Page 108 of Rook of Ruin
He stares back, completely serious.
I frown. “I want time to settle in. Please, Simon.”
Simon scoops up his leathers and begins to put them on again. “No. We can’t. My brother is here, waiting for us.”
I quickly rinse the suds out of my hair, and Simon hands me a towel. He gives me a quick kiss before leaving me unsatisfied and annoyed. I follow him out, and lie back on the bed, our bed. The petals stick to my damp hair, and I frown as he puts on his boots.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Simon’s dimples pull into his face.
“Don’t look at you like what?” I purse my lips.
He walks over to the door. “Like you’re disappointed.”
“I am.” There’s no point in lying.
“I don’t want to go either. I want to be buried deep inside you, practicing for our future.” Simon reaches for the door handle.
I laugh. “Practicing for our future?”
“Yes.” He winks and walks out the door just as a woman with auburn hair, a button nose, and dimpled chin comes into the room. This woman is a bit burly and gobsmackingly beautiful.
She curtsies low, waiting for me to acknowledge her, and I sit up. “Hello.”
“Your Royal Highness.” She smiles a little too sweetly. “I was selected by Her Majesty Queen Ffion as a wedding gift. I have been serving as a lady’s maid for ten years at the castle. My name is Taen. Shall I get your things ready?”
“Thank you. That is very kind of our queen. I shouldn’t take long to get ready and would appreciate the company.” Before she can speak, I walk over to a chest of drawers, then open each drawer, not surprised to find many of my things already putaway. I choose what I need and rush into the bathroom, quickly putting on my fighting leathers, which do not smell the nicest. I open the cabinets, not finding what I need, and when I open the door, I see a beautiful dress hanging for me. Taen turns around, and I watch the effort it takes for her not to frown.
“Your Highness—” Taen begins.
“O, please. I would like to be a little less formal in private.”
“O,” she says through a false smile. “The king and queen will be expecting the new princess of Bethal to dress in a less . . . aggressive fashion.”
“Will the travel be long?” I ask, trying very hard not to be annoyed.
“You should arrive later tonight.” Her smile doesn’t falter.
“Then I will wear my leathers.” My voice does not allow for an argument. “Is there a perfume or something I can use to mask the smell?”
“Yes.” She dips her head and rummages through a box next to the bed she must have brought in. She holds out a small bottle, and then frowns outright. “If I may?”
“Yes, of course.”
She splatters black goop on a cloth and rubs it on my leathers, making them shine and smell much better. When she finishes, she sprays a beautifully floral perfume all over me. I follow Taen into the bathroom, and she pulls out different brushes, putting several different powders on my face, a few swipes of charcoal, rouge, and more black goop on my eyelashes.
Taen takes my uneven hair in her hands. “I will request a stylist to cut your hair at the castle.”
“It was sliced off by a Roggenwolf.” I shrug, feeling the need to explain my ragged state.
“Oh!” She brings her hand to her chest. “You’ve seen one?”
“Yes, more than one.” I leave it at that. I will wait for her to find out more on her own—I want to see how much I can trust her.
Taen nods in understanding. “It is difficult for our farmers. The king is very proactive in sending warriors, but with each attack, it means less crops being pulled in. Many warriors assist the farmers bringing in our grain. I think it’s marvelous that the king thought of it.” She braids my hair in an intricate design, quickly and efficiently.
“It is.” I silently wish the queen of Acros had done the same. Perhaps send a few Rooks out. But maybe she has since we sent word back to the castle about an entire village being decimated.
“Done. Now for your crown.” Taen smiles, her overbite very pronounced. I like it—I think it makes her even more beautiful. Her skirt swishes as she leaves the room, and then she comes in with a diamond-encrusted crown. It is heavy and uncomfortable, but I wear it for Simon, for Bethal.
