by Casey Bond
9
My corset felt too tight. Likely because it was, despite Mira’s repeated assurance to the contrary. I wasn’t used to wearing them, but she insisted on it. The black silk gown she and her spiders had woven beautifully complemented the necklace Tauren gave me, which she insisted I wear as a gesture of gratitude. The dress was strapless and dramatic, and not at all what I imagined wearing while meeting the King and Queen of Nautilus.
I honestly hadn’t given much thought to them at all before Tauren mentioned we’d be dining privately with the royal family. I’d only thought of the bleeding wishbone and a pair of curious golden eyes.
When I objected to showing too much skin, Mira balked, saying that the Queen herself would be showing more. “I want to look like me,” I argued. “If I show up looking like all the other invitees, the King and Queen might assume I’m after the crown. We’re walking a very delicate line, and I’d rather not be responsible for shattering whatever fragile understanding Thirteen has with the Kingdom.”
Conceding to my wish, Mira spelled her glass spiders and whispered for them to weave a high neck and delicate sleeves out of sheer black fabric. After lifting my hair out of the way, they knit it quickly. In the time it took Mira to find a suitable pair of shoes, they’d completed their work and waited patiently for her on my shoulder. She whispered a spell that transformed them back to glass, and tucked them into her pocket before placing a pair of black heels on the floor. The heels were even higher than the last pair, the black as glossy as a beetle’s back, but there was no dagger hidden along the backs.
“Just wear them,” she chirped. “They’ll look incredible. You’ll even stand a few inches taller.” After clasping the necklace and adding a few silver rings on my fingers, she held up a pair of gloves that would match the gown. “Do you want these?”
I shook my head, choosing to keep my hands bare.
“You don’t think the King and Queen have anything to do with it, do you?” Mira asked, her eyes widening.
“I certainly hope not.” If a member of Tauren’s own family wants him dead, how can I possibly prevent it? They have constant access to him.
The clock began to chime, striking the hour of dinner, and Mira pushed me across the room and out the door, closing it behind us. She wore a simple, black cotton dress and Brecan emerged from his room in a black suit.
“Why aren’t you wearing your House colors?” I asked them. Mira had the ability to weave anything; why did she choose something so plain?
“Because while we are here serving as your escorts, we represent you, not our Houses,” Brecan replied primly. “And we can’t look like your equals. We need to blend into the background, not steal the show.”
“I’m sure Ela and Wayra will be thrilled when they see you,” I deadpanned.
Mira giggled. “Bay won’t be upset. It was his idea. Ethne will love it, too.”
Fire and Water agreeing with one another? I was shocked to hear it.
But now it made sense why Wayra and Bay each sent an escort. The Houses were split. Water and Fire versus Earth and Air. The two opposing sides were equally represented with Brecan and Mira.
We walked together through the hallway to the stairs, taking them carefully down to the main floor, where we were met by a woman in white who asked us to follow her. She led us farther into the castle where everything was white and gold and shiny. The ceilings boasted immaculately painted frescoes with clouds and cherubs that looked so real, I thought they might swoop down and pinch our cheeks for sport.
The panels that lined the walls were inlaid with gold flake. The white marble floors shone like glass, pure and clean, in stark contrast to our dark apparel.
We finally arrived at a pair of tall double doors that parted when the woman knocked. The room held nothing but a blunt, rectangular table.
The royal family was already seated.
All conversation stopped when my heels clicked on the floor. Tauren stood and straightened his jacket, gesturing to the seats next to him. His father and mother stood, and I noticed that although they weren’t wearing crowns, their clothing matched. Each wore deep teal suits, hers more femininely cut than his. The insignia of Nautilus had been sewn into their jackets, directly over each of their hearts.
Tauren was as tall as his father, but where his eyes were molten gold, the King’s were the color of burnt toffee. There was kindness, but also something weary in their depths.
