Page 8 of The Lord of Whispers

He gestured to the spread of food for me to choose from, explaining that the kitchen staff was at my disposal if I wanted something different. But I had no real need of the staff. I wasn’t used to having someone wait on me. I preferred a light breakfast most days, anyway, usually just coffee and some fresh fruit. A few lesser fae servants buzzed around the manor while we finished our breakfasts and coffee.

I spoke to Jay about my hometown, Harborview, over breakfast.

“Harborview’s just a few hours north of my estate in Breakpoint,” Jay commented.

I pressed my lips against the fresh strawberry in my hand, savoring its sweetness, before taking a bite. Even the fruit was better, and fresher, here at the High Court. I was well aware of the fact that Jay’s estate was in Breakpoint. Jay’s estate in Breakpoint was the seat of the Azure Court, one of the five courts of Valencia. The Azure Court was aptly named because it was home to the only Azurinium caves in the Kingdom. Azurinium was a blue glowing mineral found in caves in the cliffs facing the Azure Ocean. It was an extremely valuable power source—even more so with the magic failing—and was used for everything from powering carriages to powering clocks.

“Have you ever visited Breakpoint?” he asked.

I noticed his glance slide to my lips, and I self-consciously ran my tongue across my lower lip, wiping away the red juices of the strawberry that undoubtedly stained my lips.

I’d never had any reason to venture down the coast. I’d never really traveled anywhere in my life. I hadn’t had enough money to do so. But I didn’t mention that part to the high lord. As the owner of all Azurinium in Valencia, I didn’t think he would understand not having enough money to travel just a few hours south.

After breakfast, Jay led me around the manor, since I’d not been given a tour the night before. The manor contained many rooms of different sizes, consisting of varied styles, for serving a variety of purposes—all of which we would go into as part of my lessons, Jay explained. Perhaps noticing my lack of enthusiasm—I’d never really taken to domestic duties like my mother thought I should—Jay assured me that formal hosting would be just a small part of my education with him. He would also thoroughly prepare me for the written liaison test and my time at the High Court.

We made our way into a private bar. I ran a hand over the polished brown wood of the bar top, admiring the high lord’s collection of bottles. He casually mentioned it was mine to choose from any time I liked.

It was the library, where we would spend most of our time for my lessons—according to Jay—that was, by far, the most magnificent room in the entire manor. Lord Vitruvian’s personal library was even more expansive than the library at my university; I took in the varied colors of book after book on the floor-to-ceiling shelves that lined the walls of the room. I loved how the sunlight came through the full-length glass-paned window that served as the back wall of the library. I would be able to work in the library and not feel as though I was closeted inside all day.

We began my lesson for the day almost immediately upon entering the library.

“Sit,” Jay said firmly but not unkindly, gesturing toward a large table in the middle of the room.

He explained that we would begin with the history of the Houses serving at the High Court before making our way into some more nuanced aspects of magical theory.

“I learned all about the five Courts at university,” I said, hoping to head off some of the more elementary aspects of the lesson. And, if I were being honest with myself, itching to show the high lord what I thought I did best.

There was the High Court seated in Vlaise and ruled by King Heroux himself. The Emerald Court was the seat of House Heroux before the King sat on the throne at the High Court. It sat in the Emerald Isle and was currently ruled by the King’s son, Prince Nikolas Heroux. The Azure Court, Jay’s Court, was seated in Breakpoint and under his dominion. The Ruby Court, found in Eaton in northern Valencia, was ruled by High Lord Rein. And then there was the Silver Court, located in the southern tip of Valencia, which was governed by Luke’s father, High Lord Bellamy.

“And that,my dear, is why we are starting with the Court’s history,” Jay admonished.

Butterflies took flight and fluttered about in my chest. Whether from the high lord’s words,my dear, or the fear of being wrong, I couldn’t tell. I remained silent, waiting for further instruction from the high lord.

“There aresixcourts that you must know about. A fact commonly glossed over by our education system,” he said, as if that explained the issue.

“Six.Six?” I repeated under my breath. “Oh, you mean the North Court,” I replied, relieved that I was not totally ignorant of what he was referring to.

“The Diamond Court,” he corrected. “Although, yes, Alarie, I guess you are correct. It has come to be known as just the North Court since you have been alive.”

I did not know that the North Court was once called the Diamond Court. I had to admit that I knew almost nothing about the Diamond Court other than it was ruled by King Rexford Vandros and was located in Alancia, the kingdom north of Valencia.

“It’s called the Diamond Court because there are diamond mines there?” I guessed, unwilling to give up on my efforts to show the high lord I possessed some kind of cleverness.

“That isoneof the reasons,” he said approvingly.

I felt myself brighten at the approbation in his deep voice.

“But let’s take a step back. Do you know the reason why all the other courts are named what they are?”

I may not know much about the Diamond Court, but of course, I knew the reason behind the name of each of the other courts. I began to rattle them off.

“The High Court is named as such because it’s the home of the High Council,” I answered, like I was still in class at university.

“The Azure Court”—I inclined my head to the high lord—“is named after the Azurinium caves found there. The Emerald Court was given its name due to the gems found in that area, most notable among them the beautiful green emeralds. The Ruby Court was given its name because…” I hesitated, thinking that the next explanation I intended to give had always been thin. “The Ruby Court was given its name because King Heroux decreed it. And the Silver Court…”

I had stumbled across a hole in my knowledge I had not even known existed. I ran through the possibilities in my head. Silver wouldn’t be mined near Port City, where the Silver Court was located. It was on the coast, and all the mining of silver in Valencia occurred near the Ruby Court.

I looked up at the high lord, my silence an admission that I did not know the reason behind the Silver Court’s name. There was a knowing half-smirk on his face, as if he knew this was where I would get hung up in my answer.

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