Chapter 27 Iann
IANN
Today is my final day in Haymel—that’s if all goes according to plan. Although departure is set for tomorrow, I asked Benny, Deean, and Rolley to secure a ship and to prepare the others to leave tonight.
Ariah confessed to everything, and I was only partially surprised.
My father has spies of his own, people paid to do his grunge work; they aren’t called Foxes, but I’m sure they have a name of their own.
Gran will surely gloat about her warning for me turned out to be correct.
The most shocking part of it all is the extraction of Marcel’s blood, which is a secret that shall forever be mine.
If he finds out what she did he would have no qualms about killing her.
And while she did lie, her secrets didn’t do much to change my feelings for her.
The biggest challenge will be convincing Marcel to leave for Saden tonight, without disclosing all details.
But I fear if Queen Cayleen finds out we have stolen a ship and taken her people she will take it out on him.
Despite everything, I can’t set him up like that.
Instead of me informing Marcel, I send Deean to do it, which is against my better judgment but it’s one of the few options I have.
After breakfast, to ensure the Queen isn’t using an enchantment on Marcel, I distract her with light conversation.
Most of it consists of inquiring which guests will be in attendance tonight.
She seems more excited than usual, and I can’t decipher if it’s because she enjoys a good ball or if she’s planning something nefarious.
Afterall, she has a vial of my brother’s blood and in the wrong hands bad things can come from it.
“He intends to leave tonight,” Deean whispers in my ear. “All our men, including Esha, will disappear.”
I nod and pretend to laugh, as if he’s told a joke. “Good. I feel like this may revert our kingdoms back to being rivals but…”
“It’s better than ending up dead,” Deean finishes for me. “I’ve also sent word by carrier pigeon Father. He should know soon.” Deean smiles at a group of women walking by as they gawk at us. “You sure Farella is worth it? We can just go back with the others. Take Ariah with us.”
Having Ariah come back with me to Saden is what I desire most. It’s selfish because I know her life is here, but what if she could start over somewhere else, with someone else.
“I promised our father. And for whatever reason he’s desperate for it.”
“You don’t think someone is sick, do you?” I stare at him and watch his face twist with concern. “Who? Do you think he’s dying?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling. We’ve come too far now. I will find that flower.”
He places a hand on my shoulder. “I’m with you. We’ll do whatever it takes.”
Night comes quickly and everything is in place for our departure tonight. Our bags wait, packed in the rooms, but when it comes down to it, the unimportant items will be left behind. Marcel is set to flee in a carriage but knows if he needs to go sooner, he is to go by horseback.
We all dress for the ball. Ariah surprises me with an outfit she crafted herself, one she promises will go with her dress. The mask she selects for me is sage green with a long beaked nose and covered with golden filigree.
She even assists Deean with selecting an outfit and is pleased to finally be introduced properly to my brother. While the Queen knows all three of us are here, Ariah promises not to give away his identity.
Near nightfall, Ariah slips away to get ready and Benny comes in shortly thereafter.
“I’ve secured us a ship,” he says fiddling with the top button of his shirt.
“Don’t you look nice and dapper.” A shirtless Deean tosses Benny a compliment as he searches for some jewelry in one of the packed bags. “Where is the chunky gold necklace? It’s my newest piece. It would go perfectly with the mask Ariah selected.”
“Servants aren’t really meant to wear too much jewelry,” Benny says nonchalantly.
“No one asked you.”
Benny grins before smuggling a cough with his hand. “Plus, I used it as a down payment for a ship.”
Deean snaps a head in his direction. “You did what?”
“You told him to do what it takes. Turns out our new captain has similar tastes as you.” I shrug and lace up one of my shoes. “Did you give my cartographer the image of the map we had drawn from the anchor?”
Benny nods. “Yes, he’s been studying and comparing it to other maps in the library. He and a few of the others in our crew will be sneaking out as soon as the ball begins. They will grab what luggage they can and some will head to the ship while others will wait for Prince Marcel.”
After tucking in a shirt he then throws on a doublet—Deean is near ready. “Everything is in motion. Let’s go have some fun until then.”
