Hours later, Ceilsea sat in her bedroom preparing herself for the Champion’s Ball. Before returning, she and Vonae bought every snack they saw. They skipped dinner and listened to the Evening Song from a street in the city. They had missed much of the beginning fanfare for the ball. Now Ceilsea sat in brand new clothes, reflecting that she had changed far too many times in one day.

She wore one of her best outfits. It was monochrome layers of green. Her kaftan was embroidered with golden tigers with silver stripes, hiding amongst golden ferns. One tiger was on each side of her chest and three or four prowled along the trim. The ferns decorated the bottom of her outer kaftan and around her waist so when they were cinched with the belt they fanned out like a bouquet up her back.

She had worn this exact ensemble twice before, once for the king’s birthday a few years ago and once for visiting delegates from the emperor. It was her most expensive outfit. She always struggled to choose to wear it because it felt too excessive, but without wearing it, she’d never recoup the cost. She usually wore her plainer Order of the Cosmic Honor robes to important functions instead. Luckily the king ordered her to wear this outfit when it was necessary. For the Champion’s Ball, he told her she needed to look as over the top as possible to emphasize the prosperity of Sumanar. Even if it was foolish and made her feel like one of her sculptures rather than the one that carved them, he was right. She had to look perfect or people would question the king’s patronage abilities.

Vonae knocked at her door, then slipped into the room without invitation. It was generous that he knocked at all. He wore his royal wizard’s uniform with a black jacket and cap, white tunic, red pants that reached his waist, and knee-high leather boots. Ceilsea pursed her lips slightly, annoyed at the plainness of his outfit.

“Are you ready?” Ceilsea asked before he could. Obviously she had taken much longer to get ready than him.

Vonae crossed the room and flicked the curtains aside to look out over the garden. The noise of conversation billowed up from below. Nobles, their champions, and statesmen were in the garden or in the Great Hall. The commoners and less esteemed visitors had their own festivities outside the palace walls, with the catering and entertainment provided out of the king’s coffers. The Champion’s Ball was for everyone, but only the champions and their endorsers were invited inside the palace walls.

“I already scouted out the hall. The king should be ready for you. Almost everyone else has arrived. Miennere threw a tantrum about attending since she’s not a champion. So, she will arrive later with Mother, Father, and Yippinee.”

Ceilsea tugged at the long, billowing sleeves of her outer robe. Of course Vonae had been busy. She did not know why she’d assumed he’d been waiting for her. She sighed. “It will appear that the Brijas family is snubbing the king if we don’t move now. We should go down,” Ceilsea commented. Vonae crossed the room, and she took his arm.

“Too early and we appear to think ourselves more important than the nobility. Too late and we’ll be called lazy and ungrateful,” he whispered into her ear as they entered the passageway.

Ceilsea rolled her eyes. He wasn’t wrong, but the king certainly wouldn’t think that. It was the nobles and other strangers who would judge them. Luckily, her parents and Vonae mostly managed their opinions, so she didn’t have to.

Vonae took her through the back hallways to the side door of the Great Hall. Coming through this door they wouldn’t be announced, Ceilsea thought with relief. No one would turn their heads, and she would not be crowded with admirers demanding her attention. Rivonae opened the door and the king was suddenly in front of her. Vonae slipped his arm from hers. He had planned the whole thing to make it as easy for her as possible.

The king’s face warmed with a gentle smile as soon as he saw her. He was flanked by Aamard, Iscano, and a noble, Lady Arlel, but he broke from them to embrace her.

“I’m glad you made it un-accosted. You look radiant,” he said quietly so only she could hear.

As they broke their closeness, Ceilsea immediately curtsied low. “Whatever you desire, I will deliver, your highness.”

“Unfortunately, what I desire is for you to greet your admirers,” he told her, taking Vonae’s place at her arm.

“If only the feeling were mutual,” she sighed wistfully, “but I’m aware that I should for my own good.”

“Later we ought to enjoy each other’s company. I expect that’s something that we actually both enjoy,” the king grinned at her before leading her to retake his place in the small group. Ceilsea bowed her head to the others.

“Good evening, sister,” Lady Arlel greeted her as a nun of the Cosmic Order. “I’ve heard from his majesty that I’ve missed my chance to commission you this year.”

“I can put your request on my backlog,” Ceilsea offered. She guessed she would be saying that exact phrase a lot tonight. Once she finished the Griffin for the harbor, she would escape but she would complete any other sculptures she had promised wherever she ended up. What she promised the king came first. After that, she would like the freedom to take any job she wanted or simply sculpt of her own volition.

“It’s certainly no hurry. I would just appreciate it if you keep me in mind when you are next looking for patronage,” the lady smiled at her.

Lady Arlel had land in the northern highlands. Ceilsea could use her request as an excuse to find a place to stay when she left the capital, but that might put Lady Arlel at odds with the king. Ceilsea preferred to leave Sumanar entirely, but for a short time, it might work.

Ceilsea listened and chatted with the king’s entourage for a while, shifting from one noble to the next. Understandably Aamard didn’t leave the king’s side. He was the king’s Champion, and they must appear united. Iscano hovered nearby. Ceilsea felt bad that the High Wayzard could not dance with his husband. Eventually Vonae reappeared to take Ceilsea around the ball to greet people.

They took a turn around the ballroom, stopping to talk to those who made eye contact with Ceilsea. At one point, they saw Miennere pouting in a corner. They saw their parents making the rounds as well.

“Excuse me, Mistress Brijas,” one of the younger nobles made his way through the crowd to her. “May I have a word?”

Ceilsea and Vonae exchanged glances. Ceilsea turned toward the noble and smiled. “Anything you have to say you can say in front of my brother.”

“Oh, ah, your brother.” He was the son of Lord and Lady Tressen Ceilsea recalled. She had never met him, only seen him with his parents. “You see, I was hoping to ask you to place something in the king’s ear for me. Not really something I want a lot of people to know about…” the noble leaned in to whisper in her ear.

Ceilsea’s smile faltered.

“I try not to involve myself in politics,” she clarified, because the noble didn’t have the decorum to pretend to be interested in art.

“You don’t have to get involved, just set the wheels in motion…” The noble gently touched her arm. Vonae bristled, but he knew better than to act against a noble without due cause.

“Apologies. The night’s so hectic. I just remembered I have to speak with someone else. Strangely enough they made a similar request,” Ceilsea lied and tugged on her brother in the direction of the gardens.

She needed to get some fresh air. With disappointment, she realized she would have to greet people out there as well.

The open doors were flanked by two guards. Since the ball was private and there was the chance of people wandering in, the guards kept the uninvited outside. She could already see the candle light reflecting off the shrubs and felt relief. As she approached the guards, she saw one blocking the way of a tall figure in a bright yellow dress.

“Do you think I would know how to get here by the servants’ paths if I was not intimately familiar with the palace? Must I cut your arms off to prove I am a royal wizard?” the figure was arguing with the guard.

Vonae stopped suddenly, dragging Ceilsea to a halt.

“I’m sorry, but not all wizards are invited, only champions. I understand that you entered the tournament but—” the guard stammered.

Vonae stared at the stranger. The figure opened her mouth to speak again, but then met her brother’s eyes. Suddenly recognition dawned on Ceilsea.

“It can’t be—” she started.

“Rivonae!” Her brother’s lifelong rival firmly pushed past the guard.