Page 15 of Elemental Hall: Nautica (Elemental Hall #1)

“I can’t believe the Hall is really letting us cut out for two days just to visit your family,” I say, standing with Orion near the prow of the ship that is carrying us to his family home. And it is a ship, a huge vessel powered by a mixture of triangular sails and banks of oars.

Orion shrugs. “They care about the challenges. It isn’t some school for wayward children who must be kept in line. So long as we’re there for their tests, so long as we’ve done the work we need to do to pass them, they don’t care.”

He makes it sound so easy, but I suspect that it’s only easy because he’s both wealthy and powerful, and because Nautica is on land that his family owns. If I wanted to go off alone, I don’t think it would be so easy.

“There’s a gift for you back in the cabin,” Orion says.

“A gift?” That catches me by surprise.

“I’m pretty sure it’s the kind of thing a boyfriend is meant to do at a time like this,” Orion says. “Besides, in this case, it’s practical.”

That catches my attention. We head back to the cabin where I find, laid out neatly on the bed, the kind of dress that I have never even dreamed of wearing.

It is the shifting blue of the sea, edged with lace, with pearls sewn into it.

There are jeweled slippers and small bangles made from what appears to be coral.

It’s the kind of thing that probably cost a small fortune to have made, but Orion has that fortune, so it’s probably nothing to him to do this.

“It’s… beautiful,” I say, although then I realize why he’s giving it to me. “All this, because your parents wouldn’t want me at their estates in what I usually wear?”

“They won’t want to see either of us like that,” Orion replies. “Swimwear is fine on Nautica, but maybe not for a formal supper. I’ll have to change too.”

The difference is that he’ll be changing into the kinds of things he normally wears at home, while I’ll be dressing to play a part, because going there dressed as a commoner would be too much of a shock for his parents.

I almost say no… but it is a beautiful dress, and it’s obvious that Orion has put a lot of thought into it.

He turns his back while I change into it, and when he turns to me, the light of surprise fills his eyes.

“You’re… more beautiful than I could have imagined.”

He starts to take a step toward me, but then stops.

It seems I’m not the only one with complicated feelings about our kiss under the moonlight.

Not that we’ve discussed it. Not that we’re going to discuss it.

Our fake relationship feels like a soap bubble floating on the waves; poke it too hard, and there’s a risk that it will simply burst.

“I should get changed too,” Orion says, instead.

“I’ll wait for you out on the deck.”

I can’t be in there while Orion is getting dressed. The temptation would be far too great. Instead, I stride back onto the deck, watching the waves ahead of us. It means that I’m in the perfect spot to see Orion’s home as it comes into view.

I knew it would be some vast expression of wealth. I’m not expecting a castle.

That’s what it is, though, shaped granite and marble rising from the side of a cliff as if it had been grown from it.

Maybe it had, if Orion’s family had the wealth to employ elementalists with control over stone when it was built.

Towers jut into the air, commanding views over every approach.

Layer after layer of the building seems to be cut into the cliffside, clinging there like a barnacle.

“It’s impressive, isn’t it?” Orion says, stepping up beside me. I start. I was so caught up in the sight of his home that I didn’t hear him approach.

He now looks every inch the noble he is, dressed in cream hose and shirt with a tunic of pale blue, worked with silver thread and pearls. Rings that he never wears at the Elemental Hall adorn his fingers. He seems almost like a different person.

The castle only gets more impressive as we draw closer, the true scale of it made clear.

It is vast enough that it could hold an army, and maybe that is the point: a spot from which to hold off any threat approaching Lumina’s coast by sea.

There is a small harbor beneath it, and our ship pulls into it, tying up at a jetty and then lowering a plank to allow us ashore.

A servant, an older man dressed in the same blue and white as Orion, meets us as we step onto the jetty.

“Orion, welcome home, and welcome to your guest as well. Your parents bid you to meet them in the ballroom. They would greet you here, but they are in the middle of an engagement.”

“What kind of engagement, Chorsley?” Orion asks.

The servant raises an eyebrow, but otherwise manages to keep surprise off his face. “Didn’t you know, sir? Your parents are entertaining Queen Niann.”

I want to turn around and get right back on the boat. I want to run back to Nautica and forget about all of this.

Orion’s hand touches my arm. Gently—he doesn’t grab me. Maybe I would prefer it if he did, because at least that would give me something to fight back against.

“Sera, it will be okay,” he says.

“Okay? I agreed to come see your family, not meet the queen.”

The queen of Lumina, nominal ruler of half the world. Lumina is a federation of many kingdoms. I’m not even quite sure which one Nautica resides in. It doesn’t really matter. Queen Niann still rules over all of them and royalty is still many, many steps outside my comfort zone.

“I didn’t expect this either,” Orion says, “but it might make things easier. My parents will be distracted by entertaining. They won’t focus on us so much. Please, Sera.”

If he weren’t pleading, I wouldn’t do this, even with our agreement.

