She finally drew to a stop before her adoring audience and offered the slightest curtsy. Apparently, that was the sign for the orchestra to cease, and they did so immediately.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday with me,” she cooed. Prudence’s voice was gentle yet strong. She took an excessive pause to make eye contact with the people she knew the most, and that wide smile never left her face. “I’m sorry,” she said, noticing that long silence. “I just cannot come to terms with how many wonderful people there are here tonight.”
“My dear, none shine so bright as you,” one man said. He stepped forward, and everyone had to move aside to make room for his considerable breadth. “My daughter is so humble, ladies, don’t you think? She’d make you believe we’ve never entertained guests before.” That statement elicited a mumble of laughter. “I assure you, though, entertainment will be one thing tonight will not be lacking. Food and delicacies from all over Tellest—Saveon to Lustra and back—line our tables, the fireworks from Numasa will be popping off all night in the inner courtyard, and we’ve more than a few surprises that will no doubt be the talk of the evening.”
“Speaking of talk, my, how my father loves to,” Prudence said, intertwining her arm with the magistrate’s. “You’ll all be happy to know that my request was an evening full of music and dancing. If my father prattles on for too long, simply pretend you can’t hear him over our wonderful musicians.” She looked to the small orchestra and gave a quick nod. At that, a warm, celebratory song began to play.
A great many of the guests swarmed the girl, offering congratulations and welcoming her to womanhood. Still, others immediately broke into dance, spinning about in small circles in whatever space was available upon the floor. Merlin and Adelia moved with the herd that surrounded them, pushed toward those immense banquet tables.
So many scents and sights overwhelmed the two that they simply moved aside while the other guests gathered napkins and hors d’oeuvres. Those enchanting odors kept enticing Merlin back, though, and he was drawn to stare.
Adelia felt a firm grasp on her shoulder, and her body felt frigid. A layer of ice formed on her hand before she turned and noticed the familiar face. She forced a smile as she willed the frost away.
“You’re not here to look at the food,” Reya divulged. “Please act as though you belong. As one of the magistrate’s guests, you’re expected to indulge.” The guard gave the young lady a slight push, but she was quick to outpace her.
Merlin spun a pirouette around the latest batch of guests and returned to his spot at the table. His gaze drew to a basket at the rear of the spread, which was filled to the brim with long, thin fish, all positioned to accentuate the shine of their bodies. A bracer-covered arm reached across his vision and scooped a handful of those fish out of the basket. Reya dropped them into a napkin and handed them to the lad.
“Don’t just stare at it,” she bade. “You’re unnerving the other guests.” She wiped her hand on her tunic once she was sure he held the appetizers.
The lieutenant returned to Adelia, who had drawn farther from the table. Merlin, meanwhile, lifted his hand to peer at the food. Other guests thanked him and picked the treats from his hand until there was nothing left, much to his chagrin.
“What is the problem, Miss Adelia?” Reya growled.
“I can’t find Lucinda.”
With a pointed finger, the lieutenant identified the plump sorceress across the room. “As you can see, your chaperone is doing well to play her part in the night’s festivities.”
Sure enough, Lucinda nearly threw herself into conversations with the other guests. Her companions watched as she made men blush with the touch of a single finger. Their wives contended with a different shade of red. As those other guests withdrew from the salacious woman, she spotted her friends across the way and offered an impish grin and a wave.
“I concede my point,” Reya said. “She’ll have us all removed before this night is over.” As she spoke, a servant approached with a tray of glasses, each filled with a clear, pink liquid. “Can you not see that I am on duty?” she snapped. As the fellow blanched and drew away, she grasped two of those glasses. Without any hesitation, she thrust one of them out at Adelia. “Strawberry wine from the magistrate’s own orchard, I’d wager. It’s not potent, to be sure, but perhaps it will be enough to dull your senses so you can appear to enjoy yourself.” As Merlin sidled up beside them, he was offered the other glass. When neither of them moved to drink, Reya grumbled and took her leave.
As that first song ended, one of the guests shouted, “To Miss Prudence!”
“Cheers!” a chorus of other voices rang out.
With all the others in attendance imbibing, Adelia finally followed suit. Merlin was quick to emulate her, though in his eager state, he nearly spilled it across his face.
“Ah, I see the lieutenant’s words were convincing,” they heard. Both turned to see Lucinda’s approach. “I will say, if anyone knows anything about Orson Blythe, they’re very good at keeping quiet.”
“Reya didn’t seem to know where he was either,” Adelia said.
“And what about you two?” the sorceress asked. “Are you keeping your ears perked to the sound of the whispers around these tables?”
Adelia shrugged. “To be honest, we’re struggling with just looking like we belong.”
Lucinda shot the girl a sympathetic gaze that lasted just until the next song began. The grin that stretched across her face then looked mischievous indeed. “There’s no better way to fit in than to watch what others are doing.” As the magistrate’s guests filtered onto the ballroom floor, the sorceress gave her companions a light push. “In a few moments, all the others will be dancing.”
The sage’s pupil couldn’t hide her surprise. “Lucinda, what do I know about dancing?”
