Fate and Destiny (The Fated Series, #2)

Chapter 61 - Katarina - Snakes

I woke up early, rubbing sleep from my eyes as soon as I felt Lance get up. He tried telling me to go back to sleep, but then I told him about how we'll need all hands on deck now that the Court will be coming in a few hours, so the fight ended, and he kissed me on the forehead before heading to meet with Darius and the others one last time before ten hells comes to Fernweh.

He's dressed in his full Jade King regalia: Jade suit, boots I polished last night, any and every weapon he could possibly strap to himself, the balaclava, pulled low hood, and he now wears a sword at his hip gifted to him by Darius, and his father's black ring with a polished Larimar stone in its center. He told me that it was the ring of the Jade King, and he rarely saw his father wear it, but it made him feel closer to him.

It's been hours since I've gotten out of bed. I've been running around doing everything from setting up the throne room for the meeting, preparing and organizing food dishes, preparing the many rooms in both the Canary and Eagle Wing, as well as finishing to get the halls decorated with whatever we could find. It's winter, so there are few flowers to fill the vases, which leaves the many walkways barren. Someone found tinsel and more spontaneous yet elegant things we managed to use to make it look a little more civilized, and even a few of the people in the town came with their own ideas and offerings to help.

At the moment I'm back in the room Lance and I share in the Glass Tower, trying to change into a more suitable dress for the occasion. Nothing as flashy or grand as the gown Fauna put me in on the night of the ball, but something cleaner than the servant's dress I've been using for the past few days. It's a pale shade of blue turtleneck dress with sleeves but still cut a few inches off of the ground so that when I walk it doesn't drag against the ground. The top is held tightly to my body like a glove, and the material is thick so that I won't have to wear something over it. It's plain, but it's warm and makes me feel more feminine, so it's downright beautiful.

I pull and twist my hair back into a simple bun, securing it with a few pins and ribbon. My face gets little attention, a thin line of kohl on my eyelids that I redo a hundred times, and dyed powder to make my cheeks pink, though I don't need to use too much of it, as the cold already has them in a permanent blush.

The other servants - sorry, staff - chosen specifically to be both in the room during the meeting of the Court, as well as the head servant for whatever Lord or Lady they're assigned to, will be wearing the same thing. There are only six of us, three women, and three men, not including Thomas. Blaise will be disguised as one of the head servants/staff like myself. We're spies in plain sight, though I'm more suited to tending to such big-headed courtiers than she is, and I'm a bit nervous that she'll step out of line.

Once I deem myself decent, I set a quick pace toward the kitchens.

No one seems to really know where the food is made aside from those who work among it. Then again, it's not necessarily easy to find. It's below the throne room, just as wide and long in length as the room above, and only one level. The heat from the ovens keeps the Throne Room floor warm, acting as a soft heater of a sort for those who may occupy above. Such a large room is hard to heat, but as the heat down here rises above, torches will also be lit days prior to ensure it's comfortable.

People are skittering everywhere, voices calling for ingredients, others calling for things to be taken upstairs. I spot Lance's cook from the House of Jade with flour on her face and a little in her hair that she doesn't seem to notice. She's directing those around her with a kind but stern voice. I've only spoken to her in passing, but I already find myself drawn to her.

There's plenty of diversity down here. A few Jade Assassins are amongst the crowd, townsfolk who came to the Prince's call, - because the announcement of his Kingship is only rumored right now, though I disagree with the statement - a few healers, and the rest of the staff. It's hard to not let the smell of sweets and spices and the warmth of the fires burning all about the floor distract me, but then I spot the woman I've been searching for, swipe a piece of sweet bread from a tray, and stuff it in my mouth. Gods I forgot to eat breakfast.