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  Suddenly Viviya raised her head. She held a claw to her mouth, then pointed to the door.

  Curious, I set the book on a table and picked my way past a statue of lovers, a plum-colored sofa, and a birdbath made of granite. Voices came through the open door. Two voices: Shamino and a female.

  Not another one, I thought with a groan. It had been like this since Tressa’s announcement. Can’t they give up?

  “I told you, no,” Shamino said, using his I’m-past-annoyed tone.

  “You just have to show up with me.” The low, husky female voice practically purred. I instantly disliked her. “Escort me, dance one dance, all done.”

  “Why should I go with you when I’ve already turned down half the Kyer?”

  “Well, because—”

  “That was a rhetorical question. Now, out.”

  “Not until you agree.”

  Shamino made a strangled sound. “As acting Dragonmaster, I order you to go.”

  A gasp. “You can’t do that!”

  Stomping footsteps, followed by pattering ones.

  “Really, Shamino. Give in. You can’t even get rid of me with your magic.”

  I winced. I’d learned that, although Shamino could bring a mostly dead dragon back to life, he could barely do something as simple as, say, burn spilled oil.

  Viviya grunted and motioned with a claw to return. I scurried around furniture and reached her just as Shamino strode in. I’d never seen him so furious. He’d been angry with the Dragonmaster when he’d assigned me to the Quarters, but Shamino respected Merram. He had tried to behave. Clearly, he did not respect this woman.

  She followed. The first thing I noticed—that anyone would notice—was her cleavage. So much of her popped out of her dress that I never really took in the rest of her.

  The cleavage swelled at the sight of me. Shamino noticed me at the same time; he smacked into a table and sent it clattering.

  “Who is that?” the woman spat. She sounded like the blacksmith’s wife when she found her husband with a younger woman.

  Viviya, moving faster than I thought an elderly dragon could, stepped over me and offered the woman her claw. Shamino’s eyes met mine—anger briefly diffused to an almost-smile.

  “Rhianna,” he said, not quite suppressing a smirk, “this is Viviya.”

  Rhianna sidestepped so she could continue to glare at me. The air seemed to crackle with her step. “The human.”

  “Oh!” Shamino motioned me forward. When I came alongside him, he grabbed my arm so I wouldn’t get any closer to Rhianna. “Dragon Mage Rhianna, may I present Trainee Adara.”

  Rhianna flushed at the sight of Shamino’s hand on my arm. She likely couldn’t tell that he gripped me so hard that it hurt. “You said you cannot allow people to simply ‘wander though the Quarters and bother the dragons.’”

  As Rhianna spoke, Viviya’s tail snaked through the furniture until the tip rested against Shamino’s feet. The movement confused me at first, then uneasiness bubbled in my chest. Dragons were immune to magic. The only way to spell them was if they lowered their barrier or were unconscious. Viviya was protecting Shamino with her touch. That must have been why he’d gone to the dragon’s cave in the first place, for help. In turn, Shamino’s touch extended her protection to me.

  Rhianna continued, her cleavage heaving. “In reality, you just wanted to hide your little… little strumpet. She’s not even pretty!”

  Shamino turned scarlet. “She’s not my—”

  “A trainee! A browned, awkward, child who—” She went on, calling me insulting words I didn’t know. The crackling air changed to thrumming. Any moment her temper would break, and when mages lost their tempers—

  I interrupted her tirade, trying to make myself sound as stupid as possible as I stared at The Cleavage. “How do you keep those in there while in flight?”

  Silence. I tilted my head and furrowed my brow in innocent confusion, just for good measure.

  Rhianna opened her mouth, snapped it shut. I maintained a perfectly serious yet bewildered expression. The air cooled as she sputtered. Finally, she made some squawking noises and stormed out.

  Viviya quietly began to snort a draconian chuckle.

  “I cannot believe you just said that,” Shamino said, eyes wide.

  “I’m a bit amazed myself,” I said. Relief made my tense muscles wobbly. What I’d said was beyond rude, and Rhianna’s temper could have easily gone the other way. “I hoped something unexpected would make her leave.”

