Agendra slapped him on the shoulder. “Reese can patch that up for you. Not much longer.”
“Right.” Ferris stared up at the tower as we approached its doors. “I’m curious what exactly you mean.”
Grabbing the door’s handles, Agendra glanced back at him. “It's one of the Paragons’ oldest secrets.”
The stone doors dragged across the ground as Agendra pushed them open. Dusting his hands off, he beckoned us inside.
Holding my breath, I stepped through the doors. Arrow’s hooves clattered against the tiled floor, echoing throughout the massive room.
Inside the obsidian walls, I found a cozy sitting room. A great mantle burned with fire across from me, and several white-cushioned seats gathered around it. Stands of armor and display cases filled with daggers and blades of various makes circled the room. I stepped forward and looked up at the chandelier, hanging a dizzying height above.
Something moved out of the corner of my eye. A tail flicked across the couch’s back, and a cat rose and stretched, eyeing me with pale gold eyes.
“That’s Pumpkin." Agendra dropped his horse’s reins and walked to the fire. “I’m debating bringing him with us. Reese probably misses him.”
“Pumpkin,” Ferris cooed. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
The fat orange cat rolled over for the prince, presenting himself for belly rubs. I’d never had a pet before. Tilting my head, I reached out and ran my fingers through its fur.
It purred, content.
“He's too trusting,” I observed.
“Reese spoils him.” Agendra gestured to the western wall. “There’s an elevator there for the horses. But we have time to explore, if you like.”
“Mm.” Ferris grabbed my arm. “Do you keep clothing here?"
The Paragon nodded. “There’s a surprisingly extensive closet on the third floor. Old clothes from Paragons past and their attendants.”
“Good. Because Diar cannot go to a royal wedding looking likethat.”
I peered down at myself—I still wore the fisherwoman’s robes. They had a few tears and bloodstains, now.
Agendra arched an eyebrow. “Youcan’t go looking like that.”
Wincing, Ferris observed his torn, stained clothes and the bandages peeking out from his tunic’s bloody hole. “Diar,” he said. “Do you promise not to stab me while I turn you into a princess?”
Wrinkling my brow, I raised my arms, trying to imagine myself dressed for a royal ball. All I’d worn were the long, trailing gowns my mother had tailored for me. I hated them.
“On one condition,” I said. “No Muirashin gowns.”
Reese’s cathad followed us through the tower, padding up the stone steps. The second floor contained a spacious dining room and kitchen. The Paragons’ personal chambers rested on the third. Agendra had guided me to the room Ishii had used.
I supposed it was mine, now.
Ishii had kept his room neat and simple—a reflection of his home. A dark blue quilt lay over the mattress, and the oak furniture was bereft of clutter. A single decoration rested on the dresser: a model ship.
Curious, I ran a hand along its dust-covered edge. What had this little thing meant to Ishii?
Sudden sorrow washed over me. I swallowed the emotions.
The door creaked open as Ferris entered, carrying a bundle of fabric. He pressed it into my hands. “Change into this. But don’t look in the mirror yet.”
“Why?”
“Because it's more fun to reveal the final look all at once, that’s why,” he said, backing through the door with a wink and a grin.
Sighing, I waited until I heard the door click closed before shimmying out of my robes. I dropped them on the floor and touched Siotha, drawing water from within its magical well to fill the washbasin in the corner.
