Heir of the Gods

Ch. 2: Testing the Waters

Once inside the castle, both Cassia and Lord Julianus were spirited away to their quarters by various servants twittering about not enough time and proper dinner-wear.

Cassia let her ladies-in-waiting dress her in a sumptuous gown of silver silk. Once again, the bodice fit tightly, the sleeves off-shoulder and long, ending in points attached to her hands by diamond-encrusted rings around her middle fingers. The skirt hung straight down from her hips—easier to manage than the full skirt of the red dress—and was fairly revealing. Two slits traveled up the sides of the skirt to nearly the middle of her thighs.

She extended a leg curiously, looking at all the smooth, lightly tanned skin. "Do you suppose Lord Julianus will be looking?" she asked of no one in particular.

Everyone present either blushed or tittered at the idea. She set her leg back down and allowed Drusilla to place a diamond and platinum diadem on her hair, fitting it effortlessly into the elaborate braid that went around the crown of her head, the rest of her hair falling in long curls down to the middle of her back.

Then she was rushed back down the stairs to be confronted with the sight of Lord Julianus in full military regalia. Deep red jacket with gold braiding, fitted light tan trousers, black knee-high boots. And medals. A ponderous number of medals on the left side of his chest.

Once again, his clothes were more loose than they should have been, and she wondered where the weight had gone. 

The lord bowed, and then they were hustled into the dining hall. They made it into the great hall and the footman ushered both herself and Julianus to the royal table at the far end.

Cassia, used to the stares, didn't flinch as they walked the length of the hall between the three tables crowded with nobles and knights, all with their ladies and eldest children. 

Julianus became sharper at her side.From the corner of her eye, she found him to be every inch the military man he was—chest proud, back straight, eyes hawkish. Like he was striding between rows of soldiers instead of courtiers.

Her suspicions of why he was at the castle were confirmed beyond a doubt when Julianus was put in the rather conspicuous position of sitting at her right hand. She bowed her head to her father, but then the trumpets sounded and he stood, not sparing her a glance.

Everyone fell silent immediately. Cassia focused on making her face pleasantly blank, not truly listening to her father speak of the new campaign in Brunia. Not listening to him ramble on about the various nobles who had gained his favor for the moment, either through contributions of money or men in the king's name. Especially not listening to the great strides he'd made in establishing order in the empire through the cruel enforcement of even crueler laws.

He didn't mention the new rebellions that had sprung up in Mortania or the nearby province of Ventilium.

Then, he turned, waving a hand at Lord Julianus. Cassia looked at the lord to find him absolutely stone-faced as everyone's attention turned to him.

"We're here in part to celebrate Lord Calix Julianus. Many of you have heard of the headway we have made on that savage island of Brunia. Few of you know the man responsible for those victories."

Julianus' face could have been carved from granite. His sharp jawline became sharper, his lips thinning down into a hard line. But something told Cassia only she noticed.

The king continued, "Lord Julianus, join me."

Immediately, Julianus was on his feet, movements precise as he met the king before the table. They stood right in front of Cassia, slightly turned so the king could look at his guests.