Chapter 7 - Summoning Icarus

As Syra burst through her bedroom door she saw it was unfortunately spotless. Her gowns from the night before were already gone. Her purple and golden room had every cushion perfectly placed.

“The maids have already cleaned. We need to find Hestia!” Syra panted from running.

“Let’s head to the servant’s quarters!” Ophelia turned to run before being caught by her sister Sorel.

“We can just ring for her.” Sorel pointed to the golden cord beside Syra’s bed.

“Oh… right.” Lia blushed.

Syra ran and pulled the cord a few times. She soon heard running feet as several maids appeared. She looked at the faces gathered before her and did not see Hestia.

“I was looking for my maid Hestia. I left an important item in one of my gowns for safe keeping. I see that my gowns have been taken for cleaning. Bring my gowns before me so I may retrieve the item.” Princess Syra commanded the group of maids who hurried off.

“I hope the card can be found! It would be so sad if you couldn’t see them again!” Lia exclaimed as she sat upon Syra’s bed, she sank comfortably into the duvet with golden embroidery over the purple silk.

“What if word gets out that the Princess was looking for a summoning card. Her future fiance seems to be rather jealous, despite his many declarations of supposed hatred.” Sorel sat at Syra’s mirror and poked through her jewelry.

Shit. Sorel is right, this could spread rumors. Oceania… Why does my every action become flames for rumors, even small innocuous things become huge ordeals.

“Oh… maybe I should have just asked them to fetch her. Do you think they will look through the gowns themselves?” Syra dropped onto the bed beside Lia who took her hand to comfort her.

“If rumors spread about the card, you know which maids to fire. They have no business looking through the gowns when you ordered them to bring the gowns themselves.” Sorel brought over a sparkling hair pin and placed it into Syra’s hair.

“Right… Oceania, it’s been a long day and it is not even lunch.” Syra dropped her face into her hands.

“But, on the bright side, maybe the Prince seeing he has competition will teach him some manners. Or you at least have other choices if he proves too… uncouth for our Syra.” Lia hugged her and then the three stood as they heard a knock on the door.

“You may enter.” Princess Syra said in a louder practiced voice.

Three maids entered with Hestia. Two of the maids carried the gowns from the previous night and all four curtsied before the Princess and two Duchesses. Princess Syra looked at their faces before commanding them.

“Place the dresses on the table and all but Hestia are to wait outside the door.” Princess Syra pointed to the table and watched the maids silently place the gowns down and exit.

***

Lia pounced upon the gowns as soon as the door shut and began searching them. Hestia looked confused and turned to Princess Syra.

“Your Highness, is there something I can help with?” Hestia looked towards Duchess Ophelia pawing at the gowns.

“I am looking for an item I left in one of my gowns last night. Duchess Ophelia is simply eager to assist me.” Princess Syra responded, trying to sound calm despite how nervous she felt.

“Your Highness, I emptied your gown pockets of their contents before taking them to the laundress, I placed the items in your bedside table drawer.” 

Hestia walked across the room and opened the drawer and picked up the items inside, “Your handkerchief with the gold embroidery from your first gown.” Hestia bowed as she presented the item to the Princess.

“Thank you for your foresight Hestia.” Syra opened the folded handkerchief to reveal the summoning card inside, “You truly are loyal and wise. I shall tell the royal secretary to give you a raise.” Princess Syra smiled at Hestia, Hestia bowed as she left with the gowns and closed the door once more.

“Oh Oceania! Are you actually going to summon them?” Lia ran to look at the card, it was black, but shimmered as if it itself was a crust of basalt barely containing flowing lava beneath.

“If you are, be careful. There has been enough scandal in the past twenty-four hours and there does not need to be more. Especially while certain royal guests are still present within the castle.” Duchess Sorel warned while warily eyeing the summoning card.

“I think if you saw their wings, you would understand. I think they would be as much a muse to you as the dragon Duke’s eyes.” Syra looked up mischievously at Sorel, “We must prepare some invitations for tea for Aurelian and Duke Eclipse, I assume you want to join?” Syra arched her eyebrow up in a way that invited the other two to giggle with her.

“Why are you hosting a tea party with those two?” Sorel glanced over at Syra.

“I must meet with my future fiance and play nice, but I thought you might want some time to study Duke Eclipse’s eyes for your paintings.” Syra grinned at Sorel who blushed slightly, but stayed silent.

“You have so many suitors all of a sudden, I cannot wait to get my own some day. I want a handsome man, no, many handsome men to be vying for my hand when I come of age.” Ophelia spread out her arms and flopped onto the large bed.

