“No, I couldn’t have.”
“Because I’m a shadow?” His voice dropped to be heard only by her. “Since when have you been concerned with the court hierarchy or perceptions?”
“I thought you might have some kind of instruction.” She thought it would’ve been obvious.
“I’m as in the dark as you.” He stopped. “Eira, if you want to invite someone else, you should.”
The attendant noticed they were no longer following and stopped as well. “Please, you two, we’re on a schedule.”
“Just a moment,” Olivin called over before she could. He returned his attention solely to her. Even though he wasn’t touching her, Eira could feel him by his presence alone. “I only want to be here if youwant meto be here. I am happy to step aside if you’d rather invite someone else.”
“I…” What did she want? At any given moment it changed. Shifted.
Don’t make this choice with your heart, she firmly instructed herself. The heart was off limits for this tournament. She’d vowed that much and she was keeping to it.
“We found the key together,” she said with conviction. “You helped me get it to the court, stood up for me when I know I’m on thin ice with them. We’re seeing what it opens together.” Eira started walking and he fell into step beside her, clearly deciding her reason was good enough.
“You’re surprisingly noble.” He tilted his head back, looking her up and down.
“Surprisingly?” she repeated with an arch of her brows.
“Given how much trouble you seem to constantly cause, and howlooseyour morals are.”
“I take offense to that.”
“Oh?” He seemed genuinely confused. “Why? It can be so much fun to live in the gray area.”
Her response was cut short by the knights opening the massive doors, just a crack, just wide enough for them to pass through. Lop and Varren were outside their house, watching as Eira and Olivin stepped outside. She could tell they were hungry for something food couldn’t fill. The other competitors had been stuck in the village for almost two weeks with no contact outside. A short time in concept. A long time when also engaging in something like the games. She felt all the more guilty for being the one to get out when she already had her secret tunnel.
Olivin stretched as the doors closed behind them. “It feels good to be out.”
“It does.” She smiled and kept up the facade that this was the first time she’d tasted “freedom” since the start of the tournament.
“If you’ll follow me this way.” The attendant led them through the streets. A circle of knights surrounded them. Eira was grateful for the entourage as people stopped what they were doing to watch them pass.
She scanned the crowd and Olivin did the same from the corner of his eye. Would Lumeria’s knights be enough to keep them safe if a Pillar were to attack? But would a Pillar risk that?
“Don’t worry,” he reassured gently. “We’ll be safe.”
“I know, I’ll protect you.” Eira gave him a slight grin and he chuckled.
“My knight in shining armor.”
“With flexible morals, apparently.”
“Just the knight I’ve always wanted.”
After walking for about ten minutes, the attendant looked over his shoulder. “You’ll have an hour to explore the festival grounds. Lumeria’s knights have barricaded the area. None will be permitted inside, save for you. Please enjoy your time.”
They rounded a corner and Eira let out a soft gasp. At the end of the street was an archway of swirling mist the colors of sunset, starlight caught in its grasp. The hazy barrier extended up from between buildings, encircling a central area.
“This festival has been set up by the morphi to showcase their magic to the world,” the attendant said with a smile. “We hope that you enjoy your private preview.” He stopped walking and the knights made a semi-circle around the archway.
Olivin extended his elbow. “Shall we?”
Eira accepted it and he led her underneath the archway, though the mist, and into the festival grounds.
Usually, when Eira would think of a festival, she thought of music and dancing, performances, important announcements and audiences held on the Sunlit Stage. But in the transformed square there was a pleasant silence and stillness. The sounds ofthe town beyond were completely muffled by the barrier that had been erected.
