When Jolene Lee Anderson finally entered the dining room through the back door, it was already crowded. A string quartet tuned up in one corner, servers with trays circulated through the room, and the usual court grazers swarmed about a side table laden with cheeses, fruits, and wine.
She quickly scanned the room for Zain or even Coda, though she didn't really expect to see him there. Unlikely that he'd be invited to mingle with the aristocracy.
Despite being the Second Prince, Coda hardly ever attended the large parties only on birthdays and Christ-mas an even then the king and queen made sure he kept his distance.
Across the room, Jolene saw her uncle, Bastion, Advisor of the North. He stood with a small group of other Northerners, wearing the flowing, elaborately embroidered robes they reserved for special occasions.
She went and stood by her uncle, her gaze sweeping the area.
"You look distracted," Her uncle's voice said after a few moments.
"Wondering if the king will allow my presence here is all," Jolene muttered.
"No need to worry," Her uncle stated. "He won't make a scene with all these people nearby."
Jolene shifted her head around. "Have you seen Coda?"
"You know I don't like you speaking with the princes, especially that one." Count Bastion uttered then patted Jolene's head and walked past her. "The prince needs to be focusing on his own duties and not wasting your time."
Jolene blinked. "He's not here,"
Bastion bit his bottom lip. "Yes, I have noticed. He never comes to these things...probably on the roof again or the queen put him in his chambers." Bastion took stepped away from the other folks, Jolene at his side. He made sure no one was nearby before he asked in a lowered tone. "Has Coda mentioned anything about the relic?"
"It's not a relic, he says." Jolene told her uncle in a whisper. "He says... it's a power that exists in a living vessel."
The count seemed taken aback by this. Almost stunned. "Like a Keeper? Did he say anything else?"
Jolene leaned in close. "... Endeavour... knows... this."
The count sighed then muttered. "I should have known that,"
Her uncle patted her shoulder. "We'll talk more about the plan later. For now, go have some fun,"
A dozen youngling courtiers had claimed space by the fireplace, huddled around Prince Zain. The heir to the North. Since his twenty first birthday was coming up, more and more of the nobility were sending their daughters to court, putting them under the nose of the Northern Heir, hoping to make—if not a marriage— connections that would benefit the family in the future.
Zain leaned against the fireplace, surrounded by his usual coterie of admiring girls. Melissa and Melony of House Tiger hung on his every word. Jolene had to admit, he'd cleaned up well—he wore a black silk coat and gray trousers that set off his falcon stoles. He still looked rather pale against his mane of blond hair. As Jolene watched, he set an empty wineglass on a table and grabbed a full one from a passing server. One girl leaned in and murmured something to him. Whatever it was, he didn't like it. He shook his head, scowling, and turned slightly away from her.
"Hey!" A voice shouted.
It was seeing Bayla run by, holding a tray of cupcakes on her head, her blonde pig-tails bouncing up and down as they went that made Jolene look up. Her white and pink winged regalia was on top on the tray, eating a cupcake.
"Is that a regalia?" Missy asked Zain, her blue eyes wide and horrified. "I hear those things are as rare as Keepers."
Jolene struggled to keep from making a face or mimicking Missy's vapid demeanor.
A lady keeps critical thoughts to herself. At least for now.
"Speaking of Keepers," Melony put in, blushing. "I know everyone is speaking about what that Keeper, David White did but Zain came riding right into our midst and told us the Umbre was coming, that we should make a run for it. He was already hurt from trying to distract the monster until helped arrived, but he wasn't scared at all."
Zain seemed uncharacteristically reluctant to talk about his exploits. "Well, good it came out all right in the end. Would anyone else like more Red Pepper?"
"Didn't your sister say you came late to the hunt?" Missy said, putting her shoulders back to better display her oversized bosom. "How did you get between the princess and the monster?"
Good question, Jolene thought, amazed that Missy had come up with it. Keeping next to the wall, she sidled closer.
