Chapter 35
Chapter
Thirty-Five
ARA
Having Tate in my home works better than I thought. Toward the end of our two days there, Ian even shows something like grudging respect for him. And I successfully dodge Ben’s questions by keeping Tate close, enjoying his company more than I should.
I enjoy everything about him more than I should. Don’t think about it , I tell myself while we descend over Avina.
We are three days early for the official start of the flight games. The others arrive today, too, giving us time to get comfortable and rest.
Our housing is close to the arena, and I'm very relieved that we won’t be staying at the palace. With Tate and me part of the flight, that's what I dreaded. But, well, we did replace Telos’s previous team, or maybe this is an effort to treat everyone equally. Whatever it is, I’m glad about it.
The city is even more bustling than the last time I visited, and the crowd is a colorful mix of people from all five realms.
Pale-faced warriors from Kystis with their long, braided hair and beards look like they don't know what to do with the balmy temperatures. Their traditional layered clothing and fur-lined jackets are too warm for this kind of weather.
There are people from Harea, their hair wrapped in colorful cloth, their thin and bright garments, in comparison a little too flimsy for the sometimes still cool season.
We descend, crossing the river, and something moves in it. It looks suspiciously like one of the water creatures I read about in books, and I wonder if someone from Ilyn brought it. The ships stay close to shore, avoiding its long scaly body as best as they can.
I have never seen so many flying creatures circling above the city.
Dark gray gargoyles defy every natural law by whizzing through the air despite their weight.
Beautiful winged horses, their coats gleaming in the sunlight, canter over the sky, and creatures looking like a mix of dragons and snakes wind through the air in arctic colors.
They have membranous wings and two legs, their bodies scaly and sinuous.
Hippogriffs, a peculiar mix of the winged horses and our birds, make up the fifth group of flying beasts, their feathered front blending with the sleek coat of their back, their clawed feet easily finding purchase on the roofs.
Despite all those creatures, the crowd stares in awe when Solaris arrives, blowing his ego out of proportion.
“I disagree,” he grumbles, and I chuckle. “It’s not my fault if I'm prettier than those things.” He sends me his view of one of the gargoyles, and I have to agree. They look scary, hideous even.
We set down in front of the building we will stay in for the next three weeks, and Solaris flares his flames, causing people to give us more room.
The building doesn’t look like a typical inn, more like the townhouse of some nobleman, built from light stone with big enchanted windows and a wrought-iron gate.
“Well then, let’s see if the others are already here.” Tate steps next to me, eyeing the building in front of us. After freeing our birds from bags and harnesses, they swoop up into the chaos above while we step into the building.
My earlier suspicion of this being a home is confirmed when I spot a family crest in the mosaic floor of the entrance hall.
Contrary to atriums, which are open to the sky, this room sports a glass cupola spanning it, combining light and protection from the much harsher elements up here in the north.
We hand over our things to the approaching servants before crossing the hall in search of the other members of our flight.
We find all of them gathered in a big dining room, occupying one of the three tables set up there. Mariel sits between Joel and Calix, and while laughing, leans into Joel in a way that has me grinning. Maybe I understand her questions about him and me now. I’ll have to needle her for details later.
Our friends greet us enthusiastically as soon as they spot us, and while we talk, joke, and eat, two other flights of skyriders enter the room, claiming the other two tables.
It turns out we share the house with the flights from Lar and Aldea. But since we have different training schedules, and every flight occupies a different floor, we have little contact apart from the meals.
Two days later, the girls and I are gathered in my room. Tomorrow is the official start of the flight games, and we spent the past two days training and getting comfortable in the new city.
But tonight there is a ball at the palace to start the festivities. While the rest of my flight buzzes with excitement, trepidation coils in my gut, and my hands are clammy.
Frederick, Tate, and I in a room of watchful eyes … with Ian and Dar.
“That sounds like the recipe for disaster,” Solaris agrees, and I grimace.
Sloan came with my brothers and is staying with us for a few days. I think my family hopes the festivities will distract her, but I’m not sure it’s working.
She’s quiet, and I’m not chatty either, but Mariel and Zaza make up for our silence.
Zaza looks stunning in a buttery yellow dress that glows against her skin, while Mariel went with a more subdued dark green, complementing her hair beautifully.
