The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

31. The plains of Almeida

This is a banquet, not a mer breakfast. Paisa, Laini and even the Empress are already here. I am not even late, unless I was told the wrong hour, but everyone else appears to be early.

The Emperor isn't, of course, but it seems he is always fashionably late.

The reception takes place in one of the small ballrooms of the castle. Everything is richly adorned and illuminated discreetly by torches and candles. Gold shimmers everywhere. Is it on purpose for someone to see? To be impressed? Or humiliated?

All the members of the council are here except general Yeoh. Is that on purpose too? Was he not invited or did he refuse to come again? Or maybe someone saw him that night. But then he would not only be shun, he would be punished or dead, rotting somewhere on display.

Today's assortment of guests is almost as broad as at our wedding.

I bow in front of the Empress and then take my place as Paisa's left.

There is an unknown lady sitting to the Empress's right. She is probably in her late thirties or early forties, beautiful but stern.

"Where have you been; haven't seen you in days. I was concerned," says Paisa.

"Were you?"

"Of course," she answers, sounding genuinely offended.

"Who is that? The one to the right of the Empress?"

"That's the noble Lady Meralda. The sister of her Highness. She is quite a character. She is married to the governor of the Island of Rhy."

"But he is..." I remember that before I went to priory he was known as one of the oldest still ruling province leaders.

"Ancient? Yes. But also very, very rich. And so is she now. You see, the family of the empress are old blood but were empowerished nobles. Luckily they had two beautiful, magic bearing daughters."

And still one of them had to marry a man the age of her grandfather. I make the mistake and look a little bit too long at her.

"You are the newest one?" And as if she felt my gaze, she addresses me. Oh damn. In this place one should never asume. Maybe she has really good hearing or some strange kind of magic like Paisa.

"Answer me, girl? What's your linage. Or who does his Highness deem worthy to breed with to torment my sister?"

"Meralda," says the Empress sternly.

"What? I am here on behalf of my husband and he gave me consent to speak my mind all the time. Or, I am not as spineless as you, sister."

I am so astonished by what is happening that I can barely move. Not even Laini is saying or doing anything.

"The linage of Wayatashir," I hear Paisa say.

Meralda's eyes open a slight bit more.

"I didn't know there were any more left of you," she says, but her aggressive tone is gone. She now is looking at me attentively, as if searching for something.

Then she stands up and leaves. This was so odd from the beginning till the end.

"Oh, a Wayatashir?" asks Laini. "How interesting. Now I understand."

Yeah. A Wayatashir. Not The Wayatashir. It's better this way.

I stand up, like striked by thunder, and walk towards the table with food.

Paisa follows me.

"What's wrong?" she asks. "They would find out eventually. It's better to give them something. By the way she acts her Highness knows already. And the sister... Has your kin done something to her?"