The first carriages were arriving. Vara watched them from one of the upstairs windows. She was curious about the women.

Eudemas stood beside her, quietly. She worried about Vara. It was evident that she had feelings for the young prince, and prince Cyrus himself was not indifferent towards her either.

But they were not meant to be.

One of these women that were invited to the palace would be the prince’s wife.

“They look real aristocratic, don’t you think?”

Vara’s voice startled her, but the girl was not looking at her. Her eyes were still on the arriving guests.

Eudemas cleared her throat. “They’re none of them as pretty as you.”

Vara laughed surprised. “Thank you, but I doubt that’s true. Besides, I don’t think the new queen to be will be picked because of how she looks.”

“Of curse,” Eudemas said quietly, “Forgive me.”

Vara smiled at her. “Come,” she said, “we should prepare for the welcoming dinner tonight. The king will expect me to be there.”

Eudemas nodded and followed her back to her quarters. “Which dress would you like to wear tonight?” she asked while walking towards the large wardrobe.

“I don’t know,” Vara sighed. She sat down in front of the large mirror and waved her hand. “You can choose something.” She stared at her reflection. She had never considered herself very pretty, but others had.

She sighed. It didn’t matter. Her marriage would be arranged for her,  just like Cyrus’.

“How about this one?”

Vara looked over her shoulder at the servant girl she considered a  friend. Eudemas was holding up a deep blue gown that left one shoulder bare. She loved that dress. It would compliment her figure.

She nodded at Eudemas and smiled at the girls’ cleverness.

If she couldn’t have Cyrus, at least she would catch his eye. And the eye of other guests.

“It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“You shouldn’t be thanking me, my lady. I am here to serve you.”

“Eudemas,” Vara said sadly “I consider you a friend. I thought you saw me as one too.”

“I do, but it’s not proper.”

“Forget conventions,” Vara said, “if you are so set on obeying my every wish, then I order you to call me by first name.”

 A small smile broke through on Eudemas’  face. “Alright.” She laughed quietly, “I will address you thusly, Vara.” She made a deep and theatrical bow.

Vara laughed.”That is more like it.” She stood up and hugged the girl. “Thank you for being my friend. I am in dire need of one in this flock of peacocks that will be residing at the palace.”

Eudemas carefully answered her smile. “They’ve got noting on you.”

***

“So, you’re meeting them tonight?” Iolaus Valerus grinned at his best friend while he filled himself a goblet of wine.

He and Cyrus had been friends ever since he had been send to court to be fostered by the Aurelios family. His father was a well-known courtier and one of the king’s closest confidants.

Cyrus groaned and placed his arm over his eyes. He was sprawled out on his bed and glanced at his friend from under his arm. “Don’t remind me. I had almost succeeded in forgetting.”

Iolaus shook his head amused. “Poor prince,” he mocked, “has to suffer through an evening filled with beautiful young ladies.”

“You are welcome to take my place,” Cyrus offered.

“Ophelia would have my head,” Iolaus mentioned his fiancée. She was the daughter of a minor lorldling. “Not to mention her brothers.” Both of Ophelia’s brothers served in the kings’ guard. And Ophelia was almost as feisty as Vara.

Iolaus sauntered over to his friend and handed him a second goblet. “Here you go my friend. To your courage. May you last the evening without perishing.”

“Hear, hear,” Cyrus said. He sat up and accepted the wine. “Where is Ophi anyway? Will she not be attending tonight?”

“She may be my fiancée, Cyrus, you know she’s not invited. I am only here because I have to babysit you.” He smirked.

Cyrus laughed good-natured and let himself fall back on the bed again. “Ah, Iolaus. I don’t need a  wife. I have so many restrictions already. Why add one more?”

“Having a wife doesn’t mean you can’t have other women,” Iolaus commented, “especially when you’re the prince.”

“I wouldn’t let Ophelia hear you say that,” Cyrus answered in a dry tone.

“Ah, but that’s the difference. I am content with only one woman. You on the other hand can never have enough.”

“I would with the right woman.”

Iolaus sighed and put his goblet back down. “You need to forget about her.”

Cyrus smiled lazily. “How could I? She’s like a hawk  amongst chickens.” He sat up again. “She doesn’t want me.”

“Then she has more sense than you.”

“You sound like my father,” Cyrus growled. He stood up and started pacing the room.

“Your father is right,” Iolaus stated calmly, “you know you can’t have her and she knows it too. If you truly care about her, then don’t ruin her chances of a  future.”

Cyrus gritted his teeth in annoyance. He knew his friend was right. That didn’t mean he had to like it. “I want her to be happy,” he said.

“Then you should let her go.” Iolaus sighed. “For now you need to focus on a couple of other ladies that will all be vying for your attention.” He smirked. “Try to be charming, will you?”

“When am I ever not?” Cyrus smirked back. But he stood up and waved a servant boy over. “Haul up water for my bath. I have a banquet to attend.”

***

“We are going to be late!” Darius Tirzé paced up and down the dirt road while his servants were attempting to fix the broken wheel of the carriage. His face held irritation at his apparently incompetent servants. “Why is the wagon not repaired yet?! We are expected at the palace!”

Torcan, who was used to his friend’s temper issues, took a deep breath and placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. Being bodyguard as well as close friend to the prince of Tireze was no easy feat.

“Calm yourself, Darius,” he said, “losing your head won’t fix tings any faster.”

Darius ignore him. “This couldn’t have happened at a more inconvenient time. These negotiations are important to my father and to our kingdom. Showing up late will not make for a good start.” He turned to his servants again. “Hurry up already. I do not want to spend the night out on the raid.”

The servants offered no comment, but continued their labor. Any reaction from their side would only add fuel to the young prince’s temper.

