In the Veins of the Drowning(43)

“You know my chancellor,” Theodore said, gesturing to Eftan. “This is my right hand and naval commander, Lachlan Mela. And my cousin, Lady Imogen Nel.”

The empress’s cool eyes landed on me. “Nel?”

I’d thought Theodore to be unreadable, but compared to the empress he beat with ready, effusive emotion. She was as feeling as a corpse, and I could gather nothing at all from her tone or her look.

I gave a warm, reverential smile, despite the way her gaze sliced. “Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Without another word, she snapped her attention to her servant and took the first contract. “Ahh, yes.” Her eyes moved quickly over the page. “There is our differing religion to be discussed.”

“The stipulations you laid out are acceptable,” Theodore said. “I can commission an outbuilding for the princess to worship her saint within. I’ll even have a garden built around it.”

I fought to keep my eyes on the huge mound of grapes in front of me, trying to forget the way he’d stared at me in the entry hall.

“Good,” said the empress, absently. “And with that are our differing marriage ceremonies. Blood offerings are necessary for an Obelian marriage to be recognized.”

I tensed at the thought, my thumb going to my scarred hand on instinct.

Theodore shifted in his chair, like he could feel my discomfort. “I am cautious of blood offerings. However, with more detail, I am open to participating in an Obelian ceremony,” Theodore said, carefully, “but she will be the queen of Varya—a Leucosian queen—and therefore it’s necessary that Princess Halla participate in a traditional binding ceremony. For the marriage to be considered valid in my kingdom and for her to be crowned.”

“Tell me of this binding ceremony,” the empress said. “What power will Halla receive upon its completion?”

Surprise spiraled through me as I remembered my long-past lessons. Because Theodore and I were both born into the line of the Great Gods, our blood bond would let us share our power.

I pressed my glass to my lips and took a long drink. Over the rim, and for a fleeting moment, Theodore’s gaze snagged on mine. “A marriage bond is a simple cut, usually on the couple’s palms,” he explained, “and the two wounds are pressed together. There would be no pain for you, Princess, aside from the slice of the knife. The blood mixes to make a symbolic bond. In the princess’s case, since Obelians are not of the same lineage and do not possess Gods’ blood, she will inherit none of my power. She will be as she always has been.”

The empress shook her head, looking almost disappointed. “Then why do it at all?”

Theodore sat taller, an edge now running through his commanding voice. “It’s a divine tradition, taken from the Sirens and adopted by the whole archipelago.”

The empress clicked her tongue in distaste. “I’ve heard of Leucosian kingdoms forgoing it. I don’t see why you—”

“Only one kingdom has shunned our Gods and traditions,” Theodore retorted, “and we are not allies.”

The empress’s gaze sharpened. “I see.”

“Princess Halla—” The ennoble softness coloring Theodore’s deep voice sent a pang through me. I was mortified by the realization: I wanted him to speak to me like that. “Would you be willing to perform a Leucosian binding?”

Halla smiled wide. “Yes. Very much, yes.” She had the same lilting accent her mother did, but on her soft voice, it sounded saccharine, like a string of flossed sugar.

With a pale hand, the empress reached out and patted her daughter’s. She spoke quietly, but I caught the words. “Do not be vulgar in your eagerness, Halla.”

The princess gave no reaction at all.

Theodore cleared his throat. “I’d like to note that I see nothing in these contracts regarding your plans for Halla ascending to your throne when the time comes. Perhaps those details should be—”

“I made no mistake,” the empress snapped. A sneer crept over her face for a moment before she smoothed it. “Halla is not my heir.”

Theodore cocked his head. Even Lachlan shifted uncomfortably at my side.

“Forgive my assumption,” Theodore said. “If your only daughter is not the heir to your throne, then may I ask who is?”

It was Halla who answered in a meek but clear voice. “Our firstborn child will be.”

Theodore’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. His sharp stare cut between the empress and Princess Halla. “Very well.”

The bond in my stomach gave an ugly, protesting lurch.

Empress Nivala blew out a short breath and the air in the room seemed to clear. “With all that settled, we have the timeline to discuss. The trip here was ghastly. We will skip the customary two months’ engagement and let the wedding take place in a fortnight. I have no desire for Halla to sail home and back again.”

Theodore stilled, save for his index finger that tapped the surface of the table.

The empress smiled and I thought the gesture akin to a dagger being slowly unsheathed. “Is there a problem?”

“I expected the customary two months’ engagement time,” Theodore said, remarkably calm, but my own stomach had fallen. “I cannot guarantee that a feast and ceremony will be arranged in only a fortnight. Guests will not be able to travel.”