Page 61 of The Jester

“Has he specified what I should wear?”

“No,” she says again, “just that you’re to come to him when the feast is done.”

“I’m not hungry.”

I walk past the tray, reach for my gloves, and then decide to leave them where they are. Even Briony does not seem to care anymore whether I wear them or not.

“Do you need to accompany me?” I ask. She nods, then follows behind me as I walk through the castle towards the Grand Hall. When we reach his doors, I pause and turn to her. “Briony, are we still friends?”

She meets my eyes, and she looks as though she’s fighting the urge to cry.

“Yes, of course. I just thought...” She hesitates. “I didn’t think you would want to be my friend anymore.”

“Why?” I ask, frowning.

Again, she clasps her hands together, worrying them in front of her stomach. “Because it was me who told Eldrion what was happening in the dungeon. If I hadn’t –” she pinches the bridge of her nose like she’s trying to physically keep the tears inside her body.

“I don’t blame you for that.” I reach out and take her hand, squeezing it tightly even though I’m not wearing my gloves. She doesn’t seem to care.

“I heard the commotion. I heard them saying Henrik was dead. I didn’t even think about what Eldrion would do to them. I just...”

“You were scared.” I squeeze her hand again. “I do not blame you. And I absolutely still want to be your friend.”

She smiles, and for the first time since we have known each other, I hug her tightly. Then I turn, take a deep breath, and push open the doors.

I expect the atmosphere in the hall to be different. I expect it to be sombre or melancholy, but it is as if the Sunborne of the citadel have forgotten what happened on the parapet two weeks ago, as if they have forgotten Kayan completely.

As I have every other night when I’ve been forced to attend these evenings, I filter through the crowd so I can see Finn when he performs.

After two weeks, I am desperate to see him, but when he appears, I instantly know there is something wrong.

I follow his gaze. He is staring at something in the corner of the room that no one else seems to have noticed. The drums start sooner than usual, and something moves in the shadows.

Two sprawling black wings appear, and then there he is... Eldrion.

An audible gasp spreads through the hall as Eldrion strides into the spotlight.

He stands beside Finn and holds out his hand. Tentatively, Finn places the ribbon into it. The one that is usually used by a woman in the audience to bind him.

I have not seen him perform this part of his dance since he gave himself to me and taught me how to use the rope to pin his wings to his chest.

I was worried about how I would feel seeing another woman do this to him. But Eldrion doing it?

I glance at Briony. “What’s happening?”

She does not reply, but she looks terrified, and so does Finn.

Very slowly, Eldrion begins to circle Finn, holding the ribbon taut in his hands. Without speaking, he plays the part that a Sunborne woman normally plays. He binds Finn’s wings tight to his chest, all while the drumbeat matches the pounding rhythm of my heart.

When I did this for Finn, it was a mark of control but I was not rough or cruel. Eldrion, however, revels in his power.

He fastens the ribbons tightly. They press into Finn’s wings and make him wince. Behind his mask, his eyes are dark and swimming with humiliation.

When Eldrion has finished, he stands back and stretches out his arms proudly.

“Now let us see if the jester can escape my knots,” he says, moving into the crowd as a wave of applause breaks out, and a few women visibly swoon as Eldrion flexes his muscles.

I stare at Finn, willing him to have the strength to break free, but he doesn’t look at me. Shame hums on his skin as he strains against Eldrion’s bindings. They are too tight. He will never break free of them. And that is the point, isn’t it? That is what Eldrion is trying to show everyone.

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