  Shamino burst out laughing. “Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. And she can’t tell anyone. It’s too embarrassing.”

  “Can you let go of my arm now?”

  “Oh.” He released me. I flexed so blood would flow again. “Sorry. I’ve seen jealous women attack each other before.”

  At court? If Tressa knew Shamino, then he had to have spent some time at Dragonsridge.

  “That’s stupid,” I said aloud. Viviya nodded in agreement. “People like who they like. Flinging spells doesn’t win you a beau.”

  Shamino regarded me. “I wish I’d grown up in your world, Dragonling.”

  Pleasure rippled from my scalp to my toes. Shamino had never used a nickname for me before. In fact, no one other than my mother had ever given me a nickname.

  “So,” I said, righting the table he’d knocked over, “you going tonight? Not that I’m asking, you know, to go with… I’m just curious if there’ll be any duels at the ball.”

  I expected him to laugh. Instead, Shamino said nothing. I finished fixing the table and saw him still staring at me.

  He coughed. “You’re going?”

  “No choice,” I said. “I don’t think I’d survive Tressa’s displeasure if I stayed in my rooms.”

  At mention of Tressa, Shamino looked as if he smelled something rotten. “Tressa’s dragging you. So… you’re not going with someone?”

  “I can’t—” My breath hitched as the enormity of my past hit me. I finished, in a rush. “I dance like a cow, and that’s the point of having an escort, right? To dance? I’m hoping to get away early and sleep. Anyway, um, I was reading to Viviya.”

  I turned so he couldn’t see the tears filling my eyes. Viviya frowned at me, then at him, probably said something telepathically, but who knew what. I weaved my way back to my chair and picked up Trade Routes.

  “Adara?”

  I turned my head enough to acknowledge him, but not enough so he could see the tears on my cheeks.

  “Thanks again. For running off Rhianna. I owe you.”

  I waved him away. Viviya snorted and settled in her place beside me.

  That’s my future, alone forever, I thought as I looked at Viviya’s dull azure scales. Never could I risk a noble looking into my bloodline. Nor could Adara of Threepines ever risk courting a peasant.

  A sort of strangled sob escaped. Viviya cocked her head. “It’s funny. Shamino didn’t want me to work here, but really, out of all the girls in the Kyer, I’m the only one he doesn’t have to fear. Merram knew exactly what he was doing.”

  Viviya blinked. I’d puzzled her. She couldn’t ask me questions, either.

  I began to read. Two maids, one old and one young, spending an afternoon together.

  I wanted more.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Tressa’s ball took my breath away.

  Near the entrance, ferns framed a quiet waterfall as a breeze wafted the scents of water and earth to the rest of the cavern. A table ran the length of an entire wall, laden with dainty refreshments. Chairs lined the other walls. Music filled the air, light and happy, the musicians hidden from view. Nobles chatted, nobles twirled, nobles made a swirl of color throughout the room.

  The Lights, though, they made the evening enchanting. Unlike most caves, the ballroom was natural, and Lights dangled like chandeliers at the end of stalactites. Thin colored paper wrapped each Light: lavender, blue, pink, and gold. Crystals dangled from each orb and scattered the light into tinted rainbow
s.

  Crystals to heal the spirit.

  Potions and magic took care of the body. The First One, according to the Speakers, created rainbows to heal that which man could not.

  Tressa—or maybe Jerroth—had made a thoughtful gesture with the crystals. After all, most of the nobles laughing and drinking tonight would leave in the morning for war. The Dragonmaster had increased his requirement from two Flights to three. That took most of our mages.

  As I stared at the Lights, they began to blur. The vision, again, only slightly different. The crystals dangling under a blue Light melded together…

  Inside a crystal box, a smudge of deep blue. My fingers open the lid and reach for the shard of sapphire inside...

  “Adara, welcome!” Tressa’s voice cleared the vision away.

  “You’re beautiful,” I said. A sleek maroon gown gripped her body until mid-thigh, where the skirt flared and gave her the illusion of floating. Gold rings on her hands connected to her sleeves with delicate chains of gold, and her hair had been coiled on her head in millions of braids. A lattice of gold chain dotted with garnets held her hair in place, and garnets glinted at her throat and ears.