Zain seemed to think it was a good question too. He took a long swallow of Red Pepper, thinking about it. "Well, ah, we saw the monster from below, so we took a shortcut, hoping to catch them and . . ." Zain looked up and saw Jolene, taking full advantage of the distraction. "Lady Jolene," he said, sweeping down into an elegant bow.
Jolene, knowing the king was watching somewhere extended her hand. Zain grasped it and raised it to his lips, then lifted his head and gazed into her eyes.
"Oh, your highness," Missy exclaimed. She reached for his hands, recoiled at the sight of the bandages, then wound her arms around his neck and gazed up into his eyes. "You are a hero!"
Zain looked flustered enough to be charming, and untangled himself as soon as he could, shooting glances at Jolene.
Don't worry, she thought. I'm not jealous. Only annoyed with Missy.
"How do you suppose the Umbre got so close to the palace?" Missy asked, flicking her elaborate curls back into place. "It's so well guarded."
"Father thinks the natives might have had something to do with it," Zain said. "They're always keen on keeping people out of the mountains."
"Umbre," Jolene said. "They're keen on keeping Umbre out of the Spirits. But the natives would never set a monster so close."
Zain inclined his head. "I stand corrected, Lady Jolene," he said. "You are familiar with their ways and I am not." He forced a smile. "It's a mystery, then."
"Well, I don't trust them," Missy declared, glancing about to locate the native delegation before she continued. "They slip around like thieves, and they're always muttering to each other in that foreign language so you never know what they're saying. And everybody knows they steal babies and replace them with demons."
"Don't repeat nonsense, Missy," Jolene snapped. "Children are fostered with the natives for their own good, to teach them the old ways. Besides, the natives were here first. If there's a foreign language spoken in the North, it's the one we use,"
"Of course," Missy said hastily. "I meant no offense. But very few natives or Templars attend court," she added, as if that settled that.
They wanted to declare their point of view correct but they also knew Zain's soft spot for Jolene so kept quiet, hoping not to upset the Northern Heir.
The quartet had completed its warm-up, and now the first strains of real music floated over them.
"Would you care to dance, Lady Jolene?" Zain asked abruptly. Beyond him, two boys who watched her walk by earlier were practically slapping their foreheads that they hadn't thought of it first.
Missy scowled, having been overlooked. She glanced around for other prospects.
Just as Luke Minkus stepped into the room and crookedly turned his gaze to her dark curls. "Would you care to dance, Lady Tiger?" he said.
"Well—ah—perhaps I'll go and fetch some punch," Missy said, fleeing in the direction of the punch bowl.
Luke chased after her. "Wait! I've had all my shots this time,"
Zain offered his arm, leading her to the small dance floor. She put one hand at his waist and cradled the bandaged hand carefully with the other.
They circled the floor, floating on the music. Raised at court, Zain was an excellent dancer, despite his several glasses of wine and stomped-on foot. But then, he did everything relentlessly well.
"How have you been?" Zain asked.
"All right." Jolene replied calmly. "As a farmer and former court member would be,"
He seemed tense and unusually inarticulate.
"You know, I had nothing to do with your family's downgrade in status?" Zain persisted. "That was my father,"
"I know that. And that's not what bothers me these days. Have you spoken to your father about us?" Jolene added.
Zain grimaced. "Tried last night. But when I came to talk to him last night, he and his closet knights took Coda out again." And then, in the manner of someone who's intentionally changing the subject, he said, "That's a new dress, isn't it?" When she nodded, he added, "I like it. It's different from your other dresses."
Jolene glanced down at herself. Part of Zain's appeal was that he missed nothing. "Because I normally don't wear dresses,"
"Hmmm." Zain pretended to think for a moment. "Perhaps that's it. Plus the color sets off your eyes. Tonight they're like pools in a forest glade, reflecting the leafy canopy overhead."
"Well, green sets off your eyes," Jolene said sweetly. "They remind me a good hunt, when the sun reflects off the trees ."
Zain stared at her a moment, then threw back his head and laughed. "You are impossible to flatter," he said. "I am helpless here."
"Just leave off. I was raised at court too, you know." She rested her head on his chest, feeling the heat of him through the wool, hearing the thud of his heart. They circled silently for a moment. "How come Coda never comes to these small parties?"
