“Most of it’s for show. The important opinions come from within the council. And most of the council is royal anyways.”
“Seems so fair.”
“It’s not fair, it’s politics. Come here. Let’s dance before people have too much to drink and begin swarming with terrible bloody suggestions.”
Avery giggled. Mason was managing an overly sophisticated voice for the attitude that waited underneath. She barely paid attention when he guided her to the center of the floor. They were far from the only ones out there, but she still managed to feel completely alone.
The music was slow and the dance mainly swaying. The greatest difficulty was the height difference and the five-inch heels that were intended to make up for it. She took every step deliberately and slowly. It wasn’t apparent how much energy she’d burned from her utter focus until the song ended.
Mason pulled back an inch and stole Avery from her daze.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just asked if I may cut in.” It wasn’t Mason’s voice that answered her. She pivoted to see Stern standing beside them. Mason left without a word and she stepped in with Stern.
“Don’t be so nervous,” Stern beckoned. “I’m just an old man.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just...” Getting used to everything? She’d said that a dozen times this night. It didn’t matter too much. The music increased and she focused on her steps again. Stern only chatted lightly. The same questions people always gave her. Do you like the capitol? How are you and Mason?
“I was simply concerned that I may have come off harshly before. I am still your biggest advocate here,” Stern explained just as the song ended.
“Thank you. Again.” She backed up and glanced around the room for Mason. He’d been right about the timing. The crowd swayed more, spoke louder, and the hand motions increased drastically.
“He’s probably just been caught up with royal affairs. Would you like to join us outside? It’s emptier. Less stuffy.”
Finding no way to say no, Avery followed him out. He hadn’t lied. On the outside was balcony with an overhang that faced the ocean. Though not as massive as the one by the council’s headquarters, it was comfortably empty. The Guard was posted almost unnoticeably just off the balcony. Only five other people stood out on the patio, old men like Stern, and they all raised their glasses to cheer at his appearance.
“Good lads! Good lads!” Stern cheered back. “I’d like to introduce you to the lady of the hour. This is Avery.”
He didn’t give context, but apparently clearly didn’t need to because all of the men watched her as though they already knew. How much they knew though, Avery wasn’t certain. Nervously folding her arms, she drew the shawl over the Willow tattoo as much as she could. The surface makeup she’d applied would wear off eventually.
“This is Alberto, my brother. Alan, his son. Dustin and Dean from our two other, and very precious, royal families.” Stern introduced by name. Avery tried to commit it to memory, but found herself stuck on the idea of just how many royal bloodlines there were. As Stern began lightly chatting, it became clear these men were council members also. Maybe even the ones who had sentenced her to death at last year.
“Avery! How do you like the island so far? Not getting cabin fever yet I hope!” Alan addressed her with a question she could answer.
“No, not yet.”
“If you ever do, I have quite the wonderful vacation island you should visit. I bet it’d be a nice break to get away from Prince Mason and his chaos!” The man chuckled.
“Your island? Hardly.” Stern countered.
“Not all of us can own that Seamist Island of yours. Besides, I’m concerned about the girl. Even if you don’t wish to leave the island, I own quite a few wonderful resorts right up on the ocean side. Take a day, relax, clear your head.”
“Are you really trying to get me to relax or are you just trying to find a day for Mason to focus on his work?” Avery finally landed on a fairly witty comment. It made the old harpies laugh.
“Maybe both my dear. Maybe both.” Alan commented.
They went on chatting about islands. Avery took a step back, no longer willing to be on her toes and in the center of such a conversation. She backed up and spared a glance inside. A few harpies were still staring—goggling her way with smiles and blushing faces. They at least stayed contained. She finally spotted Mason who stood just off from the inside doors. He was engaged in conversations with another harpie, but judging his body movements, she could intervene without being rude. She grasped the golden door handle when Dean slid up to her side.
“I’m glad I finally got to meet you. It was nice to put a face to the legend,” he said smoothly.
“I’m no legend…” She waited a moment. This council had been so unsure of her. Maybe talking to them, as briefly as it was, had helped her reputation. “I’m glad I was able to speak with you. I hope you don’t believe I’m a legend. I hope you don’t find the rumors to be true.”
Dean shook his head, his smile disturbingly bright.
“No, my dear. We are not afraid of you anymore. We’re always cautious. But we are not afraid.”
Sixteen
The sun beamed through the curtains in her window long before she rolled out of bed and only then because the bed had grown too hot to ignore. Avery winced when her aching feet touched the ground—an anomaly that only came from five inch heels—and led her to the shower. Evelyn hadn’t showed up with any early morning wake up calls again. But after last night, Avery wasn’t even sure she would have awoken anyways.
Her stomach churned with a deafening groan by the time she opened the door.