  I’d never thought of buying jewelry. Half of my stipend had gone to this dress, one of deep blue with delicate black trim. The rest had gone to the outfit I’d worn at her gathering, and on my secret desire: the green gown, cheap and likely unfashionable, but something I loved.

  I should have at least bought a silver chain. I touched my bare neck.

  Tressa noticed my gesture. She linked her elbow with mine. “Don’t be embarrassed. Everyone knows you’re a Threepines. Your dress is lovely.”

  I mumbled a thanks. But as I glanced around, I saw that everyone wore gems. Even the men wore rings. If I had a sapphire to match my gown—no. Never sapphires.

  We bypassed the dancers and Tressa began to introduce me to so many people that I lost hope of remembering anyone. At least no one seemed to care about me beyond being Tressa’s friend. I stood beside the jewel of the party, but I was utterly alone.

  But it is good to be alone. Until I figure out my Gift and master being a noble, lonely is better.

  The rush of introductions slowed; the room stopped churning and settled into clusters. Tressa and I stood with Jerroth—of course—and a cloud of others. Most were young, like us, or too old to do much fighting anymore.

  “May I present Adara of Threepines, my particular friend,” Tressa said to the latest man to join us. “The sweetest girl.”

  The young man wore the Kyer’s uniform of close-fitting dark green trimmed with silver. He kissed my hand. I’d been kissed by so many that it no longer gave me the flutters. “Not too sweet for war, I hope.”

  Tressa waved. “Posh. You’ll end this spat before Adara and I have a chance to bond.”

  An older woman in a silver gown lifted her glass. “To victory.”

  Glasses clinked. I pretended to sip my champagne—if I drank every toast, I’d be unable to walk within a Sphere.

  An awkward pause settled over the group. Tressa had spoken lightly, confidently, but the fact remained: the first Flights of dragons had failed to end the war.

  The older woman coughed. “Harthin. Tell us where you’re bound.”

  The soldier beside me spoke. “It seems that Carthesia has made it as far as the County of Tworivers.”

  I choked on a sip of champagne. The soldier—Harthin?—was at my elbow in a second, steadying me, and Jerroth handed me a handkerchief.

  Tworivers. Carthesia is attacking Stoneyfield.

  “I’m fine,” I managed. “Inhaled wrong.”

  “You should take more care,” Harthin said. He smiled in a way that should have made my heart beat faster, but it didn’t. Especially after hearing about Stoneyfield. “Though I must say, I’m thankful for the opportunity to gaze into your eyes. Such a lovely deep sapphire.”

  Tressa gently tilted my head to the side. “Next event, come to me beforehand. I have some sapphire drops that will do quite nicely.”

  “So kind,” a woman murmured.

  Someone snorted. “You’ve never been to court.”

  I missed the next line of conversation. Had Tressa insulted me? Her offer to loan me earrings seemed genuine.

  “Frankly, I am amazed a group of outcasts and renegades are giving us such trouble,” the young soldier was saying. “I expect the Carthesians to dissolve into their squabbles any day now.”

  The older woman shook her head. “You never knew Thorkel. Ruthless. A genius. Only a red, but he can match a black in battle.”

  Harthin snorted. “Really? Well, if I see him and that crimson dragon of his, I’ll blast them out of the sky.”

  He shot me a flirtatious smile, but I didn’t return it. Crimson dragon. Of course the First One sent me visions of Thorkel’s dragon. Why should I be surprised?

  The conversation turned. I rubbed my glass’s stem between my fingers. Now that they had mentioned the crimson dragon, I couldn’t banish it from my memory. All around, men and women laughed and danced. Dark green uniforms overwhelmed the other colors. That dragon would tear them limb from limb, never mind how much they’d trained, for I couldn’t imagine anyone surviving its malice.

  And yet…

  The war simply isn’t real. Tworivers, invaded? I can’t see Garth as a foot soldier. I can’t imagine Lily… dead.

  Shamino sometimes treated a wounded dragon, so obviously war was happening outside the Kyer. He’d had a wave of wounded before I joined the Quarters. But tonight, under the glittering Lights, with the waterfall in the distance and tables laden with delicacies, war seemed less real than my visions.