I close the door behind the maids Frederick sent and look down at the royal-blue gown I’m wearing, the one he picked. As if he wants to make sure I don't forget.
Mariel shakes her head at me when I turn back with a sigh. “Are you a princess and didn’t tell us about it?”
“No,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“But marrying the future king anyway,” Sloan teases, then stills and slaps a hand over her mouth.
“Really?” I stare at her, too glad over her teasing to be angry.
“Wait a minute,” Mariel butts in.
“You mean our future king? The handsome blond one?” Zaza asks.
“I thought you were promised to Tate’s brother?” Mariel finishes her thought, and Zaza’s eyes go wide while I hide behind my hands and groan.
“Yes,” I hiss. “And I would be absolutely delighted if you wouldn’t remind me.” Three pairs of wide eyes are trained on me when I peek out from behind my hands. “Any chance you forget about all of it, and we can talk about something else?” I ask.
“So our future king and Tate's brother are the same, which…” Mariel starts and pauses.
“…makes Tate the prince who abdicated,” I fill in her sentence. There is no use in denying it, anyway.
“The same prince she was betrothed to for half her life,” Sloane supplies.
“And the one she’s in love with.” Mariel continues.
“And how the fuck did I not know any of this?” Zaza jumps in.
“Because my life is enough of a damn mess without telling everyone about it,” I grumble.
“So tonight we're at a ball with two princes in attendance, who fight over your hand?” Zaza asks, glee in her voice.
I groan and bury my face in my hands again. “No. No one is fighting,” I disagree.
Mariel laughs. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.”
“And don't forget her overprotective brothers,” Sloane offers.
“So basically, we have a room full of testosterone, just waiting for the spark.” Mariel makes an explosion motion with her hands. “And that with Ara in the middle, who's so agreeable and doesn't enjoy riling people at all .”
“Well, shit, when you put it like that,” Zaza says. “Now I do understand why you didn't want to go.”
“Oh, do you now?” I ask dryly. “How about one of you kills me now and spares me the drama?”
“No can do, girl,” Zaza says. “We still need you for the flight games.”
“Well, isn't that comforting?” I quip. “Gods, I'm royally fucked.”
“Literally,” Sloane throws in, making everyone laugh.
I roll my eyes. “Thanks.”
But it's good to see a grin on Sloane's face. Her cheeks, for once, are back to their rosy color, matching her dress.
“If any of you breathe a word about this,” I threaten, slashing my finger across my throat.
Mariel makes a motion as if she seals her lips, and Zaza nods.
“I’m not telling anyone … else, I promise.” Sloan looks contrite. But somehow, them knowing what a shit show tonight might become helps a little.
Zaza raises her glass with pearling champagne. “To an unforgettable night, ladies, and three weeks of fun and glory.”
Sloan snorts, but Zaza only arches a brow. “Would you have preferred me to say to slaughter and gore?”
“Nah, your words sounded a lot better,” Mariel tells her. They both chuckle. I plaster a grin on my face as well, hoping the slaughtering part doesn’t start tonight.
We head down to meet the rest of our flight in the entrance hall, and the guys whistle when we come down the stairs.
“Well, look at that, our girls can knock out a man without touching him,” Jared comments, his eyes sweeping over us and stopping on Zaza’s form. I giggle when he taps Tate’s chin as if he has to close it.
I meet Tate’s eyes for a brief second before looking away. I'm pretty sure he can guess who picked the dress. There's no way he didn’t notice the color. And I dread his reaction.
Zaza laughs about something Tanner says while we walk to the two waiting carriages and then head to the palace together. I'm sharing a carriage with Sloan, Boko, Tate, Calix, and Mariel, while the others ride in the next.
Tate's eyes are on me the whole ride, but I avoid him by looking out at the nocturnal streets of Avina instead. The palace, lit by what has to be thousands of magical lights, slowly creeps closer, nerves ricocheting through my body like trapped fireflies, looking for an exit.
The cheering starts as soon as we set foot into the ballroom. It’s illuminated by the warm glow of magical lighting, which fills the chandeliers and reflects in the mirrors and dark windows. The darkness of the night is erased by the reflections.
The people moving around nearly swallow the smooth wooden flooring. Giving me hope that I’ll be able to hide among them.
But Belarra's nobles crowd us quickly, dashing that hope. Just what I need—even more attention. I sigh.