Page 37 of Wingless Crow: Part 1

“Voron.” I looked up to find the High General standing over me.

In all this mayhem, it seemed, some order remained. Among the chaos of light, music, and flying fae, Voron looked like a dark sentinel, keeping a watchful eye on everything, including me.

“Come, Sparrow.”

Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, he raised the other one to shield us from those above, then skillfully maneuvered me toward the exit. Disoriented by the swarms of winged people flying around, I held my head down, giving him full control. He led me across the room and out onto the landing with the moving stairs.

“Thank you,” I exhaled when he released me from his one-armed hold.

His expression was unreadable.

“Will you find the way back to your bedroom?” he asked.

I hesitated, trying to recall every little staircase the guards had used on our way to meet Voron at the bottom of the moving stairs.

He didn’t wait for my answer, gesturing for a guard at the door to approach.

“Take Lady Sparrow back to her room.” With a brief nod in my direction, he stepped aside, allowing the guard to lead me away.

“Good night, Sparrow.” His voice chased me on my way down the magical moving staircase.

“Good night,”I replied in my mind only, as the distance between us had grown too great for him to hear me.

ChapterTen

SPARROW

The following day went by in a blur. Due to drinking too much wine and not eating nearly enough food at the royal ball, I woke up with a splitting headache the following morning and spent most of the day in bed, recovering.

Once I’d finally slept off the hangover and was able to climb out of bed the day after, Brebie and her small army of maids took over my bedroom. They marched in right after breakfast, carrying armloads of dresses, jewelry boxes, and trunks filled with furs and shoes.

The lifelong supply of clothes that Brebie had assured me King Tiane would provide for me appeared to arrive all at once. Apparently, the king had personally selected the pieces, instructing the maids on what I should wear the next time I was to see him.

Brebie was beside herself with delight that I’d managed to impress the king.

“He really likes you,” she gushed.

“I’m not sure why,” I wondered aloud. “I really blew it with the dancing, you know?”

She waved me off.

“It doesn’t matter. He said you were delightful and so in awe of him.”

I was in awe. It was hard not to be. King Tiane presented a splendid picture, blinding like the sun, especially, when residing on his marvelous throne. I couldn’t pinpoint, however, what exactly he found so delightful about me.

With the aid of at least a dozen maids, Brebie jumped into action, organizing all the new treasures that had fallen upon me courtesy of the king. All the new shoes, dresses, and jewelry had to be sorted and put away in appropriate places inside the wardrobe room adjacent to my bedroom.

I tried to be useful by folding some things and putting away the others, but Brebie quickly put a stop to that.

“You’ve done it all wrong, Sparrow!” She threw her arms into the air, surveying the results of my work. “Everyone knows you can’t store pearls in glowing crystal boxes. It makes them dull. And spider silk dresses need to be hung, not folded.”

By the time the next day came and they were still not done with organizing, I’d had enough of the commotion.

“I want to go for a walk,” I told Brebie. “To explore the palace or something.”

She blinked at me, looking confused. “What’s there to explore? You’ll just get in the way and annoy both the servants and the highborn.”

I rolled my eyes at her complete and utter lack of faith in me. “I promise to keep out of the way so as not toannoyanyone, including you. Don’t you wish to get more space in here with me gone for a while?”

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