Kalasin and Kaddar
Disclaimer: This is Tamora Peirce's world, I just gave Kalasin a story. Dressed in a deep blue dress with dark gray embroidery, her curly black hair pinned down, as her station required, Princess Kalasin trembled with nervousness.
This was crazy. She was sixteen, for heaven's sake, she shouldn't be so nervous about meeting her fiancé! She was lucky that she hadn't met him so far, the marriage had only been arranged last year.
Kalasin sighed. How HAD her father persuaded her not to be a lady knight? He had come into her rooms one night, and they had talked for hours. Even though it was her dream, her dad had convinced her to put Tortall first. Well, he was a king, after all, and a very good one.
As the castle came into view, everyone on board gasped. Leaning on the rail, Kalasin shaded her eyes and sighed.
The large palace was grand, it's towers stretching high into the sky, and wonders from all over the world. The welcoming committee for her stay here was over fifty people, nobles among them, dressed in jewels like they were common stones.
And yet, despite all the grandness, Kalasin was unimpressed. Her father's palace may be smaller (Thought still with over four hundred servants in the castle alone, with hundreds more outside), but it was homey. This place was foreign, and scary.
Kalasin bit her lip. It was an old trick to stop herself from crying. All she wanted was to go home.
Entering the palace, Kalasin tried to look impressed. Mostly, as she walked to her new rooms, she just felt lonely. This place was hot, dry, and even after hours of her stay here, Emperor Kaddar had still not come to meet his future wife. She wrinkled her nose. Bad first impression.
During dinnertime, Kalasin changed into a deep red flaming dress that felt as uncomfortable as it was beautiful.
She wore a ruby necklace, and pinned her hair up again in a pearl net. Her slippers were silk, as was the rest of her outfit, but they too, twinkled with rubys.
Walking into the royal banquet, all Kalasin wanted was to slam her hands over her ears. But years of royal practice made her stop, and look around instead.
This place was obviously a show of wealth. Globes hung in the air, ten to twenty feet above them, giving the illusion of a night sky against the dark ceiling. The walls were painted, and each chair was backed with velvet.
Letting a footman show her to her seat, on the Emperor's right, Kalasin saw his seat was empty. That was weird. Daine and Alanna had said that the emperor was kind, and considerate. At least for a ruler.
Everyone stood up as a new figure entered the room, flanked by guards. Kalasin sighed. Let's get this over with, she thought. I've seen paintings of him, so I shouldn't be too surprised.
A young man of twenty two swept the guards aside. Everyone in the hall bowed or curtsied. Kalasin curtsied as she looked him over.
Emperor Kaddar had dark brown skin, the color of chocolate. He wore his diamond becked crown like a cap, as if it had no weight at all. He had dark lines drawn on both eye lids that extended all the way to his temples. His lower lip was fuller than the upper, and his long lashes gave him an almost feline look.
He wore a tunic of deep emerald silk. His jewels sparkled in the globe-light. Kaddar boasted three silver rings on his left ear, with a long hoop on the right. He wore a collar-like necklace with silver inlay and mother of pearl strips. He had three rings on his right hand, and two on the left. Both hands and feet were decorated with bracelets, his breeches so dark green they were almost black.
Looking at his face, Kalasin felt dislike growing in her chest. She hated people who bragged about their wealth, and this was clearly boasting. While inside her head, she imagined what she would say to him if she could, on the outside her face was only filled with polite interest, a mask that gave away none of her true feelings.
As emperor Kaddar came closer, she saw his skin was actually lighter brown than she originally thought. His eyes are as dark as poop, Kalasin thought, annoyed. He's probably a selfish pervert.
He looked at her, polite interest in his face, masking his true emotions. "It is an honor to meet you at last, princess Kalasin. I have hoped for years to marry you, but your mother was unwilling to negotiate a marriage treaty until a year ago."
That was the deal I made with dad. Kalasin thought smugly. I hoped that with enough time, he would change his mind about sending me away. Too bad it only delayed the inevitable.
"It is an honor to meet you too, Your Imperial Majesty. I hope that I shall grow to love this country as much as Tortall is my home."
"You said IS." The emperor remarked. "Interesting. Do you still think of Tortall as your home, even knowing you might never return?"
His harsh words stung like and arrow. An unexpected tear fell, causing her to think about home.
"Come with me." The emperor took Kalasin's arm. She was too surprised to protest. As they walked out, with folk bowing to them, Kaddar took her outside.