Extol of Agnatic Dreams (The Extol Series Book 1) (7 page)

“Selena had to remove her from court after she was almost poisoned. I am not sure what became of the mistress after that.” Reminded now, Evangeline would need to write to Selena and ask her of any follow-up. Even if she had no rival of her own, it would be good to know how this ended for all parties involved.

“How horrible for your cousin.” And Sigourney sincerely meant it.

“It surely was, and so not something I wish to repeat in my own life. If Glais has a mistress, I would prefer to be made aware of her.” She tried to sound stern but she knew her voice betrayed her feelings. Evangeline did not want to think of any woman Glais would choose. She had been selected for him, and since she was to live with that decision she hoped he would join her in that fulfilment.

“I can understand you being so cautious after such bad luck in the family. Again, Evangeline, I have to remind you that I do not know Prince Glais personally and so all I have to offer is rare official glimpses.” And just like that, their roles settled back into place. “I have not witnessed Prince Glais show any woman within the court or otherwise any special favour.”

Evangeline was not comforted by that as one might think she should be. She knew of no man who would be so loose with his morals to obviously display a mistress. Evangeline decided though that she would need to trust Sigourney and her advice. If she continued to second guess everything that Sigourney said, then they would have no more knowledge between them and Evangeline may just go mad with questions. The fact that they had sent their negotiator was still intriguing to Evangeline. That would need to be enough curiosity for today.

Of course, this gave no merit to her concerns regarding his sexual conduct. Those questions were ones she could not bring herself to ask even in the poorly lit carriage. She would never be able just to ask those questions to anyone. Evangeline tried to think of something more appropriate. “Will Glais be there to greet me?”

“Yes. The entire royal family will be present at that ceremony. I do apologise for the late hour.” Sigourney interrupted herself. “I am sure you would have preferred to see the gardens in the sun but the attack and the slow start of your own riders, it seemed we will arrive just before dawn.”

Evangeline was not so bothered by her arrival time as it seemed Sigourney was. “I have the rest of my life to get to know the castle with all kinds of lights.”

Sigourney nodded and smiled. “I have sent word forward regarding the attack so I am sure they will all be concerned with your arrival.”

Evangeline hoped there would not be too many questions concerning the attack on her carriage. She really had nothing to add beyond they were attacked by men dressed in Zorelian colours. She was not certain if they could just take the colour of their clothes as proof of their heritage. “The soldier Thomas…” Sigourney nodded. “Was he mentioned in the message to Braykith?”

Sigourney frowned. “No. Had he done something to warrant a special mention?”

“Oh no.” Evangeline shook her head quickly. “No, it was nothing like that. I never witnessed any fighting, involving Thomas or otherwise.” She confessed quietly. “He was acting a little out of sorts, even when compared to his own company.”

Sigourney hoped that Thomas had not been testing the limits of their new princess, however, these concerns she kept to herself and went instead with the concerned questions that seemed to keep Evangeline talking. “What do you mean by out of sorts?”

“I suppose what I am saying is…” Evangeline paused for her thoughts to settle and tried to express herself easily. She pressed her hair behind her ear, trailing her fingers through her hair as a way to pass the time. “It could just be me. I am still numb to your ways. Thomas just seemed to me to be a little taken with me, always arriving to help me even after the danger has passed.”

Sigourney was quiet for a moment and Evangeline hoped that she did not get Thomas in trouble. She wasn’t sure why she had brought the man up in the first place, but the longer Sigourney waited to address her, the more Evangeline wished she had said nothing. Sigourney looked out the window as if waited for something to appear. “Do you want him reported for misconduct?”

“Oh no, please forget that I said anything.” Evangeline was quick to deny that. “Thomas had been a little odd but ultimately harmless. I was just hoping to understand you and the company the King keeps a little bit better.”

