The Wings of Ashtaroth

Chapter 14: Lovers: Section I: Iridescia

Iridescia: The Court on the Hill: Ipsis: Indas

Before Melqan's conversion, Iridescia had read, marriages had been celebrated in the streets in the days following the spring harvest. Betrothed couples would be shuffled to the market by their families, and the whole city would feast and toast to the new matches, as they toasted the prosperity of the crops.

Common people celebrated their marriages quietly these days, behind closed doors where they would be free from the prying eyes of Star's spies. In secret, couples whispered prayers to Tanata, brides painted their faces blue and yellow to draw down the goddess's blessing, and grooms threaded their hair with the coins that constituted the bridewealth paid to Ipsis's hidden priests and the groom's new in-laws.

On this, Star's wedding night to the man Iridescia now knew to be her dead brother, there was no need for bridewealth. There was no call for Liberio to thread his wine-dark hair with coins. There were no Ashenqa of Tanata to bless the marriage. And the only colour with which Star's slaves had stained their mistress's cheeks was Lora-white to represent her entry into Hadrianus's White Faction household.

From morning until night, Iridescia had been pinned to Star's side, forced to watch the grim spectacle of Star's slaves prettying her up for her wedding.

Aunt Star had practically chained Iridescia to her side since the events in the Haven. The only times she could escape were when Star banished her from the room to hold private meetings, or when Star visited Hadrianus in his chambers. Slaves hugged Iridescia like ducklings did their mother if she so much as ventured from one room to another. Always, there was the threat of hidden eyes watching her.

The latest threat though, was marriage.

Star had insisted it wouldn't be long before Iridescia was ready, something she said was to both their advantages, now that the vizier had seen how the spirits obeyed her grandniece.

Bloodlines had to continue, Star had lectured, lest they become blood ponds.

Iridescia was arrayed in the finest gold and jewels she'd ever worn, her braids bound and tied with gold ribbon, the fringes of her sheer dress outlined in gold, with gold embellishment on the red patterns on its surface, and gold straps on her sandals—fit to be wed herself.

And so Iridescia stood in the middle of the crowd of guests, packed tight against her wealthy suitor.

Mazaetul eq-Qapussa, a rich landlord and steadfast supporter of Hadrianus, towered next to her, as wide around as he was tall. She'd measured earlier, in her imagination, and she was certain she could fit two and a half Iridescias inside one Mazaetul.

He looked a bull, with a drunkard's ruddy cheeks. He had clever, kindly eyes though, and his short curly hair boasted only a scattered few grey strands

Iridescia hugged her arms, trying hard as she could not to graze her bare elbow against his arm.

As Iridescia watched, he disappeared another of his rings between his chubby fingers, making it reappear in his opposite hand. He'd been showing Iridescia magic tricks since they'd arrived, unable to understand her hand signs. He didn't seem a bad man, if Iridescia had to marry anyone, but she shuddered at the thought of his skin touching hers.

All the rich men and women of the city had been invited to the courthouse on the hill, and there was food and drink in abundance for those who attended (and everyone who was invited attended).

A long, rectangular table divided the centre of the room, hiding the pool of eels from view, but no matter how hard they tried to disguise it, the darkness lurked underneath, ever-present. The moonlight slanting inside from the skylight only seemed to mark the danger more deeply, though the light itself was delicate and beautiful—auspicious, surely, whether you worshipped blessed Adonen or heathen Tanata.