The sun was rising over the city of Neris as we hurried back to our rooms. I was exhausted from not sleeping the whole night, but I had to go to class. We would be having tests soon, and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. I had been so busy worrying about what the Blackwaters were doing that I wasn’t concentrating on my studies. If I failed my first tests, Uncle Gabriel would be livid.
Neris
The next day, a messenger arrived from Everdale House. Aunt Serena had invited me over for a few days, as the academy was shut for the summer solstice festival, and those who had places to go could leave the school.
I was excited at the prospect of staying in Aunt Serena’s Neris townhouse. Vivienne was also going home, and Foxmoor House was a few streets away from Everdale House.
“I’ll come to see you once you are settled in,” said Vivienne as we packed our trunks. “There are so many places I want to show you.”
I nodded and hugged Vivienne before leaving.
Aunt Serena sent a carriage as she had promised, and Erien and I climbed in. It was very spacious and comfortable, with the Everdale coat of arms emblazoned on the side. We crossed the main streets of the upper town and went on beyond the bridge to the other side of the river, where the nobility had their mansions.
The carriage pulled up in front of a massive stone structure. Everdale House was a two-storied mansion with enormous bay windows and a huge, mahogany front door. The horses had barely halted before Erien threw open the carriage door and bounded out eagerly. He ran up the steps, and before he could even knock, the door opened, and the butler, a thin old man with slicked-back, silver hair, let us in.
The butler bowed, taking Erien’s cloak. “Good afternoon, Your Lordship.”
“Good afternoon, Figgins,” said Erien. “Is Mother home?”
“Her Ladyship is waiting for you in the morning room, my lord.” Figgins divested us of our cloaks and luggage.
I looked around in wonder, still unaccustomed to the ways of the Eldorean nobility. The front door opened onto a massive foyer tastefully decorated with ornamental furniture and rich walnut paneling. A grand staircase with a highly polished mahogany banister swept upward to the higher floors of the house under gleaming crystal chandeliers, which looked like stars floating on a cloud of soft light.
I followed Erien to the back of the house, where the morning room was situated. Aunt Serena was waiting for us in a light and airy room done up in cream and gold, with huge French doors that opened out onto a terrace that surveyed the gardens and the river beyond. She hugged us and ushered us both in to sit down.
“First things first.” Aunt Serena turned toward me. “We will have to take you to a dressmaker to fit you for clothes. You certainly can’t wear that green dress every day.”
I looked down at my green day dress; it was one of Aunt Serena’s from Silverthorne castle. She was right; I hadn’t brought much with me.
“We will also have to get something suitable for the harvest ball at the palace, which will be held later on in the year,” said Aunt Serena.
My eyes widened at the thought. “A ball at the palace.” I would love to go to a ball, but I had no idea how I was supposed to behave in front of the rest of the nobility in Eldoren.
“Yes, every year the king holds a huge ball at the start of the harvest festival,” said Aunt Serena. “And we are all invited, of course. Tomorrow night, the Blackwaters are having a dinner party. And we will be attending, so you will need something to wear.”
“The Blackwaters,” I sneered. “I don’t want to go to their house.”
“Yes, I’m sure you don’t.” Aunt Serena raised her eyebrows. “I heard about your midnight trip to the tavern, young lady, and I have been waiting to talk to you about that.”
“You heard?” I glared at Erien. I knew Professor Dekela had already met with Aunt Serena and told her everything we had learned about the Blackwaters and the Book of Abraxas. But he didn’t know about me leaving the school at night. Erien must have told her.
Erien sheepishly looked away, getting up to pour himself a glass of juice. I felt like smacking him over the head for his stupidity.
“Yes, my dear, I certainly did.” Aunt Serena put her hands primly in her lap and sat as she always did, perched at the edge of the chair, her back straight as a rod. “You could have gotten into a lot of trouble. You are lucky that your granduncle had instructed Rafe to keep an eye on you.”
I hung my head. Even though I knew Rafe was looking out for me out of some sense of duty, it hurt every time I heard someone say it out loud.
“But if I hadn’t gone, I would never have found out about the key and the book,” I argued. “Now at least we have some idea about what Morgana is planning.”
“She is right, Mother,” Erien piped up.
Aunt Serena ignored her son. “You were lucky this time, Aurora,” she said, obviously unconvinced by my reasoning. “I want you to forget about the book for now. There is nothing you can do. I have spoken to the mastermage and sent word to my father. He will return soon, and you must let us handle it.”
I stood up abruptly. “But we can’t just sit here uselessly while Morgana is looking for the book.”
“We won’t allow her to get it,” said Aunt Serena. “You have to trust me.”
