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her enough by not being truthful with her before. And one thing was for certain, I never wanted to hurt her again. I loved her, desperately.
    Looking out the window, people scurried frantically to bring supplies and goods into the palace for the wedding. The ballroom would no doubt be draped in expensive finery. Bouquets of flowers, baked goods and pastries, and an enormous cake with white icing carried by four large men all disappeared from sight as they entered the palace’s door below.
    A short while later, a knock sounded at my door. “Enter.”
    Cam stepped in, a hard look on his normally jovial face.
    “What is the matter, Cam?
    “Nothing. I am just tired from my travels.”
    “And where is your lovely wife?”
    His eyes flashed cold. “My lovely wife? My lovely wife is dead, brother. Did Father not bother to tell you?” Cam and I were nearly twins in appearance and seeing him bereft was like looking at myself in the same state.
    “No. I have not spoken with him today.”
    Cam snorted. “Cora died three weeks ago, Crew.” He walked until he was at my side, where he stopped and stared out the window along with me.
    “What happened to her?”
    “We were vacationing in Everest. She took ill. No one is sure what the illness was. That is the strange thing. No doctor or physician could tell me what had plagued her. She began having night sweats, which caused her entire body to tremble terribly. In the few days to follow, a horrible cough led to vomiting blood and her entire body swelled with water. It was,” he swallowed, “incredibly difficult to watch. If I could have taken the illness from her, I would have.”
    When his voice broke on the final word, I pulled him into an embrace and held him as he sobbed into my shoulder. My brother had never cried in front of me before. Not once.
    Our father entered the room just after Cam had composed himself. Father’s hair had grayed even more since the harvest of Lessers. He had also become a monster in my eyes. He always must have been, but it was difficult for a child not to idolize their father. He had always been a hero in my eyes. How wrong I had been. I would see this through. With the resistance, I could set things right, correct the wrongs he had inflicted on others.
    “Are you ready, Son?”
    Though he addressed me, it was Cam who answered, “Of course he is, Father. He was born ready for this.” Cam clapped me on the shoulder and with his eyes, thanked me for the tender moment we had shared, and for not mentioning it to Father.
    “Cameron, you should go get dressed.”
    Cam cleared his throat. “Yes. I will meet you at the altar, brother.”
    I nodded. “Yes.”
    He left us. Father fixed his cold eyes on mine. They silently studied me.
    “You seem to have forgotten about Abigail rather quickly.”
    “I will never forget Abigail. But she and I cannot be together. We both know it is true.”
    “Does she know of Marian?”
    “I do not know. But, as she is in Orchard Village, it would be nearly impossible for her to know about any of my affairs.” I made sure the buttons on my shirt were completely pushed through the holes then straightened my sleeves. The necktie was strangling me. I swallowed against it.
    “Well, one thing is for certain, Son.”
    “What’s that?”
    “She will know in just a short while.”
    I looked up from the shine of my black shoes. “How is that?”
    “We are broadcasting the union to all Greater cities and to all of the Lesser villages under our direct supervision. It is a time to celebrate. Orchard will be included. They will be treated to a great wedding feast, courtesy of Olympus. The Lessers will have full stomachs and their sour moods will be greatly improved by your pairing today. Everyone loves a wedding. It gives hope for a bright future. Do you not agree?”
    Gnashing my teeth, I nodded. “Yes. Everyone.”
    The unnatural smile stretched over my father’s lips betrayed his anger.
    “If you want Abigail to