Khushala

I felt the heat bloom in my cheeks, the same heat that always followed a conversation with Rafail. It was a welcome feeling, this giddiness, this love. One could easily be intoxicated by it. Do I dare let myself? I suppose if there’s ever a day for it, it would be today.

I rushed up the stairs to my rooms, where I knew a servant would be waiting with a veil to match the one Rafail wore. I grinned, thrilled by the forbidden moment. We should not have seen each other at all until we met in front of the Sun Forge for the official ceremony, but I just couldn’t help myself. I had caught sight of him and before I knew it, my hand was wrapped around his wrist and pulling him toward me, desperately wanting to touch him, to kiss him. And what a sweet kiss it was. Rafail’s lips had been warm, as always, and the look in his eyes melted something in my chest.

I can’t wait to be married to him. For us to be man and wife. For the rest of our lives. Growing up, I hadn’t spent much time thinking about my wedding—having never had the luxury of idle imaginings while I built a reputation in Sundsholm for my skill with a glaive—but if I had, I never would have dreamt of anything quite like this. It was like something out of the stories my older brother once read to me—except that soldiers didn’t marry monarchs. But Rafail wasn’t most monarchs. He had earned the respect of his people by leading them to victory over the Moon Court.

My heart warmed at the thought of his hand in mine. We had already waited so long, and I hadn’t wanted to wait another minute to take my place at his side—even if it did mean politics would be a part of my life for the foreseeable future. I preferred open conflict to the backroom deals and power plays of the Sun Court’s political theater, but that was the battlefield he knew best. . I knew he had ambitions. And those ambitions had already been truly beneficial for the Sun Court kingdom. Rafail was born to lead, and it was more and more obvious by the day that he had found his calling. He’s doing what he does for the sake of our people. He’s sacrificed so much to prevent his people from suffering at the hands of the moon fae, and fought so hard to restore the Sun Court to its former strength.

A familiar figure flashed at the corner of my eye, and I stopped, realizing what part of the palace I was in. Doubling back a few steps, I took a right turn to find the statue of our lost Prince Ruang. Before the war, he had been next in line to become our leader, and had always been hopeful about the prospect of peace with the Moon Court.

But then, the very same people he’d tried to work with had murdered him in cold blood. Naturally, it had been a great shock to the entire Sun Court, an unspeakable tragedy to have our beloved prince struck down by the enemy after all his efforts to find common ground. He had believed in the possibility of peace with such conviction that for a time, I had believed in it, too—many of us had. A dream that had died with him.

Even though it had been decades since his passing, I still missed seeing his kind face. It was one I had sworn to fight for, and I had—even after his death. The statue did not do him justice, though the artist had made a fair attempt to capture his particular expression, the unique combination of determination and gentleness that had defined his gaze.

Prince Ruang would be happy today. If he was here. My heart squeezed a little with old grief, though there was more than one cause for celebration today. The Sun Court had finally won the war against the Moon Court that had been fought in his name. Ruang was avenged—and it was Rafail who had avenged him. Rafail who would take up his mantle and lead the Sun Court into a new age. And I will lead with him.

Though I knew this was just the latest in centuries and centuries of violence between our two nations, there was something different about the end of this war. This time it felt…over. Truly over. The Sun Court had decisively won for the first time in living memory. We had taken Thanayaa, the Moon Court’s capital, and were just a few short months away from installing a regent of our own there.

I ran a finger over the rough red stone of the statue one more time before turning and running the rest of the way to my rooms. The last thing I wanted was to be late for the ceremony, especially after my rendezvous with Rafail in the hall.

But thankfully, the focus on simplicity meant that all my servant really needed to do was tie the veil and weave it into my black hair, and I stood impatiently while she did so, trying and failing not to shift my weight from foot to foot . “Sorry,” I murmured. “I’m a little nervous.”

She smiled as the veil settled into place and stepped away. “Beautiful.”

I thanked her and turned, looking out the window at the sky. The sun was still making its climb, and in just a few short hours, after it hit its zenith, I would be married.

I wrapped my arms around myself and let out a small squeal of excitement, unable to contain it any longer. I would be married!

The Khushala of old would have raised an eyebrow at my girlish delight about such a thing as marriage, but I wouldn’t let self-consciousness dilute the feeling. Not today. I was…happy. Truly happy. And in a world where happiness had been a practically mythical concept for much of my life, the fact that I could feel it at all was significant.

I left my rooms feeling as if I would burst with this incredible and irrepressible joy, making my way through the halls on swift feet. I paused once at the statue of Prince Ruang and bowed my head before continuing on. Today was a day I would remember for the rest of my life—and I was ready to meet it. I was more than ready.

By the time I finally reached the courtyard, it was already teeming with veiled Sun Fae, all of them wearing simple clothing in keeping with Sun Court tradition. A wry grin split my face. Evil spirits, do your worst. Even if they could identify us, I’d like to see them try to best Rafail and I. We have not fought so long and hard to be separated now.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out into the fresh and crisp morning air, taking in the crowd. It was larger than I had expected, full of people from all over Sundsholm. Rafail had already explained to me that this was meant to be a wedding for everyone, and what better way to symbolize the end of a war we had collectively endured?

I knew he was right, and that as leader of the Sun Court, our wedding was always going to be at least partially performative, but a part of me still wished we could have at least had a small ceremony together first. Something more intimate. Something for us. I’m happy to be here now, and to know we’re about to be wed, but with such an audience…

I held back a sigh as someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to find a nondescript woman shrouded in the same sort of veil I wore. It took me a moment of peering beneath the gold material to realize who it was, and when I did, I couldn’t hold back a delighted laugh. “Deidre!”

I threw my arms around my friend, who returned the hug with equal vigor. Deidre pulled away, but kept her hands wrapped loosely around mine. She gave my hand a gentle squeeze, and and I grinned, relieved to see her. I had not dared to hope she would be able to attend my wedding—as ambassador to the Moon Court, I knew Deidre’s diplomatic work would intensify as the transition of power in Thanayaa began in earnest.

“I’m so happy you’re still here. I was worried you would already be gone.”

Deidre smiled, but there was a touch of sadness in her face. “I’m on the first boat to cross the Shadow Sea to the Moon Court the second the ceremony is over.”

I frowned at the ever-present thread of grief in Deidre’s voice. She was Ruang’s cousin, and should have been our leader, but she chose to abdicate her place when Ruang died. Though I had never understood why, I didn’t press it. I’m sure Deidre has her reasons, and I will respect them.

I tightened my hands around hers. “I’m so glad you’re here. Really, I—”

I broke off as a voice interrupted. It was one of the servants, apparently recognizing us beneath the veils. The woman looked at me and bowed. “It’s time.”