The Ball
2087 Words
Eranric...
At last, Mara forced herself to look.
Eranric was speaking with the King, and she only wanted a quick glance. She wasn't ready for eye contact.
She just needed to make sure he was real.
Slowly, she lifted her eyes.
Ah, Eranric...
He was beautiful.
Looking at Eranric was like staring at a Monet painting.
Listening to him was like hearing the soaring notes of Miserere mei, Deus echo beneath cathedral domes.
And his smile...
His smile was that brief miracle when a soprano reached a high C—lasting only a moment, yet lingering inside you long after it was gone.
The more you looked, the more you wanted to look.
The more you listened, the more you wanted to listen.
He hadn't changed at all.
His hair—the hair Mara had once loved running her fingers through—still fell to his shoulders.
The beard along his jaw grew thicker toward his chin, where it lengthened slightly.
As she watched him, a warm feeling spread through her chest.
She could have kept staring forever if an elbow hadn't jabbed her in the ribs.
Elina's eyes were wide.
"Wipe the drool off your face," she whispered.
Heat flooded Mara's cheeks. She felt ridiculous for openly checking out the man who had abandoned her.
"What is he even doing here?"
Elina shrugged.
No idea.
Then she turned to the King.
"Your Majesty, if you'll excuse us, we'd like to return to our room for a moment."
"Of course," the King replied. "But don't be long. The feast will begin shortly."
Elina and Mara rose and bowed.
Before leaving, Mara risked one last glance at Eranric.
He was already looking at her.
Their eyes met.
Once again, Mara lost herself in those eyes that seemed to hold an entire forest within them.
For the briefest moment, she saw sadness there.
The warmth in her chest burst into flame.
If she looked any longer, she'd burn.
She tore her gaze away.
As she followed Elina toward the exit, King Valor's voice stopped her cold.
"Eranric, Kael and I would be delighted if you'd join us."
No.
"And perhaps we can celebrate your engagement once again."
Was that cracking sound coming from me?
Now Mara and Elina sat together on Elina's bed.
"That son of a bitch."
Elina wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close.
A single tear slipped from Mara's eye and landed on Elina's skirt.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
They simply listened to the silence.
When Mara finally regained control of herself, she squeezed Elina's hand and stood.
"We should go back."
"Mara, we don't have to if you don't want to." Elina's eyes were full of concern.
"No, El. We have to." Mara straightened her shoulders.
"We need answers. We don't know where we are or what's going on."
"But Mara—"
Mara tightened her grip on Elina's hand.
Her eyes had turned dark.
"I've cried enough, El."
"No more crying."
"I'm not giving Eranric that satisfaction."
Elina smiled at the warrior standing before her.
She felt proud.
Mara smiled back.
"Come on."
"Let's have some fun."
"That's my girl."
Eranric had been watching Mara from the moment they entered.
This time, she didn't look away.
As they approached the table, she drew strength from the icy chill of the pendant resting against her chest and from the anger simmering inside her.
Then she stopped.
Every seat at the banquet table was occupied except for two.
One beside the King.
The other...
Beside Eranric.
Elina took the seat next to King Valor, leaving only a single chair available.
Mara looked at the chair.
Then at Eranric.
His eyes were fixed on hers.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Mara raised one eyebrow.
Oh.
So that's how we're playing this.
Fine.
Let's play, Eranric.
She sat down between Elina and Eranric.
King Valor clapped his hands together cheerfully.
"Let the feast begin!"
A mouthwatering aroma drifted through the air.
The scent alone nearly made Mara lose focus.
Warmth spread through her stomach.
Eranric's broad frame barely fit in his chair.
Their bodies brushed against each other.
Pull yourself together, Mara.
Clearing her throat, she straightened her back and shifted slightly toward Elina.
Elina was busy speaking with several nobles at the table.
Mara wanted to sample the incredible food being served, but her tangled emotions had left her stomach in knots.
Instead, she poured herself a glass of wine.
Despite the conversations and laughter, there was an odd tension hanging over the table.
Politics, Mara decided.
She chose not to dwell on it.
By the time she finished her first glass, she was already pouring a second.
The warmth of the alcohol loosened the tightness in her muscles.
Elina leaned closer.
"Don't you think you're drinking a little fast?" she whispered.
"So what?"
"I'd rather not witness a scandal involving you throwing up across the banquet table."
Mara said nothing.
She turned toward Elina and deliberately drained the rest of her wine.
After setting the empty glass down, she leaned in.
"Don't forget your promise."
"What promise?"
"I want a guard tonight."
At that exact moment, a low, rough sound came from somewhere at the table.
A growl.
Mara froze.
Did someone just growl?
She and Elina exchanged confused looks before turning toward the King.
King Valor simply smiled.
Definitely weird.
Trying to lighten the atmosphere, he turned toward Kael.
"Kael, congratulations again."
"We finally found someone capable of taming Eranric."
Then he burst into booming laughter.
Ah, Valor.
You make Vlad the Impaler look merciful.
Mara reached for the wine bottle to refill her glass.
Eranric snatched it first.
Without breaking eye contact, he poured himself wine as slowly as humanly possible.
Mara waited.
And waited.
And waited.
When he finally finished, he corked the bottle and placed it on his right side.
As far away from Mara as possible.
"Asshole," she muttered under her breath.
Eranric shot her a sharp glance.
While Mara and Eranric continued their silent war over a bottle of wine, Kael cheerfully discussed wedding plans.
Kael was undeniably beautiful.
She was taller than Mara.
Her figure looked as though it had been sculpted to perfection.
She had bright blue eyes and golden curls that caught the light.
Mara wasn't the type to compare herself to other women.
