announced, 'Moonmistress-Designate Feena Archwood and High Initiate Priestess Julith Harkspur of Moonshadow Hall!'
Feena climbed the last few steps and the night opened up around her. Below the perfect, delicate bow of Selune's waning crescent, more lanterns shone on the raised flower beds and tiled paths of a garden terrace. Along the paths and among the beds strolled the wealthy and powerful of Yhaunn, the crystalline music of flutes and harps mingling with the buzz of their conversations. A few men and women, those closest to the stairs, looked up idly at the footman's announcementthen looked again as they caught sight of Feena.
She could understand their awe. When she first looked in a mirror after Julith had finished dressing her, she'd hardly been able to recognize her own reflection.
Gone were the frilly blue dresses with layered crinolines that Dhauna Myritar favored and that Velsinore had insisted on squeezing Feena into. Julith had summoned a proper dressmaker to Moonshadow Hall. Feena wore a slim gown of moon-pale white silk with silver embroidery traced along the hem and across the bodice. Long, tapered sleeves covered her arms and ended in pointed, silver-trimmed cuffs that extended across the backs of her hands. The high, starched lace collars that scratched her neck were gone as well, replaced with a light stole that draped softly across her shoulders. Instead of ridiculous slippers, she wore solid shoes of tooled white leather with heels that lent her an imposingly noble height. Julith had brushed her hair until it shone, then dipped deep into the neglected recesses of Moonshadow Hall's regalia chests. The moon's road tiara and the silver circlets with their heavy representations of Selune's phases had remained at the temple. Instead, Feena's flaming hair was caught back with a web of silver filigree from which a crescent-carved opal hung over the center of her forehead.
The merchants nearest to her bowed in respect. Feena nodded in return.
'Strictly speaking, you didn't have to do that,' whispered Julith as they swept past them.
'I know,' Feena said. She squeezed Julith's hand then released it and raised her chin in confidence.
Heads turned as they walked through the gardens. Those few among the party guests who had met Feena before her transformation generally wore expressions of astonishment. Colle Shoondeep actually smiled at her and nodded before doing a comical double take and scowling furiously. Endress Halatar, the elderly high priestess of Lliira, goddess of joy, grinned, however, and shook her hands, holding her in pleasant conversation for several minutes.
'What's she doing now?' Feena asked Julith as they walked away.
Julith turned her head discretely.
'It looks like she's talking to one of her junior priests and a couple of merchants about you,' she said. The young priestess smiled. 'I think she's impressed!'
People who hadn't met Feena before seemed eager to accept her. Julith ushered her from group to group, murmuring names and information about important people.
'Diero Mivaldihe runs a trading business between Yhaunn and the Vilhon Reach,' she whispered and Feena exchanged a few words about sea conditions with the dark-skinned man in a green vest. 'Betha Horndriver she was playing the harp just now.' Feena praised the young woman for her skill. 'Arthagus of the Miracleshe has friends on the Merchants'Council of Sembia.' She shook hands with the thin and trembling wizard.
As Feena discussed the summer heat with a master craftsman from Yhaunn's fantastically spired Glass- crafter's Hall, a man stepped up beside her. Feena felt a warning nudge from Julith and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He was somewhat older than her, with hair that was showing signs of gray, but his face was strong and his shoulders, attractively broad. His clothes were dark and plain but well-cut. He looked like he should have been carrying a sword and she had a distinct feeling that she had met him before.
When her small talk with the glass crafter ebbed and the master craftsman drifted away, he said, 'You look lovely tonight, Moonmistress.'
Feena was the one who did a double take then, though she managed to turned it into what she hoped was a graceful nod.
'As do you, Guard Captain Manas,' she replied, then winced at the words and saw Julith cringe as well.
Manas managed a chuckle. 'It seems we both clean up well.' He was carrying two goblets of wine and offered her one. 'I think I'm as surprised to find you here as you are to find me.'
'True enough.' Feena accepted the wine and took a sip. It was watered. She raised an eyebrow and Manas gave her a small smile.
'Attendance at these parties is the price you pay for attaining a certain rank in Yhaunn,' he said. 'Judging from the way your aide has been guiding you through the crowd' he nodded to Julith' I suspected you might have been given the same instructions I once was.'
Feena returned the smile. 'Thank you for your courtesy,' she said.
Manas's lip twitched. 'Your appearance isn't the only thing that's changed since we met,' he observed. 'Before, I would have said that your speech and manners were straight out of the country. Does Yhaunn really change people so quickly?'
'Not on its own,' Feena confessed. 'I've been taking lessons.'
'She's a fast learner,' added Julith.
'I can see that.' Manas glanced down at his wine. He hesitated for a moment, then said somewhat awkwardly, 'I wanted to tell you that I admired the conviction with which you stood up to me and High Luck Shoondeep, Moonmistress. I can tell that you're a fighter. I know how hard it can be when you're thrown into a situation that puts words over actions.'
Feena blinked. 'I…' she stutteredthen met Manas' eyes as he looked back up.
Both of them flushed and glanced away.
Julith stepped into the conversation smoothly: 'Have your investigations turned up any other clues about the death in the Stiltways, Captain?'
'No, ma'am,' Manas replied as promptly as he would have to a superior in the city guard.
Feena could hear the relief in his voice at the change in topic. She had to admit that she felt a certain relief as well.
'Are there any indications of another werewolf in the city?' she asked.
Manas shook his head and replied, 'No. We haven't been able to figure out why the man was in the Stiltways, either. He only had a few friends we've been able to locate, but they say that the Stiltways isn't somewhere they'd expect him to be. Apparently he pretty much kept to himself.'
'If you find out more,' Feena said, 'will you let me know?' Her voice came out with a breathless rush. She snapped her teeth together, but of course she couldn't recall the words. 'If there is another werewolf involved…' she added quickly, but the flush had already sprung back to Manas's face.
'You'll be the first to know, Moonmistress!' he said. He bobbed his head in a hasty bow. 'If you'll excuse me, I… I see someone I need to talk to.'
Manas turned and darted away down the nearest path.
Julith looked at Feena and smiled knowingly. Feena flushed again as well and gulped from her goblet. 'It's your fault,' she said.
Julith snickered, 'You both just clean up too well for your own good, I suppose.' She looked after Manas. 'And he appreciates you as a fighter. I think I'd spar with him for a few rounds.' She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Feena groaned.
'Who's the bad influence now? Let's just move on.' Feena looked around and gestured to a trio, an older man and woman and a second, younger man, strolling along a path well away from the one Manas had taken. 'Who's that?'
Julith looked, nodded, and said, 'Strasus Thingoleir, possibly the greatest wizard in the city. That's his wife, Dagnalla, also a wizard. The young man is likely one of their sonseither Roderio or Keph.' She led Feena toward them. 'Master Thingoleir!' she called. 'Mistress Thingoleir!' The old couple stopped and turned. Julith bent respectfully and gestured to Feena. 'May I present Moonmistress-Designate Feena Archwood of Moonshadow Hall.'
Strasus smiled kindly and extended a wrinkled, leathery hand. 'Well met, Moonmistress.'
Feena took it and smiled back as Strasus gave a little bow over their joined hands.
'Well met, sir.' She shook Dagnalla's hand as well. 'Well met, madam.'
She turned to the young man. He nodded to her soberly and reached out his hand as well.
'Roderio Thingoleir,' he said. 'Well met.'