Together we make our way out of the left wing, to the other side of the castle where the masquerade will commence.
We know we’re close to the ballroom when the expansive hall starts becoming more and more decorated.
The Queen doesn’t shy away from abundance.
Flowers and feathers stuff the halls and candelabras set the place aglow; everyone adds to the décor with the different masks they wear.
Our party makes its way into the ballroom and I hang back, waiting for a formal announcement, Deean waiting with me. I’d rather skip such decorum, but I’m certain Queen Cayleen wouldn’t appreciate the lack of posturing.
“Hello, brother.” Deean and I spin around to find Marcel in an off-white outfit complete with a fur surcoat that scrapes the floor and a mask similar to mine, only white and trimmed with silver. “Brought you someone.”
Next to him is a woman wearing a fox mask the color of fresh snow and decorated with lace and pearls.
Curls, ones my hands have laced through, are loose and hold tiny pearl-like beads.
A single strap hangs off a kissable shoulder and strings along faded green and pink flowers that move down the beige dress.
The flowers run up and down the ribbed part of her gown and along the bust. Further down my eyes get caught on the slit that reveals smooth ebony skin—my hands itch to touch her once again.
“Do you like it?” She moves closer, with a certain tease in her step.
I meet those russet eyes of hers and only for a second, allow myself to forget that other people are around.
I lean into the hand she places against my cheek, hearing the bracelet Sky gave her as protection clink as it shifts on her wrist. “Your brother has decided I simply won’t cut it as his escort.
He much prefers to go with Vera, and now I am partnerless. ”
“Isn’t he an idiot.” A smile tugs at my lips. “Turns out I don’t have a partner either.”
Marcel smacks a hand on my shoulder. “You two have fun. And Ariah—” He hesitates. “Thank you.”
“I’ve never heard those words from you,” Deean whispers under his breath.
“Funny,” Marcel says dryly, and bobs his head towards the entrance, forcing Deean to follow him.
“Is now a bad time to tell him I poisoned him and gave the Queen a vial of his blood?” Ariah asks.
“Let’s deal with one issue at a time.”
“You’re probably right.” She laughs and takes the hand I extend to her.
“You truly are beautiful.” Her shoulders rise and I see her push down a swallow.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
Together, we take our turn in line and wait for our introduction. Marcel and Vera are up first, and I feel Ariah’s arm tighten around mine.
“No fear,” I say, brushing my lips against her ear.
She bites her bottom lip, a movement has been increasingly driving me mad. “Easy for you to say. She isn’t your Queen, and therefore she can’t punish you.”
“After tonight, she won’t be able to punish you either. Your parents should receive a warning letter soon and we will be long gone from here within hours.” I pull at a strand of hair that has become trapped by her mask and push it back with the others. “We can do this.”
She takes a deep inhale and gives me a single nod just as our names are announced to the attending crowd.
Hand in hand we walk through the curtains and come to the top of a staircase. The floral garland-wrapped railings are too far away to hold on to and I notice hundreds of lights suspended from the high ceilings.
I recognize Benny, Deean, and Marcel instantly; the only other person who I can identify, even with a mask on, is the Queen.
She is dressed in her usual blood-red color—which is all too symbolic—and her dress is the largest one on the dance floor.
Both her and the gown look like they have been dusted with gold and her mask is of course, in the shape of a fox.
“Well done with her dress. You have real talent,” I whisper to Ariah. “Yours looks better.”
“You’re just full of compliments tonight. And, thank you,” she says.
We reach the end of the stairs and offer the Queen a bow before we approach.
“Don’t you two look striking…together,” Queen Cayleen says with arms folded across her waist. “Prince Marcel was just telling me how he preferred Vera’s company over Ariah’s tonight,” she comments mockingly, meant to get under Ariah’s skin. “I hope you’re okay with the swap, Prince Iann.”
“Of course,” I respond without a thought. “If I’m honest I’m glad for the switch. Ariah and I have had the pleasure of getting to know one another during my stay and I can’t imagine escorting anyone else.”
“Everything worked out then,” she snips and turns to the orchestra, giving them a signal to begin. “Please, enjoy your last night.” She gives us a pathetic smile and slips away.
