Page 128 of A Kingdom Restored

A part of Merletta wondered dully what the point was of opening the borders, exposing the Center’s suppression, creating a world of new opportunities, if even her closest childhood friend remained too wary to take advantage of any of it. But she recognized that it wasn’t in her control—she couldn’t force change on anyone. Sometimes change was just too frightening, even if from the outside it was unarguably change for the better.

“Merletta, are you in there?”

“Yes!” Merletta called, recognizing the voice.

Sure enough, Bianca stepped into the tent a moment later, beaming at the effect of Merletta in the gown she’d commissioned.

“Are you ready?”

“As ready as a mermaid dressed up like a human can be to marry into the nobility,” Merletta quipped.

Bianca’s face fell slightly. “You don’t like it? Too human?”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that!” Merletta hastened to assure her. “I love it! It’s absolutely perfect.” She cast another look at herself in the looking glass, struggling to comprehend that the polished, elegant figure was her. “It’s just the nerves coming out.”

“You have nothing to be nervous about,” Bianca said with a smile. “Heath’s practically bursting with eagerness to marry you, and nobody else’s opinion matters all that much, surely.”

“Well said.” Indigo nodded approvingly. “Now let’s go.”

Merletta followed the others out of the tent, noting that work had now stopped on the nearby dwelling. Bianca kept step beside them, seeming very at ease in the light gown she’d adopted for the humid weather. She’d arrived with the first group of Valorians, and had been on Vazula for a couple of weeks, now. Merletta had been impressed with how uncomplainingly the young noblewoman had taken the very primitive conditions the island currently had to offer.

“You and Heath couldn’t have picked a more beautiful spot to get married,” Bianca said, as if in response to Merletta’s thoughts. She flashed her soon-to-be cousin a grin. “The air can be a little stifling, though.”

With a flick of her hand, she sent a cool breeze swirling around them, ruffling Merletta’s silken skirts and lifting the tendrils of hair from her neck.

“Ooh, I could get used to that!” Merletta said.

“I was hoping you might say that,” Bianca responded, with a hint of eagerness.

Merletta looked at her in surprise. “Are you considering staying?” Her heart lifted at the idea—Heath had expressed no hint of regret or hesitation about their plans, but she knew how much it would mean to him to have family by his side in his new life.

“Considering it,” Bianca admitted. “If I’m welcome.”

“Of course you are!”

The Valorian girl smiled. “I really do like it here,” she said, casting her gaze around the lush jungle. Her brow creased. “And I’m not sure I’m satisfied with the changes to King Matlock’s restrictive laws. I don’t especially appreciate being required to register and catalogue my magic, and I know I’m not the only one.”

Merletta considered her. “Well, I don’t think you’d have to worry about that here. In fact, you’d be quite unremarkable given your sadly limited form.”

Bianca laughed at her teasing tone, the sound light and carefree.

When they neared the beach, a small escort stepped out of the tree line, forming an honor guard of sorts. Sage took Merletta’s hand, giving it a final squeeze, then she and Indigo hurried forward to find their places.

“My Lady,” Felix said politely, gesturing for Bianca to precede them. “Allow me to show you to your position.”

“Thank you,” Bianca said brightly, taking his offered arm.

A smile tugged at Merletta’s lips as the pair stepped out of the trees. From the looks of it, Bianca was sending another wind whipping around, and Felix was watching in open admiration. Merletta couldn’t help wondering how long it would take Bianca to realize that not all of the honored Valorian guests were being offered personal guard services.

From the way Brody watched the pair out of narrowed eyes, she had a feeling Bianca’s twin had already realized it. Merletta’s smile grew. Chances were if they got Bianca on Vazula, they’d get Brody, too. Perhaps there would be others, especially if Bianca was right that others in her family shared her dissatisfaction with Valoria’s laws regarding magic. Vazula could become a haven for anyone wanting a fresh start, power-wielder or otherwise.

Peering through the trees at the gathered crowd, Merletta felt her nerves begin to rise again. It was all well and good for Bianca to say that no one else’s opinion mattered, but there seemed to be a lot of someones gathered to watch the spectacle. It was hard not to feel vulnerable, all alone, waiting for her cue.

But then the group of guards parted, and August stepped forward. His normally stoic face was softened by a smile, and his approving nod caused Merletta to stand a little straighter.

“That was the signal,” he said gravely.

At a gesture from him, the guards moved out onto the sand, assuming a formation of two lines, spears interlinked in an arch. August took his position at the top of the formation, and Merletta stepped through, feeling suddenly stronger. She wasn’t a lonely unclaimed orphan with no home. She came from a proud people, and although she was forging a new path, she had the joy of knowing she’d left her first home better than she’d found it.

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