Page 17

“Ashana and I were talking about your upcoming ceremony,” Elendur said in a paternalistic tone.

I noticed that he referred to my wife directly by her first name, without even using a title.

The twins were starting to get on my nerves.

I was a territorial creature. I was a precious child of our Father.

I immediately grasped my wife’s fingers to intertwine them with mine and brought them to my lips for a gentle kiss.

Ashana gasped, surprised by my affectionate gesture, but I didn’t care.

My gaze was fixed on my king, and he was fully aware of it.

I was in his service because I had decided to be, not because I feared him.

“It’s an immeasurable pleasure and a great honour for me to marry Lady Ashana for a second time,” I whispered. “In fact, I think we should spend our honeymoon in Gulan. Paivrin has invited us, and I confess I’m eager to be there. That is, if you have no objections, Majesty.”

“How could I have the heart to deprive my hand of justice of his wedding night?” he laughed.

A laugh that sounded false, like most of the emotions he so skillfully mimicked.

“Yes, how?” whispered Nadrisse.

This earned her a warning glance from her twin.

All I wanted right now was to get away from those two like the plague.

I loved them. Far too much, in fact. I had wished to grow up with them, to once again feel like I belonged to a family, since mine was no more for reasons I could no longer recall.

Thanks to the elder, their father, that had been the case.

It had saved me, I had to admit. But right now, I could only dream of one thing: getting back to my apartments with my wife, even if it meant a less than pleasant discussion with her about my relationship with the Isamane of Osacan.

I turned frankly to Ashana.

“You must be very tired, my lady. It’s been a long journey and we were unable to rest properly.”

She searched my gaze with hers for a long time before opening her mouth:

“I admit I’m exhausted.”

In silent thanks, I squeezed her fingers tighter with mine.

“We will not detain you any longer, in that case,” said Elendur.

Exactly the words I wanted to hear.

“But ...” Nadrisse tried to object, fidgeting in her seat.

Her brother placed a hand on her arm, then shook his head ‘no.’ The young woman instantly frowned.

“I suppose we’ll have the day tomorrow to get to know each other,” she muttered.

To which I replied with a polite smile.

“It would be a great pleasure, Isamane. However, tomorrow, remember that we have much to do. I want to show Osacan to my wife, among others.”

Elendur burst out laughing.

“Life as a newlywed doesn’t seem to be easy. But don’t forget to set aside some time to prepare for the ceremony in a few days’ time. It will be a day of celebration, after all; you’ve defeated the enemy.”

Hearing these words, it was Ashana who suddenly squeezed my fingers sharply, and I understood very well why.

I discreetly returned the embrace as a sign of support.

I couldn’t refuse her. It felt like denying an important emotion.

Maybe Nadrisse was right. Maybe I had changed.

Should I worry about it, or should I let myself be carried away?

After several more superficial exchanges of the same kind, we were finally allowed to leave the royal table, but only after Elendur and Nadrisse had deserted it first. It was very rare to have this kind of one-on-one meal with the twins.

Usually, there were several members of their respective courts present, but tonight, it was an intimate, familial affair.

The atmosphere must have certainly seemed strange to Ashana. What wasn’t, in this situation?

She didn’t say a word the whole way to my room. Well, our room. It wasn’t until the door was closed that she launched herself. A direct, no-nonsense offensive, without pretense. Exactly what I appreciated, and what was often lacking in the inhabitants of Baal’s castle.

With her hands resting on her hips, Ashana planted her incisive gaze in mine.

“What is there between you and the Isamane?”

I opted for a cautious silence, time to think. I felt my jaw twitch involuntarily.

“We’ve known each other for a long time,” I began, with the faint hope that this simple sentence would ‘explain everything.’

Which, of course, was not the case. Ashana raised an eyebrow. I didn’t want to dwell on the subject, even though I knew I had to.

“And?” she insisted.

Only, I didn’t know how to talk about it without hurting her. Or worse, build a wall between us. An impassable wall. Oddly, I panicked at the thought.

“I was in love with her.”

It wasn’t entirely the truth, but it wasn’t entirely a lie either. It was worry that had spoken those words. The fear of rejection. Suddenly, I realized something important. Some of Paivrin’s words came back to me like a slap in the face. About the flames; these two parts of one soul.

My wife stared at me for a long time, undecided.

