Chapter Thirty-Three

E vienne helped Orion change the bandages on his wound, which had healed significantly through the night. He would have his full range of motion back in a few days at this rate. It seemed shifting was not the only magic that had returned to him; the quick-healing gifts of the Tuanadair had found him as well.

After returning to her chambers to bathe and dress for the day, Evienne found Solon and Orion at their usual table in the dining hall for breakfast. There was a tournament today, and they decided it would be as good an opportunity as any for Evienne to use her magic as they’d planned.

“Solon, good morning. I hope you’re well and not too shaken up after yesterday’s attack?” Evienne took her seat next to the noble and helped herself to a cup of steaming coffee. She tried not to think too much about the magic she would attempt in a few short hours.

“Well, it was certainly unexpected, but I have it on good authority that it was well-managed and that everything is under control,” Solon answered, giving her a wry look.

“We’ve increased lookouts so at the very least, they’re unlikely to catch us unawares again,” Evienne said, ever the professional.

“And how are you?” Solon asked, his voice softer and full of genuine concern.

“I’m well, thank you. And thank you for taking care of Cecelia yesterday,” Evienne answered with a small smile of appreciation. Once this was all over, she’d like to think Solon would consider her a friend.

“So,” Evienne continued as she sliced a pat of butter from the communal dish and began spreading it on a warm scone. “Did Orion mention to you how pleasant our ride out to the forest was the other day?”

“He did,” Solon answered, his gaze flicking to Orion.

“It really was spectacular, my friend,” Orion added, barely managing to contain the smile tugging at his lips.

“Perhaps one morning you’d both show me the way,” Solon said, his voice still light.

Evienne smiled and nodded, “We’d be delighted to.”

After breakfast, all of the guests that had continued arriving in Ichorna for the festivities over the past weeks began to make their way to L’Arene Lucinne for a Sangviere tournament.

Ichorna held several such events each year, so it seemed only natural to host one as a part of the Millennium celebration. Evienne had loved competing in tournaments as a student, but these days she was mostly a spectator.

Orion and Solon had been invited to sit in the royal box with the queens, and Evienne always had a seat there as High Sangviere. The royal box was on the top level of the arena to afford the queens and their favored guests the best views of the magic duels below. The term “box” was certainly misleading; it was really a suite, complete with balconies, an assortment of seating options, and a table laid with a wide array of refreshments.

The three entered the suite, and Evienne led Solon and Orion toward where the queens were seated with Dominique and Sylvain. Dominique had always loved these public opportunities to flaunt her closeness with the queens; Evienne had counted on this time being no different.

“Your majesties, Dominique,” Evienne began, lowering into a full curtsey. “May we join you?” She spoke without making eye contact with Dominique, but even in her peripheral vision, she could sense Dominique’s discomfort from her rigid posture.

Aldith’s gaze met Evienne’s, a bit emptier than usual, though her expression was as calm and regal as always.

“Of course, we’re delighted to have you both with us for the tournament today. Thank you for accepting our invitation. Please, do have a seat,” Aldith said, gesturing to the empty chair beside Dominique’s. Solon took the offered seat, while Orion and Evienne moved to take positions in the row behind them, next to Sylvain.

Evienne knew Orion had told Solon enough of the plan for the Lord to play his part. He would engage Dominique in conversation to distract her from what Evienne was about to attempt.

Evienne had told Orion she’d never used her time magic on purpose, always stumbling on it intuitively. He’d encouraged her to simply try, and she’d had no room to argue when he had suggested it earlier this morning. Their research in the archives was getting them nowhere, and there were only a few days left of the Millennium celebration.

She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves, and Orion’s knee bumped hers ever so slightly in silent support. They had decided Dominique should be their target today based on the odd duplicate schedule they had found. It wasn’t much, but it was their only lead pointing to anything the least bit suspicious. Likely nothing would come of it, but they had to try. Evienne heard her mentor’s voice in her mind, encouraging her to be curious and pull on loose threads.

A cheer rose from the assembled crowd as the first two Sangviere entered the arena below.

Evienne’s magic had always manifested as blood red fire. The Sangviere below seemed to have blood ice, while the other crackled with scarlet lightning. Their bolts of magic began flashing across the arena and the crowd continued to cheer.

Evienne shifted her focus back to her impossible task. Solon was talking with Dominique, and she seemed to be giving him her full attention in return—no doubt curious to learn what she could about their unusual visitors.Evienne had bet that Dominique would be charming and attentive to Solon because of his nobility, despite having been so rude to Orion at the garden party. It seemed she had calculated correctly.

Fixing her eyes on a point ahead of her, Evienne began to search herself for the thread of time magic that she had felt when she’d collided with Solon in the hall the other day. The magic of memories was what she needed now, not the more destructive side of her time magic that had made an appearance during the attack yesterday.

She had never consciously done this, so the gentle hum she felt in her mind as she engaged her magic was unfamiliar. She focused on the sensation and cast her mind toward Dominique.

Dominique, who she had thought was her everything. Dominique, who she thought had loved her, but who had loved to control her more.

One moment, Evienne was in the arena surrounded by thousands of people and the flashes of magic below. The next, she was in a dim hallway, not a window in sight.