The soldiers moved into formation around Mara and escorted her to the royal box where the emperor and his wife waited. The emperor grinned at her, but Mara found the smile unsettling, rather than reassuring. She was still miffed that he hadn’t prepared her for the demonstration. Regardless, she sank into the expected curtsey and waited for him to address her first.
“Well done. Yes, I think you might be perfect.” The emperor nodded to himself, as if reassuring himself that he was right. He turned to his wife. “My love, do you agree?”
The empress’s narrowed gaze picked her apart. “With some work, yes. I believe you are correct.”
“Wonderful. I leave the necessary arrangements to you, My Love.” The emperor turned back to Mara. “Now, I’m sure you are tired after your demonstration. Retire to your rooms and rest for the remainder of the afternoon.”
“Your Grace, could we please talk about the threat to Stonehollow?” She’d passed his test, but she couldn’t help but feel as though they were wasting time. The emperor needed to mobilize forces to protect her town. She had hoped that the emperor would be open to helping her once she proved herself.
“My guards are handling the situation. I understand your concerns, but I’m sure you’ll find that this has been a misunderstanding. Head Magi Cadmus is an upstanding citizen who protects the interests of the crown.”
“But, sir—"
“I’ll hear no more on the subject. Now, go and rest. Surely your delicate female nature must recover after such a trying morning.” He turned and offered the crook of his arm to the empress.
Mara watched them exit the arena. She should revel in her victory, but all she could hear were the emperor’s words replaying in her mind.
Necessary arrangements for what?
20
“Miss, please hold still.”
“I don’t see why this is necessary. Why can’t I just wear my own clothes?” Mara pressed herself against her wardrobe, trying to put as much distance between her and the rabid lady’s maid as possible. She would have rushed out of the room already, but the elderly woman blocked her path with her feet apart and arms out as if she were facing a rabid bear. Tamil was completely useless. He sprawled out on her bed, lost in a fit of giggles at her predicament.
“It’s not proper.” The maid brushed a hair back from her face, like it was a crime if even a single strand fell out of place.
“Surely His Grace doesn’t care what I wear,” Mara said, trying to reason with her.
“It’s not up to the likes of me to question.” She put one hand on her hip while using the other to brandish the corset at Mara like a sword. “I’ll have you know that this is the latest fashion. Her Majesty specifically requested that you wear this to dinner tonight.”
Mara muttered under her breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” Mara replied, wide-eyed.
“Well, come on then, Poppet, we’ve no time to waste.” She clucked her tongue, using the corset to herd her to her private bath. “Don’t know what they were thinking. It will take hours just to tame this mess,” she said, yanking on a strand of hair.
After every inch of her body was scrubbed and polished, her hair braided, and her face painted, Mary, her lady’s maid planted her in front of an ornate mirror.
“You look positively scrumptious!” she declared.
Mara looked positively dreadful. Mary had woven ribbons into her braids, making her look like a child. Her cheeks were painted a deep red that stood out unnaturally against the white paint that had been slathered over her skin.
Later that evening, Mara waited in her room, struggling to breathe. She’d managed to convince the lady’s maid to not tighten the corset as much as she’d wanted, but that was a small victory. It was the only thing between suffocating and being able to take short, shallow breaths. The dress itself wasn’t terrible, Mara decided. The light pink fabric swirled around her curves, making her look shapelier than she really was.
A knock sounded on the door and Mara hurried to answer it. Ethan and Alex waited in the hallway.
Alex took one look at her and burst out laughing. Mara’s face flamed.
Ethan pursed his lips like he was struggling to find the words. “Wow, you look . . .”
“Terrifying,” Alex added helpfully. “Do you still have a face under all that?”
Mara raised her hand to her cheek but stopped before she touched her face. Mary had threatened bodily harm if Mara smudged her ‘masterpiece.’ She eyed their attire. “Wait a second . . . Why do I have to wear this, but you two still get to wear your robes?”
