Verena woke slowly. She found herself staring at the ceiling in a med lab. An Imperial doctor was watching her closely. “Lady Verena, how are you feeling?”
“Thirsty.” Her throat was dry and there was an awful taste in her mouth.
“Thirsty we can do something about.” He handed her a cup with some juice in it. She drank it and the faint foggy feeling in her head cleared. As it cleared, memory rushed back in. “My sisters stabbed me.”
“Yes, my lady, they did.” The doctor put a hand on her arm. “We got to you just in time. Their Imperial Highnesses have been in here frequently to check on you over the past week. They’ll both be glad to hear you’re finally awake.”
“A week?” Verena asked. Then what he said registered. “Both Fallon and Ethian have been here?”
“Yes, we have.” Ethian walked in, followed by Fallon. “It is all right, Verena. Your father ascended so I can officially come and see you without it being a huge scandal.”
“Father ascended? To what rank?” Verena asked.
“High lord, which is causing more of a stir than my visits to you.” Ethian grinned.
“High lord? I knew we were wealthy but not that wealthy.” Verena was stunned.
“Oh yes.” Fallon’s grin was vicious. “Father had to embarrass a few people to get some of the uproar to die down.”
“How did he embarrass them?” Verena asked.
“He pointed out that their families came from the lower court and were elevated to high lord as soon as they ascended, so why were they complaining that someone else had done the same thing?” Ethian laughed.
“It is not an unheard of occurrence then?” Verena asked.
“Unusual but not unprecedented.” Ethian seemed sure of his answer.
“How are you feeling?” Fallon asked.
“A little sore, very overwhelmed at the moment.” Verena looked anxiously at the brothers. “What happened to my sisters?”
“They are being kept in tiny cells in the dungeon for now,” Ethian told her. “Their minds were broken by the psychic scans. Father is still deciding what to do with them. He does not want to keep them in the prison, but he is not sure where else to send them.”
“We are safer than we would be if I were still counted as lower court then?” Verena asked with some relief.
“Yes, we are safer, but we are not safe, as I am certain you are aware.” Ethian looked at her seriously. “We have taken the liberty of moving you into the Imperial wing. My mother saw your wardrobe and decided to take it upon herself to have a new one made up for you. Do not expect to have anything you are used to when you get back to your new rooms.”
“The empress had a hand in redoing my wardrobe?” Verena asked, shocked.
“She also had a hand in picking your servants.” Ethian smiled. “Or more specifically she asked Imre and Ardatha to find you servants who could serve you as faithfully and as well as her trio has served her.”
“I have my own servants now?” Verena asked, again shocked that the empress would take the time to look after her. “I have always just taken care of myself.”
“Make sure you use them often.” Ethian gave her a cautionary look. “You do not want them feeling unwanted or unappreciated.”
“No, of course not,” Verena agreed. She looked at the doctor. “When am I allowed to leave?”
“Not for another three days, my lady.” The doctor patted her blanket covered leg. “We did a lot of work on you, and your body is still recovering from the trauma.”
“We will come fill you in on what is going on, and if it is all right with you, Kaelea and Ismaeli want to come meet you.” Ethian shook his head. “If you would prefer to wait until you are out of the med lab to meet my sisters, that is understandable.”
“I am not exactly at my best, Ethian.” Verena made a face. “I do not know why your sisters would want to meet me now.”
“They want to get to know the ‘real you’ before you get ‘done up’ for court.” Ethian shrugged. “I do not understand Kaelea. She is eleven and sometimes her logic is not all that logical.”
“I understand her perfectly. If she wants to come see me, I will allow it.” Verena smiled, remembering what it was like being that age and anxious about everything.
“Thank you, Verena.” Fallon smiled gratefully at her. “I figured you would understand Kaelea’s reasoning even if we did not.”
“It is part of being a girl.” Verena smiled back at him. “Insecurities abound when you are eleven.”
