Page 44 of The Concubine King
“You already have, you may recall,” Yorith sniffed.Ethyr bit his lips to stop a reflexive snarky response.
“Yes,” he conceded carefully.“I was in the city… briefly… but I did not get to truly see it or experience it.And since I was dismissed early today, I thought…”
“You thought?”
Ethyr closed his mouth and raised his shoulders.
Yorith eyed him.Ethyr tried to look as small and humble as possible, though he sat waiting to be refused.
“You may go,” Yorith said.Ethyr looked up in surprise.“But you will take a guard entourage.Six, including Poyut.Hm.No.Seven.”
Ethyr swallowed his disappointment and lowered his eyes, nodding.“Of course.Thank you.”
Gionan went into a near frenzy when he found out Ethyr was going into the city.Apparently the clothes he wore to his lessons were too plebeian to be seen in outside the palace, but his other clothes were designed for the gods and too revealing for the general public.Ethyr sat on his bed and watched Gionan dig through the chests with the panicked manner of someone who had lost a family heirloom.In the end, he wore the same long tunic he had on his first night, purple-blue with split sides, and gold pants.It was accompanied by slippers (much to Ethyr’s deep annoyance), a decorative belt, armbands, anklets, bracelets, necklaces, and of course the gold circlet to rest atop his head.
He clinked and jingled with every move; he wouldn’t be able to take a step without the guards hearing and knowing his exact location.It was hard not to believe a certain High Priest had ordered it.But Ethyr didn’t know for sure.Maybe kings always went out decorated like a feast pig.
His entourage was waiting for him in front of the palace, mounted on pristine horses.Only Poyut was on the ground, holding the reins of two more.Ethyr paused mid-step.
“No carriage?”
Poyut smiled.“I convinced the High Priest to let you ride in the open air.I thought it would be a better experience.”
“I’ve never ridden a horse before,” he said, eying the beast.The squat bay pony back in his village hardly reached his elbow, and was only used for pulling carts or plows.This horse was tall and graceful, of the purest white he had ever seen, with a soft pink nose and elaborately braided mane and tail.
“Don’t worry, it’s not difficult.You just sit and she’ll follow mine.”Poyut patted the mare’s neck.“She’s as gentle as they come, and with nerves of steel.She won’t give you any problems, I promise.”Poyut gestured him over.
He hesitantly approached, reaching out to give the strong shoulder a pat, her coat silky and warm beneath his hand.She didn’t move even an ear, unperturbed by his touch.So he let Poyut hoist him onto the saddle, which was almost as gaudily ornamented as he was.Poyut handed him the reins before swinging onto her own horse, and true to her word Ethyr's immediately fell into step behind hers.The other six formed a barrier around Ethyr.
He thought it would be the same experience as his arrival at the city, enclosed within a crowd of people jostling for view, but when they reached the first street, no one ambushed them.Instead, people stopped in place—or scrambled out of their way—and stared.Ethyr might have been bothered by it if he wasn’t distracted by the unbelievable wares being sold off market stalls.
Precious gems and metals made into impossibly delicate jewelry, fabric woven tighter than flesh and made with flawlessly spun thread, birds and small animals Ethyr hadn’t seen in his life being sold as pets, embroidery of elaborate detail filling every inch of the fabrics they were woven on.
The light caught on one embroidered cloth and Ethyr gasped.Poyut looked over her shoulder at him.
“Sorry,” he said sheepishly.She pulled her horse to a stop and all the others halted.
“Do you see something you like?”
“Oh, I…” Ethyr raised his shoulders, feeling even more self-conscious.“No, it’s fine.”
Poyut dismounted and handed her reins to another guard.Four others dismounted.She held out her hand to Ethyr like she did when he exited the carriage.
“Swing your leg over and lower yourself with the stirrup,” she instructed.
Ethyr did so reluctantly, much more aware of the entire street’s eyes on him now.
“Why did we stop?”
Instead of answering, Poyut guided him over to the stall he’d been staring at, the dismounted guards following closely.
The merchant behind the counter gave a deep bow.“Your Divinity, you grace me with your presence.”
Ethyr stared uncomfortably at her.
“Which one did you like?”Poyut asked gently.Ethyr glanced at the fabrics laid on display over the counter.There weren’t many, but as each was filled with intricate embroidery, he couldn’t imagine a large stock would be available.It must have taken years to finish even one.
He knew which one had drawn his attention, though.He pointed to the fabric that was on prominent display above the merchant’s head, hooked in such a way to show off its drape and a large section of its embroidery.Most of the embroidered cloths were bold, contrasting colors to better show the design.This one was subtle, sewn with creamy-gold thread against a sheer white fabric that looked lighter than air.The design was almost invisible until the sun hit it.
