Chapter 7: Red Moon Soiree

Sihara paused for a moment of composure as she stood before the grand doors to the banquet hall. The first soiree of the new century. The second most important event during the Twin Moon of Peace.

Sebastian stood at her side. He glanced at his timestone and the line of nobles and highborns entering the banquet hall. They were waiting for the moment when the doorman would announce their presence.

Sihara took a deep breath to calm her mind and worked a disarming smile onto her face. It was no use thinking of the fact that the world hung on a thread, a small hope that they could forge an alliance between their people. She had a wedding to plan. She had to trust that her fathko would find the answer.

Sebastian almost looked regal in his dark blue suit. He rarely wore anything other than black. He must reserve extravagant colors for special occasions.

“Taja Sihara Dayal, dottir of the Taj of the United Republics of Elementi accompanied by Sikar Sebastian Vaugen of the Etanian Republic of Elementi.” The doorman announced their names with a tired, monotone voice.

Sihara was in her element among the crowd. The rise and fall of conspiratorial whispers hissed like the ebb and flow of the tide. Elementi and Mineralites stood apart from each other, stiffly separating the banquet hall by country. The judging eyes of the highborns and nobles burned into the back of her head as they sought new information to turn the tide of the new era in their favor.

“Lord Ambassador Kern Calstein of Minerale accompanied by Lady Ambassador Vivica Calstein of Minerale.” The doorman offered a much more enthusiastic announcement about Jaden’s parents. The slight did not escape her notice.

A group of highborns ambushed Sebastian. They wanted to know his opinion on some unimportant topic that obviously did not interest him in the least. They reluctantly parted him from Sihara and her companion Noel.

She imagined the tables groaning under the weight of the food and drinks, and even the smell of her favorite buttercream cookies did nothing to inspire her hunger.

Ancient tapestries adorn the walls. They must have raided her family’s vault to decorate the banquet room. The mosaic floors positively sparkled from the work of the servants. Somehow, this did not cheer her up. She only saw the waste of it all. They should be celebrating the signing of the alliance and the beginning of peace.

"Smile, Taja. The court is watching." Noel spoke between the fake smile plastered on her face.

“Taja Sihara!” Victoria’s familiar voice shook her from her morbid thoughts.

Turning to greet her friend, Sihara burst out laughing. Gone was her usual grace under all the layers of fabric and lace. “How can you move in that… thing?”

Victoria groaned, pressing the back of her hand against her forehead. “I might faint any moment now, so don't say anything surprising!”

Sihara gestured to her draped sari, held together by pins and knots. “Oh, Kamdara Victoria. Your body was born to the west, but your heart lies with the north.”

“Representative Rafael Kaur from the Etanian Republic of Elementi accompanied by Kamdara Lucia Kaur from the Etanian Republic of Elementi.” The doorman offered another chipper announcement.

“Perhaps.” Victoria said, fanning herself to keep cool. “But had I been born in Vindish, I might not have met my wonderful husband. I will suffer all that Etanian can throw at me as long as he is by my side.”

“Are you gossiping about me again, Victoria?” Her husband wore a cloak of muted colors woven into dizzying patterns. Gold bands held his cloak in place. His black hair was clean-shaven, and his dark skin provided a sharp contrast to Victoria’s pale skin. It was his smile when he looked at his wife that made him handsome.

“Grand Admiral Gunter Ragös of Minerale accompanied by Lady Greta Veersea of Minerale.” The doorman announced the admiral of the Minerale armed forces.

Victoria swatted her husband's shoulder. “Oh shush you, I was not gossiping about you.” She made a face. “Well, not this time anyway.”

Victoria’s husband, Sihara, and Noel shared a laugh.

Victoria spread her hands wide. “I must introduce you! Elias, this is Taja Sihara and Sikara Noal. They have been my best friends since, well, forever. This is my husband, the Honorable Elias of the Balar Republic.”

“One of our brave soldiers?” Sihara bowed her head, and Elias did the same. So that was why her family had demoted Victoria from Sikara to Kamdara. “You must love him a great deal. I am so happy for you.”

Victoria grinned and looked upon her husband with admiration. “I am glad you approve of my decision. It is a welcome relief from the opinions of others.”

Sihara could only imagine the ire of the courts over her marriage and sympathized. Changing the subject, she asked, “Have you been on the front lines, Honorable Elias?”

“It is all quiet on the Balar border. It is my opinion that the Animalians have taken this moon to regroup and prepare for a coordinated siege.” Elias seemed uncomfortable around so many highborn men and women. He wore the same expression she had seen in the mirror after she had debuted to the court. The subtle game that the highborns played was dangerous to the uninitiated, and no doubt a knight would prefer a good sword to fight one's enemies instead of rumors, words, and implications.

