“Coming!” Alyss called for them, then looked to Ducot. “Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.”
“It was my pleasure.” He scooped up Alyss’s hand and kissed it lightly. Alyss let out a giggle.
Yet Eira saw a different man. She was reminded of Ferro, transported back to that firelit room in the dark of night. She looked out over the river, imagining herself diving under the waters, just as she used to when she wanted to feel numb. But the imagery no longer helped. All she could imagine were other dark waters, pressing in around her, around Marcus.
She shivered.
“Eira?” Alyss jolted her from her thoughts. Her friend was already several steps ahead. “Are you coming?”
“Yes, sorry.” Eira shook her head and turned to give Ducot her thanks and found him no longer focused on the buildings across the water but staring expectantly at her.
“You won’t go to dinner tonight,” he said under his breath.
“What?” Even though the sunlight was warming her shoulders, Eira felt colder still.
“You will be too sick to eat dinner with the other champions. Wait in your room.”
“For what?” Eira breathed, glancing between him and Alyss. Any second and her friend would turn again and see her lingering.
“Your guide to the Court of Shadows.”
3
“Let me look you over,” Alyss insisted for the hundredth time. “I’m sure I can do something.”
“Alyss, it’s just a stomach ache. What will help me most is being left alone to suffer in peace.” Eira groaned, rolling onto her side and clutching her stomach. Alyss and Levit were on either side of her bed. Cullen hovered in the room. Noelle leaned against the doorframe, more worried about her cuticles than Eira’s condition. “I’m sure I’ll be fine soon.”
“They warn us about this with sea travel.” Levit sighed heavily. “The food never keeps as well as you intend it to, even with Waterrunners packing ice around it.” He rested his hand on Eira’s shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want to come to dinner?”
Eira weakly lifted her head off the pillow as if it was a great effort. “I… No, just the thought of food.” She collapsed back onto the plush mattress with another whine.
“Don’t push yourself. Stay here.” Levit patted her shoulder.
“I’ll gladly save you my table scraps and regale you with tales of the other competitors,” Noelle quipped.
“Noelle, you’resogenerous.” Alyss rolled her eyes then crouched down so she was almost nose to nose with Eira. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take a look? I can unpack my salve and potion supplies quickly—”
“I’ll be fine.” Eira grabbed her hand. “You go and have fun. Bring me back all the stories.”
“There will be more dinners with the competitors and we don’t want to be late to this one,” Levit declared. “Let’s give her the space to rest.”
The three of them departed. Alyss stared at Eira with a frown, worrying her lip between her teeth.
“Really, I’ll be okay.” Eira squeezed Alyss’s fingers, feeling guilty for lying to her friend. “Maybe I just need some quality time with the chamber pot.”
“Gross.” Alyss slapped Eira’s shoulder lightly with a laugh. “Fine. Get better soon. You’ll hate yourself if you miss too much.” With that, Alyss left.
Her friend was right. Eira was already regretting not going to dinner and meeting the other competitors. But she would have time to mingle with the elfin and morphi; they were all stuck in a house together after all. She didn’t know how often she’d have the opportunity to meet with the Court of Shadows.
As soon as she heard the outer door shut, Eira was on her feet. She changed out of her sleeping shift and into a pair of dark trousers, a black long-sleeved shirt, and a hooded cloak. If she was meeting with, helping, or possibly joining the Court of Shadows, she needed to look the part.
Once dressed, Eira paced her room as she waited. Her feet and her mind were in competition for which could be more restless. With every step she was being wound tighter and tighter by the echoes of Ferro that singed her ears whenever even the slightest bit of magic wriggled free of the iron-fisted hold she kept on it.
…I was worried…
…ambition will be…demise…
…sure?
