โPae is not going to be happy about you scrubbing the tub.โ
I singsong my warning, smiling at her crouched form as I say it.
With brown hair tied up in a knot, Ellie whips her head towards me, sending wispy strands blowing into her eyes. โThen she never need know about it.โ
I cross my arms, looking down my nose at her teasingly. โAnd you trust me enough not to tell her?โ
Ellie lifts her sponge, dripping water as she points the dull end at me. She smiles softly. โIf I go down, you go down with me. Besides, Iโm her maid. This is what I do.โ
I sigh, leaning against the door frame of the bathroom. The entirety of Paedynโs room is spotless, seeing that sheโs been gone for nearly a full week now in the 1rst Trial. All of it is very unnerving, and I donโt like the idea of Pae being in theseย specialย Trials. Itโs hard enough to survive as it is.
At that gloomy thought, I turn my attention back to Ellie now loudly scrubbing the bottom of the tub. โAny ideas for her next gown? The second ball is already in a week.โ
โNot really.โ Sheโs forced to raise her voice over the water that is now running. โWho knows what color she will be wanting next?โ
โWell, Iโll just have to wait for her to tell me, then.โ I say this con1dently, as though I know for a fact that she will be coming back alive today. โBecause the silver dress will be di cult to top. Ugh, she looked so stunning with the drooping sleeves and slitted skirtโโ
โAnd you didnโt even get to see her turning heads at the ball.โ Ellie peeks up at me, pressing her lips together in a knowing smile.
โWell,โ I say, Rustered, โI was there to help her get ready and wish her luck, of courseโฆโ
โRight.โ Ellieโs smile is far too mischievous for her sweet features. โBecause you were busy seeing yourย boy.โ
โHeโs notโฆ Heโs not myย boy, Ellie,โ I scold despite the smile beginning to
form on my lips. โAnd I donโt regret sneaking out one bit. I took him to the Fort, and we talked for hours about every little detail.โ I can feel my cheeks heating at the thought. โHe told me that he had a dog growing up. Well, it was a stray that would come and visit him, but isnโt that adorable? I learned all about his favorite things and how he prefers green apples to redโ Oh! And he said my hair is โ and I quote โ very bouncy.โ
I beam, forcing myself to take a breath. โAnyways, Iโve seen him almost every day since. Sometimes we meet halfway, or I leave early in the evening so I get to the slums before dark. No one seems to care where I go, so long as Iโm back in time to make Paeโs dress.โ
Ellie lets me 1nish my squeal before saying, โWow, you really are falling for him.โ
I still my dancing feet at her words. Falling is not what I do. No, I trip into love, unable to slow down long enough to question these feelings or the person Iโve dumped them on. But Iโve liked boys in the past, and nothing compares to how easily Iโm tripping into this one.
โHave you told Paedyn?โ
I blink out of my daze. โHmm?โ
Ellie narrows her eyes slightly. โYou havenโt told her, have you?โ
I huI, plopping down on the spotless Roor beside her, one Iโm suspecting she scrubbed before I arrived. โNo, I havenโt. But I will! Just notโฆ yet.โ I pick at my 1ngers, falling into the same dilemma Iโve had since being reunited with Paedyn. โShe has so much on her plate at the moment, and she needs to keep her focus on the Trials. I donโt want my love life to be a distraction for her. Because, trust me, Pae would not stop until she met Mak and approved.โ I shake my head, making up my mind. โNo, I canโt have her losing her focus or worrying about anything to do with me when her own life is at stake.โ
Ellieโs silent for a long moment before nodding slowly. โShe wonโt be happy about being left in the dark.โ
I smile, small and teasing as I nod towards the bathtub. โSame goes for your cleaning, my dear Ellie.โ
Before she can splash me with water, I hurry from the room, shouting, โIโll be back! Iโm oI to meet my boy!โ
Itโs an eIort not to skip down the hallway in excitement. I can hardly contain my anticipation toโ
I nearly run into a large 1gure rounding the corner.
In the midst of my sputtered apology, my eyes trail up to the green ones boring down at me. I blink, horri1ed by what Iโve just done, and sweep into a curtsy.
โYour Majesty!โ I squeak. โI am so very sorry! I really must get better at watching where Iโm going, especially in such a crowded castle whereโโ
A large, raised hand has the remaining words dying in my throat. My eyes Rick from the palm hovering before my face to the man standing behind it.
Everything about the king is large and looming. He stands well over a foot above me, and his piercing gaze feels as though it might cleave me in half. Swallowing, I stand before him as his scrutiny sweeps over me, lingering on my messy hair and crumpled clothing.
