Once I returned to the tower I let myself in quietly, only to find that everyone was already awake. The hearth was lit and the room was beginning to warm, the early chill slowly retreating.

  Illara noticed me first.

  “You look amazing, Drisnil,” she said, and the warmth in her smile caught me off guard.

  “Uh, thanks,” I replied, suddenly shy.

  That was enough to draw everyone’s attention.

  “Next time you go dress shopping, bring me along,” Faie said at once.

  “I love that dress,” Sera added. “You’ll have to show me the shop you found later.”

  Theo looked up as well, then seemed to remember himself and focused very intently on the fire.

  The attention made my skin prickle. I muttered something noncommittal and decided to give myself an excuse to move.

  “I should wash my other clothes,” I said, already heading for the stairs.

  Upstairs, I emptied my bundle into the bath, only for the problem to become obvious almost immediately. I did not want to do laundry in my new dress, and I could not get out of it on my own.

  With a sigh, I went back downstairs.

  “Illara,” I said, “could you help me out of this dress, please?”

  She looked at me as though I had asked something unexpected. “Why would you want to get out of it? You look very good.”

  “I want to do the laundry.”

  Her expression softened into something amused. “If that’s all, I’ll do it for you, on one condition.”

  I hesitated. “Which is?”

  “You stay in that dress all day.” She smiled, the look unmistakably pleased.

  “I suppose I can,” I said, uncertain. “I just don’t want to be a burden.”

  Illara shook her head at once. “You aren’t.” Then, without giving me time to object, she turned and headed upstairs.

  Faie had taken up position behind Norman’s old desk, reading through a stack of papers. The armchair was free, so I sank into it gratefully. It was far more comfortable than it had any right to be, and I let myself relax for a moment.

  “So,” Theo said, “what are the plans today?”

  “We need to meet Cain and Jenna at the temple this morning,” I said. “After that, hopefully, we’ll get an audience with the local lord.”

  He nodded. “That explains the dress.”

  “I’ll have a quick wash and freshen up,” he said, standing. “Then we can head to the temple together. Maybe grab some meat skewers on the way.”

  “Illara’s doing the laundry,” I reminded him. “The bath’s occupied.”

  “I know. I’ll use a bucket for now.” He headed upstairs with a change of clothes tucked under his arm.

  “I’ll stay here and go through Norman’s notes,” Faie said without looking up.

  “That’s probably for the best,” I replied. “We’re dealing with politics today. Hopefully we won’t need your firepower.”

  Faie looked quietly satisfied with how things had turned out.

  Once everyone was ready, I pulled my coat on over the dress and we set out for the temple. The sky was bright and clear, the sun sharp against a cold wind. By mid-morning the town was fully awake, voices and movement filling the streets.

  The temple itself was calm when we entered. At the front Jenna was already speaking with Bassius, while Cain sat a few pews back, looking uncharacteristically relaxed.

  Bassius noticed us at once and beckoned.

  “Welcome back. It’s good to see you all again.”

  Jenna’s eyes flicked to me, her expression tight, but she said nothing.

  “I’m sorry for the loss of your friend, Norman,” Bassius continued. “He will be missed here in Ravencrest. I understand you recovered his notes.”

  “Yes,” I said, handing him the notebook. “I’ve marked the pages you’ll want to see.”

  He opened it at once and began to read, his brow furrowing slightly as he went.

  “This is very helpful,” he said after a moment. “I assume parts of this can be corroborated.”

  “Yes. Illara, Cain, and myself.”

  He nodded. “Do you have an eyewitness as well?”

  “Yes. Ash,” I said, motioning him forward. “He’s mute.”

  Bassius extended a hand. Ash hesitated only a fraction before shaking it.

  “It’s good to meet you, Ash,” Bassius said gently. “When the time comes, will you be able to identify the attackers?”

  Ash’s colour drained for a moment, but then he nodded.

  “Good,” Bassius said quietly. “We’ll rely on you.”

  He closed the notebook. “I think I have what I need. I’ll speak to Lord Raven on your behalf. If you meet me back here tomorrow at the same time, I should be able to tell you the next steps.”

  As we turned to leave, Cain caught my eye and motioned me over.

  “It looks like you’ll be staying another night,” he said. “I suggested to Jenna that we have dinner together this evening. She agreed. We’ll meet at Harmon’s Tavern at sundown. You’re all welcome.”

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  “Sure,” I said. “I’ll bring everyone along.”

  “I’m glad,” he said. “I’ll see you then.”

  Outside the temple Sera fell into step beside me.

