Mistress of the Night - Don Bassingthwaite [51]
She could understand their awe. When she first looked in a mirror after Julith had finished dressing her, she'd hardly been able to recognize her own reflection.
Gone were the frilly blue dresses with layered crinolines that Dhauna Myritar favored and that Velsinore had insisted on squeezing Feena into. Julith had summoned a proper dressmaker to Moonshadow Hall. Feena wore a slim gown of moon-pale white silk with silver embroidery traced along the hem and across the bodice. Long, tapered sleeves covered her arms and ended in pointed, silver-trimmed cuffs that extended across the backs of her hands. The high, starched lace collars that scratched her neck were gone as well, replaced with a light stole that draped softly across her shoulders. Instead of ridiculous slippers, she wore solid shoes of tooled white leather with heels that lent her an imposingly noble height. Julith had brushed her hair until it shone, then dipped deep into the neglected recesses of Moonshadow Hall's regalia chests. The moon's road tiara and the silver circlets with their heavy representations of Selune's phases had remained at the temple. Instead, Feena's flaming hair was caught back with a web of silver filigree from which a crescent-carved opal hung over the center of her forehead.
The merchants nearest to her bowed in respect. Feena nodded in return.
"Strictly speaking, you didn't have to do that," whispered Julith as they swept past them.
"I know," Feena said. She squeezed Julith's hand then released it and raised her chin in confidence.
Heads turned as they walked through the gardens. Those few among the party guests who had met Feena before her transformation generally wore expressions of astonishment. Colle Shoondeep actually smiled at her and nodded before doing a comical double take and scowling furiously. Endress Halatar, the elderly high priestess of Lliira, goddess of joy, grinned, however, and shook her hands, holding her in pleasant conversation for several minutes.
"What's she doing now?" Feena asked Julith as they walked away.
Julith turned her head discretely.
"It looks like she's talking to one of her junior priests and a couple of merchants about you," she said. The young priestess smiled. "I think she's impressed!"
People who hadn't met Feena before seemed eager to accept her. Julith ushered her from group to group, murmuring names and information about important people.
"Diero Mivaldi-he runs a trading business between Yhaunn and the Vilhon Reach," she whispered and Feena exchanged a few words about sea conditions with the dark-skinned man in a green vest. "Betha Horndriver- she was playing the harp just now." Feena praised the young woman for her skill. "Arthagus of the Miracles-he has friends on the Merchants'Council of Sembia." She shook hands with the thin and trembling wizard.
As Feena discussed the summer heat with a master craftsman from Yhaunn's fantastically spired Glass-crafter's Hall, a man stepped up beside her. Feena felt a warning nudge from Julith and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He was somewhat older than her, with hair that was showing signs of gray, but his face was strong and his shoulders, attractively broad. His clothes were dark and plain but well-cut. He looked like he should have been carrying a sword and she had a distinct feeling that she had met him before.
When her small talk with the glass crafter ebbed and the master craftsman drifted away, he said, "You look lovely tonight, Moonmistress."
Feena was the one who did a double take then, though she managed to turned it into what she hoped was a graceful nod.
"As do you, Guard Captain Manas," she replied, then winced at the words and saw Julith cringe as well.
Manas managed a chuckle. "It seems we both clean up well." He