Page 129 of Golden Queen
"Behr was ecstatic—so in love with Britellsia that he was sure it would not matter what she looked like—he would make her his Queen. Keep in mind, the little fool told me and Io all of this. He was an open book in those days—as sweet as pie."
I couldn't help but note the way she saidin those days, as though he was no longer an open book. I wondered about that, but then Radella continued, and I lost the thread entirely.
"So, the big day came. Behr snuck right into the girl's wing of the Tyrion. He'd stolen one of his mother's tiaras and a ring with a fire ruby surrounded by diamonds—so that he could make his betrothal official with the customary gifts of a crown and a flower."
At my puzzled expression, Io added. "The ring was in the shape of a flower. The crown and flower thing is an old custom from Iyldmark. Even the common people do it."
"Oh," I said as Radella gave him a cross look for the interruption.
"So he’s standing in front of her, hands laden with treasure, and Britellsia lifts her veil..." Radella paused dramatically.
I slapped my hands on the table impatiently. "And?” I squealed.
"And she was an Obeliskana!"
"No!" I hissed.
"Yes!" Radella said, laughing. "The poor thing, she didn't even have...you know, traditional female parts. She was as close to a lizard as one can get and still walk on two legs. I don't know what kind of marriage she had envisioned for them. Perhaps she had known all along that seeing her would be enough to deter the poor, besotted boy."
"That's so sad!" I insisted.
The words made Io nearly guffaw with laughter. He laid his forehead on his extended arm as though slightly ashamed of his reaction, but his shoulders were still shaking with mirth.
"Itwasvery sad," Radella admitted, though she was still laughing as well. "He ran, poor boy! And didn't come back to school for two weeks. Britellsia went back under her veil and never breathed a word of it to anyone.She went home to Hiphae for next term. And poor Behr learned a lesson that day. The next time he asked someone to marry him, he consulted his parents first."
"The next time?" I asked, incredulous. "Did he do a lot of proposing—as a rule?"
"No, just twice as far as I know," Radella added, laughing anew at the look on my face. "But that first time, he was only eleven!"
"Fates! An eleven-year-old stole a fire ruby to give to a lizard girl?" Fire rubies were nearly priceless gems in any part of the world, but they were especially prized by the fae. Their bright, flame-colored inclusions made them look like living fire encased in blood.
My words made Io and Radella laugh harder still.
"Yes," Radella said. "I told you he was a little fool."
"So, the next time he proposed to someone, did she say no as well? Or was she a goat girl or a river sprite?" I asked, grinning.
Io's face changed, slowly shifting to solemnity as he met my gaze. Radella's laughter died off gradually, as well, and I regretted the question. I sensed it might not be a funny story at all.
"That was Behr's wife, S—Aelia," Io said softly, catching himself just before he used my nickname. "I thought you knew," he added.
"That was Egrid," Radella put in, lips pressed into a sorrowful line. "She died."
"Oh," I said simply. "I—I didn't know."
Io was looking at me oddly. I couldn't quite decipher the emotion on his face as Radella poured us all another round of whiskey.
She lifted her glass. "Here's to the sainted Egrid, and to Aelia of Windemere, who will help our dear Behr find happiness and love again."
I didn't miss the look of warning Io directed at the woman as she added, "To the noble House of Aldur. Long may they reign."
"Skyli," Io muttered, using the old Withian salute.
We all drank, and there was a moment of solemn silence before Radella added, "Egrid's sad story is a tale for another day, My Queen," she said, setting down her glass and rising from the table. "Now, I insist you take the tent and my very warm cot, as this bunch of misfits prefer to snuggle with their dragons under the stars, and you'll not find another bed among us."
"I couldn't," I said, rising from the chair myself.
"My king would flay me living if he thought I slept in a tent while you found a bed on the ground," she told me with a grin.
