by Lea Doué
Vanda smiled and ducked her head as if unaccustomed to receiving praise.
“This has to be a record number of red gowns in one room,” Neylan observed.
“Indeed,” Baz said. He crumbled a piece of toast on his plate as he spoke. “There would be even more if we filled the place to capacity.”
Vanda absently pushed Baz’s stray crumbs into a pile with her finger.
“Well, you didn’t want to overwhelm Keir, did you?” Neylan said, trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice. The other ladies were entirely unnecessary, but she couldn’t blame Baz for wanting a plan to fall back on. “And Vanda gets a chance to get her feet wet as a hostess.”
“I feel like I’ve gotten more than my feet wet.”
“Has Keir showed partiality towards any of the young ladies?” Neylan felt obligated to ask, since they’d gone to so much trouble.
“Just you,” Mel answered, as she and Orin joined them. Jade and Hunter rode on their shoulders.
Neylan hadn’t noticed until then that Vanda’s Fleet was missing.
“Keir hasn’t taken the time to get to know any of the others,” Orin added.
A maid set down two more heaping plates of food. Neylan hid a grin behind her hand. Wedding jitters hadn’t affected her sister’s appetite.
“Are you sure no one knows the real reason behind the celebrations?”
Baz brushed crumbs from his fingers. “Two advisers and a handful of trusted guards. No one else knows anything, including the fact that Keir is still transforming at night. They think the whole curse ended when the barrier came down.”
Neylan finished eating while the others chatted quietly about details for Mel’s wedding in a few days and for the series of three balls they’d planned to take place afterwards. She’d understood there would be other ladies unknowingly vying for Keir’s attention, but she hadn’t expected them to be a problem.
Were they a problem? Had Keir developed feelings for someone else without even knowing it himself? Was that why she hadn’t been able to break his curse? If only she could talk to Gram soon.
Everyone had stopped speaking. How long had they been looking at her? “I’m sorry. Did I miss a question?”
“Nothing new,” Mel mumbled with a grin as she fed Jade a strawberry.
“That’s all right,” Vanda said. “I was wondering, after you saw Keir for the first time last night, if you thought he would be up for attending the balls the entire evening.”
“The entire evening?” Neylan frowned. “I thought you were starting early so he could at least attend for a couple of hours. He’ll have to leave before dark.”
Vanda glanced at Baz. “Keir didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
Before she could answer, a maid shuffled forward and handed Baz a note, which he scanned. “If you’ll excuse me, it seems I’m late for a meeting.” He kissed Vanda on the cheek and hurried from the hall.
Vanda turned back to Neylan. “I assumed Keir told you last night. Gram has recently worked out a… trick… that will unravel the curse long enough for him to stay human all night. They’ve been practicing.”
Neylan pushed her plate away and crossed her arms, intensely curious about such a powerful trick but hesitant to ask outright. “And you want to know if I think he can handle it?” The image of Keir’s transformation came back to her. “He seems strong, but he’s been under this curse for over half a year.”
Vanda nodded, as if she’d expected that answer.
“He doesn’t want anyone knowing about any of this for personal reasons, but also for Baz’s sake,” Orin said. “Things are difficult enough since Baz forced his father into retirement last summer. Most people were only beginning to suspect the old king’s instability, and Keir doesn’t want to turn people away from forming or strengthening ties with the new king. Not to mention running off all the ladies.”
She’d like to run off all the ladies herself. But… if it turned out Keir wanted one of them, she should honor his wishes. Her stomach burned at the thought of one of the red-gowned women on his arm.
Hunter squawked for a bite of food, which drew frowns and raised eyebrows from nearby tables. Orin stuffed half a piece of toast into his dragon’s mouth.
Mel continued. “Keir thinks it’s best if people keep believing that Baz’s father was responsible for bringing about the original curse, and that Baz helped completely end it.”
“And Baz agrees with that?” It seemed wrong that Keir couldn’t tell people the truth. It wasn’t outright deceitful, but it wasn’t open, either. Hardly the best way to build a relationship with anyone.
Mel shrugged.
“Baz relies heavily on Keir’s counsel,” Vanda said. “He also understands Keir not wanting people to look at him with fear or pity like they did before the curse was broken for the rest of us.” She smiled sadly. “Despite your fondness for dragons, most people are uncomfortable or outright terrified around the larger species—even the harmless ones. And Keir’s dragon form is enormous.”
Indeed. Yet Gram was able to suppress his transformation into that form, and she wasn’t even a fully trained sorceress. What other surprises was she hiding?
Orin’s eyes widened in alarm at something behind Mel.
Mel turned around. “Mara! There you are!”
Mara marched up, hands on hips. She nodded to acknowledge Vanda and Neylan, but then addressed her twin. “Don’t act like you haven’t been avoiding me. And you, too.” She turned to Orin.
He hunched his shoulders and stroked Hunter, who looked ready to pounce on Mara.
Not the least bit intimidated, Mara continued. “There will not be dragons at the wedding. Do you understand? Even Neylan will agree with me.”
Neylan held up her hands in surrender. This was Mel’s battle, not hers.
