Chapter 15
Each event at the Ceremonial Pavilion had been elegantly decorated for the festivity, and the night of the Dun Steorra dance was no different.
A long table hosted a variety of drinks, everything from carafes of teas and bitterdews to casks of fermented ciders.
Another table was filled with tiny cakes and small treats.
The arrangement mirrored the various peaks of the Drycreaft and Quicksilver mountain ranges.
Floating orbs imitated the celestial bodies in the skies, slowly drifting between their various places to mimic how the stars were at home or at the southern edge of the continent.
From time to time, lines appeared to draw out the constellations.
Whenever that happened, a soft chorus of awe would circle through the gathered elves, interrupting their flirting.
Durae wished it would interrupt them longer. Seeing others fawn over their potential partners—or betrothed, as many were preparing for marriage at the end of market, which was at the week’s end—only made Blaze’s absence a gaping hole through which Durae’s good mood vanished.
“You’re particularly sour this evening, Raerae,” Uleyri said quietly. Between the music and the general noise of the crowd, no one else was likely to hear her.
“I’m being unreasonable,” Durae said with a sigh.
“When are you not?”
Durae rolled his eyes. “Riri!”
She laughed and nudged his arm. Her dress was a pale gold that shimmered, and his robe was a deep midnight blue that shone black.
The details of her outfit were the same blue, and his tunic was a matching gold to her dress.
They’d picked them out together like they’d done so many things.
Now, in the center of the celebration of their culture, he was aching and upset while she was thrumming with excitement.
He wanted to be happy for her, but his jealousy was a vicious thing, worse than walking the cliffs without shoes.
She seemed to finally notice his bad mood wasn’t lifting with her teasing. With a sympathetic smile, she pulled his arm into hers and walked him toward the refreshments. “I’ve never seen anyone make you so moody.”
“It’s a special night,” Durae muttered. “I … I know I came into this not wanting to marry, but I expected to. And tonight ought to be the night.”
“The?”
“A proposal if not a confession of love,” Durae sighed. When he caught Uleyri’s pursed lips in the corner of his eye, he sagged. “I told you. I’m unreasonable.”
“You’re not terrible for having a dream,” Uleyri replied. “I take it your recent hopes have settled on a certain Gearwickian?”
“I had a plan.” Durae pulled a box from his pocket.
“What is that?” Uleyri said.
“I wandered through the marketplace the other day, and this trinket made me think of him. I was going to give it to him tonight and say, ‘Let’s decide what happens after the market ends.’ I want to have that conversation with him, but with the setback of his invention, his focus needs to be on the next few days.
” Durae slid the box back into his robe. “There is no need to rush.”
“Except you are entertaining several suitors, and if he doesn’t want to be in your future, you deserve to know so you can shift your attention,” Uleyri said.
Hearing the thoughts aloud shook loose the annoyance that had roosted in Durae’s mind. “I know he wants to explore a path with me. The only reason I’ve had to go continue courting others is that he has this silly idea that I need to know what my options are before choosing him.”
“He’s not wrong to worry that you’ve latched on to the first elf who flattered you,” Uleyri said.
“Does everyone believe me so na?ve?” Durae took one of the fermented ciders and drank half its contents. It was a sipping sort of beverage, so consuming that much at once made him cough. The burn was deeply unpleasant. “Has anyone doubted your feelings?”
Uleyri led him away from the refreshments, and they began to make a circle of the pavilion.
Those already married seemed to hover in groups at the edges, while those who were courting were in couples or throuples toward the center.
Durae would have pressed his sister to answer, but Uleyri had on her deep-thought expression.
She was examining multiple angles, as she always did.
Not being able to go to her for advice every day would be difficult. Better that I get more accustomed to making my own decisions.
Before he could pull away from her, Uleyri finally spoke.
“You have a point, Raerae. Perhaps because my potential partners are nobles from Emberleigh, our parents have been less worried about my developing affections for them. A marriage with them would be advantageous to their families and ours. The promise of harvests to supplement our stores for ourselves and those who live in our mountains would be a blessing, and we would be giving them access to valuable mines and magics. While you—”
“Have thrown my heart into the hands of a commoner without two coins to his name?” Durae said under his breath.
“I would not have phrased it that way,” Uleyri said diplomatically.
“Father has whenever he thinks I’m out of hearing range.”
“Yes. I have noticed that.”
Durae tilted his head, the small gemstones in his braids tinkling as they collided. “What else have you noticed?”
“He has been very adamant about Lord Gustus,” Uleyri replied.
“He has.”
“Have you shown any interest in him?”
“In Lord Gustus? No.” Durae scanned the crowd. Kidd was wearing a fine outfit and a clean pair of goggles that looked more like an accessory than practical. True to her word, Mama was introducing him to several of Dun Steorra’s nobility.
There was no sign of Blaze near him. Durae’s heart sank to his feet. When Blaze did arrive at events, he usually lingered near Kidd until he and Durae found each other. “I don’t dislike him, but something about Lord Stelen bothers me.”
“It’s his body enhancements. They make him too … smooth. Like a statue in the worst of ways.” Uleyri shuddered.
And unfortunately, Durae spotted Gustus heading for them. “Take note of a rain cloud, and it will flood.”
Uleyri leaned in and whispered, “Why don’t you dismiss him from your suitors? In fact, if you wanted, you could let all those you aren’t considering know that your heart is elsewhere.”
“What if I’m wrong and Blaze doesn’t want me?” Durae asked.
“Then you will have to figure out how to chart your stars after a heartbreak. But you will find a path.” Uleyri began to pull away.
Durae clung to her until he would be forced to tighten his grip to keep her close. He didn’t, and Uleyri slipped away into the crowd. Facing Gustus on his own was not something Durae was looking forward to, but he supposed he owed the elf a private conversation. He took a deep breath.
Grinning from ear to ear, Gustus dipped his head by way of greeting. “Happy evening, Durae.”
“Pleasant seeing you again,” Durae said. Keeping his composure was second nature after the endless socializing of the last ten days.
“Your father tells me that you’ve taken an interest in Gearwickian inventions.”
Now that Uleyri had pointed out Gustus’s flaws, Durae couldn’t unsee the unnervingly perfect wolfish sculpt to his features. When he spoke, not enough of his muscles moved in concert with his action. It was disorienting.
Forcing a polite smile, Durae said, “I am intrigued by this year’s Innovation Awards.”
“An invention is a fantastic way to know the mind of its creator. Every detail is a piece of them brought to life for others to see,” Gustus said. “I want you to see who I am, Durae. A dazzling star like yourself deserves to know if those who court him are of equal luster.”
Others had complimented him without reminding Durae of the silver beetles that devoured ore deep in the mountains.
Nothing seemed genuine about Gustus. Perhaps I’m being unfair?
One last opportunity would be enough. Then Durae would be able to tell his family and Blaze that, at the very least, this suitor was not the right one for him.
Everyone would finally accept that Durae’s feelings for Blaze were not based in whimsy.
“Lead the way, my lord,” Durae said. “Let’s see this invention.”