Chapter 30 Aethra
Aethra
I’d never attended a royal ball before. Sneaking into palaces with a fake identity was never a good idea—I’d tended to avoid such risky jobs.
Spinning, I admired the gown Percy had put together for me. A high slit rose up to my hip, and the neckline plunged to my sternum. The bard had insisted I ought to match the splendor of the prince, even if we weren’t arriving together.
Cerys sat on the edge of the table, sketching away. Once she drew a portal to ferry us safely to the palace, she would be leaving to attend herself—and she’d warned us she would not be acting as our ally there.
I watched over her shoulder, tracing her even lines and deliberate strokes. “Erotic sketches, huh? Kind of like the carvings in Serifos’ temple.”
Hand jerking, Cerys messed up one of her lines and quickly scrubbed it away. “Did Set tell you that?”
“Percy did.”
Eyes fluttering close, Cerys returned to her drawing. “I like the human form. It’s beautiful.” Her eyebrow twitched, and she glanced back at me. “And it’s fun.”
Chuckling, I turned to the door. “You should make one of Percy.”
“I’d need him to model, first.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll say yes.” Glancing around the ancient walls and the torches gleaming a faint green, I sat beside her. “Can I ask you about the voices you hear?”
Cerys lifted her head, regarding me with faded, white eyes. “Every Oracle has been told the same: The Empty separates the living from the dead. The divines’ voices carry to us through the border.”
“And you believe it? That the voices belong to the divines?”
“I do.” Narrowing her eyes, she studied my face. “You’ve heard them.”
“Briefly.” I knitted my hands in my lap. “Some said overlapping nonsense, but . . . one spoke directly to me. She asked me to ‘save Set.’”
“The divines must have plans for him.”
“No, I—” I leaned closer. “I think I heard his mother. Or maybe Cassandra.”
Cerys tapped her quill on the page. “You think they’re still in there, somewhere?”
“Maybe. There are people living there. The keres.”
“You think the keres . . .” She leaned toward me. “Why would the Elpis maidens, who gave their lives for us, lure us to our death?”
“That, I don’t know,” I admitted.
The door creaked open, and I sat up.
Seraphim entered first, dragging a sad-looking Percy behind her. They both wore armor similar to the Ma’at guards—purple capes with golden breastplates. The helm Percy had acquired didn’t quite fit, and he was struggling to shove it over his head.
“You look dashing! Knightly.” I beamed at him.
“Yes, well.” Percy finally managed to shove the helm on. “I hope Seth knows what he’s doing. I don’t want to die looking like this.”
Seraphim walked past me, pausing to adjust the flower pin in my braid. “You look like a queen,” she said with a wink.
I flushed. Had she always been keen on pushing Seth and me together?
Cerys rose and examined Percy’s outfit. She tugged on his cloak, straightening around his shoulder. The bard beamed like an idiot.
“I’m sorry we can’t share a dance,” Cerys said, smoothing down the purple fabric. “I would have liked to.”
“A loyal attendant and the Oracle, dancing?” Percy scoffed, looking away. “What would the people say?”
“The nobles would gossip.” Cerys flashed him a mischievous smile. “But they’ll all be dead, soon.”
Percy practically swooned. Planting a kiss on his cheek, Cerys returned to her notebook.
Phaedrus entered the room, still fussing with his cuffs. Had he told me his outfit came from Ainwir’s wardrobe, I would have believed him. The deep blue cape hung to his feet and shadowed his toga.
‘Any number of weapons could hide within.’ Ainwir would have said. ‘Not all of them blades.’
Brushing back a lock of his red hair, Phaedrus smirked at me. “Brace yourself. You’re not going to recognize the next one.”
“Why not—” I cut off when Eleos stepped inside.
Every day since we’d met, Eleos had worn white robes or a loose toga. He took the mantle of scholar so earnestly that he tried to look the part at all hours. Or so I liked to think.
Not today. A thin, nearly see-through black shirt clung to his skin, leaving little to the imagination. Its neckline was cut deep, as though the shirt didn’t think itself revealing enough. A dark red cloak hung from his shoulders, matching the red and black feathered mask around his eyes.
Seas. I hadn’t even seen him naked when we’d bathed together as a team. This was the first time I’d seen skin.
I felt positively scandalous, gazing upon Eleos like this.
Seraphim whirled around. “Percy!” She snapped. “What did you do to my scholar?”
“Nothing!” Percy threw his hands up. “He picked it out himself.”
“It’s not like . . .” Eleos fidgeted with his neckline. “I had many options.”
“Liar.” Percy grinned from ear to ear. “I had something far frumpier than that.”
“I dress elegantly. Refined,” Eleos corrected. “Not frumpy.”
