“Never, never have I heard such beautiful words. Little Miss, why have you been holding out on us so long?” Lady Csai was the first to speak, her voice trembling with emotion.
“Humility, my dear ladies. To teach you humility,” Penny said airily, catching Annette’s eye. It had only taken a quick whisper from Annette’s angelic tongue to convince the group that not only was Penny’s poem the most glorious thing that they would ever hear, but never again would any poem sound as hauntingly sweet. The girls shared a look of quiet triumph as the faeries sobbed and blustered their praises.
“Oh, something just occurred to me,” Penny added. “Wouldn’t the Empress like to hear my composition, too?”
“Oh, absolutely! You couldn’t be more correct! Kehli, go to the Empress’ maids at once and come back when you’ve got her permission for an audience,” Melle urged, and the faerie hurried out the door and took flight. She returned moments later in a tizzy, smiling and out of breath as she gave her news.
“She’ll see you! Come along, hurry. You mustn’t keep her waiting!” Kehli grabbed Penny’s hand and brought her to her feet, then dragged her down from the small room to the garden, but when Annette followed, the faerie came to an abrupt halt.
“Oh no, not you, my dear. Only Miss Penelope was given permission.”
“Hey! That’s Annette Deveaux, you’re talking to! I’ll have you know the Empress specifically requested a performance from her the day we arrived. I have a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate you depriving her of that,” Penny protested, glaring at the faerie. Kehli shot an unsure glance back at the others, who shrugged. Without further questions Kehli whisked them across the gardens to the pond’s edge, and into a tiny rowboat.
Kehli worked the sculls quickly, bumped the boat to shore and helped the girls out. Her complexion ruddy with exertion, she beckoned the girls inside the elegant tearoom.
In the dim light, sheer curtains sparkled with a dusky purple iridescence, interspersed with painted screen doors and glowing lanterns. The doors were open a crack and Penny caught glimpses of movement in the room beyond. The sounds of a distant, tinkling bell and the gentle noise of tranquil water filled the steamy building.
“Don’t be afraid. Come inside, my dears,” the beguiling voice of Empress Irunie called from behind the screen doors.
Timidly the girls stepped onto the dark lacquered wood and pushed aside a screen door to reveal the Empress in robes of peacock green, indigo and shimmering gold. A crystal headpiece sat atop her dark hair, and she lounged beside a tiny tea table. The room was decorated with paintings, books, rare sculptures, artifacts, jewels, and fine clothing of every sort. They glittered on the walls like dewdrops adorning a spider’s web. Irunie shivered as Annette and Penny approached.
“Oh, what a treat this is. Please, do sit down. My servants in the other room are preparing tea for us. Nothing but the finest blends, of course! Sit, sit!” The Empress waved to a set of chairs around the table, and the girls sat opposite her. “My ladies told me you had some skill at poetry, but I say let’s forget that tiresome business for now, yes?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea―Your Majesty,” Penny added a little too late, but the Faerie Empress just laughed.
“Right, well there isn’t much time. I’ve been so hoping I could meet with your friends too, but you two I wanted to see in particular. It gets so dreadfully dull being cooped up in here all alone, sometimes. I do so Iong for a bit of excitement from the outside world, especially the kind that shining jewels such as yourselves can offer.”
The Empress peered at Annette. “Oh, won’t you sing something for me? And you can dance, can’t you? Do that as well,” she implored, and Annette had to shake off her surprise before she was able to comply with the Empress’ wish. Penny felt Annette’s performance, though flawless as usual, seemed a touch awkward in the small confines of the room. The Empress seemed to think otherwise, appearing both enchanted and breathless.
“What sunshine you’ve brought to me. How darling and sweet you are! Just like a little doll. Oh, thank you my dear, thank you,” the Empress gushed, beside herself with wonderment. She turned to Penny and grasped her hands.
“Now, tell me, my child. Tell me what it was like to face the Angelic Lord in all of his wrath. Tell me why it was you confronted him, tell me how you drove him away. Tell me everything.” She was so vehement in her demand that Penny’s nerves increased. Staring this beautiful, dangerous creature in the eye as she clenched her hand painfully tight, Penny knew what she now faced was much more daunting than she could have imagined.
