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“Yes?” I turned away from the window and toward the door.
“It’s Clemencia, my lady.”
“Oh, right.”
It was time for my lessons—hours and hours of drudgery in which Clemencia taught me how to act like a lady.
I answered the door and smiled at my lady-in-waiting. Though what Clemencia taught often bored me to tears, I had found that I liked my lady-in-waiting very much. She was sweet and kind and in a short time was learning to anticipate my needs before I even knew what I wanted. My acceptance of her help was touch and go, but that was to be expected. She had been trained to attend to a noble lady whereas vampires trained me to be a noble lord’s food.
However, I needed to get used to such splendid treatment. As Lord Lisika’s fiancée, I might ask the world and others would wish to give it to me.
At least for a while.
After we tricked King Magnus and returned to Guldtown, I’d continue my travels south. In my new home, I wouldn’t have a wealthy and powerful fae to supply me with unlimited indulgences. I’d have to make my own way.
The thought was both daunting and exciting.
“Good morning,” my lady-in-waiting said. “You’ve eaten already, yes?”
“They took my breakfast tray away not long ago.”
“Good.” Clemencia held out a vial of regeneration elixir that I downed without a second thought. On Althea’s orders, I’d taken so many elixirs I could no longer count them.
“I thought we might go over the courtly dances today,” my lady-in-waiting said. “We’ll start with the most popular ones and move on to the classics from there. Healer Althea cleared your wings, correct?”
“They’re still not healed.” I gestured to the wraps on my wings. “But she said that today I can leave my room and do just about anything.”
Two days ago, the orc attack had opened new wounds, but yesterday afternoon, Althea had reexamined me. She’d beamed when she proclaimed that though the orc had hurt me, the damage was righting itself nicely. She left the bandages on but felt sure that by the time we left for court, they’d be healed.
I’d likely still have to explain the scarring if anyone asked, but orc, ogre, and even giant attacks were not uncommon in the Winter Court. Nor were animal attacks. I planned to use that excuse at court.
“Would you be good with dancing?”
“I suppose.” I set the empty vial on a table. I’d only danced a few silly jigs at nameday gatherings for the blood slaves. But how hard could courtly dances be?
“Do you know any already? Perhaps you saw them in your village?” Clemencia cocked her head at me.
I shook my head. “Afraid not.”
“That’s alright.” Clemencia shrugged. She had obviously gotten used to me knowing little about this kingdom. “I’m quite versed in them. Let me show you to the ballroom.”
We left my room, the silk skirts of the dress I’d chosen that day swishing and sighing around my legs as Clemencia led me through the castle. Brushing my hands across the smooth fabric, I smiled. Days ago, I lusted over the gowns I made for others. Today, I wore a dress of similar quality. How quickly life could change.
If only Anna were here, too.
The thought crept up on me, like it so often had these past days. I missed my friend and wished I could have brought her along. But with her foot and the conditions I’d undergone to get here, there would have been no way we’d have made it. Fae were far more resilient than humans. Stronger and faster, too. Anna never would have survived the cold river.
“Here we are!” Clemencia’s voice rang out, lovely and lyrical. Though I had yet to hear her sing, I suspected she could carry a tune well.
I entered the ballroom, a grand affair that could fit at least three hundred fae and stood tall enough for a giant to prance around inside. Tapestries and banners in Roar’s house colors of crimson and gold lined the walls, many bearing the image of a leaping snow leopard. The wooden floor had been patterned like interlocking diamonds and just like in the room where Roar listened to his subject’s complaints, two pure gold snow leopards flanked the entryway, a symbol of the Lisika wealth and prowess.
Clemencia sashayed to the center of the patterned wood floor and held out her hand. “Take my right hand and put the other on my shoulder.”
I did as she instructed, faced her, and waited.
“Watch your feet and mirror me.” The lesson began as Clemencia stepped forward. “You go back.”
She continued the verbal cues as we wound our way through the ballroom. And when she stopped saying the cues, we both learned those had actually been quite necessary and were the only thing protecting her feet.
