A bead of blood formed on Sophia’s wrist.

"I told you to be careful, my lady. The plants here can be dangerous!" Amy said frantically.

Sophia had been running through the bramble, with Amy struggling to keep up while carrying a heavy bag, when her wrist snagged on a thorn. She wiped the sweat from her brow as the cool air began to alleviate the heat. She needed water, but there was no time for that now. Sophia briefly dreamed of the cold spring near her home, but quickly pushed the thought aside. There was no point in thinking of comfort when they were stuck in the Vespera forest until sunrise.

“It’s fine. We need to hurry. It’s either these thorns or our heads on spikes.” Sophia exaggerated. She knew her father, a lord of a small Aetherian patch of land, would never let any harm befall her—if he could help it.

Sophia wiped the blood on her sleeve, the maroon fabric hiding the stain. She adjusted the piece of paper that had slipped from her sleeve during their sprint, then gathered her skirt and quickened her pace. Behind her, Amy stumbled on stones and tree roots, her breaths labored.

A high-pitched screech echoed from above. They both knew what the enormous hawk meant. Moments later, three loud blasts from hunting horns rang out through the forest, signaling that the Aetherian King had arrived at the forest’s edge. The sound of hoofbeats followed, growing louder.

“Hurry, Amy! We’re almost there!” Sophia ignored the burning in her legs, pushing herself harder.

They stopped at a tree surrounded by sparkling stones, bending over, hands on knees, to catch their breath. The tree’s hanging branches concealed them from the view of the Long Table several feet away.

“We’re never doing this again,” Sophia said between gasps.

“You don’t have to tell me, Sophie,” Amy muttered, setting down the luggage with a groan as she leaned against a large rock.

“How dare you call me by my name? You are to call me ‘lady’ and nothing else!”

Amy chuckled, her breath returning to normal. “After today, I won’t have to clean up after your lazy ass. See if your knight can stand you.”

Sophia’s laugh was like the clinking of glasses. “After today, you’ll be moping around with no one to look after.” Her gaze softened. “I’ll miss you.”

“I know,” Amy replied. “I’ll miss you too.”

Sophia took her seat at the Long Table as Amy joined the servants behind the nobles. Hundreds of people were gathered, the sounds of laughter and conversation filling the air. Sophia scanned the other side of the table, searching for a glimpse of long auburn hair or raspberry lips. Where is he?

“Where have you been?” her father asked as she reached her seat. “You were supposed to be here an hour ago. It would have been embarrassing if you’d arrived after the King.”

“I’m sorry, Father. Amy and I got lost on the way.” She kissed him on the cheek.

The attendees fell silent as the horns blared, announcing the arrival of King Lucca of Aetheria and the Gaea, leader of the kingdom of Thaldrin. The leaders of the celestial and earthly kingdoms always arrived at the same time to signify their equality. Lightning’s Eve was all about balance between the two kingdoms.

The Aetherian side, including Sophia, stood and turned towards the center of the table, awaiting their King. Across from them, the Thaldish did the same for their Gaea. Sophia craned her neck to see King Lucca, his red hair crowned with silver. He sat atop a massive white elk, a creature as rare and revered as the King himself. A hush fell over the crowd as the warm light filtered through the trees, casting a glow on the King and his mount.

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King Lucca dismounted, the crunch of twigs underfoot the only sound as he walked toward the table. The Gaea stepped gracefully from her carriage, her small stature contrasting the power emanating from her. Poison ivy wrapped around sections of her long brown hair. The attendees placed their right hands over their hearts in greeting.

“Joyful Lightning’s Eve, Thaldish  and Aetherians,” the Gaea began as everyone took their seats. “I am pleased to see our people together again to commemorate another decade of peace. The war between our nations ended two hundred years ago, and though we remember those who gave their lives, we have moved beyond that conflict. I welcome my good friend, King Lucca, and his subjects to the Vespera forest.”

