“Dak—”
“—For a certainty,pani, will I take my grievance afore the Chief Priestess does my brother not sort it out the soonest.”
Hermaninodded definitively, which Dari found reassuring. It didn’t lessen the impact of King Elian ruining her eighteenth birthday, yet could she still find some solace in it.
“Mayhap the Chief Priestess will let me go back home to Ti Q’won?” the princess asked hopefully. If Ari would grant her that boon she would even consider asking her sister and cousin to allow her to break their vow amongst cousins. “Leastways, is such possible?”
“I would that I could give you mine aye,pani.” Her sire sighed. “Yet I truly do not know the answer to that.”
When theholo-callwas finished, Dari permitted herself a good, long cry. Qenda tried to console her, which only served to turn the princess’ tears into body-racking sobs.
“’Tis sorry I am, milady,” Qenda said gently as she traced a hand down Dari’s back. “I know how badly you were looking forward to seeing yourmaniand papa.”
“I-I give you my thanks,” Dari said between sobs. “Whatever would I do without you?”
“I worry over that question myself.”
“W-What do you mean?”
Qenda sighed. “My bound servitude comes to an end in one month’s time, Princess. I can’t stand the thought of leaving you to Elian’s wicked devices when ‘tis time for me to leave.”
This moon-rising showed no end to its bad news. Still…
“Worry not for me,” Dari insisted. She drew herself up on her raised bed from the laying position to the sitting one. “I am happy for you that you will be bound no more.” She was quiet for a moment and then, “Where will you go?”
A dreamy look enveloped her beautiful, golden features. “I’ve oft dreamt of experiencing Galis.” Qenda shrugged. “Mayhap I can work in Trader City for a time until I’ve enough credits to purchase a ticket there.”
And mayhap they would see each other again after all. “Trader City won’t be necessary,” Dari promised her. “I mean, working there.”
“I don’t understand…”
“I am willing unto you the whole of mykazis,” the princess informed her. “Royalkaziswill fetch you more than enough credits to carry onward to Galis.”
“Oh milady! I couldn’t—”
“I insist.” She nodded definitively, in the way hermanidid when she meant business. “It’s not as though I will have any use for them past this eve. Leastways, I should already be wearing themazi. I just haven’t had the mind to change into one since learning of the wretched king’s equally wretched decision concerning my parents.” She forced a smile to her lips. “’Twould do me an honor if you accept my gifts. Goddess knows any female I aid in fleeing from this hellscape is one less female I will fret o’er.”
“When you put it like that…” Qenda smiled. “I give you mine aye.” Her gaze searched Dari’s. “Thank you, milady. Truly.”
Dari patted her hand. “Please help me remove thekaziI am wearing then add it to your collection. And oh—” Dari remembered, “—hide thekazis‘til ‘tis time. I won’t have that horrid man interrupting our deal.”
“’Tis a vow.”
That accomplished, Dari stood up whilst Qenda helped her remove her clothing. Naked, she stared down at themazishermanihad sent toArakiajust one eve afore. She was supposed to choose one of these to wear on what was meant to be one of the happiest moon-risings of her life, but the king had ensured her big day would never be remembered thusly. As such, she no longer cared which one she wore.
“Choose one for me,” she instructed Qenda on a sigh. “And have theKefasdraw me a bath.”
Chapter Five
Dari took her time in the bathing hole, not having a care for whether she was holding up King Elian or not. Leastways, now that she was done crying and had regained her wits about her, ‘twas all she could do to keep from sporting her temper. ThirtyNuba-minutesturned into sixty then sixty into ninety and still she didn’t emerge from her bathing hole. ‘Twas only when the king’s favored bound servants came knocking that the princess deigned to remove herself to thevesha-benchthat the slaves might work oils into her body afore brushing out and decorating her hair.
By the time all was said and done, twoNuba-hourshad passed by. Dari knew the king was irritated with her for his bound servants had pointed out as much, but then neither did she care.
When at last she emerged from her rooms, Dari knew she looked stunning. Hermaziwas a mesh of light blue and gold, the gems it was spun from matching those she’d chosen for her hair. The adornments in her micro-braids were subtle, classy, and expertly woven throughout. She had an ethereal look about her, as though she was a part of nature itself. She walked down the long hallway that led to the dining hall with her back straight and her chin notched up.
The king would not see her depressed. She refused to grant him that boon.
“Why would you do this?!” she heard Gio bellow long afore she saw him.“Why?”
