There was an excitement in the air, and Tori was quite certain it was mainly hers at the prospect of personally beating Gideon. She liked the Empress, but had no issues destroying her in a race, especially when it meant making Gideon a loser.

Tori knelt down to remove her boots. Once they were off, her pale, bare feet hit the coarse sand, and she rolled up her pants to her calves. She felt she'd have better grip barefoot.

“I bet Cousin Tori’s going to win,” she heard Marco tell his brother. “Want to make a bet?”

“No, because I know Cousin Tori’s going to win,” Mateo replied. The two looked around for a prospective target. “Ewan! Do you want to make a bet!”

The odds seemed to be against Gideon and the Empress. Had someone else been racing them, they might have more of a chance. Not necessarily because the other duo was better, but because another pair would likely hold back so as not to disappoint the Empress.

Ewan snorted and shook his head. “I’m not taking that bet. That’s Tori and Nanny Rey.”

“Sir Nassaun!” The two boys turned to their next prey. Axton shook his head.

“She’s the one who set up the race; I think she knows what she’s doing,” Axton said as he crossed his arms and looked at the two.

The boys looked at each other and frowned. “What about His Highness Prince Piers?” Mateo asked.

Marco looked at him as if he were an idiot. “He’s not going to bet against Cousin Tori.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“I’ll take that bet,” a man’s voice spoke up beside them. They turned around and looked towards a lounge chair where a man with brown hair and glasses was reclining. A few intimidating men stood around him, but he himself looked quite relaxed. “That’s my wife your cousin is up against, you know.”

Tori crinkled her eyes as she watched the Emperor interact with her little cousins.

“I knew I could count on you to cheer for us, darling!” the Empress said, blowing him a little kiss. The Emperor’s cheeks reddened a bit, but he smiled. He looked back at the two boys, who were looking at him as if they were certain of winning.

“Mr....?”

“Please call me Uncle Matt,” the Emperor said. Tori saw Auntie Lucia run a hand down her face.

“Okay, Uncle Matt,” Marco said, proud. “Let us make a gentleman’s wager.”

“What gentleman...?” Auntie Lucia grumbled. “You two?”

The twins didn’t pay attention to their mother and slyly approached the Emperor. “How about this,” the Emperor said. “If your cousin wins, I will give you each a certificate to buy one silver coin worth of sweets from La Flora Bella, the premier dessert house in the Central District.”

“Make it two!” Mateo tried to bargain.

“Mateo!” Uncle Maurizo appeared to almost have a heart attack.

“It’s fine, Senior Maurizo,” the Emperor said, relaxed. “All right, young man. Two silver coins worth of dessert. Each.”

The two boys looked at each other and nodded. Then they looked at him. “And if you win?”

“Your Cousin Tori must cook a meal for me and my wife,” the Emperor said with a slight smile.

“That’s it?” Marco looked suspicious. The Emperor gave him a nod.

Several paces away, Tori narrowed her eyes. “What kind of bet is this? If they lose, they don’t have to do anything. I’d have to do the work.”

“Deal!” the boys chorused.

Tori’s jaw dropped and she let out a huff.

“You’ve been wagered,” Henrik said with a slight grin. JP snickered beside him from under his umbrella. Sonia sipped on her drink and lifted it up to toast her.

“Don’t worry, Cousin Tori!” Mateo said as he ran towards her. “I have complete faith in you! You won’t lose to an old lady!”

The Empress snapped her head towards him and narrowed her eyes. “Old?”

Piers glanced at them and then at his mother. “You are older than their mother-”

“Whose side are you on, Piers Emil!?” the Empress shot a betrayed look at her son. She narrowed her eyes. “You won’t even bet on your own mother...!” she said in a low voice.

Piers knit his brows together. “But you’ll lose.”

Tori turned around to keep from laughing as Axton looked visibly pained at Piers’ statement. They all likely agreed, but he didn’t need to say it out loud.

The Empress looked at Piers with indignation. She turned to her husband and pointed at her eldest son. “Did you hear him? Do you hear what he said?”

“I’ll talk to him,” the Emperor sighed.

