Page 21 of The Witch in the Dead of Night

I turned back to the King, realizing he was watching me closely, a smile playing on his lips. “To your health,” he said, raising his glass.

“And to yours,” I replied.

I tipped back the flute and took my first sip. My eyes widened as the tart bubbles fizzed over my tongue. I had never tasted anything like it, being more accustomed to sips of warm ale or a stolen swig from Mrs. Cathers’s whiskey bottle after she had passed out drunk on the kitchen floor. It was exquisite.

“Allow me to introduce you to some people,” said the King, whisking me across the room.

We approached a human couple, the woman bedecked in a gown of dazzling greens and blues. Her hair was adorned with the feathers of some kind of bird that matched the hues of her dress. She stood with her husband, I assumed—an older gentleman with thinning hair and brown eyes. A single green feather was tucked into his lapel.

“Your Majesty!” screeched the bird woman, dropping into a clumsy curtsy.

Her husband quickly followed suit, bowing at the waist. “We are your honored servants,” he drawled.

“Thank you for coming,” said the King. “Allow me to introduce Miss Finwal Erramun, who is preparing to join you on the council, Frederick.”

“You are lovely indeed,” purred the man, taking my hand and planting a wet kiss on my knuckles. I resisted the urge to recoil. “I am Frederick, Duke of Altwater, and this is my not-so-lovely wife.”

“Pleasure,” I replied flatly.

“I wasn’t aware that there was an open post on the council, Your Majesty,” said the bird woman, her pitch rising.

“Not unless you’re looking for a new Tradesmaster, eh, old boy?” her husband chimed in with a wink. “I might welcome the retirement if it wouldn’t mean that I’d be stuck in Altwater with this old bat.”

He laughed uproariously as his wife scowled.

“Of course not, my friend,” said King Mordric. “She will be assuming the role of Adviser of the Arcane in time for the summer solstice.”

I glanced sideways at him. We’d never discussed a timeline, and half a year didn’t seem nearly long enough for me to master my abilities. The bird woman’s eyebrows nearly flew into the nest of feathers atop her head. “Fascinating indeed. There hasn’t been one of those in my lifetime. Best of luck, dear.”

“Thank you,” I said, although I couldn’t help but notice that her smile did not spread to her eyes.

“Enjoy your evening,” said the King as he led me away from the couple.

“The summer solstice?” I asked, once safely out of earshot.

He nodded. “I know it may seem rushed, but I’d rather not delay until next year.”

My brow creased. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

“Of course not,” he said. “My apologies. According to Valenian law, I can only induct new members to my council on the longest and shortest days of the year.”

“May I ask why?”

“My great-uncle, King Sangrey, apparently had a penchant for adding too many advisers all at the same time. He owed coin and favors to many, and it was his way of paying his debts. In the end, there were so many people on his council that nothing ever got done. From what I understand, the law was written after his death to ensure that the future kings of Valen were a bit more responsible.”

“How fascinating,” I said. “I never gave it much thought, but I suppose that even kings have to follow rules.”

He chuckled. “We certainly do. At least, in this case, it gives us plenty of time to ensure that you’re trained up. By the time the solstice sun burns, you will be as wizened and respected as the rest of my council.”

My cheeks burned. It seemed like an awfully short amount of time, but I supposed I was willing to try if he was. “You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

“Allow me to point out my remaining advisers,” he said, gesturing to the courtiers peppered across the room. “You must know William, my Lord Seneschal,” he said, nodding at a fair-haired man engrossed in conversation with Martin, the Master of Ceremonies.

“I do,” I said. “Although I’m more familiar with his apprentice.”

“Are you? Can’t say I’ve met him myself, but there’s no one I would trust more to keep the palace running smoothly. And here we have my Chief Adviser, Ansell Volorthen.” He pointed out a bearded, elderly vampire standing alone before the fireplace. “He was an adviser to my father as well. Always lost in thought, that one.”

“And her?” I asked, lifting my chin toward a plump, stern woman adorned in gold like a gilded statue. Her graying hair was piled into a tower of braids atop her head, woven with glittering gemstones. It wobbled as she conversed with her companion, threatening to rain jewels over the floor. “I believe I’ve seen her walking the corridors before.”