“What happened when I went to smoke my cigar? Did she say anything to upset you?”

Venom on the tongue. Nadrisse’s great specialty when events did not go her way.

“Is there nothing left between you?” Ashana persisted instead of answering me.

Which frankly annoyed me. I sank onto the edge of the bed, then pinched the bridge of my nose to stave off a throbbing pain in my head, before closing my eyes for a brief moment.

“The truth is, Ashana, just before I met you, I still imagined myself returning home as a conqueror to ask for the Isamane’s hand in marriage.

Then I received a missive from Elendur ordering me to take you as my wife.

For yes, it was an order, and for some reason I can’t explain yet, I couldn’t resist it, even if I wanted to.

I didn’t want to cause you unnecessary worry by making you doubt my loyalty. ”

I felt rather than saw Ashana approaching me.

“I prefer you to be honest. I don’t see us building our relationship on a lie or a half-truth.”

She sat down beside me, but I still didn’t dare face her. It was complicated, all these feelings as tumultuous as the clouds of a coming storm.

“I am aware that you were also forced into this affair which binds us. It’s normal for a man of your, uh, age ...”

I turned my head slightly in her direction, then raised a questioning eyebrow. I saw her hold back a smile.

“ ... and in good health to have, well, to have had, an active love life.”

“What an elegant way to put it,” I joked, amused by her innocent attempt.

Ashana straightened up.

“Isn’t that so? So, I can’t blame you for having had your heart already taken by another before we were united before the One God,” she continued.

I didn’t speak right away. Could it be ...

“Ashana, you do realize that Elendur’s planned ceremony is that of the Dark Gods, right?”

The young woman gave me a smile so radiant that I almost squinted to avoid being dazzled.

“During your absence at supper, the King and I discussed precisely this detail.”

“You discussed it,” I repeated mechanically.

To which she nodded.

“We found a compromise.”

“You reached a compromise with the king?”

Getting better and better . Ashana rolled her eyes. It didn’t bode well for me. Clearly. However, did I have to worry her now?

“Are you going to repeat everything I say? If so, it’s going to be a long night.”

This time, I smile broadly just to tease her.

“I like long nights.”

Unfortunately for me, my wife did not understand the innuendo and nodded again.

“You’d be delighted to live in Muvaria, then. Long nights, that’s all there is to it.”

I abandoned the idea of making her think about the erotic games of love that kept young couples awake. Alas, she was far too pure to have a mind as twisted as mine. I might as well get to the heart of the matter:

“I’m repeating what you said because I’m rather surprised. Knowing Elendur as I do, such a propensity to be conciliatory is surprising.”

Ashana seemed to ponder my statement for a moment.

“I think it’s all in the way you approach it.”

I grabbed her hand without thinking about it, then stared into her eyes, as serious as death.

“Stay on your guard. If he lets you say what you want, it’s only to hurt you. Take it from me.”

“I’ll make a note of it, Dovah.”

Ah. My name in her mouth. Over and over again ...

“So, I asked that the ceremony would take place in a temple of the Dark Gods but would be conducted by a priest of the One God. His Majesty felt that the marriage would be valid as long as it was performed in an Osacanian temple and by an Osacan priest. I then asked him if there were any pious servants of the One God in Osacan. To which he smiled and replied, ‘I’ll find you one, Lady Ashana, don’t worry. ’”

I’m sure there was . There was indeed an Osacanian priest of the One God in Tarnton, yes.

He was slowly dying in one of Baal Castle’s dungeons.

I could see Elendur’s devious plan taking shape: to throw this man, more dead than alive, in place of a wedding priest in order to put in his place this Muvarian who had dared to suggest such an idea, and to wound me in the process to remind me where I belonged, according to him.

Becoming king hasn’t dulled his penchant towards sadism and cruelty , I thought bitterly.

I rose slowly, filled with a cold anger.

“I have to go and talk to him,” I announced in an eerily calm voice.

Then I looked down at the woman who was now my wife.

“I’d like for you to trust me. For Nadrisse,” I added.

“I know I have no right to demand this of you, and in a similar situation, I confess I’d find it difficult myself.

However, I am your best—if not the only—ally in this house.

I’d dare say, in this country, but perhaps I’d be overstating the case. ”

Ashana opened her mouth and took a deep breath before answering me hesitantly:

“I don’t know, Dovah. It’s still too soon.”