by Lucy Roy
“True.” Lea leaned forward and dabbed the corner of her mouth with the tip of her pinky, wiping away a small smudge of lip rouge. There was a sharp rap at the door.
“Oh, that must be transport!” Lea said as she began frantically looking around for her clutch. Picking up her own, Freya opened the door and revealed Rissen on the other side.
“My ladies,” he said with a bow. “Your transport awaits.”
Freya turned toward Rini and Tyna, who were hovering in the air beside the door.
“Thank you both,” she said.
Rini smiled and gave a small nod. “It’s our pleasure, my lady. If there’s anything else you need, we’ll be at the palace with our sisters.”
In a quick flash of light, the two pixies vanished.
Lea smiled at Rissen. “Lead the way, sir.”
Chapter 18
The monarchs had chosen the palace’s outdoor ballroom, a vast space on the roof of the main ballroom, for this year’s gala. The tri-colored parquet floor was bordered with marble trellises dripping with lilac, their perfume floating pleasantly across the space. Softly glowing pixie lights dotted the air above the dance floor, and harpists were stationed at each corner, their lovely music wafting through the crowd. Long tables, set for fifty guests each, ran along the outside of the trellises, their gleaming gold settings shining in the last dregs of sunlight. A row of pale beige columns wrapped in deep green ivy separated the dining area from the dance floor. The evening air was balmy, the nighttime mountain chill no doubt held at bay by some spell.
Freya sighed in contentment as she and Lea stepped off the curved staircase that rose up from inside the palace to the roof.
“I don’t remember it being so beautiful,” she murmured. “Aer and I used to play up here as children, but it’s so much more colorful, more… shiny than I remember. Have you noticed that everything here is shiny?”
“It’s one of the prettiest places in all the land, especially when they do it up like they have.” Lea smiled softly and looked around. “Oh! There are Laz and Collin.” She took Freya’s hand and led her toward the table where the two males were talking with a few of their classmates. Freya recognized Gareth as one, but the other two were unfamiliar.
“Lady Balthana, Lady Calliwell!” Gareth and the others stood as they approached. “Will you be joining us this evening?”
“Of course they will!” Lazarus said, squeezing Lea’s shoulder. “Freya, these are Lords Derron Wailend and Aldric Helburn, and I believe you know Gareth. The four of us grew up together in Caelora.”
“It’s lovely to meet you both,” Freya said with a smile before turning her attention to Lazarus and Collin. As with dinner the week before, Lazarus and Collin had taken care to coordinate their outfits. Collin wore a thigh-length black brocade jacket over a cream-colored vest made of crushed velvet, and a gray tunic over slim-fitting black pants and soft leather boots. Laz wore a cravat and vest in a matching shade of gray, topped with a jacket made of unbleached silk. His pants were black, and the black boots he wore had about a dozen silver buckles each.
She beamed at them. “You two look even more dashing than you did last week! I’m quite impressed.”
“Why, thank you, Freya,” Collin said. “Likewise.”
She was about to turn and make small talk with one of the males at Laz’s side, but all three who were facing her stiffened at the sight of something over her shoulder. She’d hardly turned her head to see what had caused such a reaction when she heard her father’s voice.
“Freya, Lea, Lazarus, Collin. You’re to join me at the front.”
Freya tensed at his commanding tone. “If it’s all the same to you, Commander—”
“It’s not,” he said abruptly. “Come.”
Freya exchanged a confused look with the others, then forced her shoulders back as they left Laz’s friends behind and followed Byrric toward a small table at the front set for what Freya had always called “secondary royals.” They were the ones who were related to the ruling monarchs, like Lea and Lazarus, or were closely associated, like herself, Byrric, and Collin.
Guards stationed near the royals’ tables stepped forward at their approach and pulled out chairs for Freya and Lea. The table for the monarchs was still empty, awaiting the royal family that had yet to be announced.
“Let’s hope they don’t take too long,” Lazarus grumbled. “I’m starving.”
