Page 44 of Trial of Thorns
Caelynn
Rev pulls Brielle outonto the dance floor. Faery lights sparkle above, stringed instruments being a soft pur and I slip away from the crowds and onto the quiet terrace. The door shuts with a soft click, and the magical stir of music is muted behind me. I shiver as the cool air hits me.
The ground is paved with mosaic tiles, depicting important moments and people and symbols in Flicker Court history. I could lose myself in all the details displayed in this beautiful abstract artwork. Bright colors and confusing patterns. If you follow it, you’d uncover the whole story of this powerful court.
Trees bank the terrace, covered in glowing crystals of varying colors. Bright purple, red, white, yellow, green, blue—each representing the remaining champions’ courts. One single tree isn’t lit at all, a dull void set between yellow and red. I draw closer to the dim tree, cast in shadows. At first glance it looks like a flaw in their elaborate decor.
It’s mine, I realize.
I run my fingers over the rough bark absently. Instead of taking time to understand my court and finding a way to represent us respectfully, they left it bare. Shadows are its only embellishment. Lack of light its only worthy quality.
A quiet stirring draws my eyes up to find one other decoration to represent my beloved court—a raven sitting on its lowest limb, watching me closely. Her wings glisten with translucent colors mixed with the black, purples, and blues shifting with such beauty it takes my breath away.
If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t even notice it at all.
I smile, my heart soaring for one quick moment. Did Raven understand which tree she chose to rest on? Did she do it for me? I’m not sure I even want to know because intended or not, it means everything to me.
I curl my fingers over the thin trunk, magic shifting through them. I’ll add one more embellishment. Raven shivers and hops from the tree to the stone below, as a murmur shutters through the leaves. Indistinguishable whispers dart through the leaves making them rustle in a swirling patter, just like in the Whisperwood. This is just a silly charm that won’t last more than an hour, but it’s an echo of the homeland I lost.
The world inside the banquet hall is distracted by whatever spectacle is happening on the dance floor—something I know without a doubt I do not want to witness alongside them. Not an eye is turned toward the glass doors to the terrace. My lips curls into wicked grin, and I close my eyes imagining the dress in my mind’s eye.
Dark blue, almost black, with purple and blue stones scattered across it like starlight. Sweetheart neckline and black ribbon around the middle where it extends into a tool skirt.
A gasp sounds through the terrace, and I open my eyes to see Raven in my purple dress creation, spinning and giggling.
“It’s amazing,” she whispers. When she stops, she looks into the banquet hall, her eyebrows pulled down. “Is it dangerous?”
“Not if no one sees you.” I wink. “There are humans in this world too. Rare in a large fae court, but they’re around. Two girls talking outside wouldn’t be enough to cause much suspicion.”
I take a seat on the short stone barrier at the edge of the terrace.
“Someone seeing you leave my room, though...” I side-eye her, knowing she’d left the room the other day while I was sleeping.
She stares at the ground, biting her lip. “Sorry,” she murmurs.
I step closer, and brush a lock of hair behind her ear. “I just want to keep you safe.”
“And near you.”
I smile, watching her brown eyes, dull and yet incredibly beautiful. Sometimes I wonder if I should be thankful for Raven’s brokenness. Otherwise, how could someone like her love me?
As if reading my thoughts, she grabs my hand, curling her fingers in mine.
“Your eyes are glowing again,” she says, wonder and awe in her expression.
I blink and shake my head, remembering myself. I’m in public. If someone sees, my secret will be blown.
I’m bad for her, I remind myself. I’m taking risks with her life, and if something happens to her because of my own selfishness... I swallow.
