Page 133 of The Oracle of Dusk

No, she hadn’t. Just like she hadn’t seen Theron being saved by the avatar after the monstrosity had punched a hole through him. As he’d already told her, she didn’t see everything.

“If we’re to believe her visions are of what is fated, then we needn’t circumvent them to alter the future. A rock in the middle of a stream forces the water around it. We can’t change that the rock is there, but we can make choices that allow us to bend our path.”

Maybe they couldn’t change what Aurora saw, but Myrina was right. Now that they knew what was to happen, they could alter the flow of events before and after, as they were doing now.

Theron grinned.

“I have an idea.”

Chapter 22

Thedaydawnedwitha blood-red sky. Such a sign was considered the best of omens on a wedding, indicating Passion’s pleasure in the match to be made. The palace had been buzzing since before the sun had risen, when daylight had only been a suggestion in the pre-dawn sky. Aurora would know, as she’d been all but ordered to participate in the wedding as one of Epicasta’s bridal warriors. She sat in the bridal chambers allowing herself to be washed and oiled, perfumed and painted, dressed and ornamented.

The day had come, light spilling into the airy room decorated in pinks and greens and golds, tranquil pastoral scenes painted along the walls with animal mosaics running in circles on the floors. Silks and the softest cottons were paired with rich, lacquered woods, and a mirror that must have cost a small fortune rested in a gilt frame along one wall. This was the princess’ chamber, and yet there wasn’t a single personal touch in the room, nothing to mark the owner’s presence or personality.

Aurora focused her mind on the most minute of details to keep her eyes clear of tears—the heat of the water, the fragrant steam. She let her mind wander as combs glided through her hair, wondering on the exact recipe of the oils they used. The notes of the perfume they’d dabbed on her neck and wrists were next, trying to identify the warm notes below the top notes of florals. Aurora sat as paint was applied to her face, concentrating on the ingredients of the make-up they’d used, what they chose to emphasize and how it differed from her era. When it was time to don the gowns and veils, she kept the pit in her stomach at bay by latching onto the quality and cut of the red gown she wore, pondering where they might have sourced the material, how long the fine silk would have taken to ship from Gilvus, where so much of its production had been centred in the ancient past. She kept her eyes dry as she weighed the heft of the jewels she wore, finer than any of the other bridal warriors. Another bribe, no doubt.

But when the preparations were done, and then the serving of small appetizers and drinks was complete, Aurora had nothing left to distract her from what was coming. Epicasta sent the other bridal warriors to wait in the room outside the bridal chamber while ordering Aurora to remain.

“Have you ever participated in this ritual before?” Epicasta asked, her tone stripped of all emotion.

“No,” Aurora whispered, her voice cracking.

The wedding rituals of her time were quite restrained in comparison, especially for the untitled. Usually, a bride was walked through the streets with her family, soliciting the well-wishes of her neighbours as they made their way to her intended’s house, whereupon she was welcomed, feasted to, and the couple encouraged to retire to the bridal suite to consummate the marriage. Only after that did the new couple go hand-in-hand to the temple of their choosing—usually Knowledge or Justice—to have their names and union recorded.

The rituals for nobles and royalty were much more extravagant, and the wealthier the couple, the more elaborate and taxing the ceremony. Some lasted days, with multiple feasts, games, tournaments, and all manner of public spectacle before the couple was registered in the temples. Only after the party were the couple allowed to retire to consummate their union. Phaedra’s eldest sister’s wedding celebrations had gone on for a straight month as she toured each of the provinces and brought the party with her. Aurora and Phaedra hadn’t wanted to so much as look at a bottle of wine for the next three months afterwards.

Thinking of Phaedra threatened her resolve, her eyes stinging for the first time all morning. What would her friend have done? Probably kidnapped her lover and given the middle finger to her mother as she ran off into the sunset. But Phaedra wasn’t here, and there would be no keeping Theron for herself. Today he married another.

Epicasta gave her a sad smile as she sipped a cup of tea.

“You’re to guard my palanquin as we walk through all the districts in Boreas. The people will be rowdy and drunk, as the festivities began with the dawn. Soldiers will be taking care of the real security, so you needn’t worry about that. When we near the palace, the groom and his warriors will attack the palanquin. The fights are purely for spectacle, so there’s no need to fear.”

“Once I’m taken from the palanquin, your job is to be captured by one of the warriors, who will bring you to the temple of Justice with the rest of mine and Theron’s warriors. The groom will profess his right to wed through right of capture, and I will consent in front of the priestesses, whereupon we will sign our names in their ledgers. Afterwards, Theron and his warriors will carry us to the gates of the palace where the real celebration will begin.”

“Be ready to have your outfit changed at least six times over the course of the day and into the night, and pace yourself with the wine, lest you wish to be seduced by one of the groom’s warriors. While the couplings aren’t frowned upon, the groom’s warriors will be fellow nobles, and Her Majesty hasn’t given up hope on marrying you to one of her allies. If you wish to partake free of consequences, drink this.” Epicasta poured another cup of tea and slid the dubiously scented beverage towards her as she sipped her own. “It’s an effective contraceptive.”

Bile rose in her throat. How could she offer that? How could she think Aurora would be in the mood to tryst on today of all days? Why would she sip it in front of her, as good as telling her what she planned to do later that day?

But as Aurora held back tears, she stared into the murky liquid and a hot coal of anger sparkled to life inside her. If Theron was going to make her watch him marry another, she was going to seduce one of the Aurean soldiers or retainers who would inevitably celebrate. She would find out whomever he found most objectionable and torture Theron as he was set to torture her. Let his heart be set aflame by jealousy, let his gut roil with anger, let his throat constrict with sorrow. Aurora hoped she would make him as miserable as she was.

Aurora took the cup, braced herself and swallowed it down in a single gulp.

She wished she could hate Epicasta, truly hate her. In her heart, Epicasta was the villain, taunting her as she married the man Aurora burned for, but as her eyes saw the truth, her mind recognised she was just another victim. The tea was a sensible precaution to protect some small part of her as she was forced into a marriage she’d never wanted.

“How are you holding up?” Aurora asked.

“As well as could be expected, given the circumstances,” Epicasta replied.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. None of it.”

“If I hadn’t had that vision—”

“Then you would have been accused of being an agent of chaos. Or worse. Her Majesty had planned to use your suffering to hurt King Theron. In truth, I knew the moment he was captured that this was a likely outcome. I tried to warn him, but well…he’s stubborn and proud. What exactly do you see in him?”

Aurora bit her lip, giving herself a physical pain so she could pretend her heart wasn’t shattering as she swallowed passed the emotion choking her. Did she know how cruel it was, to ask her that? To want a defence of the qualities she admired in him? But cruelty wasn’t her intent, and if they were to wed, Epicasta should know that there was goodness in him that deserved her acknowledgement.

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