Page 14 of Jeweler to the Blessed
“He doesn’t teach you?”
I wasn’t sure what he was getting at. Everyone knew Alaric was the better jeweler. Father was fine, but Alaric’s talent was matched only by my own. “They both do.”
“How long have you worked there?” He sounded like every question he asked was a breath he couldn’t get back.
At least, following the king’s advisor as I did, I wasn’t worried about any Blessed taking from me. Few people were on the street this early, and Vaddon glared at everyone we passed.
“A few years,” I said.
Now, Vaddon turned to glare at me.
With the Selection starting tonight, he was probably on edge about Alaric’s absence. In a few hours, the streets would fill with merchants selling food, drink, and trinkets. Alaric should receive four commissions from the royal family tonight—one for each Selected to become Blessed at the end of the festivities. While Alaric prepared what he could ahead of time, he would have less than eight days from the Selection Celebrations to complete the finished pieces.
I wasn’t sure they had a backup plan without Alaric.
Vaddon’s quick strides told this story. He moved purposefully like he’d found the prize he was looking for, even though he sneered every time he glanced at me.
“Have you ever worked with adamas?” he asked.
My palms started sweating. I couldn’t be the backup plan.
“No.” I had no problem answering honestly. Alaric and I always played our little game, but I’d never cut, shaped, or polished the adamas stone. We’d only ever worked on quartz.
Vaddon continued our march down the street regardless of my answer.
I didn’t wish to go anywhere near the castle. Wandering alone at night in the Oldwood sounded preferable. Craning my neck, I stared up the hill as we approached the steps. The castle loomed, imposing with its spired towers and backdrop of mountain peaks.
The grand staircase almost seemed another defense for the royal family. The steps were wide but unpredictably spaced. I spent the entire hike up the hill staring down at my feet so as not to trip. As Vaddon unbelievably increased our pace up the sham of a staircase, I couldn’t even appreciate the intimidating beauty of the Pinnacle Range peaks circling the castle.
I paused to catch my breath and chanced another glance up. The mountain range all but surrounded the castle—a second line of defense to the wall encircling the city. I knew from Alaric’s history books that Kavios grew up around the Oldwood Mine. When the quartz was discovered, people flocked to its offered work.
It seemed Vaddon was out of questions. Was I allowed any? I was terrified for myself, but I needed to use this situation for what I could—information about Alaric. “How long have you been looking for Alaric?”
“Long enough,” he said.
I’d been with Alaric only yesterday. How quickly after that could he have gone missing? I continued up the steps.
“Do you have any idea where he is?”
Vaddon made a noise I could only call a dignified snort. “If I did, I wouldn’t be talking to you.”
I was mildly insulted, but at least he, too, considered this a bad outcome. Maybe they would decide I couldn’t handle the work in Alaric’s absence, and they’d send me home. It still left a lot of questions about how I’d search for him, what I’d donext, and how the shape of my plans would change, but at least it would remove me from the Blessed’s crosshairs.
We were at the top of the stairs, high enough to see over the city wall. Kavios was hard to get to, but I suspected King Rodric liked it that way. Imported and exported goods entered the city, so traders made the trek. Some legally, like our quartz leaving or grain and vegetables arriving. Others illegally—like I now suspected of the youngleaf for Mother’s tonic.
“Hurry up. We don’t want to keep the prince waiting,” Vaddon said.
The castle’s giant double doors opened as Vaddon strode in. My mouth hung open at the size of the doorway. What could even require such space? I had no time to contemplate it as I rushed to keep up with the king’s advisor. As we entered the castle, I found solace in the fact that I wasn’t meeting with the king. While I was immune to his power—like any other Blessed’s—its strength genuinely terrified me. He kept the city in a state of constant calm when the citizens should feel anything but.
I wasn’t sure I could look him in the eye and hide my true feelings about him.
Prince Elias was the face of the royal family. The king may conduct the Blessing Ceremony, but the prince was the master of events and festivities for the city’s celebrations. He would host the festival tonight, announcing those selected. He hosted almost all the events in the eight days of celebration: the Cornucopia, the Presentation, and the Masquerade.
Prince Elias was all smiles for his people, and the city loved him for it. Maybe I should have warned myself that weaponized charm was just as dangerous as what his father wielded.
The prince’s head tilted ever so slightly as Vaddon ushered me into his study. He stood from his seat at a large wooden desk, clearly assessing me.
My utterly random thread of thought said his first question must be who taught me to curtsy. The problem was that I didn’t know either. I thought I made it up. His lips pursed like he didn’t know what to make of it as I rose from my attempt.
