“The captain made me First Lieutenant,” he said softly. “That was supposed to be Nico’s.”
Rose watched him clench his jaw. “I did not know him well or long, but I think he’d want you to be happy. He seemed that sort.”
Erik sighed and glanced at her. “I think so. Harder to do than say, though.”
Rose smiled softly. “Many things are.”
“I forgot.” Erik cleared his throat. “I was supposed to tell you Sasha has finished your gown.”
Rose nodded. “I’ll go now then, before I forget.”
Walking down to the Seamstress’ hall, Rose thought about staying here again. The idea really wasn’t as bad as it had first seemed. She had friends here. She had a place. It had been so long since she’d felt she belonged somewhere. But to stay in one place? She’d spent years moving from town to village. Did she know how to stay anymore?
Rose shook her head. It was a problem she could put off for another day. She turned the corner and found herself next to a tall B’leakon. Rose craned her neck up to meet his face. Gods, he’s tall.
“Afternoon, ma’am.”
Rose nodded to him and continued walking. The B’leakon turned and fell in step with her. “Can I help you, sir?”
He looked down at her, down very far it felt. “No. I am going to the Seamstress’ Hall. They are altering my clothes for the ball next week.”
He held the ‘s’ for so long is sounded like a hiss. It sent a shiver down Rose’s neck. “I am also going there.”
“Ah! We may speak on our way.” He paused. “Apologies. I am Rorik.”
“Rose.” She peeked a glance up at him. “That . . . that thing you do with the hissing . . . .”
Rorik grunted. “It is a very prominent sound in my language. Many of us know your tongue but that sound almost always carries over.”
“Oh.”
“Many humans find it disturbing, I am told.”
Rose kicked herself for being so obvious. “It is an odd sound, I’ll admit.”
“To us, your human eyes are so . . . so dull.”
Rose frowned at him. “My eyes are dull?”
“I have insulted you and that was not my intent. For us, we can tell much about one another from our eyes. But humans they have just the one color.”
The started down the stairs. “You can still tell a lot from someone’s eyes without color changes.”
Rorik looked down and his eyes were a swirling amber color. “How?”
“You just need to look deeper.”
Rorik frowned as though he didn’t understand. Rose smiled to herself and didn’t explain.
“May I ask, how do humans go through life so small?”
Rose held back a laugh. “We are not small until we are next to you.”
He hmmed, “I suppose that is true. Everything is about perspective.”
Rose nodded. They turned the corner and came to the wide-open doors of the Seamstress Hall. Rose staggered to a stop. If it was busy before, now it was swarming with people. Most were running with arm loads of cloth or dresses.
“They are much like ants, no?”
Rose came back from staring at the people and looked at Rorok. “They’re like . . . what?”
“Ants. There are so many of them swarming back and forth.”
Rose just stared at him, and she could feel her mouth failing. “Uh . . . sure.”
Rose stepped away from him and started her quest of finding Sasha in this mess of people. She managed to get a few feet into the hall when suddenly the crowd of workers thinned and they split to the walls leaving a walkway down the center. Rose looked back and forth between them.
Rorik walked—sauntered—past her through the aisle. “Thank you, ladies.”
Rose turned to a girl near her. “I’m looking for Sasha. Do you know where I could find her?”
The girl pulled her wide eyes away from Rorik. “She . . . she is through there I think.” She pointed across the hall.
“Thank you.” Rose turned and quickly took advantage of the clear hall before the startled women recovered and went back to their mayhem. Rose ducked into the small room and found Sasha bent over a gown with pins between her teeth. She looked up at Rose and nodded to her. Rose walked over and seated herself on a small stool while Sasha finished her stitch.
Sasha tugged the stitch in place, then sat up and stretched. Rose heard her back crack and Sasha sighed. She smiled and spit the pins into her hands. “Hello, Rose. Did Erik send you for your dress?”
“Yes. He said you’d finished it.”
Sasha put the gown aside and stood. “Yes. I hope you haven’t put on any weight or anything because we’ve not any time to do any more alterations to it. I also added your changes.” She pulled the wrapped bundle out of a chest.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Thank you for your work.” She pulled the small coin purse from her pocket and handed it to Sasha.
“So, why the changes? Or is that a secret still?”
“Are you saying you enjoy wearing a corset?”
Sasha gagged. “No, they’re awful.”
“I never grew accustomed to wearing one.”
With a wink, Sasha pocketed the coin purse. “Fair enough.”
Rose tucked the bundle under her arm and turned to leave with one last nod to Sasha but the look on her face made Rose pause. “Yes?”
“The guards,” Sasha looked around as if she expected someone else to be listening, “have been speaking to people.”
“And?”
“Do you know why?”
“I don’t,” Rose lied. “Why would I know why the guards do anything?”
Sasha hummed a soft sound and seemed to watch her. “You seem to have the ear of the king. Who knows what you might know.”
Her heart skipped a beat and Rose forced herself to laugh aloud at her. “No. I have the ear of someone who’s bored, and I’m the newest thing. I am not special to anyone here.” Rose readjusted her grip on the dress bundle. “Do you know what they are asking people?”
