A Sacrifice of Names

Chapter 12

The dress would have made Yosefine green with envy. Innogen had a few gems hidden in her closet, surprisingly well preserved for the number of decades they had been stored there, presumably never to be worn again. The fabric's darker navy colour was perhaps a little too bleak for Earie's already pale complexion, but she had turned down all bright yellow and red dresses, despite the high popularity of the colours this time of the year. At least the vague purple tones sewn into the fabric gave it a little bit more luminosity.

It looked absolutely stunning on her. To her surprise Innogen had offered to tailor it a little so it would give her a more snug fit around her arms and upper body. That, and it lifted her chest in ways she knew her eighteen year old self would have died for during the only prom she had ever attended.

Keely had been the one toying with her hair, adding a few intricate braids, much like her own, to Earie's brown locks, pinning them in the back in a delicate swirl so her eyes and ears would remain perfectly visible. It was all for show, she had reminded her. Terrible actress or not, now was the moment to pretend to be some kind of exalted fairytale princess. Or preferably not, as they had to stay out of the spotlights to the best of their abilities.

When Innogen had tossed her a mask complimenting her dress Earie had sincerely hoped it was nothing more than a joke.

A masked ball. Although it couldn't get worse than that, she could have guessed it to be something that ostentatious. At least it gave her an opportunity to remain hidden behind it. She was going to have to give her heartfelt apologies to the regent for turning up late, avoid a dance with him and anyone from the Court of Shadows and be out within the hour to get a good night's rest as prepare for the journey in the morning. That was the plan.

One more glance in the mirror made her realise how much she actually missed her sweatpants.

✒

"That is the place?" No fancy carriage, and definitely not a limousine, but an actual hour long walk had brought them to the regent's manor. Granted, Earie had not seen one car around here, and although they had something akin to electricity in this city, a lot of things she had grown accustomed to back home were absent here. Not that it was a bad thing, she kept telling herself, more like a digital detox. She had lost her phone somewhere between losing consciousness and arriving here at the Court of Light. Even her laptop had been in the bag she had carried with her. Both could be replaced once she got home, however.

Home. Just a few more days.

The skies were growing darker. In the distance Earie could see the ruins of the Queen's old castle, slowly reclaimed by nature. The regent's manor was built next to it, proudly towering over most of Aves.

"Pompous ass," Keely said bitterly from behind her.

Both were dressed immaculately. If she hadn't known any better Earie would have guessed this was a common occurrence for both. Even Keely played the part, despite her classification as a lesser fae.

Innogen remained quiet. Only hours before their departure had she finally opened up and told Earie the story of how her brother had been chosen. Of how her parents had always known that one day one of the two would be chosen, but had kept it from them till the regent had declared her brother a suitable candidate. That ball had been the last time she saw him. She had not even been allowed to say her goodbyes the morning after. Despite that all, Earie noticed she was careful not to speak one bad word about the regent.

He isn't dead, Innogen had concluded her story with, but ever since that border closed it feels like I have lost him in this life nonetheless.

Innogen had been close to her brother, like two peas in a pot, but after he left for the Court of Shadows even her relationship with her parents had deteriorated. Keely had looked after her during moments of grief, and the two of them had grown closer together based on a mutual trust Innogen could find in no other creature. A relationship Earie found herself envious of.