From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [217]
Averella had to admit, the gown was lovely, even if the waist was two sizes too small. The dress was all blue, as blue symbolized purity, peace, loyalty, and trust.
It had a fitted bodice, long fitted sleeves, and a flowing skirt made of pale blue brocade heavily embroidered with golden thread and pearls. Embroidered blue brocade accented the gown with a cuff around each upper arm, an inlay on the top of the bodice, and a loose belt that dangled in front.
Mother said Achan would be wearing blue as well. Averella could not wait to see him.
Once Lady Coraline had laced up the gown, Syrah fetched the matching blue cape that was lined in gold satin. It attached with two sapphire brooches that clipped to the front of the dress just below each shoulder, allowing the cape to drape off the shoulders and trail on the ground. A third sapphire brooch clipped onto the belt in the center front.
Lady Coraline had already attacked Averella’s hair. It was down, as a bride’s hair usually was for her wedding. But Lady Coraline had curled much of it with an iron rod that was still perched in the embers of the fireplace.
Now that Averella was dressed, Lady Coraline set a gold circlet on Averella’s head. It was encrusted with sapphires and rubies—a gift from Achan that had belonged to his mother.
Lady Coraline attached a two-layer white organza veil to the circlet then turned Averella to face a full-length mirror. “There now. It is not trousers, but it is blue.”
“It makes me look as though I have a figure.”
“You look radiant, and you do have a figure.”
“If only something could be done for my voice.”
“The prince loves you as you are, so you told me. You would not be you with another woman’s figure or voice.” Lady Coraline peered over Averella’s shoulder and met her gaze in the mirrorglass. “Are you ready, my dear?”
“As ready as a girl can be on her wedding day, I suppose.”
“Are you frightened about the ceremony?”
“No.”
“About the celebration?”
“No.”
“About tonight?”
Averella turned her head and met Lady Coraline’s eyes. “I am nervous, but not afraid.”
“You are fortunate to be marrying someone you love.”
Averella looked back at her reflection in the mirrorglass and sighed. “I know.”
A pressure squeezed in on Averella’s mind and her mother said, It is time, dearest. Are you ready?
Yes. “Mother is coming,” she said to Lady Coraline.
Lady Coraline scowled. “I hate it when you do that. You and your mother and your bloodvoices.”
“And my husband.”
Lady Coraline rolled her eyes. “Yes, child. Your children will likely have it too. What ever will I do?”
“Get used to it.”
Achan couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t the layers of blue silk and velvet he was wearing, though he wondered at the cost of his outfit. If silk and velvet were cheaper than coats of chain, maybe he could outfit his army in wedding ensembles. They felt equally thick and brought the same inescapable heat.
Or maybe the heat was due to his situation.
He stood deep in the temple garden at the end of a white wood pergola that was so draped in vines and flowers the scent was overpowering. Shung stood at his side, then Noam, Sir Gavin, and Sir Caleb. Across from him, Lady Gypsum and two maidens were dressed in blue and white gowns. Lady Gypsum grinned at Achan as if she knew some secret.
He glanced away.
Hundreds of chairs had been set up in the gardens, and not one was empty. The audience was divided by an aisle that ran from the double doors at the back of the southern arc of the keep to where Toros, Achan’s priest, stood at the end of the aisle, facing the audience. Achan glanced down the aisle again.
Nothing.
He released a shaky breath and thought of the handful of mentha leaves he’d stashed in his pocket. He’d already eaten so many his tongue felt raw, but his stomach had yet to settle, so eating a few more wouldn’t hurt. At least Sparrow would not be able to accuse him of having stink breath.