Page 21 of The Rose in the Shadows

It was hardly my fault that in my memory loss I had also forgotten any formal education I may or may not have had.

He tossed a book heavily onto the table in front of me and instructed me to read aloud.

“Athenia is governed by a Royal Council consisting of the Descendants of the High Gods,” I intoned. “There are six known High Gods: twin brothers Zion and Hyrax, sisters Herea and Delia, the God Palaemon, and the Goddess Harmonia. Careful preservation of historical texts has helped us understand the High Gods’ rise to power.”

Hansel nodded, beginning to pace. As I slowed my reading and reached for the glass of water across the table, his arm lashed outand smacked the back of my head. I rubbed it with irritation and he only barked for me to continue.

“It is said that there were once only two realms: the Upper and Underworlds. The God Crolun created the Mortal Realm, in which we reside. Crolun was the most powerful of all gods and father to the twins, Zion and Hyrax. As Crolun aged, he grew increasingly paranoid and worried that the other Gods would overthrow him. He imprisoned those he viewed as enemies, torturing them for amusement. Zion and Hyrax knew they could not allow their father to continue leading the realms. They joined forces with Herea, Delia, Palaemon, and Harmonia. Together, the six killed Crolun and split his power evenly between them.

“Zion, who was born first, demanded that he should be named King of the Gods over his brother Hyrax, and the other High Gods agreed. Hyrax was enraged and demanded that he be given equal dominion over the realms. Zion, eager to outsmart his brother, agreed and drafted a contract. Within his contract, though, he specified the Gods would only hold dominion over the original realms, leaving the Mortal realm untouched. Thus, Zion took power over the Upperworld, home of the Gods, and Hyrax took control of the Underworld, home of the dead. It is believed that this is the start of the rivalry between the two Gods.”

I frowned. Sounded to me that the start of the rivalry was Hyrax being betrayed by someone he had considered family.

“However, Zion had already fathered children in the Mortal Realm,” I read on. “And so, he maintained control over the realm indirectly through his sons. When Hyrax learned of this, he rose from the Underworld to lay siege on the Mortal Realm and so started the First War of the Gods. Many mortals, specifically those descended from Zion, were killed in the war,but ultimately, Zion’s forces defeated Hyrax, and he returned to the Underworld.”

“Problem?” Hansel questioned when I stopped reading and began flipping eagerly through the pages.

“It says he started the First War of the Gods. Was there a second?”

Just then, a knock sounded, and Nessira entered the library, announcing it was time to begin my preparations for the Queen’s Birth Night Celebration. I fought the urge to groan. The Gods only knew what waited for me at that party.

“There was,” Hansel told me, as he took the book from me and folded it into the shelf behind me. “But that is a story we will learn on another day.”

Chapter Seven

Geia eyed me suspiciously as she folded towels in the corner of the room while Nessira finished the buttons on the back of my dress. She kept her head bowed, but I caught the flicker of her eyes floating up to the gown occasionally.

“Are you sure that this dress is to your liking?” She asked me timidly.

She had brought me three options from Lorelai’s closet, all dramatically different from the glimmering dark fabric I’d been wearing the night before. Her first option had been an orangish ballgown with off-the-shoulder cap sleeves decorated in tiny petals. The second had been a lovely lilac color, but I took one look at the sparkling gems filling the bodice and turned it away.

The dress I had picked was the simplest by far. Made of ivory chiffon, it had no delicate decorations besides a sheer panel of lace across my midriff and two panels of fabric dripping off my shoulders. The dress cut low across my back, exposing my shoulder blades and spine, but was modest enough over mybreasts to prevent me from feeling uncomfortable with being on display. Geia had stiffened when I chose it, arguing that the others were more in fashion and that this might look out of place at such a formal event, but that had only convinced me further. I asked Nessira to help me into it and did not miss the flicker of amusement as she set about securing it.

“This dress is perfect, Geia,” I promised her. “It’s precisely to my liking.”

“Geia, fetch the diamond clips for Lady Moore’s hair,” Nessira instructed, her voice stern as she began folding my hair into braids and curls. I stiffened at the command, and her fingers slowed.

“Actually,” she amended. “Go to the garden and fetch me some Baby’s Breath flowers.”

This seemed to push Geia over the edge, and she couldn’t help but gasp aloud. “You’re going to put flowers in her hair?”

Nessira sighed impatiently. “Oh, go now, girl. And while you’re out there, try to remember what is and isn’t appropriate to say in the presence of your lady.”

Geia flushed and quickly curtsied before running from the room. I could feel the embarrassment flowing off of her as I chewed contemplatively on my lip. Nessira watched her leave before returning to my hair, undoing the elaborate twists she had already started.

“You and Geia can speak freely in front of me, I won’t be angry.”

Nessira was quiet, her strained breathing echoing throughout the bathroom. For a moment, I thought she might not respond, so I turned my attention back to the floor, content to get lost in my thoughts.

“I know,” she confessed after a moment. “But Geia is young, and not all the ladies she will serve will feel the same. So, she needs to learn to indulge their… eccentricities.”

Nessira’s voice was soft and haunted, as if she spoke from experience. I didn’t press her on the issue, though. I had been prodded myself too much lately. So, I let her style my hair, and when Geia returned with the flowers, I smiled at the young girl warmly, as if I could silently communicate that she faced no reprimands here. Geia blushed once more and dipped her head in thanks.

Once I had fully dressed, Dimitri escorted me to the Grand Hall of the palace for the celebration. As we arrived, he stood by my side and I could have sworn I heard him chuckle as I gaped openly at the room.

“The Grand Hall typically impresses those seeing it for the first time,” he told me. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye.

“I can see why.”

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