Sasha shook her head. “No, but there’s been a rumor going around they are looking for a spy. Is that true?”
“Sasha, I truly don’t know what they’re doing.”
Something about the look in the woman’s eyes made Rose uneasy. Like she was missing something. Instinct, intuition, or something she saw but didn’t understand made Rose suspicious about the woman. However, finding a spy and being a spy were very different skills. She had to trust the king’s guards knew what they were looking for.
“You’re probably right. Erik has told me not to worry.”
Rose forced a smiled at her. “Listen to Erik. I’ll leave you to your duties.”
She slipped out of the quiet room and back into the loud crowded hallway. Rorik was nowhere to be seen. Rose sighed. She’d have to find him another time to talk. And Sasha . . . . She couldn’t put her finger on why, but something about Sasha bothered her. Rose rolled her shoulders and headed back to her room.
Chapter 28
Rose slipped into her dress, made all the easier without a corset. The last several days had passed in a blur. More and more people arrived. Many more B’leakons. Even more guards. The guests wouldn’t know it. Many dressed as civilians and even more dressed as servants. Rose knew it. She could see the difference in how they carried themselves, how their eyes watched everyone and saw everything.
Luci pulled the ties on the back of her dress tight and knotted them.
“You are quieter than normal.” Luci spoke from behind Rose and started pulling a brush through her hair. “And that’s saying something.”
“I don’t like crowds and strangers. A ball is both those things.”
Luci worked quickly, pulli
ng and twisting her hair, shoving pins into it. Making beautiful pinned curls out of her plain locks. “I don’t envy you. That’s the truth.”
Rose winced as a pin scraped against her skull. “Thank you, for helping. I know we don’t particularly like each other but, I appreciate this.”
Luci sighed and dropped her hands. “Well. You were looking pathetic standing there asking for help. And if the look on your face had any truth to it, I’d wager asking for help cost you more than accepting it.”
Rose ducked her head. “Thank you.”
Luci opened the door to Rose’s small room. “Well . . . you’re late.”
Rose walked down the stone corridor leading to the ballroom in the far end of the castle. The wooden heels of her shoes clicked and echoed off the walls. The soft rustling of her skirts made a wispy sound in the empty halls. Soon, she could hear the sounds of the orchestra and as she turned the corner the chatter of the quests cut out the clicking of her heels. Rose stopped a short distance from the double-wide oak doors to the ballroom and smoothed her hands against her skirts. Rose tried to take a deep breath to settle her nerves, but her breath still came in a shallow gasp.
“Oh, hells,” she breathed.
She continued to the doors leading to the ballroom and was stopped by the pair of guards. “I have an invite from the king.”
“Let us see it, then.”
Rose handed him the thick paper with her name scribed in flowing letters.
He looked at it, then at his own list, before handing it back to her. “Enjoy your evening.”
She walked cautiously into the grand ballroom already filled with dozens of guests and the orchestra in full effect. Despite the open windows and balcony doors, the room was already quite warm, and sweat began dripping down Rose’s neck. She walked along the edge of the hall, trying to place the names to the faces Ben had drilled into her last night. She nodded and smiled at the ones who made eye contact with her but did not offer any conversation.
Rose swiped a glass of wine from a passing servant’s tray and sipped it as she watched the people dance. She really didn’t belong here. All these people dressed in their fine gowns and jewels, she was nothing more than an imposter. Sliding her hand along the fine material of her gown, she frowned. An imposter. Rose finished her wine and abandoned her glass.
“How is the evening going?”
Rose turned to the captain, who had appeared at her shoulder. “Well, I suppose it has only begun.” Rose smoothed her hand down her gown again.
“You seem nervous.”
Rose glanced at the woman and back to the crowd. I feel I will be discovered. “I am not used to such...I feel very out of place.” These are not my people, she thought with a flutter in her stomach.
Captain Sayla grabbed Rose’s hand to stop her nervous movement. “You look the part, dear. Do not let your nerves give you away.”
Rose clasped her hands in front of her. I have done many things, played many parts. Never before have I had to play a Lady, she thought and tried to calm her nerves. These are new waters for me.
“Have you paid your respects to the king yet?”
Rose looked to the front of the ballroom where the king was surrounded by nobles. “Not yet. I have not wanted to approach.” Rose gestured toward the mass around the king.
Captain Sayla sighed so low it was almost a growl as she cast her eyes around the room. “I share your feelings.” She squared her shoulders and pulled on her uniform. She took a breath. “However, we must.”
Rose looked to the group around the king and followed behind the captain. A tall, raven-haired woman leaned in close to speak with the king and he laughed at what she said. Rose vaguely recognized her as the woman the king had been riding with . . . Daniela. She was dressed in some of the finest clothes Rose had seen.
Dressed in deep purple and black silks, embroidered flowers and gems, Lady Daniela sparkled. Whoever she was, she wasn’t merely a noble woman. She was a Lord’s daughter. Daniela leaned into the king again and laughed at something that was said, placing her hand on his arm. Captain Sayla guided Rose through the people toward the king. Luckily, King Micah noticed their approach and separated himself from the group of nobles and met them away from the group.
