To my dismay, I was forced to wear another of my aunt's dresses.
Had she not been killed so long ago, I would have taken it upon myself to do so, such was my anger. Tamlin had assured me that it was not as bad as I thought. He had said that I was exaggerating my indignation about the clothes. I wouldn't have believed him, but I would have let it go. The problem was what I heard afterwards.
You remind me of a gazelle, he had said.
I hit him over the head with the nearest book in response.
It was precisely for this reason that he did not even look in my direction as we walked to the place indicated by the Grand Lord of the Dawn. Not that I minded. He had forced me to wear yet another one of his mother's ridiculous clothes, which, in addition to squeezing my body, was so long that it looked like a curtain on me. Our arms were interlocked, but only to avoid arousing suspicion; we didn't want the courtiers to be curious about the opposite posture of the other celebration. But only for this reason.
Truth be told, I couldn't care less about Tamlin's hissy fit.
I brought my hand to the gravel hanging over my chest, playing with it as we passed along the white brick road. The road that led to the capital of the Dawn Court.
The landscapes of the court maintained a lovely orange hue, even though it was still late at night, and purplish-yellow clouds floated in the sky like little rose petals being carried by the wind. Unlike the Spring and Summer courts, the landforms there were extremely steep — mountains rose on the horizon, towering and sharp. Their snowy peaks glittered like pearls, and I had no doubt that they would be even more beautiful in the morning.
Prythian definitely never stopped impressing me.
The road forked in two directions, and before we could take another step, Tamlin stopped. I turned to him, confused.
He looked at me seriously, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Before we get to Phaedra, I need to warn you about something. The Night Court, they… " He took a deep breath. "Even before Feyre, things between us were not good. They hate me."
"Not very difficult to do so."
"Ophelia," The gravity with which she said my name made my body shiver. "I'm serious. This is not a joke."
"Yes, I… I understand. I'm sorry." I bit my lower lip, my fingers gripping the gravel pendant even tighter. "But why? Why do they hate you?"
His expression faltered for a moment, a flash of pain suddenly appearing. He looked forward, swallowing hard, and said, sounding a little choked up: "That..." He shook his head. "Not now. On another moment. What I wanted to tell you is to be careful around them, especially Rhysand's inner circle. They are well versed in political games, and will devour you if you let them." His eyes met mine, cold. And I knew immediately that he was now speaking not as my cousin, but as my High Lord. As an authority. "Don't give them that opportunity."
I nodded, quietly.
He guided us toward the left lane, which had white bricks that gradually took on a yellowish tint. A golden road. It made sense since it led to the treasured capital of the Dawn Court, the city of Phaedra.
Sounds of laughter and conversation soon invaded my ears, and the shadows that surrounded us became less and less dense.
The place I came upon was a huge courtyard, full of white pilasters surrounded by vines and lilies, and also shimmering threads that connected them to each other, much like pearl necklaces. It was surrounded by a wide pale field of undergrowth, with only a few white lilies sprouting in the grass. The scent there was soft, sophisticated, like everything I had read about the Dawn Court.
Above us, illuminating the iridescent courtyard, floated small spheres of the most varied colors. My lips opened wide as I admired them. It was like having a miniature rainbow spinning above our heads, as if they were waltzing like the guests there.
One of the spheres approached us and I squeezed my eyes shut as my face was painted light green, smiling.
My eyes fell on Tamlin's face.
"Ready?"
He sighed.
"Not in the slightest."
"It's going to be okay." I whispered. "If something goes wrong, I can always pretend to faint. That will surely make the others forget what happened before."
Tamlin stifled a chuckle.
"You will need at least one crying fit as well to distract them sufficiently," He commented, a little less apprehensive. "Can you do it?"
"Do you want to bet?"
Before he could answer, we heard footsteps coming toward us and immediately turned around.
A tall, slender man with a friendly smile approached us. A soft glow surrounded him. His skin was the same reddish-brown tone as the copper in Adriata, bright and vibrant like sunbeams behind a stained-glass window. His brown hair was slightly darker, as were his eyes, which, I soon realized, were slightly slanted; different from what I was used to seeing in Prythian people, but no less beautiful.
He wore a pink doublet with gold trimmings, but his pants were a dark shade of pink, almost wine-like. A crown of delicate gold encrusted with diamonds, citrine, and some pinkish stones, adorned by tiny pointed rays that peeked out from behind his head, rested atop his head. It was a sunrise glowing behind the mountains.
