~ Chapter 13 ~

Tashti had made a gown in the same grey fabric as what the Trainee formal uniforms were made of when she was a trainee.  Her brother had bought her the fabric as a gift on their shared birthday.  She had never worn it and it still hung in her wardrobe.

"Back so soon?"  Aeric asked as she burst in.

"I'll see you at the ceremony.  Lyra is having a fashion dilemma."  Tashti kissed his cheek as she passed.  "Save a few dances for me."

"I will."  He promised.

Tashti found the gown still wrapped in its protective sheet.  Thankfully it didn't smell like it had been hanging in the wardrobe for ages.  She also snagged a pair of slippers of a matching grey, brushes, and a small sewing kit.

Back in Lyra's room she found the girl waiting impatiently.  "Is Clio coming?"

"No.  She flat out refused to even consider it."  Tashti dumped her load on the bed.  "I found a gown that will work.  I should be able to alter it for you."

"And if you can't?"

"Then you will be the first Heir to accept her coronet in only her underwear."  Tashti shrugged.

Lyra gasped as the gown was unfurled.  She was not as tall as Tashti, but the gown was short to allow for fighting and should be the right length.  "You are going to let me wear that?"

"Of course.  At least it is the right colour."

Tashti held up the gown as Lyra struggled into it.  The bodice was still too big but the gown had laces up the sides so it could be adjusted.  The skirt fell just to her toes.  Tashti had embroidered it with a repeating pattern of leaves and flowers.  A pattern she had used many times before.

"Looking good."  Tashti appraised her.  "Put the slippers on too."

Lyra obeyed as Tashti set out the little pots of make up.  "Why didn't you ever wear this?"

"I didn't need it.  The fabric was a gift from Gervain."

"Isn't it strange how we both have twin brothers?"  Lyra asked, still focused on tying on the slippers.

Tashti paused.  "A quirk of fate."

"How did you feel when you discovered you had a twin?"

"Disbelief."  Tashti said as neutrally as possible. 

"I can't even imagine not knowing I had a twin."  Lyra stood and pushed her golden hair out of face.  "What's next?"

"Next you stand still while I tighten the strings."  Tashti stood and faced the girl.

"Does it have to be tight?"  Lyra lifted her arms up.

"Yes."  Tashti pulled the strings tight until the bodice fit well enough to survive the night.  "Can you breathe?"

"Barely."

"You should have let them size that dress to you, or you should have at least tried it on."  Tashti tucked the strings away.  "Now sit down."

Lyra obeyed.  "How long until the ceremony?"

"Not long enough to talk."  Tashti said firmly not wanting to consider her brother.  "Hold still."

Tashti tugged and twisted and finally stood back to appraise her handy work.  "Don't try thrashing your brother and everything should be just fine."

Lyra laughed.  "Can I hug you?"

"No, I am wearing white and your makeup would rub off."  Tashti smiled fondly.  "Let's go, we only have a few minutes to get you there on time?"

"What's in the parcel?"  Lyra asked as they hurried out the door.

"It's a gift."

"Really?"  Lyra grabbed it and returned to her bed.

Tashti wondered how she was going to get the girl down to the great hall in time.

Lyra unwrapped the package as quickly as she could and shook out the tunic.  "This is…wow…thank you!"

"No hugging."  Tashti reminded her.

Lyra fingered the fabric.

"Let's go."  Tashti ordered.

"I could wear this."  Lyra suggested.

"You are not changing."  Tashti said firmly.  "Let's go."

Lyra reluctantly allowed Tashti to force her out of the room and lead her down the hall.

:It would be easier to pull teeth.:  Tashti commented to Cryni.

:It would be, but she still wouldn't be ready.:

:Is Kris ready?:

:Yes.  He is waiting, and wearing your gift.:

Lyra had to run to keep up with Tashti.  "Are we running that late?"

"Yes."  Tashti answered shortly.

They found everyone waiting for them.

"What happened?"  Elspeth asked.

"A certain young lady didn't bother getting her dress sized."  Tashti answered.

"Lyra, didn't I remind you to get it sized?"  Selenay asked.

Lyra made a face.

"You are holding up the ceremony."  Tashti reminded them forcefully.

~ * ~

"That is the last time I check on anyone at the last minute."  Tashti grumbled several candlemarks later to Aeric, who was still chuckling over the story.  "It isn't that funny."

"I disagree.  You threatened to skewer the queen if she didn't shut up."  Aeric laughed drawing attention from the other dancers.

"I was getting desperate.  It was like herding cats!"  Tashti hissed in exasperation.

Aeric guide her off to the side.  "No one else could get away with threatening them."

"I am glad you are amused."  Tashti huffed.

"Your brother is waving us down."  Aeric said quietly, reluctant to spoil the mood.

Tashti stiffened.  "Is he coming this way?"

"I am afraid so."

