Still, the thought made my palms sweaty. Colly certainly wouldn’t be giving me anything. But that was all right. He had helped me more than I had helped him, and more than I could ever repay.
What about Londa and Lewis? Maybe I should err on the safe side and get them all something. That would be a lot of gifts, but I didn’t mind, as long as I could figure out what to give them and how to acquire it.
The one certainty in the midst of my confusion was that I totally wanted to get something for Vayvin and Esmeralda.
I rubbed my temples in frustration. When I looked up, I saw that my feet had found their way to the kitchen, where the cooks were already preparing for the feast.
We’d had a very subdued term given the threats to the princes’ lives. But there was no way we were going to skip celebrating at this time of year.
Or so I had been informed.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
By the night of the feast I had managed to decide on and acquire all of the gifts I wanted to give. Something had come over me, and I was unspeakably excited. It had turned out that I had a creative streak.
On top of that, I had managed to get some of the items by bartering. I offered to do a couple hours worth of chores in exchange for a couple of the them. Both the cook and Fallyan were surprised by my offer, but neither had refused.
Now I was waiting eagerly for the night of the feast, when we’d drink and dance and then exchange our gifts.
We were all overwhelmingly excited. When I walked into the dorm before the feast, Esmeralda was lost in a pile of green garlands. She looked up and grinned as I came in. “What do you think?” she asked.
I stared. “Why are you covered in a long green plant?” I asked, dryly.
She threw her head back and laughed. I had never seen Esmeralda so carefree. “Now that you’re the head of an organization, you think you’re cool,” she said.
I shrugged and sat on my bunk. “I’ve always been cool,” I told her, eliciting an eye roll.
“Help me with the decorations,” she said.
I followed her out of the dorm and we spent some time decorating the hall where the feast would be held. Then we headed back to the dorm, where I expected to face another problem, one I wasn’t sure how I was going to solve. And time was up. I had to decide what on earth I was going to wear to this party, my first ever.
Most students would be dressed in their finest clothes for the celebration, but as a former prisoner, I, of course, didn’t have any fine clothing.
When we got back to the dorm after decorating, I was astonished to find a dress on my bed. There was no note with it, or any indication of who had put it there.
I was blown away.
The dress was an emerald green color that reflected the light beautifully.
I glanced at Londa, who was sitting on her bed reading. “Where did this come from?” I asked. She shrugged and ignored me.
“That’s totally helpful,” I told her.
She grinned, but still didn’t respond.
I picked the dress up and shook it out. “It looks like it’s my size and everything,” I said. “Can I really wear this? What if whoever left it for me wants it back?” I whispered.
“I’d say it’s a viable guess that if they’re intentionally leaving a dress for a prisoner who scorched the entire castle grounds, they know they might not get it back,” she said.
“I’m going to go try it on,” I murmured.
Bewildered on several fronts, I took the dress into the bathroom. Besides having no idea who had left this unexpected, wonderful gift, I didn’t know what had come over me that I was so thrilled with it. With the gift aspect, sure, but as far as the dress itself went, well, never in my life had I wanted to wear anything as fancy as this dress.
Tonight was different. Tonight everyone would be dressed in their finest clothing, and I didn’t want to be left out.
The dress fit perfectly. My legs, which were usually covered, looked dry, so Vayvin loaned me some special cream to put on them. She fussed over me until we agreed I was ready, then we made sure she was too. Dressed in her hometown colors, she looked stunning and happy.
We were ready.
Esmeralda had gone on ahead to put some finishing touches on the decorations, but Londa was waiting to go down to the feast with Vayvin and me.
There was blissfully no sign of Nerys, who liked to ruin everything if she could.
“She’s probably spent the day getting her hair curled and her lips painted,” said Vayvin.
“That sounds like a terrible way to spend the day,” I said.
“It is,” Londa assured us.
We looked at her quizzically. Londa looked like a fighter, not someone who spent time at the king’s court and needed to preen.
“My mother is a duchess,” she clarified. “Her brother rules a province. I’ve spent half my life getting dressed up in clothing I don’t want to wear.”
Vayvin and I exchanged looks. “At least you aren’t bitter about it,” said Vayvin.
Londa grinned and said, “Are we ready?”
We made our way to the grand hall, not a room that students were normally invited to enter. The principal would roll his eyes at the very thought, saying that the students would ruin it if they were allowed inside. I couldn’t say he was wrong, especially not after my performance outside the castle.
The wellspring of magic inside me had returned, mostly. It felt like a sort of deep river. But my cuffs had still not gone back to the old bronze color. They were more of a shimmering pink–a color I hated. I told myself my body just needed more time to recover from the magic.
The pink did look kind of nice with my dress, though.
While I waited for the party to begin, I realized that I was looking forward to dancing the night away. I had helped Esmeralda hang garlands outside the hall, but I hadn’t seen the final decorations inside it. Judging by what we had done outside the door, it was going to be amazing.
