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Prince Sebastian sank to one knee before the dais. "King Domitius and Princess Kalisandre, I, Prince Sebastian, am here on behalf of my brother, Rian, the King of Frenzia."
King Domitius shifted in his throne. "And why, may I ask, is King Rian, not here himself?"
Sebastian glanced at King Domitius, then averted his eyes just as quickly. "As I am sure your highness is aware, our father, King Lothian, recently passed. Since our kingdom is still in mourning, my brother thought it best if he stayed in Frenzia to support the kingdom in its time of need. However, he did not want to miss the opportunity to offer his hand to Princess Kalisandre, whose beauty is well-known all over Vaneria."
Kallie offered him a small, empathetic smile, then spoke for the first time, "My heart goes out to your family and kingdom. May the gods be fortunate and protect the late king as he makes his journey to the Beneath.” Her words would not lessen the grief that plagued Sebastian's or his people's minds. Grief never went away. Kallie knew that all too well. But she said them nevertheless.
“Thank you, Princess.” Sebastian nodded. "As such, I volunteered to represent him today and relay his offering to you."
King Domitius said nothing. Sebastian's gaze bounced between the two royals. A moment later, Kallie nodded in encouragement.
The prince cleared his throat. "On behalf of King Rian, I bring no physical offerings, for my brother knows material items only deteriorate with time and he desires a strong marriage, unbreakable by the passing of decades." Sebastian paused, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "His words, your graces, not mine. Instead, King Rian offers this: a strong alliance between our two kingdoms with you on the throne next to him."
The air grew still as the crowd waited to see how Sebastian would handle Prince Valrys’s oath. A thin layer of sweat formed on Kallie's palms as she gripped the arms of the chair. The silence that ensued made her question her gift for the first time.
It worked. It had to have worked, she thought.
She had never failed before, and she wouldn't fail today.
Sebastian raised his gaze, and as his eyes met hers, Kallie noticed the murkiness within them. The corner of her lip twitched.
"King Rian and I also promise to uphold the oath that Prince Valrys set forth here today: Frenzia will support your decision, Princess Kalisandre, and defend it against anyone who attempts to oppose it."
Her grip on the new throne lessened at the same time as the people in the crowd shifted uncomfortably.
"Thank you, Prince Sebastian. Your offer does not go unnoticed," said King Domitius.
Prince Sebastian nodded his head once more and returned to the crowd, shoulders back, hand on his hilt.
Tracking him back into the crowd, Kallie noted those who shifted from one foot to the other and those who stood straight, unmoving and unwavering. The precedent had now been set. Everyone now knew those who did not pledge the oath would be making a statement.
But was it a statement any dared to make?
The next few suitors approached Kallie. Lords and ladies from the kingdoms of Ragolo, Kadia, and Borgania placed their offerings before the dais. Among the offerings were ancient family heirlooms and blueprints of land—things Kallie did not need. The suitors from Ragolo and Kadia promised to honor and defend Kallie's choice without hesitation. Just as King Domitius had predicted. Their support and loyalty were not surprising. Ragolo and Kadia had both fought on the same side as Ardentol during the Great War. Although Ragolo's role was minuscule due to its small army, the territory had proven useful. It stood in the coldest portion of Vaneria where thick sheets of ice covered the terrain and made it hard for enemy soldiers to traverse.
Those from Tetria and Borgania, on the other hand, stumbled over the words. One suitor, a young Borganian man, looked back at the crowd as if he was searching for the confidence he needed. This was also not surprising since Borgania had been a divided province during the Great War. Today, it seemed to remain divided. Their hesitation and choice of suitors, smaller lords and ladies with little to offer Ardentol, were a clear indication of their struggle.
However, no matter who stood before her, Kallie did her due diligence. She smiled when appropriate while she feigned a passive indifference simultaneously.
She was not used to holding her tongue or remaining in one spot for too long. She would prefer to be doing something productive, such as training below the castle. Anything besides sitting here next to the king with her hands folded in her lap, like an obedient, silent princess. Kallie reminded herself that her restraint today would pave the way for a greater future.
She understood her small throne was temporary and purely for this event, but she also knew her future marriage could be different if she commanded it.
That was the king's promise to her. While he ultimately would have control over the land through this alliance, Kallie would sit in the seat of power of her future home. And then, maybe her people would look at her with the same respect with which they looked at her father.
Kallie glanced out the ceiling-high window ahead of her that looked over the high cliffs of Ardentol. With the approach of dusk on the horizon, the sky had turned golden. The ceremony was almost over.
Her focus wandered the hall, and she found herself studying the gods looming over everyone in the back of the room. She focused on the statue of the goddess Sabina, the goddess who her father believed bestowed Kallie with her gift of manipulation.
Even though the statue was made of stone, her figure appeared soft. Her hair flowed down her back in cascading waves. A few strands of hair were strewn across her face as if a strong wind had blown by her. As a result, the majority of her features were indistinguishable besides her eyes, which were striking and pierced the soul of any onlooker. Her left hand was folded over her right, and she wore a thin piece of fabric that skimmed over her curves and revealed a bare leg. Power oozed from the stone's cracks.
Centuries ago, the gods had visited the mortal lands of Vaneria. At first, they had hidden their presence from the mortals. However, the passing of time had made it nearly impossible for the gods to hide their unique abilities or their otherworldly physical attributes. The gods were immortal. Their beauty surpassed any mortal, and they could do things no mortal could.
The stories of the gods were often exaggerated and outlandish, but the message remained clear: never trust a god.
Some of the gods, like Barinthian, used brute force to teach mortals lessons. Others liked to turn the mortals against each other, like Ryla.
The goddess Sabina, however, was more subtle in her approach.
