He’d known even then what he was going to do. She’d thought he meant that she’d survive the beast and March coming to the estate and all the many petty problems a young girl could have. But when she woke the next day, she was not in her bed with the white drapes cresting the posts, the cushions so soft that she always felt like it must be the same as sleeping on a cloud. She was in the mountain. And everything had changed.

Now, she was to return.

It took a matter of minutes to pack her bag but an hour to traipse through the Artisan Village and find Parris’ dress shop.

“I can’t help you,” he said, crossing his arms. He was a slight thing, not more than a spattering of inches taller than Kerrigan and all skin and bones. Not even getting out of the House of Dragons had changed that. His Fae ears were delicate and on display. His long blond hair tucked behind them in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.

“Parris, come on,” she said. “Imagine me at the Geivhrea party in your gown. I’ll be before the king and queen.”

“I have a dozen other gowns to finish before then,” he grumbled.

“Will all of those people need to make an impression on the king?”

He tried to shoo her out of the place, but she’d spent months training and always been stronger than him anyway.

“You’ve ruined too many of my gowns,” he complained.

“It’s not my fault.”

“You don’t even pay me!”

She laughed. “I’m free advertisement.”

“That doesn’t pay the bills, Society mistress,” he joked, poking her in the ribs.

“Parris…”

He huffed. “I’ll need all new measurements.” He gestured to her arms, chest, and back. “Everything has gotten bigger. Must you keep training with that useless sword?”

“Afraid so.”

He tweaked a dress to her measurements on the spot. He’d already been working on a new design for the Season with her in mind. And he’d been right; it would do the trick.

With the dress safely tucked into her traveling bag, she went to the aerie at high noon to find Tieran waiting for her. He hadn’t been talking to her this last month. It had been agonizing.

Now, he turned his head to glare at her. Are you through trying to ruin all of our plans?

“Completely.”

I don’t believe you.

“Don’t blame you,” she said with a laugh as she attached the bag to his saddle. “But the king and queen called us to court. So, to court we go. Plus, we’re going to need to train the entire time we’re there if we’re to catch up to the others.”

“I’ll teach you,” Fordham said, striding away from Netta.