Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Deirdre
A goblin wearing a black suit and red bow tie stood in front of me, blocking the entrance to the banquet hall. A tuft of black hair protruded out of the top of his head like an odd peacock's feather. Two bright-white fangs hung past his underbite.
“No humans,” the goblin growled.
Great. Another fae with pointy teeth.
“His Majesty has requested m’lady's presence at dinner,” Liora said. “You will allow her entry.”
This was my first dinner at the court. I had no idea what to expect or why Kane even wanted me here. Would he be angry if I was late?
After the night in the kitchens, I had stopped arguing with him, at least for now. Yelling only made my head ache more and it was difficult enough being in the same room with him. Though I was grateful he hadn’t allowed his pointy-tooth kin to maim me.
Maybe I would survive long enough to escape.
The past few days, I had spent all my time with Boots and the other animals outside, and when the rain came like an unwanted guest, I sat in my spiraled prison, snuggled under furs, staring at the stained-glass windows.
“Gitz will let you in now.” The goblin turned around, strangely referring to himself, the tail of his suit dragging across the floor, and opened the large doors. “But you will regret it.”
Liora stood a few paces behind me. She promised to stay near me during the dinner. We had practiced a simple gesture of my fingers to my chest to alert her I needed to leave if things became too overwhelming.
The banquet hall was cozier than I expected. While I'd never been to a banquet hall at a castle before, I'd heard servants talk about them and the magnitude of people that sat, ate, gossiped, and drank until the wee hours of the night.
This was not so different.
The wooden tables were shaped in a U, and instead of chairs, the tables were low to the ground. Everybody sat on plush pillows. Sweeping red and black drapes hung from the high ceiling, hiding the servants that moved in and out around them.
Kane sat at the head of the table. The brown-haired pixie, Ella, I think they called her, re-braided the side of his hair, twisting the thin strands and threading it with what looked like miniature skulls.
Of course, I’d notice dead snapdragons anywhere.
The tiny flowers had an unmistakable quality that any herbalist would recognize.
A black crown sat on his head, slightly crooked. The jagged spikes held tiny glittering emeralds. It was the first time I had seen him wearing it.
With a goblet in one hand, an arm draped over his bent leg, and the top three buttons of his white shirt undone, Kane exuded the carefree attitude of a king with nothing to lose.
As I entered, his judging amber gaze landed on me. Those dark brows of his looked too much like my own. It was the only thing we had in common.
The goblin led me to an open seat, left of Kane just a few feet down, and Liora moved toward the edge of the room where other servants awaited orders.
A fae with silvery-blond hair, beautiful beige skin, and stormy blue eyes sat next to me. His strong, narrow nose and perfectly set jaw screamed with regality.
Gitz did not announce me to the court and other than a few odd glances in my direction, no one seemed to care that I had joined dinner.
The dress I wore had no tight-fitting corset or strings.
It was a coral garment with thin straps cinching at my shoulders that flowed easily as I sat; the sleeves cascading out around me, slitted, making it easier to move around.
Tiny rosebuds decorated the bodice adding a nice floral touch.
Even though I dressed beautifully, it was impossible to look anything other than homely next to all these exquisitely perfect fae.
The fae next to me smiled and he had no pointy teeth.
Did that mean he was friend or foe?
“Gideon,” he said, holding up his goblet.
“I'm Deirdre,” I responded, looking at the array of food before me.
It didn't seem like there was much meat on the table.
There were brightly colored salads filled with vibrant little pansy flowers.
Next to it was a bowl of frosted cranberries, roasted squash, and lots of pastries.
I recognized the lavender shortbread cookies near Kane.
They were the same ones he had shared with me that night in the kitchen.
Most of the meat was near Kane and the dwarf sitting next to him.
A bowl of thick orange soup sat in front of me. The savory scent of pumpkin, sage, and thyme wafted off the top. I didn’t see any sort of utensils on the table, then I remembered fae ate with their hands.
Not wanting to appear completely ignorant, I glanced at the fae across from us and noticed how they brought the soup bowls to their mouths and picked at the salads and breads with their hands.
“I see Kane has finally let you out of your cage,” Gideon said, taking the carafe of wine in front of him and pouring some into my goblet.
Eyeing the bronze cup, I wasn’t sure if it was safe to drink.
