69 The Feast and the Sea (1/2)
Across the table, Usoa watched her mother put on false smiles as visitors came to pay respects to her. They stopped at the first wife's table first, wishing her daughter good fortune and praising the honor they would bring and the continued peace between the two realms. After lavishing praise on the first family, they would come to second, moving between dancers and servers where they spent a few moments thanking her mother for sending Usoa to watch over the realm's treasure of Esti.
Usoa had known her mother her entire life and could tell when she chocked on her own anger.
She simply smiled as they passed the table, bowing their heads to her and she wondered if all the effort she had put into her dress was wasted. Porras had insisted she wear black so she had donned the sheer gown. Black with beads sewn on that twinkled like stars as she moved. Her hair she had left uncovered and Porras had pinned it back with a metal comb, letting the curls cascade down her back. She looked much different than her own family, who wore blood red, her brothers in pants with open vests, her mother and sister in gowns that mimicked fire when they moved in part from the fabric but also by the way they toyed with light in every step, a small trick that she could not duplicate.
Around her the wide dining hall filled with similar tricks. An animal that could not exist there, sparks of flowers, twinkles of shapes and parts that mingled with jugglers and dancers.
Edur sits with his mother, she thought noting the first family, dressed in a cool blue, Esti's most flattering color, were all present at the single table save the new wives. The two women with their nearly white hair would have stood out in the room but they were no where to be found. But Edur is married, he should be at his own table, she frowned, confused before shaking the idea away. The wedding will not be until after we leave, she reminded herself. But shouldn't they still be here?
She swept her eyes up to the main table, searching for her dark counterparts, where her father sat with his advisers and the visitors from the Dark Realm. There, next to Prince Guifre sat Lloren, in fine black robes. We match, she thought with a frown, just as Porras wanted. She watched him for a moment, feeling for the brush of shadow but his threads seemed to be leaving her free for the evening. The girls were missing.
A feeling in her belly that she could not place pulled a frown from her lips as she turned back to the table.
”Treasure, bah,” the woman cursed under her breath. My daughter is the treasure.”
”Mother,” Ochoa mumbled, a smile on his lips. ”Someone will hear you.”
”And what? Everyone should know how precious my child is. And look, I gave the Emperor many strong children. Light-wielders! Two dreamweavers! And all of them beautiful.”
Usoa frowned and wondered if her mother had had too much to drink already but the night had just begun. Her younger siblings were grabbing at breads and meats while they chatted with the each other. She glanced down at the table of the third wife to see Iztar fidgeting, clearly itching to join their family. Her mother's face held a frown, the woman clearly uncomfortable. No one visited her table and she seemed lost, as she always did outside of her rooms.
Mama, Usoa signed, why don't you bring Dosar to sit with us? Everyone will praise you for being so generous and welcoming to the third family.
Her mother's eyebrows shot up and a slow smile stretched along her lips, light in her eyes. ”Oh yes, what a good idea! See how smart your sister is. Mixtel!”
The boy jumped at his name. He looked handsome, dressed as a younger version of his brother in reds, his boy chest showing through his shirt. ”Yes, mama?”
”Go and fetch Dosar and your siblings. Tell them to come sit with us so they are not lonely.”
He nodded and crossed the small distance, bending to speak to the woman. A warm smile came over her face and she stood, gracefully and followed him back, the baby on her hip, Izar beating them to their seats. The child clamored into Ochoa's lap.
”You look nice tonight,” he said to the girl. She wore a formal gown in pressed, green linen. Her usually untamed tresses were pulled high onto her head and combed so they fell in soft curls around her shoulders.
”Thank you, Sister,” Dosar said softly. Everything about the third wife was soft and Usoa wondered if that was why her father had chosen the woman. As a soft place. ”I am sorry that you are leaving us, Usoa. Izar will miss you.”
”She says that is very kind of you,” Mixtel said a moment after Usoa moved her hands. Dosar did not speak the hand language, her family had come from further out in the realm and she had no cause to learn before Usoa's father caught sight of her in the market and decided to bring her to the palace as a bride.
The third family wore green, a soft color for the softest all of all Emperor's wives. Dosar could not speak to her but Usoa had always liked the young woman,she was sweet and kind and she adored her feisty daughter who acted more like her older siblings despite only sharing half their blood. It warmed her heart that her mother treated the mousy woman with gentleness and, when needed, took her under her wing.
Her father's laugh and strong voice filled the air. He regaled his guests with tales of their lands and the visiting prince smiled and clapped with them, clearly enjoying things. Ferran's interruption seemed to be all but forgotten in the mirth of the room.
”Porras! Come sing for our guests!” the man barked and Usoa watched as her oldest sister rose from her seat at the table. The musicians stopped their song at once while the crowd hushed. A song from Porras' lips was a rare treat and even Usoa's mother respected the beautiful sound that came from her the oldest child of the Kingdom.
She looked stunning in her blue gown that rippled and flowed like water all around her. Guifre's eyes latched on to her with a peculiar intensity and Usoa felt her stomach roll. The man's eyes matched the ones she had seen at the game and before that in the Veil. Something dangerous lurked there. I'll tell her to be careful when I can, she thought before her her sister began to sing.
Her voice poured from her, strong and clear. She sang an old song in their tongue that told the tale of a girl who found a magic jewel that granted wishes. Usoa knew it well, the wishes turn to curses in the end. Why such a sad song, sister, she thought remembering how wet her eyes had been over her lost lover.
As the song finished Guifre stood, clapping at the performance. Porras bowed slightly. ”You honor me,” she said in her sultry voice before turning her attention to her father.
”Thank you, beauty,” her father said, holding his hands out to his daughter who took them with a smile before returning to her own table and settling next to her siblings.
Esti's face held a frown. So she saw, Usoa realized before she turned back to Guifre, who still stood.
”Allow us to entertain you for a moment. Your people do not see much of water, I understand?” Guifre asked, a sly smile on his face.