The King’s eyes reminded me of Tauren’s brother, whom I hadn’t seen since the night of the Equinox. I hadn’t seen him since I arrived or been formally introduced to him yet, and there was no setting at the table for him.
King Lucius and Queen Annalina returned the bow I gave. Her golden hair was the same hue as the eye color she’d passed to her son. Tauren stood proudly next to them as they greeted us.
“Miss Sable,” the King hailed, holding out his hand for mine.
A flash of bitter pain shot through my middle just before he placed a kiss on the back of my hand. It disappeared as quickly as it pierced through me, but the feeling flustered me. When I regained my wits, I was still clinging to the King’s hand. He’d kissed the back of mine, which I gathered was a custom here. I couldn’t deny the fact that I had enjoyed the attention from the Prince, even though I knew Tauren hadn’t meant anything by greeting me that way. He’d probably kissed the backs of a thousand ladies’ hands.
I pushed the thought away and returned my hand awkwardly to my side. “King Lucius,” I replied. His eyes shimmered kindly, but I didn’t miss the worried glance he slid to his wife.
The Queen’s eyes were sharper. She gave my hand a quick shake and offered a brief smile before dismissing me to greet Mira just as coolly. She barely even deigned to speak to Brecan.
My eyes unfocused as I looked at Queen Annalina’s forced smile.
A feeling, not one of pain or shock, but one of wariness clung to my fingertips. The Queen cleared her throat and I blinked out of the daze of attempting to clasp onto the fleeting feeling. Though interrupted in my reading, I knew it would linger and I could further explore it privately, later.
Tauren placed another kiss on my hand and leaned in to whisper, “To erase my father’s.” I swallowed thickly as he guided me to the seat beside his. Shivers radiated from the spot where his hand warmed my lower back.
Brecan and Mira settled into the chairs situated across from us, while the King and Queen sat at either end.
With a nod of the King’s royal head, the servants sprang into action, bustling to and from the kitchen. Ice water was poured into our glasses. Long stemmed glasses of wine were placed in front of us. Hors d’oeuvres were served, and once we were all satisfied, a calm fell over the table.
King Lucius regarded me for a long moment. I studied him just as shrewdly. His hair was as dark as Tauren’s, but some strands had turned to salt, especially around his temples. Deep wrinkles bracketed his mouth and streaked across his forehead. As he opened his mouth, the worry lines deepened further. “I won’t bother lying to you, my dear, as I’m sure you could see through any falsehood I attempted.”
I inclined my head in thanks, waiting for him to continue.
“My son explained what happened on the night of the Equinox. In detail.” I opened my mouth to defend my actions, but he stopped me. “Thank you for coming.”
The scowl the Queen had fixed on me deepened, and she flinched with each of her husband’s words.
I expected him to chastise me for hanging one of their citizens in front of hundreds of others. If I weren’t seated, his words would have knocked me off balance.
The Queen spoke. “You truly believe someone wishes Tauren harm?”
“I don’t simply believe it,” I answered. “I know it to be true.”
“Then I think,” the King began, “that your visit couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.”
“What does that mean, exactly?” I asked, glancing at Tauren. He sat rigidly beside me, regarding his father.
“It means that your presence is crucial. Not only can you protect my son, you can help us in other ways. The Circle has been very… stubborn in the recent negotiations we’ve had with them. Perhaps, your being here and reporting back about the way you are welcomed and treated, would ease tensions somewhat.”
If he thought my grandmother would listen to anything I had to say, he was sorely mistaken.
“Why have you spoken to the Circle at all? What were you negotiating?”
Queen Annalina took control of the conversation. “The Circle would like for us to find another way to send exiles to the wild lands, instead of routing them through Thirteen. But, you see, there simply is no other way. Thirteen is the final Sector, and the only one that completely encircles the Kingdom – with the exception of the area where the sea extends inland. Exiles must pass through somewhere.”
“They always have. Why is there an issue now?” I asked.
