The Winds of North: The Order of Fate

Chapter 7

~ Altaster, Orsat / The Golden Steppes ~

Once the girls had their Reading, everything took on the speed of an avalanche. Only a few days until their departure, Cerilla was unable to think about anything else. What would happen once she left? She despised the rules in Orsat, but would she be able to say farewell to this beautiful place she called home? Come to think of it, the only thing she disliked here was the damned Order of Fate – if there weren't for them, she wouldn't have to go anywhere. At least not where she didn't want to go.

The journey from Orsat to the Rundawald border was supposed to take about two months by carriage. It was going to be an excruciatingly long time. She'd probably die of boredom on the way, so she didn't have to worry about her wedding too much. On the other hand, Nellara was looking forward to her new life in Moonshine, which caused Cerilla daily battles with enormous envy. She only found some comfort in knowing that the journey through the Diamond Desert wouldn't exactly be a walk through a rose garden.

***

Day D had finally come. The servants woke the girls before dawn, so they could get ready for the journey, say farewell to their family, and cross as much of their journey that day as possible. Sitting at a table lit with lanterns, Cerilla couldn't stop yawning. She longed for her pillows so badly! It was the earliest she ever had to wake up.

Once they finished their breakfast, the maids escorted them out of their chambers. Nellara squeezed Cerilla's hand. She was shaking. As they walked the halls of the Orsat palace for the very last time, Cerilla took it upon her to be the source of strength for her sister. In fact, it was what kept Cerilla's tears at bay, at least for now.

The city of Orsat was just waking up, but the palace was already bustling. Men and women mixed freely now – everyone was in a hurry and there was no time to organise such things. An entire entourage of carriages, soldiers on horseback and servants was engulfed with the chaos in the vast courtyard. Armaments, water barrels, food chests – everything was coming in great numbers as men and women loaded it into the carriages. Two of them were appointed for the priests who would conduct the wedding ceremonies. It was a must for any Altasteran to be wed in the presence of a priest from the Order of Fate, otherwise the marriage would be considered null and void.

Dowry chests already sat behind a cart's walls, as well as chests with the princesses' personal items – namely dresses, shoes, combs, fragrance bottles, hygienic commodities, jewelry and hair ornaments. By the time the servants loaded everything into the carriages, buttery yellows spilled over the horizon. It was time to say goodbye to their family. And to Orsat.

„Do send me letters," Queen Kasmeera said, when she finally stopped squeezing her daughter. „I want to know everything!" She smiled through the tears that were running freely down her face.

„I will," Cerilla breathed. It might have been the last time she saw her mother, but there was a malicious knot in her throat that prevented her from voicing everything she wanted to say. Her face was rumpled with sorrow.

„Let me know what this Ranvoy is like," the queen said, struggling to keep her voice calm. She placed both hands on her daughter's shoulders and took one last good look at her. Cerilla nodded, teary eyes glued to the ground.

A few feet away, Nellara was saying goodbye to her extravagant mother, and once they were done, cousin Fezeris and all their other cousins – who they actually didn't know at all – bid them farewell. It was the first time in years they had the opportunity to see their male relatives up close. The girls kissed their father's hand – as it was proper – though Cerilla was tempted to bite him instead. She would never forgive him for organising the Reading so early, not to mention that he was highly satisfied with the Rundawald commander he picked for her.