“Your Majesty, I’m afraid it’s much too long a story to tell you here today. But, I can say that he was cold and sharp, I suppose. But beautiful like nothing you’ve ever seen, so much that it physically hurt to look at him. And standing up to him, that was like falling over a waterfall and being lost in the current. Truth be told, I had no idea what I was doing or how I did it. It just sort of happened. We touched for a moment and it was as if all the darkness inside of me flowed into him. Then he was gone. Like lightning,” Penny said, straining to remember the details and remain vague.
“Forgive my asking, but…it wasn’t Anti-Magic that you used against him, was it?” the Empress breathed and when Penny remembered the term it was as if she had been shocked by electricity. Argent had mentioned it once after the battle, but had refused to speak of it again.
“Your Majesty, please, what is Anti-Magic? Do you know?” All of a sudden it was Penny who was voraciously seeking an answer, and the Empress who was shrinking back.
“Oh, please forgive my foolishness. It’s just a myth, after all. Forget that I mentioned it. Ah, yes! The tea is here! Thank you, Berlyn.” The Empress smiled at her handmaiden, accepting a teacup of lavender liquid. She waited until the girls had been served to speak again.
“There’s another reason I wanted to meet you. I see myself in you, human child. I see the same young, naïve girl tempted by the power of royalty, tempted by a handsome king who sits high on a handsome throne.” The Empress laughed at Penny’s widened eyes and flushed cheeks. “Oh, come now. We’ve all heard the rumors, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Right,” Penny mumbled, looking into her teacup. It irritated her to think that others saw her as nothing more than a silly girl trying to become a princess. It irritated her even more that people assumed they understood the situation, and her.
“But you should know that no matter how wonderful it appears, all kings are the same. They want a pretty little prize to display behind walls of glass, not a companion. You get drawn into their enticing world, and before you know what you’ve agreed to, you’re trapped inside empty rooms and your purpose has been reduced to carrying on bloodlines—neither of which I could do very well.
“My poor baby died before it was fully grown. I noticed it had been quiet for too long, and it was lying so still in the silk cocoon I’d spun for it. When the priestesses were sure it was dead, I cut away the silk to see it once before it was taken away. It looked almost perfect, like it was only sleeping. How strange it was—”
A heavy thud interrupted as Annette’s head drooped face first into the table and grew still.
“Annette! Are you okay?” Penny shook her friend, and Annette gave a sleepy mumble. Irunie blinked at them, as if she had just been woken from a deep slumber.
“Leave her be, she’s fine.” Irunie crooned. “Some people fall asleep in here. I think it must be the incense and the tranquility, don’t you?”
Penny did not agree and continued to shake Annette as panic rippled through her.
“Yes, child. It is a sad thing to be the possession of a powerful man, but I don’t think you’ll have to suffer the same fate,” Irunie continued as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Penny clutched Annette’s robes as she listened to Irunie, willing her friend with silent screams to wake up.
“Why would you say that, Your Majesty?” Penny stammered, pinching Annette’s han
d. Irunie smiled so that all her sharp, pearly teeth showed.
“Just a feeling I have about you. You’ve a rare sort of spirit, indeed. Oh no, you haven’t touched your tea. What a waste! Please, won’t you try it? It’s my own special blend.” The Empress gently nudged the cup in Penny’s direction and Penny understood why her friend had fallen asleep.
“Oh, I couldn’t, Your Majesty. Your presence is so overwhelming, I’m just too nervous to drink or eat a thing,” Penny lied.
“Nonsense, child. After all, Berlyn went through the trouble of making it for you,” Irunie insisted and Penny bit her lip. Slowly she reached for the cup, trying to think of her next move. If she ran, she’d be forced to leave Annette, and that was out of the question. She brought the teacup closer to her mouth, taking as much time as possible to get it to her lips. The edge of the porcelain had just touched her lips when someone interrupted.
