Spark

Soft music played as they descended the stairs into the great hall.

“It hasn’t changed a bit,” Benji said to Avryn.

She clutched his arm tighter as she lost her balance, the many skirts of his mother’s dress twisting around her ankles. Benji’s hand covered her own as he bore her weight. From behind them Ivan whistled and Kirsi hit his shoulder as Avryn fought the blush rushing to her cheeks. Benji cleared his throat and removed his hand from hers. Avryn looked over the crowd as her cheeks cooled. People chatted among each other, laughing and smiling, the atmosphere light and full of excitement.

The four found a spot at the edge of the great hall and rested, Avryn and Benji refusing to look at each other. Kirsi sat at the edge of her seat, her foot tapping to the beat of the music as her eyes shifted from one thing to the next without a blink in between.

“Kirsi, if your eyes move any faster, someone is going to think you have the shakes,” Ivan said, a hiccup following his words.

“Forgive me for being excited about my first ball. I am not the one in need of four mugs of ale to be dressed.” Avryn hid her smile behind her hand as Ivan curled his lip at Kirsi.

“All rise for His Royal Majesty King Samir.”

The four rose, joining the crowd as it moved in unison to the edges of the dance floor. They lowered their heads as the king passed, Benji’s hands in fists as he walked before them. They stood straight once the king took his seat, and the herald spoke once more.

“His Royal Highness Prince Kayden and Dame Marrion.”

The two descended arm in arm, each stiff at the other’s side. Avryn caught Marrion’s eye, but not a hint of recognition passed between them. Marrion turned her gaze forward, her gait stiff.

“What do you think that was about?” Kirsi asked. Avryn shrugged her shoulders.

Avryn looked at Marrion once more as she and Prince Kayden took their seats next to the king. Marrion would not meet her eyes. With a wave of the king’s hand, the music began.

“Let’s dance, Ivan,” Kirsi said, trying to pull him from his seat. Ivan held firm in his chair.

“I may have agreed to come, but I am not dancing.”

The crestfallen look that passed Kirsi’s face disappeared as fast as it had come. She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.

“That’s fine. There are plenty of men far more handsome than yourself who would love to dance with me.”

Kirsi looked around them, trying to catch the eye of a passing man but finding none. Avryn nudged Benji and crooked her neck toward Kirsi. Benji stood and offered his hand.

“Would the beautiful lady honor me with a dance?”

The grin on Kirsi’s face outshone Ivan’s rolling eyes as Benji and Kirsi joined the other couples dancing.

“I won’t dance with you either,” Ivan bit out as Avryn changed seats to sit beside him.

“I wasn’t going to ask you to. Do you want to tell me what you found in your research?”

“Who says I’ve found anything?”

Avryn lifted a brow at him, and he sighed. “You don’t have to keep it to yourself. We are all finding out a lot about our pasts.”

“That’s the problem. I’m not finding anything. All the articles are exactly the same. Not a word changes.”

“Do you think it’s the Keepers?”

“It must be. Every article says the entire family was killed in a bandit attack except the eldest daughter who was kidnapped the night before.”

“You said your mother fought with your sister the night you left?”

“Yes. And the man who raised me told me she had been found and killed a while later. If that isn’t what happened, what did happen to my sister?”

“Maybe now is the right time to return to Nyte Calora and find out. You could leave in the morning.”

“I think I have to. If there’s a possibility she’s alive, I need to know. My aunt and uncle rule over Nyte Calora now. I’m certain they would take me in if I showed up at their doorstep.”

“Are you concerned about keeping your presence quiet? What if the Keepers used your aunt and uncle since your mother refused their advances?”

“I’ve thought about that. If the Keepers already have my aunt and uncle under their control, they don’t have any reason to kill me. It would take more than me showing up alive in Nyte Calora to overthrow their rule. There would have to be an appeal of their election. If the Keepers are as powerful as we think they are, they would do anything to overthrow that appeal and my aunt and uncle would continue to rule.”

“I think the danger is minimal. Perhaps you find out your sister is still alive and you have a piece of family left after all.”

