by Maggie Platt
Rhaxma smiled and lifted her dress too, revealing an undergarment that cinched in her waist. “I prefer it this way. When my clothes come off, men aren’t as disappointed as when they realize none of that is really BiBi.”
BiBi burst out in another round of belly laughter. Tovi flushed, a heat spreading across her face.
“I think tomorrow is our breakfast together, Tovi. I’m happy to take you to buy some for yourself,” BiBi offered as she replaced her fake breast.
Soon BiBi left, and Rhaxma began to train Tovi on another matter of importance: comparing other people in order to surround herself with only the best. She brought two male servants into the room. They stood before Tovi, eyes staring straight ahead.
“All right. What do you think of these two, Tovi?”
She studied their faces, the shapes of their features, the width of their shoulders. She noticed differences, but she had no idea which was better. Should she say she liked the thin one with the bony face? Or should she approve of the thicker-set one who looked much stronger?
“Come on, Tovi. Which would you choose as better?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I would choose him,” she indicated the stronger but shorter of the two.
“Wrong. Trick question! Neither of them are good enough for you.”
Tovi learned that day that tall was better than short. Muscles were better than being fat or skinny. The broader the shoulders, the better. Unless, of course, they were too broad. Skin should be smooth, teeth should be straight, and clothes should fit just right.
As the morning wore on, Rhaxma motioned for Tovi to join her on the couch. “We’ve covered almost everything. As you settle in, you will probably meet people on your own, not just our little group from our parties. There are certain things you must remember. First, never associate with any servant, unless they are actually serving you.”
“Why?”
Rhaxma sighed, exasperated. “I was worried you wouldn’t understand. That’s why I made it rule number one. Why would you want to befriend someone who is so beneath you? They are servants for a reason: they are good for nothing else. Remember that, Tovi. It is very important.
“Moving on. The second thing to remember is you must watch out for those who are new to wealth and status. They are used to living near the Bottom Rung, and often they still act like it. They lack sophistication and hardly conform to our standards. Don’t be seen out with them, or soon you will be laughing too loudly, using their terrible slang, and wearing clothes that are ostentatious rather than refined. It is better to stay with people who have been in this inner circle for a long time.
“Third, if you ever see someone with a heart mark on their palm, stay far away from them. They are common in the Bottom Rung, and they are illegal.”
Surprised and taken aback, Tovi exclaimed, “But I have one!” She started to pull off her glove when Rhaxma nearly tackled her.
“Don’t! Don’t show it to me! You could be arrested for having it!”
“But why?”
“It’s forbidden to have that heart. It’s a sign of rebellion. When someone is caught with one, they are thrown in the prison below the palace and left there until it is gone. Don’t show anyone, Tovi. Surely His Majesty would be forgiving since you are new here, but don’t take any chances.”
Hearing the chime of a nearby clock, Rhaxma led Tovi up several flights of stairs to the top floor of her home. They continued through a set of glass doors and onto a small terrace on the opposite side of the house from the balcony where they had watched the fight. A sea of gray rooftops stretched out before them. They were all nearly identical, with their small chimneys and angled walls. The closer they were to Rhaxma’s home, the better they looked. But further out, Tovi could see crumbling stone, flaking paint, and cracked windows. Beyond that was the endless barrier of cloud.
“You have been lucky. You were brought here and right away live in the best home you could ever have on this mountain. You moved into the courtyard, the closest you can be to His Majesty. I was born here, so it’s nearly the same thing. Everyone else—all those people—live out there, trying to get in. If they do well in their assignments, they might be able to get a few streets closer in their lifetime, but rarely does anyone make it to the center of the city. It just doesn’t happen. They try, and I can’t fault them for that. Everyone wants what we have, and that’s why it’s important to protect it. You must always be striving for perfection. If you don’t, he will cast you out, and you will end up out there somewhere, lost in the crowd of forgettable failures.” A black tear dropped from her eye and left a dark trail down her cheek.
