Page 11 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)
Brenna
M orning broke slowly and then all at once as the sun crested the hillside.
Brenna let her sister sleep, opting to move to the window seat to soak in the sunrise, a book of zoology laid open on her lap.
The manor house was perched on a high point with the ground dropping away, providing a spectacular view.
She lost herself in watching golden sunlight gild the swaying treetops, creeping toward the glittering lake in the center of the valley.
She idly turned pages and perused illustrations of creatures she had never seen before as the room brightened, until a soft creak from the sitting room caught her attention.
Her bare feet moved silently across the thick rug as she crept to the door. Kirrily laid swathes of fabric over the armchairs. Brenna closed the door behind her so Meara could sleep, and greeted Kirrily with a smile.
“Good morning, my lady.” Kirrily dipped into an elegant but brief curtsy. Her limbs stayed close, her movement precise and restrained. It was beautiful, but different than what Brenna knew, and she found herself attempting to capture the memory so she could adjust her own curtsy to match.
“Hello, Kirrily. Are those dresses?” She couldn’t help the excited rise to her voice. The beauty and novelty of this world kept the doubt and sorrow pushed to the back of her mind. No time to be sad when one had beautiful dresses to try on.
Kirrily’s polite smile widened into a true grin as she held up a gown. Silk the color of green pears flowed from the hanger. The neckline sparkled with beading a shade darker. “Would you like to wear this to breakfast?”
“Is it common to wear ball gowns to breakfast?” Her fingers ran over the dress as she drew closer, unable to help herself.
Kirrily crinkled her nose, her smile becoming lopsided. “This isn’t a formal dress. It’s too loose for that. I promise it’s acceptable for breakfast with the Autumn Lord, but I can bring other attire if you prefer.”
“Oh, I don’t want to cause any additional work for you. It’s only that I am accustomed to simpler clothing. Fae fashions are strange to me, but this dress is stunning and I would love to wear it.”
“I will pick up additional undergarments from the seamstress today, but you’ll need to get measured if she’s to make you dresses. These were borrowed from Lady Seda and Lady Xurey,” Kirrily explained, laying the dress down reverently.
“Who?” Brenna asked before she could think better.
“You’ve met Lady Xurey, and this green dress is hers,” the dryad answered. Brenna nodded along. “And Lady Seda is the Master of the Autumn Guard.”
“A female is the head of the guard?” The questions continued to spill out of her. She pressed her fingers over her cheeks, a flush crawling up her neck.
“Yes. She comes from a family line that has always served Lord Cerne’s family.” Kirrily drew herself up, her verdant eyes analyzing Brenna’s appearance. “May I style your hair for you?”
“I would appreciate that.”
She settled in a dining chair as Kirrily located a comb and hair pins. Humming to herself, she untangled Brenna’s wild waves, murmuring about how beautiful their rich amber color was.
A tight type of joy twined in Brenna’s heart. Only her mother and Meara had styled her hair for her, and Kirrily’s efficient motions felt like a luxury.
“Morning,” Meara muttered, pushing the bedroom door open. Her cool gray eyes surveyed the room. “Good morning, Kirrily.”
“Good morning, Lady Meara. I brought you some dresses to wear, and I’d be happy to style your hair for breakfast.” The servant delicately threaded another pin into Brenna’s hair and stepped back, declaring it complete.
Brenna ran her fingers lightly over it, trying to discern the style. Most of her hair was left loose and down her back, but the hair from her temples back to the crown of her head was gathered up into a loose braid that was pinned into a spiral. “Thank you!”
As Kirrily brushed out Meara’s hair, Brenna slipped into the borrowed dress. Xurey was taller than she was, and lacked Brenna’s soft curves, but the flowing style suited both builds.
Brenna turned to admire herself in the full length mirror on the far wall.
The verdant shade brought out the gold in her hair and skin.
She wondered if she looked anything like the fae parents who left them.
It was possible they were residents of the Autumn Court, or perhaps they had passed away or suffered some other tragedy that led to abandoning their children.
“So who will be at this breakfast?” she asked.
Kirrily pursed her lips as she brushed Meara’s hair smooth. “Lord Cerne, Ladies Seda and Xurey, and I believe Lord Tayen has returned. And his sister Lady Ayala as well.”
“Is there anything we should know to do or say, or not say?” Brenna asked.
“Oh no, my lady. It is a gathering of friends, not a formal court dinner. You will do fine.”
Kirrily presented Meara with a dress of plum lace over matching silk. Brenna peered closely, admiring the lace’s pattern of leaping foxes and crescent moons. Lace was uncommon in their village, but she was fairly sure it was typically a floral pattern, not vines, animals, and celestial designs.
It fit Meara well enough, and once Kirrily was satisfied with her hair and they had rejected her offer to apply cosmetics, it was time for breakfast.
The sisters stood hand in hand. Meara hesitated, and Brenna paused, pushing up onto her tiptoes to speak into her sister’s ear. “Are you well?”
Meara shook her head and the tremor moved down her sheet of silken hair. “We aren’t prepared for a semi-formal breakfast with a faerie lord. ”
“Oh, so it’s the faerie lord that is bothering you?” Brenna inferred. A smirk warmed her face, but Meara did not return it. “Are you worried about seeing him or speaking with him?”
“No, it’s fine.” She shrugged off Brenna’s teasing.
Brenna wanted to see and taste everything, drown in the colors and feel of it, and she hoped her sister would overcome her doubts and join her in this experience.