Later that afternoon, after the doctors allowed her to bathe and put on a clean dress that a servant brought to her from her new rooms, Ethian arrived with his two sisters. Kaelea looked similar to the emperor. Ismaeli, though she had her mother’s black hair and green eyes, didn’t resemble either of her parents.
Kaelea looked at Verena closely. “She is pretty. You at least have good taste that way.”
“Thanks Kaelea.” Ethian shook his head at his sister. “I suppose you thought I would choose someone ugly?”
“With you, I was not certain.” Kaelea stuck her tongue out at her brother.
Verena laughed. “You do not have much faith in your brother’s taste in women, do you, Your Imperial Highness?”
“You can call me Kaelea. We are practically family. And no, I do not. He has never shown an interest in women before this, so I did not know what he was capable of.” Kaelea smiled at her.
“You can call me Ismaeli.” Ismaeli smiled shyly at her. “You really are very pretty.”
“Thank you, Ismaeli.” Verena self-consciously touched her hair. “I do not feel pretty right now. I feel rumpled and in disarray being stuck in the med lab.”
“I have been told that is normal.” Kaelea frowned. “It is supposed to get better once you get out of here and can get back to your own rooms. Did you know they gave you a set of rooms in the Imperial wing?”
“That is what Ethian told me.” Verena sighed. “I imagine it is for my protection. I cannot be everyone’s favorite person right now.”
“Once they realize it is Ethian who is interested in you, you definitely will not be. I have been staying at court listening to the gossip with my brothers.” Kaelea seemed very proud of this fact. “It is split between Lord Mislav’s meteoric rise to high lord, and which prince is actually seeing you. Both Fallon and Ethian have been checking on you, so no one is sure right now.”
“At least my father’s rise to high lord is taking some of the gossip away from the situation.” Verena hoped her family was all right.
“Did you know your father was going to claim the position for high lord?” Kaelea asked.
“No. I barely knew we were wealthy, he did such a good job of hiding it from everyone. He told me eventually when he found out that your brother was interested in me, which meant he was going to have to move up his ascension plans. But he never explained just how wealthy we were.” Verena marveled that her father and brother had amassed so much wealth in such a short period of time.
“Mother said she disposed of a bunch of pseudo-silk gowns and dresses. Is that why you wore that? Because you thought you were not wealthy?” Kaelea asked.
“Kaelea, do not be rude,” Ethian chided.
“No, it is a fair question.” Verena smiled at the curious princess. “I wore it because my father set a budget and told us to stick within that for clothing. Real silk would have been too expensive, so I stuck to pseudo-silk and cheap stones like flamicite and citrusite because they met his requirements. You will find, Kaelea, that many in the lower court wear pseudo-silk and buy inexpensive gems. It is what we can afford.”
“Are there a lot of lords and ladies who wear pseudo-silk in the lower court?” Kaelea asked.
“Kaelea, there are literally hundreds of us. We do not have a great deal of wealth, but we are here to represent our worlds. It is what is needed,” Verena told her.
“Do you want to marry my brother?” Kaelea asked.
“Kaelea.” Ethian seemed torn between annoyance and amusement.
“I do, Kaelea. I love him and want to be with him. Then again, that is what a woman of the court is supposed to do. We are supposed to marry and produce children.” Verena shrugged. “I have always known this.”
“What if it is not what we want to do?” Kaelea muttered.
“What do you want to do?” Verena asked curiously.
“Do you think father would let me sit in on the audiences if I asked?” Kaelea asked suddenly.
“You will probably be bored,” Ethian warned her. “I certainly am most days. But I do not see why not. Would you like me to go with you when you ask him?”
“Yes please.” Kaelea looked up at her brother with pleading eyes. “I want to see more of how our government works. I am tired of being shoved in a box and kept locked away.”
“We are still trying to figure out what your place is. For now, we have been keeping you locked away to keep you safe,” Ethian pointed out.
“I do not want that to be my life,” Kaelea protested.
“We will talk to father,” Ethian reassured her.
“It is not a life I enjoyed either.” Verena caught Kaelea’s attention with that. “But that was how I lived pretty much until I met your brother.”
