It had always been seen as a great faux pas to not wear shoes inside while in Tortall, but now I was thankful it was perfectly acceptable to go barefoot in Carthak. The coolness of the marble against the bottom of my feet made the summer's heat so much more bearable. I stood in the second largest bedchamber in the palace while maids rushed around me to set my belongings in some semblance of order and familiarity.
My delegation and I had been in Carthak for three weeks and it was finally time for the wedding. It was agreed upon by the ambassadors and officials of both countries that an immediate union between the two monarchs would be the best solution. A Tortallan Empress was needed quickly to leave an impression on the Carthaki people. Carthak was going into another drought and the formal union would not only allow Tortall to send help officially in the treaty, but it might also prevent raiders from aiming at their neighboring country and go elsewhere.
My eyes strayed to the door that led to the chamber of Emperor Kaddar. Even after three weeks here I had not one opportunity to really talk with my future husband. Our schedules rarely matched with parties, tours, and meetings, and even when we happened to cross paths, each of our attentions were competed for by others. Everything here was also much more formal than at home, and the difference in the way I treated and was treated by my new family only emphasized my homesickness.
The gilded door opened and Kaddar looked into the room to see what the commotion was. All the maids froze and bowed low on the floor. I curtsied deeply to the Emperor and he approached me.
"Your Highness," he said politely and kissed my hand.
"Your Majesty," I answered. He was handsome, with a clean shaven face of light milk chocolate, a delicious drink I had been introduced to when I arrived here. He had thin lips, thick dark eyebrows and cropped hair because of the heat. I would be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to him, but attraction did not signify a happy marriage.
We stood awkwardly for a moment. He knew what I was doing there, and asking out of politeness would only embarrass us both.
"I can see you are busy here, and I must return to my duties," he said finally. He bowed to me and moved back to the door that separated our rooms.
"Wait, Kaddar…" I blurted out before blushing with mortification. I had never called him by his first name before. "Forgive me, Your Majesty," I said.
"What is it, Kalasin?" he asked with a kind smile. It did not escape my notice that he called me by my given name for the first time also.
"Are you terribly busy? Maybe we could talk?" I asked, not realizing how desperate my voice sounded until I saw his smile change from kindness to pity.
"I can't today, but maybe tomorrow?" He flushed when he realized his mistake. The wedding was tomorrow.
"I understand, Your Majesty," I said formally, then hustled out of the room before I could embarrass myself further. I ignored the maid who called out to me that I had forgotten my shoes and I continued on until I reached my previous room. It now looked bare and empty without my dozen trunks and I hadn't realized how large it was without them. I loved this guest room of light purple and deep violets, but my favorite feature was the view of the city, and in the distance, the sea. The Gods know how much I dwelled on the land beyond those waters while standing near the window. At the moment the city was dressed in the setting sun's red and orange rays. The sea glittered like rubies as the sun disappeared into its smooth surface.
"Your Highness?" a quiet voice from the doorway called me.
"Yes?" I turned and faced the maid who held my shoes. I reached for them but she shook her head and sat me down so she could put them on me.
"It's almost time for the banquet," she informed me as she slipped one of the slippers on and then the other. "Are you wearing that tonight?"
I sighed. I was supposed to wear the blue dress that night but I was uneager to put on my fourth dress of the day, even with the help of a maid. "No," I answered finally as I fingered the green silk of the current gown. I couldn't break tradition and wear green to the Engagement banquet. Of course, according to Carthaki tradition, the Engagement banquet was supposed to be held a year ago, but our wedding would not be an entirely traditional Carthaki wedding because we were royalty and I was Tortallan.
There was one trunk left in the room that held my Engagement dress and my wedding dress. "There is the blue silk dress with the matching veil in the trunk," I directed her to it, and she prepared me for the night.
Only the families, and in our case, ambassadors and members of the delegations, were invited to the Engagement banquet. There was one long table that stretched the full length of the Banquet Hall and Kaddar was seated at the head with me at his right. My delegation and my sister, Lianne, were seated next to me on the right and his family and chief officials were on his left.
I talked with my sister and I charmed the officials of Carthak. I could see from their smiles they thought I would make an excellent Empress. I greeted Kaddar politely, but mostly I avoided his gaze.
He touched my arm during the third course and beckoned me to lean in. "Are you well?" he asked with concern.
'I am well, Your Majesty," I answered. I was touched that he asked.
"I have time after dinner if you want to talk," he offered quietly.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," I said with sincere regret in my voice, "but I do not have time tonight, and neither do you. You know the traditions as well as I." He sighed and nodded. I turned back to my sister with a steady smile in place.
Later that night came the ceremony for the exchanging of gifts. It was a Carthaki tradition that the suitor gives the bride a Shabka, or a piece of jewelry, and the bride would give him her dowry. Then the groom would slip the ring on the bride's finger, declaring them engaged.
We stood up before our small audience. "Kalasin of Conté," Kaddar announced. "Here is a gift of my love and devotion to you." He held out a small plain box and I grasped it with shaking fingers. Inside was a large opal surrounded with rubies and diamonds set in gold. It had to be the gaudiest necklace I had ever seen, but I smiled at it. I knew how expensive it was and how useful it would be for my Gift, so I appreciated it despite its appearance.
"Kaddar Gazanoi Iliniat," I said the traditional words, "here is a gift of my acceptance and love for you," and I gave him the treaty he and all the officials from Tortall and Carthak had been working on for the last three years. His hands held the treaty tenderly before giving it to a servant to put away. He then pulled out a band of gold, took the third finger of my left hand – the one connected to the heart according to Carthaki legend – and slipped the ring on. His fingers were chilled and I smiled warmly at him.
We were separated immediately by well wishers, and I was sent to my chamber and he to his. Tomorrow would be a long day.
Lianne came to my room but I sent her away. I couldn't bear the thought of her seeing her older sister in her moment of weakness, for the moment my head hit the pillow I willed myself for my last long cry. I needed to be strong from now on, for tomorrow I would become Empress of Carthak and Kaddar's wife.