“Just think what that would be like,” she continued, full of sorrow. “To have nothing. To be seen as nothing. It is my deepest and greatest fear, being nothing. As long as we are perfect, as long as we spend every waking moment staying ahead of the others, everything will be fine.” She stifled a soft sob, pressing her fingers against her lips, and blinking back more tears.
“This place could eat you alive, but if you trust me and BiBi and the others, you’ll make it. You’ll be perfect. You’ll succeed. And isn’t that what you want?”
Tovi wasn’t sure.
CHAPTER 24
Late in the evening, Eryx entered the throne room where the Council of Masters was assembling, and he immediately sensed the aggravated tension emanating from some of his fellow Masters. Calix was completely silent, and Rhaxma paced. No one could account for Leeto, the only weapon not present.
King Damien tapped his fingers together. “I’ve heard that some of you are rather disgruntled by how our last challenge played out,” he began. “I have summoned you here to tell you that my wishes have changed. Thus, the rules have changed as well.” There was a sound of dissent from Rhaxma, but Damien silenced her with a raised hand.
“It is no longer enough that Tovi is here. I want her marked by all of you. The whole ring. I want her to lose the heart in her palm. When both of these tasks are complete, I plan to take her body back to Adia myself.”
Eryx’s heart pounded, but he willed himself not to show any reaction.
“You are going to kill her, Your Majesty?” BiBi asked, surprised.
“No, one of you will kill her, and that person will win this task. Yes, but only after she is completely marked. When the seven marks are engraved in her skin and her hand shows no sign of that heart, I will personally crown whichever of you takes her life.” There was a dramatic pause before he smiled and turned toward Eryx. “What do you think about that, my boy?”
Eryx glared in response, refusing to display the terror that raced through his mind and coursed through his body. He left as soon as the weapons were dismissed and sat down on his own stone terrace, drinking from a large goblet and staring at Tovi across the courtyard. He was fairly certain that the distance and darkness concealed him and that he would go undetected by the Adian’s eyes. She was only visible to him because she was foolish enough to leave her curtains open, and the interior light illuminated her patio.
What must she think of this place? He wondered if she realized how much danger she was in. She already had the snake and scales. Five more and she would die. Five.
He watched as BiBi joined her. The two women sat in chairs, and he could tell they were talking animatedly. He knew exactly what BiBi was doing, befriending her so she could teach her all about greed, while masking it with the title “Prosperity.” If she succeeded, Tovi would get another mark, a diamond.
He hated watching BiBi work. He hated all of them and the way they didn’t care how much damage they were inflicting. But he hated himself the most. He felt responsible. After all, he was the one who first spotted Tovi. He was the one who couldn’t stop watching her each time she ran to the cliffs, who unknowingly led Leeto and Calix to her. Just thinking about it made his blood boil, and he heaved his goblet against the far wall of the balcony. He looked back across the courtyard. His outburst had drawn attention from the two women who were now look
ing directly at him across the expanse. Cursing himself, he stormed through his curtains and into the privacy of his home.
He stopped abruptly in his tracks. He was not alone.
That infuriating Silas from Adia was sitting at his table, with his dark brown hair—marred by one bright green spot on the side—and his speckled light green eyes.
“Shouldn’t you be protecting her?” Eryx asked, his voice full of venom.
“I was hoping you’d help me with that.”
“Do you think this is funny?” Eryx spat, his stance challenging. “You have no idea how much trouble she’s in.”
“I know better than you do. When you are ready to calm down and listen to me, I’d like to tell you my plan.”
Eryx did not like being told what to do, and he made this clear by stomping to the table, jerking a chair from under it, and sitting down with as much violence as he could muster. Silas bit the inside of his cheek and seemed to struggle to keep from laughing.
When Eryx was settled, Silas said, “We have to keep Tovi from getting the rest of those marks. As you know, Damien said he wants her alive until she has all seven. To buy us some time, we are going to focus on saving her from the others. We have two days until her lesson with Xanthe.”