Lord Thesan.
"Tamlin, it's good to see you again!" Greeted our host. "How have you been?"
"Fine, thank you, Thesan."
"I hope you found your accommodations pleasant."
"I certainly did! Your taste remains impeccably refined, Thesan!"
"Glad to hear it." He turned to me, eyes as rich as the soil in early spring. "Your new emissary, correct? It's a pleasure to meet you!"
I made a curtsy gently.
"The pleasure is all mine, my lord."
"What is your name?"
"Ophelia."
Thesan took my hand and placed a kiss on her back, in the same polite and courteous manner as Tarquin.
"Welcome to my court, Miss Ophelia. I hope you enjoy your stay here."
"Thank you very much, my lord! I'm sure I will!"
"Did we arrive too late?" Tamlin asked, not showing the discomfort I was sure he felt.
"No, no! Although the ball started some time ago, the festival will still take some time to begin!" He assured. With a wave of his hand, he indicated the entrance to the courtyard. "Please, feel free to join the others!"
With a slight nod of his head, he left us and approached a family that had just arrived, the gentle smile still on his delicate face.
I took a deep breath. My fingers sank into the blue chiffon of the puffy dress, sweaty, and I rubbed the fabric, trying to dry my hands before meeting any distinguished guests. Thesan had not commented on this — he was too polite for such a thing. Others, however, would not be so kind.
I certainly was not used to dresses like this one. There were too many layers. Too many frills. Too long. At least, despite the tight bodice, it was a little less constricting than the other one, so there wasn't as much risk of falling face down on the floor this time. But it was still a bit suffocating.
Maybe I really did look like a gazelle.
"Rest assured," Tamlin said, as if sensing my insecurity. "No one will say anything about the dress."
"How do you know that?" I retorted, sourly.
"Because they'll be too busy admiring how beautiful you look."
My cheeks heated up, and I turned my face back to the space ahead. "Liar."
Tamlin gave a low laugh, but didn't answer me. He merely guided us toward the other guests.
An energetic, sweet melody echoed through the space, as if from above. From the sky itself. I frowned, looking for the musicians around us, but found none — there were just hundreds and hundreds of people surrounding us, laughing and chattering comfortably, plus the servers, carrying appetizers and drinks. I stared at the white pilasters, squinting my eyes as I paid attention to them.
I could not hold back a gasp of surprise as I understood what was happening. The music, in some way unknown to me, seemed to come directly from the flowers that hung from their tops.
I pointed upwards.
"Tam, look! Music is coming out of the lilies!" I commented, giggling like a child.
I felt his gaze on me for a few moments before he turned to the flowers, but I didn't pay much attention. "Holy Mother!"
"I know, right? Isn't it amazing?"
"What's that?" He inquired curiously.
"It's called Symphony," Said a warm voice.
I turned to the male coming towards us. He literally glowed like the sun, there was no other way to describe it. It was not soft like Thesan's own glow, it was much more intense. Maybe it was due to the shimmering clothes and all the gold that adorned him.
He had a warrior's build, tall and muscular, but was extremely graceful in his gait. His hair was as black as mine, and flowed down his shoulders in tiny braids, with a strand or two of gold braided in, just like his almond-shaped eyes. On his head was a shining crown of long, golden tips.
His skin was darker than mahogany, and even with all the extension that was not covered by the flowing white robe, my eyes could not find a single scar showing. It was immaculate. It was then that I realized that the glow came not from the gold or the fabric he was wearing, but from his own skin.
If Thesan was the soft dawn, he was the peak of the day. The solar splendor in the flesh.
"How is this possible?" I questioned. "I have never seen anything like it before, is it magic?"
The male laughed.
"In part, yes, but it is a recent invention of the Continent. It works like our memories," He explained, and the way he did it was so natural that I found myself almost hypnotized by his words. "It stores sounds and music inside, and can play them whenever its owner wishes."
"This is impressive!"
"Indeed. Unfortunately, it's not a very affordable device due to its value, but I believe that with time it will become more common." He sighed. "In the meanwhile, art lovers suffer… But the Symphony is not the focus of this event, I suppose."
I laughed.
"Too bad, I really loved it."
Her smile widened. "A beautiful lady who is also interested in gadgets? Something rare to find, I must admit."
"I am more curious than anything else, my lord."