“Madame!” cried a high, bell-like voice from behind the screen where Berlyn had disappeared. The screen slid open and a small, pale face peeked out of the gloom. Penny was caught in a moment of dreamlike disconnect as she took in the face of the person beyond the screen, thinking and wondering why Noct had come dressed in a gown and blonde wig to save them. But the features were softer and more feminine than the boy’s. Penny glimpsed the young girl’s eyes, one red and the other brown, precisely like Noct’s except mirrored.
“Naughty girl, you’ve been told not to interrupt! Get back in here at once. I’m so sorry, Your Majesty, please forgive me,” Berlyn said, catching the girl around the waist. The little girl fought with Berlyn until the screen was once again closed and Irunie looked back at Penny, her eyes wide and defensive.
“Oh, yes, the girl is a daughter of a friend of mine. She’s visiting for a while, you see,” Irunie stammered and Penny nodded her acceptance, still holding fast to Annette’s wrist. Berlyn appeared again, hanging her head in shame and bowing.
“My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but there’s just been a call on the Sophotri Stone. Your husband has decided to make an alliance with the Nation of Men, and there is to be a going away party tonight. I’ve got to get you ready at once, and Melle and Shion have been called to pick these two up,” Berlyn squeaked, and Penny saw an expression of venomous anger cross the Empress’ features.
“Very well. Show them out, but you and I must have a talk soon after, Berlyn,” Irunie said through her sharp teeth, and Berlyn’s look of panic grew. Annette was hoisted to her feet and dragged along by the handmaiden as Penny said a hurried goodbye. Before she was out of the door completely, she heard the Empress speak once more.
“We’ll have to talk again at the party tonight, dear one. Please make sure to show me your talented friends, as well. In fact, I insist upon it.”
“I FOUND HER, Noct! I saw her―I know where she is,” Penny whispered.
Noct’s eyes bulged. “Why didn’t you help her?”
“The Empress drugged Annette; she tried to do the same to me, I was helpless,” Penny explained, adjusting Annette’s limp form on the couch back in their chamber.
“There isn’t any time left! We’re leaving tonight, in case you forgot.” Noct looked sick with worry. “We’ve been through so much and we got so close. It can’t end like this!”
“It won’t, we’ve just got to get to the others and come up with a plan.”
Noct cursed and stomped his foot. “Why do we need the others’ help? We can go do this right now!” he growled.
“Because we’re a team, and if you want our help, you do things our way. Good luck trying to fight off the entire army of guards by yourself,” Penny snapped.
“I’ll never forgive you if this goes wrong,” Noct snarled, flames crackling around his head. Penny had no response for that, and changed the subject, ordering Noct to don his regular clothes underneath the larger faerie robes.
Melle and Shion arrived to escort them down to the gardens. Penny was afraid they’d notice she and Noct were wearing their old shoes, but Melle and Shion were preoccupied with carrying Annette’s limp body.
When they arrived, the party was already in full sway. All the court faeries and dozens of other guests were milling about cheerfully, talking in loud voices and eating fine foods. Yrax waved to Penny as she pushed through the crowd with Annette hanging heavily on her shoulder and Noct beside her. She caught a glimpse of Tharn and Irunie sitting side by side on stone chairs atop a small platform, with their guests waiting in line to greet them.
“There you are! I was wondering when you’d arrive.” It was Noah, overflowing with boisterous spirit. He clapped Penny on the shoulder and laughed. “It all went better than expected, and thank Heaven for that. It seems that our luck is finally turning around, wouldn’t you sa—what’s the matter with her?”
“She’s had too much to drink,” Penny said, adjusting Annette’s weight on her shoulder. “Noah, can you tell me where Hector is? I need to see him. It’s kind of important.”
Noah’s gaze darkened and he downed the drink in his hand before answering. “I think I saw him by the trees over there.”
Luke and Flynn materialized from the crowd, offering hearty shouts of congratulations. Penny took this moment to slip away and find Hector, who was sitting with Simon and Argent. Seeing Penny laboring under Annette’s dead weight, Hector stood and removed her burden. Argent stopped in the middle of the joke he was telling and leapt up with Simon in tow.