“Tori,” Ilyana said as she grasped Tori’s hands. “You must win. You must crush the second prince.”

Tori nodded, determined. “I will make him regret his decision to step on a boat.”

“All right! Everyone get in their boats!” Prince Emil lifted his hands as he rose and clapped them. “The sailors will push you to the starting point. When I yell ‘go’, you can begin paddling.”

Tori tugged her life vest down and looked at her opponents. “Good luck.”

The Empress puffed out her chest. “We don’t need luck! Do we, Gideon?” Her son shook his head. They stepped into the first canoe. Both were painted white, but the top and front tips were painted yellow and red respectively. A number was painted on the side, towards the back.

The Empress and Gideon were in boat one, the yellow boat, with the Empress seated at the front and Gideon behind her. Tori and Nanny Rey were in boat two, the red boat with Tori at the front and Nanny Rey behind her.

They held their paddles across from them and four sailors pushed the boats from the shore and on to shallow water, just before the starting buoy.

“Ready!” Prince Emil said.

Tori kept her back straight as she leaned a bit to her left. Her legs pressed against the side of the boat as her bare feet pushed against the lower part to secure herself. She lifted her paddle just above the water. Behind her, Nanny Rey copied her position, but on the right side.

“Nanny, ten shallow strokes about halfway up the paddle blade to get us moving, then we put it in all the way. I’ll count us off.”

“I am ready, my angel.”

“Go!” Prince Emil shouted, and Tori sliced her paddle across the water.

“One-two-three-four-five!” With each quick shout, her paddle went halfway in, and their boat moved forward. “And...one! Two! One! Two!”

The boat surged forward, and Tori could feel the familiar, refreshing breeze pushing against her face. She kept her eyes forward, making sure they were going straight towards the buoy with the white flag in the distance.

It didn’t surprise her that she didn’t feel a jerking motion. If she and Nanny Rey were out of sync, she’d feel it. She’d be moving back while the boat moved forward instead of moving with the motion of the boat. From her peripheral vision, she was losing sight of the other boat.

However, she had to focus. She didn’t want to celebrate prematurely. Besides, the bigger the lead, the more she could measure how much she’d crush Gideon.

Ahead of them, a small boat was in front of the buoy. Deidre was on it, as one of the volunteers to make sure that they went around the buoy instead of cutting in front of it. Tori could hear her shouting.

“Come on! You can do it! Keep it up! Keep it up!” Deidre yelled as she clapped her hands. “You have O’Tuagh in you, Tori! The sea is in your blood!”

“I’m a terrible swimmer!” Tori shouted as she switched sides. “Nanny, stay on this side and keep paddling! One! Two!”

Their boat began to turn to the right and Nanny Rey would move her paddle to the other side to do any corrections until they rounded the buoy. Once they were facing the shore, they resumed their positions and began paddling as before.

As they moved forward, Tori caught sight of the second boat. She could see that their strokes were out of sync, but they were moving along.

“Keep your focus, my angel! Don’t be distracted!”

“Yes, Nanny!” Tori focused on her breathing as they cut through the water. She could feel her heart pounding in her ears as they rushed ahead. They passed several buoys and were approaching the bright gold flags marking the finish line. “Final leg, Nanny!”

Even though they were well ahead of the other boat, Tori didn’t slow down. There were two sailors timing them, one per boat. The one who was timing them was standing up, watching the finish line. As soon as their entire boat passed, they were considered finished, and the time would be called.

Tori barely saw him as they swept past. She didn’t stop paddling until she heard their time yelled, and then dug her paddle into the water and held it there to slow them down. Nanny did the same and the boat coasted through the water just as they reached the shallows about waist deep.

Two sailors rushed forward to pull the boat in as Tori put her paddle across the boat in front of her and hunched her body over it, panting. She always had a habit when paddling in a dragon boat of holding her breath at the last moment.

“You did it! You won!” Tori wasn’t sure who was yelling as numerous voices were calling for her. Her lungs were burning, and she was sweating.

Okay, maybe I went too hard for a demonstration. She twisted around to look back as they were pulled on to the shore. Gideon and the Empress were still a boat’s length from the finish line, but they hadn’t given up. Kudos for your tenacity, but we still won.

