I'm Here and Now You Want Gifts?

Three weeks later, I entered the Dragon King's Summer Palace.

The palace was an opulent, sprawling monstrosity. It was composed of 4 jutting, marble wings extending off of a four story high, rectangular center. Arches, large windows, and columns, decorated it's façade.

I think it was the impracticality that bothered me most. With the jasmine trees and creeping honeysuckle vines, the palace was really quite pretty. However, I knew that an assassin could easily slip in and slaughter whomever they wished at any time. Security was impossible for such a building.

"Gods! That was awful. Why wouldn't you let me stop for a real meal anywhere? When we get home, I'm having you whipped." My cousin's shrill voice rang out from behind me.

I turned and gave her a flat look.

Since every participant was entitled to bring a friend, my uncle had decided that Miss Goldleaf would be mine. Needless to say, I was quite displeased.

I dismounted and handed my horse's reins to one of the guards who'd come with us. Then I walked to the male who seemed to be in charge of checking participants in.

I waited patiently as the group in front of him finished checking in and moved away.

Stepping forward, I smiled at the male. He lifted one eyebrow and looked me up and down. Then he sneered.

"Kylara Adamare, checking in." I said.

"Are you alone?" The male asked.

I remember from my childhood how strict Viceria was towards females. Showing up without a male guardian like this was highly improper, not that I cared.

I felt my cousin run up beside me.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" She demanded hotly.

I ignored her and said, "Yes, I am alone." The male didn't bother to hide his contempt.

"What the Other?" My cousin screeched at me. She turned to the male and gave him her best smile. "I am Miss Delphi Goldleaf. I am Kylara's friend."

I snorted, "No, you're not." Looking back at the male, I extended my left hand. "I would like the key to my rooms, now." I said.

The male grimaced but nonetheless complied. He placed a small steel key in my palm.

"You are in the blue rooms on the first floor of wing 2." He said. And giving no other directions, he walked off.

I walked back to the carriage as Miss Goldleaf chased after the male. I informed the guards where my singular trunk was going and watched as two of them unloaded it.

"Kylara?" I heard a familiar male voice say. My eyes narrowed as I spun in its direction.

Two males whom I'd never forget in the whole course of my existence had just dismounted from their horses. The black-haired male raced over to me.

I recognized him as Kane and his red-headed cousin, who was watching with a smirk, as Rhana. As Kane reached me, I slid one of the small throwing knives hidden in my sleeve into my right hand. His warm hands grabbed my shoulders and my heartbeat accelerated.

As he looked down at me with a tangled mess of emotions clear on his face, I smiled at him. Then I stabbed the knife straight into his gut.

He gasped and staggered backward.

I turned and signaled for the two elves, who'd unloaded my trunk, to lead the way to my rooms.

As I turned my back on the injured Kane, I told myself that my heartbeat was racing because of the excitement from getting a taste of revenge, not because Kane had only gotten handsomer since the last time I'd seen him.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Miss Goldleaf still arguing with the male in charge of check ins. The sight made me smile.

Later that day:

I was sitting in my rooms reading reports when there was a loud, angry sounding pounding on the door.

Opening it slowly, I saw a furious Miss Goldleaf. Following her were two guards each carrying a case with grim expressions on their faces.

I stepped back and allowed Miss Goldleaf entry. I was curious as to what she wanted at this point.

Miss Goldleaf swept into the rooms and grimaced.

"I'd order you to switch rooms with me but I've always hated blue." She sneered.

"You can't order me to do that, which is why you won't try. You know you have no standing here." I replied coolly.

Miss Goldleaf sniffed.

"I wanted to show you these." She snapped her fingers and the two guards behind her placed the two cases onto the table and opened them. They turned them to face me.

Inside one was a ruby encrusted dagger, while a sapphire studded chainmail shirt rested in the other.

"What are these?" I asked.

Miss Goldleaf smiled proudly, "These are the gifts we could have given to the Princes." I nodded.

At the ball that marked the opening of the mating seasons, it was customary for participants to give gifts to the organizer or his family. It was thought that if the organizer liked the participants gifts, they would arrange to for that participant to have the partners they liked more frequently. In this case, the gifts would be going to the King's two sons, Prince Pharon and Prince Blaize.

I took a closer look at the gifts.

Though they were both looked fine, they lacked even basic enchantments. They were even age proofed. Without enchantments, these gifts were only worth as much as the resources to make them cost.

"If you had cooperated we could have given them to the princes together. However, you blew your chance and now I'll be giving them by myself. Who knows, they may even like them so much, they'll make me a participant to replace you." Miss Goldleaf laughed.

"You have good taste." I said.

I calmly closed the cases, saying nothing about the lack of enchantments.

A bell chimed throughout the palace and Miss Goldleaf screeched.

"That's the dressing bell. I'll be late if I don't start preparing now." She turned to the guards. "Grab those." She said pointing at the boxes. Then she hurried from my rooms.

I breathed a sigh of relief and plopped down on the couch. Would I even be able to fall asleep tonight, with such a soft, big bed?

Should I give the princes a gift? I wondered. I thought about this. It wouldn't be embarrassing to Mr. Goldleaf, if I didn't give the princes a gift. The only one embarrassed would be me. Not that I cared too much about that.

I frowned and tried to make up my mind.

Eventually, I got ready for the ball.

Two hours later, I stepped out of my rooms at five minutes to 8 pm.

My dress was forest green with a little bit of gold embroidery at the hem and cuffs. I had a diamond hairnet pulling back my unruly hair. They were enchanted with an anti-glamour spell. This spell would make me less noticeable.

On my finger was my ring of illusions. There were actually two layered illusion spells on the ring. The lowest layer changed my appearance and the other to make the ring appear like it wasn't there.

I frowned as I realized that I was wearing this when I arrived. I was always wearing it. How did Kane recognize me?

I pondered this as I had a servant show me the way to the hall where the ball was taking place.

A tall, striking elven male with long, waving grey hair was waiting for me outside. His warm light purple eyes looked me up and down and he smiled happily. Beside him were a female and another male. All three had similar cat-like features.

I curtseyed, immediately recognizing him as High Lord Volanti.

"Lady Adamare, I am so pleased to see you here." He said in a musical voice. "I was hoping I could speak to you in the course of the night. This is my son, Glade." He said gesturing to the male. Glade had short, straight hair the same purplish-grey as the High Lord, and his eyes were the same light, purple-grey color. His face was sullen as he looked at me.

I curtseyed again and he hesitantly bowed.

"Where are your gifts?" the High Lord asked.

I smiled sheepishly, "My cousin won't let me give them, so I don't have any." The High Lord smiled warmly.

"Then you can go in with us and share our gifts. My daughter," he gestured to the female on his right, "Brook, picked them out. She is hoping to get Prince Blaize as her partner more than a few times." The High Lord winked as the beautiful female blushed prettily. Seeing that Glad had not yet offered me his arm the High Lord coughed.

Glade's disgruntled gaze was met with his father's stern one. Glade sighed and offered me his arm.

I took it and we entered the hall.