Together, they are a contrast—midnight and sunlight—yet they undeniably make a whole.
As I approach, I realize the royal children are also here. Estela picks up her youngest son, Leo, and his small hands clutch the gems on the bodice of her gown.
"Arlet!" she calls, beaming as she pulls me into a side hug. The warmth of it seeps through me, erasing some of the gloomy shadows following me around.
"I'm so glad you've made it," she says, her eyes immediately landing on the scroll in my hands. A knowing look lights her face. "Are you ready?"
I nod slowly. "As ready as I can be.”
“Lirenne!” she calls over her shoulder. The enduar woman who organized the event comes forward. She’s much taller than Estela or I, and she wears a white gown that trails on the floor behind her. Her shoulders are exposed by thin straps, and only her ears have jewels. A large, white birthmark covers her left cheek, vivid next to her vibrant blue skin and grey hair.
“Yes, My Queen?” she says with a bow, her tail curling into a circle.
With her free hand, Estela touches my back and says, “Lady Arlet is ready for her assigned numbers.”
Lirenne dips her head, taking my scroll and using a bit of magic to write something in the top corner of my paper.
I take a moment to scan the crowd, looking, just for a moment, for Vann. I don’t see him or his familiar frown.
“There you are, Lady Arlet. We are so happy you are here,” she says. Then excuses herself.
Estela lets out an excited sound. “All right, have fun. I won’t be here the whole time because I’m told some couples get very scandalous, and I don’t want the boys around that.”
My cheeks heat. I know exactly what she meant.
“But, with any luck, tomorrow we shall have breakfast, and you will have good news.”
Before I can respond, my friend, the queen, ushers me forward, away from the throng, and toward the section where a group of men and women prepare to enter the tents. I take a deep breath, studying the signs outside each tent with a number written in geometric enduar script, and then open my scroll to reveal the suggested matches.
Enduar script is my third written language, behind the common tongue and my limited giantese. The human tongue exists only in speech—its written form lost to time, something I’ve been trying to restore in Lorepath.
I recognize the letters well enough, but the first is a little hard to make out.
"I'll be honest," a human woman in a long, red dress murmurs beside me. "Even if I don’t get a husband out of this, I’ll be happy if I just get fucked."
I look over as she smirks. Her dark hair is braided over one shoulder, and a thin golden cuff gleams against her upper arm, catching the flickering light.
Sharp eyes the color of aged amber, glint with amusement, and there's a confidence in how she carries herself—unhurried, self-assured, like she already knows the outcome of any game she plays.
I can’t relate, though I wish I could.
She catches my stare, then grins. The movement sends the jewels along her neckline shimmering under the spell-lit cavern, glinting like firelight.
"Lady Arlet, isn’t it?" she asks.
I am taken aback by the title. It’s still strange to hear it on a stranger’s lips. Dipping my head forward, I manage a small, "Yes."
She holds out her hand. "Dashia. I live in the settlement.”
"Lovely to meet you."
Her smirk deepens. "Good luck today."
The room hushes as King Teo rises from his throne. His voice carries with effortless authority.
"Brothers and sisters, blood of the stone, life of the ocean, children of the over world—welcome." He pauses, sweeping his gaze over the gathered. "We have fought, we have bled, we have built, and now we must grow. Today, you will endeavor to meet each person in this room. At the end of the day, let us celebrate bonds—new and old, forged in fire and fate. Let this journey bring not only mates, but strength to our people. May your Fuegorras burn bright, and may your hearts sing true. At the sound of the tone, we shall begin.”
Chapter 12