Prince Virtus and I left the shrine of Aten hand in hand. The guards met us again and led us up to the Great Hall. A couple of them exchanged knowing gnces, as if we had been in there long enough to do that!

  We entered the hall arm in arm and all the people turned around to see us. The band pyed an uplifting wedding song, and everyone cheered as we walked in. It was intense, but I held on to Virtus's arm and that steadied me.

  They parted to let us walk up to the dais, where we sat side by side at the right hand of the king. Queen Reena and Plinius sat on the left side, while I was seated next to Duchess Erina, the king's older sister who had come speficially for the wedding. Amicability must run in the family, because like her brother she barely acknowledged my existence.

  Before we could eat we had to greet every single attendant at the wedding. I was getting very hungry and it was a frustrating chore. Doing it with Virtus made all the difference though, as he would often supplement an introduction with an amusing story about someone, or for the people he didn't like a cutting remark.

  At the other side I saw the younger prince and the queen drinking quite quickly considering that dinner was not yet served. I wished I could warn Reena about Plinius, but I could not do so without both the king and Plinius hearing me. I also didn't know if she would believe me.

  Finally, the dinner was served! I was so hungry I wanted to tuck in like a soldier after the battlefield, but I knew all eyes were on me.

  I waited for the king to start, as was custom, luckily he was not distracted by conversation since he never had much interest in talking to his wife or his older son.

  When he took his first serving I immediately grabbed a meat pie and bit into it. Virtus chuckled.

  "I'm so hungry," I whispered.

  "You look very regal right now," he chuckled.

  I pouted.

  "Almost as regal as my brother and step-mother."

  He pointed over to where they were sitting, ughing madly at the fact thay Plinius had spilled red wine down his white shirt. The red drops trickled slowly down as his chest heaved with ughter.

  I felt a little better about myself as I swallowed the half chewed chunk in my mouth, finally getting a little food in my stomach.

  I ate as quickly as politeness allowed while Virtus said stupid little jokes into my ear to try to make me ugh.

  "Look how Baron Rangon bites into his bread like an old turtle."

  I choked on my food from ughing. Virtus patted my back as I hacked and coughed and the king looked over us disapprovingly.

  "Sometimes I wonder if your mother cuckolded me with the jester."

  "Why, was he as devilishly handsome as I am?"

  The king scoffed.

  "And now Medora will have a queen that eats like a pig, I'm happy I won't be there to see it."

  I froze, the buttered cabbage buds I was chewing sitting still in my mouth. I knew the old king was mean but I couldn't believe he had said that about me.

  "Father, her hunger is a result of your staffs poor pnning! We've not had a second to eat today."

  The king frowned.

  "Enjoy your wedding night, I grow tired."

  Then he simply stood up and left us. I chewed and swallowed.

  "Was that because of me?" I asked Virtus, my voice cracking.

  "Of course not, he's just a cranky old man who doesn't like his heir. He keeps implying that I am illegitimate because he would prefer to see Plinius as his successor. But there is no evidence that my mother ever cheated on him, so there's not much he can do."

  I didn't know how to reply. I did not get much attention from my parents, but at least they never tried to disavow me.

  "I'm so sorry," I told him.

  "I'm used to it."

  "Talia, you must meet your siblings-in-w!"

  It was Queen Reena. She led me to a small table near the wall on top of the dais. At the edge of the table, next to a stern looking older woman sat three children. They stood out as the only kids in the hall.

  "Here they aaaare, my darlings!"

  The children lit up at the sight of their mother.

  "Mommy!" The smallest one shouted.

  She was a little girl with blonde hair and jam all around her mouth, in spite of the governesses best efforts. Reena went and grabbed her hands and they giggled together.

  "This is Agrippa, my baby."

  Then she pointed to the middle girl, who looked very simir to the other one, only with brown hair.

  "This is Anna my middle child."

  Finally she pointed to the boy. I remembered that he was nine years old, but he looked older. Unfortunately for him he took a lot after his father, the king.

  "And this is my big boy Etus!"

  Etus tried to stay serious, but eventually giggled at his mother's antics.

  The old dy cleared her throat.

  "Of course, this is their governess, Lady Paora."

  She had come with the children earlier to greet me, but I was grateful for the second introductions since I had forgotten all their names.

  "I'm so happy to finally meet you my brothers and sisters," I curtsied and the children giggled.

  "I truly wish they could eat in the Great Hall with us every night, but it is etiquette here in Medora that children should eat alone with their governesses until they are at least twelve."

  She looked genuinely sad.

  "And all day they must study too, and the governess says I can't put them to bed because they get too excited to sleep. I do wish I could spend more time with my babies, but the king decides how it should be and I have no power in these things."

  I put my hand on her arm.

  "I'm so sorry..."

  "Of course it will be better for you," she added reassuringly. "You are royally born as well and that counts for something. Also, I think Prince Virtus is a kind soul who will try hard to make you happy."

  I looked back at Prince Virtus, who returned my gaze with a warm smile.

  "Yes, I think he will."

  I went back to sit beside Virtus, while Reena stayed with her children.

  "So I met your siblings."

  "Yeah, they're great kids."

  Virtus smiled and waved at them and they jumped in their seats and waved back.

  "They love you."

  "Yes I'm a great brother! Always get them rounds at the bar."

  I chuckled.

  "Is it not strange that they are so much younger than you?"

  "And that my step-mother is the same age as me. Yes of course, but I guess you get used to anything."

  The kids milled past us.