“The Circle believes that many of the persons being exiled should be put to death. That their crimes are heinous enough to warrant execution instead of banishment,” she said.
“Are they?”
“We don’t believe in taking lives, though I know your stance on the matter is rather different.” She daintily sipped from her wine glass.
“Why can’t you sail them to the wild lands?”
Tauren asked, “Yes, Mother. Why can’t we sail them to the wilds?”
Has he already suggested the same?
“Because it would be costly to do so,” she snipped.
“Surely, there aren’t that many people being banished each month.”
“There have been recently,” the King confirmed, his harsh tone effectively ending the conversation. A sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead. I almost asked if he was feeling well, but was interrupted when our entrees were served.
The gentleman who brought mine lifted the silver dome with a flourish. Roast beef, string beans, and carrots. A pale sauce lay over the meat. “Can you eat it?” Tauren whispered sheepishly. “I should have asked whether you had dietary restrictions.”
“I have no restrictions, but thank you.”
His eyes flicked to Brecan and Mira.
“They’re fine, too.”
Mira was already savoring a carrot while Brecan stared between me and Tauren.
“Why the shift?” Brecan asked bluntly, bringing up the sore subject again. “Why are there more being banished than ever?”
“Laws haven’t changed, nor has our enforcement of them. However, it seems that more are choosing to break them than ever,” Tauren gently explained.
“Because there isn’t punishment severe enough to deter them,” Brecan replied.
The King sat his utensils down and leveled Brecan with a glare. “Mr. Brecan, why exactly are you here? Who are you to Miss Sable?”
“Her escort,” he answered shortly.
“And what would an escort and citizen from the Thirteenth Sector know about ruling the Kingdom from which they attempt to remain separate?” King Lucius asked.
Brecan surprised me by offering an apology. “Nothing, Sire. Pardon my interruption.”
I knew he hated every second of being here. Of dining with the rulers of our kingdom, of even admitting we were part of it. But he was steadfastly playing the role for which he volunteered.
“Nautilus has enjoyed centuries of peace, but slowly, things are going awry – within the Kingdom, instead of without. There is a chasm between the upper and lower sectors, which widens by the day.”
“They’re too separate,” I said quietly.
The King nodded. “And Thirteen has nearly cleaved itself from us entirely. In the past, the witches and non-magical always worked together. But now? It is becoming harder to even speak with the Circle members. The four of them walked out during our last meeting, and haven’t replied to any correspondences I’ve sent since. I’m starting to believe they might secede from us altogether. Have you heard any talk of it?”
I hadn’t, but I wondered if Brecan had and didn’t mention it to me. “I am not a member of the Circle, and as such, am not privy to their conversations.” I glanced at Brecan pointedly, but his expression gave nothing away.
My stomach began to churn. I had no idea there was such strife between the crown and the Circle. I smoothed my palms down the satin fabric covering my legs as everyone chewed in strained silence.
Queen Annalina sawed her carrots into tiny bites and chewed each bite thoroughly. I took this quiet moment to read the residue her touch left behind on my palm. It explained why each time her eyes met mine, disdain roiled within their depths. She and Tauren were close, and he never mentioned to her that he would extend an invitation to me. But it was also because I was from Thirteen. Because I was… different from the other witches with whom she’d come into contact, though she couldn’t place how.
Her eyes snapped to mine as if she knew what I’d felt from her. I held them for a beat and looked to the King, calling on his residue. Lucius was firm, but not cruel like his father had been. He wondered if that was why there was a growing unrest within the Kingdom, and within his chest. He eased a palm over his heart and swallowed a wince. He was angry with Tauren for extending an invitation to me at first, but what was done, was done. Now, he planned to use it to his advantage.
There was something else about them both, an underlying apprehension. I wasn’t sure what caused it. They’d seemed welcoming enough, considering the fact that my presence must have surprised them.
I ate slowly, focusing as much as possible at those around the table. Mira was in heaven with the unexpected flavors of the meal and the general splendor of the palace she’d seen from afar, but never close up.
