13. Prepare for the ball

One by one, the group emerged from Morgana’s circle, stepping into the familiar yet ever-shifting confines of Neuvoterre. The room was dim, candlelight flickering against ancient stone walls, casting long, wavering shadows. Daisy was already there, rifling through shelves with an air of frustration. “Healing balms,” she muttered, her voice tight with impatience. “Merlin’s moved things again.” Her search was relentless, fingers skimming over jars and vials, each missing the one remedy she sought.   As the last of the travelers steadied themselves from the journey, the tension in the air lingered like the scent of old parchment and herbs. Morgana stood waiting, her presence commanding even in quiet. A debrief followed—details exchanged, weary eyes meeting in understanding. Morgana’s instructions were simple yet absolute: rest. “Go home, sleep. Someone will be in touch about your reward,” she assured them, though the weight of their journey still clung to them like dust from the road.   And so they scattered, each retreating to their own space.   Ygwain found himself alone in a private chamber he’d never had before, the silence pressing in as he ran a hand over the smooth wood of his desk—a space that, for once, was his and his alone. Lia had intended to seek the comfort of her family, yet something pulled her back to the group, an invisible tether she couldn’t bear to break. The others drifted toward the Crow’s Nest, the familiar warmth of the place a welcome contrast to the chill of uncertainty.   Then, as the night crept in, Cas arrived. A flick of a wrist, a knowing smile, and in his hands—a reward. Coin, yes, but more than that: an invitation. The ball. A gift from Faeyth in gratitude for all they had done. “You’ll receive word tomorrow about outfits,” Cas added, his tone laced with the promise of grandeur.   It was this moment that set Gwen in motion, sending her in search of Ygwain, invitation in hand. She found him atop the tower lookout, where the world stretched vast beneath them, painted in hues of amber and violet. A nervous breath, a soft smile, the parchment exchanged between them. And as the last rays of sunlight slipped beneath the horizon, their hands found each other, fingers laced with unspoken words.   For the first time, they held on.