Page 87 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

Lady May and I trained for a while. When the sun reached its highest point, plunging the gardens into an unbearable heat, the Sorceress created a dome around us, using her powers to cool the temperature inside it. The demonstration of her prowess was also for my benefit since she wanted me to learn how to control the element of air first. To my surprise, the training session didn’t end in my failure. I was able to harness the breeze and redirect it as well as conjure a little burst of wind in the palm of my hand.

“You have done well today. We will keep working on your magic tomorrow. For now, go get some rest, and consider coming down for supper,” Lady May said in the late afternoon.

I nodded, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. Even in the cocoon of her magic, I had worked up a sweat. I knew that I wouldn’t join the rest of the household for dinner, but I didn’t bother telling her that.

“Thank you for taking me to Emeraldia this morning, and for, well, everything else.”

“You can thank me by coming to dinner. Adrian would love your company. And did you know that Theadelle and Tomlison have moved into the castle?”

Who? I almost asked before I realized that she meant Thea and Tom. “They have? I didn’t know that.”

“They have, and rightfully so. Tomlison is the king’s adviser, and Theadelle is yours, for when you finally decide to embrace your new title.”

“The title I’ve only had for two days,” I pointed out, trying not to sound exasperated.

“The longer you delay it, the more difficult it will be to adjust. There is no going back. You might as well jump in with both feet. These early days are of great importance. The Fae are waiting to measure you up, to see what kind of a ruler you are going to be.”

“A ruler? Adrian is their ruler; I’m simply his consort.”

“While that is accurate as far as titles are concerned, Adrian wants you two to be equals.”

“What about what I want?”

“You have chosen this path. You might as well walk it with dignity.”

The only path I’ll be walking now is the one straight to my room. “I need to freshen up. Will you please glimmer me to my chambers?”

She pursed her lips but reached for me. After she had deposited me in my rooms, she said, “I do hope to see you at dinner,” before she strode out of my quarters.

I didn’t stay by myself for long, summoning Inara by ringing the silver bell Thea had left. Upon her arrival, the diffident maid helped me to bathe and don a pale-blue dress with white, lace overlay. The sleeveless gown with thick straps and a square neckline came down to my mid-calf, and was rather comfortable, especially paired with simple cream flats.

“You’ll look radiant at supper tonight, milady,” Inara said in a quiet voice as she brushed my hair.

I was relieved to see that the red streak was completely gone. It was as if the prior night had never happened.

But it did. I rubbed my bare ring finger. I would have to find a way to contact Finn to get my ring back.

“I’m not coming down for dinner, so you don’t need to do anything elaborate with my hair,” I told the maid.

“I’ll pull a few strands up and secure them with a bow. I found a pretty cream one in the dressing room.”

That was the most words we had exchanged so far tonight, and I wanted to keep the conversation going. “How long have you served the royal family?”

She looked quite young, but since faeries lived for a very long time, her appearance might not be the true reflection of her age.

“I’m new to the household. My mother, who had served the royals all her life, had recently retired, and I took her place. It was a relief to be assigned to the West Wing of the castle. I hear terrible stories about the North Wing.” I frowned—Celestina and Tarn lived in the North Wing. Inara caught my scowl in the mirror and paled. “My apologies, milady, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m loyal to the royal family. As loyal as they come,” she said in a shaky voice.

“It’s all right,” I assured her. It wasn’t difficult to imagine the former queen and the prince being cruel to the help. “I’m also glad that you’re assigned to me.” I smiled in the reflection, hoping to put her at ease. “My hair looks wonderful, thank you. Please bring up some dinner.”

“Yes, of course. It’ll be right up.”

After she had slipped from the room, I rose from the chair and walked to the balcony. The sky outside was painted in pink hues of sunset. Would Finn call on me tonight? I wished he would because I needed to retrieve my ring, but was that the only reason?

Inara returned a few minutes later with a tray of food. The roasted duck and vegetables smelled divine, and were accompanied by a glass of red wine. I thanked the maid and sent her away before enjoying a quiet dinner alone with a book from the shelf in my room. The collection must have been curated by Adrian because it contained an array of my favorite novels and a few titles that sounded like something I would enjoy reading.

Though curious about the new books, I picked one that I had read before, seeking comfort in the familiar story. The cozy predictability of it combined with the wine relaxed me to the point that I began to nod off after I had finished eating. I was almost asleep on the sofa when a tapping on the balcony door jolted me awake. Sitting up from my slumped position, I rubbed my eyes and listened. Was Finn’s feathered messenger back or had I dreamed it? When another tap, tap, tap followed, I jumped up and ran to the balcony, where the white-winged dove from the previous night was waiting for me.

“Hello!” I happily greeted the bird. “What do you have for me tonight?”