Page 61 of Splintered Shadow
“Baris believes it is better to hold a viper in your hand than let it slither away.”
Sarah shivered at his words. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but maybe just chop off the viper heads? A handful of vipers cannot be good for your health.”
“When we have completed our obligations, we will leave the palace.”
“For Summerhall?”
Vekele did not know how to interpret that look on her face. “If you wish, but I am a wealthy male with several properties, some on Arcos and some off-planet.” He had never felt the need to visit his estates; whether they were located in the inner core planets of the kingdom or the far reaches, their draw was negligible. “We will tour them all, then you can make your decision.”
She rewarded his clever notion with a warm smile. “I’d like to travel and see your corner of the universe, not just the bits you own.” Hastily, she added, “Though I’m sure you own the most interesting bits.”
“I have never been bothered to visit any of them. The military kept me busy.” Now he had nothing but time on his hands, yet it did not feel like a punishment. It felt like an opportunity. Mainly he liked the way his mate asked to see more of his world, rather than be returned to hers. He vowed to keep her too distracted to think of Earth.
The ceremony to sign the marriage certificate was arranged in one of the many receiving rooms. Walls that normally partitioned off the space had been folded back, opening up the room. A table draped in an excessively expensive cloth was raised on a small platform at one end. The media were contained at the far end, some attending in person and others via avatar on screens. Open balcony doors allowed in the afternoon breeze.
High-ranking members of the court and nobility sat near the signing table. Vekele recognized a cousin or two. Karu perched in the rafters above or on the balcony. He did not see anyone in attendance from the Starshades. Interesting.
Baris stood behind the table next to the royal clerk. His betrothed was absent. Discreetly, almost cloaked in shadow, the royal guards waited in the background.
“This is certainly more attention than I have ever earned myself,” Vekele said, speaking quietly enough for only Sarah to hear.
“More than I’ve ever had, too.”
“Do not be nervous. No matter what happens, everyone must clap politely and declare the ceremony a triumph, or they will be executed.”
His words echoed in the suddenly quiet room, louder than he anticipated.
Sarah’s laughter filled the awkward silence. She lightly hit his arm in that playful way of hers. “Your jokes are the worst. Timing is everything.”
Polite laughter rippled through the crowd. The tension in his shoulders relaxed. However clumsy and graceless he was at court; his mate was princess material.
The ceremony itself was simple. A court clerk read the certificate of marriage. Vekele signed his name and many, many titles.
Sarah signed her infinitely more efficient name.
Pleasure filled him. They had been bound by oath and ribbon. Now they were bound by ink.
They posed by the signed certificate for the media feed. Questions came rapid-fire from the crowd.
“Human princess, how do you find marriage?”
“What do you think of Arcos?”
“Do all humans look like you?”
Sarah’s smile never wavered, despite the strain in her eyes. She kept her answers short and within the prescribed list of acceptable responses. In short, she was perfect.
“What do you like best about Prince Vekele?” The question came from the back.
“I like his laugh,” she said without hesitation.
A brief, stunned silence fell over the crowd. Then a titter rippled through the room. The media adored her.
Questions swung to Vekele. He had never been anything other than the grim-faced soldier to them, but now they asked too many questions about his opinions on useless items, like sports. Honestly. He had no opinion on the league or whatever championship was currently being held.
Then the tone of the questions changed, shifting from the simple questions about his new mate to ones with a harder edge.
“How do you feel about the king’s efforts for peace?”
