With the invitation accepted, Minerva needed a dress. The next day Emily took her down to one of the finest dress shops. She was shown what the men were wearing. Deep chocolate brown leather jackets and trousers with burgundy stitching and accents. Her similarly brown dress was easily designed to match yet stand apart, being a slim waisted velvet fabric with an ankle length skirt that had a stylishly stiff flow to it. It was completed with a misty burgundy wrap with glittering gloves that matched her shoes.
It felt good to have something to do again. She had been sitting alone in her room for too long, worrying about her mother. There had been a few traces of her being seen in some villages, but then she was gone. Minerva had to put it in her mind that her mother knew what she was doing and that she would be okay. There was nothing she could do to help her, except maybe talk to Alkari. There was a slim chance that he would know of her whereabouts. Then again, Minerva probably didn’t want him knowing at all.
Minerva was anxious to see him. She was sure everyone was. There was talk of him wanting to slowly take Ghrathar by force, village by village. The process had already started. One of the largest problems King Beau faced was dealing with his raids at the northern border. All these thoughts swirled around her head as she rode back to the castle with Emily under a warm twilight sun.
“Do you like your dress, Minerva?” The teenager and her were becoming good friends, as Minerva learned Emily was seen as an outcast among the castle youth.
“I do. Are you sure you wouldn’t want to go along with me as my lady’s maid? You’re doing everything the job entails already. It will be fun for you to get out of the country. I’ll ask King Archen if he can spare you so you could work for me.”
“I’m scared to ask the housekeeper. She’s very strict and doesn’t like Mr. Athlet, so she doesn't like that I’m helping you as it is.”
“I’ll talk to her.” Minerva was not afraid to speak to anyone, let alone a petulant servant.
“Oh, Minerva, I don’t think you should. I would be an even bigger annoyance to her!”
“Then you will stay in the servant’s quarters next to my room. It’s made for that purpose anyway. I’ll speak to her when we get back.”
There was hesitation in Emily’s eyes, but she nodded as if she thought it would be a good idea. “It would put me above everyone I work with… It would be nice.”
Minerva smiled. She knew what it was like to not fit in. As a girl, she had friends, but none that were too close.
Once they were at the castle everything was arranged and Emily moved into the room next to hers. Archen was delighted that Minerva found someone to help her.
Early the next morning everyone was hurrying around for the king’s departure. With a few bags of clothes packed, Minerva and Emily waited out front for their horses. It was still dark out, and everything was still frosted by the long night. The yellow lights illuminating the front entrance gave the air a haze that shed a mysterious tone over the morning.
Bryant and his man were next, followed by Rone, who didn’t hesitate to break seriousness
to flash a little knowing smile. Archen was ready a few minutes later. He had a whole crew of people buzzing around him as he came out in pristine traveling clothes. It was a short ride down to the docks where they boarded a much larger ship than before.
Minerva was shown to her spacious cabin with Emily right next door. It felt like she needed to prepare for this event, but she didn’t know what she could do to prepare. She had never met Queen Kurta, so that would be new. Other than that, she would just have to see how it all played out. It frazzled her a bit, not having an exact plan of action, however this was not her event. She was merely going as a guest to observe.
Looking out her porthole at the tumultuous waves, there was a gentle knock at her door.
“Come in,” she called.
“I was hoping to find you alone for a moment,” Rone’s voice sounded.
“Whatever for?” She smiled inwardly and turned to find him still at the door, holding something in his fist.
“Oh… I… wanted to give you this. Or see if you wanted it,” he shrugged. Minerva came around the small round table in the middle of the room. “None of the women in my family have been married since my great-great grandmother, so I don’t have any family rings, however I requested this to be made for you- if you want.” Rone held out an exquisitely intricate little ring that was encrusted in many tiny diamonds around the band with a vibrant, diamond-shaped opal shimmering on top.
“This is lovely! Thank you, Rone. This really is beautiful,” she cooed. It was a perfect fit as he put it on her. It was such a stunning ring, its simplicity somehow made it even more profound. She quickly rolled on her tip toes to put a light kiss on his jaw.
He smiled and wrapped his arm around her, scooping her close for a real kiss. One that they both sunk blindly into for a while. Minerva had never felt this way about someone.
Such fiery emotions and passion in such a small amount of time. It felt like they fit together before, but now it seemed they were moulding even more to each other’s deep energy.
“Mmm,” she hummed as she reluctantly pulled away. “It will be a pleasure marrying you.”
“I can assure you, the pleasure will be mine,” he winked. “We’ll be there at about four or five this afternoon. We’ll be cutting it close, so best to get ready aboard ship.” He reached for the door and paused, gazing at her.
“See you this afternoon, Mr. Athlet,” she nodded, cradling her ring finger.
“And you, Minerva.”
The door clasped shut behind him. Minerva felt all the butterflies in her stomach that everyone always spoke of. She hardly knew what to do with them. Making her way over to the porthole again, she wondered how she was going to play it tonight. Most likely the same as she always did. Rone was changing something in her. Warming some part of her soul that she always thought would remain indifferent. It wouldn’t be a bad marriage at all. They had decided to have a small ceremony after this ‘peace’ event, so Rone could return to his estate to start managing primary member business. Minerva was rather excited to have a safe place to live.
The day slugged by with her just sitting around waiting. When it was time to get ready, Emily had everything prepared. The dress was easy to put on. Minerva only needed help with her hair. Emily had even made sure to bring some makeup in case she wanted it.
Minerva was glad the servants were welcome as well. They all had their own nice clothes that matched each other in a way. Even Emily was able to get a hold of a nice dress before they left.
At four-thirty, the ship was docked and everyone gathered after unboarding. Brinta was an enormous city packed with people. Even from where she stood, Minerva could see towering glass buildings and flashing glass screens beckoning them in like enticing sirens that never let go of your attention.