“Perks of being in the Order,” Alex said with a wink.
“Ugh, this is so unfair,” she grumbled.
Ethan cocked an eyebrow at her, and a smile tugged at his lips. “I’m sure Cadmus would love to hear that you changed your mind. Should we send a missive, perhaps?”
“On second thought, it’s not that unfair. This is fine. Who needs to breathe, right?”
“That’s what I thought. Shall we?”
Both men offered the crooks of their arms, and she slipped a hand through each of them. Tamil followed behind.
“Do you think they’ll let me taste the emperor’s food? Just to see if it’s poisoned?” Tamil asked, his eyes wide.
Ethan chuckled. “Probably not, but maybe we’ll buy some new poisons for you in the market? I hear the alchemy room here at the palace is filled with rare and unusual ingredients. I’m sure we can find something deadly that will strike fear into the hearts of your enemies.”
Tamil seem pleased by the thought.
They walked down endless halls and passed what seemed like hundreds of doors before they finally reached the dining hall. The room was half the size of the throne room with a crystal chandelier and hundreds of paintings that lined the walls. Dozens of tables and benches filled the space as servants milled around, refilling goblets and setting platters of roasted meats, fish, vegetables, and bread on the tables. Mara’s stomach growled.
The emperor, his cheeks already flushed from the wine, and his wife sat at a raised table. A blond-haired man sat next to the empress, slouching in his seat and picking at his food. Their son, perhaps? Or maybe an adviser?
Alex led them to the table where Oona and Ella waited, eying each other suspiciously. Both were trussed up in gowns and had their faces painted like Mara’s. Ethan pulled her chair out, and she settled into her seat, smoothing down her skirts.
Ethan sank into the seat next to her while Tamil took the other. Alex sat on the other side of Tamil.
Emperor Edgard stood from his chair, swaying slightly. He tapped the side of his glass with a knife. “Welcome to our celebratory feast! Please eat, drink, and make all the merry you’d like.”
A splattering of guffaws met his declaration while the empress flushed crimson.
“Change is upon us here in the great city of Merrowhaven, and with it, a greater, stronger, more powerful rule.” He hiccupped. “I foresee a more beneficial arrangement for everyone.”
From her vantage point, Mara could see the empress slip a subtle hand behind the emperor and tug on his tunic. The emperor plopped into his seat, waving his hand in a gesture that Mara took to mean, ‘carry on.’
Mara loaded her plate so full that the boys would have to roll her back to her room after she was done eating. After weeks of starvation at the hands of the Order, she would never take food for granted again.
Ella loaded her plate with roasted vegetables and greens. “So, how are you enjoying Merrowhaven so far?”
“It’s . . .” Mara paused to consider her words. “Different than what I expected.”
“Well, I think it’s fabulous.” Oona motioned to a servant to refill her goblet. “There’s so much culture! I wish they would have let me keep Zeke with me, though. I’m going to visit the aviary tomorrow to see how he’s doing.”
“Could you imagine if they let a hawk in here?” Ella clucked her tongue and reached f
or the bowl of spiced fruit. She popped a slice of apple in her mouth. “What next? All the Brutums would start crying that they deserve to bring their familiars to dinner, too. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’d be comfortable eating next to a bear or a lion.”
“Just the impression we need to make,” Mara said around a mouthful of roast beef that melted on her tongue. “Villager’s hawk terrorizes palace dinner and snatches a drumstick from the emperor’s hand.”
“Imagine the scandal!” Ella smirked. A servant offered her a slice of beef, but Ella waved it away.
Oona sniffed and brushed crumbs off her gown. “He’s far too well behaved for that.”
As the rest continued their good-natured banter, Mara leaned closer to Ethan and lowered her voice. “Any word on Cadmus?”
Ethan gave a subtle shake of his head. “Nothing. And I don’t think he’ll try anything yet, though it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. You’ll be safest inside the palace walls, but if you go anywhere, take an escort.”
