Page 70 of Kingdom of Flames & Flowers
I shivered, remembering I’d been the only girl not examined.
“Just go along with it, please,” Leilani implored me as she saw the rising storm in my eyes.
I tamped down my anger and bit my tongue. Just because I was a loose cannon didn’t mean I’d ruin whatever chances of happiness my friends had. Even if I disagreed with it.
After an embarrassing but blessedly touch-less inspection by the oldest prima with wrinkled skin like worn leather, we could retreat to our pools. They had set chairs up as primas waited with pins and brushes.
I stopped, my feet firmly planted on the ground like a tree.
“Come on,” Azalea grit at me, poking me hard in the side. “It’s just hair.”
Yeah, easy to say for the beautiful redhead with straight hair that was easy to brush. A braid could only control my wild mane or putting it up like Haza had earlier.
The younger prima from before stepped in front of me, gesturing to the first chair. I sat down moodily, crossing my arms over my chest. Gently, she untied the leather thong, keeping my hair tied at the base of my braid as she smoothed her fingers through my hair against my scalp.
Ooh. That felt … nice.
I relaxed at the impromptu massage, not even minding when a second prima came over and took over untangling my hair as the first prima continued with her magick hands. This was one perk I wouldn’t say no to.
The first swipe of the large, long-toothed comb caught me off guard, and I winced in pain as it tackled the snarls and knots in my hair.
“Stop moving. It will be quicker that way.”
I didn’t care if it was quick or not—just less painful! The older prima glared at me, wielding her comb like she’d swat my nose with it. I huffed and settled in my chair, determined to bear this with grace. None of the other girls seemed to have the same problems I did.
“Such coarse hair and so dark.” The prima sniffed.
I wanted to turn and show her just how ‘coarse’ I could be, but seeing as she held the weapon of my demise, I bit my tongue and bore it. After a few minutes, the pain ceased, and her comb went easily through my hair, which had given up its struggle and now hung limply down my back in submission, even though it looked like a giant puffball.
“Finally. Now we start,” grumbled the prima.
For what felt like an hour, she twisted and plaited, tucked and pinned. The prima waged war on my hair while I was nothing more than a neutral third party standing by. At long last she ran out of pins, and stood back.
“It will have to do.”
Thank the gods. I stood, eager to get as far away from her and that chair as I could. “Oh Mari! It looks great!”
Leilani and Azalea were sipping from chilled goblets, their hair twisted and pinned in an elaborate updo. I supposed mine looked similar, from what I could feel on top of my head.
“We have to return to our rooms to dress. We’ll see you at the ball. I can’t wait for you to meet my betrothed—he’s so handsome!”
Leilani was nearly beside herself. Azalea gave a happy grin, but there was some sadness behind it. While Leilani turned to ask the prima a question, I leaned in close to Azalea. “Is there any chance you can slip into my room to read something to me? I’ve been trying to learn, but I have to know what it says now.”
Azalea’s brow lifted in interest for the first time since we’d been in the bathing chamber together. “I suppose. Can you sneak it to the ball? We’re all being watched closely.”
I considered this. “Probably. What, you don’t have a boy to introduce me to at the ball?”
She winced. “I will introduce you if you insist.”
Immediately I felt bad. “Azalea, I didn’t mean—”
“I’ll see you there.”
The primas were moving with concentrated effort, herding and shepherding all the girls away like we were cattle. The girls I didn’t know all looked plain, their hair unadorned and worn long around their face. Apparently, my friends and I were the only ones with fancy hairdos. From across the room, I heard Freesia’s dainty little laugh. Her too, I supposed.
“Alright then, I’ll bring it.”
I didn’t even argue as my two primas appeared on either side. I led the way back to my room, surprised I even knew it myself. Perhaps I was learning.