Collin sent him a silencing look and he mimed zipping his lips.
Her father remained standing, and Freya eyed him suspiciously. He had donned his dress uniform tonight, a far cry from his normal garb. The black material was smoother, less sturdy than what he’d wear in the field. The fastenings gleamed, the red epaulettes giving his broad shoulders an even stiffer appearance.
And his expression…
“Did the laundress starch your uniform too much, Commander?” she wondered aloud. “You’re far more tightly wound than normal.”
Ignoring her jab, he clasped his hands behind his back and inclined his head in the direction of the entrance. “Your monarchs approach.”
Just then, the music stopped and one of the king’s guard appeared at the top of the stairwell.
“Please stand for the royal family!” he called.
Everyone who’d been scattered about the ballroom obeyed, scurrying off the main floor and forming a line along either side of the room.
“Finally,” Lea murmured when the prince appeared, Queen Ordona on his arm. All of the guests bowed or curtsied as they walked slowly toward the table at the front of the room. Both offered their guests small smiles as they walked, taking time to acknowledge those who were paying them deference. When the pair reached the ivory-and-gold-adorned table, Aerelius pulled out a chair for his mother in the center, then stood behind the seat beside her. A moment later, King Salazar appeared, his eyes locked forward, not sparing a glance for his guests as he strode toward the table. When he chose his spot beside Ordona, he faced the room and stood quietly for a few moments. Then, with a nod, he called “Rise!”
“Welcome, all, to our annual Commencement Ball,” Ordona called, her smile soft and graceful. “We hope this night finds you well and that you are just as eager as we are to see where this first term brings you. Dinner will be served shortly, but until then, please, enjoy the company of your friends.”
“Shall we dance?” Lea asked as the harpists resumed playing a song with an upbeat tempo that beckoned guests to the dance floor.
Freya smiled and took Lea’s outstretched hand. “I’d love to work up an appetite.” She quirked a brow at her father, already annoyed with his gruff attitude tonight. “Unless that’s a problem, Commander?”
“Don’t go far,” he ordered, his eyes scanning over the crowd.
She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
He gave her an exasperated look. “Because I said so.”
She huffed. Grinning, she tugged Lea out onto the dance floor. For the next hour, the two danced with Lazarus, Collin, and several of their friends from school, Freya smiling so much she felt her cheeks might burst as she let Lazarus twirl her around the dance floor, showing off his flawless skills as she struggled to recall her own steps.
“It’s been some time!” she said with a laugh. “My lessons stopped when I left the capital.”
Laz laughed. “It’s quite alright,” he replied. He leaned in to whisper. “I see quite a few males eyeing us right now, so I suppose it’s good I don’t mind my toes getting trampled.”
She bit her lip and tossed a glance over her shoulder, where Gareth and Derron were standing, whispering to one another. Looking back at Lazarus, she smiled.
“While they are quite handsome, I think you’re quite right.”
He grinned, then took her hand and twirled her so quickly she thought she felt her head spin. When he pulled her back toward him, he gave her an apologetic look.
“It appears I’ll be handing you off, after all.”
Before she co
uld respond, she felt strong hands take her waist and turn her toward her new partner.
“You look lovely tonight, Valkyrie,” Prince Aerelius murmured, giving her a crooked smile as he fit her hand in his. “Thank you for saving me a dance.”
“I don’t recall promising that, actually,” she said, resting her hand gently on his shoulder, then sent a dubious look toward his outfit. His doublet was a dusty shade of peach, with gold embroidery wound throughout, the fastenings set with glittering emeralds.
She gave him an exasperated look. “That’s quite an outfit, Highness.”
“As your dance partner for the evening, I thought it prudent we complement one another,” he said, his eyes dancing with mirth.
“For the evening?” Freya eyed him suspiciously. “What have you got up that sleeve of yours? Why do I feel you and Byrric are up to something?”