"It's all a bit overwhelming, isn't it?" Noel offered a sympathic smile. "I grew up in the Etanian mountains, far away from any politics. I appreciate everything you soldiers do to keep us safe."

Elias relaxed a little. "I don't know if I have seen this many Mineralites in my entire life."

“Lord Neron Harken, Duke of the Harken Province." The doorman announced.

The hawkish lord headed for the drinks table, and he offered only a passing nod to her parents, the hosts of this soirée. His disrespect did not endear him to her.

Victoria whispered, “Oh, how strange. He is a married man, and yet he comes unaccompanied to the most important soirée of the century.”

“And he failed to pay his respects to my Fathko." Sihara raised an eyebrow, inviting her friend to share all the juicy details. She could play this game just as well as anyone else.

Elias rolled his eyes. “I will be over by the bar, getting another drink.”

Victoria made an amused noise. “You were the one who asked me to marry you, remember?”

“Happiest day of my life.” Elias kissed her forehead and disappeared into the crowd.

Sihara covered her mouth.

"Such a public display of affection!" Noel gasped.

Sihara hooked her arm around Victoria’s and led her to an empty table for the three of them. “Oh, he is so sweet, Victoria. I really am happy for you.”

“You are the first person to say that to me, you know.” Victoria maneuvered into her seat, trying not to bust a seam. Emotion darkened her eyes.

Noel put a reassuring hand on her arm. "That says more about them than you."

A server offered a platter of treats to the highborn women.

Sihara plucked three little treats the trio. “And I would never lie to you. You would have never found a highborn who would have made you happy. You are a free spirit, and I would have hated to see you tied down to someone who would never understand you.”

“Someday I hope my parents will understand that like you do.” Victoria nibbled on the wafer-thin treat.

“Pity they don’t realize they are losing something much more valuable than the approval of the court's fickle opinion.” Sihara popped the treat in her mouth. Toasted wheat and rich cream melted into something like caramel. Mineralite dessert was the only exception to their terrible, tasteless cuisine.

Victoria’s eyes drifted back towards Neron. “But I do wonder why his wife isn’t here. Have you heard anything?”

Noal lowered her voice, “Rumor has it, no one has seen her for the last couple of moons. Some people think she is sick…”

Victoria nodded. “Other people think he locked her up after finding out she inherited a large estate from her unko.”

Sihara’s eyes widened. “Was it large enough to make her the head of their province?”

Victoria shrugged. “It depends on who you ask. You should go talk to him. Maybe you can get some information from him.”

“Why not you, if you are so curious?”

“I am a married woman. You aren’t. He is unaccompanied.” Victoria shooed her away. “Quick, he just stepped away.”

Victoria was far too good at playing this game.

Sihara stood up, trying not to seem rushed. She made her way towards the table with the teas and other assorted drinks, intercepting Neron as he stepped away from the table laden with food.

Sihara pressed her hands together and bowed from the shoulders. “Lord Neron, how are you this lovely evening?”

Neron took her hand and kissed it, something innocuous to a Mineralite and unseemly to an Elementi. His mischievous smile betrayed his less than savory intentions. “Quite well. How are you, Taja?”

“I find myself content.” Sihara clasped her hands behind her. She watched her words around a married Mineralite man who kissed the hand of a betrothed Elementi woman.

Neron cocked his head to one side. “Even with your twenty-first year coming up so soon?”

“I find no reason to let age worry me.” Her eyes found Sebastian of their own accord.

“Lady Josephine Ragös of Minerale, accompanied by Lord Ragös of Minerale.” The doorman announced. Her blue dress proclaimed her status as the daughter of a man of industry in the king’s home province of Ragös.

“So it must be true that the Sikar intends to marry you within the moon.” Neron waved the server over, trading his empty glass for another.

Our marriage has been arranged." Sihara declined the server; she had no interest in those strong drinks.

“You know there are less idealistic rumors floating around after what happened with your last courtship.” Neron peered at her from over the rim of his glass. “But I am sure you have nothing to worry about with this new suitor.”

Lady Emera advanced on the two from the left, saving her from having to answer that implication.

Sihara pressed her hands together and bowed from the shoulders. “Lady Emera, how nice it is to see you again.”

“Taja Sihara.” Emera inclined her head rather than curtsying, and Sihara could see why. Her dress clung to her body, and there was no way she could manage a curtsy in that thing.

Emera ignored the scandalous look she must be giving her and turned to Neron. “Where is your wife, my dearest sister, Lady Susan?”

