Elaran didn’t even try to hide his amusement. His yellow eyes practically glittered with it when he met my gaze. I threw him a scorching scowl.
“What’s this I hear about embroidery?” a smug voice said.
Around us, the crowd shifted to let a stunning couple pass. Shade gracefully wove through the chatting people with a breathtaking star elf on his arm. Lady Nelyssae’s white and silver dress both accentuated her curvy feminine form as well as complemented the assassin’s suit. Fire from the candelabra next to her glinted off the jewelry in her hair and around her neck. When they stopped in front of us, Shade ran his eyes up and down my body but before he could say anything, I cut him off.
“I swear, if you say anything about the dress or the hair, or any of it, I’ll pull out one of these hairpins and stab you in the neck.”
Niadhir whirled on me, aghast. “That was a very unkind thing to say.”
Feeling like a student being admonished, I averted my gaze and drew my eyebrows down. “Well, I’m an unkind person.”
“Do not say that.” The silver-haired scholar patted my hand again. “I am sure that is not true.”
Confusion had passed over Shade’s face at my comment but it was gone now as he and Elaran exchanged a look before sending a synchronized smirk my way. I flicked my eyes to the ceiling in exasperation and shook my head.
A hushed silence fell over the crowd. I had to balance on my tiptoes and crane my neck in order to see what all the tall elves around me were looking at. In the middle of the dancefloor, Queen Nimlithil stood, her silver dress pooling around her on the frosted glass.
“Welcome, my friends,” she called across the glittering sea of people. “Tonight, we celebrate the beauty and light of the stars. Let it always guide our path.” After putting her hands together in two graceful claps, she spread her arms wide. “Enjoy.”
Hauntingly beautiful notes from violins and harps floated through the air. Clothes rustled as the elves around us moved towards the empty space in the middle of the domed hall. I glanced at Niadhir. Please don’t ask me to dance. Please don’t ask me to dance.
The polite scholar held out his hand. “Would you care to dance?”
Damn. No, I most certainly didn’t want to dance. I had no idea how to. And besides, there was a reason I hadn’t faked a deadly illness just to get out of this, and instead actually agreed to go tonight. This high-ceilinged hall was on the ground floor. It was the perfect excuse to start searching for the end of the chute without the restrictions that came with a guided tour by Niadhir.
“I’m afraid I don’t know how to dance,” I said in my best polite voice. “And I feel a bit flushed. All the excitement, you see.” Spying a set of glass doors leading to some kind of balcony, I waved a hand in that direction. “I just need to get some air.”
“I will accompany you,” he replied.
Placing a light hand on his arm, I gave him a reassuring smile. “No, no need. I’ll be right back.”
When he was about to protest, I shot Shade a pointed look. Thankfully, the scheming assassin caught on and took a casual step forward and spoke up as if he had just spotted something surprising. The movement blocked Niadhir’s view long enough for me to slip into the crowd.
I lifted a white shawl from an inattentive lady nearby and draped it over my head. My dark hair might as well be a beacon in this sea of pale colors but with that covered, it would be easier to disappear. The sparkly spectacle I was wearing actually helped me blend in. My mouth twisted into a wry smile. How about that?
Weaving expertly through the bodies, I stepped out of the way as an elf in white armor approached a group of giggling ladies. He bowed and offered one of them his hand just as I slipped behind their backs.
This setting, in these clothes, and with these people, might’ve been the most uncomfortable event I’d ever experienced but despite it all, I was still excellent at slinking unnoticed through a mass of bodies. I just had to adjust my thinking. Instead of staying in the shadows while wearing dark clothes, I merged with the light. It worked. Though, I still preferred the darkness.
Cool night air met me as I glided past the decorated glass doors that had been thrown open to reveal a grand terrace. Dark green bushes covered in white flowers had been placed in silver pots throughout the space. I snuck towards the railing on the left.
