Corrupt

Chapter 5

When the day of Eskalis finally arrives, it takes all of my effort to drag myself from my bed as the sun rises, and to wake Drea too. She is unwilling to get herself up on a good day, and this does not seem to be a good day for either of us. 

Once we've dressed in our best outfits, though, the realisation starts to set in, and so does the excitement. 

There is a knock on our door, and Andrea bounces over to open it. 

"Happy Eskalis!" Both the girls squeal simultaneously. I turn away from the mirror to see Hetty standing in the doorway, dressed in a beautiful, pastel blue gown. 

"Hey, Lynny! Can you do my hair?" she asks shyly. It has become a tradition. I gesture her over, allowing her to settle in the plush armchair, and start to brush it through. 

"Sleep alright?" Drea asks her, coming to perch on my bed. 

"Yeah. You?" Hetty replies. 

"I'll sleep better tonight when Eskalis is done," Andrea grins. "I love it, but I'm tired already." 

"You and me both," I smile. "I hope Nikolas likes the decorations!" 

"D'you reckon he'll choose a wife based on their decorating skills?" 

"I hope not, because you'd lose," I tease. Drea scowls and picks up a pillow. "Not with Hetty's hair!" I scream, and she reluctantly replaces it. 

Half an hour later, as the sun begins to rise at last, we head downstairs, collecting the other girls from their rooms across the corridor. It is a perfect day outside, the best weather for Eskalis, and as we pass across the courtyard I smile at the fluffy clouds drifting overhead, the golden rays peeking over the distant horizon. With a day like this, Eskalis is bound to be utterly perfect. 

When we arrive at the main hall, my breath catches. Every year, I forget just how beautiful the festival is, and just how many people there are. It seems as though the whole world is here. Visitors line up for days, sometimes even weeks outside the castle gates, longing to take part in the main celebrations; and now, those who were lucky enough are here, in the huge hall. 

But the craziest part is that every surface is covered in our decorations.

From the ceiling hang shimmering silver moon phases, hand-painted by Ashia. The moon is the symbol of the festival: it represents new beginnings, change, how what begins as darkness can become bright once more. The tablecloths are primly spread, the embroidery glittering in the sunlight which is starting to appear through the eastern windows, gently caressing the room. And, the showstopper: on the far wall hangs our tapestry, gleaming magnificently, a portrait of the King, the castle, with the moon overhead and a small star for each citizen of Vaskuoyae. 

It is perfect.

Eloise lets out a low whistle. I turn to face the girls and we have a quick group hug. Hetty is crying. 

"It looks amazing," Katie breathes. 

"It's brilliant," Ashia agrees.

"Well done, all of you," I grin. "Now, go eat something. Today, we rest." 

I don't need to say it twice. With Drea leading the way, the girls scarper, heading towards the tables laden with more food than I've ever seen before: plates full of our usual breakfast, but also trays of pastries; all kinds of fruit; Lunambris, the moon-shaped biscuits traditional to Eskalis. I stay a moment longer, taking in our work, appreciating everyone that helped, every servant that worked overtime to create such a masterpiece. 

Snapping me out of my trance, two young children run towards me, both wearing paper crowns with crudely-drawn details matching King Nikolas', hands full of Lunambris. I move out of the doorway, letting them pass by.