What is Hidden

by Skidmore, Lauren

  However, I was back at the problem of not being able to recognize him. I could only hope he’d do something foolish to draw attention to himself. Drop his guard somehow, or reveal what he was planning on doing and why he’d stolen those masks.

  I had a general description of the stolen masks, but no doubt he’d altered them to make that description worthless. If he still had all the materials he’d stolen from me, and I had no doubt that he did, even someone with zero skills in mask making or trimming could use what I’d already done to change the stolen masks.

  An hour or so after the majority of the guests had arrived, the king stood and motioned for everyone’s attention. The trumpets sounded a short call, and the Speaker stepped forward, to speak the king’s announcement.

  “On behalf of their royal majesties,” she said in her loud, clear voice, “we welcome you to our festivities tonight.”

  There was a gentle hum of polite clapping and excited murmurings.

  “As you may have noticed, their majesties the prince and princess are not accompanying their parents tonight. Her Majesty, the princess, is away and could not return in time for the masquerades, we are sorry to announce. However, His Majesty, the prince, is in attendance tonight.”

  This announcement sprouted a burst of furious fast whispers and everyone in the crowd turned to the door, awaiting his arrival.

  “I must clarify,” the Speaker said with a smile. “He is already in attendance. He is already among you, embracing the spirit of the masquerade. He will be in disguise for all three nights, and at the end of the final ball, he will announce his choice for his bride.

  “For those of you who are visitors to our land, this is tradition. Once our prince has reached the proper marrying age, he selects his bride from the people of his own country. This is how our current queen was found, and it is how it always has been done and always will be done. We keep this practice to unite our royalty with our gentry and to keep the bloodlines pure within our country.

  “For this purpose, the prince has been concealed all his life, save for his family and a few close servants. No one outside of his family is allowed to see him for fear that at this ball, he would be recognized and harmed, physically or otherwise.

  “And so tonight, and for the next three nights, we invite you to mingle, dance, and enjoy yourselves. Should any of you lucky women have the fortune to catch our prince’s heart, you may find yourself a princess by the end of the week.

  “Now, please, enjoy yourselves.” She bowed first to the king and queen and then to the guests before exiting a side door, probably to let the prince know that it was all right for him to begin his hunt.

  I watched the excitement of the crowd. Girls gathered in little clusters, comparing notes of who could or couldn’t possibly spot the prince, and who the possible future brides were.

  The men weren’t above similar gossip. Fathers tried to use one another in hopes of finding the prince for their own daughters. A daughter married off to royalty would take care of the rest of the family for life and would be an invaluable asset. Should the father decide to continue in trade, his connections would prove very fruitful and make him even richer than the allowance his daughter would grant him.

  The young men, however, tried to woo their women away from their gossip circles in pursuit of a dance. Some girls had already given up on the hopes of catching the prince, or simply weren’t interested, and happily surrendered to the dance floor.

  “Just watch them all,” a low voice murmured at my ear, causing me to jump in surprise. I turned my head sharply and recognized Aiden.

  It was no wonder I’d been unable to spot him before. If I wasn’t so close to him now, close enough to see his eyes and feel his familiar touch on my arm as he steadied me, I probably still would not recognize him.

  “You all right there?” he checked with a gentle smirk, and I nodded mutely, staring. It was impossible to look away, and he laughed at me. “I know. I told you it was something else, didn’t I?”

  Something else didn’t even cover it. Something incredible was more like it. I felt like I’d never really looked at him before now, seeing him in this finery.

  His mask was a pale silver, painted with small, interlocking blue circles and spirals that faded into the dark blue lining of braided material. The braiding carried over to his tunic, strapped across his chest like a military jacket. I reached out a hand to touch the material on his sleeve, and it was so soft; I don’t think I’d ever felt anything like it. It had to be extremely expensive.

  “Is that really you?” I breathed, staring at him with wide eyes.

  “Yes, it’s me,” he said, sighing. “Would you believe I had them scale it down a bit?”

  “Wow.”

  “Is it really that ridiculous?” he asked.

  I bit my lip. “I’m trying to come up with some smart comment, but I just can’t be that mean to you tonight. You look amazing,” I said honestly, squeezing his arm.

  That put a large grin on his face. “Thanks.” He seemed relieved at my approval. “I wish I could see you all dressed up.”

  I pulled my hand from his arm, remembering my current station. “I wish that too,” I said sadly. “Where are all those favors to call in or strings to pull of yours?”

  A sad smile replaced the happy grin on his lips. “I wish I could. And believe me, I’ve thought about it. I wasn’t so sure you’d be up for it though. I mean, you never mention it,” he added sarcastically.

  “Jerk. If I wasn’t afraid of messing up your pretty clothes or embarrassing you in front of everyone, I’d beat you up right now.”

  That got a good laugh out of him. “As if you ever could.”

  “Please try to work your magic? If for no other reason than so I don’t collapse of exhaustion on the last night?”

  “I’ll try a few more tricks I’ve kept hiding up my sleeves,” he promised. “But sadly, for tonight, I have to be a lot more social than I want to be. You probably won’t be seeing too much of me.”

