The carriage was silent as they passed through city in the early dawn. After some time had passed, Lady Serena looked at Ciardis and asked, "Do you know what time it is?"
"Close to dawn, milady," said Ciardis, her heart pounding in her chest.
"And do you know what day it is?"
"The second day of the Patron Hunt."
"Really?" said Serena with a soft laugh.
Damias interrupted their terse conversation with an irritated cough. "Ciardis, you were missing for a full day and night. Your second day has come and gone. All your Patrons have rescinded their invitations. We were at court to declare you a missing person and have the Gardis conduct a search."
"Ha! Do you know what fools we looked like?" exclaimed Serena. "We went before the Emperor begging for his help, and there you appeared, covered in dust and dirt, with not a scratch on you!"
Even Damias regarded her in disappointment.
Then Serena lost it. "How could you do this to us, you ungrateful wretch?"
Damias winced, but said nothing.
"I...I didn't know. The prince needed my help, and I couldn't refuse," she whispered, bowing her head.
"The prince needed your help?" Serena said cruelly. "He needs everyone's help—the brat is useless! Did he not tell you that his father has issued orders for him to abdicate his place in the succession?"
"Well, no, but—"
"Ah, so he also didn't tell you that this abdication will take place tomorrow," said Serena. "Whatever he promised you—wealth, titles, land—he has no claim to it. You gave up a place as the premier Companion Trainee and a place within the Companions’ Guild for nothing."
"Serena, I never intended to take anything from him. He has asked for nothing—" And then Ciardis stopped suddenly, finally understanding Serena's words. "Given up?" she said. This time, Damias would not look at her at all, instead staring out the window with single-minded intensity.
"Your contract as a trainee with the Companions’ Guild has been terminated, effective immediately," said Serena.
Ciardis gasped in horror.
"Serena, please," begged Ciardis, all pretense gone, "I...I...General Barnaren has indicated his interest, and so has Viscount Marce. They are both credits to the Companions’ Guild!"
"They are not enough," snapped Serena. "As I've said before, your other Patron candidates have withdrawn. Now show some dignity."
At that moment, the carriage stopped and Serena leapt out. As she walked away, she said over her shoulder, "Your things are packed. You'll be on your way to Vaneis within the hour."
As Ciardis turned to look for Damias she saw he was already out the other door. "Coward!" she shouted, furious. She sat down heavily on the carriage steps, her mind filled with anger.
"Hey, lass," called the driver, "We have to move. Off with you."
She stood up and moved away from the conveyance. With a flick of his whip, the driver urged the horses towards the barn.
In a daze, she made her way back to her room, where—true to Serena's word—three trunks sat in the middle of the room, packed and ready to go.
Kneeling in front of one, she opened it and gazed at all the court dresses bought for her by the Companions’ Guild and the books she'd collected over her months in Sandrin. Sighing, she stood up and dusted off her hands. She eyed the dirt caked on her palms with disgust. I might as well take one last shower.
After unpacking a simple tunic and trousers, she went and did just that. Towards the end, hot water running down her back and soap in her hair—which had taken forever to unbraid—she luxuriated in the soothing hot water for the last time. Then, rinsing off and grabbing a towel, she prepared to step out of the shower. She felt around on the side of the tub for her towel, which was supposed to be hanging on the wall hook.
"Here," said a voice, and someone handed her the towel. Ciardis bit back a scream, snatching the towel in a rush to cover her nakedness. When she finally placed the voice, she screamed, "How dare you! This is my private bathing area, Sebastian! What the hell are you doing in here?"
"If you could stop screaming for just a second—"
“You certainly left me without as much as a word earlier—”
“Ciardis, really...”
"Get out!"
"I can't."
"Why? Do you need my help again?" she sneered, stepping out of the tub to grab a second towel for her hair.
"Don't say it like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're somehow worthless," he snapped.
"Well, let's see," she said, moving around the bathroom, "My patrons have abandoned me, my prince lied to me, I've been kicked out of the Companion' Guild—oh, and a person I thought was a friend left me in the Emperor's audience room without so much as a goodbye."
Sebastian turned around and around, following her as she paced in a circle. "I didn't abandon you, I am your friend, and I never lied to you," he protested.
"Oh no?" she scoffed. "My sources say otherwise. You also neglected to mention that you're about to be disinherited!"
"I was about to be disinherited, but that was contingent upon my not regaining my powers. Thanks to you, I have my powers back in full."
"Right," she said, stopping suddenly. "So—you owe me?"
"Right. Wait...what?"
"You. Owe. Me."