  Tressa’s group swelled and diminished as people drifted to pay their respects or left ignored. Slowly we drifted to the edge of the cavern. I spotted a figure all alone—Paige.

  The first day of class still filled me with guilt. I had never apologized, for I never saw Paige without others nearby.

  Right now, Tressa didn’t watch me. She laughed at jokes and returned them with her own. I took a step toward the lone girl, hesitated. I couldn’t be yelled at for talking to her, surely. Paige had gone to the trouble of dressing up, coming to the ball, all to be ignored…

  Without Tressa’s favor, I would be just like her.

  I slipped away and gave Paige a smile. “You came.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” Paige murmured as she gave me a quick curtsy. Today, even she wore a dress, though the color was a muted powder blue. Not a popular choice.

  “The ballroom is lovely,” I said. Not Tressa’s witty small talk, but I was improving.

  “The waterfall is impressive,” she answered. “Tressa hired a skilled Illusionist.”

  “The waterfall’s not real?” I sidestepped until I saw the water through the crowd. Small rainbows shimmered in its mist. “I don’t believe it.”

  Paige laughed. It was a soft, pleasant sound. “Watch carefully. The crash of the water doesn’t quite match what you see. If you touch it, I promise you won’t get wet. Practicality, really. If someone got too close to the mist, she might ruin her silk.”

  I marveled. Never, ever had I heard Paige say so much at once. Her pale eyes held a spark of life.

  That’s right. Zoland mentors her—calls her a master Illusionist. I also remembered Tressa declaring that Paige could cast nothing of use.

  I don’t know if Tressa has a Talent, I realized. I knew her to be a red mage. A Generalist? Jerroth, a black, excelled at Telekinesis—

  “There you are,” came Tressa’s voice. “I was just telling Harthin—”

  She halted when she saw my companion. Her following paused behind her. The spark of light had left Paige’s eyes, and she twitched to get away.

  I still didn’t understand why Tressa disliked Paige, and why Paige acted like a scared rabbit. The one thing I did understand was that I hated treating Paige as if she had the Sickness.

  I tried a smile on Tressa. “We were just admiring your decora
tions. Paige said the Illusionist you hired is quite skilled.”

  Usually, Tressa thrived on compliments. This time, she turned pink and Paige softly groaned. With clipped words, Tressa said, “She should know.”

  My heart fell as onlookers began to murmur. I heard, “Westwood,” and something about a birthday? No one wanted their whispers overheard.

  “I was just telling Harthin,” Tressa repeated, hooking her arm in mine, “that when he returns, I should throw a card party. For all of us.”

  She’d separated me from Paige, marking her as not ‘us.’ I knew Paige overheard. If I had understood the insult, she certainly had. I glanced over my shoulder; Paige shook her head ever so slightly.

  “Tressa, shouldn’t we invite Paige?” I whispered.

  “Ask Paige?” Tressa repeated loudly. “I should! Westwoods are famous for their card playing.”

  Paige turned scarlet. Some of Tressa’s group turned their heads to politely ‘cough.’ Paige rushed for the crowd in the center of the ballroom.

  I pulled away from Tressa. Triumph shone on my friend’s face. She’d often excluded and ignored Paige, but I’d never seen Tressa embarrass her before.

  “Why?” I asked.

  Tressa’s smirk dimmed. “Why what?”

  “That was cruel. Undeserved.”

  Tressa put her hands on her hips. “Oh, she deserved it.”

  Vaguely I noticed the group tightening around us. I lowered my voice again. “Paige did something in the past. I understand that. But the entire time we’ve been at the Kyer, she’s done nothing.”

  “Threepines, you do not understand.”

  I should have caught the warning when she addressed me by estate. I didn’t. “You’re right. I don’t understand how you can humiliate a lowborn girl who has no friends.”

  “Adara,” Jerroth said, stepping closer, “let it go.”

  The others were whispering. Tressa flushed, but I didn’t know if from anger or shame.

  Then I realized. My chest went tight as I said, “You did it on purpose.”