“Susan wanted to come, but she contracted a bad case of the fog and just wasn’t up to a night of festivities.” Neron looked between the two women, as if he were a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar rather than a grown man in charge of running an entire province of a kingdom.

Neron turned to Sihara, “It was lovely speaking with you, Taja. I hope that things turn out well for you and the Sikar. No one would want your father to lose control of the Ambassadorial Halls because you were unable to secure a husband. That would be dreadful.”

Sihara clenched her jaw shut as he walked away. She did not trust herself to reply. Sebastian wasn't like her other suitors. He would not be so easily bought off by her unko.

Lady Emera waited till Neron had left before she spoke up again, “Don't take him too seriously. I bet he is jealous that he can’t marry you and get even more power. I don't know what my sister saw in him.”

Sihara sighed; at least they could agree on that. “Do you think she really is sick?”

Emera shot her an incredulous look. “My sister just inherited our uncle’s fortune, and now she’s suddenly ill? What do you think?”

Sihara shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ll admit it doesn’t sound convincing.”

“No, it doesn’t. But you shouldn’t worry about the internal politics of Mineralite families. I will have the situation dealt with shortly.” Emera said, sounding all together too similar to another Mineralite Sihara knew. “Did you hear about those poor poisoned lords that died the day before the Moon Of Peace?”

Sihara feigned surprise. Emera could not have possibly found out the killer had used an Elementi poison to kill those men. Jaden said he had buried the evidence.

“Their replacements are young and inexperienced, but they are the most shining examples of the height of Mineralite genetic mastery.” The devious glint in Emera's eyes spoke volumes about how she felt about the replacements. She did not seem to care that someone had poisoned the men.

“Oh, Taja, you have to come with me. You will never believe who brought their dottir.” Victoria swept in like a knight in shining armor. “Oh, Lady Emera, how nice it is to see you. You must tell me who your tailor is. That dress is something!”

Once Victoria led them out of Emera’s earshot, Sihara breathed a sigh of relief. “You are my hero.”

Victoria laughed. “So, what did Lord Neron have to say?”

“He told Lady Emera that his wife came down with a bad case of the fog and wasn’t up to coming to the soirée tonight. Lady Emera says she will take care of the situation. She doesn’t believe his story either.”

Victoria nodded, “But what did he say to you before Emera approached you two?”

“Oh, he asked about my arranged marriage to Sikar Sebastian.” Sihara tried to seem nonchalant. She would not perpetuate the disrespectful lord’s rumors. She loved Victoria, but she couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it.

Noel offered her a look that said she didn't believe that was the whole story.

The musicians warmed up, playing pieces of a lively tune. Their choice of instruments marked the first turn as a dance from Minerale. The din of the banquet hall quieted as the couples abandoned their single friends and flooded the dance floor.

Victoria saw him first. “Quick, Sihara. Stand up. Here comes your dashing prince.”

Sebastian handed his empty glass off to the nearest server and approached the two ladies with a respectful bow.

“I thought I might find you two together.” Sebastian offered his hand. “Might I have this dance, Taja Sihara?”

Sihara accepted his hand. “I worried you would talk with those highborns forever.”

Sebastian led her to the dance floor. With one hand clasped and the other on his shoulder, the music started in earnest. They joined the march of dancers, taking two steps back in time with the music. Now they joined the circle of spinning dancers as they moved around the edge of the dance floor. His pace was brisk, his movements precise, and his smile was almost genuine. For the span of a song, Sihara could almost forget her troubles.

At the end of the dance, they bowed to each other and applauded the musicians. A handful of dancers left the floor.

The next tune was slow and intimate.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow when she didn’t leave the dance floor. “Another dance?”

Sihara smiled, took his hand, and pulled her closer than before. His hand was above her hip, and they swayed with the music. Step back, step forward, step to the side, and repeat. The slow dance allowed for free conversation.

“The map collections I found at the festival had some of the best examples of pre-kingdom-era Mineralite cartography I’ve ever seen.” His blue eyes lit up at the mention of his precious maps.

“High praise from an expert. Perhaps you can show me tomorrow. I’ve never seen Mineralite maps.” At his pleased expression, she wondered if her compliment had been too much. She didn’t want his head to get too large.

She changed the subject. “I found a strange little notebook with a language I’ve never seen before. Someone said it looked similar to the carvings in the ruins, and I would love your opinion on it.”

Sebastian dipped her back and whispered ever so softly in her ear. “Shall we look at it tonight, my lovely rose?”

As soon as he pulled her out of the dip, Sihara glared. “That was her name.”

Sebastian frowned. “You should be honored to replace my late wife.”

