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“We’ve met, but we haven’t been introduced,” Lily said, putting herself forward. The woman recoiled slightly, as if Lily were some blundering hick.
“I’m sorry,” Toshi apologized, making it seem as if the breach in etiquette was his fault. “Lily Proctor, this is Mala Nehru—Lieutenant Governor of Bower City.”
“You look much better,” Mala said, her lips smiling but her eyes narrowed.
“Feeling great,” Lily said. Her return smile was made through gritted teeth.
“Good. All these people are here to see you, after all. We wouldn’t want you to be feeling poorly.” Mala stepped uncomfortably close. Lily felt her mechanics stiffen and silently told them to keep back. For a moment she thought Mala was going to try to uncover the other two willstones she’d hidden inside her obi, but instead Mala untied the outer sash and retied it while she spoke. “You knot once, twist—like this—and then tuck the edges.”
“Thank you,” Lily said, meeting and holding Mala’s eyes. They were standing close enough to kiss. Lily didn’t back away.
“Anything I can do to help,” Mala answered before turning and leading them into the ballroom.
That was creepy, Breakfast said to the coven in mindspeak. Do we have to follow her?
The coven laughed under their breath to relieve some of the tension. Toshi watched their changing demeanor like a kid pressed against a candy shop window.
She’s just trying to throw you off balance, Juliet said to Lily in mindspeak. It’s such an obvious power play it makes her look weak.
Juliet had a knowing smirk on her face as her eyes followed Mala into the ballroom. This Juliet, the one who’d been raised alongside Lillian, knew how to navigate a nest of vipers.
Keep telling me things like that, Lily replied, and stepped between the billowing curtains that framed the French doors.
Inside, the chandeliers overhead filled the room with a bubbly golden light, as if the air had been infused with champagne. Gilded walls and sparkling glass doors bounced that light around until it fell in soft focus upon the jewel-like people. The style of dress seemed to favor kimonos, but there were also some saris and a few dresses that appeared to be from the Georgian era in England. Some of the men and women wore war paint, but it was placed to please rather than intimidate. Everyone looked slim, healthy, and relatively young.
Flowers exploded from vases. Flowers were pinned up in ladies’ hair. Flowers decorated the buttonholes of men’s jackets. Flowers adorned every table, and Lily knew that in some of those flowers a Worker was picking its way through the petals on needle-like toes.
As Lily entered the ballroom, heads turned. Drinks were halted halfway to mouths. Eyes stared, unblinking. Lily resisted the urge to look at the floor, and instead met some of the stares. No one held her gaze or tried to engage her attention.
If they’re all here to meet me, she asked Juliet, why are they avoiding me?
They’re here to see you, not meet you.
I feel like an idiot.
Keep your chin up, Juliet encouraged. Lily felt her sister briefly squeeze her hand before letting it go.
Mala melted into the crowd, abandoning Lily without making one introduction. As jostling bodies swallowed Mala’s lithe figure, a man’s thick shoulders replaced hers. He was making his way toward them, lifting a hand to hail them. He was tall, well over six feet, and he had thinning blond hair and blue eyes that reminded Lily of sky rather than ice. His features were thick, his cheeks were ruddy, and his chin was dimpled by a deep cleft. Physically, he looked about thirty, but he might have been nearer to fifty for all the cares he seemed to carry. Around his neck he wore the largest golden willstone Lily had ever seen.
For kitchen magic—simple but tiring stuff to make, like cleansing mists and water purifiers. Useful guy, Lily thought, and wondered whether Lillian was listening. She could feel Lillian in the back of her head, but she wasn’t actively engaged. Lily could sense that Lillian was occupied with something that was taking her whole attention again.
“Ah, Toshi,” he said, approaching them with a distracted look. He pulled Toshi aside to tell him something in private and then turned his attention to Lily’s coven. “So, we’re all here, then?” he said, smiling broadly.
He looks like a retired boxer, Breakfast whispered in Lily’s mind. His description was so dead-on that Lily had to stifle a snicker.
“Good to see you again,” Juliet said, recognizing him as the final member of the trio of attendants that came with Grace to welcome them into the city.
“And you,” he said. “You were all a bit too tired for introductions when we first met. I’m Ivan Volkov. Head Mechanic of Bower City.”
Lily’s coven greeted the Head Mechanic. She noticed Ivan marking Caleb’s golden willstone, and the two of them sharing an exchange of understanding. Golden stones weren’t given as much glory as smoke or rose stones, and because of that their bearers tended to be overlooked. Ivan’s position as Head Mechanic was exceptional—something that Lily couldn’t imagine happening back east.
“I’m sure we’ll speak more later,” Ivan said with an apologetic smile. He was a busy man, apparently, and left them, saying, “Ah, Simon,” in the same tone he’d used to greet Toshi.
“That’s Ivan,” Toshi said, smiling after him warmly. They continued on toward the far side of the room.
“You’re fond of him,” Lily remarked.
“He’s my mentor. Not that Ivan picks favorites,” he amended quickly. “That’s why we all respect him so much. He gives each of us an equal chance to advance.”
