‘Well,’ Ezer said, glancing sidelong at the prince. ‘Tomorrow should be … fun.’
‘Speaking offun,’ Kinlear said, and gave her a wicked grin. ‘Tonight is Absolution.’
27
‘Ican’t wearthis!’Ezer squealed in protest at the gown Izill laid on her dormitory bed.
It was not black, for starters.
It was a pure, snowy white.
And far too little fabric to be consideredclothing. At least, for someone who had spent their days in dark leather and hooded cloaks better suited for warmth than becoming a spectacle.
‘You can and youwill,or I’ll be infinitely offended seeing as I’m the one who requested it from the Ehvermage seamstress,’ Izill said. Shetskedand swiped salve over the new bruises on Ezer’s arms. All of them, courtesy of Six. ‘This is our way, Ezer. A gift given by the Five so that we can appease the humanity within us, the release we all need when we’ve been so pious to keep the laws.’ She smiled and picked up the dress, holding it out to Ezer. ‘A shame I won’t be able to dance tonight, as I’m needed for extra hands in the kitchens. Now, please. Just put it on. Then you can run back here and bury your beautiful figure beneath shadowy, raphon-scented fabrics once more.’
‘But … I’m not feeling well,’ Ezer lied.
‘Gown,’ Izill said, and pointed to the bathing chambers. ‘Now.’
She yelped as Ezer tossed a piece of chocolate at her – she’d beenbusy stuffing her face, while Izill expertly combed through the tangles in her dark hair – and with a huff that reminded her of Six, Ezer trudged to the bathing chambers.
Gods,she thought, as she slipped into the dress and turned to the enormous mirror that took up half the wall.This most certainly willnotdo.
The dress was a noblewoman’s dream.
It was made of pristine, alabaster silk that shimmered in the torchlight. The sleeves were long, the neckline modest, for of course even on Absolution, the Sacred had limits. But the fabric that swam across her skin left little to the imagination, given how closely it hugged her every curve. White and silver sparkled glittered across the hem, gradually turning the entire bottom half of the dress aglow. It almost looked as if the wind were embracing her.
The same way Avane’s dress looked, on the many-headed statue.
She sighed, thinking of such power.
Because some part of her knew …
The wind was a bit like Six. She would not tell it what to do.
‘It’sdevastatingon you, Ezer,’ Izill squealed, as Ezer emerged, her arms wrapped around her middle. She sighed longingly. ‘What I’d give for a dress like that.’
‘Take it,’ Ezer said.
‘Quiet,’ Izill shushed her, and sat her down in front of a dressing mirror near the fire, where several others were already putting the finishing touches to their looks. Each one was in the color of their pillared god, with small details to match their magic.
And Ezer had never felt more out of place.
‘So what am I to do at this festive occasion?’ Ezer asked. ‘Withoutyouby my side?’
‘It’s Absolution Day!’ Izill said as she began to work at Ezer’s curls. ‘For one, enjoy the winterwine. Just … go slow. And don’t bother asking how I know. Weallknow what it’s like to wake up the next morning full of regret.’ She laughed softly to herself. ‘As for what you’re to do? Well … it’s the only time you’ll not pay penance for crossing our Sacred borders for an Unmatched. Kisses, of course, and nothing more.’ When Ezer frowned, she said, ‘What? You thought uscompletelypious?’
Another woman giggled and tied a red silk mask over her eyes. ‘I’d need more hands to count the number of partners Prince Kinlear has taken into the shadows on Absolution.’
For some reason … that made her stomach sink.
‘And what about Prince Arawn?’ she dared ask.
‘No,’ Izill said. ‘Never, for him. Not once, in all his days.’
Izill tied a beautiful white feather mask over her eyes.
And for a moment, as she let the conversation of the other Sacred women wash over her … she could almost pretend she had grown up here, a part of this world.