“A bit ominous,” Ariah says.
Deean comes over with two glasses in hand and Benny beside him. “How long are we giving this? I don’t have a good feeling.”
As he lifts the glass to his lips Ariah stops him. “Don’t drink that.” She looks around to make sure no one is nearby. “Sky went around this morning dropping things into the wine bottles and anything else he could get his hands on. Something about making people drowsy so they sleep longer tonight.”
Deean lets out a hefty sigh. “Great. Drinking is out too. We need to move this along then.”
“I have a bottle of silver rum in my bag,” Benny offers him an alternative.
Deean smacks his lips as if he can taste it already. “We’ll be back.”
“While you’re gone, go to Sky’s workshop and see if he needs any help. He’s still trying to wake Chana and Esha,” Ariah instructs.
“Yes ma’am.” Deean gives her a wild grin and he and Benny slip away.
I’m prepared to ask Ariah to dance when Vera swoops in. The tulle of her russet brown dress sweeping over my shoes.
“I hope you don’t mind me stealing her for a quick dance?” Vera asks.
“The lady does as she pleases,” I say in surrender. “As long as I get a dance eventually, I have no apprehensions.”
“I’m sure you would get a dance and then some if a plan was not in motion,” Vera teases, and Ariah slaps her forearm with the back of her hand.
The two women disappear into a sea of people doing some sort of group dance, and I spot Marcel reaching for a glass of wine.
“You might want to skip the wine tonight,” I say, approaching the table.
He continues to pick up the glass. “Vera warned me. Thought I’d play along though. Make it look like nothing is up.”
I nod. “Smart.” And reach for a glass of my own.
“I hate balls,” he grumbles, pretending to take a sip. Now that I think of it, most of our family dislikes them.”
“I know I do. Deean and Mother seem to enjoy them though.”
He smiles. “Mother does. Deean just likes the drinking and women that come with such a show. He’d enjoy those in any setting.”
“True.” We laugh. He seems to be in an odd mood. A good one, but that’s odd for him. It’s been years since he and I have joked with one another. “Thank you, for letting me escort Ariah.”
He meets my eyes. “Of course.”
Immediately, I find Ariah in the crowd and watch the joy pass between her and Vera. If they’re pretending it looks real enough. Eventually, the girls drag Marcel onto the dance floor with them. It kills time and every new song pushes us closer and closer to departure.
I’m a bit winded and a few beads of sweat roll down the back of my neck when the music takes on a new rhythm, a slower one. I swoop Ariah in my direction before anyone else can claim a turn. My left hand finds the crook of her back and the right holds her hand up.
“You know,” she begins saying as we twirl about, matching the pace of those around us, “I just discovered that last night was not the first time you’ve slept in my bed.
” She can’t see my forehead pinch between my brows, but she continues anyway.
“My mother wrote to me, saying that two Saden princes showed up in our lowly village of Foxhead. The community wasn’t very kind, so she offered to let the two men stay in our home. ”
My neck jolts back slightly as memories about the room surface. There had been a headless mannequin in the corner and scrapes of fabric on the ground. “I thought you looked familiar when we first arrived. You take after your mother.”
“I do.” She smiles. “And you should be happy to know she likes you. I’m sure my father does as well.”
“They were very kind. Nice to know I don’t have to agonize over meeting your parents anymore.”
On the other side of the room Queen Cayleen fixes her gaze on us. The mask hides her expression, so all I have to go off of are her piercing eyes.
Suddenly, she gets up from her throne and leisurely walks in our direction.
Before she can interrupt us there is something I’ve been wanting to say to Ariah all night. Something I’ve been contemplating and have questioned over and over again.
At first, I thought the feeling was sheer infatuation, and maybe some of it is, but it runs deeper. There is a pull she has on me that I’m not ready to let go of. A pull that I have yet to feel with anyone else I have met in life.
My hand slips out of hers and trails over her elbow and glides up her arm and along her neck until it stops against her cheek.
A finger thumbs over her exposed lips and I feel her shudder at the touch.
“You don’t have to say anything, but I need you to know that I…
that I…I think I’m falling in love with you. ”