“Ocean first,” the Nitesh said, “Then you hear what you need.”
She wondered if all of the people in the east spoke in riddles as she and Lovi seemed to.
The Nitesh pinched her fingers, and Nyssa’s eyes snapped open wildly. “What—“
“Hear, girl,” and she knew the woman had felt her attention drift.
Gritting her teeth, Nyssa obeyed once more, this time not arguing.
And this time, she heard it. She let herself fall for a moment. Hearing the noise of the ocean and the water spilling over the cliff from her mother’s pool. Noticing the wind circling the room. The Nitesh led her through the noises, until finally bringing her back into the voices, and as Nyssa relaxed, she found herself noting the different voices.
Nyssa opened her eyes, meeting the gold of the Nitesh’s and she squeezed her hands. “Thank you,” Nyssa said, feeling her heart even and her breath steady.
The Nitesh nodded and gave her a small smile that Nyssa would hold on to. “Listen as you watch,” the Nitesh said, her accent thickening. “You find things different.”
After a few more minutes, Nyssa finally escaped the grasp of the newcomers, and she made her way to the edge of the crowd where Aydra and Draven were watching with proud looks on their faces.
“That was terrifying,” Nyssa couldn’t help but admit. “I can’t believe you introduced and then left me.”
Aydra laughed softly. “You’re doing great,” and Nyssa beamed.
“Just… stay away from Nadir,” Draven said in an amused tone. “And Hagen. And Dag. Damien. Hagen’s Second… Possibly my Second as well.”
Aydra frowned at him. “It’s certainly too late for that. Besides, I think Balandria would be a great match,” she said. “Fearless. Beautiful. Certainly had my attention when I first met her.”
“Should I have her meet you for a swim instead?” Draven suggested.
“Mmm…” Aydra turned into him slightly, amusement in her eyes. “Perhaps we ask her to join us later. Compare my Second to yours.”
Draven chuckled under his breath, squeezing her hand. “Tempting,” came his growl, and Nyssa decided she should probably leave them alone.
A great commotion sounded at the back of the room, another round of booming laughter and loud voices joining in with the current boisterous gathering, and Nyssa saw as some of the Blackhands, including Hagen, joined the crowd.
Hagen burst through the room, hugging those that he knew, making his way towards Draven and Aydra. He even hugged the Nitesh, which she didn’t seem to find very amusing as the golden lines in her skin flared when he tried to pick her up off the ground, and Hagen released her with held up hands.
Whatever he said to Aydra and Draven, Nyssa didn’t catch much of, but she heard Hagen briefly mention something about Aydra’s dress, and she could see the leering tease in his gaze when he looked between the King and Queen. But Nyssa didn’t stand by to hear the entire conversation as she felt much like an intruder at the edge of such a sexually tense party.
She wondered if perhaps her sister would be having double the fun that afternoon.
Dorian speaking with a couple of the Honest men caught her attention, and Nyssa made her way over to him. All the people in the room was beginning to overwhelm her again, and she was insistent on needing a quiet breath.
“Hey—“ Nyssa said to Dorian when she reached him. “Hey—“
“Sis!” He wrapped his arm over her shoulder, and Nyssa nearly fell off balance.
“I love this,” he said, looking around. “It feels like we’ve been in a prison our entire lives and just got out.”
Nyssa knew what he meant, but she wasn’t keen on talking about it in front of people they didn’t know. “Can we go for a walk?” she asked. “I need… I just need some air before we have to get ready for banquet.”
Dorian grinned down at her. “You sure you don’t need to go back to your room and take care of that fluster from before?” he mocked.
She punched his stomach at the mention of Nadir. “Shut up. No—“
First lie of the day.
“I just—Ugh. Can you not be an ass and just take a walk with me?” she begged.
Dorian scoffed, but seemed to calm at her frustration. “Yeah, sis. We can walk. Hey Bala—“ he called out to her. “Taking a walk. Want to come with? Sis here needs to get her mind off the clench her thighs have taken after meeting—Ow!”