“Good morning.” Leon took a step back across the hallway. He didn’t wear a smile, like always, but something else shadowed his face. She wondered if he was finally getting sick of being her body-guard. It couldn’t have been pleasant considering he was in an elite force assigned to protect the royals. Avery tried to give him the brightest smile she could.
“Good morning! Would you like to get breakfast with me?” It wasn’t exactly an invitation. She’d already begin trekking down the hall and letting him trail after.
“How did last night go?” Leon asked by the time they reached the kitchen. He stayed one foot back, making the conversation awkward. Something told Avery that he wasn’t exactly going to sit at the table with her either.
She pushed the door open and held it. Leon had helped her discover this fully-stocked kitchen almost a week ago, and though she hadn’t completely settled in, she had become used to it. Unlike the fully serviced diners and restaurants that made up the rest of the harpie island, this kitchen was just that—a kitchen for all the people who worked or lived here. On top of three fridges stocked with food for the taking, someone always put out fresh fruit and oatmeal in the morning. The scent of freshly brewed coffee enveloped the area and made her stomach churn again. Once she cleared the entrance, Avery found herself hovering. The usually empty place had all ten of its tables filled. Well over twenty sets of eyes shot up when she entered.
“People are here for the commencement ball and speech,” Leon reminded her but she was lucky she even heard him. The room had burst into whispers immediately. She couldn’t pinpoint exact words but didn’t try to. Avery graduated high school and yet still knew what it was like to be the center of conversation.
Face flushing and abruptly uncomfortable, she turned her attention to the food bar. Leon stayed on her tail.
“How did last night go?” he parroted his earlier, unanswered question, with some persistence.
“It was fine. No one really talked to me and those who did seemed cool.” She plopped a bagel on her plate, but only found jelly and no cream cheese.
Behind her, the voices died down a few notches in volume. Avery tried to calm her heart. She’d been through this same thing last night. Everyone just wanted to see her. Curious, talk of the town—all things Evelyn had said. But she couldn’t help regretting her infor
mal attire and the sleep-ridden, glazed eyes.
“If you think it went well, then it probably went well. It’s better than feeling as if it went poorly.”
“I never knew you to be the pep talk type,” Avery commented with a grin. She snatched a bottle of orange juice and whirled to find them a table. Before she got the chance to consider having to eat in her room, or even doing an awkward hover in the corner, the table closest stood up. The couple brushed by her with downward stares and expressionless faces. Avery could hear the woman snort just as they cleared the doorway.
Letting out another practiced breath, Avery dropped down into the table they had abandoned. Along with crumbs and an empty plate, they had abandoned their newspaper too. Fingers eager to move and mind subtly curious, Avery slid it over the table towards her.
“You should remember how you thought it went. Don’t let others interpret it for you. Many who talk were not there,” Leon had continued as if he hadn’t missed a beat.
“What do you mean? Okay, seriously. What’s going on with the wise words?”
He said nothing and his chin titled downward. Like she’d assumed, he wouldn’t sit but hovered over her shoulder. Avery’s attention suddenly shifted down to the newspaper in her lap. The headline was printed in massive black and white letters.
“You’re kidding me.”
Blood going cold, she knew that there was no joke about it. She read the outline aloud.
“Drunk and outrageous human? Humiliates Prince?”
Before Leon could respond, her head shot up. The other harpies in the room were still staring, but this time more blatantly than before. And they whispered to each other—vicious hissing that by the mere sound alone couldn’t have been pleasant. Avery froze. Her mouth gaped open and shut a few times, but she found herself unable to think of a single thing to say.
Leon’s hand came down on her shoulder so hard that she flinched.
“I don’t think you’ve been formally introduced. This is court life.” He looked almost apologetic.
Her eyes burned. She didn’t swat at her face, refusing to show the possibility of tears. The news had hit her surprisingly hard, but she knew why. This was what Mason was worried about. This was what was going to happen all along. It didn’t matter how hard she tried, how nice she was, or how well she dressed up. But then the sentiment that she could do nothing about it didn’t make her feel better either.
“What happens? What do I do?”
“Honestly, Ms. Avery. People will say what they wish. You’re here for our Majesty, not for his press.”
“Cute.” The bitterness slid into her voice hard. “I’m glad that I’m just a terrible influence that is stumbling all over.” She slapped the paper down and met the eyes of the harpies who still stared. They didn’t back down, called out on it, but gave her terrible scowls to match. That only made it worse.
“Perhaps you should retire to your room. You’ll have some time to rest before you must meet with Mason.”
“Mason?” She perked up and turned toward the only harpie in the room who wasn’t sending out death glares. “What does he want? I’ll go see him now.”
She didn’t need extra time to rest. She’d just woken up. And being around more friendly faces would help.