"Certainly not more beautiful, my dear."
"Helion, please don't flirt with my Emissary." Tamlin asked with a slight frown.
"I am not!" He replied, raising his hands in the air. "Why does everyone consider my compliments an attempt to flirt?"
"Because your compliments are an attempt to flirt." Replied a female voice.
"It's not my fault if everyone expects to have a chance with me, dearest Cresseida. " He replied, taking my hand for a kiss. "I hope you will ignore the slanders of your lord and the princess, they know not what they say."
"Give her some space, for Cauldron's sake!" The female slapped the High Lord's hands away from me. "I'm sure Ophelia has more important things to do than to be taken in by your sweet, empty words!"
"But…"
"Helion, go talk to Jahn, will you?" Cresseida smiled, debauched. "I'm sure she's dying to see you again."
He brought one hand to his chest, outraged.
"You're dismissing me?"
"Precisely. And tell Varian that he still hasn't brought me the fan I asked for."
Helion looked at me, dumbfounded.
"Do you see her audacity?"
"Goodbye, Helion."
He rolled his eyes, amused, and sighed.
"They don't make princesses like they used to. What a pity." He looked at me again, smiling mischievously. "If you are interested in continuing our conversation about gadgets, I am at your disposal. And Tamlin," He turned to my cousin, his smile replaced by a serious expression, colder and more distant than before. "I hope you enjoy the festival responsibly."
Tamlin nodded, the mask of the haughty Grand Lord back on his face.
"I wish you the same."
As Helion walked away again, Cresseida laughed.
"Helion really liked you, hm?"
"That's good, no?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
"It depends," She stared at her long fingernails, a half-smile on her lips. "If you wish to be taken to his bed, then the answer is yes."
My eyes widened and my cheeks burned.
"No, no, I... No!"
"Then I suggest you make that clear. Helion may be insistent in his advances, but he won't bother you if you say you're not interested. He's very conscientious about this kind of thing." I nodded, still mortified. "By the way, I have come to invite you to join my family and me."
"I suppose the invitation is aimed more at my master than at me," I commented, rolling my eyes.
Cresseida shrugged.
"I have not seen my old friend for three years, and before that, fifty. Can you blame me for wanting to steal him away for a few moments?"
"Of course not, Princess. It's just an observation."
"Don't you think it's a bit early to be showing your claws to each other?" Asked Tamlin.
"Oh, my dear, we are just talking! " Argued Cresseida, smiling feline as she looked at me. "I'm sure Ophelia and I will be good friends!"
I squinted my eyes, forcing myself to smile. "Great friends."
"Wonderful. " Murmured Tamlin, not really looking thrilled.
Cresseida, like last time, guided us along the way. Her walk was full of grace and elegance, like a swan, and I couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling inside. She was a lady of nobility in more senses than one — perfectly educated for that world since birth. It was hard to try to imagine myself acting that way. Unnatural, even.
Near the edge of the courtyard were two males. The first one I recognized was Lord Tarquin, dressed in the Summer fashion, his white gold crown shining like a diamond over his white hair, this time completely loose.
The second male, who I assumed was Varian, was dressed in an outfit similar to the High Lord, but in a lighter shade of turquoise and without so many trappings. He, like many of the High Lords of Summer, had dark, mahogany-colored skin, which seemed to be further enhanced by the copper bracelets. His white hair was curly and short, like the wool of a sheep. His eyes were identical to his sister's, but more docile and gentle. He seemed friendly.
Tamlin greeted them with a nod of his head. I imitated him with a brief and slightly awkward nod, occasioned by the puffy skirts.
"I have asked Lord Tamlin and Miss Ophelia to join us, I hope you don't mind." Said Cresseida, her tone sweetly gentle.
Tarquin smiled.
"How nice to see you again!"
"We can say the same." My cousin replied with a half-smile.
"Tamlin, you look so much better than the last time I saw you!"
"Doesn't he? I missed that lively tone in his skin. Fortunately, it's back now, as well as the clear definition of his muscles... Oh, how I…"
"Cresseida, please! " Grunted Tarquin.
Cresseida smiled mischievously. "I'm just kidding, no need to get uncomfortable! By the way, Varian, where is the fan I asked you for? I've been waiting for it for some time."
"Cressy, I'm not your servant, you know that, don't you?"
"Where is my fan?" She repeated.