Tori cracked a smile as she handed her paddle to one of the sailors and pushed herself up. Several people came to help her and Nanny Rey out of the boat.

“Tori, you won!” Ilyana was beaming as she jumped up and down on the shore.

“I think that’s obvious,” Henrik said. They looked towards the other boat as it was pulled in. Gideon was laying back and covering his face with his hands as the Empress pouted in between panting to catch her breath.

“The...the turning point is...further than I thought,” she said as her shoulders heaved. The Emperor rushed forward to help her off the boat.

“Beloved, you did very well!”

“But we still lost!” She raised her arms and her husband pulled her up. “I have shamed the von Schwert family.”

Tori snickered. “As I said, Auntie Nika, I do not yield.”

The Empress frowned. “I demand a rematch!” She was still red-faced and panting.

Tori grinned as she moved her hands over her chest and untied the life vest. “How about this? If you win the final heat, I will gladly give you a rematch.” She then lifted her hands and undid her braid. She ran her hand through her hair a few times to cool off.

“Gideon!” The Empress’ hand shot forward and grabbed her youngest son just as he stepped off the boat. Gideon nearly fell over at his mother’s force. “You must follow my lead, do you understand?”

He stared at her with wide eyes and nodded. “Yes, Mo-Auntie Nika!”

Despite his reassurance, they not only didn’t make a good enough time for the final heat, but they came behind the boat they were racing against, which was Albert and his grandmother. Madam Martin lifted her paddle into the air and cheered as they were brought to the shore.

The two boats with the fastest times, not counting Tori and Nanny Rey, were Ewan and Sir Navarro and Ilyana and Constantine.

The boats were turned around and faced out to sea as the four contestants stood by, readying themselves. Tori approached them and patted Ewan and Ilyana on the shoulders.

“I want you to know that even though I will be cheering for Ilyana, I love you both very much and am proud of your efforts today,” she said.

Ilyana beamed as Ewan squinted his eyes and slumped his shoulders.

Axton chuckled and lifted his hand to pat Ewan’s back. “Don’t worry. I’m cheering for you.”

Tori nodded. “And no matter who wins, Ewan, I will make you and Sir Navarro some burritos.”

Ewan looked at her, defeated as Sir Navarro chuckled. “Why must you phrase it like that?”

“I’m cheering on Ilyana and Mr. Zisos,” Tori said, unperturbed. Ilyana grinned.

The four teenagers got into their boats and were brought to the starting line. Tori raised her arms. “Ready! Go!”

The two boats were off, and Ewan and Sir Navarro pulled ahead. Shouts were coming from behind her as people cheering on their respective boats watched. The two boats nearly collided when they rounded the white flagged buoy. Then it was an intense race. The two were close.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Come on, Ilyana!” Tori shouted.

Despite their efforts, the first boat to cross the finish line was Ewan and Sir Navarro’s. The two young men shouted and hollered as the other two students from La Garda ran into the water to congratulate them.

Ilyana dramatically threw herself over her paddle and groaned as Constantine, flushed and sweaty, leaned forward to pat her back. “We did our best, Miss Agafonova.”

“But I wanted to beat Ewan....”

“You’ve been wanting to beat everyone,” JP chuckled.

Sonia sighed and handed Ilyana a towel. “Ilyana, sometimes I think you have more competitive rage than you let on.”

Ilyana continued to pout about their loss as they all walked towards the completed portion of the promenade and the main square where Henrik’s yet-to-be-named restaurant was located.

The restaurant had outdoor seating, but tonight, they would be eating half indoors and half outdoors, beneath a high wooden ceiling that had rows of thin fabric hanging down, making it seem as if it was rippling when the wind blew through it. Dangling between them were light crystals to keep the place illuminated.

“Henrik, this is beautiful,” Guild Master Skuldsen said as he looked at his son. “You put this together?”

“We had designers,” Henrik said with a shrug. Tori tried not to smirk. Henrik had been so meticulous on the decorations and design of the dining area, that he started to annoy the architect they were working with. “I just approved what I liked.”

“It looks like water waving above us!” His mother gushed with pride. “I can’t believe this is my son’s restaurant!”

