And so much more.
The crowd erupted into an applause that boomed out across the mountains—in my honor.
I looked at my friends gathered around me, eyes drifting from Malakai before me to Jezebel where she whispered to Erista. From Santorina in the corner of the stairway, to Cypherion whistling beside her. Finally, I met Tol’s eyes. Leaning against the banister beside a group of girls from Palerman, sleeves rolled to his elbows. He winked, and my grin widened, laughter bubbling up my throat.
This. This was why I fought for my position. To bring this level of levity and stability to a people horribly, unfairly ruined. And this was only the beginning.
After hours of garden games,watching children fling rocks into chalk-drawn patterns and older Mystiques spar with dulled blades, I tucked into a banquet table with my core guard, Erista, and Esmond. Pitchers of red cocktail with fresh fruit slices floating in it lined the table between floral garland. Trays piled high with spring vegetables, rice dishes, and cured meats were passed around.
“Vale!” I called as the Starsearcher wandered past our table alone. I set aside the salad Malakai had been handing me and stood to pull out the last empty seat at our table of nine. “Dine with us.” My smile was genuine, but the request wasn’t debatable. I wanted all three delegates here today.
“Thank you, Revered,” she said, taking the seat between me and Cypherion. In her dove-blue dress with twinkling jewelry, she looked like a vision cut from the earliest hours of dawn, when darkness warred with day.
I grabbed a pitcher and poured both myself and Vale a full serving of the deep red drink, then raised my glass.
“I’d like to thank our guests for celebrating the festival with us.” The other hundred tables were filled with chatter, but at mine, eight faces looked at only me.
“As if the five of us are nothing special,” Jezebel muttered to Tolek.
“I am grateful for you every day,” I chastised. “But today I’d like to honor our friends from different clans and thank them for givingme the opportunity to prove myself. For all of us to prove ourselves.”
Directly across from me, Tolek lifted his glass. “Well said.”
“And to you, Revered,” Malakai added louder, eyes intent.
We all took long sips of the sweet cocktail and began on the feast. The staff of the Revered’s Palace had outdone themselves. When I told them I wanted to host a full Renaiss festival, I’d worried they wouldn’t be able to pull off one so elaborate.
I’d have to speak with Alvaron and ensure they were being paid accordingly, because the food was exquisite. Everything was fresh and flavorful, spices I hadn’t tasted in years dancing across my tongue. Where they got such ripe fruits and vegetables on such short notice, I didn’t know, but I didn’t care as I slipped each bite between my lips and savored the taste.
“Well, I don’t know about you all, but I’m certainly ready for the evening.” Tol’s lips twitched mischievously as he used two fingers to capture a berry where it floated in his wine and pop it into his mouth, looking me directly in the eye. A challenge.
“Renaiss is often a night to remember,” I answered, finishing what was left in my glass in one sip. Malakai’s hand snaked around my shoulders.
“Or a night not to remember,” Jezebel corrected. I didn’t think anyone besides me caught the wink she threw toward Erista.
“If any of you are too inebriated to find your beds, I won’t be carrying you,” Cyph scolded—as if he didn’t celebrate right along with us every year. Well, every year that weusedto celebrate.
“I feel as if I’m missing the joke,” Vale said, pausing with her fork over her dish.
“Every year on Renaiss, the cities in the Mystique Territory throw festivals that last the entire night. Dancing and drinking. Honestly, any excuse for all sorts of raucous behavior,” Tolek explained.
“Which is Tolek’s favorite kind of behavior,” Rina added. He nodded at her, eyes dancing with mirth.
“Damenal used to host the largest celebration of all,” I explained to Vale. I briefly wondered how the Starsearchers celebrated the day. “This is the first year the festival will return.”
“And rumors say this event will top those in the past,” Malakai finished, voice strained. Under the table, I gripped his knee, runningmy hand up and down his thigh, and a bit of the tension left his body. It was the first holiday in years that he was not locked up. What gruesome memories would that bring to the surface?
“I’m certainly ready to see how Mystiques celebrate.” Erista’s voice carried across the table.
Everyone fell back into their private conversations, some serving themselves more food or drink. Jezebel and Erista rose and disappeared into the crowd. Tolek was swept away for a game with Hylia, which Rina and Esmond joined.
Soon, Malakai stood, too, kissing my cheek. “I think I’ll go challenge some old friends.” His eyes were on the sparring ring where a number of men about our age gathered, but his voice was hollow.
“Don’t let them win.” I winked. That left Cyph, Vale, and me.
When Malakai was out of earshot, the Starsearcher asked, “Are the rumors about what he endured true?”
I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful she hadn’t asked in his presence. Malakai was brutally fragile lately, like he could shatter completely at any moment.
