Page 95 of Scourged
“You are both always welcome in my country. May this forever be a home to you.” Mariah paused, just a breath. “I have a question for you, as well.”
The Kreah sisters stayed silent. Waiting.
“You risked your lives for me. As Kreah, you know far more about the continent than I ever will. Because of that …” Mariah drew in a breath. “I would like to ask you both if you’d like to join my court. As ladies, to serve by my side. To counsel me in my rule for the rest of your time on this earth.”
Behind her, Ciana sobbed. Delaynie whispered ashush. A smile twitched on Mariah’s lips.
Slowly, smiles spread across Kiira and Rylla’s faces. Kiira stepped forward first.
“It would be our absolute honor, Your Majesty.”
With laughing sobs and sounds of delight, the five women surrounded each other, enjoying a friendship they each never knew they would find and were too stunned to believe they’d been blessed with.
On the balcony railing, a golden eagle watched, sharp aureate eyes watching the shared moment before lifting from her perch and disappearing into the sky above.
Chapter 37
The sitting room walls were painted white and covered with resplendent paintings, each set in a similarly rich plated gold frame. They were signs of opulence and wealth, power emanating throughout the room. All the way down to the stiff chair upholstered in maroon suede, where Anniliese Hareth sat in her lilac gown, clutching a cup of tea and wondering how bad the bruises from her corset would be tomorrow.
She daintily sipped the warm liquid, chamomile and vanilla tickling her throat. Across from her sat Lady Florithe Beauchamp, the youngest of the lord’s wives. Anniliese’s father had instructed her to take tea with the other young woman, to foster a friendship.
What her father hadn’t mentioned was how dreadfully boring and drab the lady was. Pretty enough, as Anniliese eyed her honeycomb hair and milky skin, but as empty as the decorative vase sitting between them on the marble coffee table.
“I suppose as we move into the spring and summer, we can fill the space with peonies and tulips. But I fear the pollen might upset my allergies! How dreadful, to be sneezing all over. Simply would not do.”
“Yes,” Anniliese said dryly then drained the rest of her tea. “Goddess forbid the men remember we are human with a sneeze.”
Lady Beauchamp went rigid.
Oops. She definitely hadn’t meant to say that out loud. She’d been raised better than that. Was bred better than that.
“I only mean,” Anniliese tacked on hastily, “that it is simply not lady-like! The men work too hard; they deserve our best, always.”
That assuaged Lady Beauchamp, her posture relaxing as a smile filled her smooth and empty face. “Yes, you are absolutely right. To please our lords is our greatest honor in life.”
Anniliese smiled back, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She’d had tea with Lady Beauchamp before—plenty of times, actually. And while the lady certainly was as simple as they came, these afternoons never used to grind on Anniliese the way they did now.
She’d always been happy with her station in life, content knowing she was blessed to have been born into one of the six Royal houses. Growing up knowing of the high possibility she would be Chosen as Ryenne’s successor, would move into the palace, would continue her life of wealth and opulence and comfort.
Even when that future was snatched from her, she’d still been relatively content. Still happy with her dresses and tea, the flowers and pastries and jewels.
Until the lords brought in the new queen, and Anniliese was forced to confront everything she’d lost. Everything that was given to another so beneath her, sounworthy.
The worst part was that by the end, she wasn’t sure if she even still hated Mariah.
Anniliese set her teacup on the table with a clink. “Well,” she said, standing and pressing out the front of her skirts as hercorset pulled tight across her chest. “I fear I must be going. I am to have dinner with my father and our hosts this evening; can’t be late for such an honor!”
Lady Beauchamp nearly dropped her cup before bustling to her feet. “Oh, my! No, you absolutely cannot. I do hope I have not kept you. As always, it was such a pleasure to take tea with you, Lady Anniliese. Let’s meet again soon!”
Anniliese smiled, another fake, forced thing. “Of course. These meetings for tea are always the highlight of my week.”
Lady Beauchamp beamed, and with a sigh of relief, Anniliese stepped from the room on her delicate, slippered feet.
The air about the great keep at Khento was light and relaxed, the thick haze of celebration and comfort evident in every room. The lords gathered in the great hall and feasted every night, their raucous laughter echoing down the hallways. It was only in her rooms, situated in a comfortable guest wing of the castle, where Anniliese could find any peace.
The merriment that filled the keep was … bizarre, to put it mildly. Anniliese hardly knew what to make of it all. A little over a week ago, Mariah had escaped with the help of her Armature, and ever since, the lords had behaved as if this was a cause for celebration. As far as Anniliese knew, no attempts were made to search for the young queen or to follow and bring them back to the keep. How any part of the situation could be good for the lords was an unwelcome mystery.
The only lord who seemed at least mildly perturbed was Lord Laurent. Anniliese twisted her thin necklace, adebutantegift from her father, around the column of her throat as she padded around a corner and up a flight of stairs. The foul-tempered Lord of Antoris was even pricklier than usual, his mood worsening after it was discovered Andrian had fled back to Verith with Mariah.