Threads of Fate

Chapter 3 ~ Family Dynamics

    By the time they were dismissed to prepare for the ball, Tissaia was already feeling worn out. The hours had seemed to drag on since their arrival. She'd been given some time to clean up after the journey of course, but then she'd been expected to participate in the Aerstar rites and suffer through seemingly endless services.

    A part of her felt some sympathy for the Prince when she'd noticed him dozing off during a particularly long sermon on the history of the holy day. No doubt he'd been doing this since dawn or before. She didn't envy him. She had paid attention to that particular sermon though.

    She personally enjoyed learning about history, and despite already knowing everything about Aerstar's past, it never hurt to be reminded. There were similar holy days to commemorate the Ascension of all four of the mortal gods, Oriana, Drenusha, Durga, and Hadeon.

    Only Mother Nepenthe didn't have one, for she was eternal. She was the one who had created the land, then created her wards to oversee it. Her residence was in the Eternal Haven, caring for the souls of those long since past. Or at least, those not doomed to spend their eternity in Hel, under the rule of Hadeon.

    At least she could be grateful that this day was for Drenusha so she wasn't forced to sit through one of Durga or Hadeon's services. Tissaia recognized the importance of them, but it never failed to turn her stomach queasy when she was expected to spill some of her own blood into a fire as an offering to them.

    For the goddess of nature, living creatures, and wisdom, more focus was placed on remembrance than offering. For her part in the rites, Tissaia had laid out candles in the shape of the constellation that represented her time of birth and lit them, in honor of the constellation that had been born when Drenusha Ascended, the Fawn.

    Her and Talarion's constellation was, quite fittingly, a pattern of stars resembling flames or crashing waves. No one had ever been able to decide which it was, so it had been named the Elements. Azael's constellation was Levada, a pattern that formed a roaring lion's head, a beast as proud and noble as he. Tissaia had often found the differences in their constellations interesting in years past.

    Azael's was unquestionable and definitive, unlike her own. He had been born in the morning during the height of summer, while she and Talarion had been born at midnight in the dead of winter. All three of them were considered blessed by Oriana for being born under her signs as the goddess of balance. Of the dusk and dawn, the lights of the world. But only Azael was her true Heir, born of her bloodline.

    And Tissaia had enough sympathy for that particular Heir that she chose to wake him before anyone else noticed he had fallen asleep. She'd done so just in time too, as they'd been dismissed only ten minutes later. She had been in her room ever since, shooing away bothersome servants so she could prepare for the ball in her own time.

    It was to begin at sunset and already, her room was glowing golden with fading light. Tissaia smoothed the last tangles from her hair and tossed it aside to spill down her back unhindered. No doubt her father would scold her for it. He would consider it laziness on her part, not a statement.

    As the Crown Prince's fiancée and Princess Apparent, she would be expected to wear the glittering tiara currently resting on her dressing table. Tissaia had taken one look at it and rolled her eyes. Seeing as she was all those things in theory, it didn't seem necessary to decorate herself in a fashion that would only serve to embarrass her when Azael inevitably snubbed her again.

    She twisted in front of a full length mirror and tilted her head from side to side, taking in her appearance. The gown she'd selected was a deep cobalt color, not unlike the gems in the necklace she'd been gifted, but she would not be wearing that to the ball either. It would clash with the jeweled high collar of her gown that held up its draping halter top bodice.