A Crown Of Blades(ARTK, Book 3)

Chapter 58-59

Manor 30th, 3330 A.G

  A swift burning ceremony would help her adjust to this new realty- Tiffan tried to convince herself. It would force her to move on the same way it'd done with Gervaise..... but Milon Amalone were not Gervaise.

She'd married Gervaise because she loved him. She still had nightmares about her first husband for that very reason, but Milon..... they'd married only for an alliance.

And because Vanora told her to.

When Tiffan had told the witch herself- just over an hour ago, confusion washed across her face. As if this hadn't been a part of her god's and goddesses plan; or they hadn't deemed it necessary to inform her. Her mouth had fallen open half a moment, and Tiffan remembered that she could almost hear the woman's thoughts:

This can't- this wasn't supposed to happen. They only told me to make this marriage happen-

Why would they allow-

But they wouldn't. They'd......

When her face were done flashing each one of those thoughts, Vanora had gulped and reached for her lady's hands. "I....am very sorry. He.... did not deserve to go out like that."

Tiffan had only nodded; having heard those exact words before, and knowing she'd hear them again. She'd told Vanora to organize the burning ceremony and sent her to inform the rest of her council, as she simply didn't have the energy.

She sat in Melmidoc's nursery now, holding the sleeping toddler( check age in editing) that seemed to grow heavier with each day. Even from this angle, where she barely had a view of his face- he looked exactly like his father. It weren't his fault..... but she had to look away- as for a brief moment she pictured how severe the pain would be if she'd found him hanging from that chandelier.

She moved to adjust the way she sat, the wood of the chair pressing painfully into her back- then there were a light knock on the door, an Advisor letting herself in.

"My lady." Albree said quietly. " Vanora has... asked me to inform you that everything is prepared and.... we may start whenever you are ready."

Tiffan looked her up and down then smiled, remembering the same conversation that Albree apparently had.

It felt like so long ago now, when she and Milon laughed together...... yet she supposed it had only been a matter of months. They were having a small dinner that night, just her and Milon and Amira and the council- and the wine were flowing generously. As such, Tiffan could not remember how they'd gotten to the subject- but they had.

"If I died- Oh damn the mourning colors!" Milon had slurred, laughing. "It is an idiotic concept. People should wear whatever the fuck they want without worrying about whether or not yellow or green- or whatever color, is too cheerful for a funeral. Every damned one of you better show up in anything but black or red- or whatever the mourning colors are here. I've never actually learned them."

Albree's green dress were one she'd worn before, though her hair were down and covering half the cleavage then. Now that it were up, it did no such thing. Tiffan's dress were a much paler green with a modest cut, but the point were still made. His wishes would be respected.

She handed Melmidoc off to the wet nurse standing in the corner, waiting for permission to do her job.

She rose and followed Albree into the Hall, where the rest of her council waited. She smiled- Valter were wearing a white tunic, and even Vanora had abandoned her red dresses for the ceremony in favor of a dark green one.