It doesn't matter
, she reminded herself.
Nobody expects me to dress like an exalted.
I hope.
Heads turned as the footman took it and revealed her bare upper arms and daring décolletage.
Bracing herself, Taya stepped inside the reception room, composing herself just as she would if she were on duty. Strangers turned to stare at her. For a moment she froze, wondering what to do.
A woman broke away from the crowd, and Taya recognized her hostess, Viera Octavus.
"Taya Icarus," she said, her strong voice carrying through the chamber. "We are honored that you have come."
Light applause greeted her words. Taya kept her gaze fixed on the woman as she walked across the ballroom floor. They met in the center of the ballroom and Viera grasped her hands, leaning forward to rest one blue-tattooed cheek against hers.
"Thank you," the exalted said, and then dropped her voice to a whisper. "Don't look so nervous."
Taya gave the exalted a crooked smile as they separated. Was it that obvious? Viera slid an arm through hers, leading her back to her husband, a tall, patrician man with silver hair and a lined face. Taya compared him to his wife. The decatur had married a much younger woman.
"Caster," Viera said, "this is Taya Icarus."
The elderly decatur smiled at her. Taya bowed, touching her gloved palm to her forehead.
"I am pleased to meet you, Taya." When she straightened, Caster took her hand and held it a moment. "I cannot thank you enough for saving the two most important people in my life."
This time Taya didn't start, and she was glad Alister had accustomed her to being touched by the upper-caste.
"I was just—" she remembered the fictional interview in
The Watchmen and deliberately chose different words. "It was my pleasure, exalted."
"I doubt it was a pleasure, icarus, but I am grateful nonetheless. Come. I'll introduce you to the rest of the Council."
He took her arm and led her away, Viera on his other side. Taya was glad that her gloves kept her palms from sweating on Caster Octavus's embroidered silk sleeve.
Lady, please don't let me embarrass myself or my hosts.
Some of the decaturs Caster introduced her to were familiar — men and women whose messages she'd carried over the years. None of them had ever asked her for her name when she'd worn her icarus wings, and none of them recognized her now as they shook her hand.
Only Decatur Forlore smiled at her like a friend.
"I've had the honor of meeting Taya several times," Alister said, bowing over her hand. His fingers seemed to burn through the fabric of her glove. "She's always impressed me in the past, but tonight she's rendered me speechless."
"You've never been speechless in your entire life, Al," Viera teased. Her cousin ignored her, still holding Taya's hand and smiling.
Taya felt a blush creeping up her face. The decatur's eyes were intense, their emerald depths set off by his dark green outer robe, which was patterned with coiling vines. His under robes were lighter shades of green and lavender. Gold glittered on his fingers and in his hair, making him gleam like one of the Lady's immortal spirits themselves.
"On the contrary, Viera, tonight I have no words to express myself, for my steel-winged hawk has transformed herself into a silken swan." Alister lifted her hand and brushed the back of her glove with his lips.
"Enough, Alister. Taya has other guests to meet tonight," Caster said. Taya glanced at him, wondering she'd heard a trace of censure in the older man's voice. Alister released her, but she felt his eyes on her back as the Octavuses led her to the next decatur.
She hardly heard any of the other introductions, bemused by Alister's touch. Lady, he was handsome!
After Taya had been introduced to the entire Council, Viera reclaimed her and led her away.
"I promised Ariq I would take you to visit him tonight."
"I'd love to see him again." Taya followed the exalted through a small side door. "But does he really want to meet me? Our flight scared him."
"He was terrified," Viera agreed. "But then, so was I." Her eyes twinkled. "It took him a few hours to begin enjoying all the fuss being made over him. That's when he started bragging about how he went flying with you. Now I think he's completely forgotten his tears."
"I'm glad he's all right."
"Yes. By the way, you look lovely. Is that an icarus dress? I've never seen anything like it before."
Taya looked down, embarrassed. "Yes. It's an icarus dress."
"It's very flattering. I wish I had the freedom to wear something other than these layers of fabric every day."
Taya glanced at her. Viera, like the other women in the ballroom, wore several light silk robes in contrasting colors. The hems brushed her ankles, much higher than the dragging hems exalteds wore out in public — tailored for dancing, Taya assumed. Viera's outer robe was a deep blue, and her interior robes were rich saffron and crimson.
"If I could have come in my flight suit and wings, I would have," Taya admitted.
"You would have disappointed every man in the room."
They passed through a small hallway and up the stairs to the house's living quarters. Ariq was in his nursery, being read to by a famulate-caste nanny.
"Mommy!" The boy leaped up and ran to his mother. "You look pretty tonight, Mommy."
Viera leaned over and hugged him, then turned him around to face Taya.
"This is Taya Icarus, the woman who saved us," she said, her hands on the boy's shoulders. "I promised I would bring her up to see you before you went to sleep."
Ariq looked at her with open curiosity.
"Where are your wings?"
"I took them off for the party." Taya knelt, mentally cursing the corset for making bending over impossible. "I'm happy to see you again, Ariq."
Viera nudged the boy, who held out his hand.
"Thank you for saving me," he said solemnly.
"You're very welcome," Taya replied, shaking his hand. "Perhaps we can go flying again someday, if your parents agree."
"Maybe…. "he said with hesitation. Taya smiled up at Viera, who laughed, kissed her son, and stood.
"Good night, sweetheart. Mind your nanny."
"Good night, Mommy."
Viera led them back, pausing in an antechamber to pour two glasses of golden wine.
"Could you really take him flying?" she asked.
"We have a few pairs of trainer wings and guide harnesses that we use to teach the new children." Taya was careful as she held her crystal goblet, aware of what Cassi's nephew would say if she spilled anything on her dress. "There's even an adult set for the occasional visitor who wants to try flying. Foreign diplomats, mostly. Not many Ondiniums want to go aloft." Except Alister, she thought, amused.
"I suppose those who do are chosen to be icarii during their Great Examination."
"Do you plan to have Ariq take the Exam?"
"Oh, no, of course not." Viera sounded distracted, and after a moment of silence she sat down. "Taya, you have heard that the wireferry accident has been blamed on the Torn Cards, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"I can't help but wonder if the accident had been meant for my husband. He would have been on that car yesterday, if his Council discussion hadn't been extended."
"Do the Torn Cards have any reason to hurt him?"
"I don't know why they would." Viera looked distressed. "Caster is one of the most conservative anti-programming voices on the Council; you would think the Torn Cards would approve of that. But it doesn't make any sense for them to try to kill me, either. I have no voice in the Council at all."