Chapter 22 Ariah #2
From her pocket she pulls out a vial of purple translucent liquid.
“Good. It’s best to wait until we know for sure what they’re after.
” I want to bring up the Ivian Flower, but will she mock me for mentioning the mythical object?
“Sky batched this the other day. If given the opportunity, slip it into their drinks. Between this and the alcohol, they’ll be fountains overflowing with secrets.
” Tucking it into the pocket of my dress my stomach tightens, but I give her a nod of acknowledgement.
She will be attending the same party, and I know this is another test, one I can’t fail, especially knowing she’s been watching me.
She pushes me forward, playfully. “Get changed and go get your prince. I hate people and parties, so the sooner we show up the sooner I know the night will end.”
We head back to my room where I change into something more festive. I go with an ensemble more casual yet still fancy enough for a party hosted by a royal family member, well, the wife of one anyway.
Tonight, I wear pearls I selected from the Queen’s collection, available in a room she provided us, filled with incentives for being a Fox.
There is an abundance of other items we can select, but I’ve only taken the pearl necklace and a matching set of earrings.
As glamorous as it all is, it’s not mine.
Borrowing more than my share ties me to this place in more ways than I’d like.
I’ll carry out my end of the deal with the Queen, but once done, so am I.
Once I’m ready, Chana and I head over to the Rose House, which is a good walk away from the castle.
Dusk sets and the sky fluffs up with fading pink-and-orange clouds, as the sound of distant instruments guides us to our destination.
“Ugh, so many people,” Chana mumbles.
“It won’t be so bad,” I assure, squeezing her hand. “A break from hiding in dark corners and actually being in conversations, rather than listening in on them, will be good for us both.”
She tosses me a look from the corner of her eye. “You think I still won’t do that here?”
My grin causes her to break and it’s the first time I hear her laugh. Good to know she’s capable of it.
“LADY ARIAH!” A voice from behind shouts, stopping both of us.
In the dim light I make out three figures, all dressed up in matching neutral tones, a common trend I’ve observed of our Saden visitors.
Chana and I curtsy.
“Are you both ready to see how Saden men party? I bet you Haymelians will struggle to keep up,” Eli says to Chana playfully.
“Sadens and Haymelians have nothing on those of us from Ethmay,” Chana shoots back, not lacking an ounce of confidence.
Eli stops walking, caught off guard. I’m certain this is the first interaction they’ve shared yet both exchange words effortlessly. “And she speaks,” he teases, conjuring a grin. “I’ve never met an Ethmay woman before.” He takes a step in her direction and extends a hand. “And you are?”
“Well, now you have,” she says, reluctantly taking his hand. “And you may call me Chana.”
“And do Ethmay women like to drink, Lady Chana?”
“Depends on what is being offered. And it depends on the company.”
The air shifts and these two linger for longer than they should.
“Why don’t we continue on.” Iann steps around Eli, patting him on the back and edging him towards the house. “Can’t show her how Saden men party until we actually make it to the party.”
I fall back, walking next to Benny, with Iann a foot ahead of us and Chana and Eli talking away at the front.
Benny strikes up a conversation, keeping it casual.
We talk mostly about him and the emporium he owns back in Saden.
He speaks about his son with great admiration.
His son is a painter and he promises to show me some of his sketches whenever there is time.
Iann also adds that Benny’s son has done several murals in the castle.
We arrive at the Rose House, and as I expected people stop their conversations to watch Prince Iann make his way inside. Even the musicians slow their playing.
Lady Arranella is the first to greet us and whisks Iann away to flaunt at her guests, acting as if they are old friends.
Chana, Eli, and Benny drift off to another room, but I stick close to Iann, following behind as he is introduced to faces I’ve only seen in passing around court.
Food and drink are offered to us in abundance, but Iann declines it all.
Though people are excited to see him, I can tell that all the greetings and endless questions are starting to drain him.
His smile becomes forced and his responses grow shorter.
Lady Arranella doesn’t seem to notice. She continues to escort him around the room, making sure everyone sees them together.
“Prince Iann,” I say, cutting in after following them around for well over an hour. “There is something I need to discuss with you. Sorry, Lady Arranella, we’ll be back shortly.”
I don’t give her the opportunity to protest and take Iann by the arm leading him away. We end up in a far less crowded room with a vacant sofa that we drop down on.
