A Balance Broken (Dragonsoul Saga) (47 page)

Midwinter, being the high holiday of Gannon, is the best time to visit Daynon. Warmed by the Bay of Hope, the season is usually still tolerable. Most importantly, the Midwinter Balls in the capital of the kingdom are events not to be missed.

— “A Traveler’s Tour of Gannon” by H. M. Davana

W
eariness sat heavy on Maddi’s shoulders and forehead as she turned the key. The door had barely opened when gleeful shouts and claps of joy rang in her tired ears.

“Tonight is the Midwinter Ball!” Tanya threw her arms around Maddi’s waist. “You are going to look so beautiful!”

Ami stood at the counter in the kitchen, making a cheese sandwich for Tanya’s lunch. “She is right, you know. Also, you could meet the king to plead your case for the hospital…well, it might happen.”

Maddi sighed and settled into a comfortable chair. “I just want to take a nap. I don’t know if I’m more tired from working in the slums, or from arguing with students in class – especially Doctor Darilla. Why in the blazes he would sit in on a class where he thinks he knows more than the teacher, I will never understand.”

Placing the plated sandwich on their table, Ami snapped her fingers. “Come on Tanya, eat your lunch. Maddi needs to rest a little before she gets ready.” She curled a half smile at Maddi. “You take a nap and then we’ll help you dress.”

Maddi covered her face with her hands. “Do I have to?”

Ami laughed. “Of course you do. You’re a part of the real world now. A king and one of his ministers have noticed you.”

After an hour or two of tossing with no sleep, Maddi gave in. Tanya held up a fluffy cotton towel for her to wrap herself in when she stepped out of the copper tub. The little girl and Ami both helped her dry her hair and brush it out until it shined. When she slipped on the dark blue-almost-black velvet dress she had purchased for the evening, Tanya giggled with glee.

“It’s the first gown I’ve ever bought.” Maddi smoothed it over her hips while Ami hooked the buttons up the back. “I never thought I’d need such a thing.”

Ami strained to get the last button in place. “Well, it’s beautiful on you.”

Tanya clapped. “Yes! Beautiful!” She ran over to Maddi’s dresser and grabbed the small box there. “Now, the earrings.”

The sapphire and diamonds wrapped in silver slipped easily into her lobes. They sparkled along her jaw line, drawing in the lamplight. She looked at herself in the cloudy mirror Tanya held and could not hold back a smile. “The neckline on this dress is low. It needs a necklace.” She sighed. “To think of the jewels I left in Dern…”

Giggling all the way, Tanya ran into her room. Ami smiled knowingly and lifted an eyebrow when Maddi looked to her. The little girl charged back out, another small box in her hand. “Merry Midwinter!”

Shock dropped Maddi’s jaw, turning it into a smile when she untied the package. It opened to reveal a white opal shot with pale blue, suspended on a thin silver chain. She lifted it around her neck, and Ami helped to fasten it.

Maddi shook her head. “How did you—”

Ami shifted Maddi’s hair back in place. “We took up a collection among your friends.”

Maddi frowned and turned her head. “Who?”

“I believe Doctor Darilla gave five marks, as did Doctor Gramm.” Ami clucked her tongue. “Many of the students look up to you more than any teacher. They’ve learned more being a part of your mission than any class in the history of the College. Some are even talking about going back to their home cities to do the same thing there.”

When Maddi shook her head, the earrings glittered in the mirror. “By the Talismans, I hope they aren’t calling me Lifegiver.”

A soft knock rapped at the door. Ami slipped over to open it, Tanya close on her heels.

A man in gray livery stood upon the porch, bowing formally. He gestured toward the street. “The Lady Doctor’s carriage awaits her.”

Taking one last look in the mirror, Maddi sighed.
I have to do this if I want to build the hospital.

Tanya tackled her with a hug. “Have fun! I wish I could go.”

Maddi tousled Tanya’s red hair. “Maybe next year.” She looked at Ami, who dipped her chin. Steadying herself with a deep breath, Maddi glided out the door, resolute.

