Chapter 8- Faerie Wine
My heart raced the moment we crossed the bridge into Hyton and I ran my thumb over the facets of my Nordingaard crystal to ease my worry. Daigen had wanted me to keep the crystal on my skin as much as possible while I was still new to my magic, but I could not risk being seen with it.
Any evidence that I was a sorceress would lead to an immediate death sentence.
I untied the ribbon of the choker and slid the crystal deep into my trunk that sat on the opposite carriage bench.
“Only a little while longer before we reach the palace, Madame Bloodstone!” Brandt called.
Paranoid Evereon had insisted someone accompany me to the palace and Brandt volunteered. Although judging from how he spilled his life’s story multiple times to the poor coachman over the hours-long journey, he was more nervous about the plan than I was.
The carriage rattled as the dirt path of the country turned into the cobblestones of the city. I pulled out Derrick’s letter from my trunk and ran my eyes over the parchment until I stopped just above the signature.
“ Eternally yours. ”
My heartbeat slowed down. Even though I was mere minutes away from committing several crimes, I had one lifeline.
The heir to the House of Hyton still loved me.
The carriage stopped. I quickly folded up the letter and placed it in my trunk. Starlight filled the carriage as the door swung open and Brandt smiled as he offered his hand to help me out.
He and the coachman wore plain peasant garb so no one suspected either of them of being part of an illicit army, but I wore a deep crimson dress, proudly bearing the color of the House of Bloodstone. I had altered the dress during the journey so that the hem skated just above my feet, perfect for a night of dancing.
If I could even make it that far into the palace without being apprehended.
Brandt kept a gentle hold on my hand as he escorted me to the palace steps.
I looked up at his boyish face. “Will you be joining me inside?”
He shook his head. “Someone like me doesn’t belong in there. I’ll meet up with a few of my old mates from the military academy, but I’ll be checking in on you.”
I smiled. “Because Captain Mydina will ream your ass otherwise?”
“No,” he replied with a smile of his own, “because you are the North’s last hope.”
His words weighed on my heart as he released my hand. The doors swung open and candlelight flowed out into the evening. His eyes flicked toward the doors. “I would wish you luck, but you don’t need it—I’ve seen how well you can dance.”
I turned from Brandt and chewed on my tongue as I stared at the open palace doors. Duke Hyton was inside…but so were the answers that would lead to Riyan’s freedom.
I could not waste a second more. I picked up my skirt with shaking hands and ascended the first step.
The sounds of cackling laughter and swirling music drew me in, making each step feel lighter and lighter. Fragrant perfume tickled my nose. I could nearly taste the sweet wine on the cold edge of a silver goblet.
The promise of the dazzling spectacle within was almost intoxicating.
My slippers met the marble floor of the foyer. The palace doors closed behind me, sealing me inside.
My heart beat faster as I stepped through the foyer and into the halls. I passed a large tapestry of Fraleigh wielding her green and golden flames as the soldiers of the Sudrian empire begged on their knees for mercy.
Fraleigh had defeated the largest army in the continent yet was still trapped with the Hytons. The famous battle happened centuries ago, but it still made no sense.
The din of chatter and revelry grew louder and louder. A few nobles lingered in the hall outside the doors to the palace ballroom. Their eyes snagged on my crimson dress before they turned to their companions. Their lip paint crinkled and their teeth gleamed as whispers filled the air.
“The half giant did not eat her after all!”
“Do you think she consummated her marriage?”
“Of course not! She is still walking!”
I swallowed the bitter words that my white flame tried to push out my throat. Two servants in Hyton Blue livery each opened a door with a gloved hand and welcomed me inside the ballroom.
A lively violin tune bounced off the marble columns around the room. Starlight streamed in through the tall windows. The candles in the iron chandeliers were ablaze beneath the mural of prancing bulls on the domed ceiling. A rainbow of House colors swirled on the black and white tiles of the dance floor.
My stomach turned when I spotted Duke Hyton. He was sitting on his throne with a golden goblet in his hand.
I tore my eyes away from him and scanned the crowd for any sign of the tall man with hair like snow under the midday sun—General Hyton.