“Good evening.”
Captain Sayla bent at the waist in a small bow. “Sire.”
Rose hesitated before dipping in a small curtsy. Unfortunately, she wobbled as she stood back up. King Micah took her hand in his and bent over their clasped hands. Rose stiffened and stared at him. He straightened with a small smile on his lips and dropped her hand.
“I see the captain came through for you. You look very much a noble woman.”
A blush rushed up Rose’s neck before she could think. Glancing down, Rose tried to figure out what to say. “I am thankful for the captain’s efforts.”
The king nodded with that small smile. “Captain, always a pleasure to see you in your dress uniform. I should find more reasons for you to wear it.”
Captain Sayla tugged on her uniform and glowered. “You should not.”
King Micah grinned at her. “Is it the uniform you hate or the occasions?”
Captain rolled her shoulders and glanced around the crowded room. “Both, Sire.”
King Micah laughed again and Rose grinned. “Lady, I think our captain looks sophisticated in her uniform. Don’t you?”
Rose looked at the woman, in her pressed uniform. A dark blue dress coat decorated with her rank and medals, all polished and gleaming; her high black leather boots shined. Her golden hair pulled back in a tight bun; even it was pressed and orderly. Rose had to admit she was a sight. “Yes. I’d have to agree with you.”
Captain Sayla glowered at her. “You haven’t had to wear this yet. It may not be a corset but it is just as uncomfortable.”
A servant carrying drinks walked by and the king raised his voice over the string quartet playing off to the side. “Drinks for our Captain and the Lady, please.” He waved the servant over.
Rose gratefully accepted the glass of wine.
“What is your plan for the evening?” King Micah asked under his breath, all the while smiling and nodding to fancily dressed people as they swarmed past.
“Mingle,” Rose said and sipped her wine. “Observe . . . see what I can see.” Rose glanced around the crowd, noticed the guards scattered about the walls. Her eyes landed on the those dressed in finery, as aristocrats. They were easy for her to spot. They held their backs too straight and watched the crowd just as she was doing.
“Excuse me.” The captain took her leave and disappeared into the crowd.
Rose turned and dipped once again in a small curtsy. “I shall leave as well.”
Rose slipped away without any response, the king having already turned his attention to other, more important, guests. She slipped through the crowds, her skirts swishing around her ankles. Many were gathered around the edges of the dance floor. She walked through them, around them, listening to their conversations while sipping from her wineglass.
“. . . so handsome, yes? I heard he has quite an estate to his name.”
“Yes, yes, but I heard he was already betrothed.”
“No! I was so hoping . . . .”
Rose moved away. Sipped her wine and walked past a group of men.
“. . . into the Sayan clan. They have access to such expensive—”
“Not worth your time, Samson,” one interrupted. “Trust me—”
Rose walked out of hearing distance and sipped more wine. It helped ease her nerves as she drifted over to the side wall. Rose leaned, as gracefully as she could, against the cool stone and watched the crowd while she rested. Dread filled her stomach as she realized, too late, her predicament. The whole situation was so foreign to her. These strangers,
with their fine gowns and expensive jewelry, pressed in on her. She did not know how to act. Was she drawing attention to herself? Would the assassin know her? He’d already tried to kill her once. He knew her face. Would he risk it all to get to her a second time?
A gentleman, too far into his wine, bumped into her and Rose stumbled into the woman in front of her. There were too many people. The dangers of tonight, everything everyone was expecting of her pressed against her. They were all counting on her. They were all hoping she would flush out the assassin. But what if she did? What if she didn’t and the king’s life is risked? It would be her fault.
The room was too hot, too smoky. Rose couldn’t catch her breath. Why did she care so much this time? The music was dull and muted to her ears. All the bright colors of the ballroom blurred together. Desperately Rose darted off the wall and out into the cool air on the balcony.
The small balcony was empty, thank the gods, and Rose rushed to the railing. Taking long, deep breaths, Rose leaned on the cool stone railing and fought back the stars creeping in the edges of her vision. She didn’t know how long she stood there, breathing in the cool air but eventually her breathing slowed and the stars left her vision.
Slowly, her breathing calmed and her heart settled. Straightening, Rose took a long gulp of her wine and finished the glass. “You can do this,” she muttered to herself and stared at the dark sky. “You’ve done harder.”
She turned around and stormed back into the loud ballroom. Rose walked along the edges of the room trying to decide what to do next when the music stopped and trumpets blared. Everybody turned to the entrance and Rose turned to see what everyone was looking at. Then Rose’s mouth dropped. Eight, maybe ten, tall golden-skinned people stood at the top of the stairs. Taller than the tallest man in the room, by several hands. Their wide eyes stared out over the crowd. The B’leakons stood looking glorious in their brightly colored clothing and their sun kissed auburn hair.
“Introducing the B’leakon Delegation led by the Honorable Lady Sephrita.”
The herald rambled off more names as the B’leakon Delegation worked its way down into the ballroom. Rose watched the group as they introduced themselves to the king and moved on to other nobles. The women of the group had woven flowers and ribbons through their long hair. Even some of the men had a ribbon or two. The whole room whispered and watched them.
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