CHAPTER 12
Before either of them seemed to know it, the day of the ball arrived. Peytra registered it as Kori, Una, and Gani burst into Peytra’s room in the afternoon as she was finishing the wax on the Duke’s mask. They brought with them a rushed package from the tailor. It was the gown that had been commissioned for her and they wanted to watch her open it. She unwrapped the cloth and laid it out on the bed. It was nothing Peytra had ever seen anyone wear. The top was cut low in the South-easterly style, with a deep, black silk center insert. The majority of the gown was a bright, blood-red color, decorated with inset rubies and blackened embroidery. On the edges of both sleeves was an embroidered bird.
“Is that…” started Kori.
“Woodpecker,” said Gani.
“Marcus,” they all said in unis
