THE LARGE garden party was just the first of many events to celebrate Ezekiel’s betrothal and introduce Velia to the nobility of Askara.
Most of them had been planned by the queen, who was being kind to do so much, though Ezekiel thought she also hoped she and Velia might end up close.
The queen had no sisters, and her closest friend had left the city under a cloud the year before; he could see Tanya wanting to form a bond with Velia and didn’t blame her.
He rather hoped for some sort of bond with Velia as well, something that would make a life bound to her in marriage bearable. Ezekiel didn’t expect love, but liking and respect would be welcome.
He didn’t have an opportunity to begin to forge any kind of bond with his betrothed the next day. Fatigued from their long travels, Velia
