18. Chapter Eighteen #4
Intrigued, I followed him into the dining hall that had replaced the captain’s quarters and immediately gasped.
The room was an opulent masterpiece. Ornate vases brimming with fresh, fragrant flowers lined the walls, and expensive-looking rugs covered the polished wooden floors.
Original paintings hung between the wooden beams, each one depicting scenes of Riftborn history, their vivid colors illuminated by the flickering candlelight.
It was breathtaking… and forbidden. Gods, half of this room could get someone executed.
And yet… it was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen.
At the center of the room was a long table set with an elaborate feast, the likes of which I had never seen. Platters of colorful fruits, juicy roasted meats, and a dazzling array of cheeses and breads were arranged in an artistic display. The sight was enough to make my stomach growl audibly.
I gasped, unable to contain my excitement. “Are those grapes?! Oh my gosh, what is that?! And what’s this cheese?!” I darted around the table, pointing at various delicacies like a child in a candy shop.
Julian chuckled indulgently while Drake and Felix exchanged amused glances.
“Please, sit,” Julian urged, pulling out a chair for me.
I didn’t need to be told twice. I dove in, filling my plate with as many foods as it could hold.
I bit into a cranberry-studded cheese, savoring the tangy sweetness, and nearly melted when I tried a slice of salty-sweet raw meat.
The wine was like nothing I’d ever tasted, its rich, velvety flavor warming me.
I was mid-bite when someone cleared their throat. Startled, I looked up, cheeks full, to see Fen and a group of unfamiliar faces entering the room. My face flushed as I quickly swallowed, and Fen rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Starving already? We’ve barely put the saddle down.” Fen drawled.
Julian’s gaze sharpened. “Fen.” One word, low but commanding. She quieted instantly.
Felix leaned toward me, stage-whispering, “That’s him being polite.”
“Allow me to introduce the rest of our court,” Julian gestured to a younger man with dark skin and a lean, wiry build. Two small nubs protruded from his forehead, the remnants of horns that had clearly been clipped or filed down. Despite his imposing appearance, his smile was warm and inviting.
“This is Avod, our weapons master. He will be assisting you in choosing your weapons and training you to wield them.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Avod,” I said, nodding politely. He grinned, his sharp teeth glinting faintly in the candlelight as he found his seat at the table.
“And this,” Julian continued, gesturing to a plump, curly-haired figure seated to Avod’s left, “is Ness, our archivist. They are responsible for preserving Riftborn history and recovering texts destroyed during the Change. They’ve been studying Seers extensively and will help you hone your Rift.”
I offered Ness a warm smile, feeling instantly at ease in their presence. Their round features, cherubic faces, and kind eyes were reminiscent of Felix, though they exuded an aura of quiet wisdom.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” I said sincerely.
“The honor is ours, Lady Evandra,” Ness replied softly, adjusting their round spectacles. “You’re already making history by being here.” I could have sworn I heard a sigh come from Fen’s direction.
Captain Julian stood at the head of the table, lifting his wine glass high. “I’d like to propose a toast,” everyone raised their glasses, the glow of the lanterns casting a warm light over the gathering.
“First, to the squad I assigned to retrieve our most prized asset, Lady Evandra,” there it was again—retrieve. My stomach turned, but Julian’s sincere tone helped to soften the sting.
“Drake,” he continued, “proving himself to be a passionate and level-headed captain time and time again.”
Felix coughed. Drake glared at him, his jaw ticking.
“Felix, for being one of the few healers of the Rift we have left, selflessly using his power to heal and protect us. Fen, for riding through the night to warn us of the information leak, securing the safety of Riftreach,” his gaze then settled on me, his sharp blue eyes softer now.
“And lastly, Lady Evandra. She left her home, her family, and everything she’d ever known to help a group of strangers, purely on the chance she might save some lives.
On her first day, she has a vision and saves us all.
I think I speak for everyone when I say thank you, Lady,” the group murmured their agreement as Julian’s eyes lingered on mine, his genuine gratitude impossible to ignore. “To Lady Evandra.”
“To Lady Evandra,” the others echoed before sipping their wine, Drake’s eyes simmering with something that almost looked like pride. Julian’s warm smile broke into a grin. “Let’s eat!”