“Thank you, Gaea,” King Lucca replied. “There is no better time to announce that the Gaea and I have decided to tear down the borders between our kingdoms. Soon, these restrictions will be a thing of the past.” He paused, his gaze sweeping the nobles’ faces. A few men smiled politely, and a few women clapped tentatively. “Let us eat and drink to our hearts’ content. Joyful Lightning’s Eve, everyone!” The King raised his goblet toward the Gaea, who did the same, and their citizens followed suit.

“Joyful Lightning’s Eve!” the people cheered.

As dessert was served, the table was laden with a hundred different kinds of chocolates and berries. Sophia, stuffed and drowsy, fought to stay alert. She hadn’t forgotten the real reason she was here. When the North Star is directly above the willow tree, she thought, glancing at the sky. Not yet.

Sophia marveled at the Long Table, which seemed to stretch endlessly through the trees. She was seated at least twenty places from the left end, and still couldn’t see the other side. The table symbolized the union of the Thaldish and Aetherians, while still maintaining the boundaries between the two. In the past, only children small enough to crawl under the table would cross to play with those on the opposite side. Now, even adults mingled freely, as evidenced by the earth-stained knees of some men’s trousers.

The night was alive with moonlight, lanterns, and fireflies. Sophia hadn’t seen her father for hours since he’d gone off with a friend. Soon, everyone would be watching the sky as they waited for the Great Lightning Bolt to strike, and she would be on her way.

Sophia felt a sudden tug on her hair. “You’re pretty!” a young girl exclaimed. She whipped around, annoyed, but only saw the back of a little girl with bouncing dark curls running away. Sophia’s irritation faded into a smile. She took in the scene one last time, hearing the laughter and seeing the mingling of Aetherians and Thaldish, before pulling her sleeves down against the chill and slipping into the darkness.

The North Star shone directly above the willow tree when Sophia arrived at the meeting place. Excitement fluttered in her chest as she imagined the places she and Kieran would go, the life they would build together. She took out the parchment from her sleeve, holding it tightly as she approached the tree. Such a tiny piece of paper, yet it held the promise of a grand future.

She remembered the first time she met Kieran. She and Amy had snuck out of her home while everyone slept, eager to see the traveling theater that performed only at midnight. It was a disappointment, but the night market made up for it. They wandered through stalls selling trinkets, potions, and strange insects. When a tiny set of wings flew toward her face, Sophia jumped back, bumping into Kieran. She turned to see the most beautiful man she’d ever met. She knew from the sigil on his shirt that he was a Thaldish knight, but she didn’t care. It was love at first sight. They spent the night talking and walking through the market, with Amy trailing behind.

That night, Sophia felt as if she had opened her eyes to the world for the first time. She had found her soulmate at seventeen. They wrote to each other every week, planning to run away and find a place where they could be together, far from the animosity that still lingered between their people.

Sophia dragged the luggage she and Amy had hidden earlier and sat on a tree root to wait. The moonlight made the jewel-strewn rocks around her glimmer, but they paled in comparison to Kieran’s smile as he appeared through the branches.

“I hope you didn’t wait long,” he said, stepping towards her.

The sun cast the sky in soft hues of pink and purple. Birds sang from the trees, and small animals scurried among the remnants of the night’s festivities. A little girl with dark hair jumped from one tree root to another, careful to maintain her balance as she strayed from her parents. She reached a weeping willow tree and pushed aside the leaves. The sight that met her eyes made her scream, sending flocks of birds into the air before she collapsed. The white of her dress slowly turned the same shade of maroon as the dress beside her. The little girl’s eyes were closed, in contrast to the other girl’s who laid in peace — her eyes and wrists wide open.

Amy did not notice the blood oozing from her own wounds as she ran through the bramble. She’s gone. She’s gone. She’s gone. Her only friend was gone. Numbness consumed her as her bare feet pounded on the earth, stepping on fallen branches and jagged rocks. Her world had collapsed, and all she could do was run.