Page 23

But thankfully—or regrettably, depending on how you look at it—Meguh steps aside.

I let go of the spear.

“What about you, swan king?” Dakuok regards the last suitor—the only foreigner, Emperor Hanriyu. “You’ve not said a word.”

At least three kings have cut in front of Hanriyu, yet he made not a sound or complaint. Many will take that to be a weakness, but I’m intrigued. He stands out by wearing white, a simple robe unadorned by gold or jewel. While the other kings strut like peacocks before my sister, he is rooted to his place on the dais, black eyes distant like a spirit—half here and half not.

“I am Emperor Hanriyu of Kiata,” he says in stilted, formal Tambun. He speaks slowly, clearly having rehearsed these words. It impresses me that he’s bothered to learn our language. “My country is a week’s sail north of your island. It is beautiful here, but warmer than I expected.” He pats his neck with a folded handkerchief. “Forgive me if I am unaccustomed.”

One of his servants carries a small carving of what I think is a swan. I’ve only heard of such a creature; its feathers are white as coconut flesh, with a long neck and doleful eyes that mirror the emperor’s own. Except this one has a striking red crown on its head.

Vanna is equally curious. “What manner of bird is this?” she asks.

“In my land, we call it the bird of happiness. A crane.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“They oft visit my home in the winter,” Hanriyu replies. “The sight of one always brings me great joy. It is something I love.”

My sister softens. “I think I can see why. Thank you for sharing this with me.”

“Your statue is a paltry tribute to my daughter’s radiance,” Adah interrupts rudely. “You are from a faraway land, Your Majesty. Why should Vanna choose you?”

Hanriyu takes a moment to gather his words. “I’d heard that the Lady Vanna was radiant, but I did not expect it to be…literal. There is no enchantment in Kiata, you see.”

My ears perk up. No magic in Kiata? Does that mean there are no demons there? Such a place is hard for me to imagine.

The emperor goes on, “My empress recently passed, leaving me with six young sons and a baby daughter.” His voice grows hoarse; the wound in his heart is still raw. “She asked that I remarry so our children might have a mother, with the request that my new wife be kind and generous with her love. I’d heard the Lady Vanna was as benevolent as she was beautiful, so I’d hoped she might consider.”

“You propose to marry my daughter?” Adah’s interest is piqued. None of the other kings have promised marriage yet.

“I would wish to know her first,” replies Hanriyu carefully, “and her me.”

“That is not how things work here,” Dakuok cuts in. “Vanna is a goddess incarnate, not a simple village girl. Her hand belongs to whoever can offer the most.”

Vanna’s brow creases with confusion. “My hand belongs to whomever I like the most.” She turns to the priest. “I thought this was what we agreed. That I will choose.”

“You speak out of turn, Golden One,” Dakuok says curtly, shuttling Vanna back to her place. “Now, swan king…you were proposing to make the Golden One your queen? What tribute do you offer for that honor?”

Hanriyu looks unsettled. He glances at his fellow kings, who are smirking at his naïveté, then at Vanna, whose light has dulled to a flicker.

“I cannot make a proposal under such circumstances,” he confesses at last. “I had anticipated that the Lady Vanna would choose her own suitor, but I see that I am mistaken, and it is best that I withdraw. Please, however, keep my gift as a token of my admiration.”

Dakuok dismisses him with a wave, and Vanna bunches up her skirt in her fists. She’s angry, but she’s been trained to hold back her emotions. The last thing she’d do is make a scene.

This Kiatan king seems kind, and when he mentioned his children his eyes brightened. A man who cares deeply about his children is a man I instinctively respect. A man entirely unlike my adah.

Then again, Kiata is an ocean away, so far that the sun is pale, and the rain is cold and white. I can’t imagine Vanna thriving there, when she herself is warmth and light. She would be miserable.

“The initial gifts are presented,” Dakuok announces, waving his ceremonial staff, “and all the suitors are introduced. Now, we shall—”

“Wait,” says Vanna.

“—invoke the gods to see whose stars best align with the Golden—”

“Wait!”

Dakuok lowers his staff. He smiles through his irritation. “Yes, Golden One?”