“Really?” Kaelea asked, surprised.
“Our suite and the gardens were the only places I could go, other than to court.” Verena sighed. “It was awful. Then I met Ethian and suddenly the gardens were not all that bad. I had a place I could go and someone I could talk to.”
“I wish I had someone I could talk to.” Kaelea scowled. “Everyone wants to stick me in a box and treat me like I am some breakable ornament. That is not what I want with my life.”
“Have you given some thought to what you want to do with your life, Kaelea?” Verena asked.
It was obvious no one had bothered to ask the Imperial princess that question. She looked at Verena. “I want to do something. I want to be a part of the government. I want to learn how it works so I can take an active role in helping run things like my mother and my brothers do. I want to do something with my life that affects people positively, not just be some lord’s wife.”
“I do not want to be a lord’s wife either.” Ismaeli had been quiet up until then, but it was obvious the younger princess felt as strongly as her sister.
“What do you want, Ismaeli?” Verena asked. No one had asked her this question. If they had, and if they had listened, her life would have been very different.
“I want to work with Lord Arken and Lord Tremere.” Ismaeli’s eyes lit up as she spoke of her desire. “They do more than just watch courtesans. They know so much about the court. They know who everyone is, who the troublemakers are, who to speak to in order to find out information. They are like Demetrios, but they are not as sneaky. They do it openly and people just instinctively talk to them. I want to do that. Tremere says it is something I could learn to do. But father does not seem to understand that.”
“I do not think he is sure what to do with the two of you.” Ethian looked thoughtfully at his sisters. “But I think we need to talk to him about what you have said here.”
“Everyone should ask their children what they want to do.” Verena smiled at the princesses.
“I think we should let Verena rest.” Ethian noticed her flagging energy. “I also think we should go talk to our parents. Verena, thank you for giving my sisters the chance to voice their thoughts. Now to get my parents to do the same.”
“I hope they do.” Verena smiled at them all. Ethian bent down and kissed her forehead. Ismaeli gave her a gentle hug and the three left the room. Verena closed her eyes and drifted into a light doze.
The next day, Ethian came back to see her. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Bored.” Verena sighed. “I do not have my pad so all I am able to do is stare at the walls.”
“Oh, hang on a minute.” He stuck his head out the door and called out to someone. He came back. “Fallon stopped to talk to Lord Tymon. I asked him to run back to your room and get your new pad for you.”
“Thank you.” Verena looked at him curiously. “How did the conversation between your sisters and your parents go?”
“It went very well, actually.” Ethian smiled. “Father had no idea that they both felt so strongly about their lives. He was going to keep them sheltered until they were older, like he did with the five of us. Mother pointed out he did not have to do that because he was not hiding who he was choosing as his heir. Kaelea is getting her wish today. She is going to sit in on the audiences this afternoon with us.”
“And Ismaeli?” Verena asked.
Ethian sighed. “Last night, after a great deal of prodding from me and Fallon, Father called Arken and Tremere in and spoke to them about their techniques and if they thought they could teach them to Ismaeli. They told him they thought she could absolutely learn from them. These are the techniques they teach the Imperial eunuchs. They are more than happy to teach Ismaeli everything they know because they think she will shine as an informant for the Imperial family.”
“It is amazing what happens when you ask and actually listen to someone.” Verena smiled wryly.
Ethian snickered. “I suppose it is. However, if they had listened to you, we would never have met.”
“That is true, I suppose.” Verena smiled at him.
“Two more days and then you can get out of here.” Ethian brushed a few strands of hair out of her face.
“I will be glad of it.” Verena sighed.
“Just in time for another high feast.” Ethian smiled wickedly.
“Oh starflare, which one?” she asked. She added up the time in her head. “Emperor Vespasian’s birthday.”
“Yes, my grandfather’s birthday is the day after you get out of here.” Ethian laughed at her expression.
“The one for your father was an unmitigated disaster,” Verena grumbled.