Tori looked at Henrik and smiled as he blushed and looked away. “It’s not completely ready yet....”

They were seated in an assortment of square tables along the sides and the patio area and at rectangular tables made up of smaller square tables. Each square table sat four people and two put together would seat six to eight. Since it was just them and they had plenty of room, even for over fifty people, they were seated six to a table or less.

Ewan and his family got seats on the patio, but before they could sit, Ewan rushed to show Piers to his table, also by the patio. JP, Sonia, and Henrik went to sit with their parents inside while Tori sat at the table next to Piers’.

Since Henrik had gathered people for the purpose of giving his staff experience, the dinner wasn’t a pre-planned set of dishes. Each person received a menu with a list of what foods were being served. They were instructed to order up to three appetizers for the table, soups for each person, then a main individual dish, and beverage.

Tori’s table, which consisted of her, Ilyana, Constantine, and Axton, decided on some cured meat with cheese on toasted bread, stuffed peppers, and Tori’s personal favorite of garlic bread. They each ordered a specific seafood dish to try to give Henrik’s chefs experience and sat around chatting.

The appetizers came first, and Henrik asked people to write notes on the small notepads he’d left on the table. Tori had split theirs in four so they could all write their comments.

“What did our table get?” Gideon asked from one table as he watched the servers deliver the food. The Emperor and Empress, of course, got reign over the three appetizers and all were seafood.

“Tori,” Piers said from where he was seated with his family at the table next to hers. “Garlic bread.”

Without looking up from her notes, she reached forward and grabbed the little basket and held it towards him. Piers took one of the pieces and she took the basket back. As he ate it, his parents and Gideon looked at him, as if unable to believe he didn’t get them any. The basket was full as the chefs were well aware of Tori’s favorites.

Axton sighed and took the basket, dumped half of it on his plate and then leaned over to put it on their table.

“Thank you, Axton,” the Empress said.

Tori finished writing a sentence and reached for a piece of garlic bread. She touched the basket and instantly noticed half was gone. She snapped her head up and frowned at once. “The hell....”

“You can’t fill up on garlic bread,” Axton told her.

Tori narrowed her eyes at him. The soup was brought then, and Tori had selected a chowder. Her sea bass with scallops arrived after the servers came to take away the small bowls. After her first few bites, she’d dutifully write down notes, then she focused on eating and chatting with everyone.

Tori portioned off part of her food to let the others at her table try. It was something she often did in her original world and carried over when they were eating as a group there. Ilyana and the others had also gotten into the habit of sharing food to taste, especially when they were trying something new.

When it was their regular meals at Cafe Fortuna, it was almost the opposite, and they’d guard their food like a dragon and its hoard.

“Piers, there is one scallop left. Do you want to try?” Tori asked over her shoulder.

“Yes.”

“Give me your plate.” He leaned over and held out his plate as his family watched with confusion as Tori lifted hers and used a clean utensil to slide a scallop onto Piers’ plate.

“Put more sauce, the sauce is the good part,” Axton said. Tori pushed more sauce onto the side of Piers’ plate.

“I like the scallop by itself,” Ilyana said.

“I like it saltier, so the sauce is good,” Constantine said.

Piers brought his plate back to in front of him and carefully sliced the scallop into even thirds. First, he took a bite without much sauce and then dipped another piece. He then took the last one and seemed to almost coat it with the sauce.

“The sauce is very good,” Piers said.

“I’ve never seen you take food from someone’s plate before,” his mother said softly. Her eyes crinkled up.

Tori cringed, remembering that the imperial couple was there. “My apologies. I know it’s bad manners. We do that often when we’re eating as a group, especially if it’s something new.”

“That way more of us get to taste,” Axton said.

“No, it’s fine,” the Empress said, looking at Piers with a thoughtful, warm expression. “You are in a bit of an informal setting with friends. This is acceptable.”

For a moment, Tori thought the Empress was going to cry at the realization that her eldest son, who was well known for having social anxiety and one friend, now had several. The Emperor lifted his hand and grasped the Empress’, smiling at her softly to reassure her.

