Page 121 of Insolence
(Bathhouse)
.: Feast of First Night ~ 18:00 to 19:50 :.
(Refectory)
.: Festivities ~ 20:00 to 00:00 :.
(Central Courtyard)
.: River-viewing ~ 00:00 to 00:50 :.
(Observatory)
.: Lights out ~ 1:00 :.
Chapter 36
Itissa
The clank of pots and pans mingles with the din of overlapping voices. Stifling heat clobbers me long before I reach the Main Kitchens.
The Feast of First Night is this evening, and one glance confirms pandemonium rules today’s dinner prep.
“You’re in the gardens,” snaps Ghisele, looking up from the herbs she’s obliterating at her cutting board.
This is the first I’m seeing of her today. “Hello to you too.” I make my voice syrupy-sweet. “I trust your free time was pleasant this morning?”
“I was studying for my apprenticeship. Somethingyou’reprobably never going to have to worryabout,” she sneers, adjusting her grip on the knife and stabbing it into the chopping block so viciously it stands on its own.
“Oi!” howls Cook from across the kitchen. “I don’t care who’s your mentor, girl; that knife cost more than your life.”
Enid rolls her eyes, shaking her head from the prep table, chestnut curls swinging. A snicker drifts up from where the handmaidens are plucking chickens.
“Goddess knows why they assignedhera key to the sharps cabinet.” Kiera's warm brown eyes remain on Ghisele a moment longer, her hands moving lightning quick over her bird.
“I thought they kept them locked up for a reason,” I mutter and consult the board listing our daily chore assignments.
I haven’t the slightest notion why I check anymore. I’m always in the damn gardens.
“Ow!” I yank off my glove and stick my throbbing thumb in my mouth. I’ve been running behind all afternoon. In my rush to weed the vegetables, I jammed the same thumb for the third consecutive time.
“Having trouble?” Elodie’s voice is startling. “May I see?” She kneels beside me in the dirt.
Giving my hand a shake, I place it in her outstretched palm.
“Ah!” I suck air through my teeth as she slowly flexes it.
“Sorry.” She grimaces. “It’s swollen. The good news is there are no sprains or tears. You would’ve been howling, otherwise.”
It was just last night that El showed me the Sanctum of the True Goddess.
In the days since we first practiced setting up my wards, I’ve realized that I’m positively throbbing, buzzing, vibrating with unspent energy longing to be unloosed. So bound up with need, I haven’t been sleeping well. All I can do is toss and turn, running my arms and legs over my cool sheets in a pointless search for relief.
Elodie’s stunning face is limned in the glow of golden hour. My hand still nestled in her lap, she drags gentle fingertips across my sensitive palm. I can’t stop my involuntary moan.
Something primal and wretchedly familiar shifts behind my ribs. Oh. Oh, no…
“Ground ivy is notoriously stubborn.” Her voice is mild. As if that sound didn’t just come out of me.