And then there was the smell. If I hadn’t known which direction to go in, I could have followed the aroma of food and found the great hall with no trouble. I knew it was coming, because I’d helped the cook do some last-minute food preparation that very morning. But anticipating it and actually experiencing it were two different things.
“This is splendid. It’s going to be the most beautiful night,” Vayvin said, twirling.
We waited as students streamed past us, everyone dressed in their finery. I saw none of the former prisoners until we reached the grand ballroom.
Even then I didn’t see them right away. The first I saw was a shower of sparkles of deep color, and tables filled to the brim with food. Guards stood along the walls, interspersed with the decorations. There were fern trees with cinnamon and cloves and baked oranges hanging on them. The floor was carpeted in a thick blanket of green.
Our footsteps fell softly, and then I saw them.
The other prisoners were clustered in a corner, all dressed in their everyday uniforms because no one had thought to give them anything else to wear.
A couple of them had joined organizations and risen in the ranks, but none of them seemed to be thriving. The fact that I couldn’t remember most of their names told me that the killer probably didn’t either. Insofar as they were supposed to be bait for a murderer, they hadn’t turned out to be very effective.
“I’m hungry. Let’s get something to eat and try to find Esmeralda,” said Vayvin.
“Sounds good to me,” I said, my stomach rumbling.
Londa came along, and we all filled our plates with food, then made for a table that happened to have Lewis sitting at it. As we reached him Vayvin said, “You look grand. Especially for a northerner.”
He looked her up and down and replied simply, “I like to keep warm.”
Lewis was wearing layers of thick green wool and a high collar. Not even the wind could have blasted through all the layers. Meanwhile, Vayvin was dressed more for warm weather in the formal attire of
her fae. I looked around for Londa, but she had disappeared.
“Is it just the two of you?” Lewis asked.
“Londa was here a minute ago,” I said. Vayvin looked at me and rolled her eyes.
“There’s Esmeralda over there,” I said, pointing to where our friend was busy talking to Prince Orlando in a corner of the room. That surprised me a bit. When she noticed us looking, she gave a quick wave and said something to him.
He scowled but agreed. She headed in our direction. I looked away quickly, not certain what to think.
She hurried over to us.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” Vayvin asked.
Esmerelda blushed.
“Oh, he thinks you’re pretty doesn’t he? Stay away from princes. They’re all a pain,” said Vayvin.
Esmeralda ducked her head.
“Hey there,” said Batham. I turned around in surprise, not having realized that he was nearby along with Colly and Prince Reidar. The prince was examining the food, while Colly was taking everything the prince took. Maybe Colly was his taster, I thought. It wasn’t a happy thought.
“You look splendid,” I told Batham. And he did. He was wearing a guard’s uniform, but it was gold and purple instead of the usual black.
“Why thank you. We did try to clean up well,” he said, pretending to fix his collar.
Colly was dressed in all black as usual, but tonight he had put a stud in one ear, his only nod to the festive season.
“Did you get presents?” Vayvin asked the prince.
“Gifts? Is it gift time? I have mine back in my room,” he said.
“No, it’s not gift time. It’s time to eat and party. Gifts will come later,” said Vayvin, twirling.
“I give terrible gifts,” said the prince, “so don’t get excited. But when I went home recently I did manage to get some better gifts than usual.” He glanced between his bodyguards as he said it.
“He does give terrible gifts,” said Batham. We all just chuckled.
It turned out to be the best night of my life. I just kept eating as if the food would disappear, except when I was dancing. And laughing. And spinning around and around.
Laughter and merriment filled the room. Kate started dancing with Cory. Kayka was dancing with everybody. She had been extra nice to me since that day outside. She had come to check on me after I’d woken up, and since then she had always made a point of saying hello.
“Is it present time yet?” I asked at last, when the evening seemed like it had been going on for a long time.
“Yes, I think it is,” said Esmeralda.
I wasn’t certain what time it was, but it was probably more morning than night. We had been dancing for hours. And laughing and drinking.
Many of the students had given up and gone off to their dorm rooms and to bed. It was a good thing we had no tests or exams coming up. We all would have failed them.
“Where are we going to exchange gifts?” I asked.
“We should go to the prince’s rooms. He should be safe,” said Vayvin.
“I’ve never had so many ladies come to my room in my life,” said Prince Reidar.
The prince led the way, with Colly in front of him and Batham behind. We girls trailed after them, including Londa, and Lewis joined us to round out the party.
The boys’ dormitory was near the prince’s rooms. When we got there, Lewis said he could easily pop over to his own bed and get his presents.
“I hope you aren’t expecting anything spectacular from me,” said Vayvin.
“I’m expecting something spectacular from everyone,” said Esmeralda.
We went to our own dorm to get the presents we had prepared, and I was laden down with my offerings as we went back to meet the guys. All night I had been excited to give presents away, but now I was in a total panic.
What if they didn’t like them? What if they were the wrong thing to give? I was starting to feel downright sick, and there was something even worse than that . . . what if I had gotten everybody else presents but nobody had gotten me anything?
