Jaclyn selected one of the gowns that was painstakingly fitted to my form over the last week. It was a modest deep forest green with a high neckline and long sleeves with no sheer overlay, and had incredibly intricate gold and ivory beading along the hem and sleeves. The beads gave the illusion of vines growing from the base of my dress, and I loved the effect they created. Jaclyn helped me into my gown before buttoning it up the back and motioning for me to sit in the chair.
Pip peered over her shoulder as she dried my hair with a burst of heatfrom her Fire Magic—I felt a twinge of sadness that Pip was forcibly Awakened in order to attend me—and quickly tied it up into a sleek and smooth bun on top of my head. The whole look was a bit severe for my taste, but I knew it would please my mother endlessly. Jaclyn swiped subtle color across my eyes, cheeks, and lips, before helping me into a set of matching beaded dark-green slippers. Gazing at myself in the mirror, I saw a lord’s daughter, about to become powerful in her own right.
At least I hoped that would be the case.
“Beautiful. Absolutely stunning,” Jaclyn breathed over my shoulder. “Now, off you go! Your mother is waiting for you downstairs in her parlor. You’ll be having a light breakfast with her before you greet Lord d’Refan.”
I wasn’tsure if the morning dragged for infinity, or if it passed in the blink of an eye. Somehow it felt like both at the same time. My mother was clearly nervous about Lord d’Refan’s arrival—she constantly fidgeted at the table, put her glass down only to pick it up again, tapped her spoon against her bowl absentmindedly. She didn’t even reprimand me for taking two of the delicious peach scones Cook made for breakfast. It honestly felt like my mother’s mind was somewhere far away this morning.
She absently finished her oats, eyes unfocused and staring at nothing as I picked at my second scone.
“Everything okay, Mother?” I asked softly.
“What?” Her eyes refocused and snapped to me. “Yes, I’m fine. Today is simply a big day for us all.” She gave me an unconvincing smile, which I tried to return.
Moments later, Max—our aged but loyal butler—entered.
“Madame, miss, Lord d’Refan’s carriages approach.”
My mother abruptly rose from the table, her chair screeching across the floor before tumbling to the ground behind her.
“Up, Ellowyn. Up!” She motioned with a shaking hand for me to rise from the table. I did so, though much more gracefully than my mother. “Max, inform Lord d’Refan and his traveling party that we will receive them in the formal parlor.”
With that, my mother turned on her heel and strode from the room, Ideposited my half-eaten scone on the table before huffing and trying to catch up without running. Luckily my longer legs brought me even with her within a few strides. We walked quickly and silently to the parlor, my mother slowly gathering her nerves and reassuming the mask that she reserved for guests and royalty. Which I supposed Lord d’Refan was, at least to the Northern Territories.
My mother came to a halt just outside of the parlor doors, skirts swirling around the ground as she turned to face me. She said nothing at first, just gazed at my face for a minute, like she was trying to memorize my features. Her eyes were sad, frown lines drawing down her mouth and forehead, even as the rest of her body was rigid.
“I don’t need to impress upon you how important today is, Ellowyn.” Her hard speech matched her posture. “There is no room for weakness or doubt, no matter what happens today.”
She nodded at me before I had the chance to ask what she meant by her ridiculously ominous statement.
What could happen? It was just an Awakening Ceremony and a party.
We approached the parlor together, the butlers opening the doors for us before we even reached them. I always enjoyed the parlor, even if it felt slightly stuffy and uptight. It was where Mother and Father entertained all their important guests when they came to visit. It was large with massive windows on all sides, allowing sunlight to filter in at all hours of the day. The windows were spelled and protected by Air Magic so any words that leaked outside would be automatically swept away, making it impossible to spy on or hear any conversations within the room. The decor reflected the rest of the house for the most part, but the furniture and decoration felt bigger and grander in here. Father had admitted once that it was supposed to intimidate lesser men.
My lips quirked at the thought of my father trying to make others cower while discussing matters of trade and State. It was such a power move, and I wondered what Lord d’Refan would think of it, or if he employed the same tactics as Father.
Father, Peytor, Finian, and Matteo, Finian’s father, were already present, the four men engaged in casual and quiet conversation, each nursing a glass of high-end whiskey. My guess was Father had his own aged barrels brought up for today and the meeting with Lord d’Refan. I sidled up toPeytor, who was leaning against the incredible stone fireplace, passing the glass tumbler from hand to hand as he spoke quietly to Finian. The reliefs etched into stone depicted the creation of Solace and Kaos from the robes of Fate. I loved to stare at the fireplace and often wondered if the story was a complete myth or if there was some truth to it.
“Sister.” Peytor halted whatever conversation he was having with Finian to greet me.
“Brother,” I replied haughtily, “Finian,” I added.
Finian gave me a soft smile. “Happy birthday, Ellowyn.”
“Oh, it’s not my birthday yet, Finian.” I smiled anyway. “But thank you. You always make me feel special.”
Peytor laughed. “You don’t think a week of celebration is enough, Finian? You have to give her two full days of actual birthday wishes? You’re spoiling her.”
Finian’s normally tan cheeks pinked, and he shrugged his shoulders before taking a sip of his whiskey.
“Damn, this stuff is smooth,” he said, avoiding my brother’s accusation entirely.
Peytor knocked back another sip of his glass, agreeing with Finian.
“I would like to try some,” I said to no one in particular.
“Ladies do not drink whiskey, Ellowyn. Save that for the men,” my mother said from right behind me. I jumped as I didn’t even hear her approach. Sneaky woman. “Here, you may have this.” She shoved a glass full of what I suspected was cucumber water into my open hand.