“Your arrival has created a stir in some of the men,” Sigourney revealed, watching Evangeline closely to see how she would react to the news. “I believe the promise of fresh blood has got them excited. Excuse the expression.” Evangeline thought nothing of it. “I think they were hopeful that you would be bringing your ladies with you.”

Evangeline blinked. “Why would they assume such things? I was instructed to leave them behind.”

“Yes, but you would be surprised how often people do not do as they are told.” And just like the mystery of what kind of negotiating power Evangeline had was answered for her. Nothing. They had sent Sigourney to make sure she brought as little as they had first demanded.

“What would have happened if I did bring Viviana and Teagan?” Evangeline asked, just curious even though the opportunity was gone.

“I would have worked hard to make sure they both went back. I do not always understand why our King does the things he does, but I am entrusted to perform to those stipulations.” Sigourney was proud of her job, and this ensured that she followed through to the best of her ability.

Evangeline nodded. She understood, although it did break her heart a little bit to know, that perhaps she could have forced Sigourney’s hand on this issue. Could she truly ever choose between her best friends? It was better for them to be back at Crimah together than for Viviana and Teagan to be forced apart.

“Usually, I am obliged to bargain with those who are coming to Braykith. Honestly, Evangeline, I was surprised you were not one of them?”

Evangeline couldn’t help the frown that was instantly etched into her features, not happy to be considered as someone who would try and break the rules. A woman of her upbringing and assumed destiny was not going to try to bend the rules in her own favour. “My family had strong ties with your crown. Is there any reason why they should not have obeyed?”

Sigourney put her hands up in surrender. “Relax Evangeline, I did not mean any ill wishes or bad blood between us. I understand the past few hours have been traumatic for you. It has been far more taxing than you are willing to admit to me. Not only leaving Crimah but also the attack on your carriage.” Evangeline nodded, glad to see that there was a little compassion for her leaving her home even though she had known it was coming. “There is nothing to fear in Braykith, as long as you learn our ways.”

Evangeline felt that Sigourney doubted her abilities. She had commented on Braykith and its unconventional culture every chance she could. “Your ways?” It seemed like such an odd turn of phrase. Evangeline did not know her so well but even she could tell that Sigourney was turning something over in her mind, looking for a way to deliver information.

Sigourney sighed and tapped her nails against the wood of her seat. She was stalling for time. She knew that Evangeline deserved some kind of warning but it was not her place to say the warnings that needed to be said. She was not sure how it worked, but even if she wanted to speak them Sigourney could not. There was some kind of ward, although Sigourney would never admit to sorcery, that kept the people of Braykith speaking out on what they may or may not see. If Sigourney even attempted to speak a warning that directly linked to the Royal family in any way she would not see the morning.

She had inherited her job because of this mystical safeguard that contributed to keeping Braykith safe. Or so the rumours go. She would not be testing it to see how much was fact and what was fiction. Coincidence or scandal, it was over now and Sigourney valued her life more then she wanted to save a girl. She wanted to suggest the same kind of mindset to Evangeline now but couldn’t find a way of saying it without running the risks. Trying to find the right way to answer, without answering, Sigourney went on.

“Braykith has a strongly patriarchal society.” It was not the world she was referring to that Evangeline needed real protection from, but it was the one she relied on now because it was easy. “It is not that women do not play roles in our society. Apparently we can be trusted with jobs beyond babies or wearing beautiful things.” Sigourney chuckled lightly, and Evangeline smiled but didn’t join her. “It is just that men take priority over us and it can be quite hard for some to grow accustomed to. I know that Crimah is not that way.”

“No. Our sex does not dictate our lives, but rather our station.” Evangeline explained. “I was made aware though of Braykith and their preference for male superiority.”

Sigourney nodded and was relieved to leave the conversation there. Let Evangeline ponder the new realities of living in a city so unlike her own it must appear alien. She will learn from all the others that some topics are simply taboo and will never be spoken aloud, even to the safest of ears. She had somehow managed to hide her mistakes and did not expose the dark secrets of her king. “The men are rude.” Sigourney picked up the earlier conversation of the soldiers. “At times they are far too vocal then you want them to be but mostly they are harmless. We do carry strict penalties for those who continue to disobey.”

