The Crimson Queen had already begun instructing the noble sputtlepuns on how the draw worked—as if they did not know the tradition from every single merry season past. Cane sighed and glanced at the clock upon the wall. He wondered if there was any cinnamon toast left.

Driar sat in the corner by himself, nestled into a pile of pillows as if he wished to vanish beneath them. His nose was shoved far into a book. “The boy hasn’t a clue how to have fun. Kingsblood, he deserves to be alone,” Quinten murmured when he saw Cane staring.

The lights dimmed and a flame flickered to life where the Crimson Queen stood, holding a candle. The room hushed and the nobles scattered to find seats as the queen lifted a red-painted drum covered in rubies. When she patted it, sparks flitted into the air above them. Snow began to dance across the windows as if overhearing the rhythm inside…

Presently…

Cane rolled his eyes at the pair of conspicuous Ruby Legionnaires trailing him and Porethius—two of his former personal guardsmen; men he used to train alongside as a boy but never fully got along with.

The once-prince followed Porethius to the dining room where they would certainly not drink the king’s drink, or taste the king’s luxuries, or be persuaded by the king’s mighty hand.

“I fought against the Crimson King’s sons in the season past to aid the Patrol. He would be foolish to trust us,” Porethius reminded him when she caught Cane glaring at the Legionnaires.

The large doors swung open, revealing a glistening table of fruit and drinks, teapots, and fire-roasted cave-bird eggs balanced into piles upon silver trays. Through his embellished, black mask, Cane’s eyes found Scarlet-Strange-Holly-Kissing when he stood behind his seat. Her lovely eyes avoided his.

Another entered the room from the side opposite—all white clothing; crumpled and un-ironed. The court magician did not wear his mask as he came in. Jolly Cheat moved rigidly to a chair, a prickly hat with bells rattling atop his head.

“How was your time in Polar Territory, Cheat? Did Driar bore you to death with his studies?” Prince Tegan asked the magician, who stripped off his gloves.

“It was fine,” Jolly Cheat muttered, eyeing Forrester across the table.

Forrester was preoccupied with the stacked rings on his fingers, so he did not notice the magician’s nickel irises sharpen to silver daggers. Cane looked between the magician and Forrester, and for a moment, he missed being in on the nobles’ drama.

“Why does your ally hide his face?” the king rasped to Porethius, and Cane’s curiosity ripped from Jolly Cheat, finding the Crimson King staring straight at him once again.

“He has been burned hideously in a fire,” Forrester piped up, purple eyes lifting to absorb Cane with a peculiar fascination. “Didn’t you read the message, Father?”