Brecan… I didn’t want to know what he was feeling.
Under the table, Tauren’s fingers brushed over mine, igniting a fire over my skin. “Is the meal to your liking?”
“Yes,” I said, after clearing my throat. “It’s delicious.”
He grinned. “Wait until you taste the dessert.”
“There’s dessert?” Mira excitedly gripped the table’s edge.
“Your favorite,” Queen Annamarie told Lucius. The two were obviously in love. The way he looked at her was more than a stiff thank you. There was appreciation, gratefulness – not for what she’d requested for him, but that she’d thought of him at all.
A tender look passed between them, and the Queen’s smile lit the room. She was truly lovely. A ruler plucked from the sectors. From Five, according to Mira’s chatter as she’d dressed me for dinner. Her family were renowned sculptors. Did she feel as comfortable with a hammer and chisel in her hands as she did holding a scepter? Was that why every time she looked at me, her face looked more like marble than skin and bone?
King Lucius’s favorite dessert was decadent and delicious. Fit for a king, but simple. I wasn’t sure if it was pudding, sweet bread, or a mixture of both, but the hard sugar crust was my favorite part. I hadn’t eaten much of my dinner, but scraped the small dish that had held my dessert until no speck of the confection remained. With the last swipe of my spoon on the ceramic, I looked up to see that everyone was staring. Even Tauren, who wore a smile.
“You like sugar,” he guessed.
“I don’t eat it often, so this was a treat,” I explained, my cheeks blazing under their attention.
When dinner was over, the King and Queen excused themselves, each promising to speak with me soon. I just can’t wait for those conversations, I thought dryly.
Tauren leaned in to me. “The invitees are waiting in another room. I need to greet them briefly.”
“How generous of you to spare a moment of your time for them,” Brecan said derisively.
Ta
uren straightened. “If you cannot mind your tongue, Brecan, I will have you replaced.”
Brecan fumed, but remained silent. I wondered how long he could hold his tongue, and if Tauren would follow through on the threat if pushed far enough.
“Tauren, go meet with them,” I said, trying to smooth the tension Brecan’s fat mouth had caused.
“That’s the thing… I need you to accompany me,” he replied apologetically.
“Do you fear them?” I asked.
“Not at all, but you are an invitee, technically, and this first informal meeting will be filmed.”
“I need to be present,” I said, finally understanding what he meant.
“I need you at my side,” he corrected.
As Tauren and I left Brecan in the hallway and readied ourselves to step into an intimate sitting room, he took hold of my hand. Startled, I pulled away. “I’m not sure that’s a very good idea, Prince. You’ll be marrying one of these women.”
“You’re right.” His face flushed, but he schooled his features and held the door open for me. I stepped inside, feeling his legs brush the skirt of my dress. His closeness was confusing, setting me at ease and on edge all at once.
Every woman in the room zoomed in on us, as did the cameras’ wide lenses. I stepped away from him, walking to the side of the room and perching against a wall as he spoke to the group.
“Ladies, thank you very much for accepting my invitation,” he began, sweeping his eyes across the room. “This year, I break with tradition. This year, I’ve extended an invitation to thirteen women, one from each of Nautilus’s sectors. Miss Sable,” inclining his head toward me, “is from Thirteen. And before you ask, yes, she is a witch.” His smile gleamed as he looked at each of them in turn, then to me.
Must he state the obvious? I cringed, even as I plastered on a grateful smile and peered around the room of women who were not only beautiful, but ruthless. Some dismissed me at first glance. Others saw me as a threat.
Brecan silently slithered into the room, moving out of sight of the cameras, and many of the women nonchalantly glanced in his direction. They were in for a treat. Not only was Tauren handsome, but now they could ogle Brecan as well. The two couldn’t be more different. And not just in the light and dark hues of their hair, but in their demeanors. They were from two different worlds that existed within the same kingdom.