Gideon lowered his eyes onto his plate. No one was sharing with him.

The meal itself lasted for an hour and a half or so as everyone took their time eating and laughing. Tori checked the time piece in her pocket, and lifted her hand towards Henrik, who was seated indoors with his parents. He caught her eye and nodded. He then turned towards the restaurant manager who rushed forward.

Soon, the tables were cleared of food. Henrik and Tori stood up and went to stand near Ewan, where everyone could see them.

Tori called for everyone’s attention and then waved towards someone in the back. Everyone turned and gasps were let out as two three-tiered cakes were pushed out. One was white with strawberries while the other was violet with what looked like gold ribbons. Both had rows of small white candles around the top tier.

Birthday cakes, Tori learned the year before, were not a thing in Soleil, but she’d never had a birthday without a cake, and she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to bring that with her here. Using her family’s connections, she had brought pastry chefs to the delta to teach a select group of people the skill, specifically for such an event.

To her, the cakes were rather simple, but they would be more than enough for the group.

Ewan’s strawberry cake was pushed towards him, and a wide smile reached his face and he stood up. The violet cake was then pushed towards Piers. He seemed to think it was just pushed aside to give room for Tori and Henrik to present it to Ewan.

“For dessert, we have this strawberry and cream cake and this coffee and almond cake,” Tori said as she motioned to each cake individually. “For each of my friends’ birthdays this year, and going forward, I want to give them cakes. They are large and meant to be first cut by the celebrant and then shared with their guests as a show of thanks for joining them on their birthday. In addition, there are candles at the top.”

“It looks amazing....” Ewan said as he stared at the flames. She purposely hadn’t told him about the candles.

“In honor of Ewan’s 16th birthday, there are sixteen candles,” Tori said. Ewan’s eyes seemed to water, and she looked at Piers. “In honor of His Highness Prince Piers’ twentieth year, his cake has twenty candles.”

Piers looked at her, his eyes widening a bit. “This is mine?”

Tori nodded. “Ewan asked for a cake for you, too, as your birthday had passed, and we were unable to have a meal with you.”

“We always try to have meals together with our friends on our birthdays,” Ewan told him with a bright, cheerful smile. “Happy birthday, Your Highness!”

A wave of well wishes came from the room as Piers sat in his seat, staring at his cake, dumbfounded. Beside him, his mother wiped at her eyes.

“Thank you,” Piers said in a quiet voice. He stood up and looked at Ewan. “Happy birthday to you, Ewan. I look forward to having you in our service one day.”

Ewan’s face lit up more so and he bowed. “Thank you, Your Highness!”

“Now,” Tori said as she clapped her hands together. “There are two traditions with the cake. The first is to blow out the candles. When you do, make a silent wish. They say if you are able to blow them out in one breath, your wish will come true.”

“Oh!” Ilyana looked excited. “Make a wish, Ewan!”

He nodded and stared at the candles for a moment. He then took a deep breath and blew them all out at once. Everyone clapped and one table over, Piers also blew out all twenty of his candles.

Tori then motioned to the cake cutting knives. “The second tradition is that the celebrant must cut the first slice of cake and he is to give that cake to his most important person.”

A ripple went through the crowd, and everyone seemed to wonder who they’d give their slices, too.

Ewan didn’t hesitate. He cut through a slice from the bottom tier of the cake and Tori helped him put it on a plate. He then walked to Henrik and held it out in front of him. Henrik jerked his head back in surprise.

“What?”

“For my best friend who arranged for this amazing meal.”

Tori chuckled as she watched Henrik grow flustered before finally accepting the cake. “It was nothing. I told you, we needed practice.”

“Hey!” Ilyana said, smirking. The two looked over at her. “We’re here, too!” Sonia nearly spit out her drink before laughing.

Piers picked up his knife and carefully cut a square piece from the bottom tier of his cake. “Here’s your plate,” Tori said as she moved closer. She lowered voice and whispered. “Don’t give it to me.”

He froze. He stared at the cake for a moment, then carefully cut the slice into four smaller slices. “I need three more plates,” he told her.