As it is, I nod once, tersely, then allow him to lead me up the path away from the jetty.

There are stone steps beyond it, leading up to the castle, lined with arrow slits and occasionally defended by iron gates.

It seems that Orion’s family takes defense from the sea seriously.

Finally, we pass through a large, iron-bound door into the main castle.

Compared to the craggy exterior, it is both delicate and beautiful, every surface decorated with frescos or mosaics, tapestries depicting the creatures of the five core elements hanging from the walls.

I can hear the sound of music a little way away, the lute, drums, and fiddle blending into a lively tune.

Orion takes my hand, leading me toward it.

A couple of servants step back to allow us entry. One looks as though he might announce our presence, but Orion stops him with a shake of his head. I’m grateful for that. The last thing I want is the full attention of a roomful of people on me.

And the room is full. There are people dancing there, whirling in complex patterns, the steps to which I do not know, all of them dressed in finery that might feed my village for a year if they sold it.

I see Orion’s parents at the front, in the company of a woman in her forties, a golden crown sitting in her deep auburn hair.

That must be Queen Niann. There is a younger woman with her, my age, with the same auburn hair and slender, willowy good looks.

I instantly know that this must be her daughter.

We can’t just slip into the crowd of dancing figures, it seems. Instead, Orion leads me straight to his parents, who both smile as soon as they see us.

“Orion!” his mother says, sweeping him into a hug. “And you brought Seraphina. I wasn’t sure you would. You look lovely, my dear.”

“I said that I would, Mother,” Orion points out.

“Ah, but who can tell if young love will last?” his mother says. “You remember Queen Niann and her daughter, Tia, of course?”

She introduces them like long-lost friends rather than royalty. Orion sweeps into a formal bow, though, and I do my best to attempt a curtsey. I’m sure I don’t do it correctly, but it doesn’t seem to make any difference.

“Oh, let’s not stand on ceremony,” Queen Niann says. “We are all friends here. We have missed you at court, Orion. Tia especially.”

The young woman nods, looking at Orion with wide eyes, as if drinking him in for the first time in a long time.

“I have been busy with my studies, Your Majesty,” Orion says.

“Lumina’s kingdoms always need more elementalists,” Queen Niann replies. “Although we were surprised when you chose to follow that path.”

“Might I introduce Seraphina?” Orion says, gesturing to me. “She studies alongside me at the Elemental Hall. There is no one better there when it comes to working water.”

“And you have brought her as your guest today,” Tia observes. She looks me over. I don’t see hatred there, but she does look disappointed. She was clearly hoping that Orion would be alone. “So now I shall have no one to dance with.”

Orion offers her an apologetic smile. “I hardly believe that, Princess. There is no one in this room who would not want to dance with you.”

“Except you.”

“Alas, I have already promised the first dance to Seraphina,” Orion says. He looks to the queen. “By your leave, Your Majesty?”

“Of course, of course. Enjoy yourself.”

Orion leads me away onto the dance floor, pulling me close to him.

“You know that I don’t know any formal dances, right?” I whisper to him.

“It’s easy. Just follow my lead.”

I do my best to follow along with the steps, determined not to embarrass myself in front of a room full of nobles. I must admit, it’s a lot easier than trying to keep up with the movements of combat training. I go with the flow of the dance, keeping my eyes on Orion.

“So,” I whisper, “what was all that about?”

“My guess is that this is my parents’ way of reminding me of the life I could be living as a noble,” Orion whispers back. “Inviting Tia… well, that’s a low blow.”

“She’s the one they might arrange a marriage to?” I ask.

Orion nods. “One of the options.”

“So you could become royalty, but you’d still rather be an elementalist?” I’m surprised by that. Who would give up a life of luxury for one of harsh, dangerous training?

“It’s something I can achieve through my own talents, not because it has been given to me,” Orion says. “Besides, I don’t want to spend my life caught up in courtly intrigues.”

That’s a sentiment I can definitely agree with, since we seem to be caught up in one now. All I can do is keep dancing with Orion, keep moving, and wait for the party to end.

Not that it ends quickly. It seems that the nobles have the stamina for a lot of dancing. I stick close to Orion for all of it, grateful that he’s the one who can handle the small talk in between dances.

Abruptly, though, the music stops. I look around, not understanding. Is this something that normally happens in noble balls? Judging by the surprise on the faces of those nearest to me, apparently not.

Queen Niann steps forward. There is a servant near her, dressed in the livery of a messenger.

“My lords and ladies, forgive the interruption, but we must cut the festivities short. I must speak with the members of my royal council. Everyone else, we must prepare to leave immediately.”

I look over to Orion, who shrugs and then leads me over to where his mother and father stand.

“What’s happening?” he asks.

“Orion,” his father says, “it may be best if you and Seraphina head back to Nautica.”

“Why?” he asks. “What’s wrong?”

“There has been news. Several Umbran ships have succeeded in piercing the veil of storms.”