The rest of the meal passed in a blur of chatter and indulgence. I peppered everyone with questions about Riftreach—how the plants grew, how the lights stayed so bright, how on earth an enormous ship ended up lodged in a cavern wall. Most of the answers were the same:
The Rift. It felt like magic I could barely comprehend, but that only made me more fascinated.
Julian finally dismissed the others, leaving just Drake, Felix, and me seated at the long table. The warmth of the feast faded as Julian’s demeanor shifted, his expression growing stern and commanding, the air thickening with the weight of responsibility.
“I heard you encountered Vyrmin on the road?” Julian’s sharp gaze pinned Drake and Felix, waiting for their response.
“They ambushed us in Finnegan’s Pass, Commander,” Felix said, the fatigue from days of healing etched into his face. “There were three of them. We each killed one.”
“Eva included,” Drake added, voice edged with pride.
Julian raised a brow, surprise flickering across his face. “She killed one?”
“She commanded it to impale itself on my sword, sir,” Drake said.
A long pause. Julian nodded once, deliberate. “Remarkable. Dangerous. Both can serve us, if you learn control.” His gaze softened briefly. “Your mother would be proud.”
Felix leaned back, lips twitching. “Also mildly horrified.”
Julian ignored him. “You’ll have tutors, Evandra. Weapons. Records. Whatever you need.”
“Please, call me Eva,” I said quickly, stopping myself just short of bowing again.
Julian chuckled softly. “For now, rest. Rae! Ren!”
The door at the back of the room swung open, revealing two women who bore a striking resemblance to each other. One had shoulder-length raven hair, the other’s flowed down her back, but their pointed, pale faces were identical, like statues carved from ivory.
“This is Rae and Ren. They’ve been appointed as your handmaidens for your duration here,” Julian announced with a sweep of his hand.
I blinked at the two women as they beamed at me. “Oh, really, t-that’s not necessary,” I stammered, heat rising to my cheeks. Their smiles faltered into expressions of pure disappointment.
“Please, we insist,” said the shorter-haired one, her voice warm but resolute.
“It’s a great honor, Lady Eva,” the longer-haired one added earnestly. “There aren’t many opportunities for new things down here, and—if I may say so—you’ll break our hearts if you say no.”
“I—uh…” Their expectant smiles tugged at me, and I found myself nodding. “Okay.”
The women instantly brightened, each looping an arm through mine. “First thing’s first—we’ll get you clean!” the shorter-haired one chirped.
“Yes, you’re filthy, madam,” the other added with a mischievous grin.
“Wait, you’re going to bathe me?!” I exclaimed as they began to tug me toward the door, their enthusiasm utterly unrelenting.
I glanced back at Drake, my eyes pleading for rescue, only to see him stifling a laugh.
Felix wasn’t even bothering to hide his amusement.
Their chuckles echoed behind me as the twins pulled me out of the dining hall and toward what I could only assume would be the most mortifying experience of my life.
My room was... breathtaking. I stood frozen in the doorway, barely able to believe that it was mine.
Until now, opulence had been something from stories, something that existed for princesses and queens in faraway lands, not for a barmaid from an unknown village.
Yet here it was, sprawling before me like something from a dream.
The room was situated at the bow of the ship, and a grand window framed the geyser and the shimmering city below. Thick, red velvet curtains hung on either side of the window so I could close out the world with a simple tug if I ever wanted, though I doubted I ever would.
At my feet lay ornate rugs so plush and detailed that they seemed like tapestries laid out to be walked on. Bookshelves lined the walls, crammed with volumes that looked older than the rebellion itself, their spines gleaming gold and silver in the candlelight.
And the bed. Gods, the bed. It was larger than any I’d ever seen, piled high with silken pillows and a quilt that looked like it was made from clouds.
I bit my lip at the thought of what Drake and I could do in that bed.
Images of his hands on me, his breath against my neck, flashed through my mind.
Heat rose to my cheeks as I shook the thoughts away.
I darted toward the wardrobe, unable to contain my excitement.
Throwing the doors open, I gasped at the sight of gowns more exquisite than anything I could have imagined.
I couldn’t even picture where someone would wear half these gowns—unless they were planning to seduce a king, duel him, and then seduce him again. I grinned, unable to stop myself.
I’m dreaming. I’m dreaming. I’m freaking dreaming.