Ill at ease, Allegra went to the colonel. His wife watched with dark, enigmatic eyes that revealed nothing of what she felt. She was smaller and younger than Allegra, with delicate features and eyes too large for her face.
When Allegra reached them, they all stood waiting, like some bizarre tableau. The womans eyes widened, and Allegra had the distinct impression she had horrified this fragile, lovely person. Puzzled, she glanced at Bladebreakand almost stepped back from the fury in his gaze. Well, now what?
Belatedly it occurred to her that they expected her to kneel. Too bad. She stayed put. Standing.
Bladebreak looked beyond her to Markus. The prince continued talking to his generals, for all appearances oblivious to everyone else. Allegra suspected he knew exactly what was happening and pretended otherwise because he didnt want to be involved in Allegras confrontation with the colonel.
Bladebreak spoke coldly to Allegra. “Jasmine will tend to you in preparation for your audience with the atajazid.
Allegra smiled at his wife. “Jasmine? she asked.
The girl nodded, her gaze averted as if she couldnt bear to look at someone who had so terribly insulted her husband.
“Im Allegra, she added, more to irritate Bladebreak than because she thought Jasmine cared.
Bladebreak left them and went to Markus. As the men spoke, Allegra grimaced. Yargazon and Bladebreak were trying to convince Markus of something, no doubt concerning what he should do to her.
As Allegra turned to Jasmine, the girl finally looked at her. “You must do what they want, or they will hurt you, Jasmine said. She seemed subdued, pulled within herself, so different from Rose TAmbera.
“Does he hurt you? Allegra asked.
“He is a fine man, Jasmine said. “A good, strong husband.
Allegra had her own thoughts on that, but she doubted his wife wanted to hear them. “Why do you kneel to him?
“What else would I do?
Allegra had numerous suggestions, none of them pleasant for Bladebreak, but she held back. If she said the wrong thing, and the colonel found out, he might vent his anger on his wife because he couldnt touch Markuss consort. What could she tell Jasmine, anyway? Revolt? Right. With women so outnumbered, isolated, uneducated and beaten down, it was a wonder any of them even spoke. The cruel life bred by this cruel land was killing its people, both the men and the women.
“Nothing, I guess, Allegra said. To her relief, everyone else was leaving the pavilion.
“Come. Jasmine smiled shyly. “I will bathe and perfume you. You may wear my bridal dress.
“Goodness, Allegra said. “You dont have to do all that. Bladebreak must have already told her about the wedding.
Jasmine hesitated. “I dont mean to presume. Its justI never have anyone to talk to.
“Youre not presuming, Allegra told her, mortified she had troubled the girl. “Its kind of you to offer your dress, and I would love to visit with you.
Jasmines face relaxed. “It would be fun. Ivan lets me visit my friends if he is here, if he approves of them and it doesnt interfere with his duties. But that isnt often.
“Ivan?
“My husband.
Ivan Bladebreak. Even his name was harsh. “Maybe you and I can visit.
“I would be honored, Your Highness.
Allegra reddened. “Im no Highness.
“You will be, in less than an hour. Pleasure glowed in her gaze. “You must be excited! To marry Markus Onyx. Women throughout Jazid will envy you.
Allegra was tempted to say, They can have him. She didnt, though. She told herself it was because it would upset Jasmine, but in truth, the thought of Markus with another woman bothered her far more than she wanted to admit.
“Jasmine. Allegra chose her words carefully. “When people marry here, do they sign a contract scroll?
“Of course. Jasmine beckoned her to a stool inlaid with blue and green mosaics. It stood next to a table with a blue porcelain ewer in a white bowl. “The atajazid must witness and accept Prince Markuss contract.
Allegra sat down. “Who decides what goes into the contract?
Jasmine wet a cloth with water from the ewer. “His Highness and the atajazid will write yours. She set to washing Allegras face. “You are so lovely. I know of no other woman with your coloring. Its pretty.
“Thank you. At least Jasmine didnt share Yargazons distaste for people from Aronsdale. “Is it part of the contract that a husband wont have women other than his wife?
She stopped cleaning Allegras face. “You mean that the woman will have no other man, yes?
“No. I mean it for the man.
“I dont think so. But men are expected to be faithful.
“Even prince regents?
Jasmine wouldnt look at her. “Onyx men are special.
Given what Allegra had heard about Markuss father, she had no desire to know what “special meant. She tried telling herself she didnt care what Markus did, but it was a lie. She didnt want to think about what her reaction meant, that the idea of Markus with another woman hurt so much.
A memory came to her of his voice: I would never throw away a woman because she wasnt new and perfect, especially not after I got her pregnant three times. He had been a little boy when his father lost interest in his mother. It must have hurt a great deal, that he would swear such when his culture probably allowed, even encouraged, him to do exactly as his father had done. It added another layer of complexity to this man she was beginning to realize had far more to him than most anyone else she knew.
Jasmine helped her bathe and pinned up her hair with curls cascading down her neck. Then she brought out the wedding dress. Allegra had hoped it would be just that: a dress. But it covered little more of her than the other outfits. It had the usual hip belt, this one solid gold with diamonds, emeralds and sapphires. Slender chains hung from it to the floor. When she moved, they swayed, revealing skin, then hiding it. The halter was metal. All of it. More gems inlaid it, and a fringe of chains hung from its lower edge against her abdomen. A man had to have dreamed up the blasted outfit; what woman would design metal underwear for herself? The halter constrained her breathing and pushed her breasts together into cleavage. The skirt tangled around her legs. Bah.
“Why are you frowning? Jasmine dusted powder over the fading bruise on Allegras face and the traces of the gouge on her stomach, hiding both. “You look beautiful.
“Do women here dress like this all the time?
Jasmine laughed, a lovely chiming sound. “Not at all. Only when they wish to please the men.
“That figures, Allegra muttered.
“Oh, they are all just like little boys, even the ones with gray hair and wrinkles. We must humor them.
Allegra scowled. “Why, pray tell, must we humor them?
“Its that pride of theirs, Jasmine said, amused. “They grouse and growl and are quite pleased with themselves.
“Ive noticed.
“There. Jasmine stepped back and surveyed her work. “Prince Markus will be speechless when he sees you.
Allegra couldnt imagine Markus ever being speechless. It relieved her, though, that the preparations hadnt taken long. “That wasnt so bad.
“It is fun, yes? I never have a chance to do this anymore, since the colonel brought me here. I never see anyone.
Allegra had never been much for primping, but Jasmine seemed to enjoy it. With Bladebreak out of the room, she had relaxed, becoming a girl sharing confidences with a friend instead of the constrained wife of one of the armys most powerful officers.
“Are there many women in the camp? Allegra asked.
“Some wives or concubines, Jasmine said. “A few pleasure girls. Not many, though. After the problems, Prince Markus told the women they had to go home or stay out of sight.
That didnt sound good. “What happened?
“It was mostly with the tenders. She shifted her weight. “If a woman worked where men could see her, it started fights among the men. Or else they took her away, to share among themselves. Prince Markus was afraid someone would get killed. So he sent the women home. She hesitated. “He sent a few of the men home, too.