“I’m not sure what you heard,” Mel said, standing, “but let’s discuss this somewhere more private, why don’t we? You’re riling up the dragons.”
Orin followed her lead, and the three of them left the dining hall, with Mara mumbling about “spoiled dragons” and “what would Mother say?”
Neylan looked at Vanda, and the two of them laughed quietly. Mel would have dragons at her wedding, no matter what Mara said.
Neylan took a sip of tea. “I know you’ll be extra busy until the celebrations are over, but I brought a few books for you to study that might help with understanding your new role. I’ll send them over and then we can discuss any questions you have.”
“Thank you. I might need help if there are any big words, but Mel’s been a good teacher.”
Neylan raised an eyebrow. Mel wasn’t known for her patience when it came to helping her sisters in their lessons back home.
“No, seriously,” Vanda said with a grin. “She’s a good teacher… when she can sit down long enough. I’ve been grateful for her help. I still have to remind myself not to curtsy to everyone. Baz has a lot on his shoulders, but he’s trying to make things as easy as he can for me. I have other tutors, as well, when time permits, but I find them intimidating. I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, but I’m not a courtier.”
“You and Baz are learning together.”
“I suppose we are.” She paused, a thoughtful look entering her eyes. “He feels responsible for Keir’s curse. He’s worried about his friend. We both are, but we’re also preoccupied with hosting and dragon-raising and so many other things. I’m glad you’re finally here.”
“So am I.”
A smile flashed across Vanda’s face. “Mel thinks Keir has already fallen for you, but I’m not so sure yet. He was hoping for an easy solution, and you seem to fit the guidelines for a red dragon girl. But things don’t always work out the way we plan.”
Neylan frowned. If Vanda were correct, it would explain why Keir had transformed during the garden party. Was he simply trying to convince himself… and her… that she was the one?
That kiss had been pretty convincing.
Neylan bit her lip. He’d opened up with her plenty in his letters. Had no one considered that she’d already fallen for him? “I’ll take a page out of Gwen’s book and play matchmaker then, shall I?”
“He could use an ally, but don’t count yourself entirely out of the running.”
Oh, she wasn’t.
A few moments later, Keir approached their table, dressed less formally than the night before, in loose trousers tucked into black knee boots and a sleeveless tunic in charcoal grey. The crescent-shaped scars on his arms almost looked like netting from a distance. Wist perched on his shoulder, chewing dramatically, like whatever he’d gotten hold of was fighting back.
“He found me near the hothouse,” Keir said. He nudged Wist onto his finger and passed him to Neylan.
“What is he eating?”
Keir scratched his ear. “I think it’s a wasp.”
She grimaced and put Wist on her braid.
Vanda grinned when he plucked an orange petal from Neylan’s hair and stuffed it into his mouth with the insect.
“I had hoped to meet Gram today,” Neylan said. “Does she usually dine alone?”
“She’s always liked her privacy,” Vanda said. “And she sleeps a lot since practicing her new trick with Keir.”
“I saw her earlier,” Keir turned to Neylan. “I came to ask if you’d like a tour of the city. Perhaps we could go by the gardens first and see if she’s still there.”
*
After searching through the gardens for a quarter of an hour, Neylan and Keir gave up and headed to Gram’s rooms, but before they even reached the end of the hall, the door guard turned them away with a shake of his head. Keir turned back with a frown.
The guards at the palace gates were more accommodating, moving them along with agreeable nods.
The city of grey stones and hot springs spread out immediately beyond the palace walls, following the contours of the land. Keir led her along switch-backed streets, pointing out the library, picturesque bathhouses, statues, fountains, and other spots of interest. Other than playing tour guide, he was oddly silent.
Guessing his mood had something to do with his transformation the night before, she said, “Can we talk about what happened last night?”
He stopped and looked down at her, his hand half raised to point at a rustic mural painted on the side of a building. He lowered his arm. “You mean what didn’t happen.”
“All right. What didn’t happen. You said you saw Gram this morning. Were you able to speak with her?”
“About what?”
“What do you mean? We need to figure out why the curse wasn’t broken, and she might have some ideas.”
Confusion furrowed his brow. “What is there to figure out? You need more time, and I’ll wait as long as I have to.”
Her eyes widened incredulously. “More time? You think I need more time to figure out how I feel?”
He shrugged.
She put her hands on her hips. “Kiss me like you did last night and then tell me I need more time.”
“What?”
“I think you heard me.”
He glanced around. “But, we’re in the middle of the city…”
“You don’t want to kiss me?”
His jaw clenched, and his voice became more gravelly. “You have no idea—”
She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him in front of all the street vendors and townsfolk.
Wist chirped from his spot on her braid and tapped her ear.
She stepped back, Keir’s hands still on her waist, and said breathlessly, “Still think I need more time?”
Wist chirped again and yanked on her hair.
Keir’s expression was caught between amazement and confusion. “Is he all right?”
She sniffed the air. “He smells sweet rolls.”
A grin lit Keir’s face. “Well, let’s not disappoint the little fellow. The stand is just up the street.” He took her hand, unspoken words in the tightness of his grip, and led the way.