  “I think I can handle that. I was getting bored with you anyway.”

  “Yeah right. You’d never get bored of me.”

  “That’s true. Who else would let me beat them up time after time?”

  He rolled his eyes, letting that conversation drop before it started, and picked up a glass from my tray. He bowed slightly, and I didn’t see him for the rest of the night.

  Instead I amused myself with admiring the costumes and masks of the other guests. I tried to look for Joch and Iniga as well, since many of their glass creations were on display, but I couldn’t find either one of them. Iniga’s absence I understood, since she was technically not nobility, but Joch’s puzzled me. As a guest of the crown, he should be here.

  Eventually, I waved the concern aside, deciding he was probably here after all and I just didn’t recognize him. He was, after all, a master mask maker. He could look like anyone tonight.

  * * *

  “What do you think of this whole Ball for a Bride business?” Aiden asked out of the blue later that night, when we’d reconvened in my room.

  He sounded oddly serious, like my answer would be some kind of catalyst, like something was weighing on my opinion. I thought carefully before answering.

  “I don’t like it,” I said finally, too exhausted from my extensive plate scrubbing to be argumentative. “I’d hate to be in his position, to have to pick a bride after three days, even if it is tradition.”

  “You’re thinking from his perspective?” he noted, surprised.

  I shrugged. “Well, I guess so. I mean . . . I don’t know. I can’t even imagine being one of those girls who are trying to be that bride. Maybe if they were being forced into it or something, but to marry for power or money or comfort? I would hate it.”

  My answer seemed to be the right one, but he relaxed only infinitesimally. “Say it was you and me.”

  I shot him an incredulous look.

  “No, just work with me. Say I was the pri
nce, and you were a courtier.”

  “In this ridiculous scenario, are you still my best friend, or—” I suddenly blushed, aware that I’d never said those words out loud before. I hurried on to hide my embarrassment. “Or are we keeping with the only three days acquaintance?”

  He paused, trying to figure out his story. “Three days. Say you met me tonight, and at the end of these three days, I proposed to you. And in this story, you’re actually looking to marry. Would you say yes? Answer me seriously, please.”

  “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I just can’t see me pledging myself for life to someone after only knowing them for three days.”

  “You’re not answering my question.”

  “I don’t know! I can’t answer your question, because it feels loaded. What are you really asking me?”

  “Nothing. Never mind. Forget I said anything.” He sounded as frustrated as I felt. Well, maybe we both wouldn’t be so frustrated if he could just say what he so clearly wanted to.

  “I’m sure you’re exhausted. I’ll let you sleep.”

  And then he was gone, and I was left alone, entirely confused about what had just happened.

  =

  TWENTY-TWO

  +

  The second ball’s theme, with reds, golds, and browns, celebrated the earth and the fire that warms us in the winter months.

  This time, I went to the kitchens as soon as I was dressed, so I could get a head start on washing dishes. I dressed in my usual work clothes, knowing I’d be sure to get them dirty and wrinkled by the time the ball actually started, and planned to change into my nicer serving dress right before I reported to the floor.

  I worked at a steady pace all day, replaying the night before in my mind. I’d not caught any sight or sound of the Chameleon all night. Not even a whiff of someone who might be him. He wasn’t nicknamed after a creature that could blend in anywhere for nothing, I suppose.

  I hoped tonight would be more eventful. There was going to be a large bonfire on the palace grounds; maybe that would spark some kind of activity. Last night, while the masks and costumes were amazing to see, things had been a touch boring after the initial excitement had worn off. All I got to do was stand around and try to catch glimpses of Aiden being social. I liked to think I’d succeeded in the first, but knew I failed horribly at the latter. How was that boy so good at hiding?

  I was so lost in my thoughts that my attention started to wander and the pile of dishes I was carrying from one counter to the sink slipped from my hands and landed with a loud clatter on the stone floor.

  I gasped. All activity stopped for the briefest of moments while everyone paused to stare at me. Pieces of broken ceramic littered the floor, just waiting to attack and prick the unsuspecting feet of the servers and cooks as they ran to and fro.

  Still staring at the mess, thinking things couldn’t get much worse for me, the side serving door banged open and Vera burst into the room.

  “What was that racket? I could hear it all the way down the hall! What part of ‘invisible and unnoticeable’ did someone not understand?” Her eyes scanned the crowd, and everyone suddenly found themselves busy with whatever they’d been occupied with before I’d dropped everything.

  Her eyes landed on me, like a hawk spotting its prey. “You,” she said, sneering. “It would be you, wouldn’t it, Miss Everyone-Look-at-Me?”

  “It was an accident,” I defended myself.

  She looked surprised that I’d actually spoken back to her. Usually I just let her insults and comments roll off my back, but not this time. “An accident,” she repeated, daring me to defy her further.

  “Yes. The plates are slippery from the water and soap, and I dropped them.” I spoke clearly, not backing down.

  “Well, apparently you need more practice with them. I would have thought all your quality time with the sinks lately would render you a professional. Apparently, I was wrong.” Her eyes narrowed, then scanned the crowd again, calling another girl over. “Rachel, you’ll be taking over Evelina’s duties tonight. The other servers will help cover your area. Miss Evelina here will be ensuring there will be no more accidents.”

