50th Trial of Zi'da, 718
..
The trial had been a happy one: the second union of three in a momentous cycle of high-society marriages. The city, however thrilled at the many nuptials, was waning in terms of finances and food as a result, though very few people were aware of it. Virikai was aware of the Directorate’s efforts to limit citizen’s awareness of this: no one was starving yet, but meat was in short supply, and when it got out that the city had to survive on fish and vegetables for the rest of the winter, there would be outrage. Especially when his own wedding, a mere eight trials earlier, would be implicated in this shortage.
At least for today, political matches were being made, and that went beyond the wedding of Zana, arguably the most beautiful woman Kai had ever seen, into the Tariq family. The scion had not had the pleasure of meeting the woman before now. He had met the brother: Theo, who was nothing remarkable to look at in comparison, but Kai had grown to respect the man after their business dealings together. He, too, was to marry into Viden’s Aristocracy, the Yalta family.
Virikai, despite favouring Theo, remained skeptical. Not that he thought Ses’ka Yalta was easily swayed to be caught up in something damaging. Nor did he think Wyllum Tariq would marry without good reason… though, seeing the new bride now, he could appreciate the rationale of marrying her simply based on her appearance. But these siblings were nobodies… not that it was unheard of for commoners to marry upwards, but these two were not even of Viden. They had arrived and stolen the minds and hearts of two aristocratic heirs.
These marriages, as far as Virikai understood it, were not business deals. There was no great political gain for either the Yalta or Tariq families. He wondered why the patriarchs allowed them. But then… humans always did have a different culture. Or maybe he was missing something entirely.
Regardless, it was not his place to judge, not question the union. Now, he had to meet the woman, to know her and make himself known to her. He was important, after all, and she was now too. He wondered what she brought to the city, and if she had the shed mind her brother had. After all, now that the formal part of the marriage was over, this was a chance for politics to reign. Humans liked their celebrations and parties, but the minority eídisi still liked to continue strengthening relationships, or crafting new ones.
His quarry was stood, half-filled flute in hand, as she spoke to her new mother-in-law. The two were smiling at each other, and their stances were each relaxed enough that Kai knew he would not be interrupting if he approached. “Lady Tariq,” he greeted, taking the elder’s hand and placing a kiss over the knuckles, “and Lady Zana,” he extended his hand, smile plastered across his features as he waited to be afforded the same opportunity to greet the new bride properly.