“I like it.” Seraphim grinned. “I always thought you could stand to let loose.”
“Relax, sister.” Phaedrus leaned on the wall, inspecting his nails. “You’re acting like a drunken aunt.”
“Because I am.”
I blinked and gaped. Maiden’s grace. Seraphim and Eleos were related. Judging from the matching expression on Percy’s countenance, he hadn’t considered that fact either.
“Oh.” Percy tapped my shoulder excitedly. “I did you a favor. Look.”
Chuckling at his words, I glanced expectantly at the door.
Seth swept into the room, and my ability to process words and thoughts failed me.
Gods. How had I managed to bed that?
Seth had nothing resembling a shirt on. Every glorious inch of his chest was on display, hidden only by the thin toga wrapping his left shoulder, where his cape was pinned into place.
One of his legs was hidden behind the long, dragging skirt of the fabric, but the other was clad in skin-tight black leggings and golden sandals.
A tiny hint of kohl darkened his eyes, and golden bands wrapped his arms, making his biceps stand out. I bit my lip, making a mental note to thank Percy in private.
Seth grabbed Eleos’ shoulders and peered down at him. “What is this?” He balked at the scholar. “Are you trying to outdo me?”
“I’m playing the villain tonight, right?” Eleos wore his half-smirk.
I could never tell whether the two of them liked each other or hated each other. Maybe it was both.
“That,” Percy declared. “Is how Seth dressed when we first met.”
“What?” I blurted out.
Sighing, Seth adjusted his feathered circlet. “It was in fashion. And I’d joined a theatre troupe, briefly.”
Eleos snorted. “Ha! You did pick your name. Burgundy Rose.”
“For fuck’s sake. I was their bodyguard. Not one of the actors.”
Phaedrus rolled his eyes. “Oh, enough grandstanding. Can we get on with it?”
“We can,” Cerys said, making the final line in her sketch. A frame drew itself to life on the wall before her, painting a simple portrait of a dirt road carving through a field of trees. “This will take you to a nearby alley. No one will know where you came from.”
“Perfect.” Seth glanced around at everyone. “My illustrious guards should take the lead.”
“Percy—” Seraphim lowered her helm’s visor. “Once we arrive, take up the rear.” Hoisting her glaive, she marched through the frame. I moved to follow, but Seth grabbed my elbow, holding me back.
“Good luck, Set,” Cerys said. “I’ll try to help you, if I can.”
“Be careful,” he said, watching her leave before returning his gaze to me.
He waited for everyone else to pass through the portal before speaking. “You look beautiful.”
“So do you,” I said, holding back a laugh.
“Why are you laughing?” Seth playfully rolled his eyes. “Save me a dance? Maybe we can find another shady inn with good music.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Lifting my chin, he kissed me deeply. I wrapped my arms around him, fingers digging into his shoulders, unwilling to let go.
Lips parting, Seth hesitated before kissing me again. He cupped my cheek, thumb stroking my skin while his other arm grasped my waist, pressing me to him.
I felt the same tension in his touch. He didn’t want to let me go, either.
Forcing myself to release him, I stepped back.
Seth stared at me longingly. “Please be careful.”
“You’re in more danger than I am,” I said.
“It never seems like it.” Taking my arm, he led me to the portal. “One day I’ll waltz into a ballroom with you on my arm and show you off properly,” he promised with a wink.
We stepped through the canvas into a living painting.
Unlike Cerys’ rushed drawings, this one matched the sketch I’d glimpsed, down to every last detail.
A simple dirt path carved through sprawling meadows, leading to another canvas through which the others had already passed.
Only Eleos remained, waiting by the exit.
Lifting my hand, Seth gently kissed it before leaving my side. He and Eleos exchanged a few quiet words. Glancing at me one last time, Seth stepped through the canvas and disappeared.
“Your prince has given me a task,” Eleos said, holding up a hand to instruct me to wait. The canvas slowly shifted around us, the trees brightened, and the frame the others had passed through waned before quickly reforming. “This way, Lady Aethra,” Eleos said.
“And what task is that?” I wondered, following him through the portal.
We emerged in a small pasture—the stench of horses struck me like a slap. Seth had left Athena in this little field near the edge of town, where a few other steeds were stabled. My gorgeous horse raised her head from the grass, shook her white mane, and trotted to our side. Eleos took her reins.
“You and I are arriving at the ball together,” he explained.
“Ah.” I raised an eyebrow. “To scour any doubt?”
“For once, I agree with Seth. Announcing to Eris that you’re together is a royally bad idea. So you’ll be my date tonight.” Eleos knelt, folding his hands into a step.
Lifting my skirt, I accepted his offer, remembering the first time he helped me onto the horse.
Gods, it felt like a lifetime ago.