Zain nodded, his smile fading. "I wish I knew that to. Father and mother seem to keep that boy on a leash. Even send me to enforce it."
He doesn't know either? Jolene thought with shock. That is surprising.
"I honestly figured you would know," Jolene said. "I mean, he is your brother."
Zain grimaced. "Doesn't mean very much. I don't see him very often and I really don't like it when they put us together. Seems we have nothing in common and all I think when I see him is why father is with him more than the Northern Heir."
Jolene tilted her head. "Maybe he's teaching him to rule another country?" She paused, then couldn't resist adding, "He was betrothed to Princess Star of the Southwest once, I hear,"
Zain dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "Eh, that went south, thanks to father. Basically kept the little twit prisoner in their country for over a year. And it was mother who rallied up an army and got him back."
The song came to an end, and they drifted to a stop on the dance floor. Gripping her elbows, Zain looked down into her face. "You are very beautiful, you know?" he said. "I don't know what I find more stunning, the Native side of you or the Templar side."
"Seems like your avoiding my questions," she said. "And I would prefer not to bring up the Templars with your father nearby. Not after what he did,"
"Mmmm. My father said it was for the greater good."
"Greater good? My father didn't betray your father. Your father betrayed mine."
Zain shook his head, a slight movement, his eyes fixed on hers. "No one truly knows what happened?"
"Wrong!" Now Jolene's voice rose and she had to make a conscious effort to lower it. "I was there."
She glowered at him, and Zain rolled his eyes. "Never mind. Come on." Taking her elbow, he drew her into a windowed alcove overlooking the illuminated city.
Cradling her face in his bandaged hands, Micah kissed her, first lightly, and then with more intensity. Like usual, Zain was changing topics to something they could agree on. Most of their arguments ended this way.
Jolene's pulse accelerated, and her breath came quicker. It would be so easy to fall under his spell, and yet, she wasn't quite finished with the conversation.
Jolene gently pulled away from him, turned and stared out over the city. It sparkled below, perfect from a distance.
"Did you hear this theory from your father? Is that what the Northern King thinks?"
"My father has nothing to do with this," Zain said. "I have ideas of my own, you know. He just . . ." He rested his hands on her shoulders and power sizzled through his fingers. "Jolene, I wish we could . . ."
He was interrupted by a rising clamor in the dining room. The band shifted smoothly into "The Way of the North."
Jolene broke it off and stormed off towards the food table and grabbed a cupcake off the table.
Zain gave her a sad look then eyed another girl that walked by.
"Jolene!" A voice shouted.
Oh, no, Jolene thought before she looked over her shoulder to see Luke running up to her.
"I was told you would be in here." He said to Jolene to her as she ate the cupcakes, not caring how not-pretty she was appearing.
"Are you going to the Fall Festival?" Luke asked her.
Jolene shook her head without uttering a word.
"Why not?" Luke asked, before Jolene gripped the side of the table.
"... Because my uncle said I shouldn't." Jolene replied stiffly. "And don't you have assignments to be delivering to the prince?" Jolene asked him coldly.
"Yeah, were not doing that anymore." Luke stated to her.
Jolene frowned at him. "Stupid laws," Jolene muttered. "None of this is fair,"
"And there's... one other thing."
Jolene turned back to Luke, lifting her eyebrows. "What thing?"
Luke's eyes widened as if remembering not to tell her something, infuriating her even more.
"So W-why are you not going to the festival?" Luke asked, quickly changing the subject.
"I told you why." Jolene stated she turned away and made her way to the side doors.
Luke followed her.
"I-I just don't feel like going the festival, that's all." Jolene then said to him in a tone that indicated otherwise.
Luke jumped in front of her, startling her to where she almost dropped the cupcake in her hand.
"As your best friend, I insist you attend the festival." Luke said to her. "With me,"
"I said no," Jolene snapped.
"Colors, dancing, songs, and jugglers. What could be more fun than seeing jugglers?" Luke said with joy. "You can learn to identify various regional cheeses."