Two long, dark vehicles drove up. Archen and his people took the first while everyone else squeezed into the second. Minerva almost felt a little claustrophobic with such a low roof and nearly having to sit on Rone’s lap to make room. She’d never been in a vehicle before, so the hum and grumble of the motor startled her every time the driver accelerated.
Bryant began explaining to their servants what their roles would be this evening. Rone heaved a bored sigh and turned to her.
“You’ve never driven before?” he whispered.
“Never. I bet it’s much more convenient than horses in the winter.”
“It certainly is at first, but they are much more maintenance than one would expect. And also expensive. You can’t breed them like horses. Too much work.” He shook his head haughtily.
Minerva was captivated by all of the flashing signs and advertisements all around them. It was like a different planet.
This was how the old world was.
It was certainly captivating. Everyone from Yallifa considered everyone else to be dim-witted because no one had their technology and resources. Everyone else considered Yallifans to be dim-witted because it was said the technology made them less human.
Minerva smoothed her dress with her glittering gloves as the car sped across a bridge. In a few minutes they were right behind Archen’s vehicle, pulling in front of a grand building with barbed gates. More vehicles quickly piled in behind them.
Once she managed to crawl out, she took a deep breath, relieved to be out in the open again. Rone chuckled and held his arm out to her.
“Are you sure we should?” she asked. There was a sense that she should try to keep a low profile tonight, but arriving behind King Archen with the dress she was wearing, it would be incredibly difficult.
“May as well,” he shrugged. She caught Bryant looking rather sourly towards them as he moved by. They walked up a few wide steps that opened up even farther into a spacious room lined with enormous columns wrapped in fresh flowers. It was filled with mostly people from Yallifa, but she did recognize a few people from Ghrathar based on their attire. It was all she could do to keep from running over to Lena when she saw her across the room. Her former fellow council member was in her fifties, wearing a very long, wide gown.
Once King Archen and his people were announced, Minerva broke away from the group to try and talk to her.
Champagne flute in hand, Lena nearly spit up her drink when she saw Minerva drifting over. Eyes wide, Minerva grasped her hand as her friend set her champagne down on a table.
“My Minerva! You’re here! Why are you coming into such a lion’s den as this? Oh, dear, you look ravishing in that dress! When I got your letter, I could only worry more.”
“No need, Lena. I’m quite safe where I am. It will be an adjustment living among Briers, but it will be okay. I’ve even accepted a marriage proposal, securing my safety even more.”
“Marriage! You? Oh, really? I wish I could meet the fellow.”
“Oh, you already have.”
“What?” Lena’s face crinkled. “I would like to know who.”
Minerva turned and nodded over to Rone, who was chatting with a Yallifan man. “Rone Athlet.”
“Rone Athlet? The representative? The one you were caught with the morning you left? Forgive me, Minerva, but it is rare when such rumors are proven true.”
“I know. It isn’t easy showing up here tonight. I’m having second thoughts, but it’s much too late for those.”
“Much,” Lena giggled. “But you are one of the strongest people I know. There’s a reason you chose to come tonight, whether you know it in your waking mind or not… I will love to see the reaction on Beau’s face when he sees you. Since this is a peace conference, there are supposedly no weapons allowed. I wouldn’t believe that, though. You know how we all must keep an eye out.”
“I do.” Minerva smiled and nodded to a couple who were walking by. “I was really wanting to come to see Alkari.”
“Everyone, I think, has come to see Alkari. He hasn’t shown up yet, or he hasn’t been announced.”
“I’ll keep my eye out. In the meantime, take care of yourself.”
“I should be saying that to you, my dear. You’ve taken a serious risk in showing your face at the same occasion as Beau. He will seek revenge at every possible turn.”
Minerva reassured her that she would be alright before heading over to the buffet table. She heard someone walk up behind her.
“If you cause anything, I will make absolutely certain you have no place in Brier.”
She whipped around to find Bryant growling down at her.
“Why are you so bitter?” She turned back to the food, only taking enough to take the sharp edge of hunger away, not enough to slog her senses.
“Because you shouldn’t have accepted Rone’s proposal in the first place,” he quipped.
“Oh?” She raised her eyebrows. “Well what’s done is done. It looks as though you are now in need of a wife as well, as you are still a secondary member in Archen’s court.”
“I’m just warning you that if anything happens, I’m holding you publicly responsible.”
“What would you like me to say to that, Bryant? That I’ll be on my best behavior? That I’m
scared?” She clattered her plate down. “I’m a politician just as much as you, and I can play the game just as easily in a country that is not my own.”
“I’ll make sure it won’t be that easy,” the mountain of a man spat.
Minerva held her tongue, knowing to tread lightly.
“Bryant, snarling at my fiance, I see.” There was a sparkling violence in Rone’s eyes as he came up beside them.
“No, just telling her what’s on my mind.”
“Well she’ll have enough of that from Beau when he sees her.”
“Is he here?” Minerva asked.
“He was just announced.”
A bold flush of adrenaline began coursing through her veins. She felt she needed to see him, however she remained calm. She hastily ate her plate of food and proudly socialized next to Rone, meeting countless new people. There would be all sorts of new rumors running around tonight.
Half an hour later, the Yallifan guards and servants were preparing to move everyone into the Great Hall, most likely to listen to the queen’s speech. As people were beginning to move in that direction, through the current of swishing dresses and dull clicking of men’s boots, Minerva spotted his tall, lean frame.
King Beau was leaned against a pillar at the side of the room. Lounging in the shadows was a new look for him. Like a tiger on the prowl, his eyes were alertly locked on her. She gave a slow nod with a mysterious smile gracing her face.
What he returned was a grin, clear as the hot summer sun.