The footman bowed, gesturing toward a closed carriage with heavy curtains. A beautiful pair of matching black horses stood in its traces. One man sat on the driver’s bench, while a second footman held the door open, his head inclined politely. Inside the carriage a bit of incense burned in a charcoal brazier to warm the coach against the evening chill. Thick black velvet upholstered the benches, and Maddi sank into the rear seat.

A startled jolt ripped through her at a pop from outside. The footman held an open bottle of sparkling white wine. “It is Urbanan, madam, if you would care for a glass during your ride to the palace.”

Maddi nodded, and the man poured. The amber liquid bubbled to the rim of the flute, and it tickled her nose when she sipped. At her smile, the footman placed the bottle into a silver bucket of ice, set it inside the carriage, and then closed the door. Maddi sipped again from the sweet, fruity wine. A whip snapped and the carriage jerked forward, clattering over the cobblestones.

Peeking through the drawn curtains, she watched the streets of Daynon roll by while she sipped her wine. The incense carried the aroma of pine, bringing back memories of Midwinter festivals during her childhood. Images of her long dead father floated through her mind, followed closely by those of Renna. Buried emotions percolated to the surface of her soul, threatening to break into tears like the bubbles popping at the top of her wine. She fought them back with a deep breath, staring through her cloudy haze at the streets but seeing nothing.

When the carriage came to a halt, she realized that she had managed to stave off her tears, but only at the cost of neglecting her wine. She downed the remainder in a single gulp. The footman opened the door, and she stepped out onto the palace grounds.

The evening had arrived, the setting sun allowing only a faint blue cast to the sky. Multihued beams of magical light danced among the towers of the Ivory Palace. More played across the silver dome of the High Hall, creating the semblance of a dragon in flight. Every few seconds, a scatter of colored flares popped in the sky then tinkled to the ground in sparks of gold and silver. Maddi stood in awe, watching the display.

After refilling her glass, the second footman gestured toward the steel doors. “Madam, the Lord Doctor awaits you at the gates to the High Hall.”

She strolled along the paths of the palace, sipping her newly refilled wine and watching the guests gather, while the footman followed at a respectful distance. The noblemen among the guests wore long, colorful tunics and coats, with puffy, feathered hats. Mages, clerics, and scribes dressed in flowing robes of wool and satin.

When Maddi looked at the women, however, she barely avoided a snicker. Not only did many wear elaborate dresses with tall, frilled collars, but their hairstyles grew more elaborate the closer Maddi came to the High Hall. Some styles climbed into the sky, pinecones and mistletoe nestling within. Others had woven evergreen branches into elaborate curls.
How will those fools ever get the sap out of their hair tomorrow?

Others carried themselves with more dignity. Some women wore elegant gowns not much more elaborate than Maddi’s. Their hair hung in simple curls, or lifted in diamond set caps of fine silver.

From one side of the grounds, a dozen dark cloaked figures passed through the crowd. As they came closer, Maddi noticed their masks each carried a different face. A scowling figure stomped around, lightly shoving the shoulders of good-humored guests, while another followed him with a smiling face passing out hugs. A shocked face danced around the crowd, cowering before people, and a blank mask walked steadily with arms folded.

Maddi finished her wine, dazzled by the spectacle around her. A servant appeared from nowhere, a silver platter carrying more bubbling flutes. She exchanged the empty glass for a new one.

They reached the steps of the High Hall, and she noticed two plays unfolding at each end of the stone terrace. One took place in front of a dark backdrop, the other white. The costumes somber at one end, more serene at the other.

She looked at the footman, pointing. “What is that?”

“They are the matching plays of Balance, Milady,” he replied, “put on by the Temple every year. One follows the path of Order, one Chaos. Both have the same characters and ending, yet entirely different plot. It is meant to be a lesson, and many people compare notes at the ball within.”

Maddi let the man lead her up the stairs. Before she could pay much attention to the dark play near her, shiny boots tapped against the stone. The Lord Doctor Tymin Marten emerged from the crowd. A dark satin cloak wrapped around a silver jacket and vest. Fine silk embroidery slipped out from his sleeves and collar. His chain of office dangled from his neck.