  Looking down at the mess I made, she sneered, “First you will clean up this mess. Then you will stay in the kitchens the rest of the night until every dish is spotless. Then, to be sure that you’ve cleaned up after yourself, I want this floor mopped and sparkling by morning.”

  I opened my mouth to protest. There was no way I’d get all of that done before breakfast tomorrow. Even if I stayed up all night, servers started on breakfast before the sun rose in order to make enough for the vast quantities of guests currently staying within the palace. To top it off, staying up all night would completely drain me for tomorrow, and I’d be sure to drop something again in my near-unconscious state.

  “And if you don’t,” she continued, cutting me off before I could protest, “then you can pack your bags with what measly possessions you have and hit the road. You should consider yourself lucky to be working in the palace, with such fine accommodations and easy living.”

  She backed away from my face and addressed the rest of the kitchens. “As for the rest of you, if I hear that anyone has assisted her, that person will meet the same fate as Evelina. It is her punishment and her punishment alone to bear.”

  An uneasy silence fell over the kitchens as Vera swept out of the doors, and the only sounds were the dull roar of the fires in the ovens and the water boiling in pots. I resolutely kept my gaze away from all of them, hunted down a broom, and began to clean up my mess.

  Chatter slowly picked back up as cooks instructed their assistants, and before long I was forgotten, and the gentle roar of controlled chaos reigned again.

  I collected the broken china in an old soiled napkin and tied it off to dispose of later. The rest of the night, I stood at my sinks, scrubbing and doing my best to ignore the excited chatter of the girls as they gossiped about the guests and what finery they’d seen out on the floor.

  I lost all sense of time, not even noting when the pages came in to light the lamps. I tried to ignore them as they talked excitedly about the bonfire and how it was supposed to be as tall as three horses, and how it took four wagons of lumber to provide enough material to get the fire started.

  I could hear the shrieks and giggles from outside, and I doubled my efforts to remove the grime from a particularly large pot. I wouldn’t let them get to me. I would be out of here soon enough, and then Vera’s threats would do nothing to me. Actually, it would be fun to work her up over something, and when she threatened me with my job again, dare her to actually go through with it, just to see her flounder. I bet she wouldn’t know what to do with me. And then, as she’d stand there, good for nothing, I’d tell her I was leaving. I had my own house, my own trade, and I didn’t need her anymore.

  Reminding myself how that would never happen, I noticed how quiet it had become. It must be very late. Only a few other servers were lingering in the kitchens, cleaning up after their masters and laying their things out for the next morning.

  Checking on my pile left to do, I found that I’d actually made good progress. Another hour and I’d probably be done, and then I could start on the floor. Which would, admittedly, also take me another couple of hours, but I guessed I could get it done before sunrise, have time to make it into my bed, and catch a few hours of precious sleep.

  A few hours later, I was actually feeling hopeful because I was halfway done with the floor. I was taking a short break to rest my weary arms, when I heard the door creak open again.

  In walked Vera, with the muddiest boots I have ever seen. You’d think she’d walked around every mud puddle in the country, then jumped in the manure pile for fun, just to round it out. She surveyed the work I’d done, and then pointedly sauntered across the floor I’d already done, moving a few things from one side of the room to the other, things I knew didn’t have to be moved, just so she could walk over the clean floor and give me more wo
rk to do.

  “Really?” I couldn’t help exclaiming. “You really couldn’t think of anything better to do with your night than make mine more miserable? And you really couldn’t even be more creative in your methods?”

  She pursed her lips at me, then shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I do hope you have a pleasant evening.”

  She strolled right back out, and I threw a dirty wash-cloth at the still swinging door, imagining it was her face.

  That mess was going to add at least another couple hours. I didn’t know what time it was, but my eyelids were drooping and my arms sagging. It’d take me twice as long as it originally did, thanks to how tired I’d become, and my back and knees ached from scrubbing the floor on al fours. I kissed any hope of getting some sleep tonight good-bye, as well as any chance of seeing Aiden. I’d hoped he’d stop by the kitchen when he didn’t find me in my room, but if I hadn’t seen him by now, it was unlikely I’d see him at all tonight.

  But that was all right. I could survive one night without him. I was actually a little ashamed of how attached I was to him. I needed to stop relying on him to make my days better and start taking better care of myself.

  However, I’d also realized that no matter how much I berated myself for wanting to see him again, it did nothing to ease my desire. I couldn’t explain it; he just made me happy. He was a bright spot in my dull gray day of kitchens and soapy water.

  And worst of all, I trusted him. If he asked me to do something for him, I had no doubt I would do it, no matter what. And if I asked him for something and he said he’d do it, I had zero doubts in my mind that he’d do it.

  I wasn’t even sure how that had happened. I didn’t trust people. And I especially didn’t trust people to take care of me. But that little jerk had wormed his way into my heart.

  And I kind of adored him for it. How messed up was that?

  The door creaked open again, and I picked up another rag, ready to pelt it at Vera if she tried anything funny again.