Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
When Lia opened her eyes again, she was nose-to-nose with Storm the volatequis. He snorted, causing several suspicious drops to land in her mouth.
“Blech! Seriously?” she cried, scrubbing her face.
Where was the mouthwash when she needed it?
The winged horse nickered, going back to his meal of hay and apples.
Another volatequis snorted in the neighboring paddock, the sounds of their mockery echoing in the Ranger’s Guild stables.
“You’re lucky Fiore isn’t here, or I would sick her claws on you. ”
The steed didn’t deign a response, munching away.
Seagrove whinnied from the next stall. Lia waved them off, stalking toward the open stable doors.
Then she blinked, halting mid-step. And blinked again.
How did she get here? Her mind was drawing a blank, like it had been wiped clean. Something was different.
Each leaf held an overly defined crispness, like Lia had upgraded her glasses too much.
Not that she needed them here. Along the packed dirt road that wove into the ravine housing the capital city, the trees and shrubs glowed with sunburst orange and scarlet hues.
They swayed in their constant upward lift to the mist, mist that kissed her cheeks with cool tendrils and dampened the fine curls framing her bare face.
The evergreens wore their needles, the crisp scent of pine clearing her nostrils to the point her eyes watered.
It was as though every moment for the past ten years had been in low resolution, and Norenth had just discovered high-definition. She’d never been so aware in her dreams before. Was this what lucid dreaming was all about? She could get the hype.
“Are you seriously still here?”
Lia jolted, whirling toward the voice of Mara. A senior ranger, the elderly blonde sauntered around the pens like it was her own kingdom. With one hand on her well-rounded hip and the other gripping a pitchfork, it might as well have been.
“P-pardon?” Lia stammered, not understanding what the other ranger meant.
“Aurelia, should you not be getting ready for the ball?”
“Cinderella’s?”
“Who?” Mara studied her like a second head sprouted from her shoulders.
Lia shook her head, bringing a hand to her temple. Of course, Mara wouldn’t know the reference. She was losing the separation, the distinction between Aurelia and Lia, Norenth and—
No.
One thought of reality sent a wave of revulsion through her, her mind rearing like the idea was a flame ready to scorch her to the bone. The pain was an echo, a spark between her brows. All she’d need to do was blow for it to erupt and consume.
She decided right then to take this lucid dream for all it was worth. Lia shoved her grief, her pain, her doubts deep inside that ocean her mind had become. Drowned them all so that Aurelia could breathe.
Stories became memories. Fiction turned into fact.
Her clenched hands unfurled. Her shoulders rolled back. Her chin lifted a notch. Aurelia’s grin fell into place on Lia’s lips. That was all the prompting she needed to shove Lia aside and step into Aurelia—completely.
“The Council’s inauguration,” Aurelia gathered. So much for Kayce’s lessons.
“There she is, skies and seas!” Mara said in a rush. “Honestly, Aurelia, I thought you might have taken another tumble.”
Aurelia forced a smile. Guess it was tonight, post-flitterbird-debacle. Not that Mara would know that.
“Apologies, Mara. I’m a bit out of sorts today.” Maybe that fall with Seagrove had been harder than she thought.
“Ease up on those extra training sessions. Now, off you get—and take a brush to those ragged curls, why don’t ya!” Mara jabbed her pitchfork mockingly to get her moving. Aurelia didn’t need to be told again.
From the outskirts owned by the Ranger’s Guild, Aurelia headed toward the capital of Norenth.
Protruding from the mountain itself, Highguard sprawled before Castle Finerda’s granite towers.
Ravine walls rose on either side, creating a natural protection around the city.
Stone bridges connected the sides of the ravines and stretched toward the castle.
Smooth from wear, the arched coverings of the upper-level bridges were especially helpful during the rainy spring seasons.
Pulleys and hoists protruded from platforms, ready to move cargo and even horse-drawn carriages from one level to the next.
From the melting snow at Mount Fealtek’s peak, small rivers converged to form a mighty waterfall that flowed to the west of the castle.
It cut through Highguard like a mighty sea serpent of myth, weaving through man-made canals and past lumber and grain mills before continuing into smaller streams to the villages beyond.