“More than he does,” she teased, pointing at Merlin. “Just remember that it’s all about rhythm, not so much unlike magic. This is an easy song to dance to, of that I promise you.”
Those assurances did little to ease the girl’s mind. Luckily, those who were more centered on the floor had to display their own prowess and fancy footwork. By the time they had filtered around, Adelia believed she could replicate those movements well enough. Even when she didn’t and felt a stumble this way or that, she was surprised to be even more amused by the dance. When it was their turn to circle around back, she almost lamented losing her spot upon the floor.
A new fear arose as the music transformed into a slower tune, without so much as stopping first. Hands and hips were held, and those movements all became so much more…personal. She looked around to confirm that others were dancing as well, but it was when she met Merlin’s gaze that she felt most vulnerable. He shattered her defenses with a warm smile and lifted a hand to accept hers. Adelia blew out an anxious sigh and obliged him. With nothing else stopping them, she followed him into the slow dance.
“I’m sorry if I step on your feet,” the transformed cat offered.
“You’re better than you think,” Adelia replied. “Especially since you just got those legs a few days ago.” They shared smiles before the girl bowed her head. “How are you holding up in this new body?”
He paused to consider that. “I’m beginning to like it. I’m noticing things—beautiful things—that I don’t think I did before.”
“But?”
His grin was a little less eager then. “The more time I spend like this, the more I enjoy it. I’m forgetting what it was like to be a cat.”
“If you’re finding enjoyment in being this way, why are we trying to change you?”
“You remember what Lucinda said. Whether it’s today, tomorrow, or a month from now, everything transformed returns to its original state. I don’t want to enjoy all this just for it to fade away.”
“What if she could keep you this way forever?”
Merlin hummed as he considered that thought. “Could we really tolerate Lucinda’s presence for
that long?”
The girl giggled and grabbed her dancing partner all the tighter.
“Excuse me,” a gentle voice reached them. Adelia turned and saw the beauty before her, that green and blue dress lost to her for a moment. It wasn’t until she saw the wide berth she had been given on the dance floor that she understood who had spoken to her. “Would it be all right if I cut in? I promise I’ll return him in the same condition I found him.”
“Of course, my lady,” Adelia stammered. She gave one last squeeze to the lad and withdrew from the crowd, which grew denser in that broad circle that surrounded the guest of honor and her new dancing partner.
Alone with the stranger, Merlin summed up every ounce of courage and every lesson in being a human he had learned over the past several days. He offered a sheepish grin and placed his hand in hers.
“I’ll lead?” Prudence said. Before he knew it, he was following her every move with his clumsy steps. She helped him to disguise them as best she could, but some shone through with particular foolishness. Prudence giggled and stopped, waving her hands as she looked at her audience. “Come now. Can’t you see the poor boy is beside himself? Join us in the dance so he doesn’t feel so gawked at.”
That drew laughter from the crowd, and as others made their way around them, the girl once again offered her hand. There was something about the tempo of the extra dancers on the floor that made their interactions more natural then.
“I’ll just come right out and say it,” the guest of honor cooed. “I’ve never seen you around here before.”
Merlin nodded. “I came here with L—that is to say, I’m an attaché for Lady Hortencia.”
Her eyes flashed wide for a moment as she considered that. “My father invites her to all these lavish occasions, and she never attends. She’s always been kind enough to send her warmest regards, of course.”
“She certainly didn’t want to miss an event such as this.”
Prudence let her perfect smile show once more. “You’re so different from the other guests we usually entertain.”
“If you only knew,” he teased.
Adelia watched as the spectacle unfolded and shook her head. Who would have ever thought the magistrate’s daughter would be dancing with a cat? she mused. She plucked a fancy cracker from her hand and tossed it in her mouth.
“You and our furry friend are terrible at gaining intel,” Lucinda laughed. The sorceress walked up beside the girl and looked into the crowd. “But at least one of you is a wonderful distraction.” One glance at Adelia proved the girl wasn’t paying attention. Her eyes were locked to their mutual friend and the magistrate’s daughter.
Before Lucinda could offer some words of advice or consolation, the song shifted once more to a more mysterious and adventurous tune, and the dancers stopped to observe the latest change.
The man who announced Prudence’s arrival returned and hopped up the small set of stairs, striding to the center of the stage. He was applauding before he ever drew to a stop. “Now, ladies and gentlemen, we promised you several surprises, and we are ever so pleased to bring you the first of many. Keep your eyes on the stage, and maybe you’ll see a few familiar faces.”
With a brief rustle, the burgundy curtain lifted off the stage while the announcer took his leave. A dozen people were lined up on that dais, standing shoulder to shoulder with one another. Lucinda spotted two guards that stood at the rear of the stage as well and arched an eyebrow when she saw one stomp his foot.
At once, those in attendance murmured the lyrics to a song. The orchestra on the floor played to match, although the instruments were set upon with much more exuberance.
