Like Salt and Ash by Hazel Marie

Author:Hazel Marie [Marie, Hazel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Country Press & Review

15

“Ladies,” Theo says in greeting as he sits between myself and Magda. “What, dare I ask, have the two of you been up to?”

Magda quickly answers, giving no indication she has anything to hide. “We had some tea, then poor Ember needed to rest, and now we’re talking about the court dinner. She was wondering what to expect.”

Theo’s head is propped against the back of the couch, and it rolls from facing Magda over to me. “Expect a lot of assholes trying to outdo each other,” he says. “These dinners are pretty much about trying to impress Elias and get in his good graces. There are the usual courtiers you’ve already met, but there are about six others who play lesser roles on the court and aren’t needed in the daily briefings. The first half of these dinners is usually taken up by new proposals, and then the second half is when we discuss progress on things already underway. The donors are the biggest thing we have going on, so it will probably be discussed last—which is good because it means you’ll be there for it.”

I nod. “If you didn’t have a donor before, what did you do at these dinners?”

“I usually bring some of my monthly ration, but I doubt you want to hear about that.”

Magda giggles. “I already told her.”

Theo’s head whips to her, then back at me with mild surprise. I fight back a shudder as they both laugh.

“Oh, I said too much, didn’t I?” Magda asks. I try to smile, but since they continue to laugh, it probably isn’t convincing.

“I’m glad you told me,” I explain, “it’s just hard to get used to. I guess I’m struggling to reframe my old ways of thinking.”

Theo stops laughing, but smiles softly at me. Magda finally stops chuckling as well and asks, “Should I go, now that you’re home?”

Theo’s face reflects his confusion as he replies. “When have I ever kicked you out, Mags?”

She shrugs. “You haven’t. But I thought the two of you might need to do some planning in preparation for the dinner.”

“Oh, Ember’s already forming her plan,” Theo says with a wink in my direction, “but I guess it’s getting close to time. Have you picked out a dress, Sunshine?”

Shit.

“Oh!” Magda exclaims, turning to march out into the foyer. “Thanks for reminding me, Theo.”

She comes back with a white garment bag. “I have a delivery for you,” she says, giving me a devilish smile. I eye the bag suspiciously, but follow her up to my room where she perches at the end of my bed as I take it into the bathroom. I hook the hanger at the top of the door frame and unzip it, stifling a gasp. The dark teal chiffon that spills out is undeniably gorgeous. Gold specs are scattered throughout, and as I pull the dress further out, I recognize they’re a constellation of stars.

It takes me a moment to figure out how to put the dress on, as there is a cape attached at the shoulders, which makes it hard to find a zipper.

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