“Replace her?” Sihara whispered, fury rising in her veins. How could he think anyone would be honored to replace someone?

“I find you beautiful, just as I found her beautiful. You both share a love of languages, an unfailing sense of loyalty, and the ability to make even the gloomiest day bright again.” Sebastian’s expression darkened. There was a dangerous edge of chaos in his eyes.

“You only want to marry me because you think I look like her.” Sihara understood. The reason he was so infatuated with her. He didn’t see something in her that everyone else did not see; he only saw her appearance. She was only a replacement for someone he lost. He didn’t even know her.

“The fact that I would let you take the place of one so beloved as Rosabella should speak fathoms of my love for you.” Sebastian spat the words like venom, and his grip on her waist tightened.

Sihara did everything she could to keep from tearing away from him and leaving him right there in the middle of the dance floor.

Jaden appeared at her side and shared a look of sympathy. “Sikar, let’s not ruin this evening with an argument. Shall we trade partners?”

“You stay out of this, boy! I have had just about enough of your interference!" Sebastian snapped.

Well, now they had the attention of the whole dance floor.

Jaden’s dancing partner, Lady Josephine, frowned at Sebastian’s sudden outburst. Even the musicians seemed to feel awkward as they tried to continue the tune.

“I do not know what you are talking about.” Jaden’s placating expression did not have the intended effect.

Sebastian sneered. “I know what you are trying to do. Trying to get close to the Taj through his dottir.”

Jaden lowered his voice. “What I’m trying to do is make sure you don’t make a scene and ruin this nice evening for everyone.”

“Oh, right, like I’d believe that. You think you are so clever, don’t you? Well, you don’t fool me! Come with me, Sihara, and we will finish this conversation privately.”

Sihara tried to regain her composure, but her hands trembled of their own accord. “I think I’d rather clear my head and get some fresh air.”

Sebastian made a grab for her arm, and she flinched. Oh Creator, please make him see sense!

Her fathko cleared his throat. “I don’t know if you heard her, but I believe my dottir said she would like to get some fresh air. Why don’t you let the lady clear her head while I get you a drink, and we talk for a moment?”

Sihara shot her fathko an appreciative glance and made her way to the closest balcony.

The purple light of the twin moons was a beautiful and strange sight to behold. It felt like early morning in the middle of the night. And she didn’t care, even in the slightest.

She gripped the trellis so hard that her knuckles turned white. It had been too much to ask for someone to love her for her. Not for her fathko’s power, not for her family’s wealth, and certainly not because she bore a passing resemblance to her long-dead cousin.

The wind picked up, kicking up leaves and sand from the gardens below. The balcony overlooked the grounds of the Ambassadorial Halls. You could see both the border of Minerale and her home, the Vindish Republic, from here.

The door opened with a great clatter. Sihara did not turn; she didn’t want someone to see she had been crying.

“I want to be alone.” Her voice sounded pitiful even to her ears.

“Are you all right? Did he hurt you?” Mikel paid no attention to her request, but he stayed a respectful distance away.

“He didn’t harm me.” Sihara hugged herself, shivering against the cold.

A warm coat slid onto her shoulders, and she looked up at Mikel, her ever-faithful guardian. His presence was a calming balm on her nerves.

“What happened? I heard him shouting at Lord Jaden.” Mikel’s face was full of concern.

“It’s nothing. I didn’t mean to cause all this trouble.” Sihara bit her lip, but it did nothing to stop the determined tears. “It’s just that I thought I had found someone who loved me. Someone I could grow to love in time.”

The words seemed to only make Mikel even more concerned. “Sihara, you need to tell me what he did. I cannot protect you if you don’t tell me what happened.”

“He called me his lovely rose. It was his name for his first wife, Rosabella." Sihara shuddered. "My cousin, who died ten years ago. I just didn’t realize that he was marrying me to replace her.”

“He said that?”

Sihara nodded. “He said I should be honored.”

Mikel said nothing for a few minutes, but his expression spoke volumes. “What are you going to do?”

Sihara exhaled. “I don’t know if there is anything I can do. If I don’t marry him, my unko becomes the Taj. My unko will scrape the alliance, and the Animalians will conquer the world.”

Somehow, saying it out loud filled her with a new sense of courage. “They may not allow me to vote or to become the next Taj in my fathko’s place, but I can do this for my people. I will not allow my personal considerations to stop the alliance. If this is the sacrifice I must make to put an end to a century of war, then I will do it.”

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. A version of this chapter has existed since the very first draft of this novel. Tell me in the comments, how would you react to Sebastien's reveal if it was YOUR fiance?