Eryx knew what that meant, and it made his stomach contract violently.
Silas nodded; all trace of amusement was gone. “If Xanthe succeeds, Tovi will be left much more vulnerable to the remaining marks. Stopping Xanthe’s lesson is a key to keeping Tovi safe.”
“And how do you suggest we stop the lesson?”
“You know about the Hidden Heart, right?”
Eryx was surprised by Silas’ knowledge of the concealed dealings in the Bottom Rung. “The HH? Yes, I know about them. What do they have to do with Xanthe’s lesson?”
“I know you are trustworthy, so I’m going to give you some information that you must guard with your life. Understand?” After Eryx’s curt nod, Silas continued. “Xanthe is a member of the HH.”
Whatever Eryx had expected, it was not that. He scratched his head and allowed himself to relax a bit. “And how will that help Tovi?”
“Xanthe doesn’t care about marking Tovi or winning the competition. She’s sick of Damien, this mountain, and her life. Sound familiar?”
Eryx crossed his arms over his chest and waited for Silas to go on. It was one thing to break into his house. It was another to intrude on the personal thoughts he had never told anyone.
“I want you to persuade Xanthe to do two things. First, ditch her lesson plans about Pleasure. Second, invite Tovi along to an HH meeting.”
“And how do you expect me to convince Xanthe? Tell her that you, a man she’s never met, sent me to tell her this?”
Silas smiled. “I doubt she would believe that, but I think showing her that heart under your glove would go a long way.”
Eryx closed his fists so tightly that he almost split the seams of his gray leather fighting gloves. They were his favorites, the ones with the cut-off fingers to allow him better grip—the ones that had always protected his most dangerous secret.
CHAPTER 25
BiBi woke pleasantly with the first rays of sunlight casting a golden glow in her room. She stretched her arms and legs before curling on her side. The silk of her sheets felt glorious on her pampered skin.
Her drowsy mind wandered through her schedule for the day. Breakfast with His Majesty and Tovi was first, followed by her lesson with Tovi. The thought of this tremendous responsibility and attempting to please His Majesty made her stomach twist unpleasantly, but she pushed that thought away. She had no plans for that evening, which likely meant a bubble bath, fabulous wine, and some peace and quiet. She smiled with anticipation.
As she swung her legs out of bed, her maid entered the room. “Good morning, Cora. Quite a bit of walking today, but I’m also visiting the Halo. Needs to be comfortable but make a statement, too.” She yawned and stood. Cora got to work, undressing and dressing her, washing her face, fixing her hair, applying her makeup. “Is anyone attending to Tovi?”
“Yes, ma’am. One of the other girls is next door with her now.”
“Good.” Her mind wandered, contemplating Tovi’s experience on the mountain thus far, and how different this must be for her. BiBi had been to Adia, and she was well aware of their rustic lives. The first time she visited the valley, she was so fascinated by the simplicity that she just sat in the upper branches of a tree watching the people all day. She was filled with a mix of envy and sadness and wistfulness which she didn’t understand. She had everything she could ever want on Mount Damien. Why did something in her wish to stay among the trees? She didn’t dare tell a soul.
She hadn’t always been wealthy, and she remembered what it was like to have an empty belly as a child. But there was a difference between Adia and the Bottom Rung. In Adia, their lack of wealth wasn’t the same as the poverty on the mountain. The valley was full of riches that she could feel even though she couldn’t see. The Bottom Rung was just . . . How could she put it? It was just empty.
Her mission today was to teach Tovi the fullness that prosperity could bring, and she wondered if Tovi’s Adian upbringing would make it a challenging lesson. Could there be a mental block toward gold when you have been lavished with the clear waters and orange rays of sunset in the beautiful valley?
