The Dawn Star by Catherine Asaro

refuses.”
    â€œHe should do it anyway.”
    â€œShe has powerful backing from her army. At the moment, more backing than her cousin.”
    â€œBut not more than I do, eh?”
    Alarm flashed across Shade’s face. “You would force her into marriage? Surely that would start hostilities between Jazid and Taka Mal.”
    â€œWho said force?” Ozar rolled up the scroll from the Misted Cliffs. “She needs my army. I will offer it—on a condition.”
    Shade’s eyes glinted. “She will make a beautiful bride, Your Magnificence.”
    â€œSo she will,” Ozar murmured. “So she will.”

    The messenger knelt to Mel, and a chill went through her. No longer was this someone else’s darkly seductive custom; she would live this way for the rest of her life. Stonebreaker haunted her thoughts. It would be too easy to let this title corrupt her.
    The man wore her father’s livery, white and purple, a welcome sight. Mel recognized him as an officer from her father’s army. She dearly missed her home, that place of light and laughter so different from this chilly world.
    â€œPlease rise,” Mel said with warmth.
    The messenger stood, his dusty travel clothes out of place in the Reception Hall, almost as out of place as Mel felt in her gown.
    He spoke formally. “My honor at your presence, Your Majesty.”
    â€œYou are welcome in my home,” Mel said. He was young, hardly older than her. Although he was trying to appear confident, he was obviously exhausted.
    â€œYou must rest,” Mel said. As much as she wanted to know what drove him here with such urgency, courtesy required she see to his comfort first. “Would you like food and drink? A place to relax and change?”
    â€œThank you. I—thank you.” He seemed barely able to stay on his feet. “If I could just sit for a moment?”
    â€œYes. Of course.” She indicated a sofa with cushions of white brocade with gold flowers. “Please join me.”
    He hesitated, looking from the pristine furniture to his dust-covered body.
    â€œIt’s all right.” Mel smiled. “I used to annoy my father no end by tramping around in my riding clothes and sprawling on the sofa with my boots on the table.”
    He chuckled, his face relaxing. “I recall him grumbling about it.” He suddenly seemed to remember himself. His face reddened. “I mean no offense, Your Majesty.”
    â€œI know.” She started toward the sofa, then glanced back at him. Softly she said, “None was taken.”
    He came after her, and they sat at a table tiled with blue circles. The shapes nudged her mage power. Without her intent, a green spell formed, and she felt his response to her, his appreciation for her hair, of all things.
    Embarrassed, Mel cut off the spell. She touched her hair, which her sphere-maids had piled on her head and woven with sapphires. They seemed fascinated by its yellow color, so unusual in the Misted Cliffs. To cover her self-conscious response, she opened a gilded cage on the table. The sunbird inside trilled as she gently took it out. When she opened her palm, it perched there, its head cocked. Then it fluttered into the air and flew away, through an archway across the room.
    The youth watched with bewilderment. “It’s a summons,” Mel said. “The bird flies to the Welcome Chamber. Then the staff knows to prepare a meal for this room.”
    â€œThank you, ma’am.” He looked confused, and when she smiled, his cheeks turned red.
    â€œI will have someone show you to a suite where you can change,” Mel said.
    He was beginning to relax. “This is fine, ma’am.”
    â€œYour name is Lieutenant Kindler, isn’t it?” When he nodded, she asked, “Did my parents send you?”
    â€œWith much urgency,” he said. “They wanted to tell you—” He stopped as his gaze shifted past her