32

“Lux Remi.” I hear a familiar voice cut through my mind fog. I turn and smile, trying to hide my emotions. “You look splendid this evening.” Vo waltzes up to me with a drink in his hand and a huge smile plastered on his face. His hair is twisted up into a bun, the streaks of black cutting through the deep orange. 

“Palace events seem to agree with you Vo.” I raise my glass in salute. He is wearing a red shirt with a black silk vest. The vest is embroidered with images of flames using golden red thread. “It is truly an amazing thing to witness.”

“If you think this is amazing, just wait and see the palace host a ball. The king loves extravagant and expensive balls.” Vo murmurs as he takes a sip of bubbly. He has a sly smile on his face as if he knows something that I do not. 

“I hear that there will be many poets coming to perform tonight. Is there someone you are particularly interested in listening to?” I survey the crowd. 

“There is one.” He grins at me. “She sings her poems with a voice like a songbird from the north. Truly exquisite. Pardon me.” Vo bows and dips away. I watch as he taps a lady on the shoulder and they strike up a conversation. She is a heavy-set woman with locks of auburn hair. *Is she the poet Vo was complimenting? Curious.* 

The trumpets blare out several notes as a herald announces the king. 

“Announcing the King of Fire, Master of Lava, Willard third of his name, first-born of his house.” Everyone claps as the king enters through the huge double doors. I can’t see him since there are many people in front of me who are taller than me. I move towards the center, trying to catch a glimpse, but even that I cannot do. Hardly a single person moves out of my way, so I am stuck on the sidelines. 

“Distinguished guests of the court,” the king begins, “let us remember my lady mother, the late queen, who led us into an era of great peace! Let us fill this hall with poems of that era, legends of the time before, and tales of old!” Everyone cheers and shouts. The king takes a seat right in front of the stage and everyone quiets down. 

The first person on stage is a skinny man, with a bald head and deep eyes. He looks rather old. He clears his throat a few times and, seemingly with much difficulty, he begins with a voice as clear as a bell. 

“In the time of man and beast, man takes his toll. 

The beast scatters among the trees, and man shall hunt no more. 

When wind and rain fall upon the white and barren shores, 

Then will come the days of red and sing the tales of war.

Too many men have fallen, too many men are dead, 

Yet on this clear and bitter morn’, who else will meet his end?”

A hushed silence settles as the old man bows. *Quite the way to start off a celebratory evening*. The king starts to clap and everyone quickly joins in. After the old man walks off stage, several more people perform. The mood becomes more lively with each new person. Finally, the lady with auburn hair steps on the stage. She smiles brightly and starts to sing.

“Far to the North, the wind howls, 

Bringing down all the towns. 

Therein lies the North Queen’s tomb, 

Dark as night with crystal runes.

Stars align to make her crown,

Pointing North until she’s found.”

“That is the song of the north. It’s a legend and a very famous song.” Jace whispers in my ear. I snap my head to my left and see a small smile playing on his lips. He tilts his head slightly to the side to look at me. My heart is racing. “You look absolutely ravishing, my darling white shark. How I have missed you.” My breath hitches in my throat. 

“How dare you.” I hiss. “To say you have missed me when in fact you have been avoiding me for near two weeks. And then you show up, acting as if nothing has happened when in fact-” I stop short, my face starting to turn red. I quickly look away. “You’ve been most cruel to me.” I hear Jace take a deep breath and sigh. 

“I admit I have been unkind to you, but…” Jace pauses and I peak over my shoulder to see him. “I had feared that I overstepped and I was a coward with each day that passed. I let it build up. Forgive me, Remi.” He looks and sounds sincere. I stare at him for a moment. He answered my questions, with a bit of an attitude, but he answered them. How unfair it would be for me to continue to hold onto this.

“Alright, I forgive you.” Jace smiles widely. 

“Thank you.” He bows and takes my hand, kissing it. “You have made me the most happiest of men.” I roll my eyes and take my hand back. 

“Just because I forgive you does not give you permission to touch me.” *You have to earn that back*. I glance at him to make sure he got the message. He bows his head slightly.

*As my lady commands.*

I turn my attention back to the poet's performance. I am surprised she is not done. She sang two poems while we were talking. Vo is right, her voice is like a songbird. It’s very beautiful. 

“Cast to the West, the barren land,

Where all who wander are found dead.

Filled with rocks, and dirt, and sand,

No one makes it out again.

Canyons, trenches, and valleys too,

The Western King no more will rule.”

Everyone claps as she bows and exits the stage. Her two poems send chills up my spine. How haunting they are and how curious they are. She sang tales of the north and west, but not the east and south. I wonder why.

“Another legend or just a famous song?” I tease Jace. 

“A foreshadowing.” He says with a straight and serious face. I purse my lips together. That is not quite the answer I was expecting. I turn back to the stage to see an old lady walk up and my heart skips a beat. I strain my eyes as my body tenses up. 

*Old Yawna?*