Chapter 11 #2
A knock at the door drew me away. I could see Schula through the window, and I let her in. She glided through the door in a silver corset and a full black skirt that looked to delight her just by the wearing of it.
“You look amazing,” I said.
“You look absolutely charming! If I wasn’t worried about Eberon getting a bigger head, I’d tell him he did a good job.” Schula beamed at Eb, who rolled his eyes. “Where is Thain?” she asked.
“Getting dressed.” Eberon had poured himself a glass from the decanter and was leaning back in one of the armchairs by the hearth.
“I see you haven’t been here for ten minutes and you’re already into my brandy.” Thain came downstairs wearing stunning blacks, blues, and silvers. His usually tousled hair had been tamed into a ponytail.
“A testament to your good taste in drink.” Eberon flashed a sharp smile before draining the glass. “Shall we go then?”
Thain grunted, and Schula looped her arm in mine as we all followed Eberon out the door. As the sun began to dip low, fireflies sparkled like stars fallen on Thanantholl. They were on everything, adding a glow to every surface still enough to land on.
We walked near a grotto, open on one end, though how far back the cave went I couldn’t see. We passed close enough in front of it that I noted the glass ballroom floor and orchestra pit just begging for a party. Servants bustled around with decorations and brooms.
“The palace is in there, beyond the opening.” Schula watched me as I took in the scene. “King Baeleon is fond of dancing. I’m sure you’ll find out for yourself soon enough.”
“There’s the River’s Edge up ahead.” Thain pointed to a bend in a small arm of gently flowing water.
Tables dripping in white decorations were illuminated by candles.
An overhang away from the water held more tables, and a building beyond that smoked from three chimneys where the kitchen must be.
We entered the yard through a gate and were escorted to a table by the water by a fae who smelled of lilacs and seemed to already know my companions.
Or at least, she exchanged pleasantries with Schula and greeted the rest of us as she brought us to the table.
Sitting down, I nearly couldn’t see Eberon across from me for the large pot of chrysanthemums in the middle of table. The seats were polished wood and made for comfort with linen cushions. I watched as a firefly landed on one of the flowers, crawling into the petals as it glowed.
A short fae with hair that moved like she was underwater despite the dry air around us drifted toward the table. Her aqua skin was covered in bumps.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite triquetram, back from the border.” She leaned in closer to me and sniffed, her eyes widened. “And who is this?”
I blinked and leaned away at the odd interaction. Was it normal to smell people here?
“This is Wren,” Thain said, seemingly undisturbed by the stranger smelling me. “You’ll hear soon enough what the king wants everyone to know.”
She tilted her head, more of her hair swishing to the side in that underwater manner. Her mouth popped open as she came to some realization. “How old are you?” she whispered at me.
“Twenty-five.” I was as quiet as I could be, but a few heads turned to us from neighboring tables anyway.
“Not the time, Marila,” Thain said, soft and firm.
Marila was nearly bouncing on her toes now, suppressing a grin and clearing her throat. “I understand. Ahem, the special tonight is duck or salmon. Both pair well with the house sweet red wine or, if you prefer, our fresh barrel of cider.”
Schula ordered one of each special for the two of us so I could try them both before choosing.
She said she would like either. Across the water, we watched the sun dip below the treetops, setting the city ablaze in pinks and reds.
I drank my cider and let the conversations around me buzz through the background.
There was too much to see to distract myself with chatter.
Maple leaves still fell, and crickets came out to serenade Thanantholl.
The food came and went. Each plate before me was better than the last. Schula had to cut the duck and salmon in half in the end as I couldn’t decide on one. The cider had gone to my head by the time we were finished eating.
“Wren, you look flushed, are you all right?” Thain slipped cool fingers onto my forehead and frowned.
“I think the cider is getting the best of me.” I brushed his hand away. “I’ll be fine if I stop now.”
They brought me a glass of water, and once I had finished it, Thain took my arm to walk me home. Schula and Eberon stayed and said their goodnight to us there at the table.
Eyes darted to me as we passed groups of fae, but it was starting to get too dark for it to bother me.
The path to Thain’s house was a twist of roads and bridges I wouldn’t be able to follow again without help.
The cool night helped sober me up, but I still focused on my steps in the foreign slippers so I wouldn’t fall.
After a long silence, I couldn’t take it anymore, and I spoke.
“I’m sorry if you left early because of me.”
“No, if anything I should be thanking you. I can’t stay out celebrating nearly as long as Eberon and Schula can.” Thain gave me a half smile. “Even just the three of us wears on me after a time.”
“Can I ask you about a word I heard again earlier tonight?” We walked under a lattice of roses, and he led us down a new road.
“That depends on what it was, but ask away.” His large hand was a steady warmth on my back as we walked. If I stumbled, he was right there. It was comforting.
“What exactly is a triquetram?” Our server had called them that. “When we met, you told me it was your team.”
Thain hummed a noncommittal sound. He turned us onto the street where I finally saw his house.
“The magic of the Wyldes comes in threes. That is even true for those of us born with magic, the fae. Somewhere out there, you have two . . .” He frowned.
“Two matches. Two other people with magic that can match, oppose, and balance your own all at once. That is your triquetram, and some go their whole lives never finding any of their set.”
“That’s kind of sad.” I said. “But Schula and Eberon are your triquetram?”
He took a moment to answer. A sadness crossed his face, but it was gone when we reached the yard.
“Eberon is. Schula hasn’t found any of hers yet, and she travels with us as our third.” Wairen opened the door as we reached it. “And with that, I think you should get some sleep.”
We said our goodbyes at the foot of the stairs.
By the time I reached the top, I looked down to see Thain in an armchair with his decanter of brandy.
I went to my room to find a nightdress laid out on the bed.
I left my purple dress on the floor where it fell and climbed into bed with the cotton dress pulled down to my knees.
I would have stayed up into the late hours to think, but the cider brought me to sleep before I could fight it.