Tashti plastered a false smile upon her face and turned to greet him.  "Gervain!  How are you enjoying the festivities?"

Gervain stopped and front of her and flashed a smile.  "I am in my element of course.  Are you on duty tonight?"

"No.  Why?"

"Good.  In that case I am stealing my sister for a dance."

:Should I protest?:  Aeric asked.

:No.  We don't want to raise suspicions.:  Tashti answered as she accepted her twin's hand and allowed him to lead her out on to the floor.

"I know this sounds silly, but are you aware that your skirt is ripped?"  Gervain asked as they started to dance.

"Actually it is supposed to be like that.  It is so I can fight if needed."  Tashti assured him. 

"Oh, well then you look wonderful."  Gervain complemented her.

Tashti forced a laugh.  "Thank you."

"Mother couldn't make it today, which is a relief.  She has gotten entirely too silly to take out in public."  Gervain said lightly.  "How was your survival trip?"

"Same as ever."  Tashti shrugged.  "Did I miss anything interesting?"

"I did join some of my friends for a quick hunt down south while you were gone but otherwise it was fairly uneventful.  What is the appeal of going out into the wilderness with nothing but your wits?"

"It's a challenge and it's a chance to hone the skills I have learned."  Tashti explained.  She wished she was anywhere but in her brother's arms.

"Mother wants you to come by tomorrow night.  She said no excuses will be permitted."

"Very well, I will try and make it.  Maybe in the afternoon."  Tashti didn't want to give him a set time to plan an ambush.

"I'll see you whenever you come by then."

"Is something wrong?  You seem…less yourself."

"Sorry, I am also trying to watch for any trouble."  Tashti improvised.  "This is Kris and Lyra's big night and I don't want anything to go wrong."

Gervain glanced towards the two heirs.  "It is a little strange to think my little sister is a bodyguard of the royal family and on a first name basis with them."

"It is part of the job."  Tashti shrugged.  She could see Lyra trying to catch her attention and leapt on the excuse to escape.  "Princess Lyra is waving me over.  I'll catch up with you later."

"Later then.  There is a pretty young lady looking rather abandoned over there, I will see if she would care for some company."

Tashti glanced towards the young woman in question.  "Watch out, she is a fortune hunter."

"I don't mind.  Mother however…"  Gervain shuddered.  "She keeps pushing me on these poor heiresses."

Tashti slipped away before she could be drawn into the conversation further and made her way to Lyra, hoping that the girl hadn't torn her gown or something equally disastrous.

"I wasn't certain you saw me."  Lyra waved her over to a corner and glanced around to make certain no one was watching. 

"Did you rip your gown?"

"No.  Thankfully it doesn't have a train otherwise I would be on the floor more often than in practice."  Lyra stroked the gown lovingly.  "I am really glad you lent it to me, it is much nicer that Elspeth's old gown.  It even matches Kris' tunic.  By the way, he loves the tunic."

"Good.  Now what's wrong?"

"I just don't want to dance right now and I am hoping that if it looks like I am talking to you about something important that bobble head over there won't ask me to dance."

Tashti glanced towards the lord in question.  His neck was incredibly thin and he had an unfortunate habit of bobbing his head as he spoke making it look like he couldn't hold his head up.  He was also waiting impatiently, probably to drone endlessly on about his goats.  "I can call over Aeric if you wish.  He is an excellent dancer.  Or Dirk, he is a treat to dance with."

"Would you?"  Lyra asked pathetically.  "Everyone else keeps stomping on my toes and I am expected to smile prettily up at them."

:Aeric, love.  Would you mind rescuing a damsel in distress?:  Tashti asked.

:Tired of dancing with your brother?:

:I already escaped him.  It's Lyra who is needs rescuing.:

:Tell her I would be honoured to rescue her.:

"Aeric is coming to rescue you.  Ask him to drop you near your father for the next dance."

"That's a great idea!  Two whole dances with out fearing for my toes!"  Lyra hid her grin behind her hand.

Tashti watched for a moment as Aeric danced off with Lyra.  He still felt 'dark' to her empathy in a way that she associated with Heralds who had dark secrets.  She didn't press, even when she had to wake him in the night from another nightmare.  It had grown steadily worse since they had returned but he didn't even want to speak to Talia of it.

It was very dangerous for a firestarter, even one whose gift was as weak as Aeric's, to be in such a state.  Weak firestarting gifts had been known to create firestorms when the wielder was frightened and she knew Aeric's dreams frightened him beyond words. 

Tashti finally looked away to survey the crowd.  She pushed thoughts of Aeric's dreams and secrets to the back of her mind and searched for danger.  Her foresight was not bothering her at the moment so she hoped everything would remain quiet for the twins.

"May I claim this dance?"  Herald Carlin, her mentor for her Circuit asked.

"Of course."  Tashti smiled fondly at him.  "So long as you are more graceful dancing than you are fighting."