Serena glared at herself angrily in the mirror. She couldn’t understand where this fatigue had co from. It wasn’t like she had much trouble falling asleep, rather, it was staying asleep that was the problem. She had been in the Keep so long that she felt her limbs had turned into Redwood sap.
She clicked her tongue irritably and turned, only to bump straight into a figure.
"Oh, sorry-" she began, the apology already on her lips.
Then she froze.
Elen stood before her, red-rimd eyes wide and startled. Her dark brown hair was slightly mussed, and the slight tremble in her jaw betrayed that she’d been crying recently. Serena’s eyes widened. This was not the sa woman who had twirled her through a reel and laughed deep into the night.
"What is the matter?" Serena asked, her voice instantly low and careful.
Elen looked around, then shook her head quickly. "Nothing," she muttered, too quickly.
Serena reached out and took her by the wrist. "Do not lie to ."
She gently led Elen down the side corridor, away from the open arch and into a narrow antechamber lined with old coats and unused chairs. It was cool and the curtains were still down. No one would overhear them here.
Elen stood rigid at first, like a deer cornered. Then her shoulders sagged.
"I can not..." she whispered, hugging her arms to herself. "They said I brought sha. That I was...too friendly."
Serena furrowed her brow. "Who said this?"
Elen hesitated. "I was not told directly. But it was clear. I was summoned and I was corrected."
Her voice shook. Serena took a slow step forward, her fingers brushing the fabric of Elen’s sleeve.
"Did they harm you?" she asked gently.
Elen’s mouth opened and closed again. "No," she said finally. But her hands kept twitching. The woman kept flinching constantly like she expected soone to reach for her again.
"I danced, that’s all I did. I laughed. And I forgot for a little while that everything is watched. But I should hae rembered." Her voice cracked. "They watch more than the others."
Serena’s heart twisted. She didn’t know what Elen’s role within Dawnbreak was, not exactly. But she could guess now that her freedom ca with a leash.
"They were wrong to treat you like that," Serena said, firm but soft. "If this alliance is going to an anything, we cannot be expected to act like wolves in cages."
Elen gave a weak smile, then looked away. "Please do not say that too loudly. Riven might scowl harder than usual."
That earned a brief laugh from Serena. "I have already seen his worst," she lied, she knew nothing about that man at all.
She hesitated, then gently reached out and placed her hand over Elen’s.
"I know what it is like," she said quietly. "To feel out of place. To be watched, and judged, and blad for things that are not your fault."
Elen didn’t speak, but her shoulders seed to ease. They stayed like that for a mont, a breath of stillness in the middle of all the preparation, the waiting, the roles they had to play.
Then footsteps echoed from the hall.
Serena drew back, straightened her bodice, and nodded once. "I have to go," she said. "We are about to begin."
Elen gave her a faint nod. "Thank you."
Serena slipped out of the chamber just as Darius turned the corner. His eyes t hers briefly, unreadable as ever. He gave her the faintest of nods and gestured ahead.
"It is ti."
She fell into step beside him. Neither of them said anything as they walked up the stone staircase leading to the central eting hall. Her nerves burned just under her skin, but she held her expression steady.
The chamber had been arranged carefully. A long table sat in the middle, flanked by chairs of equal number. The stone walls were draped with the banners of Ironshade and Dawnbreak alike, each stitched in muted colour, red and grey on one end, blue and silver on the other.
Darius entered first, with Serena just behind him. The rest of the Ironshade council were already filtering in. Ryker stood near the hearth, speaking quietly to Elder Iris, who clutched a thin sheaf of papers. Silas leaned against the wall, arms folded, expression unreadable. Julian was hunched at the edge of the table, absently mumbling to himself and scratching sothing in one of his many ledgers. Cedar was in conversation with Elder Evelyn, both of them seated with mugs in hand.
Serena took her seat beside Livia, who said nothing, but gave her a slight nod of acknowledgnt. On the opposite side of the table, the Dawnbreak delegation arrived.
Eight of them in total. Serena recognized only two, Riven, ever sharp-eyed and watchful, and Elen, whose face was now composed and unreadable once again. The rest were varying in age and build, so with long braids and fur-lined cloaks, others in sleeker travel wear. A tall, pale man with a red sash took the seat beside Riven. She guessed he was either a tactician or a noble of so standing.
Once all were seated, Ryker stood. He was not the tallest man in the room, but his presence was firm and commanding.
"Well," he began, clapping his hands together once. "Welco to Blackthorn, Dawnbreak. We’re glad to have you."
His voice was calm, almost casual. Serena noted the deliberate warmth in his tone, it was part of the performance, to ease tensions.
"These past few days have given us all a taste of shared food, shared fire, and perhaps shared headaches." That earned a chuckle from a few of the Ironshade wolves.
"But today," Ryker continued, "we talk of what cos next. Officially."
Riven gave a small nod. "We are prepared."
Ryker gestured to the rest of the council. "All of Ironshade’s voices are here. So louder than others." Another round of soft laughter.
Serena looked across the table. She felt like a wire stretched too tight. But she held her head high.
They had danced and sung just days before. Now ca the harder part, figuring out if the peace would hold.
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