Inside our rooms, we bathed quickly. The hot water feltamazing, washing away soil and sweat and some of the tension coiled in my muscles.
When I emerged, Sasha sat at a dressing table in my room, working through the tangles in her hair. Savory perched nearby.
“What’s Savory saying?” I asked, pulling on pants.
“That you’re taking too long and the festival won’t wait for vanity.”
“I’ve been working all day.”
“She knows. She’s being difficult on principle.”
I grinned and reached for my formal tunic, the deep green one that Sasha said brought out my eye color. I fumbled with the buttons more than I should. Exhaustion was catching up, or maybe it was anxiety thrumming beneath my skin.
Would the festival go as planned?
Sasha appeared at my side, nudging my hands away to fasten the buttons herself. Her fingers moved quick and sure, tidying what I’d mangled.
“We did everything we could,” she said, not looking up from the buttons. The plants are as strong as we can make them. The guards have been positioned. If they attempt to sabotage the event, we’ll catch them.”
“And if we don’t?” The question escaped before I could stop it. “What if they slip through again? They could complete the Grand Severance, and I’d fail to protect my people from?—”
“Stop.” She pressed her palm against my chest, over my heart. “You haven’t failed. We haven’t failed. Not yet.”
I covered her hand with mine. “I’m terrified this won’t be enough.”
“Me too.” Her eyes met mine. “But we’re facing it side byside.”
The simple truth of that steadied me.
I kissed her forehead, then her mouth. “Thank you for being you.”
Her smile flickered. “Put on your footwear, Your Majesty. We have a festival to attend.”
While she returned to her preparations, I took in my appearance in the mirror. The formal tunic fit perfectly, the embroidered leaves at the cuffs catching faelight. My antler crown waited on its stand, but I’d don that last, just before we descended.
Sasha emerged from behind the dressing screen in a gown that made my breath catch. Deep burgundy fabric hugged her frame before flowing loose around her legs, embroidered with silver vines that appeared to move in the light. She’d braided her hair into an elaborate crown, woven through with tiny white flowers.
“You’re stunning,” I gulped out.
Color touched her cheeks, and she glanced down at her gown. “Is it too much?”
“It’s perfect.” I crossed to her, taking her hands. “You’reperfect.”
Her mischievous smile rose. “You look pretty good yourself.”
Savory made a sound from her perch.
“She says if we don’t leave now, we’ll be late for our own festival,” Sasha said.
I settled the antler crown on my head and offered Sasha my arm. She took it, her fingers curling around my elbow, and we left our suite together.
The foyer had been transformed. Enchanted lights floated near the ceiling, casting everything in warm gold. Servants in festival finery lined the walls, ready to guide guests toward the gardens. The front doors stood open,revealing the first arrivals making their way up the main path.
Court members in brilliant colors mingled near the entrance. Lady Featherby’s gown shimmered with protective runes stitched into the hem. Lord Turren had found a tunic that made him look both elegant and vaguely sinister. Lord Primrose and Lady Daphnie matched in coordinating shades of rose and cream, already composing poetry about the evening’s promise.
Sasha’s hand tightened on my arm as we descended the stairs. The weight of expectation pressed down hard on my body. Everyone believed this would be a normal festival, beautiful and joyful and exactly what our court needed to bring joy to the next year.
They had no idea we were standing on the edge of potential disaster.
