Page 119 of A Blightress of Wrath
Sheturned toLanna, who had nervously run her fingers through her hair so much during the council, her pale waves were almost completely unbound from the braid around her head.
“IfSaelynagrees, thenIagree.Butif she changes her mind at any moment, we do not force anything upon her.BaronRevichwould not want that for his daughter.”
TheBaronnodded, holding her palm out toSaelyn. “AsBaronofFelgren, this is myOfferingto train you in the magic of theForestthat flows through your veins from the roots of the trees to the new leaves in spring.Doyou accept?”
Saereached out her hand, placing it in the palm of her mother’s. “Iaccept thisOffering,BaronKarus.”
Attheir touch, her clothes transformed.
I’dnever actually seen the customary acceptance of anOffering, butI’dheard of the conduit in training being given a conduit ring and formal clothing they would subconsciously choose.
Instantly,Saebecame taller, her feet wrapped in high-heeled shoes similar to those she wore the previous night.Theywere a pine green, the top wrapping around her delicate ankles, trimmed in what looked like rhyzolms.
Thesheer forest green length of her gown hinted at all of the shape of her legs, flowing downward from her waist where she wore a velvet bodysuit that ended high along her hips to show off her creamy skin.Hersleeves billowed in the same shimmery sheer material, ending at her wrists in cuffs of gold lace.
Icould only imagine what the front of her gown looked like if this was the back, andIshifted uncomfortably against the wall.
“Runners,”Lannacalled, “you’re with me to the eastern gates.Wewill inform the rest there and prepare a timeline to invade.Moveout.”
Iswept a hand through my hair, following orders like a good soldier instead of pullingSaeinto my arms to dance to the musicIheard whenIlooked at her.Lannacaught my eye and my hesitation as if she expected it and jerked her head to the door.
Ididn’t look back asIleft.
Iwas aRunnerin theFour’sarmy on the front lines.
Ididn’t get to dance.
Ifelt the clap ofLanna’shand across my back. “Idid whatIcould to make sure she always has a choice.”
“Thankyou,”Imuttered, heading down the blood-red carpeted stairs, now stained with veins of black. “Iwill follow orders.”Istopped her on the last step as the other commanders left us, hustling to the eastern wall. “Iwill follow orders untilIcan’t.Igo where she goes.”
Shechuckled and jostled my shoulder. “ThenIthink she has a real chance to do this right.”
Chapter53
Saelyn
Aring woveover my right forefinger the moment my gown formed over my body.Iheld it up to the flicker of firelight, in awe of the representation of my power.
Asilver band was topped with a teardrop shaped stone in a hazy white to the point of becoming almost clear, with long streaks of black lines running through the stone every which way.Itwas chaos, it was beautiful.
“Runners, you’re with me to the eastern gates.Wewill inform the rest there and prepare a timeline to invade.Moveout.”
IheardLanna’scall and turned around too late, watchingThevinleave with the rest of them.Myheart sank as he left, butIassured myself he was in no danger joining the forces at the newBlightLine.
“Itis beautiful,Saelyn,” my mother said, taking my hand back in hers to admire my conduit ring.
“I’venever seen such a stone,”Ilyennawhispered, having silently slipped up beside me.
“Never?”Iasked, holding it up to the light again.
“Never,” she replied, glancing to my mother and her friends.Theyshook their heads in a solidified no.
“Itdoesn’t have a name?”
“Ifit does,Ido not know it.”
Itwisted my lips to the side, lowering my hand and finally taking a look at my gown.Itheld a similarity to the styleI’dworn in theSpire.Butinstead of a powder blue,Iwas draped in the green forest ofFelgren.Intricategold designs woven into the sheer fabric wound up the front with slits in the side that left nothing of my legs to the imagination.Longsleeves billowed around my arms down to my wrists and a belt of metal golden vines tightened across my waist.Theneckline of the gown was open and daring, curving downward across my chest in a deepV.Igasped at my shoes, whichIadmittedIloved most, regardless of how my feet arched uncomfortably.Theyextended my height at least three inches off the ground.Ipulled back the sheer fabric to admire them.