He was the only person in the Dukedom with knowledge of his mother and his son. He was not too keen with me the last time we spoke, but maybe I could find a way to loosen his tongue. If General Hyton gave me the right information, I could escape Hyton long before the moon fattened in the sky.
No sign of the General, but a smile flicked up my lips as I watched the dancing feet and flaring skirts in the center of the ballroom. It was a cadleigh dance. We had practiced them in school, but I had never seen a real one before.
So many colors. So many smiles.
“Sera!”
Sharp hands grabbed mine and I looked up. Annalisa.
“You came back!” she squealed. She wore a white dress draped with a Thornebow grey overskirt and had pulled her blonde curls into a knot on the back of her head.
I flicked my eyes to the dancing men and women. “Surprised to see you are not in the middle of it all.”
She shrugged. “I was actually sneaking out when I saw you.”
Annalisa sneaking out of a party? That did not sound like her at all. “Really?”
“Nothing is lonelier than a room full of people.” She flashed a smile and tugged on my hands, pulling me deeper into the ballroom.
My stomach twisted. I was there to find the General, not dance in front of everyone!
“Would you young ladies like some refreshment?”
We turned our heads. A balding man held two tiny glass cups in his fingers. I took a quick note of his yellow cape and the golden pin of a deer that held it closed—Baron Amberfield.
Annalisa accepted a cup and peered at the clear liquid that filled the glass. “What is it, Uncle Thorin?”
“Faerie wine, perfect for you fawns just starting out.” Baron Amberfield gave me a wink. “Gentle stuff, just do not overdo it.”
I took the tiny glass and held back a recoil. Faerie wine did not smell gentle.
Baron Amberfield laughed. “Do not taste it! Just swallow.”
I glanced at Annalisa. She gave the drink a considering look before she knocked back the glass and gulped it down.
I looked at my own glass. The firelight refracted off the cut glass edges and made the clear drink glimmer. I had no time to waste, but if I refused a drink from a Baron, I could look suspicious.
With a flick of my wrist, I dumped the prickling cold liquid down my throat. I forced myself to swallow and discarded the glass.
Annalisa laughed and grabbed my hands. “Come on! We have to dance!”
Before I could protest, Annalisa pulled me to the dance floor. She deposited me on one side before rushing to the other. A man and a woman grabbed my hands and I looked down, trying to remember the steps to the dance. Just as I got the rhythm, a man thrust me across the black and white tile as people threaded themselves from one side to the other like laces on a bodice.
Little glasses of faerie wine appeared in my hand any time it was free. I tossed glances over to Annalisa on the other side of the line, only downing a drink each time she did.
Had to make sure I did not “overdo it,” whatever that meant.
I spun around with a beautiful woman wearing a purple dress and let myself smile. I had no idea my first night in the palace would be so fun!
A man yanked me into another group before he was supposed to and I accidentally stepped on his toes.
“Just relax, Madame Bloodstone!” said my partner.
Another man took my hand and spun me around. “I can help her relax.”
Suddenly a pair of lips mashed against mine.
My heart stopped. The man pulled away and I blinked as I recognized him. Gerond Pebblebrooke, Camille’s husband. He just…kissed me?
He released my hand to another man in the group, but I deserved an explanation. “The hell—?”
I caught a flash of red hair in the side of my vision before another kiss crashed against my lips. I yanked my hands out of his hold and pushed against his chest.
It was Myles Amberfield, Dinah’s husband.
He laughed. “Calm down, you act like I bit you!”
Those two married my classmates and thought they could just kiss me?
Just as I was about to slap Myles, Gerond grabbed my wrists and forced me to keep dancing. “Do you not know? You kiss all the brides in your Selection class for good luck!”
Myles took my hands and spun me. “Just to make sure you have no hard feelings.”
“Because we did not marry you,” Gerond added.
I furrowed my brows. If anyone had hard feelings, it was them for not getting to choose a bride first.
“We had to land one on you while the half giant was gone,” Myles said as he danced. “We just have Lady Hyton left.”