“Oh, come, Freya! Don’t you recall our lessons? We made wonderful partners!”
“We were eight when our parents forced that wretched instructor on us, and if I recall, you delighted in stepping on my toes,” Freya said. “I’m sure you’ve had far better partners since.”
“Nonsense! Admit it,” he whispered, leaning closer. “You missed dancing with me.”
She sighed and looked around the room, then tried not to be annoyed as she saw some of the looks she and the prince were receiving from other partygoers. Disdain seemed to drip from the pores of females who quite likely wondered why Prince Aerelius would waste his time on a Valkyrie who would almost certainly be sent into the field with her father once her time at Aldridge was done.
A bunch of damned fools, all of them.
Smiling, Freya looked up at the prince. “I suppose there are worse dance partners to have.”
He slid his hand further around Freya’s waist, pulling her closer, smiling when she didn’t try to stop him. “You suppose? I saw how you were floundering with my dear cousin. He’s not half as good at leading as he’ll have you believe.”
“He seemed to hold his own quite well,” she replied, watching as Lazarus and Collin began their own spin around the dance floor, their steps more sure than hers had been when she and Laz had danced. Nearby, Lea laughed with Derron and Gareth just off the dance floor near the tables.
“You really do look lovely tonight,” Aerelius said quietly after they’d danced for a few moments in silence. “Rini did a wonderful job.”
“Are you saying I need magical creatures to look lovely, Highness?” she asked teasingly.
“Only that they seemed to understand the importance of your appearance this evening,” he replied. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a quick announcement to make.”
Frowning, Freya opened her mouth to ask what he meant, then closed it when he deposited her on the edge of the dance floor with Byrric. She hadn’t realize he’d been directing her toward the edge until her father took her by the elbow to steady her.
“Aer—”
The prince gave her a wicked grin, then moved to stand in front of the monarchs’ table. Freya took a step forward to find her friends but was stopped when Byrric put a strong hand on her arm.
Freya looked up at her father, wide-eyed. “What’s—”
“Attention, everyone!” Aer called. He made a silencing gesture toward the harpists, who immediately ceased their playing.
“What is he doing?” Freya hissed, looking at her father.
Byrric merely shook his head and put a finger to his lips.
Her eyes darted around the room, watching as the partygoers stopped what they were doing and turned to face their prince. A hand touched her elbow, and she jumped, then let out a breath of relief when she saw Lea, whose expression appeared concerned.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
Freya nodded absently, then scanned the crowd, her eyes stopping when she saw Myria on the opposite side of the room, shoulders back, a smug smile on her face. Two of her friends were standing behind her, whispering fervently to one another.
“Would you look at her?” Lea whispered in disgust. “When will she get it through her head that the prince will never choose her?”
Freya stared at her, stricken. “That’s his announcement?”
“He couldn’t have waited until after dinner?” Lazarus sighed, sending Freya an apologetic look. He folded his arms and leaned back against a pillar as Aerelius began speaking a few words of welcome before diving into his speech.
“Long ago, my parents informed me of what my future held,” Aerelius said. “A crown, of course, but also obligations that were hard to understand at the tender age of five. Responsibilities that far surpassed the mental capacity for a child who’d barely learned to read.” He paused, letting the crowd laugh before he continued. “As you all know, the day that I must take on those responsibilities is rapidly approaching. In just one year, my father will pass his crown to me and I will become your new king.” He slid a look toward Freya, one filled with the promise of pure trouble.
Freya gasped as the other guests applauded loudly. She stared up at Byrric, whose gaze was trained on the king and queen. His hand tightened on her elbow. Salazar oozed annoyance, while Ordona looked a bit like she wanted to throttle her son.
Aer cleared his throat, then ran his eyes over the room, taking in his future subjects. “As you all know,” he continued, silencing them once more, “many Lindorothians enter into their first year at Aldridge attempting to, among other things, find a mate.” The corner of his lips pulled up in a crooked smile when whispers began to flutter through the crowd. “However, that will not be the case for me, as mine was found long ago. I thought tonight would be a fitting time to introduce her to the world.”
