I feel the infuriating gardener’s gaze boring into my back, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. But the people in the courtyard part for me like I have the Droonish plague, and I have toforce myself to keep my chin high, my eyes staring straight ahead—so much so that I nearly crash into a petite girl. “Sorry,” I mutter as my heart sinks further. Ashes below, can’t I do anything right in this city?
“Are you all right?” she asks in a sweet voice, one that is surprisingly sincere.
I don’t even try to pretend or act like I’m above it all now. My shoulders slump. “Not really, no.”
Sincere, sparkling dark eyes in a creamy, heart-shaped face meet mine. She is tiny, barely coming to my chin—and I’m not exactly willowy. Her hair is black and sleek, falling in a glossy sheet down to her back, and she’s garbed in a plain but finely made gray traveling dress. She’s about my age, so she, too, must be one of the chosen.
“I’m Clem Jinn,” she introduces herself, surprising me further. “Well, Clementine, but no one calls me that. From Veniar, House Antares.”
“Antares?” I can’t help it, my eyes widen. I know size doesn’t matter, but she barely has any muscle on her slender frame. Usually anyone from that house looks like they can lift a carriage with their pinkie finger. I’d have pegged her as an artist from House Fomalhaut or a scholar from Regulus.
She laughs at my expression and shrugs. “I get that a lot. I’m stronger than I look, but honestly, I’m a pacifist at heart. Being invited here is”—she grimaces and deepens her voice to a mocking tone—“‘one last chance for me to bring honor to the family name... or else.’” A derisive noise leaves her.
“I’m Suraya Saab from—”
“House Aldebaran,” she finishes, making me wince at the fact that everyone here now knows who I am. “Well met.” Clem smiles, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I say. “I’m practically a leper at this point. It’s not going to do you any favors being seen with me.”
She scrunches her button nose. “If I were to judge everyone on every misstep they made, I’d miss out on knowing some wonderful people.”
I send her a sidelong look and a small smile at the unexpected kindness. “That’s much too logical from someone entering a competition to win a prince’s hand.”
“It’s my greatest flaw,” she says, and pats me on the arm. “But us iconoclasts need to stick together.”
“Iconoclasts?Are you sure you’re not from House Regulus?” I tease. “Brain over brawn for the win!”
Clem laughs. “Tell that to my father during our nightly who-can-eat-the-most-eggs-to-bulk-up contest.” She shoots me an over-the-top pleading look. “Please say you don’t have an aversion to books.”
“I love them,” I say.
Her eyes brighten with hope. “Romance?”
“No better genre.”
“Berserkers or ancient gods?” she asks.
I think for a second. “The first. Ancient gods sound older than dirt.” I swear I hear an amused grunt at my words, but when I glance around, Clem isn’t laughing, and there’s no one else near us. Great, now I’m imagining sounds too!
She grins and bumps her shoulder into mine. “I knew we were going to be kindred spirits the second I saw you sprinting across that courtyard.” Clem glances at the veil gripped in my fingers. “Lovely headpiece, by the way.”
“My best friend, Laleh, made it for me.” Surreptitiously, I look around for the unpleasant, wiseacre gardener, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“See you in there?” Clem says as a group of handmaidens approaches us.
“Sure. I’ll be the one by herself, most likely near the food.”
She laughs. “I’ve heard the palace library is to die for. Maybe we can sneak out and find it later?”
“I’d love that,” I say, perking up considerably as she’s ushered away.
Maybe things might not be so bad here after all.
But when my own palace attendants won’t meet my eyes, I am harshly reminded that my hullabaloo with the queen might have shamed them as well. And now, they’re stuck with me... the uncouth desert dweller who has drawn the scathing derision of Queen Morvarid.
Clem might be a refreshing exception, but she won’t be the rule. I’d do well to remember that.
***
