In the light of the hall, the figure’s identity became obvious, though she looked different than Ceilsea remembered. Celisea looked at the angular-long features on a towering form, with piercing eyes and a wicked sneer. Her long black-hair was braided with golden chains, matching the floor length gown. The familiar figure curtsied.
“Mistress Jalamir ‘Jala’ Intendre. It’s good to see you again, Brijas,” Jalamir’s voice had changed since the last time Ceilsea had spoken to her nine months ago. The undertone remained the same deep, melodic purr as when Jala had been thought male, but to Ceilsea’s ears it was much higher and lighter than it had been.
“I’m grateful for the reintroduction, but I doubt you’ve changed enough for me to be glad you are back, Mistress,” Vonae said with the edge of annoyance in his voice.
“Someone had to fight for her highness in this tournament, even if she is…indisposed,” Jalamir stated. Vonae’s grip on Ceilsea’s arm tightened as her stomach dropped.
There was no way of knowing if Jalamir was actually in contact with Princess Esmine, who had disappeared over a year ago. Ceilsea hoped Jalamir was bluffing as she had when the princess had first abandoned Jala, her favorite wizard.
“Are you fighting for—?” Jala started to ask and paused, looking straight at Ceilsea. For years, Jala and Princess Esmine had refused to talk to Ceilsea directly, amusing themselves by talking about her like she wasn’t there. It was one of the many ways they had tormented her.
“I don’t fight anymore, remember?” Vonae reminded her. Jala had still been around when Vonae had failed his last mission and returned his sword to the king. Jala probably knew more than Ceilsea since she had known the soldiers that died.
“Pity. I would have liked to destroy you in public,” Jala spit, maintaining eye contact with Ceilsea, “you and the false princess.”
Ceilsea met the wizard’s frigid stare. Ceilsea had never claimed to be a princess. It was Princess Esmine who started calling her “pseudo-princess,” to make fun of her supposed pandering to the king. It wasn’t Ceilsea’s fault it had backfired and now people called her that to acknowledge her influence with the king and position within the kingdom.
“Sir Brijas?” the guard broke into the tense moment tentatively. Vonae could get Jala kicked out effortlessly, but then it would seem like he thought she was a threat.
“She’s telling the truth. She’s a royal wizard, and I think the king would like to see that she’s here,” Vonae said.
Ceilsea had a feeling his majesty already knew Jala was in the capital, or at least suspected. He must have guessed Princess Esmine might try and make a move at the tournament. Jala was her usual pawn. That was the reason Aamard had been brought in for security. If the Princess controlled the Champion of Sumanar, she would have more power in court. Admiral Aamard could make sure that didn’t happen.
“Thank you, Brijas,” Jala smiled, stepping forward. As she pushed past him, Ceilsea heard the wizard whisper to her brother, “You know you could never stop me anyway.”
After that encounter, even the outside air felt stagnant and heavy. Ceilsea tried to read her brother, but she wasn’t sure even he knew what he was thinking. His face was calm, but his eyes did not focus on anything. Jala’s return changed things for him. Before, Vonae had been content letting the tournament go on without him. He had been excited to be an observer, but now Ceilsea wondered if he was questioning his decision.
Vonae had been taking care of her all night. Now Ceilsea knew it was her turn to take care of him. After a short conversation with a minor noble who had heard of her but obviously had never seen her work, Ceilsea tugged on Vonae’s sleeve.
“Why don’t we get out of here? Don’t you want to check out the other festivities?”
Vonae rubbed his temple and muttered, “You haven’t greeted everyone.”
“I don’t have to greet everyone. I’m not the princess. Those who really want to talk to me will be at the sculpture garden reception tomorrow night. I’m not trying to escape my duties, I promise. I think we deserve to enjoy ourselves,” she guided her brother to a dark bench at the edge of the garden so they could speak in private. “Birthright nobles and their honored warriors are the focus tonight, and we aren’t either of those. We should be amongst our people.”
Vonae may have sworn off combat, but she knew he still loved swordsmanship and dueling magic. Training Miennere and Yipinee could never be enough for him. He’d been excited for the tournament when the city would be full of other people practicing combat techniques and talking tactics. He could watch and learn a variety of new fighting styles and flares. It was almost a boon that he didn’t have to compete. She had to remind him of that. Other fighters were probably excited to show off and would be practicing in view of the public around the city.
“You want to go out looking like that?” Vonae asked.
“I’ll make do,” she said and grabbed his hand before he could think of another reason to refuse.
