Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Their carriage wove over the various bridges that arched over falling waters from Fealtek’s mountain face.
Castle Finerda shone, its towers puncturing the cloud of mist with copper turrets, its ridges a muted green.
Banners bearing the Lion sigil flapped in the wind, the rushing waters on either side of the central courtyard doing little to dull the roar of citizens arriving in all their finery.
Veins of luminescent crystalline splintered through the ravine walls, casting a white glow over all in the twilight. Torches flickered throughout the courtyard, filled with the same material mined from Fealtek’s mighty deposit at its summit. The pureness of the light always stole Aurelia’s breath.
“It’s so bright here,” said a soft voice outside the carriage. “Garrett told me it was like a cave, the city buried into the mountain.”
“Your brother thinks all city dwellers are cavemen,” answered a deep baritone.
“Are they not? Feels fairly tight to me,” said another.
Peeking out of the window, Aurelia watched an older man and a young woman step down from one of the larger carriages.
Several others emerged, dressed in pine greens and browns of the richest soil, each with a bronze sigil pinned to their breast. Aurelia didn’t have to peer closer to know they bore the cloven volatequis hoof of the Fauna Guild.
The murlik, a stout breed of oxen with antlers bowing outwards like ancient limbs, snorted heavily with relief to have the journey done with.
No wonder the poor beast was tired—the Fauna Guild was several days’ ride over land.
Typical. Their members never liked the city, far preferring their ranches, stables, and hunting parties. She tried not to take offense, considering that they helped feed the kingdom.
The party of dwarves exiting the carriage beside them couldn’t say the same.
“Just who do you think you’re calling cavemen, eh?” hollered the tallest, though by human standards the difference didn’t account for much. “Who do you think is responsible for the light around here?”
Aurelia’s gaze cut to Kayce, who was already watching the scene with far too much glee. She rolled her eyes as the steward ushered their carriage closer to the castle entrance, leaving the Fauna and Miner’s Guilds to sort out their differences. Again.
Many newcomers expected the ravines and the city to be unforgivably dark with all the clouds and jagged stone walls.
The light was thanks to the strong friendship Highguard kept with the dwarves who dwelled deep under the mountain.
Fealtek was home to the largest crystalline deposit in the floating kingdom.
A special mineral, it was similar to a rocky crystal, with one major difference: it grew from a central point at the peak of the mountain like the root system of a tree.
When sunlight shone straight onto the crystalline, the minerals carried the sunlight along the roots that spread throughout the entire mountain, illuminating even the deepest dwarven cities.
Along the walls of the city, even in the structures themselves, the crystalline roots were exposed and carved to keep the entire city lit and warm with a soft glow.
Highguard remained lit well into the night, when the light finally winked out.
It was no wonder that the Miner’s Guild was held in such high esteem, which most others had resented.
However, it was discovered some decades ago that the crystalline-imbued waters feeding the trees was what made their limbs float toward the sky, enabling the construction of ships that soared.
Then the Builder’s Guild became the one to envy.
“Think Darrow will make an appearance?” Aurelia asked once they pulled to a stop, the steward coming round to open the door.
Their friend—a dwarf content with his feet so firmly on the ground he was almost always in the tunnels below the capital—was never keen on their schemes. The smuggling he was happy with. The acquiring…not so much.
Kayce snorted. “Not if he can help it. Darrow hates these gatherings more than I do. He’d rather mine crystalline for a week.”
She chuckled, taking his hand when he it offered to help her out of the carriage. “You aren’t wrong, but don’t forget his uncle was voted to represent the Miner’s Guild. His presence could very well have been strong-armed like ours.”
He arched his brow.
“Oh, you know you roped me into this. You’re no better than your mother.”
“I recall a couple of children, best friends really, that vowed to remain together no matter the danger.” A teasing smirk warmed Kayce’s face. “Or are you backing out, admitting there are some things that scare you?”
The incident he’d referred to had been a small matter compared to the hijinks they got into these days—a scuffle with a council member’s son, who’d called Aurelia a carrot-headed crown-kisser.
Young Kayce had punched him in the nose.
Running away was the obvious choice to avoid the Lioness’s wrath, and they’d stolen Kayce’s eldest brother’s horse to do it.
The next thing Aurelia knew, Kayce had a dagger and swore his allegiance to her. To them.
And he was near impossible to say no to. Not that she had wanted to.
“I would never break a blood oath and you know it.” She forced her gaze ahead, despite the perfect scar that seemed to tingle over her right palm. “Admit it, cutting across the hand was stupid. All those nerve endings? My hand throbbed for a week.”
Kayce shrugged. “We were kids. Stupid is part of the territory. Next time, I’ll be sure to mention the forearm instead.”
“Much more practical.”
“Just not as poetic.”
Aurelia bit back a laugh.
Roughly hewn stone rose several feet above their heads before shifting into smooth, beige limestone as they entered the castle.
Their heels echoed against the marbled floors veined with copper, the high arched hall guiding them toward the ballroom.
