We spent one extra day in Gravelstone before continuing to Meridia. The rest of the trip took two weeks. During that time I was never left alone much to my dismay. Neoma would share my bed with me during the nights and my father and Vael were always at my elbow during the day.

Lord Green and his men as well as Lady Grise stayed in Middle Hold. Lady Grise as a temporary guest of Lady Sto while her husband, and his men, were Lord Lux’s prisoner. There had been a brief trial for Lord Green’s men and Lord Lux had assured Vael that they would never see the light of day. Lord Green on the other hand would eventually be turned over to the Illustrious to be dealt with.

When we arrived in Meridia I was instantly amazed by the city’s size. Geyser would have been able to fit within the limits of the city ten times over. They city occupied an underwater trench that ran along a small island from which Meridia gained its name. The nobility lived in the cliffs of the island in homes carved deep into the rock and only accessible through underwater tunnels and stairways.

The more important the noble, the higher above the waterline his house sat. The Illustrious and the Illustria lived in a castle that had been isolated after the flood. No Landwalker had been able to scale the cliffs after the flood, and now Waterfolk protected the island from would be attackers.

We had passed several wrecked ships on our way to Meridia. I wondered if they all had been sunken by Waterfolk.

The Illustria was the one to greet us at the waterway entry into her castle. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw me and immediately rushed over to take my hand in hers. “My Dear, so the rumors were true. You really have been blessed by the Gentle God,” She sang.

I could feel several hostile and envious stairs on my back. “Yes Illustria, I have been blessed,” I replied. Vael drew abreast of me and the Illustria offered her hand for him to kiss.

“I know that it isn’t normal protocol for the Illustria to greet her guests in a stable, but I have been most anxious for your safe arrival after that unseemly business in Middle Hold. To attack an honored guest; what was he thinking?” the Illustria spat. She patted my cheek and then went to greet her other guests. I watched her as she moved away.

“Did you know that she was a warrior once?” Vael said as he escorted me to the stairwell that opened up into a crescent shaped pool.

“Really?!” We climbed out of the water and dried ourselves with the towels that had been provided.

“Yes, she served as the Illustrious’s guard before he became Illustrious. When he was attacked one day by a rival’s men, she saved him. They’ve been together ever since.”

“Is that why she likes me?”

Vael smiled and shrugged. “Maybe.”

I looked around and then saw Neoma exiting the water. She kneeled in front of me. “My lady. If you would wait with the other guests until I have secured your room?”

I laughed. “You don’t need to kneel in front of me Neoma. I’ve told you that before.” Neoma’s jaw tightened and I realized she was embarrassed and nervous being around the guards of the Illustrious. I took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Tradition be damned. “Yes Neoma, that’s fine.” She gave me a wan smile then left the room. “She looks as nervous as I feel,” I said.

Vael drew me close and cupped my face. “You have no need to worry. We will be safe within these walls, I promise.”

I was about to answer him when Lady Ai, Lord Gidean and Aur climbed out of the pool. “Daddy!” Aur said excitedly and splashed towards us. Vael drew him out of the water and hugged him tightly. I smiled.

“What do you think of the city? Do you want to go exploring later?” Vael said.

Lady Ai glared holes into the back of his head and Aur dipped his head in fear. Vael turned to face her with a cool look on his face. “Aur will stay with me for the rest of the day. He’s in no condition to go ‘exploring’,” Ai said in a cold voice.

“I have hardly seen my son since we have been on the road. I think he should spend the night with me.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if you spent the night with you fiancée?” I stiffened and Vael’s eyes darkened. “I bet the two of you are just dying to do so after this long trip.”

Lord Gidean placed his hand on Lady Ai’s arm and drew her closer to his side. “Ai, why not let the boy spend time with his father. He more than deserves it after being kept away for five years.”

I sensed a little bit of anger in Lord Gidean’s words. Was he upset that his wife had kept his step-son secret from Vael? Why had Lady Ai kept him away for so long? What had changed her mind?

Lady Ai turned her glare on her husband and pulled her arm away. “Fine!” She spat and then left the room at a brisk pace.

“Sorry,” Lord Gidean said to Vael. He then nodded at me and followed his wife. Aur burst into tears and hid his face in his father’s shoulder.

“Why…do you…guys…fight?” he sobbed. I felt my heart ache. The boy must feel torn between his mother and father. It was not right for Lady Ai to use him as a weapon against Vael. I needed to end this feud.

The Meridia castle was large enough to have a guest wing. There were large windows to let in the tropical air, fully furnished bedrooms with feather mattresses and sheets made from cotton imported from the southern side of the Sparkling Sea. There were two communal baths, one for men and one for women, located in the middle of the wing.

I was curious to see what they looked like, but I was more interested in the view of the sea from my bedroom.

Servants had brought up my luggage and had hung my wedding dress on the outside of an old wardrobe. Every now and then I would look at it before gazing out the window again. Was I really ready to take this test? What if they thought that I wasn’t a virgin? What if Vael had to execute me?

