Page 60 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

“Are you implying my carefully premeditated choice of a handmaid is insufficient? Do you suppose that I have ulterior motives for my decision or that I am not qualified to make a choice in this matter?” Rhea demanded.

“I amimplyingthat the king will have the final say on this matter,” Helena insisted.

Rhea looked flabbergasted and then frustrated.

“Shecannotgo without a handmaid. Unless you wish for her to become the fool of Riordan’s court! Allow me to be frank,” Rhea declared, turning her fiery attention to me suddenly. “You are a witch, Amira. Your reception here will not be an easy thing, but it can be helped if you adhere to as many of our customs as possible. This is not just a matter of having someone here to draw your baths and help you dress!”

“I know,” I assured her. Even Riordan had mentioned appointing a handmaid, so I knew it would be important.

The princess looked surprised at first that I agreed with her so easily, but then she raised her head a little haughtily as she glanced at Helena.

“What exactly does a handmaid do?” I asked her.

“She will manage your staff, coordinate what we can only hope will become a very busy schedule, and she will maintain your personal hygiene as well as your wardrobe. She will learn your favourite foods, as well as any aversions you may have, to ensure your meals are healthy for you and always to your personal taste. It will be important for you to dress right, to style your hair in the current fashion, and to behave with the refinement and dignity expected of the king’s mate. But a handmaid is not merely a person who will care for your needs. She is also of noble blood, and she is trained in politics and social etiquette. She will make sure you always know to whom you are speaking. She will read your cues to know when you are bored or uncomfortable with a conversation, and she will rescue you from it. She makes sure that you are always the most informed person in the room and will screen anyone who wishes to engage with you.”

“Whoa. All of that sounds very helpful,” I admitted, especially since Helena and I couldn’t even figure out how to put on my nightdress. I didn’t have much hope of navigating Riordan’s court without some serious help.

Rhea was pleased she’d made her point.

“Then I shall leave you in Sofia’s very capable hands,” she said before signalling the other two maids, including Kassia, her own handmaid, and they all left the room.

Sofia waited until the door was closed, and then she turned to me with a smile that seemed a little uncertain.

“You should eat while your breakfast is hot, my lady,” she advised me, approaching to peel back my covers before she placed a pair of slippers on the ground for me. “When you are finished, I’ve arranged for a seamstress to take your measurements so we can begin work on a new wardrobe. I was informed of the impracticality of the current style for you, and I have some ideas on how to adjust the dresses. In the meantime,I did acquire several articles from the fey market in the Rookery which I hope will be more suited to you,” she informed me.

“Really?” I gaped as I slid my feet into the slippers. “Thank you so much!”

Sofia moved behind me with a floor-length, long-sleeved dressing gown which slipped over my skin like silk. It had to be one of the articles of clothing she’d already acquired which had a full back. And it was perfect for the slight chill that was in the room from the open balcony where my breakfast had been laid out.

Sofia guided me over to the table where I sat on one of the stools which would be better suited to someone with wings and drew in a deep breath of the delectable scent. The only thing missing was a cup of coffee since I burned my pack with the instant stuff while protecting Riordan on our way to the Vale.

“Allow me to taste it first,” Helena suggested to me.

“I always taste the food the moment all the other staff leave the room,” Sofia reassured her.

“I was assigned to Lady Amira bythe king. And I take my job as seriously as you do,” Helena maintained.

“I have never had a lady poisoned in my care! I would not tarnish my career now by allowing theking’s mateto become the first,” Sofia maintained fiercely.

And weirdly enough, the fact that Sofia’s first concern was for her reputation actually made enough sense to me that I believed her. A heartfelt profession wishing for my health and happiness would have come across as disingenuous, but Sofia was a professional.

“Will the both of you not join me?” I asked them.

“I am on duty,” Helena declared.

“I ate hours ago,” Sofia said at the same time.

“Oh, come on! You should both know that I am not a fan of all the… classism. If we are all to spend this much time together then I would like for us to be friendly.”

“Then you are like his Majesty. You believe in equality for all griffins,” stated Sofia as if she were filing away this information about me. Learning her new charge.

“Absolutely! And fey too. But it would make me very happy if we could do away with the formalities. Even if it is just behind closed doors,” I added when I recalled all of Orion’s concerns about how I would disgrace the king.

“I shall note that for future,” said Sofia, looking a little uncertain of this request, but she was clearly determined to try and please me.

Helena was far easier to convince.

“I should taste it regardless,” she muttered as she sank into the seat opposite me and began to survey the table.

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