They passed the folk, carrying baskets and crates,wandering around as they went about their lives in the city that made up the outer part of the White Monastery.
“I’ve never been to a proper ball,” she said.
Elias had to hold back a sigh.Was I ever as young and innocent as Colette?If he had been, he’d lost that innocence at a much younger age than Colette’s eighteen years. But Colette had not grown up like he had. She’d grown up surrounded by a family who loved and adored her.
Only recently had she been sent from her family estate in the country to be educated by Elias, her distant relative, in the ways of court. That was the story that they told everyone, anyway.
“There will be many balls and functions and opportunities to wear your best outfits and dance with pretty boys and girls.” He paused. “Just be careful who you walk with alone at night along the city walls.”
She giggled. “Yes. I know.” A faint blush stained her cheeks. “I wouldn’t want to get my honour compromised.”
Flash and lighting!“I’d be more concerned about being pushed to your death.”
Her purple eyes, just like his own, widened. Any more giggles died on her lips as they formed a perfectO.
He hated being the one to burst her exuberant bubble. But she had to know what they were walking into. Getting your honour compromised really was not much of a concern right now.
And no one gave a shit about that sort of thing, did they? Perhaps they did in the countryside.
They continued in silence for several minutes. The carriage approached more city walls and another guarded portcullis gate.
The warrior monks approached. Like other Monks of the Way of the Dove, the warrior monks shaved their heads.But unlike the other monks, they wore armour. A beige surcoat hung over the top, with a dove sewn on it. And they carried swords.
The warrior monk’s role was to keep order and protect the White Monastery and those within. They also guided and protected the healer and other non-warrior monks as they went about the numerous kingdoms, doing their good works.
The carriage continued through the gates. He’d never been to the White Monastery before, but he knew they were in the lower monastery, where the monks resided.
Elias turned his gaze back to his cousin. “There are enemies on all sides, Colette. Don’t forget that for a second.” Elias paused, letting his words sink in before he continued. “Queen Hildegard Drachen invaded our lands and started the war. The dragons have been our enemies for twenty years.”
“But we’ve made peace,” she said, voice small. “That’s why we are here. Right?”
Elias stared out the window. Her hopeful naivety hurt to witness. “That doesn’t mean we can trust them.”
The carriage passed a group of monks talking, each carrying a large tome.
Colette leaned towards him. “But we have many allies here. Those from Botanial, Necros, and the Grey Mountains. We can trust them!”
They passed more city gates and continued on. They now entered the middle monastery, where the Dove Healing Academy was located.
“We needed to work with them to face Draconia,” Elias said. “We couldn’t face the dragons alone. But that doesn’t mean we can trust them.” He paused. “And I wouldn’t even trust those from Zephyrias.”
“But—” Colette’s mouth moved as if she couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. “But our kingdoms are combined under Emperor Hugo Storm and Empress Emmeline Aella,” she said, referring to Elias’s father and stepmother.
Her voice grew louder and firmer. “We have a binding peace treaty, created here at the White Monastery. Zephyrias and Voltaria are strong and united! They have put behind centuries of discord and war to move into a bright and gleaming future together!”
Had she read that in a fucking pamphlet? Or was this what her family and tutors had taught her?
Colette’s family’s estate in Voltaria was far from the border of Zephyrias. Perhaps she had not interacted with many Zephyrians. And of course, she had not met his stepmother yet.
“That was a necessity.” Elias tried to keep his voice gentle. “We Voltarians had to put aside our differences with Zephyrias when Draconia invaded both our lands. Nothing brings two warring kingdoms together like a more powerful and hated enemy invading you.”
Zephyrias and Voltaria’s pasts were so intertwined. In fact, marriages between the kingdoms had been common. Most royals had both Voltarian and Zephyrian blood.
So joining the kingdoms and making them one was kind of like marrying a cousin you hated. Which was better than marrying some strange invading dragon whom you also hated. Which unfortunately it seemed Elias now needed to do.
Elias had been so young when the two kingdoms had combined. But even if he hadn’t been young, his mother had just recently died. Everything had been a blur. He’d cried for days and nights, his red face buried in his pillow.
He’d not have noticed if the Lightning Palace had crumbled down around him and been blown away by sorcerers from Zephyrias. He hadn’t given a damn who their enemies or allies were or whose kingdom was now combined with their own. His mother had been dead. What else mattered?
