Page 4 of Stolen Fates
Katell approached from their side of the tent, cradling the delicate folds of her beaded bridal dress. The sight of it sent a pang of dread through Alena’s chest, causing reality to sink in—her sister’s wedding was the next day.
Katell held up the dress, a gentle warmth shining in her eyes. “Help me put it on?”
Alena forced a smile to her lips. “Of course.”
She went to wash her hands as Katell pulled off her tunic. With each discarded piece of hemp-woven clothing, Alena felt her sister slipping further away. Her throat tightened, but she suppressed her tears.
They worked in silence, Alena helping Katell slip her arms through the bridal dress before adjusting the fabric around her body and then fixing her hair.
Once they were done, Alena took a step back to admire her work. “You look beautiful, Kat.”
The bridal dress was stitched with elegant orange, blue, and silver threads that Alena had spent days sewing with some of the women’s help. It fit her sister perfectly. Standing in her dress with braided hair and a clean face, Katell was transformed. Many girls envied Leywani for her big doe brown eyes and glistening hair, smooth as a waterfall, but Katell was also beautiful in her own right with olive skin that contrasted with her piercing green gaze.
And yet, the figure standing before Alena bore no resemblance to her sister. Nothing about the attire reflected Katell’s personality—the strong girl who liked to fight, ride, and hunt. Onthe contrary, she seemed erased—just another pretty bride for the elders to wed off.
Katell looked down at herself, looking unusually forlorn. It was obvious she didn’t want to get married. She was doing it out of respect for their father and to appease the elders.
Alena approached her, breaking the terrible silence of the tent. “Kat.”
“Hmm.” Katell seemed distant, her mind elsewhere as she stared into the firepit.
Before Alena lost her nerve, she blurted, “You don’t have to do this. Get married to a stranger, I mean. You could leave if you wanted. We could both leave.”
Her words snapped her sister out of her thoughts. Katell whirled around, her brow furrowed. “Leave? And go where?”
Alena bit her lip. It was now or never, even if it was a foolish idea. She would forever regret it if she didn’t at least try to convince her sister to stay with her. “Cross the Deep River and head south. To Achaea.”
Katell scoffed. “And what about Father? You’d just abandon him?”
“I… I’m sure he would understand.” As much as it pained Alena to think of leaving their father behind, perhaps he wouldn’t be opposed to the idea if it meant his daughters were free. Perhaps he might even go with them.
“Alena.” Concern laced Katell’s voice. “Where is this coming from?”
“I just don’t want to lose you,” she admitted in a small voice. “I guess I thought we would always be together and that one day, we would leave Camp Bessi together and travel… or something.”
Lifting the skirts of her dress, Katell took a seat on her bed and gestured for Alena to join her. Alena complied, although she already knew what her sister was about to say.
“You’ve been letting Father’s stories get to your head.” Katell gave her a rueful smile. “The heroes and the gods, they’re pretty tales, Alena, but the Old Lands are nothing like that anymore. You heard what Father said about the Rasennan Empire, the wars, even slavery—”
“I know,” Alena said shortly. She knew the dangers that awaited them beyond the Deep River, but those stories were all she had to entertain her in a camp where no one dared speak of their past. With a sigh, she covered her sister’s hand with her own and met her gaze. “That doesn’t mean you have to become a wife, Kat. You could do so much more with your life.”
Katell’s eyes widened, and in that fleeting moment, Alena hoped her words had resonated. That Katell would agree to leave.
Instead, her sister shook her head. “Thank you for believing in me, little star, but you worry too much. It’s my responsibility to take care of you, remember? Not the other way around. And if marrying is how I can bring honour to our family and make sure you and Father will be taken care of, then I will do it. Without a doubt.”
Katell’s decision was made and nothing Alena could say would change it.
“Before I forget,” Katell said, gesturing behind her, “I tucked Ley’s scroll between our beds. You can read it now if you want, I don’t mind.”
Alena paused. She’d forgotten all about Leywani’s scroll. Any other day, she would have jumped at the opportunity of reading it, but with her sister’s impending departure, its appeal had faded.
“Maybe some other time.” It could contain the entire history of the Achaean kingdoms for all she cared, but nothing compared to the precious moments she had left with her sister.
Alena wrapped her arms around Katell and held her tight, breathing in her familiar scent. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Me too, little star,” Katell answered, stroking her hair. “Me too.”
CHAPTER TWO