“I doubt she would be pleased to see me. Brenna and I never got along.” Avryn smiled and placed a gentle hand over Ivan’s.

“If a missing sibling I thought dead appeared to me, I would be thrilled to find out they were alive,” Avryn said. Ivan’s scowl loosened a little. “I think it’s worth the try.”

Avryn looked up as Kirsi and Benji rejoined them, smiling at the excited Kirsi before sparing a glance to Marrion. She met her eyes once more, but Marrion looked away.

“What about you, Avryn? Would you like to dance once before everything goes back to normal?” Benji asked. Avryn hesitated to take his outstretched hand, but an encouraging look from Kirsi reassured her.

“I should warn you, I was taught to lead, not follow.”

“Don’t I know it,” Benji laughed.

Benji led Avryn out to the dance floor as the music started up once more in a slow waltz. Avryn fought to adjust to allow Benji to lead, the steps Tishvian had forced her to learn now reversed.

“Do you think everything goes back to normal after tomorrow?” Avryn asked.

“As normal as it can, I suppose. We speak with the king and provided he takes our validations seriously, he will increase his security, imprison Tishvian for treason, and launch an investigation into the Keepers. We will be cleared of any charges of abandonment and return to Andolin.”

“You can return to Andolin, but can I?”

“Why couldn’t you?” Benji asked as he pulled her back to him with a spin, her twisting his wrist as she spun the wrong way, bumping into another Lady with flaming red hair. She mouthed an apology as the dance continued and the Lady rolled her eyes.

“Who will protect my secret when I return? There’s likely an inquiry to be made into all of Tishvian’s affairs, mine included. They’ll find out who I am and what will happen to me. At best, they pardon me since I was too young to make the choice. At worst, I face death.”

“They will pardon you. It wasn’t your choice to be hidden as a boy or to join the military. Those things happened to you. You didn’t choose them.”

“What if I didn’t go back?” Avryn asked after another spin. She noticed Benji’s hand tighten over hers for a moment before it released.

“Where would you go?”

“I could go anywhere. I could return to Moira, or I could go in search of my parents. There’s a chance they are alive. They could help me, teach me about my magic and tell me why they did what they did.”

“They did it to protect you.” 

Avryn laughed. “Protected me by placing me with a sadist.”

“People make mistakes, Avryn. I thought my father was a coward until two weeks ago. It changed everything.”

“Is that what you think I should do? Search for my parents?”

“I think you should do whatever feels right to you. Whether it’s living with Moira, searching for your parents, or staying in Andolin. Only you can decide.”

They lapsed into silence as the music ended, clapping gently before exiting the dance floor. Avryn made eye contact with Marrion once more and gave her a gentle smile. Marrion looked away.

“What will you do after tomorrow, Benji?” Avryn asked as they returned to their seats. “Your father may be pardoned and you would be welcome back to Dragon Run.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. My return to Dragon Run would mean I take over as king.”

“When you’re king, you’ll invite me to all the balls, right?” Kirsi asked.

“I don’t know that I want to be King,” Benji said hesitantly. Before anyone could say anything more, the herald spoke.

“Prepare for an announcement from His Royal Majesty, King Samir.”

Avryn’s eyes found Marrion’s, who looked on with indifference. The king, Prince Kayden, and Lady Marrion stood, a smile plastered to her face as she stood with her hand in the prince’s.

“It is my greatest joy to announce the engagement between my son Prince Kayden and the lovely Lady Marrion. May their marriage be blessed by the Golden One.”

Everyone clapped, and some cheered, but Avryn caught Marrion’s gaze, this time holding firm as she connected with Avryn, a slight shake of her head relaying the unspoken message between them. Avryn clapped politely as she watched them make their way onto the dance floor and begin a dance, a smile on Marrion’s lips, but no spark in her eye.

“Something is wrong,” Avryn whispered to Kirsi.

“What makes you say so?”

“The Marrion dancing is not the Marrion we met on the street. Something isn’t right.”

“I trust you,” Kirsi said.

“We all do,” Benji said from behind her. Avryn smiled at them.

