As those in Avaldenn would gossip about the prince and princess who robbed a coinary. Stars, we’re becoming notorious.
Poor reputation or not, I had to admit Thantrel’s idea of “borrowing” the pegasi and gryphons from his father’s castle was brilliant. Both creatures could fly with fae aback, and their wings weren’t as sensitive to the cold as ours. It made small missions and runs into villages and towns for supplies far easier.
As was obvious by the vast quantities of good ale and wine procured from a village before this celebration. One we sorely deserved after getting the Frør Crown, which I’d been all too happy to immediately hand over to Thyra.
The Frør Crown made me uneasy, and I’d been interested to see if Thyra would have a similar experience. She had not, and that gave me pause in sharing what I’d seen in the vision.
Why had it shown me a vision and not my twin? Did it speak to the Falk who touched it first? Could it be as simple as that? Though my questions resonated inside me as valid, not sharing this information troubled me. Thyra was my twin. Had we grown up together, I was certain there wouldn’t be a secret between us. My heart ached, for that wasn’t the case.
Is a loving relationship with her the price I must pay for saving Anna’s life?I wondered, and not for the first time. Magic had brought my best friend back to life after Prince Gervais toreout her neck, and I was all too aware that I had yet to pay for that miracle.
“Your wine, my love.” Vale appeared at my side. He’d gone to get wine ten minutes back but had lingered over there, distracted by Luccan and Arie, all of them watching Thantrel trail Thyra.
“Thank you.” I took the dented silver goblet. The rebels had brought out the finery for the occasion. “Has Thantrel had any luck?”
“She hasn’t commanded him to go away.” Vale cocked an eyebrow. “Than is likely taking that as a good sign, but I’m not so sure that’s the right way to think about it. Perhaps Thyra is just very grateful for the gryphons and pegasi.”
I didn’t know what to think about my twin’s actions either. Since their comparatively uneventful mission in Bitra, of which I was incredibly envious, Thyra seemed to have warmed to the youngest Riis. As Vale said, she wasn’t banishing him, or even sneering at him, but she also didn’t smile or actively invite him into conversation.
“Her being mean to him might be better,” I said softly. “Her current actions give him hope.”
“It’s difficult,” Vale agreed, pulling me close and kissing me on the temple that bore my scar. “Especially when his brothers are finding their own loves.”
In the crowd, fiddlers and flutes played, and a few rebels performed jigs that were nothing like the dances we’d danced at court. One satyr in particular was going wild, prompting smiles all around. These raucous, enlivened romps made my heart sing. The other two Riis brothers had taken to the dance floor, and Anna appeared to be enjoyingherself with Arie. Among our friends, only Clem looked a touch nervous.
I chuckled when Clemencia caught my eye. The sheltered merchant’s daughter was being exposed to a whole new world. One that she’d never bargained for. Though when she beamed at me and then turned that breathtaking smile up to Luccan, there was no doubt that she was happy to be here. With him.
“Your sister is coming,” Vale whispered in my ear.
I tore my gaze from Clem and Luccan to find Thyra was indeed approaching from the right. She cast a glance over her shoulder in a way that hinted she might have just escaped Thantrel.
And she’s seeking me? Interesting.
“Neve. Vale.” Thyra came to a stop beside us. “Are you enjoying the celebration?”
“I am,” I said. “It seems like everyone else is too.”
Thyra’s face softened. “They deserve it. For so long we’ve been out here, surviving well enough, but I’m well aware it’s not a life most would choose. They only do it so that one day the kingdom can heal.”
“Here’s to that.” Vale lifted his goblet. I toasted him, as did Thyra, though with less enthusiasm than me.
We drank, and as I lowered my goblet Thyra locked eyes with me. “Can we speak in private out by the Drassil? I don’t mean to pull you from the party for too long.”
“Of course.” I kissed Vale on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
I left with my sister. The moment we stepped out of thedining hall, I cocked my head to the side. Was it me, or were the Drassil’s leaves a brighter purple? There were certainly fewer leaves on the snowy ground than usual. I wanted to think the tree was healing, but it was just as likely that someone had swept, and the moonlight was playing tricks on my eyes.
Above us, the night sky was painted with jewel tones of green and purple. The colors danced together, undulating like waves and sweeping over the stars. I smiled, for it seemed that nature was celebrating us as well.
“This is my first time seeing the lights in Winter’s Realm,” I murmured. Out of all the nine kingdoms in Isila, the lights were best viewed here, though I had seen them twice out my window in Sangrael.
“Here, when the lights appear, we say that Brae is painting the sky.” Thyra stared above, her eyes, often so serious, lighting up for a moment. “They never get old.”
“I’m glad that I’ll be able to see them more.” I dragged my gaze away from the beauty above and looked at my twin. “You wished to speak?”
Thyra cleared her throat as she met my eyes. “I never thanked you for getting the Frør Crown, and then handing it over.”
My head tilted. “Did you expect me not to?”