Placing my hands on the chilled material, I peered into the darkness beyond. We had to be at the back of the castle because those dark gray cliffs I could see from my window stretched out before me like a forbidden sea. We could probably disappear there if we left at night. The only problem was of course how in Nemanan’s name we would get here in the first place.
“Storm?” Niadhir’s voice drifted across the balcony.
Shit. I ducked in behind the closest bush. He had already found me. Jasmine-scented flowers and green leaves hid me from view as I skirted around the plant in step with the pursuing scholar. Once he was behind the large pot, I bolted for the door.
Warmth and noise from a room full of people enveloped me as I disappeared into the banquet hall again. I wove towards the side of the room. The terrace didn’t help our escape plan because we still needed a way to get down to this level unnoticed and our best chance at that was the chute Shade had found.
A nondescript door became visible against the wall in front of me. It might be some kind of servants’ corridor. And we all knew that those usually ran to all manners of places in a castle. I sidled up next to the door. Sweeping my gaze across the room, I made sure that no one was watching as I pushed down the handle. Just as Niadhir appeared from the balcony, I slid inside and drew the door shut behind me.
Silence pressed against my ears. After all the chatter, laughter, and music in the ballroom, the sudden stillness was almost eerie. Turning around, I studied my surroundings. Wall-mounted candles cast the empty corridor in warm light. I had to see what it looked like further in.
The door was yanked open. I whirled around, ready for a fight even in these inconvenient clothes, but didn’t have time to do anything before I was shoved backwards.
“Move!” Elaran said.
Backpedaling quickly, I managed to stay on my feet as the grumpy elf barreled through the door and closed it behind him.
“What was that for?” I hissed once I’d regained my balance.
Elaran scowled at me. “It’s your own fault for stopping right inside the door. You never thought that maybe someone else needed to get through in a hurry?”
Crossing my arms, I clicked my tongue. “No.”
The auburn-haired archer shook his head and waved an impatient hand, telling me to start moving. I gave him a rather unladylike grimace in reply. Elbowing past me, he stalked down the hallway while muttering curses under his breath.
We snuck further into the servants’ corridor until a metal plate located in the wall on our left drew our attention. Elaran and I exchanged a glance. Crouching down, I traced the flower stamped into it with my fingers.
“It’s the same symbol,” I stated. “It’s gotta be the end of the chute, right?”
The elf dropped to a knee next to me. “Only one way to find out.”
Two simple latches secured the top of the plate to the wall. Lifting them open, we edged it outwards. Nothing came tumbling out so we continued lowering the metal sheet until we could place it on the ground with the bottom part still attached to the white wall. A handle stuck out of both sides of the plate.
Elaran waved an impatient hand at me. “Check it out.”
“I’m not sticking my head in there!”
“Of course you are.” My grumpy friend rose and crossed his arms. “Skulking around places no one should know about is your area of expertise.”
“If we ever run into a moose or a bear or something, I’m gonna push you to the front and repeat that back to you,” I muttered while sticking my head through the opening in the wall. The square-shaped hole sloped upwards. “It’s definitely built to slide stuff downward
s. The drop isn’t too steep.” I crawled a little further in. “But it’s impossible to tell where it leads because I can’t climb it. Not in this dress.”
Skirts rustled as I drew back and got to my feet again. Next to me, Elaran frowned at the hole for a minute before replacing the metal plate over it.
“If we sabotage the latches now, we could just slide down it tonight,” he said.
“It’s not the same chute,” a voice announced.
We both whirled around to find Shade striding towards us.
Elaran shook his head at the assassin. “Always with the dramatic entrances.”
I arched an eyebrow at the elf. “You’re one to talk.”
The Master Assassin flashed us both a lopsided smile before nodding to the metal plate. “That’s not the same chute as the one we found. It can’t be. We’re way too far into the other side of the castle for it to be the same one. Most likely, they have a whole network of these throughout the building.”
