I am at GRL this week! Whoot! Like last week, I postponed my planned blog post, instead giving you a quick look at Constant the next book in the Valespian Pact series. Enjoy! *cackles evilly*
Copyright Lexi Ander
Prologue
Ashari thought the arrangements for
Azaes his and Ariafella's commitment ceremony were coming along well. Ariafella
knew what she wanted but was still flexible when needed. She did not want a lot
of frills and Ashari had to talk her into adding flower arrangements to the
core. Ashari smiled as the last attendant left with their to do list.
Her future daughter-in-law was sorting
through swatches of colored spyder silk, her white scales gleaming in the
morning light. If someone had told Ashari ten summers ago that her eldest son
would fall head over heels for Ariafella, she would have laughed them out of
the palace. Azaes's first meeting with his future bride had ended with Azaes
demanding Ashari not allow our Ariafella around Zeus. The summer before,
Ariafella and Zeus had become fast friends, despite their age difference, when
the twins had been away on a trip with Warlord Sohm'lan. Azaes had been
extremely jealous of the attention Zeus gave to her, his attitude bordering on
being unforgivably rude.
Ashari had put a stop to Azaes's behavior,
but every time Ariafella visited he tagged along with Zeus, grumpy but civil.
Then Zeus and Rathmar became friends.
Azaes did not act out but accepted Rathmar readily enough. Only
Ariafella did he hold barely concealed… At the time Ashari thought it was
animosity. She was sure of it when Azaes pushed Ariafella into the water
fountain when he was twelve summers. He always claimed it was an accident, but
Ashari did not believe him. Then, during Ariafella's stay at the palace when
Azaes was fifteen summers, something changed. Zeus and Ariafella had been
kidnapped while Sohm'lan had taken them to the market. Ariafella and Zeus had
been found quickly, but Azaes… Azaes returned with them changed, swearing that
he would one day marry Ariafella. He worked hard to win her over, and now,
years later they would join their lives together.
Ashari adored Ariafella, always had, and
believed she would fill the role of Empress well. Her years spent abroad at her
father's side made sure Ariafella could negotiate any political situation with
expertise. Her father, Tymon, was Atlainticia's ambassador to the Proxima Heann
Coalition. When Zeus had taken to Ariafella so quickly upon their first
meeting, Ashari had considered arranging a mating between the two if they were
still close when Zeus turned fifteen summers. Azaes did not need to know how
close he came to losing Ariafella. Ashari hid a smile.
Ariafella gave a long sigh and slumped
in the high back chair.
"What troubles you?" Ashari
crossed to the table and took the seat next to Ariafella.
"The head of House Cordyll is vile."
As if realizing what she had said aloud, Ariafella quickly glanced at the door.
She slumped even further in her relief to see it closed. Anyone who wanted to
enter would need to knock first.
"He is not the most pleasant bull
to be around," Ashari replied, alert. "Has he done anything to
you?"
"Oh, no, it is not that. His two
youngest did not come from the Academy after they graduated, and they have not
contacted him. He is sure Rathmar knows where they are and he made a scene at
market yesterday. Rathmar is almost as tall as Sohm'lan now, and yet he refuses
to defend himself against Timsah." Ariafella hissed her frustration.
"I know Azaes does not approve of my friendship with Rathmar, but Rathmar
and Zeus are the only real friends I have. I do not know what happened between
Zeus and Rathmar, no one will tell me, and as far as I am concerned if they
cannot say why they suddenly revile Zeus's best friend… I am not going to cut
Rathmar out of my life just because Azaes says so. And Rathmar!" Ariafella
threw the colored blocks of silk into the carved wooden box. "He is no
better than Mestor or Azaes, carrying guilt around and no longer confiding in
me. I want to help him get out from underneath his father's abuse and away from
those people. I know he has been waiting for his youngest siblings to leave.
And now that it seems that they have… why is he still there? I do not
understand why he would stay in an abusive situation."
Ashari looked away, her own guilt eating
at her. The next time she contacted Valdor, she would insist that Ariafella and
Azaes were finally told about Rathmar.
"Rathmar was with me when I
received the message about Zeus being kidnapped by pirates from the space
station. I thought he was going to pass out. As soon as Zeus comes home, I am
going to make them sit down and resolve this issue. It has gone on long
enough."
Ashari frowned. A couple days ago, they
had received communications from Azaes letting them know that the situation
with Zeus was not what they thought it was, and that all her children were
safe. Did Ariafella give Rathmar the news as well?
"The outcome might not be what you
wanted to be," Ashari cautioned.
Ariafella's large, red eyes blinked
several times. "I know that, but I hope for the best for them. Things have
been so lonely with Rathmar distancing himself from me and Zeus being gone.
Azaes is taking on more and more responsibility from his father. He has Mestor
ever at his side. How do you do it, Ashari? Do you not thirst for friends or
companionship? Are you lonely?"
"Of course I can be, but I have
head the youngling's. Valdor and I learned how to make quality time for each
other. Sure, all my younghood friends are on the other side of the continent
and we grew apart over the years. You will have better success. You have
traveled extensively with your father and are much more outgoing than I ever
was at your age. I have every confidence that you will find a balance. I also
think you will feel better once Zeus returns home."
Ariafella nodded, not really looking
like she agreed. "I think I am going for swim. Want to come?"
"Let me wrap a couple things up and
I will meet you there." Ashari watched Ariafella leave, her gold trimmed
white robes billowing behind her in her haste.
Ashari sighed. Being the empress of
Atlainticia was never easy. Throughout the years, she and Valdor had kept
things from the younglings. Sometimes, they were simply too young. But the
secret they kept these last five years had been the hardest. At the time, it
seemed the best course of action. She and Valdor should have brought Azaes and
Mestor into the secret four years ago, but her sons were not the best at hiding
their feelings. There was the concern they would give away everything when they
lost their temper. The twins had to learn to mask their emotions, and they had
gotten better, but Valdor would not wage the life and welfare of others on the
youngling's dubious ability to keep their thoughts to themselves. She would be
glad when this nasty business with House Cordell was complete and she could
speak to Azaes and Mestor openly about everything.
Thank you for stopping by and reading!!
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