When the servant was finished, BiBi looked in the mirror and smiled. “Thank you, Cora. I will be out most of the day. Please have a bubble bath ready for me after dinner. Draw a bubble bath in Tovi’s room as well.” Cora nodded. “Oh, and please go get her now. It is time to leave for our breakfast.”
In her momentary solitude, BiBi frowned. She wasn’t at all sure how today would go, but the pressure was on to mark Tovi. His Majesty had been extremely impressed by Rhaxma’s quick work the day before, and BiBi knew he would expect her to deliver another mark today.
Tovi entered, and the two women shared the shy smiles of a new friendship. “Good morning, Tovi! Let’s get going.”
BiBi linked her arm through Tovi’s as they crossed the cobblestoned courtyard. They small talked about the weather and yesterday’s lesson with Rhaxma, and soon they were taking their seats with His Majesty.
As the newest council member, BiBi still felt some trepidation in his presence, but she was determined not to show it. “Good morning, Your Majesty,” she said brightly, clasping her hands together to keep them from trembling.
“Good morning, my dears. Congratulations on your second mark, Tovi. What a quick learner you are! I am thrilled that you are acclimating so well. I think you will enjoy today’s lesson even more than yesterday’s. Today we are discussing Prosperity. You see, Tovi, it is really quite simple. Money and wealth are the solution to nearly every problem. And once you have no problems left, gold will fill you with security and joy beyond anything you can imagine.
“That is why, long ago, I set my workers to mining the mountain. The gold and stones found within have made me so prosperous that I am able to share my happiness and wealth with those closest to me. My prosperity starts here in the center of the city, and it flows outward in waves to those who have earned it. First to the families around the courtyard, and then some of it makes its way to the streets beyond.
“My people understand this concept, and they spend their lives working their way closer to me and my gold. They know that the closer they are to me, and the more money that they have, the more their lives will be filled with happy memories.”
BiBi nodded with enthusiasm, trying to convey to Tovi how much she agreed with that statement.
Three of His Majesty’s servants brought covered plates to the table, revealing a single egg stuffed with lobster and caviar. It would have cost His Majesty a fortune to send for the seafood, as the sea was so far away to the southeast. Tall crystal glasses came next, filled with champagne and pomegranate juice.
Tovi remarked how delicious it was, and His Majesty responded each time with something
similar to: “Only the best for you, my dear. You want another, don’t you?”
BiBi watched Tovi closely as a third and fourth round of eggs were requested, and she smiled to herself as she observed Tovi’s clear enjoyment of the excellent cuisine. Perhaps the lesson today would be easier than she thought.
“Your Majesty, this has been absolutely delicious. May Tovi and I begin our lesson now? I don’t want her to have a stomach ache as we travel all over the city today.”
“Of course, of course! And what are the plans, BiBi?”
“First, we are going to visit the sorting tables at the mines so Tovi can learn a bit of a metaphor for what we keep and what we discard. After that, we will spend the rest of the day at the Halo.”
“Excellent, excellent. Now, Tovi, I know you do not have money of your own yet, so here is a small gift to get you started.” King Damien reached below the table and brought out a small blue velvet sack. BiBi could tell it held a fortune in gold coins. “I know it’s a bit heavy, but it shouldn’t be too much for you. There is a strap for wearing it on your shoulder if that is more comfortable.”
The two women set out for the mines, and BiBi could hear the coins clinking together inside the bag. “Hold tight to that as we walk through the Bottom Rung. You never know what those people will do to get their hands on some gold.”
When they reached the mines, they stayed at the top rather than riding a basket down to the floor thousands of feet below. BiBi showed Tovi the tables where the rubble was sorted.
“See here? This is a new pile, fresh from the bottom. See how the workers are sorting through it, bit by bit? Now look over here. This is where they place everything in new, smaller baskets based on type.” She showed Tovi the piles of gold, iron, raw jewels, granite, plain old rocks, and debris. “The gold and jewels are sent away to be refined. Iron is made into weapons and building materials. The granite is used for buildings near the Courtyard.”