What would be worst of all was if no one considered me a true friend, if I gave presents and got none in return. That would be even worse than my friends not liking their presents from me.
“Don’t lie. You’ve had girls to your room plenty of times,” said Batham. Prince Reidar glared at him.
Somehow, amazingly enough, this made Colly speak. He glanced over his shoulder and said, “Stop.”
Batham and the prince stared at each other for a long moment. As the tension stretched, I wondered what exactly was going on.
“Okay. Let’s get past the awkward bit,” said Batham.
Colly was ordering Batham around and worried about the prince’s reputation. Strange, because I wouldn’t have thought Colly cared about the prince’s reputation.
Colly opened the prince’s door and led us into a large sitting room. The prince stayed by the door while Colly checked every nook and cranny, including the other rooms. I could even see him kneeling and looking under the bed.
“Looks like it’s all right,” said the prince when Colly came back and nodded. “Sit down, everyone. I think even the killer is having too much fun tonight to attack anybody.”
There weren’t actually enough chairs for everyone, so Esmeralda and I sat on the floor and Colly and Batham stayed standing. Londa, Lewis, Vayvin, and the prince sat. Batham busied himself getting a roaring fire going. I was cold now, and looking forward to the heat.
I was also cradling the gifts as if my life depended on it.
“How are we going to start?” Vayvin asked.
No one even bothered to answer, we all just started exchanging gifts. As it turned out, everyone there had gotten me a gift. Everyone had also gotten something for the prince.
But I was the only one who gave Colly and Batham anything. The others were too intimidated to do so. The prince said something about having given them gifts privately, and the moment went by.
Several of the presents I gave were based on the recent realization that my magic could turn snow into crystal. I had gone out to form several special shapes in snow. I gave these to Lewis, Londa, and Esmeralda. Batham got a crystal shaped like something inappropriate that made him laugh so hard he nearly collapsed.
I didn’t think I could give the prince a trinket, so I had baked him cookies, which was possible because of my kitchen connections. He was delighted with the food.
“As you know, I wouldn’t have poisoned them,” I said.
“Just to be safe, though, we’re all going to have to try some,” said Batham.
I nodded gravely. “I expected nothing less.”
For Colly I had gotten something special. I had discovered that the book he’d loaned me was one of a series, and the first in the series was the only one he hadn’t had me try to read.
I had found out that Fallyan had an original copy that he was looking to get rid of when I’d helped to him clear out some of his old academic storage. In return for the work, Fallyan had given me the book. He gave me a strange look when I asked for it, but he hadn’t asked any questions.
The look on Colly’s face when he saw the book was worth the work I’d done. If I were to admit it to myself, it was worth a lot more than that.
Days passed and the season was tottering on the edge of spring. It was no longer deep winter, and the light wasn’t as cold or the days as dark. One afternoon I went outside and stared at the waterfall as dull blues, whites, and grays plunged earthward. The weather was crisp and cold. I couldn’t believe how my life had changed in the past few months.
I was here at the famous Noble Fae Academy, making it through the year at the most elite school in the kingdom, up against the best fae of the eight provinces. Trying to survive. And friends with a prince.
I heard a movement behind me and glanced over my shoulder.
Of all my fellow students who might show up, Nerys was quite a surprise. She smirked even as she shivered into he
r fur-lined coat.
“Fancy seeing you here,” she said. Her cheeks were pink from cold and her eyes had a glint to them that I didn’t like.
I turned back to the waterfall and said nothing.
“Don’t you dare ignore me,” she hissed. “You don’t belong here anyway.”
I continued to ignore her until she actually came to stand next to me. I thought about simply leaving, but decided not to.
“I’m only telling you this for your own good, you know,” she said.
I already knew I didn’t belong at the academy. I hadn’t come to school with the idea that I did, and now I told her so. “I was brought here on the theory that I’d be serving as bait for a crazed killer so talented that no one can catch him. Don’t you get that?” I asked.
She took a step toward me. Her eyes were ice.
“You might have others fooled, but not me. You will never amount to anything here. It would be best if you left now, before final exams. It isn’t as if you’re ever going to be able to jump that waterfall anyway,” she said. Then she turned on her heel and marched away.
There was no point in her confronting me. It was clearly something she had wanted to say for a while, but she could hardly believe I’d actually leave just because she told me to.
The water looked as if it were boiling. A kind of mirror to my temper, I thought grimly.
Maybe the cold water would give me the answers I sought.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
News from around the kingdom grew increasingly frantic. Attacks on our borders were becoming more vicious and more frequent. There came a day when Vayvin had to leave and go home to be there for her family. She looked grim as she got ready to go.
When she came to say goodbye she said, “Don’t look so sad. Now you can run the show without me.”
Esmeralda and I were sitting on my bed, and Londa was on the next bed over, reading, as usual. Esmeralda was the only one who really understood the danger Vayvin was risking in order to travel home. She looked troubled.
“Just take care of yourself, okay?” she said.
“Don’t I always?” said Vayvin.
Noble Fae Academy: Year One Page 19
