A knock at the door breaks me out of my studies. Rowena walks into the room with a flourish, carrying a large garment bag. Kicking the door closed behind her, she brushes past me and flops the heavy bag onto my bed, the mattress dipping under its weight. She unzips it, revealing a pile of beautiful gowns nestled inside.
“Hello, Rowena,” I say, genuine excitement blooming at the prospect of new clothing.
“Good afternoon, Raelys.” She sorts the outfits. “Sorry for the delay, but I had to wait for some fabrics to arrive from Corovya. You must be sick of rotating between a few things.”
“It’s all right,” I reassure her. “Tailoring can be time-consuming.”
She sighs. “Indeed. I am quite busy with Lunithia and Noctalis quickly arriving.” Rowena continues to pull out clothing. “Eight new dresses, a riding outfit, and…” She holds up the most stunning gown I’ve ever seen. “…in case you need something elegant.”
A small gasp leaves me as I reach forward to touch the fabric. “Rowena!” I exclaim, tracing my fingertips over the embroidery and beading. “This must have taken you days.”
“It did.” She giggles. “Could you put this on so I can check the hem length?”
I pull the new formal gown over my body. “What’s Lunithia?”
“The autumn festival!” Rowena bends down with a needle and thread to hem the length. “You should come! The entire town is celebrating the final harvest and showing gratitude for the bounty. There are crystal candies that are so sweet your eyes water.”
A small laugh leaves me from her enthusiasm. “I’ll have to attend then.”
Rowena pulls the last stitch, knots it, and cuts the loose thread. Then, she stands and moves to hem the other dresses.
“What is Corovya?” I circle back to her earlier words.
“It’s a city outside Mysatre, to the southwest,” she explains. “Lord Horatio Thorne’s territory.”
Timothy had mentioned Lord Horatio—the duke who abandoned Crossgate and allowed Valentin to take control of the passage. I know very little about the different territories andregions of the North. I resolve myself in that moment to study a map so I can understand the territory better.
“You said you were from Myragos, yes? What is it like?” I ask curiously.
Rowena lets out a dreamy sigh. “It’s stunning, Rae. Full of flowers that bloom with every color imaginable. Natural springs that have warm water to bathe in. It is one of the most secluded and peaceful places to the north of here.”
“Who is the duke there?”
“Duke Roderick Bainbridge, of course,” Rowena explains.Wrath’s father?It must be. He has to come from a high-ranking house to take the throne. If Roderick is Wrath’s father, then who is C. V. Bainbridge?
“I’ll have to plan a visit sometime.” I smile.
“You must,” Rowena insists, packing away her sewing supplies into a small basket. “I’ll see you at the festival then?”
“Only if you promise to show me around.” My hands trace over the soft details of my new dress, taking in its beauty. “Thank you for everything, Ro!”
“Don’t thank me, thank Wrath.” Rowena winks playfully at me before heading out the door.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Here.”Barnham slides a wax-sealed envelope across the desk. “Give this to the girl the King spoke of. It will allow her to gain entry into the castle.” He sits back at his desk, folding his hands in front of him.
I pluck it from the surface, looking down at the crest of a serpent breathing fire. “Thank you, Barnham.”
Without another word, I exit the room. Making my way onto the streets of Khalessor, I start my search for Aurelia. I haven’t seen her or Violet for a while. It leads me to believe that their father has moved his so-called business elsewhere.
I begin with the neighborhood near the Whispering Willow, focusing on the more rugged and downtrodden parts of the city. When I don’t spot them, I walk in the other direction, searching the small alleyways and shadowed corridors. I move through the maze of narrow streets, my eyes scanning every corner for the two girls as hours pass, the sky slowly darkening.
Then I spot the little girl covered in dirt and soot, holding a dented tin cup as she begs strangers for coins. I hide a few paces away out of sight, pressing my back against the wall of anearby alley. Leaning around the corner, I wave to try and grab Violet’s attention.
She doesn’t see me as she walks between people on the busy street. Crouching down, I pick up small pebbles and throw them toward her. By my tenth pebble, Violet notices, picking up the rock and looking around. Our gazes meet, and I silently beckon the girl towards me with my hand.
Violet runs over to my side. “Hello, nice lady.”