A few minutes later, they sat on a stone bench in the shade of a pale lavender wisteria dripping with long clusters of flowers. Wist balanced on Neylan’s knee with one fist clasped around a morsel of sweet bun and one clasped around a trio of tiny blooms. He alternated biting into each treat until he’d devoured every scrap. With a burp, he flew off into the branches and began licking his toes.
“He really isn’t discriminating when it comes to food, is he?”
“Not at all, but sometimes he proves to have good taste.” She tore off a chunk of the sticky roll and stuffed it into her mouth before handing Keir the remaining portion.
Keir took the roll and then dug a coin out of his belt pouch. Gaze trained on the alley across the street, he beckoned with his finger until a dusty boy appeared out of the shadows. “We’re too full to finish our lunch,” he said. “Perhaps you’d like to have the rest and get a few more to share at home?” He held out the offering, and the boy took it slowly, looking back and forth from Keir to Neylan.
“Thank you, dragon sir,” he whispered. “And dragon miss.” He bowed hastily, glanced at Wist in the tree, and then ran off into the alley.
His soft words had sounded more like a reverent title than the name-calling she’d grown accustomed to back home.
Keir was watching her. “I don’t suppose you ever get used to being called that, do you?”
She got the feeling he was talking about himself as much as her.
He grasped her hand. “Neylan… I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll speak to Gram as soon as I can. We’ll figure this out, like you said.”
She nodded.
“Will you save me the first dance at your sister’s wedding?”
“Of course.” The answer came to her lips before she had time to think about it. The first dance held some significance. Maybe the curse would recognize that, even if it had ignored the kiss.
Why was she thinking about the curse as if it were a sentient thing?
Wist glided to her shoulder and stood with his snout pointed towards the sky, watching as something approached fast.
“A messenger dragon,” Keir said, letting go of her hand. He stood and shaded his eyes. “Do you think it belongs to Mel or Vanda?”
The pale green dragon circled above their heads, far enough away not to collide with the tree. It finally swooped down as if to deliver a message, squawked in alarm, and then landed on the roof of the sweet bun stall and glared at them.
“That’s not Fleet or Jade.” Neylan stood beside him. “They wouldn’t be wary of approaching either of us.”
He looked at Wist, who stared at the messenger dragon with his chest puffed out as if daring it to approach. “Is it afraid of a little aconite dragon?”
She glanced at him. “I don’t think it’s Wist he’s worried about.”
Keir’s jaw tensed.
Most dragons would tolerate spelled items, which were few and far between, anyway, but sorcery and curses were another matter. “You carried Fleet and Jade in your dragon form while they were still eggs, so they’re used to you. And aconites are one of the few dragon species who couldn’t care less about sorcery, so it’s no surprise that Wist likes you.”
He crossed his arms. “You should go to him, then.”
She coaxed Wist from her shoulder and passed him to Keir. “Just in case our messenger turns out to be a wimp after all.”
A grin flickered across his lips.
When she approached the dragon, he hissed and spread his wings, eyes trained on Keir.
“Here, now. No one is hurting you, silly.” She held out her arm. “Come on and deliver your message.”
He flapped down and landed on her forearm, perching like a cat on a limb. After tucking his wings, he held out his back leg, which had a tin cylinder tied to it. She extracted a rolled-up scrap of
paper and a graphite stick for any reply.
Princess Neylan’s presence is requested at Master Jiri’s shop at her earliest convenience.
Her gown for Mel’s wedding must be ready to try on. She scribbled a note for Euna to meet her at the shop and tucked it into the tube.
“There you go. Back to the palace.” She stroked the dragon under the chin in thanks and then lifted her arm. He took off and made a beeline for the dragon’s rook, located in the tallest tower.
She returned to Keir and linked her arm with his. “Care to take me shopping?”
Chapter Three
“I give up,” Neylan said, after she and Keir passed the same bathhouse for the third time looking for Master Jiri’s shop. “He’s supposedly one of the oldest masters in the city, and you don’t know where he is?”
Keir shrugged. “I’ve never had need of a dressmaker.”
She pulled him to a stop in front of the bathhouse and asked the doorkeeper for directions.
“Master Jiri?” The woman tugged on her gold earring. “I thought he’d retired after his family… well, I suppose he’s rallied himself with all the ladies in town lately. Good for him.” She looked both Keir and Neylan up and down, her eyes lingering only a moment on Wist, and then she snapped her fingers. A young boy appeared in the doorway, and the doorkeeper instructed him to take Neylan anywhere she needed to go.
They found the shop on a tree-lined street, an unassuming building attached to a well-sized house. Neylan admired a beautiful but generic-looking dress in the window. Zared’s designs had already spoiled her.
A bell tinkled as they entered the shop. Dresses stood on display around the wood-paneled room, as well as bolts of fabric and ribbons, but there was nothing to indicate that something as beautiful as the rose petal gown from the garden party had been made there.
A matronly woman, just the type one would expect to run such a shop, sat sewing in a chair by the window. “Welcome, Your Highness. ‘Scuse me for not rising, if you please. Bad hip. Journeyman Zared will be with you in a moment.”