Tonight was the night all the pieces on the court’s table finally converged.
* * *
They had carriages to take them to the ball. Alyss let out a monstrous avian-like squawk with excitement at the sight of them. Cullen was distant and quiet as they left the manor. Eira had expected that, but she thought he might have, at the very least, complimented her gown.
Estal did stunning work, that much was certain. Eira stood in a dress of blue and black. Layers of silk transitioned from a frosty cerulean by the swoop neck to an obsidian at the bottom hem. It was fitted to her torso and hung from her hips in scalloped ruching.
Noelle and Alyss were just as stunning in similar styles, but with red and green, respectively, fading into black.
They loaded into their carriage with Levit, sans Cullen. He had been directed into a different carriage to ride with his father and other dignitaries. Eira watched the world drift by as they rocked over the cobblestones of Risen. She twisted one of the layers of her dress in her hands over and over again until Noelle’s hand covered hers.
“You might tear the lace if you keep that up,” Noelle said softly.
“You’re right.” Eira stopped.
“It’ll be fine.”
“It’s all right to be nervous for your first ball,” Levit encouraged, oblivious. “I certainly was for mine.”
It wasn’t her first ball, but Eira didn’t correct him. Instead, she thought back to that winter’s night when she’d first laid eyes on Taavin and Vi. How different those two had appeared then. What was real? The blushing bride and groom to be? The strategic marriage uniting two worlds? Or the deadly couple charging into the Court of Shadows with fierce magic that one of them shouldn’t possess?
Finally, the carriage came to a stop and the footman helped them out. Eira recognized the castle from the execution they’d attended. But there were no signs of such grim dealings tonight.
Music drifted through the twilight air. Men and women laughed as they poured into the great hall of the castle. Eira walked with her head high, trying to be seen.
Come and get me,she thought.I’m here for the taking, Ferro. But it will be the last thing you do.
35
The great hall of Lumeria’s castle glittered with the light of a thousand candles refracting off four massive, crystal chandeliers that were suspended along the length of the room. At the far end was a dais where the queen sat on her throne. At her right hand were Taavin and Vi, appropriately perched in two smaller thrones. At her left was Jahran.
The competitors were held off in the wings of the entry, stealing glimpses as others entered. A crier announced noblemen and women as they passed through the great, fortified doors. Eira watched each of their faces, but didn’t recognize any of them as Pillars or shadows. Whatever her orders were, they were waiting until the last second to get them to her.
Movement at her side distracted her from the flow of people. Cullen’s jaw was set tight and he kept his eyes forward.
“You finally freed yourself,” Eira said under her breath without looking at him. Yemir was only a few people behind them.
Cullen snorted. “I’ve never been less free,” he said bitterly.
“What?” Despite herself, Eira looked at him.
He faced her as well. In shifting, his hand brushed against hers. Their fingers slotted against each other as effortlessly as their bodies had the night before. Yet the movement brought her no comfort. Eira swallowed thickly. She had enough to worry about tonight. She didn’t need whateverthiswas.
Cullen’s eyes drifted back to his father before he straightened, eyes ahead once more. His hand, obscured by Noelle and Alyss behind them, remained against hers. “I meant it.”
“What?”
“Everything.” The word was pained. Her chest tightened. “Last night, everything I said, I meant it all.”
“I know you did.” So why was he pleading with her as though she was about to argue? Why was he doing thisnowof all times?
“All right, we’ll announce you next.” One of the knights came over. “We’ll start with Solaris and go back in groups. Dignitaries will have their own announcements,” he said hastily.
Without giving them an opportunity to question, the crier boomed, “Presenting the competitors from Solaris: Eira Landan, Cullen Drowel, Alyss Ivree, and Noelle Gravson.”
The four of them strode into the room, Levit and the ambassadors behind, walking down the cleared path to polite applause. Eira was certain most of these people had been watching them in the training grounds for weeks now. But the spectators gaped as if this was the first time they had laid eyes on the four of them.
Before the raised thrones, the whole of the Solaris contingent bowed.
