Karlen stared circling around her. "Yes, I can see it. He's right about the clothes though, we are going to have get you some new ones." She paused. "I'm sure Katrina will have some ideas."
Ryanon winced at the mention of the local brothel owner.
Kieran nodded, as he rested his hands on the small entryway table. "We'll just have to play it by ear. The ball will be good for you, Ryanon." He gave her a small smile. "You'll be the only one here over Yule anyway and it will do you some good to get around people."
Ryanon shifted. She hated being reminded that she had no one outside the guild-that she and her brother would have died on the streets years ago had Kieran not found them. "Fine," she huffed. "Just know that I do this under protest."
However, as the days grew colder, she knew that time was going to run out on her.
The vast lands of Xandria had finally been covered in the great winter snows that the air had been threatening to deliver for weeks. The ships at Srilurk Landing were officially iced in. The cool waves from Nikirs Ocean's beat against the icy blast, causing it to feel colder than it actually was. The snow howled from the north, making everyone dream of warmer days or of crossing the barrier that surrounded Trelia to reach warmer lands.
However, for once in their lives, most of the people of Xandria were not thinking about those awful events in Trelia or worrying that the curse could spread to their lands. This was actually a time of great enjoyment and fun.
Ryanon narrowed her eyes as yet another group of people ran into her. Since Queen Amberfall of the Nature Fairies of Zania had arrived had supposedly arrived, King Teodric Morninghelm had decided to be rather generous. For the first time since anyone could remember, the castle was going to be open to everyone for a Yule Ball.
It was one thing that Dak had actually been right about.
Still, the idea of a royal ball shouldn't be an excuse for people to run around like idiots.
She could actually sort of understand why everyone was excited. Come on, it was a castle and most people wondered about how the royal family lived. Plus, it was also Yule, which was supposed to be the happiest time of the year and there really was not all that much to celebrate.
Still, it was not a time to forget how to act in public.
Aliss wrinkled her nose up as a young child threw a snowball at her. "So, what are you up too?"
Ryanon watched as a couple of girls, who were about her age, rushed into a dress shop. "Not much. There hasn't been a lot of jobs lately. I figure it will pick up once all of this is over." Really, she hated that no one had been visiting the Assassin's Guild; she was running out of money. Dak's start up money hadn't gone as far as she would had liked.
Aliss stared into a jewelry shop's window. "Well, I'm sure that things will get better. Families do tend to hate each other even more after the holidays are over. I'm so busy that I don't know which way to turn. I've actually have to turn down jobs, can you believe it?" Of course, Aliss would have a lot of work now. People bought each other time with the courtesans for Yule gifts.
Ryanon peered into the windows, trying to figure out what in the world had Aliss so interested. Jewels never held her attention. "So, are you going to the party?"
Aliss turned away from the shiny jewels. "Of course!" She looked Ryanon up and down. "Are you?"
Ryanon really wasn't planning on it-even though she'd been told to go. Following orders really wasn't her cup of tea. However, annoying Dak would be her prefect Yule.
Aliss put her hands on her hips. "You know, you would be pretty if you were to let me get you ready. I bet you would be on the arm of a nobleman by the time the night was over if you were to just let me take care of you."
Ryanon looked down at her street clothes. Sure, they weren't as elegant as Aliss's, but they really weren't that bad. She figured they were only a few years out of style. Plus, they were in the slums, not the rich shopping centre. "I really don't want a nobleman yelling at me from under my window, proclaiming is love to me."
Aliss smiled. "I had no idea you were such a romantic." Her eyes scanned the different dress shops. "There surely must be something out there that you will like."
"Aliss -"
Aliss waved Ryanon's objection the side. "I know you love this time of year. I've seen the tree that you have in your room and I know you are the one who is doing most that decorating. Just let me do this for you. It will make your Yule all that much more magical." She gave Ryanon a big smile. "Now, you do want to spend your Yule in that smelly old guild or would you rather be a princess for the night?"
"Aliss , I just don't think it's a good idea. If I want to go, I'm sure I could find something in my closet."
Aliss looked horrorstruck. "Wear something from your closet?" she stammered. "Oh, no, no, we can't have that!" With that she grabbed Ryanon and dragged her toward the closest shop.
Ryanon tried to dig her heals in. After all, she was a fully trained assassin with an intense workout, but all she did was slid along the sidewalk. She really should have known better than to cross Aliss when she was on a shopping mission.
As soon as they entered the shop, Aliss began pulling dresses off the racks and piling them in Ryanon's arms. There were dresses of every colour and every style from all the nations of Eaken. She thought that she even saw a few that mimicked the style of the Trelian court. It was just surprising to find something like this in the slums.
Aliss piled her own arms high. "Well, that should get us started. Just remember not to fall in love with the first thing you try on. You should never have to settle."
Ryanon could hardly see where she was going as she followed Aliss to the back of the shop. Her arms were actually burning under the weight of all the dresses. The only time her arms burned this much was when she was beating the crap out of Dak during training.
Aliss shoved Ryanon into a dressing room, adding her own dresses to Ryanon's pile. "Now, I want to see you try on them all."
