Theo and one of the Elk guards flanked me as we followed Iiro back to our tent. Whispers surrounded us at each step, and I wondered how quickly the news would spread about who I was.
And how much more of a target I would be when it did.
Unease hung in the air around us, following us into the tent and refusing to leave, like an unwanted guest. I sank into a chair near the small table, pouring myself a glass of whatever was in the pitcher at the center.
Theo sank down next to me as Iiro spoke to Inessa in Socairan, presumably recounting the events of the day.
I took a long draught of what was most certainly not water, nearly spitting it back out. It was ale, but it was stronger and more bitter than what they served in Lochlann.
“That went fairly well,” Theo said, though his voice was tight.
“Ah, yes.” I took another tentative sip of the ale, pleased to find it wasn’t nearly as bad when I was expecting the intense flavor. “My favorite part was when they brought in the stableboy I—.”
Theo glanced sharply at me, his jaw ticking. “You what?”
I drained my cup before answering, refilling it as I spoke. “It was nothing, just a kiss.” Or several.
He shook his head, his expression gently exasperated, but his shoulders eased. “In any case, it was only the first day, and it honestly went better than I expected.”
I supposed that much was fair, though our expectations for the summit were probably leagues apart. There had been a moment there where I worried they would kill me then and there. So, all things considered…
Theo fiddled with the charm on my bracelet, his fingertips barely brushing my skin.
“I’m just glad this day is finally over,” I sighed, leaning my head against his shoulder.
He stiffened. I started to move away but he clamped his arm around my waist.
“Not quite,” he said. “There’s still the dance.”
You have got to be kidding me.
“A dance? To, what? Celebrate my imminent demise?”
I felt his head shake. “It’s tradition at the Summit.”
I really wanted to tell the Socairans what they could do with all of their traditions at this point, but my protest was cut off by the sound of a familiar voice, breezing in through the tent entrance.
Mila, the young woman from earlier, entered with two servants, each carrying a small trunk.
Her eyes swept around the tent until they found me. Theo leapt up and put as much distance as possible between us in a way that was too obvious, even for an oblivious person, which I suspected Mila was not.
She arched a perfectly defined brow but said nothing about it, only came to replace Theo’s spot on the seat beside me.
“So,” she said, drawing out the O sound. “The Scarlet Princess.”
A dry laugh escaped me.
“I like the sound of that,” I said after a moment. “I see word travels fast.”
“They try to pretend the proceedings are a big secret, but it’s a fairly small camp.” She gestured around. “With literally nothing else to do besides gossip.”
The comment reminded me so much of Davin that a physical pang went through me, but I forced a small smile to my lips. At least, until the next words out of her mouth.
“And don’t worry, we’ve all been there with a stableboy or two.” She let out a chuckle.
I covered my face with both hands. “You weren’t kidding about the gossip.”
“It’s nothing.” She pulled my arm from my face. “Honestly, last summer, my father caught me with one of his guards.”
I winced in sympathy. “Did he…kill him?”
“It was a close call, but in the end, he only restationed him. Still, the entire estate heard.”
“Not so different from Lochlann after all.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” She smirked to show she was teasing. “Now, on to more important things. Since I’ve seen what color your hair is, and your, ahem, shapeliness, I’ve brought you different gowns.”
“That’s too much—” I began, though I had to admit I was secretly grateful.
“I have more gowns than I know what to do with.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I am happy to share. Besides, my ladies maid already went to the trouble of altering one. You wouldn’t want all her work to be in vain?”
She really would give Davin a run for his money.
I laughed, giving in. “Of course not.”
“Perfect. Now, we need to get you into a new one for tonight.”
“What’s wrong with the dress I’m wearing?”
Mila leveled a look at me. “You can’t dance in those skirts.”
She had a point, but…
“I don’t even think I’m going to go,” I told her, hoping that was even an option for me. “It’s been an exhausting day.”
“You have to,” she said. “You wouldn’t want all those stuffy old men to think they had scared you, would you?”
Another solid point.
“Fine,” I relented, and she ordered one of the servants to bring over the trunk.
In spite of myself, an inkling of excitement worked its way through me. There were worse ways to spend the evening than dancing in Theo’s arms.
