Quickly.Her eyes zeroed in on the colors she needed—every Lightlark realm’s hues other than Starling, which Celeste would take care of.
White. She grabbed a simple long-sleeved and high-necked Moon-ling dress.
Light blue. She took a dress with pants that were supposed to be worn underneath, a fashion she had seen a few Skylings in the market wearing.
Gold.
There was no gold. Come to think of it, she didn’t remember seeing the color in the store during her appointment.
Did Sunlings not use the same tailor as the rest of the realms?
Why not?
A voice at the window sent her to the floor. Two friends were leaning against the store, laughing merrily, clinking glasses together. She crawled to the wall and put her back against it, determined not to make a sound.
Half an hour passed before the men moved along, and Isla was gone moments later, careful to close the door on her way out, hoping the tailor would assume he left it unlocked by mistake.
With an armful of silk, she returned to the castle, one step closer to the bondbreaker.
CHAPTER SEVEN
DUEL
On the fifth day of the Centennial, the invitation to the first demonstration arrived. The paper was charred, black, burned. Only a few words were visible, carved into the page with a knife.
Be ready to duel.
Isla couldn’t help but smile. Grimhadhelped her.
But why?
The time of the event was scrawled at the bottom—in one hour. Instead of having to scramble for a weapon, Isla had already purchased the ideal sword. One that was light enough for her to wield almost weightlessly, but sharp and firm enough to strike true. It had taken hours to choose the right one in the Starling weapons shop. The realm’s metalwork really was unparalleled ... though she longed for the familiar feel of one of her own blades from home.
The tailor’s wardrobe had arrived the day before. The man worked at a remarkable speed. His commitment to his craft only made Isla feel worse about stealing from him.
By finding the bondbreaker, I’m saving him and his realm,Isla convinced herself to counteract the guilt.
One gown was the dark blue of sapphires, with crystal-shaped shards cut out of its sides. One was the purple of fresh lavender with an eye-rollingly low-cut bodice and skintight pants, finished with a glittering cape that tied around her waist, creating the illusion of a skirt. One, thegreen of emeralds, was tight and light and sheer enough to make her blush. Another, she discovered, had pockets.
For this demonstration, she wore the armor. Ella helped tie the many pieces together, grunting as she lifted the metal.
To Isla, it was a second skin. Terra had made sure of that.
How many times had she been left abandoned in the middle of the woods, or in the center of a rain forest storm, with fifty pounds of chain mail and armor on her? Getting back took more than a day. Without water, without food, with the howls of wolves and patter of panthers at her heels.
The last half mile was always done on her stomach as she dragged herself back to her room, nails digging into roots and dirt for purchase.
In comparison, the smartly made Starling fabric and thin sheets of iron were nearly weightless. They had been fashioned into parts that accentuated her figure while also protecting it—metal shoulder pads, chain mail sleeves and tights, metal-plated boots that ran up to the top of her thigh, a sculpted breastplate.
“Done,” Ella said, slumping over after the last of Isla’s outfit was assembled.
“Thank you,” Isla said before taking a bite of the vegetable skewer and grains Ella had brought her for lunch. In exchange for the healing elixir, the Starling girl brought Isla regular meals, believing them to be indulgences, in addition to the hearts she planned to secretly throw off her balcony. “Foreverything.”
Ella bowed her head and gently tapped at her leg. She walked almost evenly now, and her brow wasn’t set in its constant tension at the pain. “Thankyou,”she said.
The duel took place at an arena in the farthest reach of the castle, one that used to be open but had been covered with a dome after the curses. It made the crowd’s cheers echo and braid together, forming a single taunting voice from a thousand mouths. Rulers controlled manyvariables about their trials—what it would test, where it would take place, if there would be any advance notice, and who was allowed to witness it. Grim had invited all islanders. They sat separated by realm, filling every seat, rows lined by dozens of lit torches. Starling in their glittering silver. Skyling in their bright blue. Moonling in their immaculate white. Sunling in their polished gold.
Demonstrations were a spectacle. She knew that. Meant to test different skills. Meant to manipulate favor. Meant to decide who deserved to die.
