Page 30 of Weaving Winter

“I can see she’s already insulting you,” Fenling said with a frown. “Rose is the color of lesser townswomen. Above servant class, but never worn by nobility.” She frowned. “I don’t care if we’re late. Tonyah, fetch her a lilac dress.”

“I don’t want to make her mad—” I started to say, but Tonyah had already left the room.

“I don’t give a fig what she thinks,” Fenling said. “I will not allow you to be insulted. You are here as Bran’s guest, and my guest. We will be the ones to decide how to present you.” Her eyes flashed and I caught a glimpse of something behind them—something wild and feral. Her command was undeniable.

“How are you not in charge, with that voice?” I grinned at her.

“I wish…or rather, I don’t wish. I just wish Karehl was a better person. He’s brought down the kingdom…” She stopped, once again sighing. “I forget my own rules, at times. Here comes Tonyah with your dress.”

The dress was almost the same style as the other, but the color was a deep lilac. As soon as I was laced into it and my hair done, we hurried down the hallway towards the princess’s chambers. As we entered through the massive iron-reinforced door, the footman stiffened to attention. Her personal steward approached us.

“Please announce us,” Fenling said.

“Very good, Lady Fenling.” He clicked his heels, turned, and we followed him through a large room that appeared to be for entertaining, into a private parlor. Princess Charla was sitting there, an impatient look on her face. We curtseyed and waited for her to speak.

“You’ve taken your time,” she said, waving for us to sit.

Fenling took the seat nearest her, and I sat next to her.

“My apologies, Your Highness. It’s my fault. The dress laid out for Asajia to wear had a stain on it, so we had to find another.”

Very clever, I thought. A good way to get out of explaining why I was wearing the lilac.

Charla had a look on her face like she smelled something bad, but she merely nodded. “Tea and sweets,” she ordered the serving girl standing beside her. “And don’t dawdle.”

“So, how are things out in the great, wide, world?” Charla asked.

“Cold, but beautiful. I’ll be glad when we can head out again, as much as I value you taking time out of your busy schedule, Your Highness.”

We accepted our teacups from the servant, and plates of sweetcakes. I was crossing my fingers—mentally—that I could get out of here without saying more than a word or two. But I wasn’t that lucky.

“So, Asajia, you’re from the People of the Snow, yes?”

I nodded. “Yes, I am.” Hastily I added, “Your Majesty.”

“What village?”

Crap. I didn’t want to tell her. I didn’t want her to find out where I was from because then there was always the possibility she could contact Garimorn. I quickly ran through possibilities. There was another village a ways off from Renmark.

“I’m from North Face. But we lived out in the woods and seldom made it to town.”

“We? Are you married?”

I shook my head. “My parents both died in the past few years. I’ve pretty much stayed to myself since then.”

Charla looked mildly interested. “Are you married? Have you ever been married?”

I shook my head. “No, Your Highness.”

Then, she pushed the boundaries. “Are you a virgin? My husband likes virgins and I’d rather he not take any sluts into his bed who might infect him with some disease.”

I caught my breath and stiffened. I wasn’t sure of what to do, but I damned well wasn’t going to answer that. My first instinct was to backhand her, but I fought the desire down, though I couldn’t stop shaking.

“I think that’s the end of our tea. And I suggest that Your Majesty reconsider that question,” Fenling said, abruptly standing. “Know this. My cousin Bran will back me up. Leave Asajia alone. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have things to do.” She motioned for me to follow her, and without a backwards glance, we headed out of the room.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The moment we got back to Fenling’s room, I stripped off the dress, tearing it in my haste to get it off. “I want my own clothes,” I said. “I want my own clothes, my things, and then I’m getting the hell out of this place.”

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