“Lady Maddi, it is so wonderful to see you here.” He paused, a look of stunned surprise passing over his features. “You are more beautiful tonight than I could ever have imagined.”

Wrinkling an eyebrow, Maddi folded her arms. “Spend much time imagining how beautiful I am, do you?”

The Lord Doctor grimaced. “No more than appropriate, I assure you.” He waved the footman away and offered his arm to Maddi. “Come. There are many here tonight who wish to meet you.”

Maddi took his arm, her eyes scanning the crowd. Most wore the jeweled sigils of noble houses, while others appeared to be wealthy commoners. Servants in blue and silver livery blazoned with the rampant dragon of Gannon bowed at their passing. Many held more trays of the sweet, white vintage, or a platter filled with a variety of canapés.

“The king has spared no expense on the ball this year.” Marten took a proffered glass from a nearby servant, his silver rings clinking against the goblet. “This is real Urbanan white, from across the sea in Uria, not like the Avarosan copy Duke Ferric has his people make.” Closing his eyes, he sipped the wine. A faint smile remained on his face when he lowered the glass. “The Avarosan stuff is good, but nothing like the real thing.”

Rolling her eyes, Maddi downed the rest of her flute and handed it to Marten. “Get a lady another, would you?”

Marten laughed and took her empty glass. “Careful, my dear. The king has asked to meet you this evening, though he usually does not arrive for some time after the ball begins.”

Maddi scoffed, despite the slight warming in her temples. “It takes a lot more than that to get a Free City girl drunk. I’ve seen the inside of more than a few taverns that you likely wouldn’t set foot in.”

Marten smiled and gestured to another servant bearing a tray.

The Lord Doctor led her to the entrance, past many of the nobles lined up, trying their best to look like they were not waiting. The guards there, the only armed men in the crowd, waved the doctor through.

Marten leaned in next to Maddi’s ear. “Being a member of the High Council has its privileges.”

Within, the crowd thinned and spread out through the vast domed space. The great room, lit by magical glowglobes bouncing colored lights from the ceiling, captured Maddi’s first gaze. She looked about, her breath taken away by the wide array of sights. Dozens of exotic and mouth-watering scents mixed in her nose, while a cacophony of sound bounced from the high stone.

To Maddi’s immediate left, stacked hay bales climbed into the air, with wagon wheels and aged farm implements scattered about them. Thin, reedy music rose from a fiddle, and the scent of roasted red meat floated toward them. She took a few steps toward it.

“The Western Realm is so overdone. We should go this way first.” Marten led Maddi to the right, passing palm trees set into large wooden barrels and hung with paper lanterns. Servants in the white desert robes of Hadon passed out fiery peppers and meats on skewers. One offered her a flatbread smeared with a fragrant paste. Maddi chewed at the soft, warm bread, and the flavor of dates and cinnamon coated her tongue. A low drum and flute hovered among the palms. She felt the beat deep inside, unable to avoid a matching, rhythmic sway in her steps. Thoughts of spinning about in the Lord Doctor’s firm grip danced into her mind.

Marten spread his hands wide. “Every part of the known world is represented here tonight. A dozen lands expressed in their food, drink, culture and music.” He stretched his neck to look about the hall. “I am certain even the Free Cities rank a booth here.”

Maddi left her vision of intricate dances, refocusing on the doctor’s face. “The Free Cities are older than anything you Gannonites call civilization. Dern was founded in the Elder Days!”

Suppressing a smile, the doctor lowered his head in acquiescence. “I meant no disrespect, my dear. The Free Cities are indeed ancient and worthy of esteem.”

Maddi sniffed. “I doubt we’ll want to eat the food there, though.”

The Lord Doctor chuckled. “This way. There are people you must meet.”

Along the eastern side of the High Hall there clustered a few stone structures resembling castles. Maddi noticed when she approached that they were painted facades. A dozen different dishes were being served and devoured here, from light seafood in olive oil to heavy pastries filled with beef and cheese. Her mouth began to water.