Ryanon looked at the dress littered room, knowing better than the argue with Aliss. Why did the gods have to be so mean?
She slowly pulled on the first one. She did have to admit; it did actually make her look good. It hugged her curves in all the right places, a lot better than her normal clothes. It actually make her look like a young woman, not a killer. She had never really tapped into her womanhood, because she always thought it would make her look weak in the eyes of the other assassins. This really was making her think otherwise. She could look like a woman and still be strong.
Aliss was going to have to say yes to this one.
Ryanon stepped out in the dress, trying to hide her smile. "Well?"
Aliss leaned forward in her seat, studying Ryanon in a way that made her sweat. Her frown only deepened the longer she stared at Ryanon. "It's good. I never knew you were actually a girl under there, but I don't think it's you." She waved Ryanon away. "Keep trying."
And she got the same reaction with the next dozen or so dresses. Ryanon wanted to come across that floor and just simply kill Aliss . All of the dresses had been very beautiful and in so many different colours and styles. They all had transformed Ryanon from assassin to a young noble woman. However, there had been something wrong with each and every one of them.
Ryanon came back out in a simple black one that had a beaded belt around it. "Look, I'm running out of dresses in there."
Aliss wrinkled her nose up at the current dress. "There is no way you are wearing that one. It's so last year."
Ryanon rolled her eyes. "Look, maybe we should go see what I have in my closet and go from there."
The wrinkles on Aliss 's face deepened. "That would be worse than death. Actually, that may be a good idea. We could have a fire and warm the place up."
Ryanon gave Aliss a long look before going back into the dressing room. This really was hopeless. Nothing was ever going to pass Aliss's inspection. She really didn't see why everything had to be perfect. Besides, she wasn't even sure if she was going to this stupid ball
. What was so wrong with wanting to spend Yule at the guild?
She slipped into the final dress and stepped out. "This is all I have left."
Aliss 's mouth dropped open. "This is the one."
Ryanon looked down at the dress. "It's yellow," she said flatly. She really didn't have anything against the colour, but she did not find it to be all that interesting.
Aliss got to her feet, giving Ryanon a good look over. "It is not yellow, it's gold. Gold is a very fine colour and it is the style this year." She finished circling Ryanon. "Yes, I will say that this is the one."
Ryanon looked back down at the dress. "Aliss, I'm just not sure about this." The dress was a lower cut than she was used too.
Aliss waved her away. "Don't worry about it."
The golden dress really did bring out Ryanon's features. The sparkles just danced off her skin, making it look like her glow was a result of wearing this colour. It clung to her body in a way that made her look elegant, not cheap, and it ended on the floor in a puddle of golden sparkles.
Aliss pulled out her gold bag. "We have to get it!"
Ryanon almost gagged when she finally saw the price. "Um, no, it's way too much!"
Aliss took the price tag from Ryanon, her eyes narrowing. "This is actually kind of cheap for a dress. You see what I pay for my little numbers."
"I'm not getting it. It's too much." Ryanon jerked away from Aliss and headed back into the dressing. She pulled on her old clothes, still grumbling about the cost of that dress. The amount of gold that people spent on things like this would feed a family of five in the slums for a month.
As soon as Ryanon came out of the dressing room, Aliss grabbed the dress and marched up to the counter so fast that she didn't have time to react.
"Aliss!" Ryanon went charging after Aliss. She really should have known better. Nothing got in the way of Aliss and an outfit she liked. By the time she got up front, Aliss had already paid for the dress and was in the process of having it gifted wrapped.
Aliss gave Ryanon a sweet smile. "Don't think it will look lovely on her?" Aliss said, sweetly to the shop girl. "She's one of those people who doesn't know how beautiful she is."
Ryanon crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at Aliss.
The shop girl smiled at Ryanon. "You should listen to her. She knows what she's talking about."
Aliss 's smile widened. "I am the expert after all."
Ryanon's scowl only deepened as the pair of them went on about shoes and jewelry that would really bring out the dress. She completely tuned out their talking when it turned to how to keep the dress from getting ruined in the snow.
By the time they left the shop, the snow was falling harder than ever. People would walk by them and a few seconds later, their footsteps and retreating backs would be gone. Ryanon narrowed her eyes. In this, she couldn't even see the holiday lights that the shops had put up.
Aliss wrinkled her nose as they made their way back toward the slums. "This is not what I had in mind. Snow is supposed to fall to the ground gently, not hit you in the face."
Ryanon smiled. It really wasn't hitting you in the face, but it certainly wasn't like the snow out of a story. "Just think about how the snow will look in the pictures."
Aliss got a dreamily on her face. "Ah, yes, there is nothing more wonderful than a snowy background."
"So, who are you going with?" Ryanon asked as a snowflake went up her nose. She snorted. Okay, snow, this was not how it was supposed to be.
"Some lord has me for the night," Aliss said, a smile coming across her face. "He is actually dreamily. He's not like the other nobles who come and see me. He's not married and the other reason he hired me was because his mother couldn't stand the idea of her son showing up without a date again."
"So, he bought a whore." Ryanon said flatly.
