Father carried on, “And you know my thoughts about your uncle.”

One could say I did that, or at least I knew he didn’t think much of our Dellish king.

“But this king,” he continued, shaking his head. “I would have you wed to Cassius or even True, I’d pay the same dowry a hundred times over to do it, to save you from the likes of this king.”

I tried not to appear sickened at the very idea of marrying True, who was not only my cousin, but like a brother to me.

But I could not say, after what I’d witnessed Mars do last night and this morning, not to mention the fact that he had no intention of staying true to me, at least not physically, that for once, my father was wrong.

“Really, Father, this is my matrimonial celebration. And I am now queen. I need to return to my king, but before, I need a moment to collect myself, for, as you say, it’s been a very long day and I’ve not had much rest.”

He nodded, fervently. “Of course, of course, my Silence. I will leave you to it.” He reached out as if to touch me but dropped his hand forlornly. “And I would hope, considering you’ll be lost to me at the end of it, that in our travels to Notting Thicket, and then Sky Bay, if I’m asked to join the royal company when you journey to Airen, you find moments to share with me.” His face brightened. “We’ll go riding together.”

We would?

“And perhaps, share our favorite books.”

Books?

“I’ve long wanted to do these things with you,” he explained. “But as you know, business, overseeing Bower Manor, the farmers, the shepherds, the foresters, I’m always too busy.”

This was true.

What was also true was that in those times, his daughter had not been queen.

I found it expedient in that moment to say, “We will find time, Father.”

He reached to my hand, took it, and laid his other upon it, smiling down at me.

“This gladdens my heart, daughter. You cannot know how much.”

I couldn’t know, ’twas true.

I might not believe, that was true too.

I forced myself to smile up at him.

He let me go with a return smile and melted into the revelers.

I sought a place of darkness and quiet, which was not easily found.

But once I found it, I drew my shadow over myself so I would have privacy.

Fortunately, those who passed close, or stopped close, only to stumble away, didn’t need me to have my shadow shrouding me. They were lost to inebriation (and smoke, and possibly even ashesh or koekah).

But I felt safe in my magical cloak.