Look here and see the touch of the wild
‘Pon man, woman, and even child
A time for wolves, a time for the rat
The lord of beasts, the mighty cat
Gaze upon these wild ones, see the animal inside
Keep afar, to hide or run, no it cannot be denied
Look here and see the touch of the wild
‘Pon man, woman, and even child
Others in attendance who were familiar with the song joined in, and it was then Lucinda truly witnessed the concern upon the chorus’ faces as they stood upon the stage. “Something’s not right here,” the sorceress said.
“What do you mean?” Adelia asked.
Lucinda looked past her companion, to the woman who walked with haste toward them. Lieutenant Reya averted her gaze but sidled up beside the others, looking upon the table and collecting some food. “One of them up there is Blythe, isn’t it?” the sorceress asked.
“Yes, and he’s not known as much of a bard either. Something doesn’t sit right with me here.”
The song played out, and one of those guards on stage took several steps forward, until he stood just beside those in line. “All right then, why don’t we show our guests that touch of the wild?” When none of them dared to speak or even move, the guard clapped his hands together. “You see, these special folks here are awful shy. They might need a little push in the right direction. Does anyone think they can awaken the beasts inside?”
At once, members of the audience ventured to the stage. Even the young lady celebrating her birthday broke from the crowd, dragging her dancing partner in tow. Merlin offered no protest, but he looked about in confusion.
“One of you needs to get up there to ask him why he’s there,” Reya ordered. “If I tried to meet with him, they’d know I suspected something.”
Lucinda looked at her ward and smiled. “This is a job for you, Adelia. I have my doubts that Merlin would be suited for this task, but you would be ideal.”
The sage’s pupil nodded and steadied herself with a deep breath.
“Have no fear, child,” the sorceress bade. “If the need should arise, I’ll make a scene to keep the eyes off you.”
“He’s right there in the center,” Reya said. Without pointing, though, she might as well have only been reiterating that the apothecary was on the stage.
Adelia thought better of having her elaborate. Already overladen with tension, it seemed the guard was ready to snap at any moment. She swallowed away her doubt and pushed through the crowd, keeping her eyes on the stage. The musicians once again banded together to play, but that time, it was a quiet tune that sat just beneath the mumbles and laughter of those who observed the spectacle on stage.
“Go ahead, show us the beast,” one man shouted.
“Come on, don’t be shy,” a young girl pressed.
Ascending the stairs of the stage, Adelia was surprised to see all those who were in attendance. Those who were forced to sing stared ahead, past the others. Some of those guests even prodded and poked to try to get some reaction out of the chorus.
What odd game is this? Adelia wondered.
Most of the folks lined up in that series were grown men and women. But about halfway through, a young girl, not yet close to ten, trembled between a pair of adults. It was there Adelia saw Prudence, Merlin at her side. The honored guest crouched low and bore a wide smile, but Adelia could not hear what was being said. Merlin passed a glance her way, and when he noticed his companion, his curious glimpse became a pleading stare.
Adelia nodded but had to push past those who crowded the stage. Not one to waste the opportunity, she also looked to the line. “Mister Blythe?” she asked. “Is one of you Mister Blythe?”
None of those men answered her, and before long, she found herself beside the transformed cat. Before she could open her mouth to speak, though, another voice boomed over the crowd.
“It seems our friends here don’t want to cooperate!” the guard shouted. “When polite requests don’t do the trick, we move from the carrot to the stick.”
On the other side of the room, Lucinda spotted that guard pull a switch from his belt. He slapped it into his hand, and it echoed out from there. Some of those other guests departed the stage, understanding what was happening. But Adelia, innocent of that impending treatment
, simply stood there while the stick was swung for the first time.
A stifled grunt was the only noise that emerged from that man. He remained stoic, even as some of the guests who antagonized him furrowed their brows in horror. The guard moved onto the next one—a smaller fellow—and swung the switch again. That man yelped but bit his lip and fought back the welling tears.
Lucinda watched as a slew of emotions washed over Adelia. The guard moved his way down the line, striking men and women alike. What had begun as confusion in the aspiring sage’s pupil quickly turned to rage. Merlin saw it too, the anger beginning to swell beneath the woman’s cool exterior. Adelia’s focus remained on the young girl before Merlin.
“Get your friend away from here,” one of those men in the line warned. “It isn’t safe here anymore.”
“Keep quiet, Orson,” another man bade.
Those warnings meant no difference to the young woman. That switch cracked against the little girl’s backside, and she cried out.
Lucinda saw flames take shape in Adelia’s hand. The sorceress knew all eyes were likely still on the stage, especially as the young girl cried out once more—the only one in attendance struck more than once.
There was only one thing to do, Lucinda conceded.
Bringing the back of her hand up to her forehead, the plump woman swayed back and forth. “Oh,” she groaned as she spun about and flung herself onto the food table.
Just then, though, another cry escaped from the mouth of the little girl.
Adelia had seen enough. She lifted that hand that kindled the flame and prepared to heave the fiery magic at that maniacal guard.
Lucinda huffed and stood up before repeating her deceit once more. That time, she moaned even louder and threw herself into the nearest fellow, a burly man exquisitely dressed whose eager eyes focused on the stage. He had no hope of dodging or catching the woman, and they both collapsed to the ground.
Transformed (Ancestral Magic Book 2) Page 7
