Page 16 of Dark as the Cursed Abyss

“The preparations for the Mysteries move quickly and my husband requested I let you rest for a time. It seemed easier this way.”

It was simultaneously comforting yet terrifying that the Rigas family seemed so…empathetic to her. For all these years she had only known hatred between their bloodlines and assumed it would extend to her as well. It still could be a trick, to gain Farah’s trust and then use it against her later when they decided she was better off dead then an ally.

“And what kind of preparations might those be?” She knew nothing of the Mysteries—no one outside Hespali did.

“Well, you both will be assigned a trainer tonight to start, then of course there is planning the Eleusinian Ball. That is my favorite part of the Mysteries, if I am being quite honest.”

“Is it really appropriate to throw a ball while we are on the eve of war?” Farah chastised.

Leaning back in her chair, fingers tented, Avra replied, “My dear, it is tradition. If the Mysteries are called upon, a ball must be thrown, regardless of the state we are in.”

There were better uses of her time than this, planning and attending some lavish event so what—Avra could show off her contenders of the Mysteries? They should be training, or better yet, they should be returning to Nexos with a fleet. Perhaps this was all available if Farah simply told Avra the truth.

She and Chloe were not engaged. They never were. And she, quite frankly, never wanted to be. Except, to retract her earlier admittance would surely mean death.

“Are we certain we even need to participate in the Eleusinian Mysteries? It is purely lore that they are a divine blessing from the Fates, and even if it is real, Chloe nor I are Hespalian. Would that not cause…complications in the ritual?” No one outside of this kingdom believed in the Mysteries. The idea that only those with a bond tied by fate would survive seemed demonic.

At least that is what everyone assumed. Those who went in often died during their trials, or if they survived, every bad thing that happened to them after was scrutinized as being a sign from the Fates that they would not remain on this earth for very long without paying an even larger price.

The Mysteries were put on in the name of love, but even love was sometimes not enough for survival.

Khalid had loved Avra, this much Farah knew to be true, and yet they had failed and lost a piece of themselves forever.

“If you would like my loyalty in this war, you will prove yours to me by ensuring you are not willing to exchange something valuable to you for the sake of power as your father did.” The queen pursed her lips and tapped her long nails together. “You do find my niece to be valuable, do you not?”

“I said as much in the great hall.”

“Excellent. Then I will have a guard escort you to your room. A lady’s maid will be waiting there to fit you for a new dress. I require the most extravagant of gowns for my two initiates.”

Now Farah understood why Chloe packed so much.

Chapter Twelve

Chloe

Both Chloe and Farah’s designated lady’s maids had led them down to the dining hall only a quarter of an hour earlier, though neither had spoken in the corridors of the castle other than to inform the princesses they were requested for dinner. What appeared before them was more of a feast than a simple dinner for guests, even when she was family.

On the table before her lay an exorbitant spread of wild boar, vegetables, stews, freshly made breads, and pies. Only six people sat at the table in the dining hall, yet the meal before them could easily feed twenty. Chloe hated waste—in Nexos they never served more than what was appropriate for the family, and all additional food was brought to local soup kitchens and to the elderly in town. Though, she couldn’t deny that the mixed scents of spice, honey, and sugar made her salivate.

Seated to Chloe’s left was Farah, dressed in what appeared to be a new gown made of black wool and gilded embossments of leaves. That was not a dress her tailor aboard the Parataxis crafted, meaning Avra must have gotten to her already. It appeared that was another thing her aunt and mother had in common—a love of finery.

On Chloe’s opposite side sat her cousin, remaining in his guard leathers, though he no longer wore the thick fur cloak. Her hands still clenched around the almost healed cut on her arm thinking about how Acacius baselessly attacked her earlier in the great hall. What an introduction it was. Hello, I’m your long lost cousin you didn’t know about, and I want to kill you. He would not stop smiling at her after that, even now, and it was utterly spine tingling.

Across the table, already indulging in wine and ale, were Avra and Halius, along with another man that Chloe had not seen before. He was older looking than the king and queen—though not in actual age—somewhere in his mid fifties. Peppers of gray flecked his honey brown hair. His skin was darker than most in Hespali, as deep and rich as fresh soil after a long rain. Fine wrinkles dispersed from the corner of his cobalt blue eyes, but they did not seem to age him as they did most. He was dressed in a similar manner to Acacius, more than likely the leader of the king’s guard or his most trusted advisor if he was seated alongside royalty.

“Thank you both for joining us,” Avra said once the plates were finally full. “I hope accommodations are to your liking?”

Chloe patted her mouth after a sip of wine. “The rooms are lovely, thea.”

Her guest quarters were more grandiose than even her room in Nexos. Everything was gilded in gold leaf and the walls were draped in rich green velvet. She swore the candelabras were dazzled in actual emeralds, although that would be absurd. Emeralds were extremely difficult to find.

“Wonderful. Well, that is enough pleasantries for one evening.”

Her aunt must not be used to guests because that was a total of one pleasantry. Chloe was used to entertaining others for nearly an hour before they got to any real conversation. Avra took two whole minutes.

“Since you are unfamiliar with how the Eleusinian Mysteries proceed, I was hoping to use this time to let you know that they move rather quickly. I have already informed Farah that traditionally a ball is thrown in the initiates’ honor. You may invite those scoundrels of yours from the ship as long as they behave.” Avra curled her lip in disgust. Apparently, she was not a fan of pirates. Chloe shouldn’t be surprised, most kingdoms on the mainlands weren’t.

“Those scoundrels are some of the finest sailors in the Mykandrian, thea. But I’ll let Kirke know to keep the men in line.”