Still, beauty was beauty.
And Kael was stunning.
Meanwhile, King Valor continued carving up Mara's heart with the subtlety of a blunt knife.
"Now then," he announced. "Wouldn't a baby complete this happy couple?"
He looked around the table for support.
"What do you all think?"
I sincerely hope you're assassinated before dessert.
Laughter erupted around the table.
Everyone agreed enthusiastically.
Elina squeezed Mara's hand beneath the table.
It didn't help.
Not even a little.
Mara desperately needed something to numb her brain.
Unfortunately, Eranric had moved the wine bottle out of her reach.
She could feel heat rising in her cheeks.
Anger crawled steadily through her veins.
She took several deep breaths.
It did absolutely nothing.
"My na—"
"Your Majesty, if you'll excuse us."
Elina stood before Mara could finish.
She gave the King a quick bow and practically dragged Mara away by the arm.
"Come on."
"Let's get some air on the balcony."
"The palace has a balcony?"
Before leaving the ballroom, Mara casually stole a bottle of wine from another table.
The guests could only stare after them in bewilderment.
---
The palace balcony was built from weathered stone.
Elegant lanterns cast a soft glow over comfortable lounges and cushioned benches arranged throughout the space. Jasmine vines climbed both walls, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.
Beyond the balcony, the darkness of the night seemed ready to swallow the palace whole.
Mara dropped onto a long cushioned bench.
Elina remained standing.
"What happened to that warrior spirit of yours?"
Mara groaned.
"Dead."
Then she tipped the wine bottle back and took a long drink.
By the second swallow, Elina snatched it from her hands.
Mara blinked.
"What?"
Elina sat beside her.
"You're not helping."
"You forgot you're supposed to talk to the King at the ball."
Mara yawned and leaned back.
"The King was supposed to talk to me."
She waved a hand dismissively.
"Or at least he was. Apparently he's too busy obsessing over the happy couple."
She pulled a cushion beneath her head and stretched out on the bench.
Elina frowned.
"I don't understand what's happening."
"Neither do I."
"No one explains anything."
"Exactly."
Elina grabbed the cushion from beneath Mara's head and smacked her with it.
"Can you be serious for five minutes?"
Mara sighed dramatically and sat up.
"Then let's leave, El."
"What?"
"Let's go home."
"Don't be ridiculous. They'll catch us before we even make it through the gates."
Mara took both of Elina's hands.
"El."
Her expression softened.
"No one can catch us if we don't want to be caught."
A grin tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"Remember all those times we snuck out of the dorms and went bar-hopping?"
Elina laughed despite herself.
Mara hesitated before continuing.
"But... if you want to stay—"
"I absolutely do not."
Mara immediately jumped to her feet and held out a hand.
"Well then..."
Elina took it.
"Let's go home."
---
To avoid attracting attention, Mara and Elina returned to the ballroom.
Their plan was simple.
They would politely excuse themselves for the night.
Elina would return to her room and gather supplies.
Meanwhile, Mara would find practical clothes, a rope, a hook, and anything else useful for escaping.
A lively dance melody filled the ballroom.
Kael was dancing with another noble.
Only Eranric and King Valor remained seated at the table, deep in conversation.
The King's face lit up the moment he saw his daughter.
He rose to his feet, took Elina's hand, and kissed it affectionately.
"Would our beautiful princess honor me with this dance?"
I'm going to kill this man.
Elina glanced toward Mara.
Mara gave a subtle nod.
"With pleasure," Elina replied sweetly.
The first complication had arrived less than a minute after they'd returned.
Wonderful.
Mara was already feeling tense.
She needed something to take the edge off.
Only bottles and clean glasses remained on the table now.
Since they were leaving tonight anyway, she dropped into the chair directly across from Eranric.
She refused to look at him.
Even so, she could feel his gaze resting on her.
Mara grabbed a glass and filled it with wine.
As she drank, she deliberately met Eranric's eyes.
He was glaring at her.
His brows were drawn together.
His jaw was tight.
A muscle ticked along his cheek.
The moment Mara reached for the bottle again, Eranric grabbed it first.
The forest-green eyes she remembered had darkened almost to black.
"Haven't you had enough?" he asked through clenched teeth.
Mara stared at him in disbelief.
Then her anger flared.
"None of your business."
She lunged for the bottle.
Eranric effortlessly moved it out of reach.
Mara's eyes wandered toward a service door where servants were constantly coming and going.
A slow smile spread across her face.
Raising one eyebrow, she looked back at him.
"Fine."
She rose from her chair.
"Keep your precious bottle."
Then she walked straight toward the servants' entrance.
Inside, people buzzed around like a beehive.
A young maid smiled politely.
"Did you need something, my lady?"
"Yes."
Mara returned the smile.
"Could I have a bottle of red wine?"
"Of course."
The maid disappeared into another room.
A minute later she returned carrying a bottle.
"Here you are, my lady."
"Thank you very much."
Mara accepted it with the satisfaction of someone who had just won a war.
When she returned to the table, Kael had come back as well.
Mara poured herself another glass.
Then another.
A little later, King Valor and Elina returned.
Elina immediately asked permission to retire for the evening.
"You may go if you wish," the King said.
Then he looked at Mara.
"But Mara and I still haven't had our conversation."
He smiled warmly and patted her shoulder.
Mara and Elina exchanged a quick glance.
"Your Majesty," Mara said carefully, "you've had a long day. Perhaps we could speak tomorrow instead."
King Valor studied both of them for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Very well."
A smile crossed his face.
"We'll talk over breakfast."
The girls released quiet sighs of relief.
Then they left the ballroom together.
- Writer
