Page 117 of Wrath of the Dragons
“Hold the charge.” Saskia huffs when she struts over the bridge and sees our weapons. “I can’t spend another minute with the others if neither of you are present. I have nobody to look at when they say something idiotic.” I laugh while sliding my arm through hers and leading her back to the party. “Let’s find something to eat before the royals arrive and politics must be dealt with.”
My anxiety has nearly robbed me of my appetite, but I don’t want her to venture off alone. We may be allying with Galakin, but we must remain vigilant. Our ensembles ripple in our wake as we rejoin the party and cut through the throngs of people. Saskia is clad in an elegant blue gown that cascades over one shoulder, and panels of sheer fabric dotted with diamonds flow behind her. I’m in a similar color, but my bodice and wrist cuffs are made entirely of pearls with thin strands that clasp around my neck and over my shoulders. Fabric drapes from my bodice to my wrists, flowing as effortlessly as my skirt, and matches my sapphire-and-moonstone dragon crown.
Finnian catches up to us, looping his arm through my free one and tagging along to the table filled with various vibrant fruits, flatbreads,and spreads. A servant piles a crystal dish high with an assortment of tropical delights, and I nearly groan while trying a strange-looking green one that I’m told is a kiwi.
“I might rethink the marriage offer from Cordelia if it means I can always have this fruit,” I say after swallowing.
“Please don’t say that any louder. I’d really rather not have to deal with fighting our way out of another coup,” Saskia mutters, glancing in Cayden’s direction to make sure he didn’t hear.
“Calm down, Sas. A bit of violence keeps the evening interesting.” I laugh when she groans.
“Who are we fighting?” Finnian asks as he rejoins us, shoving a mango slice into his mouth.
“Nobody at the moment but the night is still young,” I respond, leading our way back to the group. “Lots of opportunities for one of us to piss someone off.”
Lyres and string instruments alert guests to the impending arrival of the royal family, and the entirety of them flock to the base of the grand staircase in anticipation. We do the opposite, keeping away from the masses and rejoining our group. Cayden steals my grapes, and I glare up at him as he tosses them into his mouth, pulling me closer to kiss the side of my head.
“What did you get?” Zarius asks Saskia, smirking into his glass when she bristles.
“Nothing that would interest you, considering it doesn’t come in liquid form and isn’t served at a tavern.”
“That’s not true,” he answers. “You can juice fruits.”
She scoffs and moves to the opposite side of our gathering as I raise my brows. Cayden shakes his head. “Not our problem. Not our business.”
“Saskia is my business,” I say, biting another kiwi before Cayden decides he wants to steal that as well. “And it’s so intriguing.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.”
I narrow my eyes. “You think I’m dramatic?”
“Does the sun rise at dawn?”
A trumpet blares and I offer him my middle finger while turning away.
“House Ilaria would like to take this opportunity to thank you for joining the royal ball in celebration of the winter solstice,” a squire announces before four more trumpets blare. “King Erix, Queen Cordelia, and Crown Prince Zale are accompanied by the entirety of their house and King Lycidas and Queen Nasha of Feynadra, our beloved queen’s sister.”
Erix, Cordelia, and Zale appear first, all in elaborate, jewel-encrusted finery reflecting the colors of a sunset. Sea serpents made of flames slither through the sky like shooting stars as they walk. The various princes and princesses follow, and then Nasha on the arm of her king. She catches my eye in the crowd and subtly dips her chin in acknowledgment.
Cayden places my dish on a low-hanging branch, and I take his arm so we can greet the royals together. Zale’s smile widens when he spots us, but his gaze skims over our heads briefly. I turn to see what he’s found and realize he’s looking at an unknowing Finnian while he converses with Ryder. When I turn back to Zale, his gaze is elsewhere.
“King Cayden and Queen Elowen,” Erix says as his people part and he steps closer to us. “I’ve drafted a treaty for you both to sign as well as a separate one for Prince Zarius. I will then publicly announce our allyship to those gathered to celebrate the longest night of the year.”
“I believe it will please the gods,” Cordelia says, her tone far more cordial than the last time we spoke. Her mouth is set into a firm line, but venom no longer laces her eyes. “I will never deny that I had hoped you would marry into my family, but the gods had a different plan for you. As you know, I have harbored guilt about what transpired in Imirath after my seer announced your prophecy, and helping you dethrone him is how I’d like to offer my apology, should you find our terms acceptable.”
“The apology for my father’s actions is not necessary,” I reply.
She nods while waving a servant forward and presents us with twofolded pieces of parchment. “You can take them inside if you’d prefer a quiet place to read.”
“You’ll have your answer shortly,” Cayden responds before escorting me back to our group and dropping Zarius’s treaty in his lap. “Are you sober enough to read that?”
“Oh, I’m grand,” Zarius responds, ripping it open and stumbling to his feet so he’s able to read it alongside Ser Rhys, who has remained silent throughout the gathering. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I were in his position and making peace with Imirath, so I’m not surprised he’s turned to what I suppose is his favorite medication: rum. The two begin muttering quietly as I step into Cayden’s arms, pressing my back to his chest so we’re able to read the treaty together.
“It’s a basic list of goods and a tentative schedule. Some of the tariffs are slightly higher than I’d like but considering we’re getting one thousand ships I’d say it’s fine,” he surmises.
“One thousand?” I ask. “I thought Zale agreed to eight hundred.”
“He did, but the king didn’t know that,” he responds. “Zarius, sign yours.”