Myria smoothed a hand over her hair as Freya’s blood began to boil.
“Chin up, darling,” Lea murmured.
“Is he drunk?” Freya hissed.
“Oh, most assuredly,” Laz replied. “There’s nothing for it now, though.”
“Lords and Ladies, I would like to introduce my betrothed, your Queen Incumbent and, most importantly, my oldest friend.” He held a hand out. “Lady Freya Balthana.”
“I told you we’d be paired off by the end of the night,” Lea whispered, laughing.
“Go, Freya,” Byrric ordered when Freya froze, finally releasing her elbow. “Now.”
“You bastard!” she hissed at her father. “We were supposed to wait—”
“Smile,” he snapped. “You’ve had plenty of time to prepare for this, now go.”
Murmurs of surprise rippled through the crowd, and she felt a sharp jab in her back.
“Go!” Collin whispered urgently. “Be angry with him later!”
Freya took a deep breath and put on her brightest smile, then stepped forward, sending a quick look toward the queen. Ordona gave her a small, encouraging nod.
Then, she stepped forward and took the hand of her fiancé.
Chapter 19
Freya’s mind whirled as the prince took her hand, then bowed slightly and laid a small kiss to the back of her palm as applause erupted once again. Months. This announcement was to be made months from now, not on this night, not when she was only just returning to her life at court. She should’ve known Aer wouldn’t keep quiet about their betrothal for long, but she thought the nine months between now and his nameday celebration was a more than easy task.
Clearly, she was mistaken.
Her face frozen in a wide smile, she put a hand to his cheek, drawing him up. As she met his eyes, she was surprised to find softness mixed with a teasing gleam.
“I may murder you on our wedding night,” she said through clenched teeth, knowing she’d never be heard over the calls of ‘Congratulations!’ that rang out. “If not before.”
Smiling, he put a hand on her hip and kissed her cheek, then brought his lips to her ear. “I’ll be sure to make you fall madly in love with me long before then.”
“Highly unlikely, after this stunt.” She feigned an embarrassed giggle.
“A dance!” someone called.
“Shall we?” Aerelius asked, giving her an expectant look.
“You haven’t given me much of a choice, have you?”
With a sigh, Freya allowed him to lead her onto the floor, then let him draw her arms around his neck as the harpist began to play a traditional engagement waltz. When his hands settled on her waist and they began to move slowly around the floor, Freya let a small, feline smile creep across her lips.
“That smile is a bit unnerving, my love,” he said. “What do you have cooking in that lovely mind of yours?”
She slid her hand down his shoulder, across his muscular chest, and laid it above his sternum, atop the emerald buttons that matched the ones in her hair so perfectly.
“You had this planned all along, didn’t you?”
He made a hum of acknowledgement. “And if I’d told you, you would’ve feigned illness and refused to come.”
“You think so little of me.” She held his gaze as she drummed her fingers lightly over his chest, waiting until she felt his heart pick up a beat before speaking. “Aer… do you know what’s right here?” She tapped the center of his chest.
He laid his hand over hers and smiled. “My heart?”
“And your lungs.” She trailed one finger down his sternum, letting it come to rest at the end, doing her best to make it look like a caress that dripped with affection. “And right here is a tiny bone, a little protuberance, if you will.”
His hand tightened on her waist as a slow smile quirked his lips. “I won’t like the rest of this explanation, will I?”
She spread her fingers, laying her palm flat, the heel against the small bone at the end of his sternum, and pressed. “If I hit hard enough, it would snap. Do you know what happens when that bone snaps, Aer?”
“No, but I’m sure it’s quite gory,” he whispered, his breath warm against her neck.
Freya slid her hand back around his neck and smiled. “If done just right, it would puncture your heart… your lung, if done correctly. It hurts quite a lot, from what I’ve witnessed.”