At mist-level, closest to the sunlight, the tops of the ravines were flattened into several tiers like stairs built for giants.
The Grain Guild owned the top of the western ravine, the vast fields shifting from emerald to gold throughout the year.
Each tier held a different crop, and wide, sloped paths lay on either side of the fields to help the wagons and plows traverse easily.
The tiers had been hollowed out beneath the crops, and large sliding doors installed to make barns and granaries with the next tier of fields as roofs.
The barns and storehouses were lit with the soft, amber light from crystalline veins that had been molded into them.
In the storehouses, large chutes had been carved through the ravine to the grain mills below.
The other side housed the shipyards of the Sea Guild.
Similar to the western ravine, the upper levels held the merchant and naval docks.
Tall towers stood in a line like proud sentries standing guard over the city.
Each tower had several docks wrapping around for ships to dock between them.
Mooring lines kept the ships firmly locked on either side when not out on the Skyward Seas.
On the lower tiers, several vessels in various stages of construction were strapped to similar towers.
Others were tied down to large platforms for ease during repairs.
Hangers had been carved into the outer wall of the ravine, mainly used to store ships during storms, though several were used for extra docking.
The city—despite the verdant slopes of the ravines, cascading waterfalls, and a network of bridges—was open, airy, and filled Aurelia with warmth. The smiling faces of Norenthians bustling toward their own celebrations, a mirror to the inaugural ball, settled her further.
Perhaps everything was fine. She was home, memory gaps aside.
Packed earth gave way to cobblestones. Aurelia arrived at the Belhaven Bookshop in the Market Guild, a district closer to the castle.
Going there during frequent rainy afternoons had become such a tradition over the years that the bookkeeper was more than honored to offer the youngest prince’s best friend a room upstairs.
She had refused several times before relenting. Namely because Kayce had finally convinced her that he couldn’t keep hoarding her things.
It wasn’t much: a small bed pushed to the side, an armoire across from it and two cushioned chairs they would occupy while reading and plotting. It didn’t take much to discern who was doing the former, who the latter.
Aurelia shed her sky-blue tunic—why couldn’t she remember anything after her fall yesterday? While it nagged at the corner of her mind, it was like a distant knock on the door to a room on an entirely different floor.
Kayce hadn’t said much when he asked her to come to the ball.
He’d likely finished the flitterbird plot without her, maybe assumed she’d shook Luddeck off their tail.
She could gripe at him later for his lack of concern, though he likely needed to get ready as quickly as she did.
Especially knowing his mother. They really needed to work on margin.
Aurelia donned the gown she had purchased with nearly every coin from their teeniest bit of profit.
Her half, anyway. Dark blue chiffon clung to her curves, the color lightening as it cascaded to the floor.
Sleeveless, so her freckled arms were bare.
The blue panels over her chest met a gray leather strap that encircled her neck.
Similar leather bands crossed over the bodice in various patterns, accentuating her form.
The final piece, pinned to the strap over her shoulder, was the bronze emblem bearing the sigil of the Ranger’s Guild: a crossed quill and sword.
Looking in the armoire’s mirror, Aurelia fidgeted with the straps. Would Kayce laugh? Tell her she should have spent her earnings on something more practical? Maybe she should have.
She picked at the skin around her thumb, then fisted her hands against the alien action. The urge still made her fidget.
She should’ve taken more of Lioness Silva’s dance lessons when she was a kid. Kayce’s earlier offer? Way overdue.
Maybe no one would mind her two left feet if she could tame the bird’s nest she called hair. It took longer than she would have liked to wrangle her curls into submission, but thankfully the lavender-scented oils did their job. Soon, soft ringlets flowed down her back.
Not a moment too soon. A knock came at her door. “My lady, are you ready?”
Aurelia snorted, recognizing Kayce’s voice instantly. “Since when is it my lady?”
“Since the occasion calls for it.” A pause. “And I know how much you hate it.”
Catching a final glimpse in the mirror, she faltered.
Why did her heart want to burst from her chest?
Instantly, she regretted her choice for the gown instead of a nicely-embroidered tunic and slacks.
Not like the queen would have allowed it, but at least the outfit wouldn’t have been too far from her usual attire.
She mentally shook herself. “Last I checked, I’m a ranger like you.”