I cursed this old tradition of virginity. Why did I need to be a virgin to get married? Why were women punished so cruelly if they weren’t virgins, but men were not even considered? This double standard was infuriating.

I wanted to throw something, but instead I sat down at a small desk and tried to focus on reading a book Holly had lent to me. I hadn’t had the time to read it because it would have gotten soaked on the journey to Meridia.

“What book is that?” Neoma asked me. I jumped. I had forgotten that she was in the room with me. She laughed. “Scared you didn’t I?”

“Yes,” I said giggling. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ignore you.”

“That’s alright. I know you’re busy thinking about your wedding. You’re probably sick of me now.”

“Not at all. It’s nice having someone to talk to that doesn’t hate me.”

Neoma’s brows furrowed. “Do people still hate you?”

I sighed. I could think of a few people that hated me, all members of Cia’s family. The only one outside of that was Lady Ai. Even though she and Vael were divorced, it seemed that she still harbored feelings for him.

I bit the nail on my thumb.

“You’ll get warts doing that,” Neoma said. I laughed. My mother used to tell me the same thing.

“Neoma, do you have anyone who hates you?”

The warrior shrugged and sat on the edge of my bed. “No, none that I can think of. I mostly keep to myself when I work; it saves a lot of drama later. You would think there would be a lot of drama between the women guards, but most of it’s between the men. They can be completely terrible.”

“How terrible?”

“Hounds; they brag about everything from weapon skills to sword skills,” Neoma said waggling her eyebrows. “They even have competitions on who will date whom. My friend tipped me off about the bet placed on me. I told him to bet on himself and then we could split the winnings!”

I snorted. “Isn’t that cheating?”

“Better than leading on some poor sap with my womanly charms.” Neoma fluttered her lashes and pretended to fan herself.

“Oh stop! You’ll break some poor sap’s heart.”

“Please, it takes more than weapon skill to catch my eye. If you’re stupid as a shrimp then you have no chance with me. Stupid can get you killed on the frontlines.”

“Yes...”

“How did your mother die, if you don’t mind me asking? I heard rumors when I was training.”

I shrugged. What was there to say? She betrayed our laws and was going to help a Landwalker and a Waterfolk guard run off together. I was surprised that I hadn’t been imprisoned for freeing Ryaa; perks of being betrothed to a lord.

“She was ambushed while near the Forbidden Line. They left her for dead. I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to her that day. I woke up… and she was gone.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” I said shaking my head. “She died doing what she wanted; protecting those she cared about.”

“Mm. I wish I could have served with her.”

“Me too.”

“Hey, let’s get out of here. Staying in here while Lord Cadfael is making business arrangements can’t be fun.”

I sighed. A noble’s work was never done it seemed. Vael had mentioned that someone petitioned him on having a new trade route to North Hold. Apparently there were trees growing near the Forbidden Line whose bark was really valuable. This bark could be used in medicines to treat head pain.

Neoma grabbed my hands and dragged me out of my chair. “Come on, you don’t want to be a stuffy noblewoman do you?”

I wrinkled my nose. That would be very unpleasant. “Where do you have in mind?”

“The kitchens of course! You can tell a lot about a home by its food.”

“I never knew that.”

“Well you have lived most of your life as a farm girl, of course you wouldn’t know.”

“You’re saying ‘of course’ a lot.”

“Of course!”

I shook my head. I liked this woman.

The kitchens of the Illustrious were located on the ground level of the castle. Fresh produce was picked from the island’s garden and stored in the kitchen cellars. All of the kitchen staff wore a grey uniform with an apron and a scarf tied around their heads to keep hair out of the food. Everyone was so focused on their work that Neoma and I were able to slip into the main kitchen without any challenge.

The cooks were preparing lunch with fruits, salads and fish. I watched as they seasoned then fried the meat and wondered for a moment if they could teach me to cook. Though I wondered if that would be allowed since I was marrying into a noble family.

Neoma pulled me into a side room where a preparer was arranging sliced fruit into a bouquet. With a small knife he cut flowers from apple slices, poked a stick through the petals of five fake flowers, and then placed it in a blue vase.

I stared entranced until a shadow fell over me. I turned around to see a tall woman blocking the doorway with a sour look on her face. “What are you doing in my kitchens?” she said in a raspy voice. Neoma straightened up and her hand strayed to the pommel of her sword.

“I was just escorting my lady around the castle.”

“Lady?” the woman said. I realized that I did not look much like a noblewoman in my current dress. I had turned my maids away when they asked if I wanted my hair styled and make-up. I had chosen a plain green robe and had braided my hair myself leaving out Lady Fiamma’s pearls. The only think of expense on my body was my betrothal necklace. “You belong to Lord Cadfael don’t you? I recognize the white cords and black beads,” the woman said looking at Neoma. She looked at me. “But who do you belong to?”

