The High Priestess bowed to her waist to Anastasia. "The queen has sent me to help you with the dress and to tell you about the ceremonies."
"Ceremonies?" Anastasia asked. The adrenalin gush that had spiked up during the time they were in the tunnels hadn't as yet ebbed. She could feel her heart still hammering against her ribs. The feel of the darkness reminded her of the creepiness of the cellar she was locked in for three days. "I thought it was a simple lunch!"
Darla gazed at Tamara with furrowed brows. She wanted to help Anastasia with the dresses.
"No, no," Tamara chuckled. "We are not going for any ceremony. It is just a lunch party with faction leaders. And it is important how you present yourself in front of them." She looked at Darla as if she was an extra baggage. Darla narrowed her eyes and then excused herself to return to the guest chambers.
Anastasia couldn't help noticing that the two disliked each other.
Tamara chose an emerald silk gown for Anastasia that pooled on her ankles. The tulle sleeves of the gown were puffed at the shoulders. While the maids were dressing her up, Tamara filled her up with details of the faction leaders. She even chose all her jewelry and by the end of it, Anastasia looked like she was wearing all the jewelry of the kingdom. A gold tiara crafted like jacaranda flowers sat atop her hair that were weaved with so many tiny diamonds that when Anastasia moved her head, they shimmered.
When Ileus saw her, he jerked his head back as if shocked. With wide eyes he looked up and down his wife.
"Isn't she looking lovely?" Tamara said.
Ileus licked his lips and then bit his bottom lip. He walked to her and stroked her back. Her wings sprouted massively behind her and she chuckled as the dress tore from the back and some jewelry on her waist dropped to the ground. "Thanks," she muttered under her breath.
Ileus turned to look at petrified Tamara and said, "Now she looks better." He walked away from there to get ready.
In the end, Anastasia was walking down the halls in a simple periwinkle gown with pearls that she chose for herself. Because Tamara was insistent, she left her hair with the tiny diamonds. She slipped her hand in the crook of his arm. Tamara followed them closely behind.
Anastasia bunched the silk gown in her hand and ascended the marble steps of the main hall of the north wing, where the party was being hosted. Ileus was only supposed to show his face, lead her inside the room and then leave her. Anastasia's wings spread out as she curled her right wing around her when she ascended the stairs. It reminded her of the day when from the window she watched all the faes going to the ball room a night before her wedding to Aed Ruad. How much she had craved that time that her wings were free. And now— she sighed as she looked at her dashing vokudlak. Because of him, she could stretch her wings freely. "I love you," she whispered and stroked his arm with her wing.
His lips curved up. "Remember the deal?'
She chuckled and had an urge to elbow him but they had reached the main hall. The faction leaders, mostly women, fell silent. Curious glances settled on her. Anastasia sucked in a sharp breath. Ileus led her straight to his mother. She tucked her wings tightly behind her back.
"Anastasia!" Adrianna exclaimed. She hugged her. "You look lovely."
"Thank you, Mother. You look lovely too," she replied politely. The queen did look beautiful in her bronze gown and a diadem. Her long earrings were the only jewelry she wore.
"I will take my leave now," said Ileus and strode inside the palace.
Adrianna introduced her to the faction leaders and then left her amongst a group of five women along with Tamara. Anastasia talked to them politely and Tamara led her to the next group. "Be careful of the twin sisters in this group. They are Solon's daughters and they love to shred others to pieces with their sharp tongues. Answering them will only lead to more sharp exchanges." With that information Anastasia smiled politely to the twin sisters.
One of them spoke, "Our Crown Prince one in a million. We hope you match him."
"Yes, there were a lot of women in Draoidh who could have settled with him even as his concubines, but then he chose you," said the other, as if with regret.
Anastasia retorted, "Even if Ileus chose concubines, you wouldn't have made the cut!" Then she walked away much to the sisters' shock.
Tamara pointed with her chin to the woman standing with a wine glass with her dress as crimson as the red wine in her glass. "Prima is the wife of the Minister of Law, Draven Cholach. She is an important figure in the society but possesses an unfortunate gift of making interesting stories extremely boring." Anastasia politely dipped her chin in courtesy to the lady in front of her and moved ahead. By the end of it, Anastasia felt like Tamara was a valuable person to be with for she helped her breeze past all the faction leaders easily. Tamara let out a sigh and said, "All these people hold very important positions and this party is all about the show of dominance, as to who is close to the queen. You have to learn who is who so that you can adjust well amongst them." Was she condescending?
Anastasia remembered what Ileus had told her about Tamara. She was an important political figure who had many connections. In this party Anastasia could understand why.
An hour later after she had met with all the faction leaders, they all sat at the table for lunch. The event grew insufferable for Anastasia when the ladies around her started talking about jewelry and dresses. She could feel curious glances full of judgment falling on her. It rattled her a little.
Her chest heaved a sigh when the event was over. Tamara accompanied her to her bedchamber and left her after selecting the next dress for her—a deep rose satin gown with gauzy skirt below the knees.
Ileus hadn't come yet and once Anastasia had changed into a soft white linen shirt and pants, she thought of going to the study, but stopped when Darla came in. Tension was radiating from her face.
"What happened?" asked Anastasia, holding the door open for her.
"Nothing!" Darla shook her head, but apparently something bothered her.
"Where is Ileus?"
"In the study."
"Is Kaizan with them?" Anastasia asked as an after-thought.
"No, he left early."
Finding it odd, Anastasia wanted to probe further, but didn't.
When the High Priestess came for the evening dinner, to dress her up, Anastasia was surprised to see how she was dressed. Her veil fell till her neck only and her white dress was two layers less. The shirt billowed around her waist, showing the skin of her waist and her long skirt flowed as she moved.Shock flickered through her when she saw that Tamara had pierced her navel. She looked more like a seductress than a priestess. "The queen will be announcing your wedding date during evening's event," she said, measuring her up.