“You have two years yet before any can even propose, and if any begin to approach you now at your young age, they shall find themselves outcasts as no one would want such a man for a husband, especially after I have marred him.” Princess Syra promised with a serious look in her eyes, her eyes which glowed with dangerous red flickers.

“Calm down, Aunt Syra. I am imagining my future when I am your age.” Lia rolled her eyes.

“Oh? That is what you are going to call me, my Dear Niece? Do you want me to call you such from now on?” Syra crossed her arms and arched her eyebrow.

“Oceania, no. It is already odd enough when I must refer to you as your Highness outside closed doors, please don’t make it worse. I don’t think I could keep a straight face!” Lia laughed and Sorel snorted from across the room.

“Well then, your dear old Aunty must rest. I am sure Sorel wants to paint Duke Eclipse’s eyes, and Lia, I am sure you want to go look at the young nobles and try to imagine them grown enough to court.” Syra laughed as Lia blushed and Sorel snorted again.

“No. I am not so focused on my future prospects as to do such a thing. If Sorel is going to paint and you are going to rest, I think I shall spend some time in the library.” Lia stood and looked indignantly at Sorel and Syra.

“To read romance novels?” Laughs echoed as the two Duchesses left the Princess’s room.

Once the door shut once again, Syra looked back at the card that felt cool to the touch despite its molten appearance. She sighed and locked her door. She looked closer at the card to read its instructions.

“To summon Icarus, wave this card over an open flame.” Syra read outloud quietly.

I really shouldn’t do this. Do I even have a way to get an open flame? But… I want to see them again. Even if it is just once.

Syra pulled the golden cord near her bed once again and then placed the card back in her handkerchief and placed them both in her pocket. She heard footsteps and a knock on the door.

“Enter.”

Hestia curtsied before the Princess and then rose awaiting instructions.

“Close the door.” Hestia closed the door and turned back around. “I trust you to keep my secrets. You have always been loyal and you are very wise. Can you attain for me a match and a candle?” Princess Syra spoke quietly.

“Of course, your Highness. I shall attain your items discreetly. We have such items in our storage for foreign guests. Is there anything else I can do for you, your Highness?”

“Do you know of a way to get to the outside of the castle to a place where no eyes would see me? I wish to meet a friend without rumors getting out of hand.” Syra whispered this as she stepped closer to Hestia.

“Your Highness, meeting someone alone in such a situation is dangerous itself. Are you sure this person is safe to meet?” Hestia looked genuinely worried as she whispered back.

“I appreciate your concern, but I simply wish to meet a friend.”

“There is no way to guarantee no one would find you, but there is a balcony up in the tower on the east end of the castle. The tower is rarely visited or cleaned. But that tower is close to the foreign guest quarters.” Hestia looked worried.

“I can see in the dark, but so can many in the castle. I shall go late at night when everyone should be asleep. Even our guests.” Syra touched her own face gently as she thought.

“I will attain your items and I will say nothing, no matter who asks, but your Highness, I would advise against this.” Hestia’s furrowed brow nearly hid her eyes as she looked down.

“I often take your advice, but I need to speak with my friend.”

“Yes, your Highness.”

***

Hestia returned an hour later with the candle and matches. Princess Syra felt her heart race as she took the items. She felt her stomach flutter as she thought about nightfall. She waited and kept looking out the window. 

The sun went down and she went through her normal routine and dressed for bed. She laid for a couple hours. She rose and wrapped herself in a dressing gown. She grabbed her candle, match, and handkerchief and cracked open her door and peeked out. She saw not a soul in the hallway. She took a deep calming breath and felt her power release. 

She let her power guide her through the castle. She could see which path would lead her to accidentally find another person. She reached the door to the tower and as she touched the handle she suddenly saw herself opening the door to find a guard and a noblewoman in the middle of an affair.

Syra drew back her hand. She walked away a few steps before loudly walking towards the door and down wiggling the door knob. She heard surprised gasps and quickly hid. 

A moment later a guard with armor askew flung open the door and ran down the hall. A noblewoman with dark blue hair peeked out a moment later and quietly slunk away. Princess Syra recognized her as Lady Kacyn. 

I wonder who that guard she was with was… I cannot ask her as that would bring too many questions I do not want to answer…

Syra waited until they were both long gone before entering the tower herself. She closed the door, but it had no lock. She began to climb the tower and when she reached the top, she opened the door to a balcony. The wind was cold up here, but she crouched down and placed her candle and took out the summoning card.