Chapter Eight
Smoothing out the beautiful lilac dress I wore, my eyes took in every detail as I stood before the mirror.
I had never worn a dress quite this fine; rarely wore dresses at all.
I owned very few and the ones I did were elegant, but simple.
Touched only for special occasions or holidays.
This dress, however, was simply stunning.
The color was vibrant, bringing out the beautiful flush beneath my skin.
The material was light and airy, shifting in an elegant twirl around my legs every time I moved.
It had a flattering sweetheart neckline, with little strips of fabric that fell off my shoulders and hugged my biceps for sleeves.
The top of the dress acted as a corset, embracing my curves in all the right places.
I turned slightly, eyeing the silk ribbons of the corset, a shade or two darker than the rest of the dress.
The skirt flowed down and out to my ankles, a beautiful fabric that moved almost like water.
Strands of silver thread were woven through and shimmered as the material caught the light.
My fingers brushed the chain of the necklace that rested on my collarbone, the pendant hidden beneath the neckline.
Upon returning to the shared dormitory, after a thorough interrogation of how my first trial had gone, Rena had thrown open my little closet to search for an outfit for the party the barracks was hosting.
It very quickly became apparent—to her utter disappointment—that I had nothing to wear for the evening.
My closet was lined only with the issued robes for an apprentice of the Institute and a few changes of my usual tunic and pants.
I hadn’t thought I’d have a need for any of the dresses I'd left hanging at home in my wardrobe.
Rena had been on a mission then, quickly seeking out a girl named Hana. It became apparent as to why once we found her, as Hana had a very similar build to me. Average height, generous curves formed through rigorous exercise, but that was where the similarities stopped.
Rena had quickly convinced the girl to loan me a dress for the night, a request that had my cheeks flaming as I insisted that I was fine wearing the robes or my tunic and pants, but Rena had simply waved me off.
Hana had been far too kind in letting me borrow this dress. It must cost a fortune.
"Are you sure it's okay that I wear this?
" I asked yet again, as Rena was finishing up the last touches of my hair.
She had curled the black strands with metal rods that had been heated in the hearth before piling the curls atop my head, a mass of beautiful spirals pinned perfectly.
She had left several strands out, two to frame my face and others that fell across my shoulders or down my back, giving the styled look an almost effortless beauty.
She practically attacked me with cosmetics, lining my eyes with black to accentuate the grey, adding a pinkish rouge to my cheeks, and a subtle hint of mauve to stain my lips.
I had never felt more beautiful.
"Hana has a thousand dresses, it won't hurt her to part with one for a night.
" She waved off the question with a playful wink.
“Besides, this one looks like it was practically made for you.
She knew exactly what she was doing picking out this dress.
You'll have those soldiers stumbling over their feet to get in line to dance with you. "
Heat crawled up my neck as my cheeks flushed.
I had never been one to seek out the attention of others, always content with just Bran and Merle in my small circle of people.
Aldrin McCay had been the only boy I’d ever had an interest in and even then, it hadn't been much more than a physical attraction.
At least, that was what I liked to tell myself.
I watched as Rena placed another small, delicate flower into my hair, a perfect shade to match the dress I wore. She had several small lilac flowers strategically placed in the updo and I almost sighed.
I had spent my whole life trying to hide in the shadows, to avoid prying eyes from looking too closely at me, but I doubted it was possible for a woman that was styled by Rena to go unnoticed.
She had accentuated every naturally attractive thing about me, when I had been doing the exact opposite for so many years.
It felt odd, to feel beautiful. I never considered myself unattractive, I just never spent the time to truly let myself see and bring out what Rena had.
"All finished," she exclaimed, clapping her hands eagerly before rushing to the mirror and fixing a few out of place strands of her own hair.
She was dressed in a gorgeous, red dress that was cut in a low v-shape down her back, exposing the muscles that flexed every time she moved.
It too had a flowing skirt, with thin straps of braided gold to hold it up.
Her mass of golden curls was tied up at the crown of her head in a high updo that cascaded down her back.
She looked breathtaking.