The male rolled his eyes, pulling a long object from one of his tunic pockets.
"Honestly, I have no idea why you would need a fan right now, but here it is." He sighed and turned to us, curious. "So this is your new Emissary, Tamlin?" Asked Varian, grinning like a cat. "I was wondering when I would finally meet you! I've heard so much about you!"
"Good things, I hope." I said, which made him laugh.
"Oh, yes, indeed! My sister just couldn't...
"Varian!" Cresseida called out, hurriedly, a very unfriendly expression on her face. "You're talking too much this evening. Have you been drinking more than usual?"
He arched an eyebrow, eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Cressy, don't tell me you're embarrassed?"
"Ashamed of what?" She retorted.
"Nothing," He replied, laughing softly.
"You are a real pain." She rolled her eyes, staring at her fingernails. "Go bother Amren or something!"
"I can't, she didn't come. And besides, you'll always be more fun to annoy, dear sister!"
"Ophelia," Tarquin called me, forcing me to turn my attention away from the siblings who argued beside me. "How is your family?"
"I... I haven't seen them in a long time, my lord."
"I assumed they had returned to Spring with you." He commented, confused.
I shook my head.
"No, they did not want to accompany me. They are very happy to be on your court."
A small lie, but he didn't need to know.
Lerina and Enyla had no idea I was leaving before my departure because if they had, they would have tied me up in the house. Literally. Even though they hated me, they still wanted a slave to do everything on the estate — Mother have mercy on their poor souls in dire need of being able to assault the servants at will!
My father, on the other hand, probably saw no difference in having me around or not. I didn't have a function for him like my other sisters. It was just a mistake.
There was no reason for me to stay in that place, not after all that had happened during the war.
"I am glad to hear that you are comfortable. I have done my best to balance the situation my people and yours find themselves in." Said Tarquin. "I certainly don't want this economic disparity to widen, but it has proven to be… Complicated, to say the least."
I nodded, clasping the gravel pendant between my fingers.
"It's not something that can be changed overnight, I think."
He sighed. "I'm afraid it isn't."
"But we can take an initial step to make this process happen." I added, and he frowned.
"How so?"
"By bringing the inhabitants of Spring back to our court, the overcrowding in Summer would disappear or decrease enough that the demand for goods and services would decrease once again. This would help to balance the economic situation of your court and, of course, ours as well." I explained.
"And how do you intend to do this? Your lands are infested with dangerous creatures and even talking about Spring makes the people uncomfortable, I truly doubt that they would agree to come back. And the last thing I want is to put them in a desperate situation." He remained serious, impassive. I had seen that same expression on my father's face many times when important people visited us in Vallahan, it was the embodiment of how resolute he was in his opinions.
"By getting rid of the plague that Hybern brought to these land."
"Are you suggesting bringing all your people back to kill these creatures?"
"No. I am asking for your help in doing this."
Tarquin raised his eyebrows.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I know this may sound absurd, and maybe it is," I started, trying not to show my nervousness or the way my hands were trembling around the gravel. "But we have no soldiers, not even a small personal guard with which to expel them."
"And you are counting on my guard to do this?"
"Our hands are tied, my lord." I confessed. "Even the few people who remain in the former capital of the court are in danger. There is a naga den not far from there and…"
"Naga den?" Interrupted Varian. "There is no such thing. Naga don't make dens."
"I didn't think so either, but there is! There are hundreds of eggs ready to hatch in that place, and if they do, that will be the end of Spring."
Varian shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe something like that. No normal naga would do that."
"Because they are not normal nagas, my prince!" I insisted. "My cousin had the displeasure of finding one, he saw it up close and can confirm that he had never seen a species like that here in Prythian!"
"Ophelia is not lying. It really is no ordinary creature."
"What do you mean, Tamlin?" Asked Tarquin.
Beside me, he sighed.
"I was wandering through the forest near Rosehall when I was attacked by one of them. Like me, you have also seen naga before, especially while Amarantha was here. They usually have humanoid features, but not these. The naga that Hybern brought are completely animalistic. It's like… It's like seeing a huge snake with the ability to think."
Cresseida opened her fan with a fluid motion, the loud sound echoing above the music played by the Symphony, and began to wave it.
"But if they're just more animal than fae, then it will be easier to kill them, no?"
