The Last of the Firedrakes (28 page)

The sun was just rising over the city of Neris as we hurried back to our rooms. I was exhausted from not sleeping the whole night, but I had to go to class. We would be having tests soon, and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. I had been so busy worrying about what the Blackwaters were doing that I wasn’t concentrating on my studies. If I failed my first tests, Uncle Gabriel was going to be livid.

20

Neris

A few days later, a messenger arrived from Everdale House. Aunt Serena had invited me over for a few days, as the university was shut for the summer solstice festival, and those who had places to go could leave the school.

I was excited at the prospect of staying in Aunt Serena’s Neris townhouse. Vivienne was also going home, and Foxmoor House was just a few streets away from Everdale House.

“I’ll come to see you once you are settled in,” said Vivienne as we packed our trunks. “There are so many places I want to show you.”

I nodded and hugged Vivienne before leaving.

Aunt Serena sent a carriage as she had promised, and Erien and I climbed in. We crossed the main streets of the upper town and went on beyond the bridge to the other side of the river, where the nobility had their mansions.

The carriage pulled up in front of a massive stone structure.

Everdale House was a two-storied mansion with enormous bay windows and a huge mahogany front door. The horses had barely halted before Erien threw open the carriage door and bounded out eagerly. He ran up the steps, and, before he could even knock, the massive door opened, and the butler, a thin old man with slicked-back silver hair, let us in.

“Good afternoon, Your Lordship,” said the butler to Erien.

“Good afternoon, Figgins,” said Erien. “Is Mother home?”

“Her Ladyship is waiting for you in the morning room, my lord,” said Figgins, divesting us of our cloaks and luggage.

I looked around in wonder, still unaccustomed to the ways of the Eldorean nobility. The front door opened onto a massive foyer tastefully decorated with ornamental furniture and oak paneling. A grand staircase with a richly polished mahogany banister wound up to the upper floors of the house under a gleaming crystal chandelier.

We followed Erien to the back of the house, where the morning room was situated. Aunt Serena was waiting for us. It was a light and airy room, done up in cream and gold, with huge French doors that opened out onto a terrace that surveyed the gardens and the river beyond. She hugged us and ushered us both in to sit down.

“First things first,” Aunt Serena said, turning towards me. “We will have to take you to a dressmaker to fit you for clothes. You certainly can’t wear that green dress every day.”

I looked down at my green day dress; it was one of Aunt Serena’s from Silverthorne castle. She was right; I didn’t bring much with me.

“We will also have to get something suitable for the harvest ball at the palace, which will be held later on in the year,” said Aunt Serena.

“A ball at the palace,” I said, wide-eyed. I would love to go to a ball, but I had no idea how I was supposed to behave in front of the rest of the nobility in Eldoren.

“Yes, every year the king holds a huge ball at the start of the harvest festival,” said Aunt Serena. “And we are all invited, of course. Tomorrow night, the Blackwaters are having a dinner party. And we will be attending, so you will need something to wear.”

“The Blackwaters,” I sneered. “I don’t want to go to their house.”

“Yes, I’m sure you don’t,” said Aunt Serena, raising her eyebrows. “I heard about your midnight trip to the tavern, young lady, and I have been waiting to talk to you about that.”

“You heard?” I asked, glaring at Erien. I knew Professor Dekela had already met with Aunt Serena and told her everything we had learned about the Blackwaters and the Book of Abraxas. But he didn’t know about me leaving the school at night. Erien must have told her.

Erien sheepishly looked away, getting up to pour himself a glass of juice. I felt like smacking him over the head for his stupidity.

“Yes, my dear, I certainly did,” said Aunt Serena, putting her hands primly in her lap and sitting as she always did, perched at the edge of the chair, her back straight as a rod. “You could have been in a lot of trouble. You are lucky that your granduncle had instructed Rafe to keep an eye on you.”

I hung my head. Even though I knew Rafe was just looking out for me out of some sense of duty, it hurt every time I heard someone say it out loud.

“But if I hadn’t gone I would never have found out about the key and the book,” I argued. “Now at least we have some idea about what Morgana is planning.”

“She is right, Mother,” Erien piped up.