“What’s going on? What’s the matter with her?” Argent took Annette by the shoulders and pulled her out of Hector’s grasp. “Hey, wake up! Annette!”
“She won’t wake up. The Empress gave her a weird drink and she’s been like this since this afternoon,” Penny told Argent.
“Were you able to rescue the girl? Please tell me you were,” Hector implored and it hurt Penny to admit her defeat.
“This is bad. We’re leaving in a few hours. We’re not going to make it,” he said, his eyes fixed on the snowy ground.
“I’m so sorry, Hector. There was nothing I could do. I only barely got away myself,” she hissed. Noct, who had been bobbing nervously on his heels the entire time, could stay quiet no longer.
“Big brother, let me go! Let me go get her right now!” Noct tugged at Argent’s sleeve. “Big sister Penny and I will go together and bring her back. Please, Argent.”
“Out of the question. You could both be killed. I’ll go, and you two stay here and distract the Empress,” Hector commanded, standing up straighter.
“You can’t. Big sister Penny’s the only one who’s been in there and I’m the only one Mia will trust! Do you expect her to just wander off with a bunch of strangers? We’ll go, and you distract the Empress with your flashy magic,” Noct growled. Hector looked about to object when Simon touched his shoulder.
“I hate to admit it, but the brat’s got a point, Hector,” he said, stroking his mustache.
“You’re right,” Hector agreed with a sigh, his face turning gray. He passed Annette to Argent and pulled Penny away from the group. When they were out of earshot, he looked at her earnestly. “Penelope, you’ve got one chance, and one chance only. If you make even the tiniest mistake, this could be the end for not just us, but maybe for the alliance. Do you understand the consequences?”
“Yes, professor, I understand the gravity of this screwed up situation. You don’t have to sit there and lecture me about it,” she spouted, expressing her nerves through annoyance.
“Penelope, I’m not telling you this because I think you don’t get it, I’m simply worried about you and in my own awkward way, I’m trying to wish you luck. Now hold still, I need some of your magic or Simon will pass out when I’m entertaining Irunie.” Hector gripped her shoulder and with a whoosh Penny felt her head grow faint.
For a moment she blacked out completely and her head slumped forward onto Hector’s shoulder. Hector held her steady as she caught her breath, and when she looked up at him, her heart felt full with the warmth and affection she saw there.
He smiled hesitantly at her and turned back to the group.
“Argent, I need you to go get our bags. I think they’re being held in one of the entrance halls. Wait for us here when you’ve got them, and look after Annette,” Hector told him and Argent nodded. “Simon, come with me, I’ll need you for extra magic. You two follow along with us and slip off at the right moment. Let’s go.”
Cutting to the front of the long line before the royal couple, Penny approached Irunie with as much confidence as she could muster.
“Your Majesty! You requested that I bring you my friend earlier this afternoon―here he is!” Penny cried.
For a moment Irunie did not even seem to see Hector, her eyes fixed on the strange mask Noct wore. Simon and Hector bowed low.
“I’d like to show you my unique style of magic, if it would please Your Majesties,” Hector told them and Tharn, for once, looked genuinely interested.
“Very well, then. You may proceed.”
As Hector sent out a burst of arcane seals that elicited a gasp from all on the onlookers, Penny tugged at the collar of Noct’s robe and the two of them were off.
They only made it to the outer ring of the party before bumping into Damari.
“No,” Noct hissed.
Penny stared at the captain, silently pleading as she restrained Noct from making a run for it. For one long moment they looked at one another, and then Damari blinked and cast his glance away, as if he had seen nothing at all.
Quietly, Noct,” Penny urged as Noct slapped the water with the oars. They were halfway across the dark pond and Penny was already shaking with nerves. Noct pointed at the tearoom, where two sentinels with long spears were leaning against the side of the building and talking.
“Hurry. Go around to the back before they see us.” Penny crouched low in the boat and Noct heeded her orders. Penny stayed in the belly of the rowboat for what seemed to be a long time, listening to the rhythmic, almost painful surge of blood in her ears.
Eden Undone (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 2) Page 14