  “Hey, Drisnil,” she said, her voice unusually sweet. “Could you take me to that clothes vendor you went to this morning?”

  “I can,” I said. “It wasn’t cheap, though.”

  She looked up at me, hopeful. “Could you lend me the money? Just for the dress. It would make Ash happy.”

  I sighed softly. “All right. Let’s buy you a dress.”

  “Illara had clearly been listening.

  “So you’re buying Sera a dress,” she said. Her voice was even, but flat.

  “Don’t worry,” I said quickly. “I can get you one as well.”

  Illara’s expression brightened at once.

  I suspected I was being nudged along more than a little, but I found that I did not mind.

  We parted ways with Theo and Ash, who decided to explore the food stalls together, while I led Sera and Illara back towards the clothing merchant.

  When the vendor spotted me his face brightened at once.

  “Welcome back,” he said, grin spreading. “I take it your friends saw the dress and felt inspired.”

  “Something like that,” I replied. “They liked how it looked.”

  His gaze shifted to Sera. “I think you would suit yellow,” he said thoughtfully. “Something cheerful. Perhaps with a few frills.”

  “Yes, please,” Sera said at once, barely containing herself.

  He rummaged through one of the piles and produced a yellow dress as if by sleight of hand. It was light and lively, with a pale underlayer peeking out beneath the frilled edges.

  “Try this,” he said, drawing back the curtain.

  Sera vanished behind it, still smiling.

  “And for you?” the vendor said, turning to Illara.

  “Yes,” Illara said, glancing briefly at me. “I’d like something pretty too. Something Drisnil might like.”

  He chuckled softly and moved to another stack, returning with a black dress. It was restrained at first glance, long-sleeved and carefully cut, but the neckline dipped lower than Illara seemed entirely comfortable with.

  “The sleeves will soften the line of the arms,” he said. “And the cut will sit well on you.”

  Illara held it up, uncertain. “It might be a bit much.”

  “You should at least try it,” I said. “If you hate it, you can take it straight off.”

  She hesitated, then nodded.

  Sera emerged first. The yellow suited her perfectly, bright without being gaudy, the white beneath catching the light as she moved.

  The vendor held up a mirror. “Well?”

  Sera beamed. “I like it. I think Ash will too.”

  “He seems happy enough with very little at the moment,” Illara said lightly.

  Sera flushed. “You’re just jealous.”

  The merchant checked the fit with a practised eye. “Comfortable?”

  “Mostly,” Sera said. “A little tight around the middle, but nothing terrible.”

  “Good. Then we’ll say it fits.”

  Illara disappeared behind the curtain.

  “So,” I said to the vendor, “what are we talking about for the two dresses?”

  He considered. “If you take both, three gold.”

  Sera made a small, startled sound.

  “Two gold,” I said, “given I’ve already done business with you today.”

  He frowned, then relented. “Two gold and five silver.”

  “That seems fair,” I said. “Assuming Illara likes hers.”

  A moment later the curtain shifted and Illara stepped out.

  The dress changed her in a way that was difficult to describe. It hid nothing of her strength, but it framed it differently, smoothing and shaping without diminishing it. She stood very still, as though bracing herself.

  “Is it too much?” she asked.

  “You look amazing,” Sera said at once.

  I found I had no clever reply ready. “Beautiful,” was all I managed.

  Illara’s smile was immediate and unguarded. “Then I want it.”

  I paid the vendor, and we pulled our coats on over the dresses before heading back towards the tower together.

  By the time we returned to the tower Theo and Ash were already back, their own shopping spoils set out nearby. The first thing Theo noticed was the bundle of clothing Sera and Illara were carrying.

  “So,” he said, eyeing it, “I take it you both found something.”

  “You should have come and fetched me too,” Faie said at once. “I could do with a new dress.”

  “Maybe tomorrow,” I said. “If you like.”

  Her smile sharpened. “Sounds like a date.”

  Illara shot her a look that went entirely unacknowledged.

  “Well then,” Theo said, nodding towards the bundles, “are you going to show us?”

  Sera and Illara slipped off their coats.

  Ash’s reaction was immediate. His face lit up and he crossed the room in two steps, taking Sera by the hands and pulling her into a kiss that left her laughing softly when he finally let go. She looked more than pleased with herself.

  Theo, meanwhile, had gone very still.

  Illara shifted her weight. “It’s too much, isn’t it?”

  “No,” he said quickly, then paused. “I just… I’m not used to seeing my daughter like this.”

  He cleared his throat and looked at me. “What do you think, Drisnil?”

