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“We’re far too curious about you to let this opportunity pass.” She paused. “You might as well say that you’ll keep our secret and try to have a little fun.”
I sighed. “Fine. I won’t breathe a word.”
“Good!” She pulled aside a heavy tapestry portraying a scene of Avaldenn, to reveal a wooden door. “Now, come along. They’re waiting, and two of the ladies are not known for their patience.”
“Wonderful,” I muttered as she took out a key with a bear’s head on the top and opened the door.
A curving staircase presented itself. Princess Saga wasted no time in pulling me into the hidden chamber, easing the door shut, and storming up the steps two at a time.
“How high up are we going?” I asked after we’d gone at least three flights.
“Around this corner.” Saga chirped back excitedly.
Voices filtered down the winding staircase. Another ten steps, and we’d reached the top and found five female faeries in a circular stone room decorated in pink. The princess must have had a heavy hand in the decor.
Princess Saga beamed. “Ladies, allow me to introduce the enigmatic Lady Neve!”
They stared. No one moved. No one spoke. Did they even breathe?
Then, from the statues posing as noblefae ladies, the only one dressed in trousers stepped forward. She wore her black curls loose and wild, and her gray-blue eyes brought to mind volatile churning waters while her sun-kissed skin spoke to much time outside.
“Good to meet you, Lady Neve. I’m Sayyida Virtoris.” She fanned blue wings, similar in color to her eyes, so that her curls bounced. “My mother is the Lady of Ships, if you even care.”
I curtsied. “A pleasure.”
“Hardly a pleasure. Usually, the indomitable Lady of Ships is nothing but a pain in my arse.” Sayyida rolled her eyes.
Unprepared for such snark, I let out a snort and clapped my hands over my mouth. “Excuse me!”
“Ha! So the mystery girl that Warden Roar brought isn’t a cold vessel.” Sayyida looked me up and down as if reassessing me already. “She must just not have liked your brother, Saga. You know what? I think I’ll like you even more for that, Lady Neve.”
Prince Vale had mentioned our meeting to his sister? And he, too, had thought me cold, just like Roar. Though the prince was not a friend, nor someone I really cared to know based on his reputation, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“Well, you know how Vale is around Lord Roar.” Princess Saga shrugged a delicate shoulder.
“My eldest brother would agree.” Another female sashayed up. She had golden-brown hair, light brown skin, and luminous honey-colored eyes and wings. If that wasn’t enough gold, the tips of her pointed ears wore a cuff of gold that fit them perfectly, and she wore a hunter green dress embroidered with gold thread.
“I’m Baenna Balik, daughter to the Warden of the South,” the golden faerie said. “My brother famously despises your betrothed, though I sometimes think my brother is a prize idiot, so I’m finally looking forward to meeting the Warden of the West myself. I’d like to see what all the fuss is about.”
I blinked, and another female appeared. She looked like the mirror image of Baenna, but a touch shorter and bustier. Also like Baenna, this fae wore green and gold, but she inverted the colors on her dress. “I’m Eireann Balik. Baenna is my older, and far more talkative, sister.”
That explained the resemblance.
“Neve.” I dropped the title of lady because they hadn’t used it. Plus, in the presence of some of the most powerful ladies of the land, it felt ridiculous. “I’m not from a great house.”
“All the better for us. Fae from great houses are such gossips.” Sayyida winked and her quick wit eased the nerves roiling my stomach.
The last two faeries approached more slowly, one with a smile as welcoming as the others, and one with a frown on her rosebud lips.
“I’m Marit Armenil.” The smiling one with light green wings gestured to my hand. “Your ring is lovely. So sparkly. Might I see it closer?”
“Thank you.” I held the ruby aloft so that she could examine it while I took her in more closely.
Marit wore a simple, light gray dress that seemed too plain for a lady of the Sacred Eight and did no favors for her alabaster complexion. She wore no jewelry either. Even Clemencia’s traveling dress had been more extravagant, and my lady-in-waiting always wore earrings. Although, Marit had startling bright red hair, so perhaps she felt she carried enough color without seeking it in her attire.
Armenil . . . I mulled it over for a moment before I remembered.
That was the name of the Warden of the North. So, ladies from the northern and southern territories were present. I supposed I represented the western territory. Did that mean the last fae had come from the East? I turned to the coldest faerie, dressed most elaborately in a green gown more fit for a feast than playing cards. Silver stags danced around the low-cut neckline.
