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Exactly three and a half hours later, Blonos releases me from her clutches and back into Lucas’s care My back aches from the posture lessons about how to sit, stand, walk, and even sleep (on your back, ar coh She drilled the rules of court intome with names, protocols, and etiquette In the last few hours I received a crash course in anything and everything I’h Houses is slowly co anyways We only scratched the surface of Protocol, but now I can go to the queen’s stupid function with at least some idea of how to act

The Glass Terrace is relatively close by, only a floor down and a hallway over, so I don’t get eline again This tiorating fresh air I’m outside for the first tis and the sun on ain If I close my eyes, I can pretend none of this ever happened But it did

The Glass Terrace is as ornate as Blonos’s classroolass canopy, supported by clear, artfully cut colu the sun into aabout It’s beautiful in an artificial way, like everything else in this Silver world

Before I have a chance to take a breath, a pair of girls steps in front of ing by the colors of their gowns (dark blue and red on one, solid black on the other), they belong to House Iral and House Haven Silks and shadows, I re back to Blonos’s lessons on abilities

"Lady Mareena," they say in unison, bowing stiffly I do the sa my head the way Lady Blonos showedher head proudly Her movements are lithe and catlike Silks are quick and quiet, perfectly balanced and agile

"And I’m Elane of House Haven," the other adds, her voice barely a whisper While the Iral girl is dark, with deeply tanned skin and black hair, Elane is pale, with glossy red locks The dancing sunlight speckles her skin in a perfect halo, ht "We wanted to welcome you"

But their pointed s at all

"Thank you That’s very kind" I clear irls don’t lances "You also participated in Queenstrial?" I say quickly, hoping to distract theraces

This only see sharp nails the color of iron "We did Obviously ere not so lucky as you or Evangeline"

"Sorry--" coize "I mean, you know I had no intention of--"

"Your intentions resecond When she turns, snapping her fingers in a way thateach other, I flinch "Grandmother, coh of relief, expecting a kindly old woirls But I’m sorely mistaken