Chapter twenty
A wedding and a promiseThe high fortress of the Hakal in Huringa contained within its grim walls a palace of splendor and magnificence. I stood on a costly carpet of Walfarg weave and I said, “You may be desperately in love and willing to consign the world to oblivion to satisfy your passion, but you are not getting married without your mother present.”
“But—”
“And there are no buts about it, Jaidur!”
“Queen Lildra—”
“She has not been crowned yet. But that is beside the point. Your mother didn’t even know your sister Velia was married until after she was dead. D’you think I’ll let you get married and not have your mother share in the joyous day?”
“Father—”
“Now, Jai, do listen,” said Jaezila. “Look, I’ll fly back home and tell mother.”
“It might,” I said, “be more be
