Ash-colored Despair (17)
The longboat turned around without further ado.
Thalia, who could barely keep up with him, almost dragged herself out of the room and, looking around with a frightened look, caught anxious thoughts: would all this chaos, into which the inheritance ceremony had turned, turn back on them?
But most of the vassals, on the contrary, looked as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
“Now they will restore order in the eastern lands,” the man spoke, quietly approaching them.
His face seemed vaguely familiar to Thalia; it seemed she had seen him on the day of Longboat’s fight.
The man was dressed in a richly decorated ceremonial uniform. With a slight nod, he expressed respect to her and immediately turned his gaze to Longkas.
— Starting tomorrow, will you immediately begin touring the property?
“If no unforeseen problems arise,” Barkas responded dryly and, lowering his gaze to Talia, asked:
—Are you ready to leave right away?
- …Where?
“This is part of the inheritance ceremony,” the man intervened. — Ritual event: a tour of key regions of the East in order to introduce subjects to the new ruler and assess the situation on the ground.
Talia looked up at him with confusion.
- And I have to go?
“Usually the Grand Duchess accompanies her husband, but...” he hesitated, sneaking a glance at Longkas.
The longboat, walking along the corridor, suddenly stopped. Talia winced as she felt his hand touch her cheek. He calmly lifted her chin and said quietly:
“You will go too, your highness.”
Thalia's eyes widened. Since she injured her leg, he had never ordered anything to her so insistently.
“It was you who told us not to hide you from people,” he added with emphasis, as if driving these words into her memory. - I will carry out this order. From now on, no one in these lands will doubt that you are the Grand Duchess of Siekan.
She opened her mouth in silent shock. She thought that it was only about introducing her to the vassals, but he intends to put her on public display in front of the entire East!
She swallowed.
- R-I can’t now! I need to pack my things, call the nanny, my doctor...
- I have already warned your retinue. “By this hour, all preparations have been completed,” he snapped, leaving her not the slightest chance to retreat.
Talia rolled her eyes feverishly, trying to come up with a new excuse, but she didn’t have time - Barkas, bending down, effortlessly picked her up in his arms. She screamed as soon as she could wrap her arms around his neck.
Not paying the slightest attention to her confusion, he walked down the stairs with long strides, crossed the majestic hall, and gave a short order to the vassals:
- Prepare the knightly corps. We are moving towards the Norden Plains.
He walked through a huge arched gate filled with light. Talia squinted at the harsh glare and, when her eyes adjusted, she saw a courtyard filled to the brim with retinue.
A chill ran down her spine: hundreds of eyes looked at her as if at something outlandish, numb with surprise.
That very day in the palace surfaced in my memory - a strange bird in a cage and the greedy glances that pierced right through it.
Talia hid her face against his chest and whispered:
- Tell them... don't let them look. This makes me disgusted.
“I’m not sure they’ll listen,” Longkas responded without the slightest expression in his voice.
Talia glared at him angrily.
- You are now the Grand Duke. Order the execution of everyone who disobeys. Or pierce him with a spear, as before.
The corner of his lips barely twitched in mockery.
“Are you suggesting that I exterminate all Eastern people?”
Thalia frowned. She tried to understand whether he was joking or not. Unable to read a single emotion in his face, she peered at him as if into someone else's mask. Barkas calmly added:
“If you execute everyone who looks at you... soon the entire Kan people will disappear from the face of the earth.”
- Don't talk nonsense. I meant for you to just threaten them.
— In the East they don’t throw around empty threats. If something is said, it must be fulfilled.
Talia felt slightly confused. She still couldn’t believe that she could even have such a meaningless argument with Barkas. Her head felt strangely empty, as if she had inhaled intoxicating herbs, although no sleeping incense had been burned.
She nervously licked her dry lips and shook her head irritably:
- Okay then. What a long way of saying “be patient.”
“I’m glad you understood me,” Barkas smiled wryly and turned her face so that she was looking straight ahead. Talia shrugged her shoulders awkwardly. His even, slightly hoarse voice slid into my ear:
- Raise your head.
Talia shuddered slightly. Longboat supported her so high that her face was above his shoulder, and quietly whispered:
“You said it yourself, even if you are hiding, I have no right to hide you.” Right?
At that moment, a gust of wind came, whipping up their clothes. Thalia, as if obeying something stronger than herself, slowly raised her chin.
Cool air, smelling of dry grass, easily slipped between the folds of the fabric. Like a tickling silk veil, the wind gently wrapped around her skin. Talia felt the unpleasant chill under her skin recede. Taking a deep breath, Thalia looked at the shining sky, then lowered her gaze.
The rays of the sun blinded, but did not hurt. When she looked down again, people were still looking at her, not even daring to blink. But there was something different in these looks now.
Awe. A slight trembling ran through the body. It was similar to the looks of followers looking at her mother.
Talia turned her head again and looked at Longboat. Maybe because he was nearby... but she couldn’t believe that no one noticed her “depravity.”
- Your Excellency! - an exclamation was heard from ahead.
As they approached the gate, one of the knights lined up stepped forward and bowed his head. It was Tyrone.
The longboat stopped at a large traveling carriage and lazily said:
- For now I am only acting.
“But you already hold all the real power in your hands,” Tyrone chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. — Everyone is delighted with the young and strong ruler. Don't cool down the people's fervor.
The longboat did not answer, he simply passed the rider and opened the carriage door.
Talia looked around the spacious, furnished interior and squinted slightly. Now it became clear to her where he had been all this week. Even two people would not have had enough time to secure the loyalty of the vassals, force the Duke into the ceremony and prepare the journey.
Longboat climbed into the carriage first and gently sat her down on the wide seat. He was about to close the door when Tyrone again blocked the opening with his hand.
- I have one request. Let young Mister Lucas travel with you.
“Have you forgotten that I forbade this boy from leaving the gate?”
Tyrone sighed quietly.
- I remember. But Lucas is your brother. In a few years he will become your assistant. It’s better to let him gain experience now, and not keep him like a ten-year-old child locked behind books. Let him learn by doing.
There was a thin crease between Barkas’s eyebrows. He silently peered into the tanned face of the knight and after a couple of seconds exhaled, as if giving up:
- Okay. Let him follow as my squire.
Smiling, Tyrone stepped aside. Longboat slammed the door and sat down opposite Thalia.
She glanced weakly at him. He usually rode Torque. But now, even when the wheels were already knocking, Longboat was in no hurry to leave the carriage.
Thalia asked hesitantly:
“Aren’t you... going to ride?”
Longboat, removing a long, heavy bracelet from his wrist, looked at her coldly:
- Do you want me to get out of the carriage?
- Who's driving you? “I just asked,” she muttered, looking away.
Seeing how abrupt he was today, Talia carefully cowered and stared out the window. Because of what she had done, she couldn't snap back like usual. She pressed herself against the wall of the carriage, pretending to look at the street.
Longboat, leaning back in his seat, ran his fingers through his tousled hair.
— As you might guess, our marriage has become a topic of gossip. To shut up all the rumors, you will have to pretend to be a normal married couple for some time.