Chapter Twenty-Eight
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Mira
I was still smiling as I descended the steps to the party, raising the mask to my face. There had been no easy way to disguise the crown, so I hadn’t bothered to try. It rested on my head, and somehow, its weight didn’t feel overwhelming. It felt just right.
Sabine was waiting at the base of the staircase. When she looked up, she laughed. ‘Your Highness,’ she said, dropping into a sweeping curtsy. ‘You’re going to be in so much trouble.’
‘Not as much trouble as we’re going to be in if we don’t make it back soon.’ My eyes canvassed the ballroom, pausing on one of the Warriors. He noticed me, too, and said something to his companion – who hurried up the spiral staircase. ‘We’re about to have company.’
Sabine nodded. ‘Let’s get going, then.’
But the Warrior moved quickly, blocking our way. ‘Halt,’ he ordered, his attention on the crown. ‘That belongs to the prince.’
‘Does it?’ Sabine asked, running a finger along the back of the Warrior’s hand. ‘Perhaps you should look again.’
The Warrior studied Sabine, then the crown. He shook his head. ‘But I could have sworn . . . my apologies, ladies. I must have been mistaken.’
‘Think nothing of it, sir,’ Sabine told him sweetly, dropping her hand. The ruby in her bracelet gleamed, like it was lit from within. ‘Enjoy the party.’
The crowd paid us little attention as we strode through the cluster of chattering nobles. Dressed as dancers, no one questioned us, and on my head, the crown looked as though it could be for a performance.
‘How did you do that?’ I asked Sabine, careful to keep a smile on my face for our audience. I walked slowly, too, as if I had all the time in the world – even though instinct was screaming at me to hurry, to find Aric and leave before we were discovered.
‘I’m going to be an Artisan, remember?’ Sabine replied, as if it should be obvious. ‘I can do all sorts of fun things.’
Something about that didn’t ring true. I was sure Zandri had said we wouldn’t be granted powers until after Initiation. Sabine might have a certain amount of intuition or foresight, but what she’d just done went far beyond that. But perhaps she had been born with natural magic.
That would explain her warmth towards me. If she was magical, then Sabine could have been forcibly brought to the palace like I was. She might have no other choice but to compete in the Trials.
Either way, I studied Sabine with newfound respect – and wariness. Artisans’ gifts weren’t to be taken lightly. Sabine might seem young and harmless, but appearances could be deceiving. I knew that better than anyone. ‘Somehow, I suspect that’s the least of what you can do.’
Sabine winked, and quickened her pace without replying.
‘We need to find Aric,’ I said to her retreating back. ‘Cassius told me that he’s being detained somewhere, but I don’t know—’
‘Way ahead of you,’ Sabine said. ‘What do you think I was doing, while you were alone with the prince?’
Relief surged through me. ‘You mean you freed him?’
‘Not exactly.’ Sabine shrugged. ‘I compelled one of the Warriors to accidentally drop the key he was holding. The rest is up to Aric.’
‘You didn’t think to maybe do a bit more?’ I asked. ‘How many Warriors were detaining him, anyway?’
Sabine’s expression didn’t change, but her tone cooled. ‘I’m no Warrior. That’s his role, and so far, he hasn’t been particularly good at it.’
I opened my mouth to defend Aric when a shout cut through the gathering.
‘Stop!’ It was a Warrior – and his eyes were on us. ‘Stop, in the name of the emperor!’
‘And that’s our cue to run,’ Sabine said, grabbing my hand and tearing through the gardens.
More shouts sounded from behind us. I didn’t turn, but I knew the Warriors were pursuing us, pushing past the revellers.
‘I don’t suppose you can cast some sort of illusion to make us invisible?’ I shouted, my breath coming faster now. ‘Or something to deal with the Warriors up ahead?’
Sabine’s brunette curls trailed behind her as she ran. She didn’t look back at me, but she called over her shoulder, ‘I need to touch them to do that. My abilities aren’t limitless, you know.’
Great. That was just great.
My hand tightened on hers as we kept running. We were close to the security checkpoint now, so close that I could see the Warriors guarding it beginning to turn – searching for the source of the commotion.
I wondered whether they would try to take us alive – or if they would cut us down instead. None of the Ravalian royals were renowned for their mercy, and if these men realised the crown I was wearing belonged to Cassius —
Just as I was readying myself to charge right into their onslaught, the lead Warrior suddenly looked over his shoulder. I saw the flash of a sword before he fell, unconscious, to the ground.
‘Go,’ Aric said, sizing up the remaining two Warriors. ‘I’ll be right behind you.’
I started to slow, intending to help Aric, but Sabine’s grip on my hand tightened.
‘You’d only be a distraction,’ she said. ‘He’s the Warrior. Let him prove it.’
Though I knew she was right, it went against everything in me to leave Aric behind. But I kept my head down as we hurtled down the hill and into the narrow streets beyond.
‘How much time do you think we have left?’ I asked as we turned a corner and slowed to a brisk walk.
‘Not much,’ Sabine replied, frowning. ‘We’re cutting it close.’
I’d suspected as much, but it was worse to have my suspicions confirmed. What if we didn’t make it back in time?
‘We can’t go in without Aric,’ I said as we reached the imposing palace gates.
‘If you want to wait, that’s your choice,’ Sabine said. ‘But which of us do you think the emperor would be more pleased to fail? Right now, Aric is in less danger than you are.’
I hesitated, glancing back in the direction of the dark, sprawling city. Then I turned and hurried after Sabine, into the glittering, gilded cage of the Ravalian palace—
Where the outcome of the first Trial would be decided.