“So we’ve gotta either find the start of this one or the end of the other.” I sucked my teeth. “Given that the start of this one is in another wing, I’d say finding the end of the other is the priority.”
“I agree,” Shade said while Elaran backed us up with a nod. The assassin turned his intelligent eyes on me. “Niadhir is in a full-blown panic because he can’t find you.”
I snorted. “Bet he is.” Raising my eyebrows, I nodded at the both of them. “How did you even get away from your companions?”
Shade smirked at me. “You’re not the only one who knows how to disappear into a crowd.”
“No, she most certainly is not,” an authoritative voice said as Queen Nimlithil materialized in the corridor. She fixed us with a knowing stare. “But I would expect nothing less from the head ranger of Tkeideru and a man who is both the Master of the Assassins’ Guild and the new General of Pernula.”
Silence hung heavy over the hallway. Not only had the queen found us skulking about in a place we shouldn’t be in, she also knew who we really were. How were we supposed to explain our way out of this?
16.
Elaran had apparently no intention of trying to placate her with excuses because he crossed his arms and drew his eyebrows down while demanding, “How did you know that?”
The elegant queen turned her pale violet eyes on the ranger and gave him a patient smile. “You told me.”
He dropped his arms and took a step back. “What?”
“Yes. After the banquet last week, I happened upon you and my daughter outside on the terrace. I asked you to tell me more about yourself and your companions, and you did.”
Dread tumbled down my stomach like a bag of rocks but years of training helped me keep a calm outward appearance. A quick glance at the impassive mask on Shade’s face told me that he was doing the same. Our friend the wood elf, on the other hand, wasn’t as good at lying. Sweat trickled down his temple.
“Why are we here?” I cut in before he could say something that would screw us even worse.
“In this servants’ corridor?” Queen Nimlithil arched a well-manicured brow at me. “I was just about to ask you the same.”
“No, here in this castle.” I swept my arms towards the pale unadorned walls in an exasperated gesture. “Why–”
“Did Niadhir not tell you?” A befuddled look blew across the queen’s face. “There are almost no Storm Casters left because their demonic power has caused them to either die in a storm of their own making or commit suicide because they accidentally killed a loved one. You are here because we want to offer you an alternative.” She scrunched up her eyebrows. “I was under the impression that Niadhir had already explained that.”
Godsdamn it. I hadn’t told Shade and Elaran about that yet because I needed time to process that information myself first. Their eyes burned holes in me but I refused to meet them. That was a conversation for another place and another time.
“Yeah, he did,” I challenged the queen instead. “And that explains why I’m here but you have obviously known for a week already that these two ain’t Storm Casters. If that’s the only reason we’re here, then you can just let them go home and I can stay here.”
Queen Nimlithil let out a soft exhale. “After everything you have been told by others, I understand that you are suspicious of our intentions. But believe me when I tell you that the reason you are here is because we want a world free of pain and suffering. I have also experienced unfathomable pain, and I would not wish it upon anyone.”
“You’ve experienced unfathomable pain?” I scoffed. “I seriously doubt that.”
She drew herself up to her full height. “My husband was assassinated.”
“Oh.” For a moment, her last comment distracted me from the piece of information she had let slip before that. I narrowed my eyes at her. “Wait... you said the reason you are here. So there is another reason we’re here?”
“It is high time we rejoined the ball,” she announced abruptly, completely ignoring my comment and ushering us forward. “I am sure that your respective partners are beside themselves with worry.”
One brief glance at each other was enough to convey that the three of us would be continuing this conversation in Elaran’s room as soon as this party was over. Grabbing a fistful of my skirts, I hiked them up so that I could move better before following the queen’s long silver train back into the ballroom.
Noise assaulted my ears when I stepped across the threshold. It took a moment to get my bearings in the room packed with people chatting, laughing, and dancing to the otherworldly string music. Scanning the crowd, I quickly found a certain scholar hurrying towards me. Lady Nelyssae followed him.