Aliss 's eyes narrowed. "Are you going to try and steal a dance with a certain Captain of the Royal Guard?"
Now, it was Ryanon's eyes turn to narrow. "And why would I do that?"
"Because you two are partners. Everyone can see it, that's why you two were put together in the first place."
Ryanon grabbed Aliss's arm. They both stood looking at each other as the snow drifted around them. "What do you mean?"
Aliss's smile widened. "You two would make the prefect couple. You're just like something out of those plays."
Ryanon's frown deepened. "And don't those plays always end up with the lovers dying?"
Aliss waved her away. "Those are just minor details." She tucked her arm under Ryanon's. "Now, come on. We don't want to be out on the streets when the disrespectable people come out. They might try and take away our honour."
Ryanon rolled her eyes. They were probably one of the most unworthy people around. The assassin and the whore....It couldn't get much worse than that.
Chapter Twelve: The Queen of the Fairies
Amberfall stared out into the chilly, dark Xandrian sky. She was happy to have all of those weeks of travelling behind her, but it still didn't feel right. She couldn't allow herself to relax. Behind her, Frostfire was getting ready for bed. Most of the castle was not yet aware where Frostfire spent his nights, but she needed to keep him close. There was no way she could face all of this without someone from home close by.
She had yet to met the king. It was one of the bright sides of arriving so late in the night. Tomorrow that would all change. He had already requested that they meet. She knew that a royal Yule Ball was to take place and was not looking forward to that at all. Bad things tended to happen whenever she got around a large group of people.
"Are you coming?" Frostfire asked as he leaned against the window.
Amberfall smiled as she took in his bare chest and feet. "In a minute." The city glowed beneath them. "I don't like it."
Frostfire brushed away a piece of her loose red hair. "Don't like what?"
"I don't like being this far away from nature. All of this, it just isn't right."
He smiled. "You've been in large cities before. I don't see why this one is any different. It's a little dirty, yes, but not the end of the world."
"Maybe, but it's still not right. How do these people live?" She looked away from here. "Maybe coming here was a mistake."
"We don't have to stay the entire time. Just listen to what the king has to say and we'll go from there. We don't have to decide anything right now."
"I know, but these are humans." Amberfall moved toward the bed. "You can't trust them."
Frostfire slowly followed behind her. "I know that, but it doesn't mean that they're all bad."
"The rulers are the worst, they will deceive you in any way they can." Amberfall turned down the sheets. "I just hope you remember that when we go met them tomorrow."
Frostfire moved against the bed, bringing his soft lips down on hers. "I just hope you're wrong. I really do hope these people will change your mind."
Amberfall leaned against his strong arms. "I hope so too."
The next morning greeted them with a cold, winter view. It had snowed during the night, littering the ground with a fine layer of wet, white stuff. Amberfall winced at the sight. It had been years since she had seen snow; she could have gone the rest of life without seeing it again.
She pulled her thin clothes tighter around her, but it did little to block out the chill. She was going to have to break down and buy some heavier clothes.
"Are you ready?" Frostfire asked as he came out of the bathroom dressed in full Zanian military dress.
Amberfall nodded. "I guess. I just hope he's ready for us."
"He is the one who summoned us, so I think he will." Frostfire offered his queen his arm, which she took. "Besides, we can always leave. Our magic is far stronger than their mortal weapons."
"I guess."
Frostfire held out a piece of parchment. "I was given a map."
Amberfall frowned as she stared at the paper. "What? They couldn't even be bothered to send an escort!"
Frost
fire shrugged. "I didn't make the rules."
Amberfall's frown deepened as they left the room. What kind of people were they going to meet?
The guards outside the door didn't even bother to bow to her as she passed them. Stupid mortals...Weren't they taught any manners?
The castle was grand. Amberfall had to give them points for style. There was not a thing out of order nor any stray pieces of dirt. With this many people about, she would have thought there would had been some dirt. However, there was something missing. The air just did not hold any life to it. It felt stale, dead even. It was like there was a great evil lurking about.
The grand windows were a rather sad attempt to let some life into the castle. The tops of them were decorated with pictures of happy times-of man and creatures walking together in perfect harmony. Amberfall stopped, staring at a portrait of a man and an elf playing a game of chess. Those days seemed so long ago. Now, both were killing each other.
The few people they came across in the halls were of no help either. They would not look the fairies in the eye. Instead, they hurried away, like they were actually afraid of them or something.
Amberfall pulled closer to Frostfire. There was something so wrong about this. If they had been asked to come here, wouldn't people at least be happy to see them?
The closer they got to the throne room, the more guards there were. They all stared openly at Amberfall and Frostfire. Amberfall pretended not to feel their stares. It was better not to let them see that they were getting to her.
The doors to the throne room were wide open.
As soon as Amberfall stepped through those doors, she could feel the life being sucked out of her. Sure, the room was beautiful, clothed in the riches of Xandria and lands beyond, but there was something else wrong. The royal family sat upon their thrones of gold, looking happy, but darkness surrounded them.
Amberfall stopped in the centre of a grand floor painting, gasping for air. The pull behind her navel urged her to turn back and return to the safety of home.
Once Page 9