“We’re all going to have to dance. I need to find an excuse to get her alone to speak with her. We need to create a diversion.”

“Spill something on her gown. She’ll be forced to leave to change. You can volunteer to escort her,” Kirsi said.

“That’s perfect. Wait for my signal.” They all nodded and walked onto the dance floor, taking up partners.

They danced around the intended couple, the four exchanging partners as the dance required, despite the intended couple not following the direction as they danced. A nearby servant passed with a tray of drinks and with a nod to Kirsi, they spun the wrong way into Marrion, forcing her apart from the prince and into the servant. There was a flurry of apologies from the servant, Avryn, and Kirsi as they tried to help clean the spill on her dress.

“I fear your dress is ruined. Please allow me to help you into a new one. It is the least I can do for my clumsiness,” Avryn said, taking Marrion’s arm in hers.

“That is very kind of you,” Marrion said, squeezing her hand.

“A guard will escort her back to her room and a servant will help her,” the prince interrupted. Marrion squeezed her hand twice.

“How will a guard be of any use to a lady while she changes? There is no point in disrupting a servant from their duties when I am perfectly willing and able to help,” Avryn noticed the tick in the prince’s jaw.

“Very well, but the guard will still escort. She is a princess to be, now. One can never be too careful.” Avryn bowed to the Prince and left the room with Marrion.

The guard followed close behind as Marrion and Avryn chatted on the way to her room. Marrion opened the door to her room, and the guard began to follow them in when Avryn turned on him.

“There is nothing in this room that you are required for. You can rest assured the princess is in good hands. We will be out once she is changed.” The guard opened his mouth to protest, but Avryn shut the door on him.

“We will have to be quick,” Marrion whispered as she approached her wardrobe and pulled out a dress. Avryn worked at her ties as they spoke.

“What is the problem?”

“I cannot tell you everything. The story is too long. The Master of Affairs and the prince cannot be trusted. They are working in a slave trade using the people of Westton and are involved in an underground crime ring.”

“That’s what you found out from his second meeting?” Avryn asked.

“Yes. They must be stopped. These people are being treated as if they are animals. They are slaughtered for fun and forced to fight. I have seen only a portion of it. I cannot imagine the depths. Please inform the king when you see him tomorrow. The prince will not allow me anywhere.”

“Can you not run away?”

“He has placed a guard with me at all times. He knows I know. He will kill me before he allows me to leave. Our engagement is his way of keeping me close and silent.”

“We will tell the king.”

“Thank you. He already has suspicions about the Master of Affairs. He will not be surprised. Tread cautiously with the news of the prince.”

The guard pounded on the door.

“These things take time,” Avryn yelled at the door as she finished with Marrion’s ties. Marrion turned to her and the two grasped each other’s arms.

“I knew I could trust you. I knew you would understand.”

"The Master of Affairs is not the only Master on his council the king has to fear. We have reason to believe his death is imminent.”

Marrion sighed. The guard knocked again.

“A few more minutes,” Marrion called back sweetly, then returned to her whisper. “There has already been one attempt on his life. I fear the prince is attempting to enter the throne early. Which other Masters?”

“The Master of Defense, Tishvian.”

“The man with the scar on his face?” Marrion asked. Avryn widened her eyes and nodded. “He was here yesterday. He had a private meeting with the king.”

“Beware him. He works for another agency. Things will be better tomorrow. We will inform the king and insist on an investigation. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

“If you aren’t out in five breaths, I am breaking the door,” the guard shouted.

Marrion and Avryn shared a look of understanding before they headed for the door, opening it on the fifth breath.

“Have you ever worn a dress before, sir?” Avryn asked the guard. The guard shook his head, bewildered. “Then the next time you rush a lady, I will be sure to force you into one so you understand the time it takes, understood?”

The guard gave a slow nod, and Avryn smiled at Marrion.

“Shall we return to the ball? I believe we have time for a few more dances before the evening is over. There is plenty of celebrating to do this evening, your highness.”

Marrion returned the smile and nodded. “There most certainly is.”