“My lord prince,” one of the guards accompanying their small entourage edged closer to his sovereign, “if it please you, we could ride ahead and find an inn.”

Darius narrowed his eyes in annoyance. The prospect of staying amongst commoners was not at all appealing. He looked at Torcan. “How long until our destination?”

Torcan sighed. “At least three more hours until we reach the city.” He eyed the sky, “the evening is upon us, Darius. We shouldn’t linger here for long.” He glanced past Darius to the side of the road where a young woman was shivering in her cloak.

Darius followed his gaze and sighed when he looked at his sister. She was seated on their luggage and looking extremely miserable.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at Torcan. “Fetch three horses. We will ride the last part of the journey.”

Torcan bowed and turned to the guard to pass on the prince’s instructions. He shook his head in concern. He was not sure whether this was a wise decision or not. Perhaps it would have been better to spend the night at an inn. It was still a fair ride and Darius’ sister was rather frail. She was not used to riding long hours. He journey would wear her out.

Still, there was no arguing with Darius. In absence of his father the king, his words was law.

“Ariane,” Darius called.

Ariane stood up and pulled her cloak tighter around her. With careful steps she walked up to her brother.

“We will be riding the rest of the way,” Darius told her. He took one of the smaller horses that Torcan had brought and turned his sister towards the animal.

“I … I am not a good rider, Darius,” Ariane protested weakly. She had sat on a horse twice and both times she had been utterly afraid.

“We need to get going,” Darius said impatiently, “unless you want to spend the night out in the open and insult king Marcos for being late.”

Ariane bit her lip. She was fully aware that her father and her brother planned to wed her off to prince Cyrus. There were rumors all around that the king was looking for a bride for his only son. It would bring prosperity to both kingdoms. Wealth for her country, a defense line for this one. The mountains of her homeland were high and perilous. No enemy would be able to cross them.

“Hurry up, Ariane,” Darius said and he bent to give her a boost.

Ariane flinched as she sat a top of the horse and her hands grabbed the saddle tightly.

Darius and Torcan both mounted their horse and Darius took his sister’s reins.

When the horse set in motion, Arian gasped and closed her eyes in terror.

“It will be easier, Ari, if you open your eyes,” Torcan’s kind voice reached her ear. He was the only one to ever call her that.

“If I do I will fall,” she whispered.

“Open your eyes, Ariane,” Darius said.

Ariane sighed and carefully followed suit. She didn’t dare let go of the saddle however.

Torcan smirked amused and urged his horse to catch up with Darius’ animal. He sighed when a soft rain started to drizzle from the sky. The day couldn’t get any worse. They had been on the road for two days now and he longed for a hot bath and a soft bed, but he knew that would still be far off.

He would have to see to the comfort of the royal siblings before he could attend to his own.

He glanced at the huddled Ariane again and then at the annoyed expression on Darius’  face.

He sighed.

It would be a long day indeed.

***

“You look beautiful, my lady… Vara.” Eudemas pinned down the last strand of Vara’s hair and looked at her in the mirror.

Vara smiled. “Thank you, but the credit goes to you. You did a wonderful job.” Her eyes saddened at the thought of the coming evening. How was she ever going to manage being polite to all those wannabe queens?

“You’ll be fine,” Eudemas said comforting when she noticed Vara’s face, “and who knows, perhaps you will meet the man of your dreams tonight.”

A grin found its way to Vara’s face. “How? All those attending will be flirting peacocks and dried up prunes.”

“Ah, you never know. Besides, wouldn’t you want those ladies to see who they’re up against?”

Vara sighed. It didn’t matter what those young women thought of her. She was already out of the equation by the simple matter of birth. But she could study the guests and see who had Cyrus’ best interests at heart.

After all, this was not just about a marriage. This was about politics too.

And it would be in everyone’s best interest if the vipers were weeded out now.

“Eudemas,” she said, “I have an idea. And I need your help.”

***

“I think I’ll take my leave now,” Iolaus said when the servant boy hauled in buckets of steaming water, “I need to get dressed for the evening myself. I will met you in the hall.”

“Iolaus wait,” Cyrus called, “I have a favor to ask of you.”

His friend stopped at the doorway and looked at him. “What is it?”

Cyrus sighed and threw a hand through his hair. “Watch over her tonight, will you?”

Iolaus smirked. “Vara is perfectly capable of holding  her own.”

“I know that,” Cyrus said, “but I’ll be busy getting aquintained with all the guests. I don’t want her to be by herself. You are already engaged ad Ophelia is not here tonight. Will you keep her company?”

“You know I will, Cyrus. You don’t even need to ask.”

Cyrus nodded. “Good.”

Iolaus inclined his head and left the room. Most of the guest had arrived by now and were settling into their appointed quarters.

The official banquet would not start for a few hours, but the were still many preparations to be made. Servants were bustling about, carrying trays of refreshments and other necessities.

Iolaus halted a boy. “Could you bring up water for my bath?”

The boy bowed. “Yes sir.” And he hurried to his task.

Iolaus sighed. This night could either be a great success or an utter disaster. He actually felt sorry for the girl that would be chosen to marry Cyrus. Hs friend was not a bad man, but the girl would commit to a loveless marriage. He feared that as long as Cyrus was still in love with Vara, he wouldn’t even attempt to love his wife.

He just hoped his friend wouldn’t be too obvious about it. Political unions were frail enough as it was and the kingdom didn’t need an enemy in the back when it was already occupied with defending her borders.

He sighed again and made for his room. He hoped his bath would be ready by now. He needed a few minutes of peace and quiet. Once the banquet had started he’d be too busy with the guests and his promise regarding Vara.

The girl was like a sister to him and he knew how hard this evening would be on her.

He just hoped she wouldn’t cause any trouble.