Since they’re easy to push around because they can’t really say no—even to the less powerful monarchs like me—none of the seelie/unseelie rulers could refuse Fell after he told them to come. It was just a way for him to remind them they were subservient to him—the jerk.
I’ll give him what he deserves—it might not be until I’m an old granny, but I will persevere!
Weirdly, a few of the unseelie and seelie monarchs saw me looking at them. Their complexions turned ashen, and they bowed deeply to me.
Huh. I wonder what that’s about?
“After the ceremony, there is a celebration feast. You can leave after that,” Skye said. “I’m confident you can last that long.”
I glanced one last time at the still-bowing unseelie and seelie monarchs, then straightened in my chair. “Easy for you to say that—you’re wearing slacks and a suitcoat,” I grumbled. “I’m doing historically-inaccurate-punk-Greek.”
For the ceremony, Indigo had piled my hair on top of my head in messy ringlets and used pins and a headband to keep it there. She’d then stuffed me into a gown Fell had sent—which was a deep, purply-black, and fit kind of like a toga, except it was more fitted through the waist and gathered at my neck like a halter top, completely baring my shoulders.
Apparently, this was the dress code for Fell’s ego trip, because Queen Verdant and Queen Rime were dressed similarly—although Rime wore a white gown and Verdant wore green.
Solis—the lucky duck—got to wear a comfortable golden robe that didn’t look too different from his regular stuff.
The fae used clothing as a sort of manipulation—they put them on for whatever “role” they wanted to portray for the day, which was probably why I hadn’t seen many fae wear jeans and t-shirts. I didn’t know what “role” Fell was going for with this getup. Historically Inaccurate Ancient Greece, maybe?
“You look beautiful,” Skye said.
“Just wait until you see what you have to wear when the season passes from spring to summer,” Indigo cackled.
I twisted around in my throne and looked back at them. “You mean there’s a required outfit for each ceremony?”
Skye felt in the pocket of her jacket. “For the passing of the seasons? Yes.”
“We have to do this ceremony four times a year? Even though no one is around to watch it, and it’s just for personal gratification?” I asked.
“Yes,” Skye said. “Although it is not entirely without reason. It’s generally accepted that whatever the current season is in, that Court is viewed with extra respect.”
“Huh, now I think this ceremony is even stupider,” I said. “And if Fell tries to throw his weight around because it’s fall now, I’m going to wait until nightfall and then jump him and say it’s my right since it’s night.”
There was a rattle as Skye opened her mint tin and retrieved an antacid.
“You know,” Indigo said. “I don’t think anyone’s actually thought of it that way before.”
“Donotencourage her,” Skye hissed to my companion.
“You don’t say, Indigo? Hmm, that’s it.” I whipped around in my throne and peered at King Solis—who sat closest to me since Fell had put me on the far end of the lineup.
I was pretty sure he meant for it to be an insult, but I was deliriously happy, because I could chat with Indigo and Skye without getting snotty looks from Queen Verdant.
“Solis, we have to attend this shindig four times a year?” I called to the Day King.
“Yes,” he confirmed.
“If that’s the case we should have a nightly and daily ceremony—since everyone seemssoooeager to mark the transition of power!”
King Solis chuckled. “We do have our own, shared ceremony on the first day of the new year—I set on the old year and you bring forth the new year.”
“For real? Well, this year we’re going to make ours more fun. None of this sitting around and staring.” A corn leaf detached from my throne and drifted past, stirring up my allergies enough to make me sneeze.
“I am always open to suggestions for our ceremony,” King Solis said. “I never liked it much—the Curia Cloisters throws a New Year’s party I’ve always wanted to attend, but have never been able to.”
“That solves it,” I said. “We’ll do something big this year.”
“If you are done leading the Day King down the path of corruption, it is time to observe the ceremony, Queen Leila,” Skye gently reminded me.
