Horrorroyaletenokerar — Better

A man in the back made a small sound that was almost a laugh.

A man approached the fountain, small as a bird and elegantly terrible. He wore a tailcoat the color of raven wings and a mask stamped with the same crown-and-hourglass symbol. When he lifted his head, she saw not eyes but reflections—tiny, deep wells that mirrored the assembled crowd. horrorroyaletenokerar better

"What did the court take?" the throne asked again. A man in the back made a small sound that was almost a laugh

"Name for name," intoned the bone-masked woman. "Rememberless for remembrance." When he lifted his head, she saw not

"That night, I found a card under my pillow." Mara reached and closed her fingers on nothing; the memory held the shape of paper. "It read: bring none but your name."

"You named him," the throne said. "Naming has power. The court requires payment."

"What payment?" she whispered.