"It's not just a matter of appearance, Cresseida. The scales of this species are more rigid, as if made of steel. I tried to tear it apart in my other form and only succeeded after much effort." He continued. "They are faster, more cunning, more ferocious… I don't remember reports of a naga like this anywhere. We don't know what else they have that is different from the ones we already know."
"And how can we know they are not lying?" Varian asked, cautiously. "This could very well be…"
"A what? A trap?" I raised an eyebrow. "My Prince, the Spring Court and the Summer Court have been allies for millennia, we are trading and political partners. Why would we put this stable bond at risk when we do not have the support of other courts?"
Tarquin turned the white gold ring on his finger, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, immersed in his thoughts.
"Besides," I continued, calmly shifting my gaze from one to the other. "If Spring falls because of the infestation of dark creatures, how long will it be before the same happens to the other courts?"
To your court?
The High Lord of Summer held his breath, swallowing hard as he understood what I meant. He stared at me, eyes crystal clear and unchanging, like a sea of glass.
"I want to help. I really, really do."
"But something is stopping you."
"I can't just send my troops into your territory. It will seem like we are joining forces for something, and I really don't want to deal with an invasion on my court due to the distrust of other High Lords." He told us.
"So we will be at the mercy of these creatures?" Tamlin asked, a hint of icy irritation in his voice. "Are we going to pretend there is no threat and get on with life?"
"Tam."
Tamlin turned to me, lips twitching and a deep wrinkle between his blond eyebrows, a faint pinkish tinge covering his face. I shook my head, looking deep into his eyes. We could not lose the support of the only court still openly willing to take us in, and he knew it — this had been the main topic of conversation for the past two weeks.
He begrudgingly took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Sorry, I... This whole situation is making me too apprehensive."
"It's all right, I can imagine how difficult it must be for you." Tarquin said.
"You are right, though." I said. "Leaving the other courts out of this matter could become an unnecessary headache. The best thing will be to talk to the other High Lords."
Tamlin opened his mouth, but then closed it.
"I can ask Thesan to organize a meeting, if that is what you wish." He suggested.
"That would be great. It is not our objective to create disagreements." I assured Tarquin. "We just want to bring safety and our people back to Spring."
"I will talk to the Captain of Thesan's Guard as soon as I can," Varian added. "There will be a greater chance of success if we have more people on our side."
I smiled. "My lord and I would be immensely grateful if you could do that, Prince Varian."
The music seemed to get quieter, and suddenly a shrill sound caught my attention, coming from across the courtyard.
We turned toward the source of the sound, eyes fixed on Thesan, who continued to tap on a crystal goblet with one of the golden claws on his forefinger, making it reverberate with the act. He kept the serene and smiling expression from before, looking even a little brighter now.
No, he didn't just look brighter. He was brighter.
I raised my face to the mountains in the distance, and my eyes widened as I noticed that a yellow-orange hue was beginning to paint the sky. How long had it been since our arrival?
"Dear friends, I would like to thank you all for your presence on this very important date in my court. Thank you for being here for another year… Or for the first of countless!" His gaze swept the crowd in front of him. "It's a few minutes until daybreak, so I'd like to ask the representatives of the courts to position themselves in the appropriate place for the beginning of the festival!"
"Let's start from the north courts and work our way to the south." Stated a tall man standing next to Thesan, his large white wings covered with gold paint at the ends. "Night Court!"
Tamlin cursed loudly, which made me look at him, confused.
"I had forgotten about this. Shit, shit, shit!" He rubbed his face with his hands, huffing.
"What detail?"
"The Daybreak Festival is a kind of competition, the representatives of each court participate in various tests throughout the week as a way to strengthen the friendship between us all." Cresseida said with a yawn. "And you didn't bring any."
"But that's okay," assured Tarquin. "The other courts know about the Spring Court's situation, no one would ask you to take part."
"It's impolite," Tamlin insisted.
"Nobody is going to kill you for this, Tamlin. Stop exaggerating." Giggled Cresseida.
"Spring Court!" Shouted the Peregryn from across the hall.
There was silence.
Tamlin was the color of a cherry, visibly embarrassed. His Adam's apple bobbed as everyone turned in our direction. His breathing quickened, his hands trembled. I could smell his nervousness. His shame. It was clear that if he could run away right now, he would.
It didn't take long until Tamlin's voice sounded, insistent, but I didn't understand what he said.
It was only when I stopped walking that I realized what I had just done. The reason he was calling me.
I was standing next to the other representatives.