page8 (1/2)

What was her father thinking by sending her a dress like this? Well, obviously he wanted to impress Braymer Coyle with her, um, feminine wiles Or irl anymore

Encased in the dress and its various trappings, Karigan found she could not breathe or bend, and that the layers of skirts felt like they weighed a hundred pounds Her shoes, comprised of silk brocade dyed to match the dress with narroooden soles, were clasped to her feet with silver buckles The contraptions produced dainty-looking feet but pinched her toes andat her supple leather riding boots standing at attention next to her wardrobe and hoped she’d survive the day without breaking any bones

As the daughter of a merchant, she had alorn all the finest, latest fashions, but throughout her childhood she had adant dresses as they paraded about Corsa’sdistrict and attended socials At the tie to join them, and she had fantasized about dresses just like the one that now held her captive What had she been thinking?

“I feel like a puffy blue blob,” Karigan said, stroking the patterned velvet with a gloved hand Even her head felt funny with her hair piled up on it and held in place with an arured the hardware equaled the weight of her saber

“The blue is wonderful” Tegan’s eyes feasted on Karigan’s dress She came from a clan of dyers and knew quality when she saw it It was even possible the dye had coet your necklace,” she said She opened the ornate porcelain box it came in and drew out the silver chain with a crescentfrom it

Karigan was surprised a Rhovan would choose the syift Rhovans preferred to worship the goddess of the sun, Aeryon Perhaps Brayious disposition and that this would please her Or erated some facts about Clan G’ladheon to impress them It wouldn’t surprise her in the least if he had

Tegan clasped the chain around Karigan’s neck The only other piece of “jewelry” she as her Rider brooch It had been soure out where to pin it Ordinarily it was attached to her uniforh cloth in that region to hold it, so she had clasped it close to her shoulder It was an aard placement, but by the brooch’s special nature, its true form would remain invisible to everyone except other Riders

Tegan helped wrap a an’s shoulders and handed her a little drawstring purse She then an turn all the way around

Tegan clapped her hands together “You are…” she paused, as if words failed her “You are utterly transformed You…you outshine even Lady Estora”

“Don’t exaggerate, Tegan”

“Truly, you are stunning, my dear A noble lady”