Almost every chair is occupied by the time we reach our table, which is piled high with honey-cured meats; strange, exotic-looking fish; melons and cranberries; tureens of stew; cheeses, olives, truffles; and oysters on ice.
Elaith decides to crawl underneath the table rather than walk round it, using Cole’s knees to pull herself up and into the seat beside him. I don’t hear what he says to her, but she swats at him with her napkin, smirking.
Many of the Heirs turn to stare as I sit down next to Flint, just as the Ventalla King’s silken whisper slices through the din. ‘Silence.’
‘I willneverget used to that,’ mutters Elaith.
I’m startled a second time when the emperor speaks, his voice a rumble of thunder that fills the hall. ‘Tonight we celebrate the First Feast, which marks the beginning of the Choosing Rite, and the beginning of a new era.’ His gaze falls on our table. ‘My friends, it is my great honour to present the Heirs of Ostacre.’
Chairs begin to scrape back as those around me get to their feet. I count thirteen. No, fourteen, including myself.There are supposed to be four Heirs from each of the four Crown Courts, which means that two of us are missing.
‘Blaze,’ Flint hisses, nudging my shoulder.
I make myself stand.
The banquet hall erupts with applause, and the Etheri crane their necks to get a good look at us. I remember what Cole said about the Eyes placing bets, and shiver.
The emperor raises his goblet, and suddenly the light in the room grows brighter. The candles burn more fiercely, the wine in our glasses ripples, and the ground begins to tremble, the sound of rattling cutlery joining that of the whistling streams of air.
‘A toast,’ he says. ‘To the future.’
I wonder how it will feel, handing over all that power to his son. In our neighbouring kingdoms, Thaven and Vost, the transfer of power from sovereign to successor takes place only upon the sovereign’s death. But in Ostacre, we have different customs. At the Binding Ceremony, the emperor will relinquish his throne, and at the coronation, he will be forced to bow alongside the rest of us as his son takes his place upon it.
Once the answering cheers eventually die down, excited chatter resumes, and we take this as our cue to sit. I catch a glimpse of Spinner at the Eyes’ table. She gives me an encouraging thumbs up, her tattooed cheeks bulging with food.
My brother pushes a heaped plate towards me. Obediently I pick up my fork and begin to eat, listening to Flint, Cole and Elaith sizing up the other Heirs.
‘So, who have the Eyes set their sights on, then?’ Flint asks.
‘Well,youfor starters. No surprises there.’
My brother grins. ‘Naturally. Who else?’
‘Remember that Fish bitch?’
‘Which one? There’s a whole shoal of them.’
Apologetic looks are cast in my direction. Fish is the derogatory nickname for the Aquatori. I just smile blandly, concentrating on chewing.
‘You know, the one who tripped Elaith up on Dawnday last year.’
‘She’s lucky I didn’t incinerate her on the spot. I wasverytempted.’
‘Ah, that one. What about her?’
‘Our carriage arrived at the same time as hers, and let me tell you she practicallyranup the front steps.’
‘Her family’s supposed to be filthy rich. They own a bunch of ships. And her parents spend most of their time trailing round after Queen Hydra.’
‘She’s got her eye on the prince, I heard.’
‘She’ll be disappointed, then. I’ve never met anyone who guards their heart like Hal.’
I glance towards the head of the table. Sure enough, an Heir in a dazzling blue-and-silver gown is sitting on the prince’s left. I almost let out a groan as I realize who she is. It’s the courtier in the fish-scale dress who I crashed into while chasing Renly across the dance floor at Harglade Hall, the one who looked as though she had wanted to strangle me on the spot when Hal had asked me to dance. Marina, he’d called her.
‘Seriously, that girl is so insufferable I’m beginning to pity the other Fish.’
‘Oh, Blaze’ll wipe the floor with her, I’m sure. Won’t you, sister mine?’