Tori got him three more and helped him place the fractioned pieces onto each plate. Then, Piers placed the first one in front of his mother. The Empress gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as the other one flew to grab her husband’s. Piers gave the second piece to his father, whose eyes rose and looked up at Piers, moved.

“My son....”

“Axton.” Piers held out the third plate to Axton. The knight grinned and happily took it. There was one more plate and Tori could feel everyone’s eyes on them. Piers took the plate, almost hesitated, and placed it in front of Gideon.

Gideon’s eyes went wide. He appeared stunned before his eyes turned red and glistened. “Thank you, Piers....”

Wow, that’s both touching and sad.... Tori thought to herself as she shook her head. She lifted her hands, and two servers came to push the cakes to the side so they could be cut and distributed. “When a server comes by, please tell them if you’d like strawberry or coffee!”

“What if you want both?” Ewan’s sister shouted.

“Then tell them you want both!” Tori said, as if it were obvious. The crowd laughed and Tori returned to her seat, where her slice of strawberry cake she’d told them to bring her was waiting. She leaned towards Piers table. “There is plenty of cake, so if you’d like more, please let them know.”

“I want another slice of my son’s cake!” the Empress said, her eyes still moist.

“Me, too!” Gideon said.

“I’d like to try the strawberry one,” the Emperor said.

Tori and Ilyana, who got coffee, split theirs in half and traded.

“Lady Tori!” a voice said from past the patio. Tori looked up and stuffed her last piece of cake into her mouth.

“Master Ramos, where were you? You were supposed to join us for dinner!” Tori said as she stood up and walked towards the man.

“Putting the muffling seal around the encampment was a larger job than I thought,” he chuckled. “However, it’s all ready. I also put a muffling seal around the restaurant.”

“Thank you,” Tori said, smiling. “If you’re done, come inside and eat!”

The old man grinned and stepped forward. Several people greeted him, and Prince Emil looked up from his table.

“Master Ramos!” Prince Emil stood up, his eyes wide. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean what am I doing here? I live here!” Master Ramos puffed out his chest.

“I thought you retired to Sur,” Prince Emil said, furrowing his brows. “Does my brother know you’re here?”

Master Ramos snorted. “If Jean-Philippe wants to find me, he’ll find me,” he said, almost dismissively. “And I moved here to work with crystals. I have a new pupil, you know.” He looked proud and Prince Emil furrowed his brows.

“A new pupil? You?” Prince Emil stared at him with disbelief. “Impossible! You’re the most picky, fickle-”

“Lady Tori, show Prince Emil your bracelet,” Master Ramos said. Tori blinked but stepped forward and pulled up her sleeve and held out her bracelet. Master Ramos reached forward and took Axton’s glass of water. Axton furrowed his brows. Master Ramos then handed the glass to Tori. Confused, Tori took it. “Freeze it.”

“All right....” Tori held the glass in her right hand while she flipped to her ice calcite, then grabbed the glass. Frost appeared outside and crackling was heard as the water inside froze. It happened almost instantly.

“Boil it,” Master Ramos said. Tori nodded and unfroze the water, then switched hands so she could change crystal, and took the glass once more. As she held it in her hand with the crystal pressed against it and her palm, the water began to grow hotter inside and then bubble up. Everyone was watching and Master Ramos almost seemed to smirk. “Now make it dance.”

Tori gave him an exhausted expression. She just wanted to enjoy her cake. She let out a heavy sigh, switched hands once more, and adjusted the crystal to aquamarine. She looked at Axton apologetically. “I’ll get you a new glass of water,” she said.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This always required more focus for her. She put her palm with the crystal on top of the glass’ lip and then flipped it over. Not a single drop spilled through the gaps, and Tori lifted the glass up.

The energy coursed through the water, holding it up like a small pillar in her palm. Tori then split the water into two streams, surrounding each stream in a tube of energy. She made it coil around itself and then spin in her palm.

Gideon sat up straight as a few gasps came from the crowd.

Master Ramos chuckled, almost deviously. “That’s enough, Lady Tori.”

She focused on gracefully returning the water back into the cup. She took a deep breath to steady herself and then put the glass back on the table, next to Axton. It was quickly replaced by another server.

