Princess Elodi's Arc

Chapter 7 of 55

The three weeks passed at last. On the morning of the ball, servants ran through every hall with flowers and silver trays. Elodi stood in her room while music drifted up from below. Opal watched from the windowsill, her jeweled collar bright in the sun. Tonight the doors would open. Tonight she would reach the vent, the tunnel, and the world beyond the walls. The door opened without a knock. Her mother swept in, gold gown trailing, crown high on her dark hair. A maid followed with a gown folded over her arms. The Queen took it herself and shook it loose. The cloth was orange, cut in a soft flowing style, gathered at the shoulder. "I had it made for you," the Queen said. "Lift your arms." Elodi hesitated. She had not let her mother close since the night at the forge. But she needed this night to go smoothly. She raised her arms and let her mother slip the gown over her head. The Queen smoothed the folds down Elodi's sides. Her hands were gentle. Elodi kept still and watched her face. "You look like your father when you frown," the Queen said softly. She reached to the table and lifted a crown of woven flowers. She set it over Elodi's braided bun and pressed it into place. Then she kissed her daughter's cheek. Her lips were warm. "My beautiful girl. Stay near me tonight. Meet them. Give this one night a chance." Elodi's throat tightened. For a breath she almost forgot the vent and the tunnel. Her mother's eyes were wet. This was not the queen who posted guards. This was the woman who had lost a husband and feared losing more. "I will meet them," Elodi said. It was not a lie. She would walk the crowd. She would smile. Then she would slip away. The Queen stepped back and looked at her. "Then come. The guests are arriving." She turned toward the hall, where music and voices swelled through the open doors. Elodi glanced at the guard's place by her door. It was empty. For the first time in three weeks, no one stood there. She lifted Opal to her shoulder and felt the otter settle against her neck. She followed her mother down the stair. Every door stood unbolted. Servants pushed carts past unwatched. The forge lay somewhere below, quiet in the noise. Her tools waited in the vent, close now, reachable at last. At the bottom step, the Queen took her hand and squeezed it, proud and certain. Elodi squeezed back. The kindness stung more than any lock. But she had counted the spires too many empty days. She would not spend another behind these walls. She let her mother lead her into the crowded hall. She smiled at the strangers. And she began to watch for her moment to break away.