The Archshade

Nine

The noble men and women cheer even louder than before, their sycophant voices crying out in agreement. The prince's words must've been a coded dismissal because, when the din falls away, the dignitaries drift apart. They glide out of the room or retreat to private corners, laughing hollowly and speaking too politely to one another.

In their absence, the Archshade releases my hand and steps away to summon a servant girl to his side. I can't hear what he says, but the servant girl nods and bows low, her hair falling over her shoulders. The Archshade then turns away, and the servant girl hurries to my side, placing a gentle hand on the back of my arm.

"Come with me, my lady."

As she ushers me from the hall, a glance back over my shoulder reveals the Archshade in a quiet, heated discussion with the ruling prince. Dread ensnares my insides with thorny vines, but the servant girl leads me away before I witness any more of the exchange.

We walk in silence through the corridors and under high archways. Where I've known pallid stone walls and narrow stairways, this palace has wide corridors of white marble, cool to the touch. Where I've seen tapestries and torch brackets, this place has sunlight and windows, each one looking out over the city of Jannah. Where I've sought comfort in warmth and darkness, this place is cold and too bright.

As we walk, the layers of my gossamer gown flow out behind me, rustling like parchment. In the absence of some of the gold hairpins, my silk headscarf has fallen loose, allowing a few tendrils of hair to escape their bindings and flutter beside my cheeks. I brush them aside. The remaining paint on my face is stale and crumbling like a portrait aged past recognition. I fiddle with the rings on my fingers as I walk, aching to tear them off and throw them out a window.

The servant girl comes to a stop in front of a brasswood door. Before opening it, she gives me a small smile so genuine it hurts my chest. "It's an honor to be the first to welcome you to your new home, my lady," she says while escorting me inside.

The floor of the entryway is the same white marble as the corridor, but the walls are inlaid with glimmering mosaic tiles, depicting an array of wild animals: tigers, monkeys, macaws, lions, camels, snakes, elephants, and so many others. As I cross the threshold and move beyond the entryway, the chamber opens into a vast living space with three sets of balcony windows edged by red sheer curtains lightly swaying in the evening breeze. Beyond the balcony doors, a sunset spray of orange and red bleeds across the sky.

In the center of the room, a set of three short steps leads down into a circular sitting area with large pillows scattered around a short marble table. While sitting on the floor was unheard-of in the Emperor's palace, this entire chamber is carpeted with rugs like lush grass.

Cushioned chairs and elongated benches clearly meant for lounging are strategically placed around the rest of the room above the central sitting area. The whole place is decorated in splashes of orange, red, and gold with traditional Arcadian stencil paintings curling around the furniture and twisting along the walls.

Just the thought of descending those steps and sinking into a pile of pillows reminds my muscles of every ache and sore, but at the same time, my mind recoils at the idea of touching a single thing within these chambers. Like walking through a dream, a part of me almost believes I can stave off what is to come if I deny any of this is real.

The servant guides me through a door into what must be the Archshade's bed chamber. She motions for me to sit on the bed, but I hesitate. I stare at the pristine sheets and the embroidered red and gold blankets tucked beneath the edge of the rigid mattress. Something inside me begins to squirm, building up a scream in the back of my throat that I refuse to let loose. I clench my hands together so tight that my heartbeat pulses in my palms.