My training beginsat the break of dawn. I don’t have to go to the Storm Vault until early that afternoon so I have all morning to train. I hadn’t expected to be woken before the sparrows though.
“Good morning, Princess. Rise and shine.” Jordan pushes the lever that covers the skylight above my bed, her tall form a silhouette against the dim light beyond.
I crack open one eye. “The sun isn’t up.”
“No, but the city’s awake. The first of the major Houses arrived last night and we’re expecting three more today.”
During the week leading up to the Heartstone Ceremony, the major Houses have the right to arrive first, while the minor Houses have to wait—to the last day or even the last moment if the majors take their time. It’s all a game of strategy—get here first or wait to make an impression.
I scrub at the grin threatening my face. Baelen Rath beat all of them. I’m not sure why that makes me happy but it does. Although… there’s one rule that he did follow and that is that the House of Rath has the right of first nomination as the highest House. But approaching me in the Storm Vault was definitely a first.
“Which house arrived last night?” I ask.
“The House of Splendor.”
I sit up. “Splendor!” A larger grin breaks across my face. “Is Sebastian with them?”
Jordan’s serious facade disappears for a moment as a smile replaces it. The glow in her eyes lights up her face. She tugs at the end of her long ponytail, her dark brown hair a smooth cascade over her shoulder. “He’s with them.”
I bounce out of bed. “That’s the first good news we’ve had all week. It’s been too long since you saw him.” I frown at what she’s wearing. “You can’t see him dressed like that.”
She stands tall in her gray body suit. It’s lightweight and flexible—standard issue. But boring as anybody’s business. Not that Jordan doesn’t look good in even the most unflattering clothing. Constant training has honed her body to a lithe grace. She glides everywhere she goes without even realizing it.
She says, “Sebastian Splendor knows that I’m the Storm Commander. He respects my position.”
“True. But you’re a female first and he needs to see you as one.”
Her shoulders sink a little. “Until the Heartstone Ceremony, I’m not allowed to speak to any male elf. Just like you can’t.”
I grin. “That doesn’t mean he can’tseeyou… My training starts now, right?”
“Yes, and don’t think I haven’t guessed you’re stalling.”
I throw my hands up as I stride to the bathroom. “Does Sebastian still like to start his day with a run?”
She tilts her head. “As far as I know, yes.”
“Then I think we should too.”
“Princess?”
“Trust me. Call the Storm Command. I’ll be out in two minutes.”
I splash water over my face as soon as she leaves and pull my hair into a ponytail similar to the ones my Storm Command wear. Then I choose a simple suit of light material that matches Jordan’s: gray in color, strong but supple. I grab an apple from the fruit bowl beside the door and devour it in a few, big bites.
Jordan gave up everything when her House, Splendor, nominated her to be a member of my Storm Command, including her budding relationship with Sebastian. I’ve set myself on a course to avoid marriage, but I’ll do what I can for her to have a normal relationship. Well, as normal as it can be.
I emerge and call the elves to me, marveling at how fresh they look despite awakening before dawn. My own eyes are still half closed. We navigate the corridors until we reach the clearing leading out to the river.
There’s a scenic path along the river that Sebastian ran along the last time the House of Splendor visited the city. For the most part, the major Houses occupy their own lands throughout Erawind and only visit the city on formal occasions. Members of the minor Houses don’t own their own land, but work on the land of major Houses. I hate the social division although I’m painfully aware that I never would have been friends with Baelen if my mother didn’t work in the House of Rath.
Now, I pause with the river on my left until I sense movement a short distance behind us. Perfect timing.
“Run.” My command is quiet in the stillness and my ladies move, fluid and graceful around me. “Three file, please. Jordan to my outer right.”
My guards split into three lines, with me in the middle of the central one. It’s easy for them to reform the protective circle if they need to. Each pace-keeper at the front will move to the back of the line after five minutes, sharing the responsibility for keeping us in unison.
I don’t look at her, but I sense Jordan’s eyes on me for a moment as she obeys me and moves to the line on my right, closest to the grass at the edge of the path. If the male elves want to pass us, they will have to move right by her.
