The feasting hall had transformed since breakfast. Where the morning meal had been served in gardens of first light, the midday feast took place in a space that seemed to exist at the exact moment when day was brightest. The ceiling was a dome of pure sunlight, casting golden rays that filled the air with dancing motes of light. The tables appeared to be made of solidified sunshine, arranged in spiral patterns that created pathways between them like rivers of light.
Maple-Songs-At-Dusk guided Ali and Sage to a table where several other tributes were already seated, including Michael and a girl Ali hadn't met yet, whose dark skin seemed to shimmer slightly in the intense light. Various fae were also taking their places - some familiar from the morning's lessons, others entirely new.
To Ali's surprise, Melody-In-Moonlight was among them, settling gracefully into a seat nearby. The musical fae caught Ali's eye and smiled, the melodies in her gaze seeming to harmonize with the ambient light.
"The midday feast," Maple-Songs-At-Dusk announced as they all took their seats, "is traditionally a time for informal discussions and... casual alliances."
Food began to appear on the tables - not growing naturally like at breakfast, but rather coalescing from the sunlight itself. There were fruits that seemed to be made of crystallized noon light, bread that steamed with the warmth of a summer day, and what appeared to be honey that captured and held actual sunbeams.
As before, Ali waited to see the fae begin eating before serving herself. She noticed that the other tributes did the same, though Michael seemed to be having trouble maintaining his patience, his eyes fixed hungrily on a particularly beautiful piece of sun-fruit.
"Tell me, Dawn," Melody-In-Moonlight said as they began to eat, "how did you find your morning lessons? I heard you showed particular promise in the archives."
"The lessons were fascinating," Ali replied carefully, noting how several fae seemed to be paying attention to her response despite appearing engaged in their own conversations. "Though I have much to learn."
"Don't we all," said a new voice, and Ali looked up to see Twilight-Stars-Dancing approaching their table. The light-weaving instructor's star-filled hair seemed even more dramatic in the bright sunlight. "Even those of us who have studied these arts for centuries continue to discover new patterns, new combinations."
As she spoke, Ali caught a flicker of movement near the hall's entrance. Nightshade-Among-Stars had appeared, and for a moment, he and Twilight-Stars-Dancing locked eyes in what seemed to be a meaningful exchange. Then he melted away into the crowd, leaving Ali to wonder again about their apparent connection.
"Speaking of patterns," Melody-In-Moonlight said, and something in her tone made Ali think the exchange hadn't gone unnoticed, "I've been considering how to proceed with your musical instruction. The songs of summer are many and varied, but I think we might begin with the simpler harmonies - those that speak of growth and renewal."
"A wise choice," said another fae who had joined their table - one Ali hadn't met yet, with hair like flowing copper and eyes that seemed to contain actual gardens. "I am known as Blooming-Vines-At-Dawn, and I oversee the Court's growing places. Perhaps we might coordinate our lessons? Music and growth are closely linked in our realm."
Ali found herself at the center of a discussion about her education, as various fae instructors began suggesting combinations of lessons and areas of study. It was slightly overwhelming, but she noticed that Maple-Songs-At-Dusk was watching everything carefully, occasionally steering the conversation away from certain topics or subtly redirecting suggestions that seemed to venture into dangerous territory.
"Of course," Twilight-Stars-Dancing said after one such redirection, "all instruction must fall within the boundaries of the ancient agreements. We wouldn't want to overtax our young tribute."
There was something in the way she said it - a slight emphasis on 'young' perhaps, or a particular tone in 'tribute' - that made Ali think there was more being discussed than just her education. She touched her mother's bracelet under the table, drawing comfort from its solid presence.
"The agreements exist for good reason," Maple-Songs-At-Dusk said firmly. "They protect both our court and our tributes."
"Protection can take many forms," Nightshade-Among-Stars said, suddenly appearing at their table again. "Sometimes the safest path is not the most obvious one."
The atmosphere shifted slightly - not enough to be obvious, but Ali could feel it in the way the light seemed to pulse around them, in the way certain fae straightened almost imperceptibly in their seats. She had the distinct impression she was watching some sort of political exchange play out in coded phrases and subtle gestures.
"Indeed," Melody-In-Moonlight said, and her musical voice carried an undertone that might have been warning or might have been agreement - Ali couldn't quite tell which. "But for now, perhaps we should focus on the immediate future. Dawn, would you be interested in combining your music lessons with some instruction in garden-song? Blooming-Vines-At-Dawn has some fascinating techniques for using melody to encourage growth."
Ali recognized the change of subject for what it was - a diplomatic retreat from whatever subtle conflict had been brewing. "I would be honored to learn," she said, keeping her voice carefully neutral.
The rest of the meal proceeded in similar fashion - conversations that seemed to carry multiple layers of meaning, introductions to various fae instructors who all seemed to have their own ideas about her education, and moments of subtle tension that were quickly smoothed over with diplomatic redirections.
By the time the feast began to wind down, Ali's head was spinning with all the undercurrents she'd observed but couldn't quite understand. She caught Sage's eye across the table and saw her own confusion mirrored there. Clearly, there was much more going on in the Summer Court than simple lessons in music and light-weaving.
"Well," Maple-Songs-At-Dusk said as the meal concluded, "that was quite an illuminating discussion. Shall we proceed to your afternoon lessons? I believe Blooming-Vines-At-Dawn has offered to show you the growing gardens, and after that..." they paused, glancing at the various fae instructors who had shown interest in Ali's education, "we shall see what other opportunities present themselves."
As they rose from the table, Ali noticed that both Nightshade-Among-Stars and Twilight-Stars-Dancing had disappeared again, though she hadn't seen either of them leave. The other fae were dispersing as well, each seeming to fade away in their own particular fashion - Melody-In-Moonlight's departure accompanied by faint musical notes, Blooming-Vines-At-Dawn's exit marked by a subtle fragrance of summer flowers.
"Remember," Maple-Songs-At-Dusk said softly as they prepared to leave the feasting hall, "in our court, every lesson teaches more than its surface content would suggest. Pay attention not just to what is being taught, but to who is teaching it, and why they might have chosen to do so."
With that cryptic advice, they led Ali and Sage out into the corridors once more, where new lessons - and quite possibly new political intrigues - awaited them.