Suddenly Elaith lets out a blood-curdling shriek, causing Spinner to spit out a mouthful of champagne. ‘What is it?’ she splutters.
Elaith is standing on her bed, stabbing her finger at the floor. ‘Mouse! Mouse!’
I catch sight of it darting around frantically for cover. ‘Really, Elaith?’
‘Get it!’ she wails, hopping from one foot to the other. ‘Set the cat on it! Quick!’
I look down at my lap where my kitten is cowering, mewling pitifully as she tries to hide herself among the fabric of my skirts.
‘Blaze!’
‘Do you know,’ I say, ‘I think I’ve found the perfect name for her.’
‘What?’ Spinner asks from where she is perched on the dressing table.
The kitten peers up at me, trembling. I smile, stroking her soft grey fur. ‘Mouse.’
Spinner snorts, hopping from chair to chair until she lands beside Elaith, who clings so tightly to her that she loses her balance and the two of them fall backwards on to the mountain of pillows.
‘Well, well, well. What do we have here?’
I look up to see my brother standing in the doorway dressed in a striking scarlet doublet, Kai at his side.
Flint grins at me before throwing himself on to the bed. ‘Ladies. Mind if I join you?’
‘Not at all,’ Spinner replies, fluttering her lashes.
I make a face.
‘Come on, Blaze,’ Flint calls. ‘What’re you waiting for?’
Kai holds out a hand. I hesitate, just for a moment, taking in the scene, taking in myfriends.Then I scoop Mouse up into my arms and let Kai pull me into the centre of them. We lie there, a tangle of limbs, a blur of red and gold and blue, and I feel sure that in this moment I could carve a wave the size of a kingdom.
Spinner walks us to the banquet hall, and Kai and Elaith head inside. She hugs me lightly before turning to my brother. ‘Have fun tonight.’
‘Don’t have to tell me twice,’ says Flint, then kisses her full on the mouth. Spinner winds her arms round his neck, running her hands through his curls.
I just stand there, slightly amused, vaguely horrified, not sure where to look. When neither of them surfaces, I bob my head awkwardly. ‘Right, well, I’ll just …’
I practically hurl myself through the doors.
The long golden tables have been removed, the banquet hall empty but for a large circular table in the centre. I scan the handful of guests for the one face I don’t wish to see. I’ve not encountered the Earth Cleaver since that night in Marina’s chambers. Perhaps he’s grown bored of whatever game he decided we were playing together. I can’t work out whether that means he won, or I did. Maybe both. Maybe neither. Not that it matters.
Drawing myself up to full height, I head over to where Kai and Elaith stand talking with Zeph and the rather eccentric old Ignitia trainer.
Elaith peers behind me. ‘Where’s Flint?’
‘Don’t ask,’ I mutter.
Flint appears several minutes later, looking very pleased with himself. ‘The Council running late?’ he says, wiping a smear of gold lipstick on to the back of his hand.
‘The Council are never late, young Harglade,’ murmurs his trainer absently.
Elaith rolls her eyes.
I spot River standing by the table and start making my way towards him, just as Ember sticks a delicately pointed foot out in front of me. I don’t react quickly enough before it’s hooked itself round my ankle and I trip, lose my balance, go crashing to the floor –
And am caught. Just in time.
