The day after the masquerade, the city was enshrouded in rumors—of poisoning, intrigue, and a Duchess which was no longer a serenade. Courtiers barely avoided utilizing their silk fans as shields while merchants spread gossip with their bread. For the Queen's agents, it was just another day where they had to scramble to mitigate the damage.
But for Kaelith, the focus had to be shifted.
Survival awaiting along with well created paths of strategizing was the only option.
A soft sigh escaped her lips as Kaelith looked down at her gold circlet. The heavy feeling encapsulated her finger alongside thoughts of a closely adjacent, almost tethered magnitude of revitalized power and an estranged dominion for foes.
Between allies and foes both, it stands as an unrelenting beacon to lure merciless wrath or servitude.
"The Queen is tightening her grip," Theron met her in the garden around the break of dawn, securing his hands in the pocket of his coat.
With rose bushes brimming her eyes and his glaring directly ahead, "Why is that so?"
Kaelith started thinking. "First of all, it means that the Queen does not slacken the rope even for a minute.
Sliding a quick "yes" with breakneck speed, "Second of all, we urgently require new allies.
Where do you plan to find them?" Truth brings great pain Theron, would you look where all the truth always remains scalding hot?
"Openly bearing boldest house remnants lies bare wherever the parts intertwine into a deep abyss wearing bandages around them."
The chill scooped their closed debate midway when out of nowhere there was a towering presence right behind them.
"She bows" blabber about brave claiming of the Queen like whispering can still be heard, and while clapped Mira utmost defiance adds, "What answer should I tell you now?"
Kaelith watched her best remembering this is my country now alongside Markuera's remaining whispering grasp of enthusing defiance. Mira was heavily known for her cloak aides, even if well disguised.
"Mira's words," she said. "We're quiet here... It's a simmering silence."
She sighed. All that came through her was a chuckle. "You have not answered my question yet. Why would we trust you?"
"It is weak, but it's all I have," Mira spoke carefully. "It's the quiet beforehand, before thunder rolls. Because we all have one enemy: A Queen."
Mira, with scarce peering gaze Theron, was found.
"Share more," Kaelith ordered.
Mira extracted a curled-up parchment from within her cloak.
"She does intend to centuriate the middle-class hierarchy that seem to be her loyal followers," Kaelith revealed to me. Finally. There is something worth my attention.
Her heart thudded.
"Expectedly so," she resumed found quote marks. "A Snare?"
"Yes. When these expected invitations to every noble household get delivered, guards shall seize all those that are loyal to you's and murder them publicly."
The spark in Kaelith flashed reminding her of the last event she had gone to. It was astonishing how lethal the court could be.
She shook her head: "Many different ways to not cross paths to get it."
Mira did a simple nod. "You will need all the support you could get from the inside, that's something I can certainly get you."
Theron glanced at Kaelith, folding his arms. "Any that care to explain why we're risking so…"
"They're mine," was the response provided by Mira.
He kept mute.
She weighed: it's a perilous step to take, but one core truism remains.
"Agreed," she replied. "But if you double-cross us…"
Mira's gaze hardened. "I won't do that."
Kaelith spent the evening in her chambers, with maps and letters scattered about.
The Harvest Ball was only three nights away after that.
She and Theron worked on plotting routes, allies to educate, and ways to notify them.
No one has confirmed whether or not Corven visited at his unannounced whim.
His expression was austere.
"They are moving sooner than we anticipated," he stated.
Kaelith glared at him.
"What do you mean?"
Corven sighed. "The Queen's assassins have already made their rounds. I expect some of your loyal nobles are missing as well."
"And no one dares to talk about it?"
"Fear muzzles the court."
Kaelith tightened her fists.
"We need to act before they silenced us all."
Corven stared at the ring on her right hand.
"That emblem is reckless," he cautioned. "More than you comprehend."
Meeting his look, she chuckled, "I am ready."
The evening of the grand event arrived.
Goblets full of wine and the Harvest Ball itself.
Nobility rivaling each other are captured in crystal chandellers, gaze to leggings filled with silk.
Jewel encrusted masks soon followed. All attendees gone and were ignorant of the plot scheming all around them.
Now it was Kaelith turn offering them his ensemble. She twirled in the gown - blue dark like the night sky - as she placed a silver mask over her face fashioned to look like a crescent moon.
Allies were signaled, awaiting any direction. Threats mark the exit. And in their place were Theron and Sapphire spying for any potential harms to the description.Kaelith could feel the burden of each gaze resting on her.
The Queen was present.
And so was the risk.
Out of the blue, a scream broke the silence.
Mayhem blazed.
Guards rushed the hall, barking commands.
"Lock up the betrayers!" one roared.
Guests panicked, cluttering towards the entrances.
As per usual, panic broke out.
Kaelith clutched Corven.
"We need to go," she said.
He agreed.
Quietly, they made their way toward the secret passage that Mira had disclosed.
But they were met with a block just before, a figure posed in front of them.
Lady Thalia.
Eyes manic alongside a broken mask.
"What do you think you're doing?" Thalia spat.
Kaelith felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Why are you here?" she cried.
"To make sure I complete my task," Thalia answered, pulling a dagger.
With her sword raised, ready for the clash, Kaelith kept her guard up.
Corven stood next to her.
Mira and Theron boxed her in the back.
The ballroom held its breath, the quiet unbearable beyond belief.
Then—
The lights extinguished.