  "It's their bedtime," the governess expined.

  They all waved excitedly at Virtus and me.

  "Come py dolls with us again soon!" Anna called to Virtus and he nodded back.

  "You py dolls with them?" I giggled.

  "Sometimes."

  "What sort of stories do you py out?"

  "Why don't you py with us next time? We can show you."

  "That sounds great."

  A few minutes ter the queen stumbled down into the main part of the hall. There she met doctor Wulun and started chatting with him at his table. They moved to the side of the room where I saw her put her hand on his chest, reaching under his shirt. He brushed it away and looked around furtively. Then he whispered something in her ear. I looked to Virtus to see if he had seen what I had. His eyes widened a bit, but then turned to me and politely asked:

  "So when do you want to retire from the party?"

  I swallowed. Retiring from the party would mean going to bed together.

  He leaned in and whispered to me:

  "If you don't want to do anything tonight you don't have to. You're tired. Your first time is scary. I'll tell everyone that we consumated the wedding tonight and then we can actually do it when you are ready."

  A huge burden was lifted off my shoulders.

  "Thank you," I whispered back. "Then I would be ready to leave now please."

  He nodded, and then stood up.

  "Listen up! My bride and I are retiring to our wedding bed. You can all stay, eat, drink and be merry! Tomorrow we leave for our honeymoon and we will meet many of you im your homes. We look forward to your hospitality. To the people of Medolina, we will see you when we return after four months. Have a good night!"

  The crowd cheered. The exit was slow because everyone wanted to say goodbye to Virtus and give him a pat on the back before the wedding night. The married dies gave me knowing looks and sly nods. I tried to py the part of the blushing bride as best I could. I think it went pretty well. I was actually pretty shy and embarrassed at the thought of everyone thinking about me in bed with Virtus.

  He led me up in to his bedroom. Because everyone had to think we were going to consumate the marriage we would have to spend the night in the same bed. We walked up many sets of stairs, onto the highest floor of the castle. One guard stood outside our room. I wondered if Alvar would ever have to guard the room where I slept with Virtus.

  We walked inside together. The room was huge, tastefully decorated with tasteful blues and reds. There was not as much of the gilding and bejewelling that could be seen everywhere else in the pace. The bed was very rge. We could sleep on opposite sides of it without even knowing there was another person in the bed.

  On one side there was a rge window that looked over the city and the sea. I walked over to it and opened it. Fresh sea air blew in from the shore. It was evening, so I could not see much but the light of the lighthouse and some lights in the city evening. The streets were busy that night. Everyone was celebrating our wedding and the wine they had gotten because of it. I could hear the people calling and cheering in their local nguages. Songs echoed through the streets, some accompanied by lovely instruments, some crooned by groups of drunks.

  "Charming isn't it. I love this city."

  Virtus was standing next to me, his deep voice soft with affection.

  "Yes, it's very charming. Do you understand the songs they sing?"

  "Yes, many of them. Medora has many nguages, but most people speak Medoran, Arpas or Pyrrhan, and I speak those three decently."

  "Wow, Havermark has only one."

  "Do you speak it?"

  "Yes of course, it is my native tongue!"

  "Really? Then your High Tongue is very impressive! I thought it was your first nguage."

  I wanted to stuff that comment down Baron Silverin's throat!

  "My father and brother only speak the High Tongue," he added, "but my mother taught me Pyrrhan when I was young, and Pyrrhan is reted to Medoran. Then I learned Arpas as an adult. Plinius was too young when she died to learn from her..."

  I took Virtus's hand as it sat on the windowsill.

  "He was such a sweet kid. I know he's not perfect now, I heard about some of the uncomfortable things he said to you and I'm sorry. He wasn't like this before the war."

  I wanted to tell him what his brother had done the night before, but somehow couldn't get myself to do it.

  "Our mother was such a good woman. Our father on the other hand... Anyway, when we get back from the honeymoon I'll talk to him. I'll make sure he respects you."

  I doubted that Virtus could do anything to change his brother for the better, but I appreciated the effort. So I just said:

  "Thank you."

  He helped me get out of my big dress. I couldn't have done it myself. His warm hands worked deftly to undo the dozens of litle csps on the back and to unce the tight corset keeping my skirt up. I could feel his warm breath on my neck as his fingers worked the ces on the corset.

  After the dress was taken off I stood in front of him wearing only my chemise. He looked at me and sighed.

  "You look very beautiful tonight, Princess Talia."

  "Thank you," I whispered.

  Then he went and got one of his dressing gowns for me to wear. It was dark red and made of silk.

  Then he helped me get my hairstyle down. Dozens if not hundreds of little pins were sticking in all over my hair, even though half of it was flowing freely down my shoulders. Many of the pins had diamonds on them, but some were just for structure. His hands moved through my hair in a comfortable way. Unlike the hairdressers that had put the pins in, he never tugged at my hair or scratched my scalp, but patiently and softly pulled each pin out.

  When he was done he also took off his fancy clothes and only wore his linen underwear. He looked at me and sighed.

  "I know you're not ready for everything, but could I kiss you tonight?"

  I nodded. I couldn't deny him this, not after he had been so kind to me. I didn't want to deny him.

  He moved towards me and softly held the nape of my neck with one hand and the small of my back with the other. Gently he pced his warm lips on mine. I leaned in, running my hand through his hair, his curls wrapping around my fingers.

  Then he pulled away, stroked my cheek and kissed my forehead.

  "Good night," he whispered.

  "Good night."