Bloodied Lilies

Chapter 21

The birthday gala lasted until an hour to midnight. It was soon going to be Adelia's real birthday.

Adelia hugged her mother and sent her regards for Andrea. Enrich left a little early, after a tiring night of escaping from Duchess Iona and Liletha, who had decided to team up on him. By the time every last guest was gone, the manor felt unusually quiet.

Leo wisely didn't touch any of the food or drink served, though Adelia didn't think they would've been tampered with. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry. Now that everything had settled, Adelia had a pile of presents to go through.

"There's a lot," Leo commented, standing behind Adelia at the corner of the ballroom. "Be careful what you touch. Not everyone that came can be trusted."

His 'trust no one' speech felt like a broken record by now but she nodded anyway.

Since the note from Liletha was already in her pocket, Adelia decided to read that one first. She untied the bell and unfurled the little scrap of paper. The handwriting was a little messy.

Ring three times at the Guild Circle and you'll find what you're looking for. As a gift, this little bit of info is free of charge, milady. Happy Birthday, Miss Redeye.

"What does it say?" Leo looked over her shoulder. "Guild Circle?"

"Ah, it's for my work - as an assassin."

Leo made a curious noise. "Of course Liletha would know. What are the other gifts?"

Adelia's parents had gotten her lacy dresses in white and baby pink - which Leo scrunched his nose at - and Dreamcatcher's silk-wrapped gift had contained a large perfume bottle. Adelia knew that it was not really perfume. She could faintly smell yew from it. Wilhelmina's present would be useful, being a frilled, dark green parasol of which hid a blade in its stem. Duchess Iona's gave her a scandalously see-through chemise that Leo looked away from instantly. Adelia also discovered a cotton pouch with a tag wishing her happy birthday from Peony. Inside was a delicate glass wind chime, a traditional coming of age gift in the Lai tribe.

After all the gifts were unwrapped and put away, Alcoy and Reeves came hesitantly forward, holding little gifts in their hands.

"Mi-milady," Reeves stuttered and Alcoy gave him an encouraging push. His hair was no longer so neat, having had a good ruffle. "This is from me. I carved it myself."

Reeves handed her a small, wooden sleeping dragon. Being hand-carved, it was a little crude and rough but Adelia could see the effort put into it. The ridges were detailed and the dragon had lovely long wings curled up on its body like a blanket.

"Thank you, it's wonderful," She told him, offering a small smile.

Reeves flushed red in embarrassment. "Um, it - that, I carved it because it reminds me of you, milady. You're quiet and calm but no one really knows what you'd be like when you wake up. Oh - ! I don't mean any offense, that is. I just-"

"It's alright." Adelia put a reassuring hand of his shoulder. "I like it a lot."

Reeves stepped back shyly and let Alcoy step forward to present his own gift. It was a small, metallic music box with golden embellishing.

"I bought this in town the other day. Happy birthday, milady."

"Thank you, Alcoy." Adelia opened up the music box to find a pretty lady dressed in white with a lace parasol. She turned the key and a tinkling melody began to play out as the parasol lady twirled on the spot. The inside of the box was coated in dark blue velvet and there were three little paper-wrapped chocolates at the bottom.