Aunt Serena ignored her son. “You were lucky this time, Aurora,” she said, unconvinced by my reasoning. “I want you to forget about the book for now. There is nothing you can do. I have spoken to the mastermage and sent word to my father. He will be returning soon, and you must let us handle it.”

“But we can’t just sit here uselessly while Morgana is looking for the book,” I said, standing up.

“We won’t allow her to get it,” said Aunt Serena. “You have to trust me.” She got up and put her hand on my shoulder. “I really want you to forget about this for now and concentrate on learning how to use your powers, Aurora. Or have you forgotten why we sent you to Evolon?”

I lowered my eyes. She was right; I had been neglecting my training, and if I was going to survive, I had to learn as much as I could, and fast.

“Now, my dear,” said Aunt Serena. “The Blackwaters have invited you specifically. I think their son Damien told them about you. I must say I was quite surprised myself, but if we try to keep you from them, they will wonder what we are trying to hide. I have already informed Sorcha, the duchess of Blackwater, that we will all be attending.”

I slumped in my chair. I guess what I wanted didn’t matter. I wondered if I could fake a headache tomorrow so I didn’t have to go. Why was Aunt Serena insisting I go? What if someone recognized me?

A kind-looking middle-aged woman came in.

“Ah, Ms. Rikley, please show Lady Rory to her room,” said Aunt Serena. “Once you freshen up, come downstairs for some lunch, and then we can go into town.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Aunt Serena,” I said politely and followed the housekeeper up the stairs to the second floor of the house, where my room was situated.

It was a bright, cheery room with a big mahogany bed and gleaming hardwood floors strewn with plush carpets. Rich, rose-colored curtains framed the large windows, and I leaned over the side to see the lovely formal gardens of Everdale House, which led down in tiers to the river. Vivienne had once told me that all the best houses were overlooking the river. I wondered where Foxmoor House was and how I could get a message to Vivienne to come over.

I washed my face and hands with the little porcelain bowl and jug in the room and went downstairs to join Aunt Serena and Erien.

Lunch was served in the dining room, a large rectangular space with a massive, finely polished wooden dining table that could seat at least twenty people. Two crystal chandeliers hung from the frescoed ceiling, and four large, arched double doors led out to the gardens of the house.

The food was heavenly. There was a creamy mushroom soup, a fish in a delicate sauce with nuts, a whole assortment of vegetables, roasted game, different cheeses and fruits, and a honey pudding with thick yellow cream.

I ate so much I was stuffed, and all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and go to sleep. But Aunt Serena was insistent that we had many things to do that day, and going to the dressmaker was one of them.

We climbed into the Everdale carriage, which was very spacious and comfortable, with the Everdale coat of arms emblazoned on the side. The dressmaker’s shop was not far away, and the carriage rumbled down the broad paved streets of the city of Neris.

This area of the city was very different from what I had seen before. I peered out of the curtained carriage window and glimpsed a host of fashionable people walking around, shopping or chatting as they came across an acquaintance or friend on the street.

The shops in this area were also different from what I had seen before; they were bigger and more ornate. There were no blacksmiths, masons, or carpenters here; the shops were mainly jewelers with big, decorative shop windows, and dressmakers with their latest creations on display. There were also shoemakers, tailors, barbers, headdress makers, wine sellers, spice merchants, and a few luxurious bakeries.

The carriage stopped in front of a big dressmaker’s shop with a purple awning. Above the front of the shop, in big gold letters, was written, ‘Lady Charlotte’s Creations.’

We got out of the carriage. I could smell the wonderful aromas coming from the bakery next door.

“Can we go in there first?” I asked Aunt Serena, pointing to the little bakery with delicious-looking cakes sitting on the windowsill.

“No! We are running late as it is,” said Aunt Serena.

I followed the countess into the shop to meet with the dressmaker. She was a thin, little lady with stern black eyes and a hooked nose. Her white hair was tied back securely in a severe bun.

The shop was a dream of fabric heaven. Bolts of rich velvets, shimmering satins, silks, luxurious brocades, and tulle in a myriad of colors and designs were resting on the tables. Lady Charlotte gestured to one of her shopgirls to bring out some more.