When his silencing hand 1nally falls, I feel oddly stripped bare before him. โAnd who might you be?โ
His voice is deep in a way that is far from comforting. I shift on my feet, attempting to sound at ease as I say, โIโm Adena, Your Majesty. What a pleasure it is to meet you!โ
The smile he gives me is menacing at best. โLetโs not lie to your king, Adena. Iโm likely the last person you wish to see, seeing that youโre in such a hurry to 1nd someone else.โ
My mouth opens and closes several times before words begin to fall out. โOh, well, I just have a lot of work to do before the next ball and was hoping to get a head start on things. You know, picking fabric and calculating measurementsโโ
His hand lifts once again.
โI havenโt seen you before,โ he says evenly. โWhy are you here?โ
โOh, Iโm Paedynโs seamstress.โ I say this as cheerily as I can muster. โShe sent for me since Iโve gotten quite good at making clothes for her over the years.โ
it?โ
He contemplates this with narrowed eyes. โYou are close with Paedyn, I take
โYes, very.โ I smile, relieved to be talking about something so comforting.
โWeโve lived in the slums together for years. So, itโs no shock that we are the best of friends!โ
โI see,โ he hums. โShe must be very happy to have you here with her.โ I nod. โOh, yes, we both are!โ
โWell, you will be happy to know that she survived this 1rst Trial.โ His tone is dull, as if heโd been hoping for a very diIerent outcome.
I suppress my relieved sigh. โOf course she did! Iโd expect nothing less from Pae.โ
โPae,โ he repeats softly, lifting the edge of his mouth in that unnerving way.
โHow sweet.โ
I do my best to keep the smile on my face, even as Iโm shifting uncomfortably on my feet. Iโm about to attempt a quick curtsy and swift escape when he sighs. โYes, how fortunate that Pae was not one of the casualties this Trial.โ
I blink. โUm, if you donโt mind me asking โ Your Majesty โ who were the casualties?โ
He shrugs slightly, as though these deaths mean little to him. โSadie โ a shame. Iโm close with her father. Oh, and the Veil girl from the slums, though that was unsurprisingโฆโ
His voice fades, mu ing as my ears begin to ring. My eyes 1x on the wall behind him, glazing over as the gravity of his words weigh down on me.
Hera is dead.
All I can think of is Mak. Of the guilt on his face when he 1nds out, the agony in his voice following every word after.
โHow terrible,โ I say shakily. โIโm so sorry to hear that.โ His voice is eerily cheery. โSuch is the Trials.โ
When he says nothing else, I sink into a wobbly curtsy. โIt was an honor meeting you, Your Majesty.โ
I move to scurry past him and startle when his booming voice follows me down the hall. โOh, Iโm sure we will be meeting again, Adena.โ
Late afternoon light paints Loot in a warm glow by the time I step onto the busy street.
I would have run the whole way here if it werenโt for my lack of endurance proving that to be di cult. But I followed the path down by the Bowl Arena with much more haste than usual.
The street is packed with shouting customers and squealing children. I push my way through as politely as possible, eyes trained on the crumbling building that houses his shop and home.
Iโm not sure how I made it to his looming door, but Iโm suddenly standing before it. I raise a hand to knock andโ
And the door swings open. I still at the sight of him.
Heโs standing there, eyes glossy and brimming with a guilt that tells me he already knows why Iโm here.
โI felt you coming,โ he whispers, voice weak.
My eyes drift to the crumpled paper clutched in his hand, catching the familiar lettering scrawled across it.
A Ryer for the Trials.
What a horrible way to ๏ฌnd out.
Tears well in my eyes as I take a step towards him. โOh, Makโฆโ
His composure crumples before his body suddenly crashes into mine.
He slumps against me, shoulders shaking as I wrap my arms tightly round him. The Ryer showcasing Heraโs death Rutters to the ground, forgotten in the wave of emotions threatening to drown him. His body shudders against mine, limbs limply draped round me.
โSheโs gone,โ he chokes out. โSheโs gone, and itโs all my fault.โ
Sni ing, I whisper, โNo, itโs not. Donโt you go thinking this is your fault.โ
Sobs rack his body, shaking the two of us where we stand in the doorway. โIt should have been me.โ His arms clutch my waist, holding onto me for support. โIt should have been me.โ
โShh.โ I run a hand down the back of his hair, feeling hot tears slip from my eyes. โItโs gonna be okay.โ
โDena.โ His voice is a whisper, a guilty confession. โIt should have been me. I wish it was me.โ
โDonโt say that.โ I squeeze him tighter, feeling his body shake with each breath. โI need you.โ
โDonโt,โ he murmurs against my hair. โIโll only disappoint you.โ
