Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(45)

"Ryiah!" Ella had arrived late to lunch and she was frowning. "You promised you would let me help you get ready for the solstice tonight – why are you still eating?"

That was today? I stared at her, horrified. I could not believe we had been at the Academy for almost three months.

"Come you." She grabbed my arm, dragging me away from the table to begin our elaborate dress. "You'll have plenty of time to flirt with Ian tonight."





****





Ella and I descended down the ballroom stair and I felt like royalty. "You want to look beautiful for the boy who loves you," was her justification for the dress that had cost me three month's apprentice wages. "You can always wear it when you are at court as a visiting mage. You'll need something fancy that goes with your new status." I shouldn't have listened. But the second we had entered the dressmaker's shop in Langli I had forgotten any protests I had.

Now I was entering the Academy ballroom in a sweeping dress fit for a princess with my hair done in long, soft curls - quite the opposite of current fashion but undeniably stunning in the mirror once I had seen Ella's creation. I didn't have any costly gems to adorn it like Priscilla and some of the other highborn girls, but I didn't need them – my scarlet red hair was enough of an accessory.

My dress was a striking maroon, a giant silk skirt with gold tissue-thin gauze beneath that sparkled whenever the light caught its movement. There were small gold-embroidered blossoms at the corset that flowered out into a deep, swooping neckline. It was a dress that up until my apprenticeship I had only dreamed of owning.

A sneering voice caught me as I reached the end of the stair. "Are you really wearing the dreadful thing without sleeves?"

I blushed. The dressmaker hadn't had quite enough time to finish the dress in the port, and after seeing the silhouette without I had decided to leave it unfinished. "I like it this way."

"You shouldn't. Only lowborn wenches expose their arms."

Ella stepped in to defend me against Priscilla. "We expose our arms every day in practice. Why should it matter while she's wearing a dress?"

"It's an insult to all highborns."

Ella rolled her eyes and then noticed Darren standing next to his betrothed. He had remained oddly quiet throughout the entire conversation. "Darren, you're a prince, is Ryiah's new fashion offending you?"

His eyes met mine and I thought I would die from the wait. He didn't say anything and I only grew more uncomfortable.

Ella sighed. "Well, it doesn't matter what either of you think. The court was wearing dead birds in their hair five years ago so clearly fashion is very subjective." She hooked her arm in mine, steering me away from the awkward silence.

When we met up with our escorts the boys' jaws dropped and when they finally seemed capable of talk they rushed off to bring us our drinks for the evening.

"Now that is how you greet a lady," Ella remarked, approvingly. Alex couldn't seem to look at her without blushing, and Ian kept staring until I thought I would crawl out of my skin.

Finally Ian overcame his shock and pulled me to the side, grinning wickedly down at me. "Do you remember how we met, Ryiah?"

I blushed. "Of course, you were so charming. You told me everything I wanted to hear."

"And then I kissed your hand for luck."

"And I said you'd probably done that to all the young ladies."

"And I told you it didn't make my gesture any less sincere."

I smiled up at him. "You always were a charmer. I can't believe I fell for you."

Ian glanced around the room to make sure the masters were occupied. Then he swiftly lifted my chin and kissed me – ignoring the shocked gasps around us as he pulled me into a long, ardent embrace. When he was done he released me with a chuckle. "Should have tried that when I met you."

I elbowed him, still a bit dizzy from the kiss. "I would have slapped you."

"It would have been worth it." Ian took me by the hand. "Are you ready to dance, my lady? And you can't use the same excuse you used when we met – I know Ella has been secretly teaching you the steps."

I giggled. "Then I guess I have no choice."





****





After many fast-paced dances with Ian the two of us returned to the benches where he brought back some refreshment. Alex and Ella joined us shortly after. I had just reached for my second glass when a shadow darkened the hand I was using to pour.

"Have you retired for the evening?"

My hand jerked and part of my juice spilled onto the floor – narrowly avoiding the hem of my dress. I looked up to find Darren watching me.

"Darren," Ian greeted the prince enthusiastically. The two of them were back to friendly terms after my public acceptance of his apology in camp. "Care to join us?"

Darren gave Ian a small smile. "No, I'm afraid I came here with a different purpose in mind."

"What a shame." Alex didn't look disappointed at all. "Well, then if you don't want to spend time with us maybe you can ask my sister to dance since-" He paused dramatically. "-She. Forgives. You." My twin burst into hysterical hoots.