  “I think it suits you,” I said. “Really well.”

  Illara’s shoulders eased a fraction. “Good,” she said. “Thank you.”

  The room settled again, but not quite back into its old shape.

  As promised, I did not remove the dress for the rest of the day. By the time night fell and we were ready to leave for the tavern, it felt almost like part of me. Faie chose to stay behind, muttering something about lizard tails and the limits of realistic illusion, and vanished upstairs with a stack of notes.

  We found Harmon’s Tavern without trouble. Jenna and Cain were already there, seated near the back. When we removed our coats, their reactions were immediate.

  “I look underdressed,” Jenna said flatly.

  Cain laughed. “You could have warned us you were planning to attend a ball.”

  Around us, heads were turning. We stood out sharply against the worn wood and workday clothes of the room, three figures dressed far finer than the setting warranted. The attention prickled, but it also gave me an idea.

  “Hey,” I said quietly to Illara. “What do you think about singing a duet? We’ll have Sera collect donations.”

  Illara did not hesitate. “All right.”

  I crossed to the bar and spoke with the barkeep. He eyed us, the dresses, the small stage near the hearth, then named his terms. I bargained him down to sixty–forty in our favour. The dress likely helped.

  Illara and I stood close for a moment, heads bent together, working out the song in quick murmured phrases. Then we mounted the stage.

  The tavern quieted as we began.

  We sang By Candlelight and Coin.

  My voice carried the first verse, steady once it found its footing, and Illara joined me easily in the chorus. When she took the second verse, something in the room shifted. Conversations stilled. Even the bar quieted, tankards left half-raised as people listened.

  By the time we reached the final chorus the room had leaned in. Some sang along by instinct, others simply watched. Sera moved through the tables with quick hands and an easy smile, pockets opening wherever she passed.

  When the last lines faded, there was a heartbeat of silence. Then applause broke out, loud and genuine, mixed with a few appreciative whistles. We stepped down from the stage to warm smiles and nods.

  Back at the table, we counted the take.

  “Fifteen silver,” I said.

  I set aside the barkeep’s share and pocketed the rest.

  “What about mine?” Sera asked at once.

  “You still owe me twelve silver,” I said. “I’m calling it repayment.”

  She pouted, but did not argue.

  Illara said nothing at all. She simply watched the room, cheeks faintly flushed, looking more at ease than she had all day.

  “That was a good song,” Cain said quietly. “I appreciated it.”

  “You’re welcome,” Illara replied.

  For a while after that, the tavern felt warmer.

  Verse 1 (Drisnil)

  By candlelight and clinking cups,

  By boots upon the floor,

  I wore my steel and travel-stain

  Through every tavern door.

  But silk can weigh as much as mail

  When eyes begin to stare,

  And suddenly the room feels close

  When you’re the one they’re there to see.

  Chorus (Both)

  So raise your glass and mind your tongue,

  We’ve paid our price to be inside,

  If cloth and cut can turn a head

  Then let them turn with pride.

  By candlelight and coin tonight

  We’ll stand and not retreat,

  If you’ve come here to look too long

  Then kindly mind your feet.

  Verse 2 (Illara)

  I’ve worn my vows like winter cloaks,

  Drawn tight against the cold,

  I learned the weight of watching eyes

  Before I learned I’m bold.

  But linen breathes and velvet sways

  When music finds its way,

  And even saints may choose to dance

  If only for a day.

  Chorus (Both)

  So raise your glass and mind your tongue,

  We’ve paid our price to be inside,

  If cloth and cut can turn a head

  Then let them turn with pride.

  By candlelight and coin tonight

  We’ll stand and not retreat,

  If you’ve come here to look too long

  Then kindly mind your feet.

  Bridge (Call and Response)

  Drisnil: Is it armour, is it sin,

  What we choose to wear?

  Illara: It’s cloth and skin and breathing space,

  And none of it’s your care.

  Drisnil: If the world would have us small,

  Illara: Then let it learn instead,

  Both: We’ll take up space, we’ll take our place,

  With shoulders back and head held steady.

  Final Chorus (Both, louder)

  So drink it down and sing along

  Or find another chair,

  We’ve walked through worse than wandering eyes

  And lived to meet them fair.

  By candlelight and coin tonight

  We’ll laugh and not concede,

  If dresses make the story turn

  Then dresses set the lead.

  Outro (Illara, soft)

  Come morning comes the road again.

  Drisnil: Come morning, boots and dust.

  Both: But tonight we stand exactly so,

  Because we choose, because we must.