Chapter twenty - four - Noctura ball

Never in my life had I seen a feast so grand layered upon the long table. If I'd felt out of comfort entering the palace beaming with gold and white marble décor. In that case, I most definitely am on edge now.

Lorcan's demeanor had changed almost in a snap of a branch once we'd entered the dining hall, and the queen and General took me in silently—more so the General. The queen politely showed me to a chair of delicate oak. Then for a half-hour, it was silent, wordless, no form of communication with one another.

"Are you not hungry, Naralia?" The queen says after all this time, sitting at the far end in an oversized chair. No paintings or anything to accompany the vast room or any of the hallways I'd gone down, only mirrors and filigree ceilings.

I run my hands over my knees a little too vigorously as I stare at the queen sipping on her wine. The fine goblet, gold just like her dress, just like the pearls in her gown, and just like—the pendant.

Inhaling at how impossible it is to get it, I answer with, "I am always hungry, your majesty." And bow my head, ignoring Lorcan and the General's eyes on me from across the table.

She laughs, her obsidian curls bouncing with the rhythm of her voice. "Then eat. No need to be afraid of us."

Afraid, no, wondering how to steal from you, yes.

I paste on a weak smile, turning to the food in front of me as I begin helping myself to all sorts of lamb, bread, platters of cheese, and tarts. Without much thought, I pick up my fork and eat, ravaging each bite.

"Solaris," The General mutters. "Child, if you carry on eating like that, you'll choke. Did you never learn table manners?"

I gulp a piece of chicken down and slowly look up at the General's face twisting with aversion. Setting my fork on the side, I say, "No, I did not, but I'm sure I'd learn quicker than you could at being a father to Freya."

"Watch your tone," he snaps, his glare smoothing out as a wicked smile creeps up. "I can see how you are Nathaniel's daughter; you can't keep your mouth shut just like he couldn't, at least now, he forever will remain... silent."

My stomach plunges as his words sting more than anything I've endured, but anger quickly sweeps in, and I open my mouth to spout my aggravation towards him. Except Lorcan clears his throat before I can go any further. I could, he knows that, but his pointed glance stops me, reminding me who else is in the room.

I return to my food, picking up the fork just as the queen changes subjects. "Any news on the thief?"

Hoping I don't give any signs away, I try and carve at my chicken. I have news, I've seen him too many times now—

"Four reported Jeweler stores have been robbed as of recent," the General replies, the sounds of chalices and servants bringing further food to the table clink and pound in my ears.

The queen murmurs a pensive noise. "Has anyone seen him?"

Yes, too much for my liking.

"Nara has."

My fork clangs onto the plate as I look up at Lorcan.

"She even knows of his name," he continues, cutting his meat. "Darius."

I knew when Lorcan asked me to dine with the queen, it wouldn't go how I'd wish it were to, it's why I was also hesitant on Freya tidying up my hair.

And now as the General and queen share a stoic glance, they don't seem shocked by the information. I imagine it doesn't do much to them, though they turn to me, curious as to whatever answer I have for that.

"A shifter," I say softly. "Said it while the Golden Thief was—" Cutting myself off with a crease on my forehead as I focus on my lap, I remember how he'd saved me. And he'd never gotten to tell me why he did.

"Protecting you?" Lorcan suggests for me, his tone sounding forced.

I lift my eyes to him, but he looks away just as the queen chuckles. "Seems that the thief has taken a liking to Naralia."

"That is not the case." I shake my head then realize who I'm speaking with. "Your majesty... He despises what I am just as much as I do of his kind."

Betrayal echoes in the back of my head. I'm betraying what I am trying to be.

The queen gives me a long look as her lips purse. "Well," she breathes sharply, tightening a smile on. "It's only a matter of time before we catch him." Her gaze flickers to the General. "One of these days, he will slip up—"

"Do you plan on killing him?" I blurt out, surprised by my own question. Ivarron had said how they all wanted him dead. It's what I'd believed since the start that if they caught him, he'd not last a day in the dungeons. He'd be sentenced to death in a heartbeat. Now I'm not so sure they wanted that.

Everyone in the room pauses as I brace myself once the queen cocks her head to the side. "I'll see to it when the time comes," she says casually, but every second, her eyes stare right at me, It's like she is studying every inch. Interior and exterior. "Although we do believe he is a leader for the shifters." Directing her attention to Lorcan and the General again, she adds, "He might be of use for catching the rest of his kind—"

I drown out the rest of the conversation, focusing on my plate. He might be of use? Would that mean torture if they caught him? If they ever managed to. Despising him is one thing I know I do. He's a pain to ever exist, but he could give me what I want for Ivarron, and from what I'd witnessed so far. It makes me believe he isn't a leader, if not a simple lone thief with a furball of a sidekick.

And telling them, I knew more than just his name could jeopardize everything.

"Have you invited Naralia to the Noctura ball, Deputy?"

Blinking away my thoughts, I glance up as Lorcan freezes at the queen's question. And then sets the glass down with a clear of his throat. "I haven't had the chance to discuss it with her." His eyes never leave my face, but I blank entirely at what they meant.

I lean forward, side glancing at the queen. "I'm sorry, Noctura ball?"

"Every summer solstice," The General says instead, "The queen invites the leaders from other kingdoms to come and celebrate it here in the castle along with people of high class." His eyes narrow on me, grabbing his goblet. "Commoners, however, are not to attend."

I grind my teeth they'd dust away as I glare at him, but the queen says in a humorous drawl, "Erion, aren't you forgetting she is not a commoner? She's a trainee..." Grinning, she plays with the pendant. "An Ambrose." When she notices me staring at it, she lets go, adding, "You are more than welcome to join us."

My gaze drifts up to meet her dark eyes, almost onyx. A ball... something that I'd not fit into the slightest. "With all due respect, your majesty, I was planning on celebrating with my brothers since they are here visiting me—"

"Then bring them too," she cuts in, leaning back against the chair as she waves her hand.

"Sarilyn—" The General tries to say in protest as my wide eyes jump between them, and Lorcan's expression mirrors mine.

"In honor of Nathaniel." The queen's tone below an octave, lingering with authority. "I am inviting them all to join me at the ball, whatever objection you might have. I do not care for it, Erion."

The hall fills with thick tension as steam from the potato's no longer lingers the room, and the curtains flow across, projecting the remaining light from outside. And my shoulders stiffen at how the queens' words tick the General off as he shakes his head, pegging me with that harshness in his hazel gaze.

Attempting to clear the strange atmosphere, I say quietly, "I do not have a gown for such an event, nor would my brothers have anything except scraps."

"You needn't worry about that, Naralia. I'll be sure to have Miriam, my lady in wait, help with your brothers and as for you—" She emphasizes, staring at my hair. "Once supper is over, I'll have someone fetch a seamstress to measure you."

I have no food in my mouth, but I know I want to choke at all her offers, her kindness? It's hard to believe she's capable of anything that involved the Rivernorth's demise.

"I—" Looking over at Lorcan, his intense stare pierces through me that I have to take a deep breath once I gaze back at the queen. "Thank you... for the invitation, I'll be sure to tell my brothers." It's all I can say, knowing declining an offer from the queen would be foolish.

Her lip quirks, the shine of them painted in rouge. "Now." She rests her elbow on the arm of the chair. "Tell me more about your brothers."

I perk up at that, my heart full just by thinking of them as I begin telling her of their names.