“My lady is Lady Sol, betrothed to Lord Cadfael!” Neoma said with edge in her voice. “She belongs to no one.”

The cook snorted. “Hard to believe a lady would walk around without her face painted on.”

“I assure you that I am no ordinary lady,” I laughed.

“I would assume that’s why you have white hair? Lady or not please leave my kitchens. We are understaffed today for the number of guests that we are supporting.” The woman turned to leave and I touched her arm.

“May I ask your name?”

“Palesa.”

“Your kitchens are amazing. Can I come back later?”

The cook gave me a dry smile. “If you come back I will put you to work.”

“Is eighth evening bell fine?” I asked. Palesa looked me up and down slowly, her eyes lingering on my hands.

“That’s fine. Make sure to bring a scarf for your hair.” I smiled excitedly and left the kitchen with Neoma.

That evening after my father and Vael retired to their rooms I changed out of my dinner robes and back into my plain green robe. Neoma helped me pin my white hair into a bun and wrapped a scarf with a gold and black leaf pattern around my head. She then wrapped her own hair with a plain black scarf. “Are you sure that Lord Cadfael would approve of you working in the kitchen late at night?” Neoma whispered, as we walked down the halls of the palace.

“I’m sure he would as long as you’re with me.” I gave her my biggest smile. She rolled her eyes.

When we arrived at the kitchens Palesa was sitting at a prepping table wrapping fruit and vegetables in seaweed and placing them in a large ceramic bowl. She looked when we entered. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Neoma and me. “Well, Lady Sol, I honestly did not expect you to come back tonight.”

“I did say that I would.”

Suddenly the sound of bells filled the room ringing the eighth hour of the evening. When they finished chiming Palesa pointed to the mound of food in front of her. “These fruits and vegetable need to be wrapped in seaweed packets and placed in a bowl.”

I sat down across from Palesa and watched her stuff the seaweed before working on my little packet. A kitchen maid entered the room from the dish pantry with another bowl and set it down on the table. She sat next to Palesa and began filling the bowl. Neoma watched us from beside the hallway door and occasionally scanned the room.

“I was surprised when I found out that you were who you said you were,” Palesa said after a few minutes. I shrugged. “My staff has been talking to the visiting servants; they say that the Gentle God has blessed you.”

I resisted the urge to touch my head and continued binding seaweed around a piece of potato. “The Gentle God turned my hair white, that is all.”

“What were you chosen for?”

I thought back to the garden of Sanctuary when the Gentle God had made the statue move. They had mentioned only mentioned my mother. Was I to slay Lemuete? I didn’t have the power. Was the Gentle God going to possess me as the Bone God had when I had been kidnapped? I sighed.

“There is a demon living beyond the Forbidden Line in North Hold. I think I’m meant to slay it,” I said. The cook looked thoughtful as she dropped another packet into the bow.

“That’s a mighty task for a mortal especially for one who is not a warrior. I can’t recall any stories of the Gentle God being wrathful; usually it’s the Scrouge God.” She dropped another packet in the bowl. “Still, I’m sure there is a reason that the Gentle God has wrath towards this demon.”

“Is it true that you’re getting married here?” the other woman asked. I felt my face heat.

“Y-yes. We were supposed to have a midsummer wedding, but his ex-wife interfered with our plans.”

“Pfft. She must still love him,” the woman said.

“Surprising since she cheated on him constantly,” Palesa said gruffly. I felt my palms get sweaty and decided to change the subject.

“Why are we packaging this food?” I asked.

“Well, Madam Palesa likes to donate the extra food to the orphanage on this side of the city. She’s friends with cooks from the other noble houses and so they collect the discarded food at the end of the day and deliver it.”

“I know what it’s like to be an orphan. I was constantly hungry until I found work here in the palace under the Illustria. I want to make sure that these children never have to worry about food.”

“Festive is our busiest year so we have even more food to offer the children at this time of year.”

I smiled. This was a wonderful idea. I wondered if there was a similar charity in North Hold. If not I would need to start one especially since clashes with Landwalkers would sometimes leave children homeless or families fatherless.

When we finished wrapping the food Palesa sealed the top of the bowels with a wooden lid and sealed the edges with wax to keep out water. She put the bowls in a bag with other sealed bowls and then slung it over her shoulder. “Thank you for your help Lady Sol. Would you like to go with me to the orphanage,” Palesa asked.

I looked at Neoma who frowned and shook her head. I wanted to say yes, but being in the large city put us at a disadvantage. How would we know who was friendly and who was enemy? If we went too far would we be able to find our way back to the palace? “Not tonight, but I promise we will accompany you on a different night… May we return tomorrow?”

Palesa smiled warmly. “You are welcome here in my kitchen any time Lady Sol. If you want to help us tomorrow, we start packing at seventh bell every evening.” I looked at Neoma again. “Your guard is welcome too.”

“Thank you,” I said. Palesa’s assistant picked up another bag filled with bowls and the two of them left through the back entrance to the kitchens.