Page 48 of Echoes of the Raven
“She’s the best sister I could have ever wished for.”
Reina Amira Plumanegra (Casa Plumanegra) - Princess of Castella - 19 AV
The lives of Nido’s residents can be as different from each other as the sides of a coin.
There are the guards, who live under military rigor, waking up before the sun comes out, marching and doing drills, mucking up horses, and guarding the palace at all hours.
The servants—scullery maids, laundry maids, kitchen boys, housemaids, lady’s maids, valets, nursery maids, cooks, and more—performing tasks ranging from preparing meals to scrubbing floors to applying makeup.
Clergy conducting mass in the many chapels. Courtiers attempting to gain favor with Amira and other family members. Council members attending meetings, shaping policy, stabbing each other in the back, anything in order to gain more power.
There are also stable boys and their masters, librarians, teachers, nurses, physicians, spies and informants. The list is endless.
At one point or another, I have been part of all these people’s lives, especially when I was small and at the mercy of my parents. Father usedto drag me to many events involving the clergy, council members, and this or that Don and Doña. But as I grew older, I slowly distanced myself from most of the court’s affairs, finding many of the people involved too superficial for my taste. Instead, I began to find enjoyment in the simple joy of doing crafts, the company of those closest to me like Father, Amira, Jago, Nana, Maestro Elizondo, and Cuervo, the release of sparring with a worthy opponent, and the rush of freedom whenever I managed to get on the other side of Nido’s imposing walls.
One aspect of Nido’s life that I particularly despise is the constant gatherings organized by one court member or another. They always involve elaborate food and music, ridiculous dances, women parading around in the latest fashion and hungry men who refuse to be satisfied solely by the appetizers—one and all attempting to gain advantage through learning or revealing a secret, making or breaking alliances, or seducing one another.
For a long time, I managed to stay away from all of this, and maybe that’s the reason this particular event is teeming with too many people. Not only because I’m in attendance, but because I organized it. They are curious to see what the prodigal princess has in store for them.
The event was put together at a moment’s notice, and I feared few would attend, but I shouldn’t have worried. Word traveled like a speeding arrow, and though many of the Dons and Doñas who live outside of Castellina were unable to attend, I trust that won’t be an issue. Surely, Don Justo can find a wife among all these over-powdered ladies.
My stomach churns with displeasure as I walk into the reception hall arm-in-arm with Don Justo Medrano. He is wearing a jacket in a blue hue that complements his eyes. It is adorned with gold thread embellishments and accentuates his broad shoulders and slender frame. His tall frame and imposing comportment command the room, and his gold-spun hair shines with the light spilling through the large windows.His cerulean gaze holds an unshakable confidence that seems to entrance every lady in the room.
For my part, I also wear blue, although not by design. The satin fabric of my dress shimmers and flows like ocean waters as I move. The seamstress did a wonderful job despite the haste.
The cancellation of our engagement hasn’t been announced yet. I will have to do it here, citing—per Don Justo’s request—his desire to find a wife less inclined to masculine behavior. The man thinks he’s being mean-spirited. He doesn’t realize he’s doing me a favor.
Jago tips his glass from across the room. He’s surrounded by a group of women who would like nothing better than to take his Plumanegra last name. They have no idea he has sworn off marriage. I don’t blame him. He has as much in common with those women as I do with—my gaze sweeps the floor—Conde Salvador Almolar, for instance. He asked for my hand in marriage once. The pudgy man is fanning himself and holding his wine glass with his little finger sticking up, the frills of his shirt hanging down nearly ten inches. He has one of those beauty marks Emerito liked to wear, and of course, his dog’s tail mustache.
He acknowledges me with a flourish of his fan when he notices my gaze. I return the gesture before shifting my attention to the appetizer table. I swiftly select a glass of wine and a piece of silverware to tap against it. No point in delaying the inevitable.
I’m about to clink the glass and call everyone’s attention when the Gran Duquesa Sara Plumanegra approaches, her chin held up so high it almost points to the ceiling. Wearing a slanted smile, she puts out her hand and extends it toward Don Justo. He takes it and kisses her knuckles, gaze set on her bosom as his lips linger a moment too long.
As much as the two deserve each other and despite Jago’s original idea for the couple, Sara is the last one who should marry this man. I’ve had time to think about it, and I fear their greed would compound into something dangerous.
“It is such a relief to find you are well after that terrifying ordeal at your engagement party,” Sara says. “You fought bravely, I’m told. I was fortunate enough to make a quick exit. Others weren’t so lucky.”
“Indeed,” he replies. “I was only bested by a veilfallen who could wield espiritu. That can hardly be called a fair fight. Before she attacked me, I took out a sizable number of thosebastardos.”
Sara lets out a little squeak at his inappropriate language. Her eyes dart around as if to make sure no one heard. There is a delighted little smile on her lips, however, as if the edge of danger glinting in Don Justo’s eyes excites her. She was raised more sheltered than Amira and I ever were. She was never around guards, learning how to sword fight, witnessing their sometimes-crude behavior and foul language. Her mother cared only about tea parties, elaborate dresses, and gossip. Undoubtedly, she did an excellent job passing her values down to her daughter.
I must intervene and not allow whatever this is to go any further.
Just as I open my mouth to say something, the doors to the room open wide and Queen Amira’s presence is announced.
My heart leaps. Amira isn’t supposed to be in attendance. This whole affair with Don Justo is my responsibility. Has she realized I took The Eldrystone? Has she come to demand it back?
She greets a few people on her way in but heads in my direction as soon as she spots me.
I try to put on a smile, but it proves an impossible task.
“Your Majesty,” Don Justo, Sara, and I say in unison, respectfully inclining our heads.
“I am sorry to interrupt, Valeria,” Amira says, “but I need to discuss an urgent matter with you.”
I swallow thickly. I’m certain she has discovered my deed and wishes to make me atone for my betrayal. Without waiting for me to say anything, she turns on her heel and walks out. Everything else forgotten, I set down the glass and silverware and rush after my sister, a million useless excusesrunning through my head. If only I’d had an opportunity to switch our Plumanegra keys, but every time I’ve been by her study she or Renata have been there.
Whispering prayers under my breath, I trail behind her. She halts a cautious distance from the party in the long, empty hall.
