But he was gone.
32Cannot or Will Not?
Demelza was ushered into a tent that was abuzz with activity. The tent was some kind of dressing emporium. There was a commotion of voices, some of which Demelza was almost certain she recognized, but it was hard to see anyone—or, for that matter, anything—properly. Colorful puffs of smoke gusted past her. Floating lights whizzed back and forth, carrying bolts of silk and strings of pearls. While flashing sequins shimmered and snaked along the ground, jars of cosmetics zoomed this way and that, zipped along by an invisible current. A vial of crushed ozorald exploded beside Demelza, only for a large cosmetic brush to dust it all up with an expert twirl and vanish.
“Oh!” said Demelza, as she was nearly knocked over by a train of velvet boxes.
Each one held dozens upon dozens of sugar feathers, the very sight of which made Demelza blush. Sugar feathers melted on the tongue, and were rumored to stir up an appetite that had nothing to do with food. Where one pinned such a feather could be cause for minor scandal,but they were popular declarations at balls that one was romantically available and open to flirtations… or perhaps more.
Small, winged attendants with long, spindly fingers and pure black eyes fluttered back and forth. They would have been indistinguishable from one another had it not been for the hummingbird gorgets at their throats, each of which were bright as jewels and differently hued.
“She’s here!” tittered one of the attendants.
At once, the commotion halted. The smoke vanished. The flurry of silk and pearls died down and the setting crystallized enough that Demelza could finally see before her.
She was standing upon a rug that ran down the center of the tent. To either side were levitating podiums, and upon them stood Ursula, Talvi, Cordelia, Zoraya and Edmea.
Edmea was loudly admonishing her winged attendant:
“No, no, no!” she said. “‘All white,’ I said, not that this is ‘all right.’ I refuse to be dressed in autumnal shades. For the last time, orange is not on my color wheel—oh, Demelza, darling!”
Edmea clapped to see her. Her smile was unnaturally nervous. She raised an eyebrow to her attendant:
“We’re great friends, you know. In fact one might say I am something of a mentor to her. Wouldn’t you say so, Demelza, dear?”
“Yes?” said Demelza.
“Told you!” said Edmea, triumphant.
“My lady, might I procure you some refreshment?” asked an attendant by her elbow. The sprite’s gorget resembled shining amethysts.
“Water, please,” said Demelza. “May I ask your name?”
“Her ladyship wishes to know my name!” said the sprite, blushing. “The name is Plum, ma’am.”
“No need to address me like that—”
“And so modest!” squealed Plum, spiraling up in the air.
“What… what’s happening?” asked Demelza. “I fear I’ve missed something.”
“Give her some breathing room,” shouted Ursula from her podium. “She’s probably in shock.”
Ursula hopped off her podium and made her way to Demelza. Except for Edmea, everyone wore silk dressing robes and appeared to be in the midst of getting ready. There were bits of curling paper in Talvi’s hair, while Ursula’s golden tresses were hidden beneath a wrapped towel. They both smiled at her and Demelza felt a touch of relief. To her left, Zoraya looked as if she’d been weeping, and when Demelza waved at her, she burst into sobs, leapt off the podium and ran to the other end of the tent crying: “Oh my heart, I cannot take it!” Beside the now empty podium, Cordelia watched impassively. With her algae face mask she looked a bit monstrous. Though that might have been because she was eating something pale and wriggling off a porcelain plate. As Demelza watched her, a slimy and colorless tentacle poked out from the side of her lip. Cordelia slurped it back down with a smile.
“Well done,” said Ursula, clapping her on the back.
Demelza fought to keep her balance.
“For what?” she asked.
“The trial, of course,” said Talvi. “We watched you! You were inspiring.”
“As I knew you would be!” Edmea shouted from a distance.
Demelza frowned. She knew there had been an audience but she had assumed the contestants had not watched each other. “But how… how did you even—”
“Reflection pools,” said Ursula, pointing at the ground. “Well, therewerereflection pools. It let those of us who went beforehand see what happened to those who followed.”