Evangeline had heard of that as well. She supposed when you are someone who is expected to take lives on orders without question, you needed to blow off steam somehow. She had witnessed some of the activities their own soldiers would do. Evangeline was just not so comfortable with those kinds of people approaching her. She needed to remind herself that Thomas was no criminal and she had no reason to fear him or any of the Braykith soldiers. “So I should expect more attention similar to the ways Thomas has reacted to me?”

“I would be a liar if I said all men will be as confronting as Thomas seemed to be. It would be impossible for me to give you a fair warning regarding all of the different characters that make up Braykith. My only advice is to follow the expectations set for you and wait for your presence to be more widely known. From what I saw tonight, you handled Thomas just fine.” Sigourney complimented her.

Evangeline smiled, proud of her gut instincts and feeling settled about how she would navigate through Braykith on her own. Her gut instinct on the soldier had been the correct one. Perhaps she wouldn’t just be treading water, struggling to stay afloat and instead be able to remain in line with the others. She had years of training that prepared her for this. Evangeline would do good to remember that and trust it to take effect.

The ride continued with nothing more than the horse hooves and turned wood hitting stones interrupting the silence. Evangeline had been sure she was looking out the window and watching those strange straight trees move past, but evidently she had fallen asleep. Sigourney was waking her gently, prodding her shoulder and speaking her name to rouse her.

“Are we close?” Evangeline asked with a glance out the window. She had been hoping to see the night fading and morning taking over the sky but it was still dark with no glimmer of hope on the horizon. She pulled her cloak around her shoulders. Sigourney must have laid it over her sometime during her nap.

“We are close. Are you nervous?” Sigourney asked, and seemed genuine in her question.

“Both yes and no. I am excited to meet finally with this man who I am supposed to love for the remaining days. I am still certain he will see me and turn me away in disgust.” Evangeline’s walls were down and she was completely vulnerable to sleep making her mind slow to remember who she was speaking with.

“You will be fine. Prince Glais cannot reject you. His father will not allow it.” Sigourney smiled at her grim attempt at humour.

It was not comforting to know that. Evangeline just gave a small nod because it seemed that Sigourney felt the words would have a far more calming impact then they did. Although neither Glais or Evangeline had been able to reject the plan put in place when they were only children, Evangeline always hoped they would find love together. Acceptance was not good enough for her, even if it was not her place to fight this.

“When we arrive, I will be staying in the carriage.” Sigourney’s words ruined what might have been the one hopeful moment to pass through Evangeline since this trip had started. Most of the time she was altogether too anxious to be really inspired to hope for anything. Dreaming had not even been an option for the young woman.

“Won’t you leave the carriage with me?” Evangeline asked, hoping she didn’t sound like the scared child she felt like.

“I will be leaving the carriage when it is closer to the servant quarters. Do not worry about me. It is merely a formality. Had this been any other arrival, I would have been introducing you but since you are who you are, it is far more fitting for you to arrive alone.” Sigourney patted Evangeline’s knee, giving her leg a squeeze before moving on. The touch had been meant for comfort, but it did not comfort Evangeline. Instead, it felt heartless and without real emotional connection stirring her onward.

“No one is looking to see me, Evangeline.” Sigourney motioned for Evangeline to turn and the girl removed her cloak and sat with her back to Sigourney so she could tighten the laces and close the corset again. “This gathering is all for you.”

It made sense to Evangeline. She knew what this was, and how important it was for her to present the right kind of behaviour to the royal court of Braykith. However, she felt so alone. Meeting Sigourney seemed like an opportunity for a friend. If not a friend, then, at least, someone there with her so not all the eyes would be on her.