Page 85 of The Sundered Realms

“You like that?”

She sighed. “It is completely impractical given my general activities and far more expensive than I can currently afford. I don’t even have formalwear yet, so I couldn’t justify it as a Special Operations expense.”

“Not what I asked.”

Liris started walking again. “Apologies, I assumed my immediate adoration was so obvious your question was rhetorical.” He snorted. “Whereas I bet you would love that.” Liris nodded at a dramatic cape.

Vhannor’s eyebrows raised, he looked back at her. “That cape is ridiculous.”

“Let me rephrase. You wish you could wear that cape.”

His lips quirked into a tiny smile, just for a second, and Liris smiled. She wasn’t totally off-base then.

“I’ll save up for something like the cloak someday,” she said decisively. “But it would be nice to find something I can buy for myself today.“ With the money she’d earned on her own merits.

“Then get something that doesn’t have anything to do with the ball,” Vhannor advised. “That’s for work.”

“Says the man who’s never met the balance of work and not-work in his life?”

“Which is why I’m the authority on this. In fact—you’ve never been in a spellcraft supply store, have you? Let’s take a detour, you’ll love this.”

Hesitant as she was to deviate from their objective, he was right. Liris had so many questions about absolutely every object in the store: different types of paper ideal for different climates and inks, in every style of notepad she could imagine—Vhannor pointed out quick-dry ink that Lady Inealuwor’s wife had invented. Liris finally walked out with a pen that was not the standard-issue for classes: it was glittery and held cartridges for three different colors of sparkly ink, an object for standing out rather than blending in, and it was completely silly and she loved it.

“I look forward to blinding future demons with my Sparklespells All-Terrain Model 500 Easy Flow Tip,” Liris said cheerfully as Vhannor failed to hold back a laugh, the sound warming her down to her toes.

Maybe they could make this work after all.

He got her set up with a local dressmaker whose time he’d apparently booked weeks ago for a rush job. They finished strategizing the broad strokes—she would wear Embhullor’s colors but with a subtle pattern characteristic of Serenthuar, suggesting an alliance that would intrigue other political players enough that they would seek to talk to her. Then Vhannor stepped out once she was ensconced sampling different styles and having her measurements taken.

He was gone long enough that Liris was beginning to wonder if a demon had opened a portal somewhere when he returned with a large bag. “All sorted?” he asked.

“Yes. Are we done?”

Vhannor raised his eyebrows. “Do you want to be done?”

“What answer gets you to tell me what’s in the bag that couldn’t wait?”

He smirked and kept waiting—still enough that he couldn’t be indifferent to her answer.

Liris put her hands on her hips. “No, I don’t want to be done, but I wouldn’t mind taking a break, if we have time.”

“Then we’re not done. Enough of me showing you places. You pick one that looks interesting this time.”

Helping her explore her new home, and freedom.

Oh, this man.

They ended up on a bench in a small park with large geometric metal sculptures of basic spell forms and a fantastic view of the mountains beyond the valley.

This time a box between them held a variety of bite-sized cakes, each with a different filling. Liris refused to look at the guide for which was which.

“It’s no dough filled with stuff, but how about frosting filled with stuff?” she said.

“A worthy alternative. I did have an ulterior motive today.”

Finally, she could stop waiting for the catch. “I’m shocked to hear that about you.”

Vhannor rolled his eyes. “I suppose I deserve that.”

---