Alyss went on ahead, but Eira hovered at the door, looking back at the room.
She had only spent a few weeks in this manor at the heart of Risen, somehow a blink and at the same time it had felt like forever. This was the room that she had first listened to Ferro’s dagger within, where Ducot had come to escort her beneath the streets for the first time. Eira could still hear the sudden, dull thud of Arwin when she had slammed into the window in her bird form, heralding the end of the Court of Shadows as Meru had known it.
Endless thoughts and memories, all vanishing the moment her eyes landed on the bed.
That was where she and Cullen had shared their one and only night of passion—love. Or, at least, what shethoughthad been love… Eira’s throat became thick and the air was suddenly too thin. He had lit a fire in her that had melted all her walls, had consumed her and all her better judgment. All that remained was a charred husk housing the void where the seed of lovethat had been planted for him once grew. Love that never had a chance to flourish before it was immolated, snuffed.
Pushing her icy magic to just underneath her skin, Eira stopped the flush that was rising up her neck in its tracks. Yes, he had fanned the fire that caused her to burn. Now it was over and she’d nurse her wounds and move on.
“This is everything, right, Eira?” Alyss called over her shoulder.
“Yes.” Eira joined everyone else in the main room—everyone else, save for Cullen, thankfully. Levit was by the fireplace, directing the porters who were carrying their trunks and bags down to the carriages. When he wasn’t busy giving instructions, he spoke in hushed tones with Queen Lumeria’s knights just outside the door. Eira couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the knights looked very bored and, judging from his wild gesticulations, Levit was very frazzled.
“Thank you so much for taking these downstairs,” Alyss said to the elfin porter who now carried Eira’s bag. His companion took the trunk before Eira could set it down. She was certain she didn’t imagine the unkind look he gave her, but Eira willingly ignored it.
“Where’s Cullen?” Eira took another glance around, confirming she hadn’t somehow missed him. His door was open; the same door he’d pushed her against and—
She banished the thought.Over. They were over. She’d repeat it again and again until it was true. No matter how vividly she could remember the feeling of him or how sweet the joy he’d brought her was…those once sweet memories were turning bitter with betrayal.
“He left earlier. I think his father came to collect him. Yemir wanted him riding in the dignitaries’ carriages.” Noelle scrunched her nose slightly.
Based on the expression, and Noelle’s past statements, Eira suspected she found the thought repulsive. A sentiment Eira could agree with. All she could envision was another young woman with corkscrew auburn hair and sharp green eyes, dressed in the checkered colors of the Republic of Qwint, sitting far too close to Cullen while discussing plans for their wedding. She wondered if Lavette knew that Cullen had spent the night before the ball in Eira’s bed. Doubtful. Cullen was a coward to pull Eira between the sheets knowing he was spoken for. He’d be a coward with Lavette, too. And she had no time for cowards.
“Good,” Eira said sharply.
Alyss blinked, startled. “Did something happen between you two? Is it because he danced with someone else at the ball?”
“It’s much more than that.” Eira sighed. Her friends were picking up that circumstances between her and Cullen had dramatically changed. Of course they would notice. But she hadn’t had the courage or time yet to explain why.
“I assumed as much. You’re not one to act rashly over trivial matters. Important matters? Oftentimes. But trivial ones? Doubtful.” Noelle adjusted the pinnings in her hair. She was adorned from head to toe in Western rubies. They dripped off her hairpins, weighed on her wrists like luxurious shackles, and draped around her neck.
Levit crossed over, giving Eira an easy opportunity to change the subject.
“I see Noelle has already received the gems we’re supposed to wear for the opening ceremonies,” Eira said to him. “Did I miss something?” She didn’t much care about shiny rocks, but Eira wanted to know if things with Ulvarth and Cullen had affected her so much that she’d outright missed a delivery worth triple its weight in gold.
“These aren’t from Solaris,” Noelle said before Levit could. “They’re just a small sampling of the jewels from my family’s mines.”
“Show-off.” Eira couldn’t resist the playful remark.
“We were instructed to show off the might and wealth of Solaris to the world. It’s not my fault I have alotworth showing, some of these are centuries old.” Noelle ran her fingertips over the carefully pinned braids woven into her long black hair.
“The gems for the opening ceremonies are still packed and loaded onto the carriage. I thought it’d be safer and more effective that way,” Levit said. “You can put them on when you change after arriving in the Champion Village, that way people will see you with them for the first time at the opening ceremonies.”
“And just think of how fabulous I’ll look with more.” Noelle assessed her necklaces, as if trying to figure out where she would add another. At this rate, she’d topple over with too much more.
“You always look fabulous.” Alyss grabbed Noelle’s elbow, patting it lightly.
“You couldn’t be more right, my sage friend.”
The two of them getting along so well brought a slight smile to Eira’s lips. She’d never expected Noelle to become one of her closest friends and allies. If someone had told her a year ago it would happen, she wouldn’t have believed them. And then to see Alyss getting on so well with Noelle too…it was one of the fewpleasantexamples of change in her world.
“You mentioned a Champion Village?” Eira asked Levit before the conversation could become too sidetracked. “I thought we were going to the coliseum?” They’d heard of the coliseum for months while training in the arena in Risen and Eira couldn’t be more ready to see it.
“The various champions from the nations will stay in a village attached to the coliseum to prevent any unfair advantages beinggiven to them by others. Speaking of which, for that reason, this will be where we part ways.”
“What?” Eira’s ears rang with Ulvarth’s words underneath the implication of them being separated from their guards and overseers.
“The overseers and teachers will no longer be with the competitors. We can’t give you help or guidance any longer. It’s your tournament to win, or lose, from here on out.” Levit’s tone turned serious. “I trust you all will keep a good representation of Solaris without me there over your shoulders.”