Veins of crystalline ran through the carved inlets of the doorway, glinting off sigil pins of various guild members.
Whispers swirled over the string music of a small orchestra.
“The Ranger prince is here. Hard to believe he made an appearance.”
“Ah, and he’s got his sidekick in tow. Think she corrupted him, or the other way around?”
“You know the youngest Weatherstone—he’s certainly to blame.”
Aurelia’s stomach turned. The bodice of her gown constricted like a snake coiled around her belly, turning her breath shallow. The minor ache in her head radiated with a persistent hum.
Water would help. And air. And maybe some food.
As they passed by one particularly loud group of whisperers, Kayce leaned in to catch their attention.
“By definition, spreading rumors constitutes a form of corruption. So it stands to reason that I’m safe among friends.
” His response was polite, yet it carried the bite of truthfulness as he winked at the now-horrified group.
Aurelia bit her lip at their affronted faces.
One man in a rich navy tunic—the loudest of the bunch—stammered, “Of course, of course! My prince, you are never short of friends here—”
Kayce wasn’t finished. “You know, it’s considered rude to speak ill of your hosts within the confines of their home.
” Spying an uneaten apple in the man’s hand, Kayce plucked it and took a bite.
The man gaped, utterly speechless, as pink ruddied his tan cheeks and Kayce gave him a mirthful scowl.
“Don’t bite the hand that provides for you, good sir. It’s bad form.”
The group flushed, looking anywhere but at the pair.
Aurelia was going to die from second-hand embarrassment.
“You’re incorrigible,” she finally managed once they were out of earshot.
However, the tension had eased from her shoulders.
He could do that, her Kayce. Dissipate the anxiety, quell her fears.
Make her laugh, even while mortified. Not that she would ever admit it.
“What can I say; I’ve never been able to bite my tongue,” he said with a shrug, slipping his free hand to the small of her back.
Her heart pounded at the touch. It never bothered her so much when they were shoving each other off tree limbs or curled up by a fire after a long day of training.
Yet every brush of his hand now sent shivers down her spine.
Aurelia glanced back toward the entrance—and the exit. “The queen hasn’t spotted us yet. We could make a dash for the bookshop, or better yet, take Storm and make for the skies.”
Kayce assessed her, taking a bite of his questionable apple. “I know these large gatherings cause discomfort, but you seem much more anxious than usual. Are you certain you’re all right?”
Aurelia closed her eyes, taking a slow breath in on a count of five before exhaling the same.
Breathe. Hold. Tread water—
What? That was a strange thought.
Rolling her bare shoulders, she looked up at Kayce again with a smile. “Just a headache. Some food would do me good, but maybe acquired more politely.”
“Well, somebody had to teach them etiquette. Besides, I’d rather have them talk about me than you—hey!” His mouth hung open as she snatched the apple from him and took a bite.
“Thank you, Your Highness. See, manners matter.” She winked at him. “This apple is far sweeter than I’m sure it was a moment ago.”
He sputtered when Aurelia laughed and took his hand to lead them to the buffet.
Balls like these seldom had a formal dinner, instead being a time for mingling, dancing, and gossiping.
Trays overflowed with ripe fruit, artfully displayed tarts with flaky crust, and various meats roasted to golden perfection.
And there was chocolate. Praise the skies and seas.
They ate, the food barely taking the edge off Aurelia’s headache. It was a rising pressure, intent on finding every crevice of her mind.
A pressure she resolutely ignored.
Across the expanse of the great hall, a navy carpet ran up nine steps to a dais.
Behind it, a triple fireplace roared with the Weatherstone royal crest carved at the top, the lions gazing down on all who passed under them.
Marbled columns splintered with the same shimmering copper framed two ornate thrones, upon which sat the king and queen of the floating kingdom, formally known as the “Lions of Norenth. "
Dark of hair, their skin had weathered gracefully with age and was a shade lighter than their skyward son.
Lion Magnar’s boisterous laugh filled the space beside his wife, Lioness Silva, who smiled in a more reserved manner.
Her shrewd gaze surveyed the crowd, fingers idly tracing the necklace holding four small pearls against the hollow of her throat.
Aurelia knew Silva was looking for them. Washing down the last bit of food, she nodded to Kayce before gripping her skirts to head their way.
Kayce caught her wrist. A crooked smile emerged. “You have—” He motioned to his mouth, then chuckled at her blank expression. His hand came up to her jaw and gently brushed some crumbs from her mouth. Their gazes caught. His thumb hovered just under her bottom lip.
Why wasn’t he moving? Aurelia didn’t dare breathe, anticipation building inside of her. But for what—
“There.” Lowering his hand after another heartbeat, he directed them to the dais. Red flushed his throat, his jaw working as he focused on his parents. She might’ve imagined how his gaze flickered back to her face, lingered on her mouth a moment longer than was necessary.
But there was no imagining how every fiber of her being burned from his touch.
Aurelia used each step to ignore the foreign longing in her chest. As well as the overwhelming urge she’d had to lean into him further.