Page 34 of A Vow of Embers

They said they loved me as Io put my veil on, pinning it onto the crown so that it wouldn’t slip. I could easily see, which gave me some relief. Io began weeping even harder, clinging to Suri. Zalira and Ahyana leaned against one another, their heads together as they watched me step outside and head over to our mentor.

“Are you ready?” Maia asked.

No, but I didn’t have a choice.

Chapter Twelve

My heart was in my throat as I walked down the alley with Maia. She held the torch high, lighting the way while walking quickly.

“Are we late?” I asked, picking up my pace.

“Don’t worry, they won’t start without you,” she said in a teasing tone. She told me that we would be meeting the prince down the street, away from the temple. More of Theano’s plan to disassociate the temple from me.

The dress fluttered and flowed around me as I walked, making me feel like a real princess. My shoes were a bit too tight, but it was manageable.

I had to focus on these inconsequential details so that I wouldn’t start wailing.

Maia seemed to sense my need to be distracted. “We do simple funerals at the temple, but did you know that funerals and marriages in the rest of Ilion are very similar? The only difference is that funerals are in the morning and marriages are at night. But in both situations the body is washed and dressed, the person is changing residences, accompanied by song and torchlight, and there will be a celebratory feast at the end.”

“That is not reassuring,” I told her.

She laughed, probably not understanding how much I was dreading this and how this marriage felt very much like a death sentence.

We turned a corner and it was suddenly like midday. There were so many torches lit that it was nearly blinding. Music started—I heard flutes, cymbals, and drums—and the crowd sang us a wedding song, wishing us happiness and children.

Prince Alexandros waited in his chariot with his four white horses. A look of relief flashed across his face when he saw me. We must have been truly late and he had thought I wasn’t going to come. That would have been humiliating for him—his bride not appearing when apparently the entire city of Troas had turned out to celebrate his royal wedding.

We came closer, and when I reached the chariot, I saw that Thrax stood in it as well. I had known I would drive with the prince; I’d had no idea Thrax would be there.

Alexandros offered me his hand and I hesitated. I didn’t want to stand next to either one of them.

“Get in the chariot,” he said lowly.

His first command. He watched me closely, seeing what I would do. I had agreed to listen to him and so I did, even if it felt like I was being stabbed the entire time. I ignored his hand and climbed in myself. It was a bit more difficult with the veil on but I managed it.

He went to pick up the reins and I put my hand on his wrist to stop him. “Wait.”

The prince looked down at my hand and then immediately up at my face. I pulled my hand back, as if scalded. I hadn’t meant to touch him. I didn’t know why I had.

“I have something for you,” I said. I half expected him to stop me as I reached into my girdle and took out the dagger, but he didn’t. I handed the weapon to him.

“I have no need for this,” he said.

“Your sister told me that gifts are important and the goddess expects it. I won’t be indebted to you, nor am I your gift.”

He studied me for a moment and then said, “Fine,” taking the dagger from me. He slid it into his belt. He was wearing Ilion’s colors, a dark green tunic with black embroidery. He also wore a wedding ring, one that matched mine exactly. Maybe it hadn’t been an insult and was just his preference. He had a large signet ring on his right hand, and on his head he wore a silver crown made of olive leaves.

“Thank you,” he added, as if remembering his manners.

There was an uncomfortable silence, and deciding to push through all of the hard things at once, I said, “Thank you for writing to my parents.”

That had been unbelievably difficult to say.

He nodded and didn’t reply. He handed the reins over to Thrax so that Thrax could drive. I watched as Maia moved to her position in front of the chariot and began to lead us. The chariot lurched forward and I grabbed the side so that I wouldn’t tumble out.

“Where is Quynh?” I asked the prince. Part of me had hoped she would be here but it didn’t surprise me that she wasn’t. He would probably keep her away from me until the marriage was official. “When can I see her?”

“After we are wed.” Just as I’d suspected. “You will see her at the feast.”