“Lady Charlotte is the best. Her designs are the most coveted by the nobility of Eldoren and beyond,” said Aunt Serena, trying to appease the stern little lady, who looked extremely peeved to have been kept waiting. She couldn’t say anything in front of the countess, so she kept quiet.

She measured me in so many places that I was exhausted by the end of the session. Lady Charlotte draped me in different fabrics in a variety of colors and designs, pinned me, and poked me again and again. I was convinced that all the poking was done deliberately as my punishment for keeping her waiting. Getting fitted for a ball gown seemed to be the most strenuous work I had ever done.

“We also need a ready gown for a dinner party tomorrow night,” said Aunt Serena to the dressmaker.

The stern little lady nodded. “I have just the thing,” she said in her heavily accented voice as she snapped her fingers to call one of her girls and send them scurrying to find what she required.

They brought out a shimmering, cream satin gown, with a fitted bodice exquisitely embroidered with beautiful pearls and cut beautifully in a wide off-the-shoulder cut. The dress was trimmed with three rows of pearls, which cinched my waist like a belt and cascaded down the side of the dress. It was absolutely gorgeous.

We thanked Lady Charlotte, who said she would have the rest of my clothes ready in a few days, and left the shop.

We went into the little bakery next door with the bright yellow awning. It was cute and homely, and little tables with yellow-and-white-checked tablecloths were placed near the windows. Beautifully decorated cakes and pastries, in a range of colors and flavors, lined the counters and were stacked in tiers, forming elaborate designs. I tasted something called a honey burst, and it was delicious. It was like a crisp biscuit ball, and when you bit into it, all the delectable honey melted into your mouth. I couldn’t resist sampling some more of the delicacies the bakery offered, and so I also had two tiny lemon cakes and a lovely strawberry-cream cupcake.

Aunt Serena dragged me into another shop. I looked up at the sign: ‘Headdresses, Veils, Diadems, Circlets, and Tiaras.’

“I need something for the harvest ball,” she said as we entered the shop.

There were a few customers already there, trying on the wares. One was a beautiful blonde girl, with long golden hair elegantly pinned up and cascading down one shoulder in a shower of perfectly curled ringlets. She was wearing a yellow day dress, artfully embroidered with flowers along the neckline and cuffs.

“Oh, I don’t think the prince will like this one,” she said in a high-pitched and bitter-sounding voice, trying on a hideously expensive gold diadem studded with massive diamonds.

The other girls were nodding like puppets.

She turned towards us. Her eyes were a beautiful, icy blue, but they were cold and full of malice. She didn’t look like a very nice person.

“Ah!” she said, looking at Aunt Serena and then at me, “if it isn’t the Countess of Everdale.”

“Good evening, Leticia,” said Aunt Serena politely.

“And who is this?” Leticia said, eyeing me up and down as if I was some lowly peasant not fit to be in her company.

“This is Rory,” said Aunt Serena. “She is my father’s ward.”

Leticia dismissed me once she decided that I wasn’t important enough to merit her time.

“Well, we will see you tomorrow night at the Blackwater’s dinner party, Countess,” said Leticia to Aunt Serena, completely ignoring me, as if I didn’t exist.

“Yes, Leticia,” said Aunt Serena, “we will all be attending.”

“Oh good,” said Leticia, her smile not reaching her eyes. “I shall see you all, then.”

She flung the offensive diadem down, much to the dismay of the little bearded shopkeeper, stuck her nose up high into the air, and walked out of the shop with her friends following like little ducklings behind their mother.

“Who was that?” I said to Aunt Serena after the blonde girl had left.

“That is Lady Leticia, daughter of the Earl of Glenbarry,” said Aunt Serena. “She is her father’s only heir and is betrothed to the crown prince.”

“She’s going to be Queen of Eldoren someday?” I asked, horrified at the prospect.

“Looks like it,” said Aunt Serena. “No wonder that poor boy keeps running off for days on end. Who would want to be shackled to the likes of her?”

The poor boy being the crown prince, I surmised.

On our way back to the house, I asked Aunt Serena some more about the noble families and the aristocracy of Eldoren and Illiador.

“I wish I didn’t have to come with you to the Blackwaters’ house tomorrow,” I finally blurted out.