It’s only a play with Shamino. I don’t have to be spectacular. It’s not like it’s a—
My chest tightened. It couldn’t be. Shamino didn’t date. Anyone.
And yet… I sank onto the stool in my dressing room. On a date, a boy and a girl dressed up and went somewhere everyone could see them. Somewhere like the theater. Hadn’t Shamino been nervous when he asked me?
It’s an apology, I told myself. An apology…
For accusing me of flirting with Jerroth.
I crept through my rooms and cracked open the door to the main room. Shamino fidgeted on my shabby sofa, his profile to me. He wore a fine creamy shirt, over which hung a deep crimson tunic that very much complemented his hair and figure. Dark breeches. He was still—always had been—so meltingly handsome. I didn’t notice it as often as I once did, but oh, I noticed it now.
He glanced at the door and I pulled back. Deep breaths, Adara. He’s dressed nice because it’s the Theater. Boys and girls can be friends. As for handsome, you can’t be female and not feel a little giddy around Shamino.
Convinced, I opened the door. “I’m ready.”
“That was quick,” he said. His eyes widened as he caught sight of me. “You are beautiful.”
I looked down at myself. “I love this dress.”
He laughed—a warm, familiar sound. “The dress? Dragonling, you are a beautiful young woman, and if being trapped in the Quarters has made you unaware of that fact, then I need to take you out more.” He swept a bow. “My lady?”
This I could do. I’d taken classes. I dipped a curtsy before taking his arm. “My lord.”
We walked in silence for a while, him linked to the magic and me caught in the wake. Occasionally we passed blurs of color.
“So you’ve never seen a play?” he asked when we were almost there.
I stiffened. “I didn’t say that. I said, ‘not here.’”
Shamino frowned. When he spoke, he sounded both concerned and perplexed. “Did they not let you watch, merely because you were adopted? That doesn’t go with my impression of Threepines.”
Was there any good excuse? “Let’s, um, just say I’ve never seen one.”
“Then I’m glad I thought of it, before…” His sentence trailed away.
Before you leave.
Shamino doubted I’d succeed with my Gift, and I couldn’t blame him. But his words reassured me that the theater was not a date. Shamino was merely being thoughtful…
I needed to change the subject before I did something silly, like cry for no reason. “Did you speak to Yuriah?”
“I did,” he said. Instantly his steps grew lighter. “She’s flying out as soon as she regains her strength. I’m hoping her time on the front will heal her heart. Raul suggested we expose her to as many of the king’s battle mages as possible, on chance a friendship forms.”
Crisis averted, I relaxed on his arm and listened with true interest. When he finished about Yuriah, I asked about the eggs soon to hatch, though that brought up the awkwardness again. The eggs might hatch after Merram’s deadline.
I nearly shouted with joy when the streaks around us became visible people.
We were far from the first to arrive at the theater. Dozens of people filled the entryway, talking or trying to pass through the crowd. The number of people made me lightheaded with anxiety. I’d managed Tressa’s party, and the ball, but I’d had her to guide me—to eclipse me. Here, all I saw were gems and silks and elegantly curved shoes—my skirt hid my boots.
Shamino must have noticed my death-grip on his arm, because he halted and raised an eyebrow.
I swallowed. “I dressed wrong.”
He pulled me to the edge of the room. “You’re fine.”
In response, I stared at a trio of women, sparkles at their ears and throats, their hair woven around their heads.
“Hey.” Shamino touched my jaw and gently turned my head away. His fingertips were rough, like mine, and warm. “Yes, they’re showing off their wealth, but you’re showing off Adara. And Adara is beautiful, with a heart that outshines any duchess’s.”
“I…” Melting. I was melting and blushing, and Shamino was touching my face—
He dropped his hand and nodded to the right. I wrenched my gaze from him to where he indicated. Some women laughed together, and all of them wore breeches, their hair down. “The theater is about relaxing. Most dress nice, and while some use it to brag, the point is to enjoy yourself.”
“They’re commoners.” I recognized them from the dining hall. One spotted me and waved. Now that I didn’t sit with Tressa, I’d risked some conversations with ‘lesser’ people.
Shamino smiled as I waved back. “Anyone is welcome, as long as they can afford the tickets. Speaking of which, I’ll be right back.”
He left my side. I leaned against the wall. Now that Shamino had opened my eyes, I saw that he was right. I wasn’t obviously out of place. With most of the Dragon Mages gone, most of the attendees were commoners, and they dressed reasonably. And yet… of the nobles, the elderly and the Dragon Mage spouses, I was the only one not wearing jewels. Even Shamino, tonight, wore a simple ring with an emerald so dark it matched Raul.
I haven’t had the gem vision since Thorkel gave me the sapphire.
Shamino returned carrying two sticks of wood with numbers burned into the surface. “We better find our seats. Since I got our tickets last minute, we have to climb some stairs to the balcony.”
The rest of the room was breaking up as well. I gripped Shamino’s arm as he wove us through the swirling mass of people.
“… it can’t be…”
“Well, I never thought—”
“Who is she? She’s young. New?”
“… be a dragon in
