The Archer's Heart Read Online Free Page B

against the idea that his destiny was not in his own hands.
    Yudar nodded. “We shall all be married tonight then, it seems.” He looked at Suraya, and Jandu could see how desire already clouded his brother’s vision.
    Jandu tried to imagine how it would feel to share a wife with his brothers. He’d never considered himself the marrying type anyway. He honestly couldn’t conjure any feelings of jealousy, only embarrassment at their odd situation.
    Jandu felt Suraya’s hand clench around his arm. He looked to her and she faced him resolutely.
    Jandu took a deep breath. “You’re sure this is what you want?”
    “I’m not sure of anything,” she said. “But this morning, I could have been married to anybody.” She swallowed as she looked at Firdaus, still fuming. “Besides, I think I’d rather die than be Lord Chandamar’s second wife.”
    At this, Firdaus spat on the ground and turned and stormed away. Darvad followed him.
     “I wouldn’t want to marry him either,” Jandu said.
    Suraya looked at him oddly, then reached out and squeezed his hand. It felt strange and girlish and reassuring all at once. ”It will be all right, Jandu.”
    Jandu nodded. “Well, let’s get married then. Although, as Keshan Adaru pointed out, I’m not dressed for the occasion.” Not for the first time Jandu glanced through the crowd, searching for Keshan, but he failed to find him.
    “I don’t care how you’re dressed,” Suraya assured him.
    “Good,” Jandu said. “Because I’m a lazy dresser, Baram looks ugly in everything, and Yudar has no sense of style.”
    Baram slapped Jandu in the back of the head, almost knocking him off his feet.
    Suraya laughed. “Well, at least you’re honest.”
    The wedding ceremony was brief and directly afterwards the wives, daughters, and sisters of the Triya nobles flooded the garden. Musicians followed, as did more servants who brought out further offerings of food and wine. The feast was a spectacle, with dishes formed in the shapes of fish and birds, cream custards and spicy butter sauces, tenderly roasted meats and fine cheeses. The opulence of Nadaru’s food coupled with Jandu’s dramatic triumph at the archery challenge and the resulting triple marriage were enough to guarantee that the wedding would be discussed for years to come.
    For now though, the palaver dropped to a constant, steady murmuring which mingled with the clink of porcelain cups as celebratory wine began to infuse the party with true jollity.
    To Jandu’s dismay, his cousin Keshan was not invited to sit at the celebration table. But his half-brother Darvad joined them briefly, offering a toast. His cadre of companions—Firdaus, Tarek, Druv, and Iyestar—emulated him, though Firdaus looked unhappy. Then Darvad took his leave and his friends followed, to mingle and gossip at other, more welcoming tables.
    The sun set and torches illuminated the night, flickering an eerie yellow glow over the guests. Perfumed smoke filled the air with the scent of sandalwood. A heavy wind blustered sweet summer warmth over the wedding party in dramatic gushes of sound and sensation.
    Lord Nadaru showed a disheartening tendency towards the extravagant. Jandu forced himself not to yawn through numerous speeches and superfluous rituals, all repeated thrice as Yudar went through them, then Baram, and then at last himself. Drunken congratulations assailed Jandu from every angle. 
    He quickly wearied of the attention. When he at last caught sight of Keshan in the crowd of guests he desperately wanted to join him. But Jandu was a prisoner at the table of honor. He brushed his bangs from his forehead and watched his cousin Keshan mingle with the wedding guests, chatting with supporters of Yudar and Darvad alike. Jandu brooded, while his brothers ate and discussed the logistics of their new living arrangements.
    “We should be husband for a year at a time,” Yudar decided, smiling at his own wisdom. “For one year, you will be my