“I’m sorry,” I say, biting the corner of my lip. Convinced he regrets coming. “I promised this would be fun and that was awful.” I find a clock on the mantel across the room. “Over an hour of repetitive greetings and small talk.” He laughs and rests back in the seat. “How do you do it?”
Resting beside him, he shrugs, the friction of his arm sliding across mine warms me. “I don’t really know. It’s just something I do now.”
“You don’t like parties, do you?” I ask.
He meets my gaze. The green flakes in his eyes shine brighter in this light, like jewels floating in a night sky. His smile deepens and I find myself studying the bends of his lips.
“I would prefer my time spent doing other things,” he admits.
“You could have said no,” I tell him.
“I know.” His stare extends deeper into mine. “But I didn’t want to.”
The room floods with a sudden heat. “Would you like a drink?”
“I would love one.”
Leaning in close I pick up the scent of a woodsy musk. “Don’t move.”
The room opens to a dining hall stuffed with people dancing. I find a table flowing with champagne and food and wait for the people in front of me to get their refreshments.
From where I stand, I can see into multiple rooms of the Rose House. I spot Sky and Vera pretending not to watch each other. Their feelings are blatantly obvious.
Sky distracts himself with a game of cards and Vera socializes with a group of people laughing and flirting the night away. Around her neck is a bright red stone that appears to be glowing, but it must be a trick of the light around us.
Chana appears not to notice that she’s still at a party as she seems to be enjoying her time surrounded by people she was dreading to mingle with. She whispers something in Benny’s ear and both point at Eli before all three erupt in laughter.
I spot Iann starring, watching me in a way that courses an inviting sensation through me. He ends the eye contact as a woman, whom I recognize as one of the Queens’ ladies-in-waiting, approaches.
His leg subtly shakes, and he rubs his palms over his knees looking uncomfortable, but he still maintains a smile that’s obnoxiously charming.
I grab two glasses of champagne and turn to go save him, suddenly remembering the mix Chana gave me; I suspect she consumed some of her own.
Back on the table I shield the glasses with my body and release a droplet of the mixture into one cup. Guilt grabs hold of me. What if Iann doesn’t even need this? I can just ask him, find a way to sneak the topic of the flower into our conversation.
Someone bumps into me from behind and the liquid in the vial spills out onto the table.
“Where did you get that?” Sky appears, bending down near my ear and grabbing the vial. “How much did you put in there?”
“Chana said it will help me get some information out of the Prince.”
He huffs. “I’ve told her to stay out of my workstation.
It contains lorice.” My dumbfounded look has him explaining more, “Has your father not taught you anything? It’s a magical root.
Rare and meant for dire circumstances.” He shoves the vial into his pocket.
“What’s in there is more than enough. Do you know what this does?
” I shake my head, wiping the liquid with one of the several cloth napkins placed around the table.
“Is there an issue?” Iann sends us both spinning around.
Sky dips his head. “Not at all, Your Royal Highness. Just helping Ariah out with something.”
“She seemed to be managing fine without you.” There is a new tone in Iann’s voice. One I have yet to hear. One that makes him equal parts terrifying and attractive.
“Sky was just helping me with a spill.” I find a lie quickly. “Accidentally knocked over a glass.” I grab the stems of the glasses and hand one to Iann. “Here is your drink. Thank you for your help, Sky.”
“Anytime.” He gives Iann a taunting smirk and throws a dagger-filled glare my way.
“How about a walk?” Iann whispers near my ear.
I nod and follow his lead as we head towards the door to the back garden. Sky tries to get my attention one last time but it’s too late.
Outside, a breeze picks up and luminosity beams down on the kingdom from a full moon. We walk onto a stone courtyard, stretching from the back of the house. Dozens of lanterns brighten the area, revealing other smaller groups chatting amongst themselves.
Iann takes a sip of the champagne downing it before grimacing.
“Not good?” Too much mix must have thrown off the taste.
“Champagne has never been my drink of choice.”
Taking a sip of my own, I’m hit with a fizzy tartness that has me clicking the roof of my mouth. I force down a sizable gulp and set it aside. “Nor mine.” Beyond the courtyard, down several steps, is a rose garden and the reason for the house’s name. “Shall we continue?”
“Alright.”