"I might agree to help you," he said haughtily.
"You stubborn bastard! Let's cut the shit. I'm being kicked out of the Companions’ Guild. I need you to do something about that. Without me, you wouldn't have been able to break the locket's embrace or connect it to the Grand Vizier."
Sebastian looked at her with a face eerily similar to his father's: aloof and cold, though much younger. "Fine," he said softly, "Consider it done."
Within the hour, her candidacy was reinstated, invitations were received to dine with Princess Heir Marissa of Sandrin and Initiate Soundsoar of the Madrassa that night, an ambitious General was already making his rounds in the Companions’ Guild, and all of it was done with the conspicuous absence of Viscount Iskas of Marce.
After hours of insipid conversation with Damias—who had the grace to at least look ashamed about abandoning her—and Serena—who acted like nothing more untoward had happened than a misplaced hairpin—Ciardis decided to prepare herself for the night’s dinner.
The Princess Heir and Initiate Soundsoar had agreed to host the dinner together, leaving Ciardis intrigued. She knew of no Companion with more than one Patron, but there was a first time for everything.
The invitation had been specific: she was to come in loose but comely attire. She chose a short but airy dress with cap sleeves, room for a small back sheath, and sandals that laced up her calves. The light blue color complimented her dusky skin well, and the moonstone and sapphire Aether bracelet flashed on her ankle. She had yet to take it off.
Night had already fallen when they arrived at the Princess Heir’s palace. Ciardis and Damias descended from the carriage. A chamberlain hurried forward a moment later to show them to the dining suite.
A long, low table was laden with foods and wine of every variety. At the head of the table sat a beautiful woman with a riot of black, curly hair and skin the color of walnuts. She wore gold bangles on her wrist and her neck, while her face was beautifully made up.
“She’s stunning,” Ciardis whispered to Damias as they walked toward where the woman sat.
He surveyed their hostess with a critical eye before muttering, “She’s on the market.”
Ciardis laughed. “So am I. What does that make the pair of us?”
“Two beautiful women who could take the Summer Imperial dances by storm,” interjected a man with a booming voice.
Ciardis gasped in surprise and Damias grinned, turning to greet the man walking toward them. The voice belonged to the same man she’d met in the Imperial gardens ages ago – Lord Aaron.
“Soundsoar,” he exclaimed, “It’s been too long.”
“You haven’t changed, Damias,” he said, and they gripped hands in the odd way that men do.
“Ciardis Weathervane, may I present Lord Soundsoar?” Damias said with a grand bow.
Soundsoar looked at her and winked. Ciardis blushed, “It’s an honor to meet you, milord.”
“And you, as well, my dear. I hear that you have quite the interesting tale to tell.”
Ciardis nodded politely in acknowledgement and Soundsoar gestured to the head of the table, where Princess Heir Marissa awaited them casually.
Ciardis walked to the head of the table to great the woman. She heard Damias say behind her, “After you, milord.”
As she approached the reclining princess, Ciardis dipped into a gentle curtsy. “Milady, it pleases me to make your acquaintance.”
The princess sat up languidly and then stood. With the subtle movement of a snake, she circled around Ciardis, looking her over from head to toe. Finally, she met her eyes.
“Well, well, the rumors are true...a beautiful Weathervane has once again come to grace the Court of Sandrin.”
“At your service, Your Imperial Highness.”
A bright laugh like glass shards falling on a polished floor escaped from the princess’s mouth. Ciardis felt a bit of uneasy – the Princess Heir’s voice was familiar to her too. But she couldn’t place from where.
“You certainly shall be.”
Turning abruptly, she called for her retainers. Servants poured into the room from hidden doors, holding trays laden with soups, salads, appetizers, and cakes. The table soon groaned under the weight of the additional food.
She raised a glass in a toast to a successful evening.
Hours later, dazed but proud with her successful evening with the Princess Heir and Lord Soundsoar, Ciardis asked, “Milady, I beg that you appease my curiosity. You are princess heir to which province, if I might ask? It’s one of the fascinating subjects not covered in my dossiers.”
Ciardis was a little tipsy, or she would have noticed the flash of anger in the woman’s eyes.
With a smile masking her ire, the Princess Heir raised her glass of wine. “Why, the whole of the Algardis Empire, my dear.”
Ciardis glanced over at Damias in confusion. He looked just as uncertain. She turned back to the Princess Heir just in time to see a flash of mage power out of the corner of her eye.
I thought those damn mage sight flashes were supposed to go away?
Then she felt the bind of bands of air across her throat. She couldn’t breathe.
And then she knew no more.