Masquerade by Laura Lam

Author:Laura Lam [Lam, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781509807796
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

I supposed magic was as good an explanation as any for what we could do.

‘I’ve always had to wear these. Even when I was a baby,’ the Princess continued, holding the broken Glamour in her hands.

She’d always had to hide. Always had to hide the truth. Like Lily Verre’s son, Frey. Like I had to, in a way.

If someone had found out about me, the worst that would have likely befallen me was that I wouldn’t have been able to marry. She could lose a crown, maybe even her life. It was all too easy to imagine her and Frey hated and hurt because they looked physically different, like Juliet and her two friends.

The Elixir in her veins had taken full effect on the Princess. Power emanated from her. She was just as strong as Frey, if not more so.

‘Are the other Alder really gone, then?’ Cyan asked.

‘As far as we know, we’re the last. I suspect there may be more in hiding, their abilities latent,’ the Princess said.

Just like the Chimaera are hiding, I thought.

‘Do you feel better, my Princess?’ Pozzi asked. ‘Any ill effects?’

‘I’m quite all right, thank you, Royal Physician,’ she said, primly. ‘I am very hungry, though.’

The Steward laughed, but it was hollow and didn’t reach his eyes. He nodded to one of the guards, who turned smartly on his heel and left. The Steward took the Princess’s hand.

‘Come, then. Let’s take you to your rooms, and your maid will bring you up a tray.’ The Princess’s hand was lax in his, as if she’d pull away if she could.

He looked at us again. ‘I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon. I may have need of you.’

He’s thinking that we could perform for people and then report back all we see and hear, Cyan reported. She could read the Steward’s mind more easily than that of his Royal Physician. Cyan was being delicate. The Steward wanted us to spy for the crown. Life was never dull for us, that was certain.

‘Goodbye,’ the Princess said. ‘I did enjoy your magic show very much.’ She paused. ‘And thank you for not screaming. Once, a maid saw me and she shrieked so loudly I thought my ears would burst.’

The Steward’s jaw tightened. I wondered what had happened to the maid.

A guard returned with a small bag, which he passed to the Steward with a deep bow. The Steward opened it and put the new Glamour around the Princess’s neck. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The blue tinge faded from her skin. Dark hair grew from her scalp in a bristle and then lengthened into ringlets that fell to the shoulders. She appeared to gain enough flesh that she no longer looked as frail. Her eyes transformed from all black to bright green, eyebrows appearing above them as if drawn on.

‘That’s . . . not how Glamours usually work,’ I managed. They usually had to be pre-programmed, and it took ages to get them right. When they were turned on, the new illusion settled over your skin in an instant, rather than almost .

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