eden’s common. Kohl looked surprised by whatever Atticus had said, but he nodded eagerly and grinned at the man’s retreating figure as the duchess pulled him toward the monarchic platform in the centre of the crowd. Both sights made my heart swell, and when Atticus turned back and gave me a little bow- proving that he’d been very aware that I had witnessed the exchange- I knew that riding with Elbert had been worth the ear bashing.
Finally, I was getting somewhere!
Once Elbert had helped me out of the carriage, I saw that Karol was already on the gazebo, conferring quietly with his father, and that Kohén was gazing after me from the only row of VIP seats on a small platform, some fifty feet back from the stage. I waved to him, and he waved back, and then I felt a strange little tug inside my chest to be so separated from him, but I turned away, reminding myself that in a few month’s time, it might be a permanent solution to what ailed us, and that I had to get used to being separated from him, without having to argue first to justify it.
Close friends, then distant friends…. then who knows?
The space between the platform and the gazebo was chock-full of people on picnic blankets chatting excitedly about the feast to come (the scent of pork roasting on open rotisseries was both mouth-watering and hard to ignore) and though I was glad that only the royals were to be cordoned off this time, I was at a loss as to where to sit, for there were thousands of people present, and after years of being segregated from crowds and given no choice as to where to go or who to sit beside, I felt overwhelmed by the array of options suddenly available to me. On reflex, my eyes lifted to scan the perimeter fence but there was no-one there- not a single person peeking in from the Wildwoods, and I wagered that that had something to do with the guards lined up along the fence at intervals with rifles.
Your father is not here- no one here will try to hurt you today. Just sit already, or make an excuse to go to the bathroom until one of the other girls sits first!
But then I saw Maryah waving me over from the edge of the crowd right near the front, and I shrugged and beckoned to the other girls over my shoulder, who were just standing there beside the carriage they had travelled back in, looking awkward and blushing like mad as people turned their heads to gawk at them in their pretty dresses- as they had been gawking at me since I’d arrived. I pointed to Maryah and looking relieved, they scampered toward me, with only Emmerly remembering herself enough to come slowly with her hips swinging just as Resonah, Adeline and co were doing as they crossed to the assemblage from their carriage.
I smiled as I walked to Maryah my way, admitting to myself that the more experienced Compa
nions looked nothing but dignified, and nothing like whores. In fact, when done right and in a small group, they looked exactly like Artisans imitating beauty for some enchanting performance. Inspired by their grace, I sat at the front of the blanket the ‘right’ way with my knees folded beneath me and to the side, and cupped my palms while sitting tall, and then completed the ‘perfect’ picture of elegance and manners- by punching my fist into my palm in a silent threat when Karol stepped behind the podium and looked my way.
‘Is that a speech I see in your palm, your highness?’ I asked him silently, and blushing, he stuffed it into his pants in response, making me giggle. I then lifted my hand again and jerked my finger to the right, reminding him about the whole ‘roaming’ idea and though he rolled his eyes, he inched out from behind the podium as his father patted his shoulder and walked away. Satisfied by the sight of a cordless microphone in his right hand, I cupped my palms again and smiled approvingly, though I wasn’t much comforted that he’d follow or even recall any of my advice when his time to speak came, because he was still gripping the podium with the fingertips of his left hand, and his knuckles were white.
Please be good enough to knock Ora’s sandals off!
‘I don’t believe it!’ Emmerly whispered softly. ‘The grand Karol Barachiel seems to have lost his face this morning, and has borrowed a tragedy mask instead!’ The other girls giggled, but I heard Adeline speak next:
‘He is absolutely terrified, ladies so please do not laugh and look his way at the same time,’ Adeline’s voice was soft, but firm. ‘Or I fear that he will faint from fright.’
‘We can’t have that,’ Lette agreed. ‘This speech is bound to drone on forever as it is, so heaven help us if he takes a nap in the middle of it as well!’
There were a few more snickers following that, but not as loudly. ‘Why is he so nervous?’ Resonah asked, her more mature voice distinct against the other youthful ones. ‘Speaking with flair is what he does.’
‘He’s not afraid of the talking part,’ Adeline said back. ‘He’s afraid that what he wants to say will go over better with his father if mumbled.’
Curious, I turned around. ‘He’s not planning on declaring us a republic and then demanding our vote, is he?’ I teased. ‘As lofty an idea as it is, I’m pro-monarchy again now that he’s showing so much interest in Ora Camden.’ The words were out of my mouth before I could think them through, and though Adeline’s eyes brightened with a brief flash of hurt and jealousy, she swallowed and shook her head.
Oh I’m such a fool! How would I feel if Kohén were the one courting somebody this week?
‘No. He is afraid that his birthday wish will upset his family,’ she cringed and I felt it inside my chest, remembering his threat to me. That had been a joke, right? He wasn’t about to punish me publicly for humiliating him in the harem by making me join his?! Suddenly, the cool air felt frosted.
No! No he SAID that he’d never collar you! Relax, he wouldn’t dare!
‘And not just his father, either,’ Caprice agreed.
‘Oh my gosh, what is he going to wish for?’ Emmerly asked, but Adeline shrugged.
‘I have theories but really, no idea- and no one is supposed to know until it is declared. Obviously, the king and duchess have preparing themselves to be caught off-guard, as every royal parent has been before... and that’s part of the whole process, you know? They have to trust that they’ve raised him right and then demonstrate that trust by giving him absolute power for his thirtieth, and then he has to declare it to the public and give them the power to grant it or not, by booing if it is a preposterous suggestion, or applauding if they have his support. So he wouldn’t ask to become a republic Lark, because he knows that he would be booed off the stage for betraying Miguel Barachiel’s memory without any warning.’