“Sounds like I’m still a glorified prisoner.”
“The difference is that you are free to come and go; you’re just choosing to make the right decision by staying put.”
Mara swallowed and schooled her features. She wasn’t planning to stay put, but Ethan didn’t need to know that.
“What’s wrong?”
Mara pushed her food around her plate with her fork and sighed. “I guess I still don’t understand why I’m here. One Gifted can’t be that valuable when the emperor has an army of talented Gifted at his disposal. So why did he go to the trouble of bringing me here?”
The group turned to stare at her. Apparently, Mara was louder than she realized. Alex and Ella exchanged a long look across the table.
“It’s complicated,” Ella said. She paused to take a sip of her drink. “Emperor Edgard was never meant to take the throne. He was the youngest of four children, all far more qualified than him to rule. But he was ambitious.”
Eyes wide, Mara glanced around the room. What Ella said was treasonous. Had anyone overheard? Thankfully, their conversation was drowned out by the loud chatter, laughter, and the scraping of utensils on plates.
“After the former emperor died, the Head Magi traveled to Merrowhaven to pay his respects and to meet with the new emperor. That week, all the emperor’s children, except for Edgard, died of a mysterious illness. There were whispers of foul play, but anyone caught spreading rumors was swiftly dealt with. In the end, the public accepted that the gods had punished the ruling family’s sins with a plague, leaving Edgard as the sole heir to the throne. In an effort to win the support of the people, he played on their belief that he was the gods’ chosen and built the Sacred Mile.”
“You think that Edgard hired Cadmus to murder the royal family?” Mara turned the question over in her mind. It had to be more than a coincidence that the entire family died during the Head Magi’s visit. And, if that were the case, it made sense that Edgard would turn a blind eye to his crimes. He owed his rule to Cadmus.
“I think that is a strong possibility, though, the Head Magi never liked to dirty his own hands.”
Mara turned to Ethan. “Is there a potion or elixir that could mimic a natural illness?”
He nodded, leaning back in his chair. “There are several.”
“This has been a fascinating history lesson, but how does it relate to Mara being here?” Alex asked. Mara did a doubletake at his plate, which had already been emptied and refilled twice.
“I’m getting to that. After the coronation, Edgard funneled his resources into keeping the upper class happy while neglecting the outer ring. What did it matter if the general populace suffered so long as his supporters—the ones filling his coffers—were content? Needless to say, it backfired. Things were bad a few years ago, and they’ve only gotten worse since then. There’s a growing unrest within the outer and middle rings, and talk that the emperor is too weak to rule. He’s tried to quash it with heavy taxes, curfews, and severe punishments, but nothing will stop them. That’s where you come in.” Ella spread her hands out and gestured to Mara.
“I’m still not following . . .”
“It’s simple. He’s trying to strengthen his position by surrounding himself with the strongest Gifted. If his people see an Impriga standing at the emperor’s side, they will start to see him as strong, too.”
“And if that fails, at least he’ll have some powerful bodyguards to protect him from the hoard of unruly citizens,” Alex added.
“Gee, Alex, way to make me feel better.” Mara pushed her plate away, losing her appetite. Her eyes slid to where two guards were helping the stumbling emperor to his feet. Was Ella right about the emperor’s reason for bringing her to Merrowhaven, or was there a different reason? One thing was certain—something more was happening in this city, and it was time for her to learn what it was.
21
Mara cracked open her door and pressed her eye to the gap. When she didn’t see anyone, she slipped into the hallway, carrying her boots in her hands. She only had a few minutes before everyone was due at breakfast, and she needed to be gone before they noticed her missing.
The maid had stocked her wardrobe with nothing but frilly gowns and dresses. After dinner last night, Mara had sent Tamil to find her some trousers and tunics that fit. Now, she wore an exceptionally soft pair of suede pants and a black tunic with brown stitching. Her hair was pulled back with a thong so it cascaded down her back. This is how she felt alive. Prepared. From childhood, people had tried to force her into their own version of Mara. How she should dress. How she should act. A part of her wished she could own her femininity like Oona did, wearing gowns like a weapon. But for her, it was impossible. She’d spent too many years of her life bending to expectations, and she was ready to carve her own identity.