Jolene raised an eyebrow at him and took a step away from him.
"Why are you so interested in having me go?" Jolene snapped at him.
"We can slip in and out without the count knowing." Luke said to her. "And besides Coda, you're my only, buddy."
Jolene rolled her eyes.
"Only you decided that one." Jolene snapped at him, walking away from him.
Jolene got a few feet before she looked back to the party and her eyes locked with Zain who stood by a group of girl's, peering at her. The moment seemed so long, but she finally broke from the trance, shook her head and walked away from the palace.
•────────────────────────❅❀❅───────────────────────────•
Coda sat on the small balcony of his chambers, looking down over the front court yard that went on for what seemed smiles.
So for the moment he sat on the balcony, looking through the iron bars that formed the sides of it, and watched the activity just outside the front and east doors. He had seen several people arrive late, even a couple snapping at her husband on how her attempts to please the queen had been dashed.
Clearly, this woman didn't actually know the queen since his mother didn't like attending these court parties anyway.
"Coda," Rayla's voice came through the open doors behind him. "Coda! Where are you? Oh—honey, be careful out there, it's a long way to the ground."
Rayla stood in the opening, dressed for the party in a long dark dress. There was an anxious expression on her pretty face.
"How could I fall off, when I'm sitting down behind the bars?" Coda asked reasonably. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. Now I want you to stay here."
"I know," Coda muttered.
"Well, today's little adventure leaves me to wonder sometimes." Rayla responded. "Your father has agreed you can attend the Fall Festival but only if you stay at our side. And it took a lot of threatening to get him move from his high horsed ego,"
"Okay," Coda with a shrug. "I really don't mind staying up here during those types of events." Coda looked back to the balcony. "It's too loud and too many people."
"Yes. But I'll feel better if you have some time to do what kids your age are supposed to do. So indulge your old mother, will you? And put up with it?"
Coda got up off the floor of the balcony and went inside, sighing. It was so silly, and a needless expense, too, to have to go to some fancy event just to have your face seen. Especially when he knew it could come out again.
Speaking of which...Coda thought of Luke learning his secret. He couldn't explain to his friend why this particular power was a bad thing.
All Luke could say was. "You're a Keeper. You're a Fire Keeper."
If only it were as simple as that, Coda thought, clenching his fist.
His mother left, a few servants surrounding her, adding the finishing touches to her gown and hair.
I haven't told mother about Luke yet, Coda thought. And I can't tell father at all. Otherwise I'll lose him too.
Images of his past friends and nannies entered his mind. All the people that were killed because they found out about his flame.
"You need to stay inside," He said, eyeing his hand. "So no one gets hurt again."
The wolf howled beyond the northern hills. The sound hung over the palace like a flag of mourning.
Coda looked up from his books and shivered, though the chambers were snug and warm. Something about the howling of a wolf took a boy right out of his here and now and left him in a dark forest of the mind, running with the pack.
When the wolf howled again, Coda shut the heavy leather-bound cover on the book he was reading, a hundred-year-old discourse on the changing of the seasons by a long-dead man. He stepped outside on the balcony once more, and swallowed a lungful of the cold evening air. He eyed the men that were hard at it in the yard below. His father's rasping voice drifted up to him. "The girl is over stepping bounds. Humiliating my heir that way,"
"I'm sure my niece didn't mean it." Count Bastion said. "They were just having a quarrel is all? They are teenagers, sire."
Coda glanced down and saw the king standing with Count Bastion as squires swarmed around them. "This is her only warning," the king replied. "If she over steps again, she will punished. I don't need to remind you, her father, your brother betrayed me."
"No, your highness,"
King Endeavour cast a long shadow across the hard-packed earth as a small dark cloud covered the moon for a moment. "I don't want my son to be gossiped about," he said through his gritted teeth.
"I will speak with her," Bastion replied. "As I think you should speak with The Second Prince, he keeps running off after her and abandoning his studies. And I hear from Sir Randall that he has been passing his schooling to her and that other boy."
The notion seemed to delight the king. "I agree, we need to separate them!" he exclaimed. "For both their sakes,"