“What did you do to that water?” Madam Martin gasped. “I’ve never seen that before....”

Master Ramos looked triumphant. “Let it be known! In my life, Lady Victoria de Guevera will be my last pupil!”

Tori drew in her lips and looked away. That was what the bracelet was for. It was his gift to her as his pupil. Sebastian’s gift had been a specially designed sword with obsidian inlaid in its hilt. Tori hadn’t even told her eldest brother about becoming a pupil. In fact, she hadn’t told anyone about it.

Instructor Ignatius knew, as he was there, but Tori wanted to keep it quiet until she had better control and felt she was a worthy pupil of Soleil’s premier crystal master.

“Master, today isn’t about me!” Tori said interjecting as she put on a bright smile. “We still have one more event before we return to the shore for games.” She looked towards Henrik for help, and he nodded.

“Yes, we have a sort of light show! This is our gift to our friends for their birthday,” Henrik said. “Before we begin, we need to warn you. There will be loud sounds coming from the lagoon.” He motioned his arm over the water. “When we tell you, please focus your attention to the sky over the water.”

“Master Ramos has surrounded the restaurant with a seal to muffle the sounds. If you hear it outside of the restaurant you feel it in your bones. That is how loud it is,” Tori told them, noting their looks of confusion and excitement. “For those of you who are sensitive to sound, we have wax to stuff in your ears.”

“We suggest taking wax now and if it gets too loud, putting the wax in your ears. If you want to experience how loud it actually is, step out into the promenade once the lights appear,” Henrik said. Several servers were going around offering small blocks of wax on silver trays to the guests.

Tori looked at Piers. “Follow me.”

Piers stood up and nodded. She took him outside on to the promenade and had him stand in place. She then bent down to draw three large circles around him, each about one pace from each other. She could hear Ilyana explaining to people what Tori was doing, as Piers was very sensitive to sound, and he needed extra attention.

She then scratched out some Old Sulfae in between each ring before putting the crystal on the ground, between their feet. Tori then rushed back, took a small tray of wax and brought it to him.

“I want to hear it,” he said, refusing to take the wax.

“Okay, but I’m going to leave it here just in case,” she said, placing it on the ground beside her. “Each ring muffles the sound by a half each time. Only one ring goes around the restaurant and there are two rings around the encampment. If you dare, you can take a step into the next ring, but it will be very loud the further out you go.”

Piers nodded. “I am able to do this much.”

“Piers,” Tori said in a serious voice. “It is very loud.” He nodded and rooted himself in the center. She stood next to him and took out her comcry. “Call Benedict Ignatius.”

“Lady Tori, are you ready?” Instructor Ignatius’ voice sounded eager.

Tori looked back at the restaurant and raised her arm. Henrik raised his in return, signaling that everyone was ready. The crowd had gathered to stand out on the patio and were looking towards the water. Tori lifted her comcry after lowering her arm. “Once I end the call, count to ten and then begin.”

“Understood!”

Tori slid her finger over the crystal and snapped her comcry closed. She slipped it into her pocket and reached up to hold on to Piers’ arm as she mentally counted down. She gripped the crook of his arm and stood close to him. “Get ready...three...two...one....”

She looked towards the darkness past the edge of the promenade and couldn’t hear the whistling sound due to the layers of muffling seals. However, a moment later, an explosion sounded and Piers, even from where they stood hearing only a fraction of the sound, jumped.

Tori held on to him tight and tried to sooth his arm as the sky illuminated with a flash of light.

She heard Piers take in a sharp breath as he looked up with wide eyes as light danced across his face. Tori looked over her shoulder, back at the patio.

She could see their guests jumping up and down, yelling and screaming as they pointed at the sky. The Empress looked especially awed as the Emperor held her close. A few younger guests, and Ewan, dared to walk out of the restaurant to hear how it sounded without the seals.

She watched them jump and then grasp their chests as they laughed with each explosion that rocked their bodies. Everyone seemed to be enjoying it and she looked back at Piers.

“Tori....”

“Is it too loud?” She furrowed her brows and looked down at the wax.

“No,” Piers said, his voice a bit breathless. “Next year, I’m going to give you cake, too.”