Gerond shoved me across the dance floor to the other side of the line. A woman caught me and weaved me into her group, but my head spun.
Gerond and Myles kissed me. Lady Hyton was next. Lady Hyton was…
Brietta.
I caught a glimpse of auburn hair on the other side of the ballroom. Brietta wore a golden diadem and Hyton Blue fabric that cascaded from her shoulders. She walked behind the line of dancers, her head higher than anyone else’s in the crowd. Her brown eyes met mine right before someone threw me into another spin.
My throat went dry. I had not expected to see her so soon after entering the palace. I did not even reply to her last letter because I was so angry with her for consummating her marriage with Derrick when we had agreed to annulments.
Though after the Man of the Mountain had shown me what had really happened…the magical pull of the blood bond must have overtaken Brietta and Derrick. They did not have a choice.
But I could not take back what I had screamed at her when I was blinded by rage. Our friendship was over, I just had to manage the situation the best I could.
During the carriage ride, I rehearsed the inevitable meeting with my former best friend. I would keep it cordial, letting Brietta think I was no threat and hopefully she would stay out of my way.
I moved further and further down the lines of people as I danced. The violin music grew louder. Brietta followed me, her brown eyes never moving away from me.
Pale yellow curls and a large golden crown appeared at Brietta’s side before I spun again.
What was Duchess Hyton doing talking to Brietta?
The ballroom swirled around me as my feet found purchase on one of the white tiles. My hands were free. My legs were still. I had finished the dance!
I could have run to the beginning of the line to begin again like I was supposed to, but the notes of the violin traced my ears and held me still. I turned toward the music and found the man playing the lively tune.
Tall. A golden coronet atop his dark curls. A Hyton Blue cape down his back.
Derrick.
His eyes were closed as he played. I stepped closer and my chest warmed. Maybe the faerie wine was hitting me.
Derrick took in a breath and his dark lashes fluttered open. He caught sight of the hem of my crimson dress and his beautiful blue eyes snapped up to my face.
He lowered his violin as his smile slowly grew. “Finally, a wish that came true.”
His hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing against my jaw. Heat flooded my cheeks and I could not breathe. A tiny speck of warmth in my heart blinked to life.
Oh, the wine really was hitting me.
Before I could take a breath, someone crashed into me and I fell to the floor. Warm liquid ran down the front of my chest and soaked my belly. I pressed my hand against the wet spot and withdrew it—my palm was stained red.
I froze. Had someone stabbed me? Did I reveal myself as a sorceress? Was I about to be dragged away in chains?
“My, how clumsy of me!” said a familiar voice.
I tore my eyes away from my red palm and looked up. Duchess Hyton stood above me with an upturned golden goblet in her hand. A drop of deep red wine dripped from the goblet’s rim onto my skirt.
I let out a small sigh of relief. Just wine. Just an accident. No one had discovered my secret.
Derrick knelt to help me up, but Duchess Hyton grabbed me by the elbow and hauled me to my feet.
Her blue eyes raked over my dress. “Oh dear, what a mess. We need to get you cleaned up right away.”
“Mama—” Derrick protested, but Duchess Hyton waved him off.
“Hush.” She started to pull me away and looked over her shoulder. “Keep playing, lest your damn father think I caused a scene.”
Before I could help it, I flicked my eyes up to the dais. Duke Hyton was looking right at us and rising from his throne.
Shit, no! I needed to look innocent, needed to hide, needed…
I turned back to Derrick, silently begging him to keep his father away.
Derrick looked from his mother to me.“But—”
“ Perform, ” Duchess Hyton hissed across her teeth. “You know your role.”
A few voices rang out, demanding that the music return. Derrick swallowed his words as his mother dragged me off the dance floor. His eyes did not leave me as he lifted his violin to his shoulder again. Derrick grew smaller and smaller until he had completely disappeared in the crowd.
As soon as my eyes left Derrick’s, my stomach knotted. Duchess Hyton pulled on my arm with more insistence than just someone wanting to clean a dress. Her feet hit the tile too strongly for her to be pulling some drunken antic.
Duchess Hyton was not escorting me, she was taking me.