“Honeysuckle wine,” he said. “And I highly recommend it.”
“Thank you.” I took the offered drink and had a few sips. The wine was thick, sweet, and honeyed. It coated my throat and sent a rush of warmth down into my chest.
Maybe I would survive tonight.
I glanced over at Kane whose attention was on a female fae sitting on his other side. Her silvery-blond hair was like Gideon’s. The two whispered to one another.
It was the first time I wondered if Kane had any mistresses. He wasn’t married, and it was common for kings to have… well, whatever they wanted.
It shouldn't matter, though. I didn't care what he did. He was just another monster I needed to figure out how to slay.
“Hi!” A stunning female with the same blue eyes and blonde hair as Gideon plopped onto the cushion next to me.
“Deirdre, this is my youngest sister, Juliana.”
“Hello,” I said.
She smiled widely, revealing perfectly white teeth. The shimmering dust on her cheeks sparkled under the candlelight.
“I’ve always wanted to meet the child of prophecy.” She squeezed closer, nudging Gideon aside. “Is it true you weren’t allowed to leave the temple, and the humans kept you in a cage?”
Gideon laughed, and her questions pulled a smile from me.
Her tall, pointy ears twitched as she waited for my response.
“Not in an actual cage, but it certainly felt like one.”
“Wow… There are so many—”
“Juliana!” The fae who had been getting cozy with Kane stood over us, arms folded, mouth turned down in disgust. “Do not fraternize with the entertainment.”
Her insult stabbed to my core. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Was that how the entire fae court saw me? As some type of human pet show? If I turned my head, would I find Kane sitting there watching, an amused grin plastered on his treacherous face?
“Enough, Orla. She’s only just arrived.” Gideon eyed the female, but I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or not.
“I’m sorry,” Juliana whispered, placing a hand on my leg. “We’ll talk again when my sister isn’t pouting because Kane denied her advances again.”
Gideon chuckled, and before Orla could grab Juliana, the fae ducked and dashed to the other side of the room in a flurry of giggles, her cornflower blue dress trailing after.
She ran behind a tawny-haired fae who laughed, and then two Julianas appeared, hands on their hips, sticking a tongue out at Orla and disappearing into the crowd.
I liked her. Her carefree, light-hearted spirit reminded me that not all of the fae were evil.
A few friendly faces in court wouldn’t be so awful, even if the rest hated me.
“You must excuse Orla,” Gideon said, pulling me away from my thoughts. “Royal tradition deems that moon fae always rule the throne.”
I had learned that from the tomes in the temple, but never understood the reason. “Why is that? Do moon fae have some type of natural resistances?”
Gideon’s blue eyes twinkled as he leaned in. “We are masters of illusions and charms. No charm spell could ever work on a moon fae. That’s why we are trusted to lead.”
“Which means they’d always been in control of their mind.”
He raised his goblet with a nod.
“But what about Kane? He’s half dragon.”
The twinkle in Gideon’s gaze dimmed, his jaw clenching. “That’s a subject best left for more private spaces. Now, how about you share something with me. What was it like growing up in the temple? I have not had the pleasure of visiting any of the human ones.”
“Oh, why?”
Gideon’s face shifted, a coldness creeping into his gaze. “Our king,” he said, his voice softer and quieter as he leaned closer to me, “prefers we keep our distance from any humans, which is why you are such a surprise. Though everyone, fae or not, knows of the child of prophecy.”
I was aware of Kane’s distaste for my people.
It was that animosity that made people believe our marriage would bring peace between our people.
And for most of my life, I thought the same too.
That I could actually do some good in this world, that my compassion and peaceful spirit could somehow impact the Deathless One in a way nobody else could.
It was something I had fantasized about as a child.
That I, the girl with the ugly birthmark on her face, would change the world.
Until I got older and began doubting everything I had once believed, and all the quietness in my spirit slowly dissipated, then finally disappeared the moment Crispin died. Now, there was nothing but heartbreak, and I wasn't sure if I had room for anything else.
Gideon sat quietly, patiently almost, and I realized I hadn't answered his question. Maybe making a friend in this place would benefit me.
“It was quiet,” I said, before bringing the soup bowl to my mouth and drinking. “Most of the time I helped with chores, knitted, worked in the gardens.”
“I heard you control the element of plant.”