“I know.” Ethian shook his head. “The head cook got sick at the last minute and his second had to manage the whole feast. The man did not understand the menu and screwed everything up. It was an absolute failure all around.”
“Believe me, I know.” Verena grimaced. “Even the entertainments were pretty awful.”
“They were not the best,” Ethian agreed. “Lidia has assured us that this one is going to be better than the last. This time you do not have to get up at midnight to get ready. You just have to start getting ready a few hours in advance because you will be joining my family at the high table.”
Verena felt a chill go down her spine. “Everyone will know then I am tied to the Imperial family in some way.” Her voice shook and she could feel herself start to panic.
“Yes, which is why you are going to have double the usual number of guards, and we have called in a favor from an old friend.” Ethian took one of her hands in his. “Reynard is going to teach you self-defense. If anyone can get you into shape fast, it is a retired warmaster.”
“I thought he went back to Covus?” Verena asked.
“He came back to instruct Kaelea along with Meinard’s teacher Benedikt, who is teaching Ismaeli,” Ethian explained. “He will work with you for a couple hours every afternoon while we are in the audiences since Kaelea now sits with us. Then he will send you off and continue Kaelea’s lessons.”
“I have a feeling intense is not even going to cover what I am going to deal with.” Verena thought her sessions with the guard trainer that her father had started when she’d suggested it after her relationship with Ethian was confirmed were difficult. How much worse was it going to be under a retired warmaster?
“Probably not,” Ethian agreed with a sympathetic smile. “But you will be able to defend yourself in a short period of time. Which is what we need.”
“All right.” Verena couldn’t argue. She had to have the lessons.
Fallon appeared a few minutes later. “Here is your new pad, Verena.” He handed it to her. “Just so you know, you are considered part of the Imperial household now. You have access to every book in the archives.”
“Really?” Verena asked, delighted. “There are so many books I want to read.”
“Enjoy them all you want.” Ethian smiled. “While the weather holds, we can still go out in the garden in the morning.”
“It is getting late enough in the season we are not going to have many pleasant days left.” Verena thought longingly of the spring and summer days in the garden. She never enjoyed being trapped inside during fall and winter.
“No, we are not,” Ethian agreed. “I will just come keep you company in your rooms while I do paperwork.”
“I still need to help you with the paperwork, do I not?” Verena asked.
“Of course.” Ethian brought her hand to his lips. “I am so glad I found you, Verena.”
“I am glad we met as well, Ethian.” Verena smiled at him. They sat together for a while until Ethian and Fallon had to go to lunch. Verena ate the rather nasty food the doctors gave her and then settled in to read the rest of the afternoon.
Ethian returned the following morning. “You were right. Kaelea loved the audiences. She asked father all sorts of questions after they ended. He took her back to his rooms to answer them while I finished my paperwork. He even brought her into the council meeting this morning. She sat quietly and listened as we worked, but once we were done, she was full of questions again. Father seems to love it though. He is encouraging her interest.”
“Any idea what he might do with her in the end?” Verena asked.
“No, but my guess is he is going to send her to Runa, Lidia, or Metis and have them train her so when they retire, she can move into one of those positions.” Ethian shrugged. “That is just a supposition, however. She is also only eleven, so we have a few years yet before we have to make a final decision on her life.”
“True.” Verena nodded.
“All right, Your Imperial Highness. You can escort the young lady to her room now.” The doctor came out and ran one final scan on Verena. “You still need to take it easy so nothing too energetic for another day or two. Other than that, you’re good to go.”
“Let me go grab some extra guards.” Ethian went out into the hall. About ten minutes later, he returned. “All right, Verena. Do you want some help standing up?”
“Maybe a little?” she asked, holding out her hand. He helped her up and steadied her until she was stable on her feet. She followed him out of the room and stopped. There were twenty Imperial guards in the corridor. “Is this not a bit excessive?”
“Not to me it is not.” Ethian looked grim.
“All right.” Verena walked in the middle of the group of power armored men. No one could see Verena or Ethian.
They reached a door and stopped. “These are your rooms,” Ethian told her.
