The celebrations breezed by after that. Sleep weighed heavy on Lucen's eyelids, and Kibara seemed to notice.
She sent him off, and he caught up with Liam on the steps down from the training yard.
"I didn't see it all, but everyone saw you guys dancing together. You know Fineas, right? He was cursing you all night."
Lucen nodded, his head felt too cloudy to speak. They stopped at the front of Grey Keep, and clasped forearms.
"So when is our journey beginning?" Liam asked, grinning. "I still haven't told my mom I'm going with you."
Lucen rolled his eyes. "We have class with Warren tomorrow, he'll tell us when we're to set off. Tell your mom soon, she deserves to know."
His climb up the myriad of steps, and journey through the black and velvet halls of the Keep, were hazy. Before he knew it, he was crashing into the soft white bed and drifting to sleep.
■——■
He dreamt all night. Of six-winged butterflies. Of mist running its hand through his hair. Of golden light falling on him
