Page 121 of Under Restless Skies

The women look at each other, then Mariana turns to me. “I don’t think you’re allowed to do that. We’ll need to report it to our superior.”

I’m sick of these games. “Report, then. I don’t want anything from Alayel.”

She blinks. “He’s not our superior.”

Celine taps my shoulder and whispers, “Go. Didn’t you say you didn’t want to make a fuss?”

“He’ll think I owe him a favor,” I whisper back, wondering if Alayel, in his arrogance, believes that getting me a dress gives him the right to unwrap it from my body.

“Let him think what he wants.” Celine shrugs. “Don’t get yourself in trouble over something so silly.”

I suppose my friend has a good point. I turn to the women. “Fine. I’ll follow you.”

They take me to the same fancy washroom, where I keep trying to figure out who sent them. All I get is that they were ordered by their superior, a woman named Sienna, who’s in charge of the attendants for the nobles and high officials. I could work with that, I suppose. Either way, Alayel will have to learn that a dress won’t change my mind, even a pretty one.

I enter the bath, but this time, I don’t spend much time in the water, even if I let them wash my hair.

When I get dressed and look in the mirror, I’m forced to admit that the dress does look good. Unlike the ones from the depository, it has some detailed black lace, and fits my body well. I’m also wearing black gloves and a necklace with a red stone, for Cardiana. Of course everything looks great, even if I feel uncomfortable having to wear something that Alayel sent me.

The attendants finish early, so they walk me back to my room, where I find Nelly and Celine almost ready.

Celine squeals when she sees me. “It’s so pretty!”

Nelly gives me a faint smile. “Your dress is lovely.” Unlike ours. The unsaid words ring in my ears.

“You two also look great.” Their dresses don’t have as much detail as mine, and it makes me feel guilty. “It’s not my fault I got a different dress,” I explain. “I asked to get one from the depository.”

“Don’t worry.” Celine waves a hand and grins. “We all look good, and we’ll have fun. That’s what matters.”

I smile back at her.

The ball is again at the mosaic hall, and again starts around rain time. The main difference is that everyone’s wearing different shades of red to honor Cardiana. There’s also a table with sweets and traditional red cakes to celebrate the occasion, mostly colored with beet juice. Even some of the stuffed bread is red.

We approach one of the tables, and, as I reach out to grab something to eat, I’m struck by an odd vision. Blood. All the food drenched in blood. There’s nothing comforting about all the red when the recruits are so close to death.

“Something wrong?” Celine asks.

I blink and think about Cardiana gracing us with love, even if I can’t shake that odd feeling. “Nothing. I think I’m hungry, that’s all.”

I make sure to grab a stuffed bread roll that’s not red, just because I’m still spooked.

“Mayara,” someone says behind me.

Not someone. I know that voice well, and he’s calling me as if we were still lovers.

I turn and see Alayel, dressed in a fine red suit, wearing a silver circlet, staring at me with cute, innocent, pleading eyes.

“Yes?” I ask, keeping my tone neutral.

He gives me that amazing smile, except that it no longer works on me. “Good to see you. And your friends, too.” He turns to Celine and Nelly. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Alayel, Prince of Dracolius. You?”

As if they didn’t know who he was. I can’t hold back my eye roll.

Nelly bows and introduces herself, while Celine gives him a guarded smile. “Celine. We’ve had classes together.”

“Indeed. It’s a pleasure to meet Mayara’s closest friends.”

I don’t know what he’s playing at and what he means to accomplish, so I don’t say anything.