Verena opened the door and stepped inside. The floor was covered in a soft, cerulean plush. The walls were covered with pale wood. The furniture was light azure fabric and darker honey colored wood. She moved out of the sitting room and into the bedroom.
The floor was covered in the same cerulean plush, and the wood paneling on the walls was a shade darker than the sitting room. The bed was massive, covered with teal-colored blankets that Verena saw when she touched them were made from silk and other soft fabrics.
The other door in the room was the bathroom, and it was easily twice the size of the bathroom in her old room. It had a huge tub for soaking, a large shower, and the toilet was in a separate little room. The bathroom was tiled in black and white with tiny accents of cerulean and teal to match the rest of the decor in the outer rooms.
“Ethian, these are amazing. Far better than my old rooms in my father’s suite.” She joined him in the sitting room as she spoke.
“I thought you would like them.” Ethian grinned. “After the princes’ enclave, I was stunned by the comfort offered by the rooms.” He pulled her over to a panel with buttons. “This green button calls your servants. Call them often and use them frequently.”
“I will.” Verena was a little nervous at the thought of having her own servants but was also excited because it meant she’d be able to do so much more than she’d done before.
“I will leave you to get settled. Take a shower, change your dress, do your hair.” Ethian smiled. “Whatever you need to in order to feel like yourself after being stuck in the med lab for more than a week. I will be back in an hour with my pad, and we can work on the paperwork after that.”
“All right.” Verena desperately wanted that shower. The Imperial doctors’ idea of bathing while in the med lab was a wipe down with a damp cloth. That was definitely not enough as far as Verena was concerned. Ethian kissed her on the forehead and left her.
Verena took a deep breath and pressed the green button. A short while later, three young women appeared in her room. “Hello, my lady,” one of them said. “I am Ashlynn. These are my sisters Balla and Freda. We are pleased to serve you.”
“Um, hello.” Verena looked shyly at the servants. “I need a shower and a change of clothes. Then I need to do something with my hair. Will you please help me?”
“Of course, my lady.” Ashlynn smiled. “Is there a fragrance you prefer for your shower?”
Verena thought about it for a moment. “White star lily.”
“I’ll take care of the shower.” Balla headed for the bathroom.
“Is there a color you’d like to wear today?” Ashlynn asked.
“I do not even know what I have.” Verena glanced into the bedroom. “Her Imperial Majesty took it upon herself to redo my wardrobe, and I have not looked at it yet.”
“Then let us choose,” Ashlynn offered. Verena nodded. “I will take care of the dress.”
“I have an idea for your hair,” Freda told her with a smile.
“All right.” Verena decided to turn herself over to her servants completely, as she’d seen her mother do more than once in her life.
Balla came out and let Verena know the shower was ready. Verena took her shower and dried off before wrapping up in a robe. The sisters helped her dress in a pale silver dress and styled her hair in a fashion that matched what was popular at court at the moment. They went through her jewelry, which had also been updated, and put a few simple pieces on to highlight the look. A light touch of the new cosmetics sitting on her table finished the effect.
“There.” Ashlynn beamed. “You look lovely, my lady.”
“Thank you, Ashlynn.” Verena looked at her reflection with great delight. “I could not have done this without you three.”
“Is there anything else we can do for you right now, my lady?” Ashlynn asked.
“A pitcher of juice and two glasses, please.” Verena remembered that Ethian didn’t like wine. “Prince Ethian and I will be working on paperwork for a while, and we will need something to drink.”
“Juice, my lady? Not wine?” Ashlynn seemed confused by the request.
“No wine. Prince Ethian does not like wine.” Verena was fairly sure she remembered Ethian saying he didn’t like it during one of their conversations.
“Very well, my lady.” Ashlynn and her sisters left the room. Ashlynn returned a short while later with a pitcher of juice and two glasses. “The guards already scanned it. It is safe.”
“Thank you, Ashlynn. You can go for now. I will call you back when I need something.” Ashlynn bowed and left. Verena sat down and waited for Ethian to return.
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