“Ivos,” Erion commanded the elderly manservant at his side, “see to it that Jayme and…” He turned, looking directly at Vi. “Forgive me, my lady, I did not yet catch your name.”
“For now, call me Yullia,” Vi said with a wary glance to Ivos, hoping Erion would read into her hesitation. Even if Erion would end up helping her, the staff of nobles were known to have loose lips. Her own handmaids and tutors had been proof enough of that.
“Yullia, then.” There was more than a note of curiosity in Erion’s tone. “Ivos, see Jayme and Yullia to the summer rooms. You both look weary from what I assume has been a long journey. Please, take your time and freshen up. When you are ready, I will be waiting in the red study on the second floor. Any servant will be able to assist you there, should you find yourself wandering.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Jayme said stiffly. She should be stiff. Vi was glaring daggers at her back.
“Yes, thank you,” Vi muttered, trying to manage decorum in the wake of her conflict over Jayme.
Erion gave him a nod and with a motion sent them on their way.
Ivos led them up the grand, arcing stairway to the right of the entry. They looped and continued upward again, and again, until they reached the fourth-floor landing. It was a small sitting area, framed by three doorways.
“The summer rooms are through here.” Ivos went through the door directly across from them.
The set-up reminded Vi somewhat of her quarters in Soricium. There was a central sitting area with doors leading off from it. Two doors across from the entry were styled with glass and opened to a wide balcony that overlooked a rear courtyard and a fantastic view of the sea beyond. The other doors, left and right, led to lavish quarters equipped with low platform beds (as was Western custom) anden suites.
“Should you require anything, simply pull this cord,” Ivos said after giving them the quick tour, motioning to a hanging tassel by the entry door. “Someone will be with you within moments. I shall return within the hour with a sampling of fresh clothes that should fit your measurements.”
“Thank you, Ivos,” Vi said without breaking her staring contest with Jayme.
The man gave a small bow, likely eager to excuse himself from the mounting tension that had become a tangible presence in the room. Vi held her breath, waiting for the door to click closed. Only then did she take a step forward toward the couch Jayme had positioned herself behind.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I can explain.”
“Explain how youliedto me?” Her voice rose, fire igniting in her stomach. “I trusted you with my life, with my letters, and you couldn’t even tell me your real name?”
“I told you my real name.” Jayme frowned, her back rigid as a board, her hand on the hilt of her sword.Let her draw it, Vi thought bitterly. If Jayme thought the only spell she knew was to summon a sword, then she was severely underestimating Vi’s danger as a sorcerer.
“You liar,” Vi seethed.
“Don’t call me a liar.”
“When the shoe fits.”
“Graystone is my real name—my mother’s name.”
“I’m to believe this whole time you have been the daughter of Daniel Taffl and chose to go by Graystone instead? Daniel Taffl—renowned,deadmember of the Golden Guard?”
“My father isn’t dead! You don’t get to say he’s dead, ViSolaris.” Jayme said her name like it was a curse. “Not when your family were the ones who left him to die.”
“What are you talking about?” Vi narrowed her eyes. “You’re raving mad.”
“No, I’m the one with sense. And you’re the ignorant princess, trapped in her tower and too focused on her own world—her own problems—to notice the rest of us dying.”
“Excuse me?” Vi took a step back as though Jayme had slapped her. “I’m the one who’s risking my life to try to find a cure for the White Death.”
“And what do you think I’m doing right alongside you?” Jayme snapped back. She had her there, and Vi knew it. But before Vi could think of a good response, Jayme shook her head slowly. “You only see yourself and your needs. You don’t really see anyone or anything else. Don’t paint yourself as a martyr. You’re doing this for you, Vi Solaris. Just like your father left the empire for himself—to save your mother.”
“How did you…” Vi whispered. Jayme knew of her mother’s illness.
“See, that’s the problem with only focusing on yourself. You don’t even realize what’s going on around you—what’s being saidaboutyou.” Jayme stormed to her room. “And you’re shocked I wouldn’t want to share my father’s identity with someone like you.”
She punctuated the statement by slamming the door, leaving Vi’s ears ringing. Vi stood in the main room, ready to call her back. She wasn’t done screaming at her.
Instead, in a brief moment of sense, Vi stormed off to her own temporary quarters, slamming the door just as loudly. She’d only intended to lean against it for a brief moment and somehow she had sunk to the floor, knees at her chest.