She snuck through the hallway and down the stairs. The group had been in Merrowhaven for two days, and while she was grateful for the emperor’s protection, she needed to visit the dreg encampment. Patting her pocket where she kept her new Gifted identification, she couldn’t help but wonder if the emperor knew about her history? It didn’t seem fair that she lived in a palace while the dregs were freezing and starving outside the city walls.
Mara pulled a paper out of her pocket and glanced at the crude drawing. The inside of the palace was a veritable maze, and she was more likely to get lost than to actually find her way around. She turned right down another hallway, then left. When the front doors came into view, Mara breathed a sigh of relief. Why bother keeping a dungeon when they could just release criminals into the labyrinth of the palace, knowing they’d never find their way out.
Two guards, wearing the blue and white uniforms of the emperor, gave her a shallow bow and opened the door. Neither spoke to her or questioned her where she was going. Well, that was easy.
She stepped outside and glanced around, the morning air feeling crisp and cool on her skin. Where was Alex? He was supposed to meet her here. Ethan had suggested that she go nowhere without an escort, and while she would never admit it, he was right. She had no illusions that Cadmus would give up after his ambush in the ravine had failed. He wouldn’t stop until she was recaptured or dead.
“And where are you going?”
Mara groaned internally and turned to face Oona, who sat on the steps with a bowl of raw meat in her lap. Her falcon, Zeke, perched on her shoulder. “How did you find me?”
“I was visiting Zeke, and I saw you slinking around the castle. You should really work on your ‘I’m not doing anything suspicious’ look. Also, just a suggestion, but there are better ways to leave the palace if you don’t want to be seen.”
“I wasn’t slinking! And we’ve only been here two days. How do you know about other ways to leave the palace?”
“I have my ways.” Oona winked. She pulled a strip of meat from the bowl and fed it to Zeke who swallowed it whole.
“What’s going on here?” Ethan said, hurrying over to them, a
basket of bottles and dried herbs in his arms. His hair was disheveled, and something dark like ash or soot was smeared on his face. “Why was Mara sneaking around the hallways?”
“I wasn’t sneaking!”
Ethan raised an eyebrow. “You’re wearing the plainest clothes you could find, carrying your boots, and looking over your shoulder like you expected a disciple to jump out and grab you.”
Okay, maybe he had a point. Still, they were overreacting. “I’m just going to go visit the dreg encampment before training. That’s all.”
“You’re going to what? Traveling through the city is dangerous, Mara!” Ethan yelled, causing Mara to take a step back, eyes widening.
Yep, definitely overreacting. “I’m not going alone. Alex agreed to come with me and watch my back.”
Ethan’s eyes glittered dangerously. “You’re taking a Guardian to a dreg encampment.”
“Yes.”
“A Guardian,” Ethan repeated, his voice carrying an edge of disbelief.
“That’s what I said.”
“When some of the dregs out there have lost their Gifts to a Guardian. What could possibly go wrong?”
Mara winced. Yeah, it sounded bad when he put it like that. “Look, no one will know that he’s a Guardian.”
“How could they miss it?” Oona snorted.
“Miss what?” Alex asked as he walked toward them. He wore leggings and a long-sleeved brown tunic that concealed his tattoos. Without his Order robes, Alex looked like a common merchant.
“See?” Mara gestured to his clothing. They might have concerns, but they couldn’t argue with results. “It’s the perfect disguise! No one will know.”
Ethan pressed a palm to his face, rubbing his eyebrows as he groaned. “There’s no possible way we can talk you out of this?”
“Not a chance.” Mara’s grin widened. “But it’s adorable that you’re concerned about my safety and wellbeing.”
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