Page 79 of Sanctifier

“With far more aplomb than you, that much is clear.” Simon grinned, holding out an arm. “Welcome to your party.”

The room they had just entered was high-ceilinged with white walls and golden trim, shining in the lamplight. The velvet rose-colored curtains were drawn. Without any natural light,the room had a cozy, cave-like quality even with its opalescent pillars and opulent trimming.

Luxurious furniture took up most of the space, though it appeared to be slightly threadbare and covered in a thick layer of dust. At one end of the room was a small stage, upon which sat a stool and a few empty chairs, also dusty. This must be some disused room, Ru thought, glancing around. Perhaps it belonged to a courtier who had stopped visiting the palace. There were roughly a dozen people in attendance, many of whom were familiar faces. The rest appeared to be courtiers, who Ru could only guess were Simon’s friends and allies.

Before Ru had a chance to take it in, Rosylla appeared at Ru’s side, crying, “She’s here!” Not waiting for a response, she threw her arms around Ru and squeezed. “Happy birthday, Ru.”

“It’s not…” said Ru, glancing at Simon. He shook his head almost imperceptibly. “I mean, thanks,” Ru amended, trying not to laugh.

Simon leaned in and hissed, “I had to usesomesort of leverage to convince everyone to come at horribly short notice.”

“Happy birthday!” came a chorus of greetings from the party attendees. Gwyneth and Archie were there, and Sybeth was lurking near a table of food with Lyr. Even Pearl was in attendance, holding a glass of wine and looking as if she were about to receive a reprimand.

“How did you…” Ru said, lost for words.

Simon shrugged. “It’s shocking what one can accomplish when morale is in dire need of boosting. But look,” he said, flitting through the room like a butterfly. He led Ru to a table laid with tiny cakes, cinnamon rolls, sugared berries, and wine. Bowing slightly, he gestured elegantly to the decadent spread. “Enjoy, dearest sister, the fruits of your own brother’s thieving prowess.”

Pearl, who stood nearby, coughed pointedly.

Simon pursed his lips. “Pearl helped a bit. And now, I must serenade you all with my talent and originality, though there’s hardly enough of you to make it worth the effort.”

Grinning, Simon set off to the other side of the room, his hair bouncing as he went. Feeling strangely self-conscious, Ru plucked a tiny cake from the table with two fingers and popped it into her mouth. This party was ridiculous and far too risky — Simon shouldn’t have done it — but she couldn’t help feeling bolstered by the support. Maybe shehadneeded this.

“Happy birthday,” said a laughing voice from behind Ru. She turned to see Archie and Gwyneth, both beaming.

“Didn’t realize we were celebrating birthdays on any old day,” Archie said, swirling his wine. “Can it be mine tomorrow? These secret get-togethers are rather exciting. Didn’t think I’d take so readily to espionage.”

“I’d hardly call it espionage,” Gwyneth said. “But, Ru, are you all right? We hadn’t seen you since the garden party, and then we woke up yesterday to an army of guards outside our rooms.”

“We’re running out of time,” Ru said. “There are more eyes on us than ever. As soon as Simon comes through with disguises, we need to find out what’s going on at Lady Bellenet’s Prayer.”

Archie crossed his arms, still managing to balance his wine glass expertly. “Does this mean you’ve changed your mind? You’ll let us come with you?”

Ru’s mouth twisted. “Only because I need your scientific minds, not because I think it’s a good idea to drag you both into danger.”

“We’re already in it, if you hadn’t noticed,” Gwyneth said, primly sipping her wine.

“So what’s the plan then?” Archie asked eagerly. “Disguises, you say? I love a disguise. Does mine involve a mustache?”

Ru snorted. “No, it does not involve a mustache. We’re dressing up as Children, obviously. The only thing is, I stronglysuspect that Lady Bellenet’s power will be most potent at Prayer. We have to be ready to slip out of there at any moment—”

“Lest we get turned into empty husks ourselves,” mused Archie, gazing into the distance. “Yes, yes… could be tricky.”

“Tricky, or suicide?” Gwyneth said, looking wan. “I’m with you, Ru, but remember what Lord D’Luc said. Once the change is made, once someonebecomesone of the Children… it’s forever.”

“I know,” said Ru, putting on a brave face despite the ripple of dread in her stomach. “But—”

At that moment, a chord was struck from the stage, and everyone turned to see, conversations fading. Simon perched on a stool with his lute propped on one knee, the fingers of his left hand curled against its neck.

“Good evening, all,” he said, his voice ringing pleasingly through the now-silent room. “Thank you for attending the rushed and secretive birthday party of my dear sister Ru, an insufferable pedant, yet beloved all the same. If you do not spend the remainder of your evening making every attempt to make her smile, you will be punished.”

“How?” asked Lyr.

Simon beamed. “In whatever way I deem fit, handsome guard.” Lyr’s face turned a deep shade of red. Laughing, Simon began to play.

There were few things in the world that filled Ru with such a longing ache as music. And Simon’s music touched her most poignantly. It was the reason she had come to believe in magic.

She believed in the magic of the soul, the incredible way that a song could unravel her and restring her like a violin, play her in a major key. As she listened, her friends all around her, she was surprised to find she couldn’t stop smiling.

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