Spin the Dawn(18)

He was younger than I’d thought, and better-looking. He might even have been handsome, if not for something sly and mischievous about his expression. His nose looked like it had been broken once; the bridge was slightly crooked, which somehow highlighted the cunning of his eyes. They danced with the light, never steady enough for me to catch their color.

He gestured at my shawl with long, thin fingers. “You made this?”

His attention took me aback. “Y-yes, sir.”

A dark eyebrow flitted up. “In a single day?”

I stiffened. Something about the tall man—and his questioning—made me forget my place. What did it matter, anyway, if I was about to be dismissed?

“The imperial seals are within the design,” I said brashly. “If you’d like to check.”

His cryptic smile returned. “No, no. I believe you.”

With his hands behind his back, the tall man walked on.

I wrenched my attention away from him and looked to Lady Sarnai, standing in the front of the hall, her fan flipped open.

“I shall wear Master Yindi’s shawl to dinner tonight with His Majesty,” she announced.

I swallowed, trying to hide my disappointment.

Lorsa handed Yindi a red silk pouch. “As the winner, Master Yindi will receive a prize of five hundred jens to use toward the next challenge.”

Five hundred jens? I couldn’t even imagine such a sum!

Lorsa continued: “The others who will remain are Master Boyen, Master Garad, Master Longhai, Master Taraha, Master Norbu, and…” He paused, a bushy eyebrow rising.

I clenched my hands into fists, squeezing so hard my nails bit into my palms. Holy Amana, please…

“Keton Tamarin.”

I let out a huge breath. Thank you. Thank you.

Lady Sarnai dangled another red silk pouch. “Master Tamarin is the second winner today. His shawl impressed me the most. A feat not easily accomplished.”

Stunned, I almost dropped my cane in my hurry to stumble toward Lady Sarnai. The glares from the other tailors and the tall man’s smug smile couldn’t ruin this moment for me.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” I said breathlessly. “Thank you.”

She dropped the pouch into my hand and waved me away.

“I will not be so generous again,” Lady Sarnai said. “There will only be one winner for each new challenge, until only one of you remains.” She gestured at Yindi and me. “But now you all know which two tailors are the ones to defeat.”

With that, she turned on her heel and left, the tall, thin man following her a few steps behind.

“Your next task will be given tomorrow morning,” Minister Lorsa said. “It will not be as easy as this one, so I suggest that you do not inebriate yourselves too much tonight.” His gaze turned to me. “Or fool yourselves into thinking you are safe from dismissal.”

My smile faded then, along with the happiness from my victory.

I hadn’t won because of my skill at tailoring. I’d won because I’d used magic scissors.

If not for the scissors, I would have been sent home—because someone had ruined my shawl, because I couldn’t have finished in time, because I hadn’t known Lady Sarnai hated yellow. Only by magic had I been able to repair my shawl and make it extraordinary enough to impress Lady Sarnai.

Magic was real. Very real. And the revelation that I’d somehow used it sent me reeling with a staggering sense of wonder—and fear.





CHAPTER SIX


After the dismissed tailors were gone, I sat on my stool, hugging my arms to my chest.

Behind my wooden screen, my mask of confidence fell apart. Those magical scissors had turned my ruined shawl into one of the most extraordinary garments I had ever made.

I opened my satchel, folded my shawl, and stuffed it on top of Baba’s scissors. They looked so ordinary, their blades so dull they didn’t even glint in the light. I stared at them, bewildered by how tempted I was to use them again—to see what else they could do.

I closed my satchel and kicked it beneath my table.

Only two days ago, I hadn’t believed in magic. I had never seen magic. Now here I was, itching to use those enchanted scissors again.

With them, I would certainly win the trial.

Shouldn’t I be happy? I’d won five hundred jens and proven myself to the other tailors.

No. I’ve proven nothing. I swallowed. Now that I’d won, the tailors would be watching me closely. If someone found out I was using magical scissors, they’d tell Minister Lorsa. Then I’d be investigated…and exposed as a girl.

I won’t use them again, I decided. Not unless I absolutely must.

“Congratulations,” Longhai said, peeking over my screen. “What’s the matter? You don’t look too happy that you won.”

“I am,” I said, mustering a smile. I cleared my throat, and my fingers nervously drummed against my thigh until I clasped my hands together. “I am,” I repeated, “but I was almost sent home. I had no idea Lady Sarnai hated yellow.”

“Anyone else would simply be happy to have won,” Longhai said, chuckling at my distress. “But I understand.” He lowered his voice. “Yindi’s been bribing the maids for information. That’s how he knew.”

It became painfully clear that knowing Lady Sarnai’s preferences was vital to winning the trial. “I have no money for bribery.”