Page 44 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Prepare her well,” he told Ari, turning with a flap of his cloak before thudding down the stairs and departing via the elevator.

I sighed. “Doesn’t your king ever bother to rest or bathe?”

“He has urgent meetings,” Ari said. “I assure you he’ll do both later. I have a herb supplier to meet. You will accompany me.”

I blinked at her.

“Don’t look so shocked. This is an opportunity for you to earn my trust and therefore the king’s. And the court will have a chance to view you in your new role. It is my hope it will ease your discomfort and allow you to serve the king with grace tonight. Always bear in mind, Leaf, that trusted servants are given greater freedoms than those who disobey. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, I suggest you consider my advice.”

“It almost sounds like you want to help me, Sayeeda, which strikes me as odd.”

“It’s not odd at all,” she replied. “Once, I was very much like you, railing against my fate and lashing out in anger, making everything worse. But listen to me… everyone carries a story within them, and I’m interested in how yours unfolds. While you are chained in that pretty cage of air and gold, your tale is at a standstill and no one, including yourself, can know how it ends. Be grateful for each freedom you earn, no matter how small it seems at the time. This is the key that will open your cage.”

The Sayeeda was right, and I thought about what she’d said as she led me into the elevator and along the palace’s golden halls. We went through the kitchen and down an external staircase that ended in a busy courtyard, where servants carried baskets and parcels.

Ari settled in a chair at a long table set with ledgers and jars of ink cradling feather quills, then directed me to sit beside her. I obeyed, watching a bearded trader approach. He took a seat opposite and began discussing the deliveries that were occurring around the courtyard’s mosaic-lined pool.

My chain hung loosely at my feet, as if I was a member of Ari’s kitchen staff and a necessary part of the meeting. I listened carefully to the talk of orders, payment terms, and delivery dates with the man who was a fae trader from the Ice Realm, in case I could learn anything useful.

Courtiers stared at me, but I ignored them and kept studying the exit and entry points. I tried to make connections and draw a map in my mind from the king’s dome to the courtyard, knowing it might prove useful at some point in the future.

Auron kanara birds chirped in their cages and bright sunlight beamed through palm leaves, the atmosphere busy but pleasant. I took a deep breath and smiled.

It felt good to be out of the pavilion, participating in a small part of court life. And even when Esen strutted past with another guard, both shooting me glares, it couldn’t dampen my sense of satisfaction.

The trader completed his business, bowing to both of us, and Ari gave me one of her rare smiles, a reward for my compliant behavior, then guided me back to the king’s dome.

In the afternoon, Ari presided over two fae servants who bathed and oiled me, then braided my hair to the point of pain before dressing me in an elegant but extremely revealing gown.

Made of fine links of gold and studded with rubies, the dress’s long sleeves draped when I lifted my arms. The neckline swooped low, and the hem slashed across my thighs on the diagonal, trailing lightly behind me as I walked. Semi-transparent material glided across my body like snakeskin, alluring and sinuous.

It was a definite improvement over my outfit of glorified golden bandages that only just managed to cover the interesting bits. But even dressed in such finery, it was clear I was a plaything made for the Storm King’s pleasure, an indignity I had no choice but to bear.

When dusk fell, Ari and the maids finally left me alone, and Arrow arrived soon after, ignoring me as he bathed, then dressed in black leather and gold metal. From the pavilion, I watched his muscles ripple and his brow crease as he scowled at his clothes as if they’d done him grievous harm.

Arrow seemed deeply troubled. But he ruled the most powerful kingdom in the realms, controlled the gold trade, and enjoyed absolute dominion over every courtier and slave in his city. What right did he have to be unhappy?

As he stalked toward my pavilion, his silver eyes devoured me from head to toe. When he reached me, he held my face between his palms and leaned close. “You look good enough to eat, little Leaf. Tell me, will you be an obedient servant in front of my court tonight?”

The scent of rosemary and mint on his damp hair teased my senses, but I did my best to ignore it, softening the set of my mouth and widening my eyes innocently.

I nodded in reply, concentrating on memories of my family in the forest, vowing to appear biddable and meek if it would help me find a way back to them.

Power vibrated around his body, and I clenched my teeth, determined not to show how his nearness affected me and turned my limbs to jelly.

“Come,” he said, unfastening my chain from the bolt in the floor and attaching it to a cuff around his wrist. “Control your spite tonight and reap the rewards.”

What rewards? I wondered. Did he think I was stupid enough to want him to feed me grapes from his mouth again? I had no desire to repeat that mortifying game. Just the memory sent heat blooming in my stomach—and lower still. I dug my nails into my leg to distract myself from the nauseating feeling.

In silence, we entered the elevator and dropped down, exiting into a gilded antechamber flanked by two guards. They led us to the Grand Hall, crowded tonight with gold-adorned fae. Lit by thousands of tiny candelabra flames, the courtiers glimmered like stars.

Feathers floated from the ceiling and drifted in the air currents. I reached up and caught one, folding my fingers around it.

The Sayeeda bowed to the king and gave me a nod of encouragement as a guard announced Arrow’s arrival. “All rise for his Majesty, King Arrowyn of the Light Realm of Storms and Feathers.”

Hundreds of chairs scraped across marble as the courtiers rose like a surging wave, conversations pausing until the king took his seat at the long dining table at the front of the dais.

Raiden appeared and attached my chain to the king’s chair. With a flick of Arrow’s hand, the feathers circulating through the room dissolved. I uncurled my fingers, the feather I’d caught no longer lying on my palm.

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