Page 34 of Vows of Sacrifice

“It is difficult to dry,” I explained, so as not to hurt her feelings.

If I let her, there was a good chance my hard-to-tame mane would double in volume, and that was out of the question. Since I didn’t have a bonnet, I’d have to ask them for combs or hairpins.

Seitha held a diaphanous dress under my nose.

“For you,” she said, smiling.

I touched the fabric, which seemed too delicate, then shook my head.

“I can’t wear this, it’s too . . . too . . .”

How could I explain it to them without upsetting them? Seitha insisted.

“Gift from the king. You put it on. Important.”

She and I looked into each other’s eyes for a long time.

“You’re not going to give in, are you?” I finally said.

The maid’s smile deepened. I surrendered. The undergarments that went beneath this two-piece dress seemed almost invisible, the material so thin. I feel like I’m naked, I mused, admiring my reflection in a large mirror. My long, curly hair fell freely to the small of my loins, and this dress, made of layered emerald-green sheers, made me feel like a princess from a forgotten fairy tale.

“My lady, I’m back . . .”

Dovah. Yet the rest of his sentence was lost in a curious silence that provoked a series of giggles from the chambermaids. I instinctively turned towards the front door and saw an expression I’d never seen before. It was as if he suddenly found it hard to breathe. Which was probably the case, as he’d placed a hand to his heart.

“Doesn’t this look a bit strange on me?” I asked, not quite sure of the image I projected. “It seems to be a gift from His Majesty. I could hardly refuse his present . . . Dovah, are you listening?”

He hadn’t moved an eyelash, as if petrified.

“I don’t know whether to thank him or curse him,” he finally muttered before blinking several times.

I tilted my head to one side, intrigued by his words. Seitha laughed softly before hurrying out, followed by Nirgide and Sydhass. The two of us were now alone. It was strange, because the truth is, I wanted to talk to him about a thousand things. Elendur, Osacan, Nadrisse. The customs of this country. Clothes. Tarnton. Yet I couldn’t get started.

“I need to bathe as well,” he continued.

He, too, seemed suddenly uncomfortable. I took a step forward and saw his gaze shift to my chest. Oh, not for long, but enough for me to notice. Could it be that this Osacan outfit is too revealing? I immediately worried.

“Maybe I should change . . .” I began.

“No!” he interrupted quickly, extending a hand in my direction.

Dovah then cleared his throat.

“It suits you divinely and, er . . . Besides, it’s a gift from the king.”

An awkward silence stretched between us.

“Very well, in that case, I’ll at least leave you take your bath . . .”

“No!” he reiterated.

This time, I gave him a questioning look. He smiled at me, that mischievous smile that made his eyes sparkle. When Dovah’s eyes lit up like that, he could look so young! So relaxed! He was almost no longer the same man. It was as if the fierce warrior whose boots were stained with blood had never existed. A long shiver ran down my spine at that thought.

“I like your company.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it, before opening it again to speak:

“Do you need my company while you wash?”

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