Yea...not many changes here either. Enjoy!


8- Preparation

"A little help?"

"Sure." Matthew reaches to help me clasp my dress into place and I locate a hand flower that one of the few fine craftsmen here made. It's a beautiful silver bracelet with a gold flower set on top with green variations in the petals, a thin chain connects the large flower with a smaller gold flower in the same design on my middle finger. I slip the hand flower on and pull my hair down, preparing for the day. I put on the signet ring that Charis gave me shortly after I came, the same design as Irene's, but with a rare gold onyx, much the same as the ring that Zane gave Danica the other day. I sit down to examine myself in the mirror and let out a deep breath. "Nervous?"

"About what? It's not like I'm not used to sitting with Zane and the others for things like this. I mean, Zane's coronation yesterday was just fine."

"I mean about Danica being here. The whole thing."

"I'm nervous about how the two groups are going to react to peace. But I know that it will work out. If the Avians see that I've been able to adapt and meld with the Serpiente…"

"But you're very strange for a sparrow. As far as I'm aware, not many sparrows would be so quick to abandon her people and almost immediately meld perfectly in the society she joined. You'd think you were really a serpent at heart." I shrug and pick up a necklace that matches my hand flower, a silver chain suspending a small gold flower with an emerald at the center and pink and green variations flowing across the petals.

Matthew takes the chain and clasps it behind my neck. When he lowers his hands, I cross my hands across my stomach and take his. "You look like an angel."

"It would help if I let out my wings."

"And then it would be awkward for me to do this." I laugh slightly and lean back against him. "Your headband."

"Oh!" I straighten up and pull my headband out, brushing my bangs down with my fingers and fix it across my forehead. "There."

"Amazing. She should be here by now. Do you want to go meet the others?" I nod and stand.

"It will take me all afternoon to help her probably." We start out of the room and up to the meeting hall. We walk in at about the same time as Danica does, go figure.

"Danica, allow me to introduce, Naga Charis Cobriana. And you have met my sister, Irene."

"A pleasure to meet you." I'm shocked, Danica's voice didn't shake.

"My son speaks quite highly of you." I catch the laughter and almost laugh as well.

"How shortly should I expect your guards to storm the palace?" He's trying to stay light, but then again, he's absolutely ecstatic about the arrangement.

"The Royal Flight will be informed of my whereabouts shortly before sunrise, if I have not returned by then." Amazing, she manages to keep her voice light in spite of obviously being nervous. Adelina enters the room, thoroughly pissed.

"Zane, you are needed."

"Am I? I'd like to know what your guard needs me for at this moment."

"I need to speak to you."

"You can speak as freely in front of Danica as you can in front of me." I sigh and touch Zane's arm. So does Irene.

"She deserves a chance to speak with you before the ceremony. We'll prepare Dani." After a moment of hesitation, Zane leaves the room with Adelina.

"She knows not to hit anywhere the bruises will show, right?" Charis jokes about that, but it confuses Danica.

"She knows—though I doubt Zane's in a mood to tolerate it even if she is justified." Irene watches the door, smiling wryly.

"Is there something I'm missing here?" I shake my head slightly.

"Adelina and Zane have a complicated relationship." I laugh at that and interrupt Charis' explanation.

"Not much complicated about it…but whatever." Charis sighs and continues anyways.

"She has been very vocal with her protests of this arrangement." As perfectly timed as if we had cued her, Adelina's voice raises through the oak doors and I touch my forehead. Matthew has faded into the background. I glance at him and he leaves. With his departure, the argument travels down the hall, getting quieter with distance. Once it's quiet again, Irene speaks.

"The ceremony will occur in the Synkal—that's where any public event takes place and every Serpiente is admitted. Zane is very popular among his people, which means the Synkal will be full. You will be separated from the crowd for the actual announcement, but later you will be expected to move among them. The Serpiente do not expect nor want distant monarchs; if you refuse to see your people, they will not tolerate you. No weapons are allowed in the Synkal, and in addition to Zane, you will have a guard with you at all times. That should keep any surprised zealots from putting a knife in you this evening."

Danica looks quite shaken, but I think that she's in shock from the concept that there is a possibility that Zane's own personal guard would strike him.

"Danica, how much do you know about our kind?" Charis' question seems to shock Danica and she hesitates a moment.

"Not much."

"One thing my daughter would not think to mention is that there are some basic differences of behavior. Um, Kia, I think you might be better able to explain." I nod and step forward.

"In Avian Society, you're expected to be reserved and distant, not showing your emotions and acting in the most formal way except in the most extremely casual situation. As Tuuli Thea, you're more a symbol than a power, speaking with cool rhetoric and moving with simple grace. As Naga, the rules are different. A Serpiente leader is a friend to her people and sometimes closer, occasionally a rival, but never detached. You've spoken with Zane enough to know that every emotion he feels, he shows. And that is what is expected."

"Please, go on." I take a breath and continue.

"Zane won't push you further than you're comfortable going, but the fact is that you're going to need to convince the Serpiente that this is not a match of convenience. No one, particularly the Diente, chooses a mate for politics or money or any other foolish things that humans marry for. If the people think Zane chose you for any reason other than love, they won't accept you."

I pause to let Danica respond and when she doesn't, I sigh. "They'll expect you to be afraid, but they'll think you brave—especially since Zane plans to let it be known that you do not have the approval of your own kind yet, but are willing to go through with this and convince your people to agree with you later. He has turned this match into the very image of young, reckless love, and that is the image you'll be expected to preserve among the Serpiente public."

"And this will involve…?"

"It will involve being closer than you are comfortable with. Touching here is not just common, it's expected. Stay near Zane; that you'll need to do anyway. Forget your reserve. Don't take it like I'm suggesting you make love in the middle of the Synkal. So wipe that pretty blush off your face. But you will have to touch him.

"Even if it's just an arm around the waist. Remember, you are hopelessly in love. The two of you can't keep your hands off each other. Zane is determined not to overstep his bounds with you. He would risk the whole venture to keep from doing so. It will be up to you to take the initiative and keep the masquerade going. Does that make sense?"

"I understand." I start to say something else, but stop and let Charis say something.

"Thank you Danica…for being willing to do this. When Zane first suggested that we try to arrange a meeting with the Tuuli Thea and her heir, I was his loudest skeptic. When I heard the Mistari suggestion, I was horrified. I would not have had the courage even to contemplate such an idea, much less the altruism to give up what you and Zane are giving up for your people."

"I have lost too many people to this war. There was no way I could refuse to go through with something that might keep others from the same end." With that, I face Charis and Irene.

"Okay then. Irene, you need to rest. And both of you need to get ready. I'll answer any questions you have, Dani." Charis and Irene sigh and leave. I face Danica. "Do you have any questions? You know what? Let's sit down. I'm sure you've had a long day."


AN: R&R and keep reading

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