Taking the servants’ paths, they had to avoid bumping into servers and footmen. It was almost pitch black in the back alleys, so the ball’s guests wouldn’t see the work that went into the event. Ceilsea juggled leading Vonae through the dark and stripping off her belt and outer kaftan. Carefully folding the expensive cloth, she created a sash. Then she gathered her full-length skirt and tucked it into the sash. She had matching trousers on, and those didn’t have the expensive embroidery on them. Then she tied back her sleeves with the belt. She knew she would still look strange, but at least she wouldn’t look like a bejeweled princess. Just like she couldn’t be seen shabbily dressed in court, she couldn’t flaunt her affluence in the streets.
They exited the servants’ pathways into the familiar expanse of her courtyard. The sculpted marble glowed, even in the dark. Ceilsea felt a pang of emptiness as she realized she had not been here all day. It was rare for her to miss a day of sculpting, but with the chaos sure to continue, she would probably miss more.
Over the walls, they could hear the merriment of crowds screaming incoherently in delight, anger, or fear. There were crashes and thuds that Ceilsea could only assume were the results of something stupid and dangerous.
“You sure you want to go out there? It’ll probably be mad,” Vonae asked her.
“I’m sure. I know you’ll protect me from the worst of it,” she slipped the key she kept around her neck into the lock of the door that led outside the palace walls.
She pressed her weight against the heavy door and pushed. As it gave way, she heard a grunt as someone shifted in the dark. There was scraping against the wall as they stood and entered the flickering of distant torchlight. It was Shaelis.
“Good evening, your pseudo-highness,” Shaelis said awkwardly, with a half-attempted bow.
“That’s not a real title,” Ceilsea was thrown off by them appearing out of the darkness.
“Well, neither was pseudo-princess until—” Vonae came a step or two after her. Shaelis jumped when they saw him.
“Shush!” Ceilsea pushed her brother playfully. “Hello again, Shaelis.”
“You know this person?” Vonae asked but was ignored.
“You can… just call me Shae… I… ah… know who you are now,” Shaelis stammered, refusing to meet her gaze.
“I can see that, Shae. What can I do for you… that I haven’t already done?” Ceilsea asked, still in the doorway blocking her brother from Shae.
“May I speak to you…alone?” they asked, eyeing Rivonae.
Rivonae was attempting to examine Shaelis in the dark. Ceilsea, a bit curious now, opened the door wider. “We have business, Vonae. Could you wait for me for a moment?” she motioned for him to go ahead.
“Business?” Vonae seemed doubtful.
“Yes, with my friend. I’ll catch up to you in a second,” Ceilsea insisted and motioned with her head as emphasis.
Vonae gave Shaelis one last scan before he walked along the wall, leaning against it a few feet away and looked off toward the distant festivities.
“You’re not breaking in tonight?” Ceilsea asked, letting the door close behind her.
Shae just stared at the ground. “Well, I know you’re not a servant now, so… I figured I shouldn’t.”
Shae’s huge bag was leaning against the wall next to the door.
“Why are you here?” Ceilsea was curious about why they’d come back.
“Well, I’ve been walking around all day—in the fields, in the streets. There are people everywhere. I have a hard time sleeping if I don’t feel… safe... and… ” Shaelis stumbled over their words.
“You’re competing tomorrow?” Ceilsea interrupted.
“Yes, and I need to do well. So, I was wondering if…I could sleep in your courtyard again,” they finally got to the point.
Ceilsea smiled to herself. It was almost too easy to tease them. “So, you want me to do you another favor, even though I was nice enough to give you an unconditional gift yesterday?”
Shaelis finally looked up again. The whites of their dark eyes glowed like her sculpture. “If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”
Ceilsea stifled a laugh. This was the same irreverence they’d shown last night. Ceilsea liked that. She grabbed the key hanging from her neck.
“Here. Stay whenever you want, though I would suggest not letting anyone else catch you. The king might not be as generous as me if he finds a stranger sleeping in the palace,” she said, pressing the metal into their hands.
“Don’t you need this?” they asked.
“Don’t worry. His majesty will replace it if I say I lost it.”
“Do you lose things a lot?” they continued.
“Only for a purpose!” Ceilsea called over her shoulder as she walked past Shaelis toward her brother.
She couldn’t tell in the dark, but she imagined they looked annoyed. She heard the clatter of Shae picking up their belongings. She did not wait to hear the door open. The siblings continued to see what entertainment they could conjure out of the chaos of the night.
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