I sink into a low, shaky curtsy. When I rise, I realize I’m still holding her hand.
‘Blaze Harglade,’ she says in a voice as light and warm as summer rain. ‘I have long wondered when we would get the chance to meet.’
I open my mouth to speak and then close it again, completely overcome.
Concern creases her lovely face. ‘Do you need to sit down?’
‘Yes. No. No, thank you, Your Majesty,’ I blurt out. ‘I’m so sorry, I don’t –’
‘Calm, child,’ she soothes. ‘You have nothing to apologize for. All is well.’
I find myself returning her smile.
‘Sometimes,’ says Queen Hydra softly, leaning in closer to me, ‘we must lose our footing in order to find our balance.’
She touches my cheek, once, lightly, before rejoining her court.
The Court of Waves are still trickling through the doors, dressed in innumerable shades of blue, the fabrics loose and flowing. To my astonishment, I notice that some are barely dressed at all, their bodies adorned with shells and shark teeth and sea flowers. One girl even wears a dress made from what looks like tiny silver fish scales.
I watch them, feeling a strange aching sensation take root inside my chest.
‘What was all that about?’ Flint asks, appearing at my side. ‘What did Queen Hydra want?’
I smooth my skirts and clear my throat. ‘Nothing. She was just being kind.’
‘And you’re all right? I’d imagine all this must be pretty overwhelming. Grandmother’s really thrown you in the deep end.’
‘I’m fine,’ I tell him, hoping I sound firm.
My brother looks unconvinced. ‘Sure?’
‘Sure,’ I say brightly. ‘Surer than sure. The surest.’
Flint relents, satisfied, and offers me his arm. ‘Where to?’
I let him smile for both of us as we walk through the crowd.
‘Have you seen Ren?’ I ask.
‘I haven’t. But I suspect he’s under the table stuffing his face with cake.’
‘I should go look for him.’
‘No, leave him be. A little freedom is good for him. Let him have some fun. And the same goes for you.’
I roll my eyes. ‘That’s likely.’
‘Tell you what, sister mine,’ says Flint, ignoring Aunt Yvainne as she beckons to him, ‘if you at leasttryto look asthough you’re not planning on bolting for the doors at any given moment, I will consider giving you your Name Day present.’
I bite my tongue. It’s easy for him to say. My brother is adored by all who know him. He carries himself in a way only someone so assured of their place in the world can, and his outlook is unfailingly cheerful, choosing always to see the good. How could he even begin to understand what it feels like to have caused such devastation, to be so reviled?
Flint waves a hand in front of my face. ‘Hello? Blaze?’
I blink. ‘Sorry.’
‘As I was saying, if you continue to look miserable, not to mention nosediving in front of queens and such like, I will give your Name Day present to one of the attendants. Or throw it in the Creek. Or keep it for next year. I haven’t decided yet.’
I conjure a smile from somewhere. ‘Deal.’