‘Does he think he will be booed?’ I asked, praying she’d say something to make the sick feeling in my gut go away.
Adeline shook her head. ‘He knows that he won’t be, or is at least ninety-nine percent certain that he will be commended for it. And that’s the source of his dilemma- what he wants will be granted and he thinks his family will despise him for it.’ She bit her lip. ‘And his parents trust him so much that they are just working themselves up for a bigger letdown. I mean, Elijah is certain that he knows what Karol’s going to say and according to Karol, he’s not even close to guessing correctly. So now, Karol can barely sleep at night for the stress of dropping this particular bombshell on his father, who is sleeping easily with confidence in his son.’ She tossed her flaming curls over her shoulder and her eyes roamed back to the stage, bright with anxiety. ‘So regardless of how well the speech goes, he knows that there’s no way that he’s going to get his father’s approval along with the applause, and that hurts him.’
I let out a little breath. I was off his hook! Because there was no way he could hope to wish for his brother’s whore, and earn himself a round of applause for it! In fact, he’d become a laughingstock.
‘Wow,’ Elfin whispered, including Caprice in on her look. ‘And you have no idea what he wants?’
‘None. But whatever it is… when he’s not dreading it, he’s excited beyond measure,’ Caprice chuckled. ‘It’s quite the crisis of conscience for him, and I suspect that it may be his first ever.’
‘Poor baby…’ Lette drawled, and a few of us laughed. After all, we’d been dealing with emotional crises since the year we’d turned thirteen! How nice it would have been, to wait until reaching the age of thirty to fear suffering a consequence of our own creation!
‘But why is he worried about that today?’ Resonah asked. ‘His wish can’t be granted until Sunday after the ball, when he actually turns thirty.’
‘I know, but many of the dignitaries are leaving first thing Sunday morning, and whatever Karol wants to say- he wants them to hear it now and have the next four days to converse with him about it.’ She sighed. ‘So he’s sweating EXTRA bullets because his father isn’t going to be expecting any sort of upset this week at all, let alone today!’
We all turned back to the stage to study Karol and when he saw us and our own masks of blatant curiosity, he cringed and looked away, making Elfin and Rosina giggle. Karol was clearly petrified- more than he’d let on the night before- and though it was rare for me to empathise with him for any reason, I couldn’t help but send positive thoughts his way. His eyes were so green that their colour was startlingly obvious, despite the fact that he was twenty-feet away from me, and his forehead looked damp from sweat.
It was a shame too, because the rest of him looked utterly divine! He’d worn black leather pants as Kohén had, and they were tucked into black polished knee-high boots. A bright green ruffled shirt clung to his sharp shape and gave his eyes that extra glow, and to finish painting the perfect medieval picture of the ultimate dashing prince, there was that damned golden cloak fastened around his perfect throat. How admired he’d be, if he didn’t keep almost dropping the microphone or tripping over his shuffling feet!
‘I’ll bet he’s going to wish for a telecommunication industry to be established,’ Rosina said in her more mature but still melodic voice. Her talent was singing, while accompanying herself on a harp. ‘He wants that White Collar caste in place, and soon, and his father doesn’t support him in that yet, nor does his mother. So if he announces it before they can talk him out of it, he’ll be in for a ten-year scolding.’
‘Why?’
‘They-’ The microphone screeched, cutting Rosina off, and we all winced and curled into ourselves before shooting dirty looks towards the stage. A lot of people laughed- the children in front especially and Karol’s face went red.
‘Uh… sorry…’ he mumbled to the now silent and expectant crowd, stepping behind the podium and making me huff with annoyance. Then, he began to unfold his paper awkwardly with one shaking hand, while attempting to get the microphone in front of his face with the other shaking hand, and he looked so flustered and comical that
more than a few people sniggered.
‘He looks like someone trying to eat an ice cream cone while freezing cold already in a blizzard,’ Emmerly whispered and Lette giggled. I couldn’t help but laugh too, and Karol’s face went redder as though he recognised the sound of my derision, which he probably did. He smoothed the paper out with the microphone hand and then said into it after a clearing of his throat:
‘Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honour and… erm, pride that I…’
‘Pride? Where?’ Elfin simpered.
‘Girls!’ Maryah hissed. ‘Enough! It is your job to support him.’
‘Actually, it’s my job to support Kohén,’ Lette pointed out and then smacked Adeline on the shoulder. ‘Go- now. Do something supportive.’
‘Yeah, one of you can fit behind that podium and support him in the way that counts with these guys until he calms down, right?’ Elfin asked, and I clapped a hand over my mouth to hold in a guffaw.
‘Actually, no I can’t,’ Adeline said quietly without a trace of humour in her voice. ‘He hasn’t come to me for weeks to do anything but pace a scorch mark into my carpet.’
‘He hasn’t come to either of us,’ Caprice agreed and then added: ‘Not since Larkin called him a rapist, anyway.’
Silence fell behind me, and I stiffened. I felt them staring at my back, and I transferred that intensity toward the stage, amazed to realise why Karol was coming apart- he’d stopped allowing his Companions to hold him together, and it was apparently all my fault!
No! Not your fault, your influence! And if he’s going to win Ora’s heart, he needs to get rid of them all together! Don’t feel guilty Larkin, raise your head high!
As though he were well aware of every word that was being said between us, Karol raised a glowing green hand to his face and smoothed his hair back, and when I saw the tremble in it, then heard it in his voice as he waffled on, I knew that something had to be done. I’d made him a promise- and now, I was going to keep it and damn my freedom.
