Page 21

Jewels hang from art on the walls. I reach up with a shaking hand and trail my finger over the hanging cascade of them. Green and red and so clear I could see my reflection in them in brighter light. I’m no expert on such things—we don’t mine in Caelria like they do in Perphodia. Sure, the Garnet Guild imports the gemstones and works their magic on them—literally in some cases—and then ships the results back to Perphodia and Grexium, and across the Coeruleus Sea. I’ve never even seen riches like this and they have them hanging here, collecting dust. A single one of these could feed my family for a month, longer if we were careful.

The waste makes me sick to my stomach. I’ve only been in the Minor Court districts for two days and yet it’s so damn clear they could change things for the better in Caelria if they truly wanted to. They could help so many people without even noticing the money spent. They wouldn’t go hungry. They wouldn’t even have to sacrifice much of their absurd wealth to make it happen.

And they … don’t.

“This is more like it!” The Emperor, a short man with pale skin, dark eyes, and silky black hair, moves toward one of the tables teetering with a massive fountain of frothing pink liquid and high stacks of tall silver goblets on either side. He grabs one of the goblets, allows one of the sprinkling fountain heads to fill it, and raises his drink in the direction of the rest of the champions. “To the last one standing.”

No one returns his toast.

“During the last Trials, the Cups threw open the doors of the Ruby Guild and feted the champions for hours,” Vesper murmurs at my shoulder. “This is underwhelming by comparison, but perhaps that’s because they believe they already have their Cinque member secured.”

I jolt. I hadn’t realized they’d gotten so close. It’s hard to focus on anything with the whirl of color and sound around me. My stomach twists again. “It was more extravagant than this?”

“Extremely so.”

It seems impossible. I shake my head slowly. Vesper just dropped a potentially important piece of information in my lap and I can’t seem to focus long enough to pick it apart. “This is how you live in the Swords Court?”

“Oh, goodness, no.” Their smile turns bittersweet, their tone going tight in a way that’s familiar even if it isn’t theirs. “Cups are so crass. Our parties are refined and dignified.” They make a face. “Still crass by your standards, I’d wager.”

I watch the Emperor fill his second cup with fizzing pink liquid and down it. “It’s so wasteful.”

“You’re right. It is.”

I don’t know if it’s better or worse that they’re aware of it. Vesper is the Page of Swords. Even if they don’t have a voting position on the Concilium, they have power. What have they done to use it? I can’t stop looking around the room, can’t stop ingesting this disgusting display, even though it makes my stomach twist and my throat threaten to close.

I knew there was a disparity of resources in the city. Slip close enough to the Minor Court districts and you can get a glimpse of a life that might as well be on another continent for all we in the Dregs can access it. A world where no one goes hungry and everyone wears new clothes and has shoes on their feet. One where its citizens want for nothing. This is something else entirely.

“You know, you never told me your name,” Vesper says casually.

There’s no point in lying. “Kestrel.”

Vesper hums a little in their throat, seeming pleased. “You’re named for a lovely little murder bird. Auspicious.”

I finally drag my gaze away from the fountain to glare. “Don’t get familiar.”

“Does this prickly attitude work for you?” They talk softly, almost as if they’re musing to themself. “You’ve survived this long, so surely there’s something to it, but where I come from, we don’t cut off potential allies—or enemies, in some cases. You never know when someone may be useful.”

“Everyone thinks the last Moon went crazy and I’m a hair away from doing the same. That makes me a liability when it comes to being an ally.”

“That’s defeatist thinking.”

I finally turn and look at them. “No, that’s realistic.” I might not have their courtly manners, but I’m not a fool. Becoming the Moon’s champion was a choice and an intentional one, but even with all the information at my disposal, I underestimated how negatively the entirety of the city sees this role. Not a single person stepped forward to become Their champion. Mouse may have seen that as an asset, but it’s clearly not. I’m more vulnerable than I could have dreamed.

“Maybe I want to ally with you.” They give a sudden smile that lights up their entire face.

I blink. “Why?”

“Why not? You’re the Moon and likely cursed. I’m a Sword and disabled.” They wave an absentminded hand at their left leg. “None of the other alliances will look at us, so we might as well stick together.”

When they put it like that, it’s a valid point. Maybe even a valid strategy. I only got a taste of their magic last night, but it was effective. Combining their luck with my stealth? I press my hand to the small pocket in my harness. Mara gave me this pair of coins in an effort to keep me safe, but if I were a superstitious person, I might see them as a sign. “You’ll just betray me the first chance you get.”

“I could give you my word that I won’t, but you’re too smart to take the word of a stranger, even if they’re a Sword.” They shrug. “Go eat something and socialize. You might even manage to make a good impression on the other champions if you try very hard. Think about my proposal. I’ll find you later.” They’re gone before I can dredge up a reply.

There are more people here than I expected. Most of them are dressed in Cups colors, some high enough in the court to have copper jewelry at their wrists, neck, or ears. They titter and swan about, trailing diaphanous fabric and glittering in the warm light trailing down from the stained-glass windows overhead, painting the room and its occupants in a hazy, surreal light. But they aren’t the only ones present. There are people in the red-black of the Garnet Guild, the white from the Diamond Guild, and the green of the Peridot Guild. That makes sense, I suppose. The Cups act as envoys among Caelria’s trade partners, both in Zaersia and across the sea in Xiv. There are even some Rubies present, though not in great numbers.

The Cup from earlier, Ace, appears before me. “Champion Moon, please allow me to escort you to your table.”

I stare at his extended hand for a beat too long. As much as I’d like to find a quiet corner to hide in until I can process the sheer amount of stimuli in this room, there’s the plan to think of. I can’t quite manage a smile as I gingerly place my hand in his. “Er, thank you.”