Page 36 of Song of Earth and Claws
“We will go outside, Blann,” Lannahi chimed in. “I don’t think the shapeshifters will come close to the city. Besides, Ashared said the Palace Guard will protect us.”
“He said that?” Souhi asked with interest, and Lannahi told her about both what she had learned about him and her suspicions.
Blann’s hair turned yellow. “Ashared is having an affair with Lizaar?!” she exclaimed.
“Keep your voice down, Blann,” Souhi rebuked her. When the flowerspeaker slapped her hands over her mouth, she turned her gaze to Lannahi. “If Ashared offered protection, it means that the landshapers aren’t planning to kill you.”
Lannahi sent her a bleak smile. “I’m not so sure. Did you see the angle the column of that broken bed was tilted? If it had collapsed during the night, I might not have awakened in the morning.”
“But it did not collapse at night,” Souhi noted. “Besides, I don’t believe they really thought you would accept the room without any protest. They wanted to see how you would react. It was a test.”
As if her words attracted it, they heard a thud coming down from one of the other rooms.
“And now they are properly cleaning it,” Blann finished.
For the first time that day, Lannahi’s smile was genuine.
***
A few minutes before leaving for dinner, Erril knocked on her door.
“Volunteers with bedding,” he announced cheerfully through the thick wood.
Lannahi, who was standing by the window, turned to face the door and commanded, “Open.” It did, presenting a girl with short horns and her arms full of colorful fabrics.
The girl, busy glaring at Erril, turned her surprised gaze to Lannahi. She assumed a polite expression and entered the chamber, glancing behind the door as if expecting to see someone there. When she discovered that no one was, unease flashed in her eyes. Though the girl quickly pulled herself together, Lannahi knew that her minor display had added a few points to her fearful reputation.
“Come in,” Lannahi said, noticing a second, much shorter girl standing behind the young landshaper.
“Your Highness,” the girl said, staring directly at Lannahi’s face and pretending that the sight of her vertical pupils didn’t bother her. “My name is Nuur. Stewardess Gannar sent me and my colleague Sevii to assist you.”
Lannahi regarded them. Standing next to pale, grey-eyed, grey-haired Sevii, tall Nuur with her ginger braid was like a blossom tree towering over a drab rock, but that was only a seeming difference. Both were as young as they were diffident.
Innocence or a trap?Lannahi wondered.
Did Gannar purposedly choose these two girls to gain her trust, or did they volunteer, believing that they would be able to hide their true intentions?
Either way, Lannahi knew she could not trust them.
“You can put the bedding and curtains on the sofa,” she said.
Nuur hesitated. “You don’t want us to make your bed?”
Lannahi smiled. “There’s no need.” When the maids relinquished their loads, she added, “Next time you need to carry something burdensome, send for my assistant Souhi. She will save you the trouble.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Nuur said but her smile was tentative as if she didn’t know if she should fear another enchantress or be glad that the woman would relieve her from some of her duties.
“I would like you to work two shifts, so that I have access to one of you at all times. Do you agree?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Nuur replied.
Lannahi shifted her gaze to the shorter girl. “And you, Sevii?”
The servant seemed perplexed, but it was hard to tell whether it was due to the attention she was receiving or by the kindness she wasn’t expecting. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Good. We will begin tomorrow. Today you are free.”
Nuur curtsied and Sevii quickly did the same, then they both left the chamber.