“He wishes you to meet with the doctor again, I believe. But I know he will also be there.” Leon flicked his wrist and presumably glanced at his watch. His step back to clear Avery’s chair was an indicator, and she shot to a stand. Dumping out the rest of her food, she paced down the corridors in silence. Only when she reached the room and spotted Mason in the hall did she speak up.
“Hey!” she called.
He stood with Stern and the old harpie gave her a flat look before leaving with a last word to Mason. Stern may or may not have read the paper. That attitude was just Stern.
“Come with me, I have someone I wish you to meet. Your services are no longer required.” Overly formal, he directed the last part to Leon, before seizing the side of her arm. Mason was stiff as they headed into a study.
“Sit down,” he directed her again.
Reluctant, Avery plopped down into the nearest arm chair. The cushions sunk in before she even had the chance to slouch. Mason stood, posted at the other wall. He faced the room but it remained clear his mind dwindled on other things. Avery wanted to call him on it. He’d seen the papers. But she found no way to do it before the door opened again.
The doctor entered, more slouched over and much slower than he’d been last time.
“Avery, this is the doctor,” Mason finally spoke to her.
“Yea, we’ve met.”
The doctor huffed and perched in the chair across from hers. Before he could even gesture, Avery already lifted her arm. He stared at the tattoo for a moment without a word. Then he went for a blue notebook in his briefcase.
“Be polite. He is most loyal to my father and the only one I could entrust with such a delicate task.”
She shot Mason a look. He was admonishing her now? The doctor interjected before the air in the room could become any heavier.
“I think I’ve figured out some answers. Honestly, I’d assumed before but I needed this girl to put the last piece in the puzzle. The Willow magic is not acting up. Because this is not the Willow magic.”
“What?” Avery asked.
The doctor flipped his notebook over to show a map of numbers connected and shaded in by black ink. The image was incomprehensible as the writing was so chaotic.
“Taken from Jericho’s diary. The Willow magic is nothing pure or simple. It was a concoction held together by organic substance—blood.”
This she knew. Avery nodded eagerly, forgetting that Mason was even in the room.
“The Willow was the first of its kind. Extremely powerful. And it seems too powerful to exist. This is not what had happened to our old king Mikhail. This is the Willow magic compound becoming unstable. And breaking down into its original formula. Hence, this is not the Willow magic.”
Eva’s words suddenly echoed in her head clear as day. It’s decaying. Avery had taken enough of chemistry to understand compounds breaking apart from instability. But what she didn’t understand, she voiced immediately.
“But how is it still working then? Eva was still using it.”
The doctor gave her a dull look.
“Unstable over time. It’s time that’s the ultimate factor, not usage. Although I suspect more usage of the magic will encourage it to break down quickly. Eva had a stronger less stable magic. She’d nearly caught up to you, the one who’s had it the longest. The decay has already begun. The Willow magic you feel you can use is just a shadow of its former self. And sometimes you’re even using the elements of magic in the purest forms.
“Now I suspect you may have figured out that which leaves us questioning. If the magic is decaying, what danger does that pose to you? I initially suspected that without the binding organic aspect, the compound would break down and escape your form. As I’ve seen when studying Eva and you, this is not the case. The decaying compound will sit and rot until the individual unstable elements wreak havoc with the host.”
Mason shifted back into the conversation with a low voice and a dark sentiment.
“Unstable elements that could kill, correct? Don’t sugar coat it.”
Sugar coating wasn’t necessary. The doctor had already dropped the information like a sledge hammer and by the time it caught up to Avery’s brain, her head was already reeling.
“Unless we find a way to stabilize the magical elements, it could, in fact, be fatal. But I do know the warning signs. Girl, tell me now. Do you have any pain? Trouble with eyesight? Walking? Unexplained headaches or sudden chest pain?”
“Uh, no no and no?”
“Avery, don’t under exaggerate. You know you have some of those. I’ve seen you in pain,” Mason snapped. If it wasn’t for the undertone of concern in his voice, she would have been more offended by it.
It was true
that she was a bit off lately, but she was always a bit off. A little dizziness, tiredness, and confusion could have been caused by a number of things.
“Well if I am correct, you needn’t worry until the pain becomes incessant. It won’t come and go. It won’t let up. It’ll just get worse and more painful in a short amount of time.”
“What happens then?” Avery beat Mason to the question, but their voices rang at the same time. “What do we do if that happens?” Mason seconded.
“Honestly boys and girls, it means almost certain death. Those symptoms will start as agony. A pain in your chest. The inability to walk is when your body begins diverting energy from your muscles. Confusion, vision loss, selective deafness. Your organs may begin shutting down. The elements of the magic need to be stabilized.”
Windswept (The Airborne Saga) Page 13