A Captive of Wing and Feather A Retelling of Swan Lake - Melanie Cellier Page 0,81

hitched a ride on a hay-filled wagon beside merry townsfolk who didn’t seem to recognize me, just as Audrey had predicted. But I forgot my troubled thoughts for a moment when we arrived at our destination.

The courtyard had been transformed since the last time I saw it, turned into a vast ballroom, open to the sky. Spring flowers twined everywhere, and a small orchestra played on a raised stage. Long tables laden with food—Ash’s cakes displayed proudly—stood to one side, surrounded by a crowd.

Many of the inhabitants of Brylee had been less strict than Cora, and children darted everywhere while couples danced in the center of the space, dresses twirling as masked faces flew past me. It combined the best of both a ball and a village dance, and my feet twitched, wanting to dance to the lively music.

The group around me dispersed, and I moved deeper into the throng, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I immediately began to look around for Audrey’s green mask, but with so many people—most of them moving—it was hard to see far. Eventually I gave up, heading straight for the Keep’s doors instead as she had instructed. Thank goodness for her foresight in setting a meeting place.

I passed the food table on the way and stopped briefly for a slice of cake. Out of loyalty to Ash, naturally. Or that was the excuse I was preparing for Audrey if she saw me with it. But when I reached the door, she wasn’t there.

I waited for some time, watching the dancers swing past and listening to the music mixed with the laughter of the children. But I recognized a flash of hair—less distinctive than Audrey’s flaming locks, but still recognizable to me as Wren. I dove into the crowd, chasing after her, in case she knew what had become of Audrey.

When I caught up with her, however, I hesitated. She had already abandoned her mask, which now dangled over one wrist, and she was wrapped in someone’s arms as he guided her through the dance. They spun in my direction, and I recognized Ash.

I was just debating interrupting them, when he leaned in to whisper something in her ear. She blushed, the color faintly visible from the many lanterns and torches that lit the courtyard, and allowed him to lead her out of the dance to a slightly more secluded spot where a bench waited, twined round with vines.

He settled her gently onto it and then sat beside her, both of them murmuring, heads close together. I had just decided it wasn’t a moment I could interrupt when he took her into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss against her lips.

I swung around, my own cheeks flushing at having been watching them. But the color quickly faded, the warmth moving to my heart. She had done it then. She had overcome her fear—or taken the first step in doing so.

For the first time since I had arrived, I wished desperately that someone would take my hand and sweep me into the dance. And if I was honest with myself, there was only one person I wanted to perform such a service. Which was foolishness on my part—he was probably most of the way to the capital by now.

The masks were distracting, though, hiding identities and causing my heart to jump every time I caught a glimpse of a tall man with brown hair. Cora had laughed at me when I claimed never to have been in love, and I admitted to myself that she was right. I even admitted to myself that I had always admired Prince Gabriel of Talinos—even as a young girl. I had simply been too proud to admit it—not when all the other young princesses were in love with him too.

I stopped abruptly, the thought catching at me. What foolishness it had been, to lie even to myself. Our father had been the one to teach us to be proud, and he had directed far more of his energy on my brother than on me. If I could forgive such pride in myself, perhaps I could forgive the twisted pride that had wrought such destruction on Dominic after our land was cursed. Gabe said that he had changed…perhaps I needed to give him a chance like Vilma said.

I nodded to myself. If this curse was ever broken, I would agree to travel to Palinar once more to see my brother and meet his bride. And, as for myself,