Page 104 of Artemysia
Galke has known me only as a killer.
I assumed King Foss viewed me as one too, but if he did, there would be no reason for him to bring up what I was like as a baby.
And I had a Syf name, too.
“Aeros,” I repeat with a grimace, guarding my churning emotions. The name rolls off my tongue. It isn’t terrible, but somehow it makes me feel more lost than ever.
“Syf names either start with a vowel or end with S. Both, in your case.”
Great. My name is doubly Syf. Just fucking fantastic.
“It’s a strong name,” Foss says mildly. “As is Riev.”
Right. This is a new kind of torture. Why is he being nice?
“Your parents shouldn’t have died just because they…” His lips shut, pressed tight. “Anyway, I’ve changed the laws since.”
When I see past my disgust, realization dawns on me. I’m both shocked and somewhat impressed.
Is Foss trying to bond with me?
Delphine would be able to read him.
I fucking miss her. They assured me that Delphine, Throg, and Ivy would be well taken care of as long as I stayed away from them until my assignment.
In return, I’m being civil. On my best behavior. I’ll always have violence as a choice, but I agreed to read all the books King Foss assigned me to learn about North Kingdom. Apparently, the library here is filled with stolen books from both North and South Kingdom. He maintains that infiltrating North Kingdom is part of my penance for the lives I’ve taken. It doesn’t seem terribly unfair.
And in return for asking no questions now, I am promised all the answers I want after I return from North Kingdom.
Since I care about the safety of the others and want to see the mission through if only to uncover the mysteries presented, it seems our interests are temporarily aligned.
There’s no reason to fight right now. But that doesn’t mean I haveto be happy about this.
What Iamhappy about, though, is that I will see Delphine tomorrow. The Syf have better been treating all three of them right. Otherwise, I’m sure Delphine and I can come up with an alternate plan together on the two-hour carriage ride.
She always knows what to do. It’s why the Syf have kept us apart.
She’s a damn force to be reckoned with.
“I hear Riev’s voice in my head warning me not to get involved.” - Delphine
Early afternoon the next day, Eira leads Ivy and Throg on a tour of the castle. Meanwhile, an elderly attendant, Elodie, drapes a dozen gorgeous silk dresses on the bed for me to choose from for my trip into North Kingdom.
“This is your traveling gown for the carriage ride.” She holds up a strapless dark green dress embroidered with peacock feathers. “It’s what they wear there.”
Upon closer inspection, the feathers are made of tiny jewels.
“Then, when you arrive, change into one of these ball gowns for the gala. The next day, there will be an all-day feast and revelry into the evening. So pick out the ones you like, and we will tailor them now. Anything else you need will be packed for you.”
My ears prick up atall-day feast, but I’m also anxious and feel the churn of the Syf lunch of sugary meats and pastries in my gut.
I’m also skeptical that I can do any of these dresses justice. Beautiful clothes in silken fabrics and bold cuts are all new to me.
As if she reads my mind, Elodie says, “These are recent styles of the North Kingdom, dear. They are a bit more elaborate than where you come from.”
Back in Stargazer, the ladies of the court would die for any of these vividly colored gowns. The smoothest silk I’ve ever felt slips through my fingers like liquid. The ballgowns in South Kingdom are stiff with poufy, layered skirts, and the fashion at Stargazer Castle is to dress in colors of the High King’s chosen crest, so deep blues and bright whites have prevailed for formal occasions during Galke’s reign.
It’s also why blue and white are the most popular paint colors for cottages.