“Mother,” a surprised voice said from my other side. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, my dear,” the queen said and gave Illeasia’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Enjoy the dance.”
Princess Illeasia watched her mother disappear into the room again before turning to Elaran with concerned eyes. “Are you alright?”
Startled, the auburn-haired archer drew back slightly. “Uhm, yes.”
“Good.” A genuine smile, you know one of those that reaches the eyes and makes them sparkle, settled on her face. “Do you want to dance?”
“I... uhm...”
“Come on.” Her violet eyes twinkled as she took the astonished ranger by the hand and drew him towards the dancefloor.
Shade and I chuckled at the terrified expression on his face just as our two partners caught up with us. Niadhir smoothed his hair and drew himself up to his full height in front of me.
“You gave me a terrible fright, Storm. I thought something had happened to you.” He looked down on me with stern eyes. “Please do not do that again.”
“Yeah, uhm, sorry.” I gave him a light shrug. “Just took a wrong turn.”
The scholar seemed unconvinced but he didn’t get a chance to comment because Lady Nelyssae pushed past him and planted herself in front of Shade.
With one hand on her cocked hip and the other twirling a strand of glossy white hair, she pouted her luscious lips. “Aren’t you going to ask me to dance?”
The Master Assassin held her gaze and offered her a hand. “Would you like to dance?”
A high-pitched squeal rose from her throat as she took his hand and twirled around. I glowered at their retreating backs while they made their way towards the dancefloor.
“Now that you have gotten a little fresh air, would you care to dance as well?” Niadhir asked next to me.
With my eyes still locked on the assassin and the gorgeous lady weaving through the crowd, I crossed my arms. “I don’t dance.”
“Oh.” The disappointment in his voice was so strong that even my cold black heart softened.
Loosening my frown, I turned to face him. “But how about we get something to drink?”
His eyes recovered some of the light they had held before my curt comment had snuffed it out and he offered me his arm. “I would like that. This wa
y, please.”
Once again submitting to being escorted, I took his arm and followed him around the edge of the dancing couples. They all seemed to move in a prearranged pattern. It wasn’t just each couple dancing by themselves but instead larger groups had formed and they stepped in similar directions back and forth across the smooth white floor, twirling and trading partners for a moment.
“Here we are.”
Niadhir let go of my arm and bent towards a table covered in white silk and gems. Picking up two crystal goblets from a silver tray, he offered me one. I took it and squinted at the sparkly liquid inside. After lifting my shoulders in a brief shrug, I tipped the glass towards my lips and took a large gulp.
“To the beauty and grace of the stars,” Niadhir said next to me and held up his glass as if I hadn’t already started drinking.
Coughing, I swallowed the sparkly wine I already had in my mouth before flashing him a sheepish grin. “Right, yeah, to the stars and all that.”
Man, this was so not my scene. Instead of looking at the disapproving expression on Niadhir’s face, I turned back to the dancers. In the centermost group, Elaran and Princess Illeasia were engaged in a synchronized dance. The princess seemed to know what she was doing but the wood elf was flapping about like a disoriented seagull. When he accidentally stepped right into another couple, making them stumbled backwards, the princess placed a hand on his arm and leaned into his chest while doubled over with laughter. Joy and life radiated like sunlight from her whole body.
My eyebrows shot up. By all the gods, was Elaran... laughing? The normally grumpy elf shook his head ruefully at the giggling princess while a wide smile decorated his face. A warm fuzzy feeling that had nothing to do with the sparkling drink spread through my chest. Happiness suited him.
“Did your tutors never instruct you in the art of dancing?” Niadhir’s voice interrupted my musings.
“What? No.” I cleared my throat and took another sip of wine. “My education had a... different focus.”
“Such as?”
“Oh, you know, a bit of this and a bit of that.”
A Storm of Glass and Stars (The Oncoming Storm Book 4) Page 10
