“All right.” Naill rose with the needle jutting out from the corner of his mouth. If I even attempted to do that, I would likely end up choking on said needle. “Have a look,” he said, walking past me to the walk-in closet. He opened the door, revealing a full-length mirror hanging from the back that I hadn’t noticed in my explorations.
My eyes widened as I stepped in front of it. The tunic was the same color as the one Casteel wore and made of some sort of soft material that was fitted to the chest. The quarter-length sleeves tapered gently while the tunics Naill brought for Casteel were either sleeveless or fitted to the forearms. The seam parted the tunic into halves just below the navel, revealing the black leggings I wore. The style was similar to the knee-length ones Casteel had been given and was unbelievably flattering on my shape. More importantly, it allowed for quick access to a dagger.
The pattern of vines in gold thread that caught the light was absolutely stunning. The brocaded vines climbed upward in a symmetrical design along either side of the central panel beginning near the hem. The golden swirls converged at the chest and then swept outward toward the shoulders like creeping ivy, continuing along the stiff collar and the tops of the arms. The vines covered the forearms of Casteel’s tunic. It was the same design I’d seen on Kieran’s and in the flesh of the Ancients…and Casteel.
“I figured you wouldn’t want a gown,” Naill was saying, having pulled the needle from his mouth and done only the gods knew what with it. “So, I thought something formal yet relaxed would work. But there are other tunics—”
“No, this is great. It’s like a combination of a gown and a shirt,” I told him with a smile. The length fluttered around my ankles as I twisted to the side. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“No problem.” He scratched the back of his neck and ducked his chin. “I’m glad you like it.”
Moving closer to the mirror, I ran my fingers over the embroidery. “This design. What made you choose it?”
“Oh, man.” Naill dropped his arm. “It’s something I saw beneath the garrison in the old tombs at Aegea.”
My brows rose.
“Yeah, I know. That’s morbid as fuck, but…I don’t know.” He lifted a shoulder. “The pattern carved into the tombs always stuck with me.”
That was a little morbid. “Were they tombs like the crypts in the Skotos?”
“No,” Casteel answered. “Those were for the Forgotten Ones.”
In other words, they were for the gods who’d fought against the Elemental Atlantians. Gods that had been chained deep inthe Skotos and left to die slow deaths of starvation. I shivered at the reminder of my brief time in those crypts.
“These were gods who fought alongside the Atlantians. It’s also rumored to be Lailah and Theon’s resting place—either separately or together,” Casteel continued, taking a drink from his glass tumbler. “But honestly? Who knows if that is true? It’s also said they were asleep beneath the Pillars of Atlantia.”
“We could always ask Na’Lier,” Naill said as he gathered up his spools of thread. “I heard he’s en route.”
“Na’Lier?” I asked.
“Dominik,” Casteel said, and it took me a moment to remember Jasper briefly mentioning one of the eldest Elementals still alive. “He usually guards the palace. Why is he coming here?”
“I imagine to get an update.” Naill stacked the spools in his satchel. “Other than word being sent back to Evaemon that Carsodonia was secured, and the Blood Crown des—” He paused. “Dealtwith. There haven’t been any further updates.”
“Destroyed is fine,” I assured him, figuring he’d censored himself because of who Isbeth was.
“I’m guessing my mother is tired of waiting for a more detailed report,” Casteel remarked. I thought of the last time I’d spoken to Eloana.
Hopefully, she didn’t hold my anger against me. She shouldn’t. Her and Valyn’s lies had helped to protect Isbeth and endangered their sons.
“Although,” Casteel continued, his finger tapping the side of his glass, “any of the lesser-ranked officers could’ve come.”
“Agreed.” Naill straightened and draped the strap of his satchel over his shoulder.
“Thank you again for doing all of this,” I said, waving my hands around as Casteel watched me through half-lidded eyes. “I really do appreciate it.”
“It was my honor,” he said, bowing his head.
As Casteel saw him out, I headed into the closet and took off the tunic. I had no idea what Malik wanted to show us this morning and didn’t want to risk ruining all of Naill’s hard work. I donned a black blouse and a soft, sapphire-blue vest that Naill had brought with him as I felt Kieran drawing near.
Finishing the clasps on the vest, I walked out of the bedchamber just as Casteel was coming through the Solar. “Kieran has just informed me that no additionalgrulshave been discovered,” he announced. Kieran was behind him, his hands making tearing motions.
“That’s a relief.” My steps slowed. “Do you have a biscuit in your hand?”
“I do.” He ate a torn section. “I didn’t get a chance to eat yet.”
I looked at Casteel, and my chest tightened. When Kieran hadn’t joined us for our meal again, I’d asked where he was. Casteel had claimed he’d already eaten, just as he’d made an excuse yesterday. “Is that so?”