Watching her in the mirror, I shifted lightly, curiosity burning my tongue, “Is your cousin doing any better?”
She stilled and my gaze narrowed, her hazel eyes flicking to mine in the mirror before she casually glanced away, resuming her fidgeting. Almost too relaxed.
She didn’t look at me again when she said, “He’ll be fine.
He always comes to me when he’s suffered an injury, he doesn’t like all the questions that come with being attended by a Master Healer of the Palace.
My uncle, King Artius, can be a bit strict when it comes to his sons and their whereabouts. ”
Her tone was nonchalant, but I could see through the feigned calm. She knew something and she certainly didn’t want me to know of it. Interesting.
Nodding slowly, I pursed my lips before gesturing to our coats that hung beside the door. “Are you sure we don't need jackets?"
Her body relaxed fractionally at the change of subject.
She’s hiding something.
My shadows hissed, stirring at the unease that settled in my gut.
Blood of their blood.
Family of a tyrant King.
Liars of the oh so benevolent Sun.
My jaw clenched at the mocking as I pushed them from my mind, hands smoothing down the skirt of my dress.
"The walk will be cold but once we get there and the fire is set, it'll be hotter than Soli's wrath, especially with all the body heat and alcohol."
Rena had been right. Even with the chilly night air, the crowd that gathered in the large clearing outside the army barracks provided more than enough warmth.
I looked around in fascination as we weaved through the bodies, taking in the little balls of fire light that floated through the night sky to light the area.
I wasn't sure who was casting them, but they created a beautiful, warm glow over the crowd.
Tables had been set around the edges of the field and I could see a few stands selling various foods and drinks spread out along the perimeter.
Bran had never told me about these parties and I couldn't help but wonder why.
Perhaps he hadn't wanted me to feel left out, no one unless personally invited and approved, working, or apprenticing was allowed within the palace grounds.
Despite the fact that I had joined Merle a few times over the years, I hadn't realized how much it was like its own city within the palace walls, closed off to the rest of Amori City.
The Solerian nobles even had their own homes on the grounds that they stayed in when they visited the court, much like the Apprentice Pavilion. Except, of course, they were grand manors rather than the smaller housing we were assigned to.
"You want a drink before the lighting ceremony?" Rena asked suddenly, looking to make sure I was closely following her in the crowd. Nodding, we shifted course and managed to find a place in the line that sold firemead.
It had been too long since my last drink, the warmth buzzing through my veins with each delectable sip I took as we worked our way back through the crowd, closer to where the ceremony would take place.
I froze when I saw them, my blood chilling.
Solerian Priestesses.
There were many things in Tavari that I feared, but nothing unsettled me like the Priestesses who devoted themselves to Soli.
Three had come for the ceremony, moving as if they floated across the grass like ethereal spirits garbed in flowing white robes.
Swaths of golden fabric covered their hair and faces, leaving only their eyes visible.
Every inch of their skin was covered besides their hands, where the branding of Soli was burned into their flesh—a flaming sun with four points. They were mesmerizing, enchanting even.
Trailing between them, no more than two steps away, were three eunuchs. They wore white robes of their own, however their faces were not covered, their throats collared with a golden band.
A bonded pair, as Bran would say. Every Priestess of Soli was assigned a eunuch when they took their vows and where they went the eunuch was never far behind. Their sole purpose in life was to protect their Priestess, to give their life to ensure no harm came to the sacred woman of Soli.
A hush fell on the crowd, not a single sound could be heard as the three Priestesses raised their hands to the sky as one.
I felt a chill rush down my spine as they spoke. "Through the darkness her light shall guide us. To cleanse and burn through our every sin, we devote this fire to you, Goddess."
Before I could blink, a flash of suffocatingly hot flame shot to a giant pyre of wood in the middle of the clearing. My eyes screwed shut, mouth opening on a scream, but no sound escaped. I choked against the insufferable heat.
A dark alleyway.
Always the alleyway.
The heat of the flame searing into my eyes.
I stumbled back, my body colliding with another as strong hands reached to steady me.
One. A breathe.
Two. Another.
Three. My eyes opened.