Chapter Thirty-Six

E vienne made it back to the palace in time to dress for the evening’s formal events. The crowds had grown larger as they edged closer to the final day of the year; tomorrow night, the celebration would culminate as everyone gathered to ring in the new millennium.

Tonight’s ball was truly a spectacle—a show of Ichorna’s abundance and elegance. Despite the night chill, the ball was to be held outside in the palace gardens. A warm glow was cast in puddles here and there throughout the rows of hedges and graceful evergreens; Queen Aldith had arranged for a network of temporary mage lights to be constructed across the garden. Her intent was, no doubt, to show off to all the foreign dignitaries in attendance.

Evienne wore a black velvet gown that had a corset built into the bodice. It hugged her waist, but the skirts floated out away from her hips, moving gracefully as she walked. The neckline was a pronounced sweetheart, and she wore black diamond earrings. Her hair was swept back away from her face only on one side, her natural curls on full display tonight.

She casually began to scan the garden for Orion and Solon, but instead found Queen Léhiona floating toward her with a tired smile on her face.Prince Sylvain was at her side, looking dashing as ever. He steadied the Queen Consort on his arm, providing her support in more ways than one.

Evienne would never get bored of watching her friend move through the world; she had such a delicate grace about her, even in her exhaustion. The world could never be all bad if something as lovely as Léhiona was in it.Images of Aldith’s memory, of Léhiona’s binding, flashed through Evienne’s mind, and sadness for her friend nearly took her breath away. She wondered if she should tell Léhiona what she had seen, though she knew she couldn’t say anything here amongst all these people.

“Evi, are you quite alright?” Léhiona asked as she stepped up to Evienne’s side. “I was so very worried when you disappeared this afternoon so suddenly,” she added.

“Yes, thank you my friend, I’m quite well.” Evienne smiled at her reassuringly. Léhiona didn’t look convinced, but she wasn’t one to press. She glanced up at Sylvain, who clearly shared her skepticism but decided to change the subject.

“I think I’ll be quite glad when this is all over,” Léhiona said quietly. “I’m so tired these days, Evi. I just don’t have the energy for all this.”

“I understand. It’s all a bit overwhelming,” Evienne responded, her heart breaking; she now suspected the true reason for Léhiona’s exhaustion. How someone who supposedly loved Léhiona could use her so was beyond Evienne’s comprehension.

“Did you enjoy getting to sit with the Beitarans this afternoon at least? You haven’t seen anyone from your homeland since you left, right?”

Léhiona’s face flashed a sad expression before she recovered her detached, pleasant mask. “Yes, they’re very kind,” she answered.

“Léhiona?” Evienne asked, her voice barely a whisper. Léhiona looked into Evienne’s eyes, her brows creasing slightly with concern and curiosity at what her friend might say. “Do you ever wish you had been able to use your magic and shift? Do you feel like something is missing?”

Evienne could see the tears spring to Léhiona’s striking eyes, and she wondered if she would be able to speak of it, even if she wanted to. “Oh Léhiona, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you; please do not hurt yourself because of my clumsy curiosity,” Evienne added, taking her friend’s hand and squeezing gently. Her hand brushed over the tattooed wedding band on Léhiona’s slight finger, and Evienne nearly recoiled.Sylvain watched the conversation quietly; Evienne knew that he had no notion of what his sister had done to Léhiona, and she trusted his kind heart.

“No, it’s quite alright,” Léhiona said, laughing a bit as she delicately dabbed at her tears before they could escape. “No one has ever asked me that,” Léhiona said, thoughtful. “I do feel like something is missing, every day. The deepest longing of my soul is to know my magic. But it’s not to be, I suppose,” Léhiona said, looking at her friend.

“I am glad to know you, Léhiona,” said Evienne. “I am glad you are my friend.”

“Me too, Evi.” Léhiona gave Evienne’s hand a gentle squeeze in return before letting it go.

Sylvain finally spoke then. “I am very happy to be here at home with both of you—it’s been too long,” he said, emotion coloring his voice.

“We missed you every day you were gone; it doesn’t quite feel the same when you’re not here,” Evienne said, giving the prince’s arm a supportive pat.

“Well, I suppose I ought to be off to find my wife. I can’t very well leave her to all the diplomats alone, can I?” Léhiona said.

Sylvain smiled at them both, and turned with Léhiona to guide her through the crowd.

Evienne’s heart felt so heavy; she knew her friend’s magic had been bound, but why? Should she have told her? Told Sylvain? She knew in her heart the prince would help. He had always been good and warm and kind where Aldith had been stoic and prickly. She just didn’t understand why Aldith would do something like this to the woman she loved. For all her stern nature and ambition, she believed Aldith did really care for Léhiona. Evienne had watched their love grow over years as they’d grown up together. It had been arranged from the moment they were born, yes, but what was between Aldith and Léhiona was at least somewhat true; Evienne was certain of it. Aldith loved Léhiona in her own imperfect way.

She was interrupted from her thoughts by the sound of Solon’s voice close beside her.

“Good evening, High Sangviere,” he said, his voice as deep as the night sky was dark above them.

“Solon, you know you don’t need to be so formal, I’ve told you a hundred times this month,” Evienne said with a laugh.

“Silly me to keep forgetting,” he said with a wry smile. “I may have had more important things on my mind,” he continued.

Evienne raised a brow at him in question.

“What do you know of dragons, Evienne?”

Evienne’s heart stopped at his question. She quickly gathered herself, remembering that eyes and ears surrounded them.

“They are only legend, Solon. Have you been at the folklore books in our library today?” She said, trying to sound teasing.

“I have, in fact,” he said, eyes shining with the mischief of their exchange. “I read something about a dragon in Assombrie Forest; do you know anything of it?”

Evienne couldn’t help the smile that captured her features. “It is an ancient place, to be sure. I wouldn’t be surprised if a dragon had haunted its mossy depths.”

Solon smiled back at her, a wicked gleam in his eye.A dragon, of all things. Solon’s animal soul suited him.

“Do you happen to know where Orion is this evening?” Evienne asked, not wanting to dwell too long on the topic of dragons with so many others around.

“He said something about a hedge maze,” Solon said.

“Ah, of course. Well, if you happen to see him before I do, let him know to find me, will you?” Evienne said, smiling at him. Solon nodded, grinning, and Evienne turned away to make her way to the hedge maze. She had no intention of just waiting around for Orion to find her; they had a lot to discuss.