Durvla
A woman crouchesbefore a young Carys, a pained expression on her fair face, a golden crown settled atop her head. “Cariad, deep breaths,” she says. “You’re going to burn the whole palace down.”
Something jostles my shoulder, and I flinch, but the picture before me doesn’t change, nor do I wake up. Iamdreaming, aren’t I?
The woman stands, and the image of young Carys fades to nothing. I recoil. What in the name of the gods is happening? The blond woman’s eyes widen, her jaw going slack. “It’s you,” she says, and I glance around, but there’s no one else here.
“Òr fìor-basduun…” Awe is written all over her face as she rambles off more words in a language that sounds both familiar and strange.
I stare at her brown eyes that look into my very soul. It sends a shiver through me. She’s suddenly directly in front of me, grasping my hand, and it feels… soreal.
I’ve got to wake up.
Another jostle to my shoulder and my surroundings wavers as though I’m viewing everything underwater.
“Not yet,” the woman says. “Stay a moment.” Her face is so warm and so wrought with emotion. Before me, her features morph, changing from that young queen from years ago to an older version of herself. “Don’t be afraid,” she says. “Everything is going to be alright.” She lifts a delicate hand to my face and cups my cheek. It’s both warm and cool at the same time. “Deep breaths. You’re going to wake up now. Keep breathing.”
My brows draw together but I nod and follow her deep breathing. In slowly, out slowly. In. Out.
A stinging sensation tears the fabric of my dream. The world before me crumbles away, along with the queen, leaving behind… my bedchamber.
My eyes fly open, my chest heaving. I crawl back against the bed blinking rapidly. Deep breaths. In. Out. In… My arm smarts and I rub at it, finding Ellynne’s concerned face hovering over me.
“… me a scare,” she says. I only make out half of her words. She’s sitting on the edge of the bed beside me. “Sorry I had to pinch you.”
That explains the pain. My mind stumbles over the strange and eerily familiar words uttered by the queen in my dreams. Perhaps I’ve read in the book of fairytales before? Goose bumps prickle my skin, and I force myself to face Ellynne again.
“—t’ve been one hell of a nightmare. Or a daymare, I suppose.”
“Something like that,” I mumble. I push unruly curls from my face and glance around. Beside me lies the book I’d been reading. It hadn’t been my intention to fall asleep. One look toward the window tells me that it’s already evening. I’ve been out for hours. That’s what I get for going to bed so late lastnight.
“Don’t panic,” says Ellynne. “You still have time. We’d better get started though. We have our work cut out for us.” She reaches out and lifts a limp curl from my forehead before dropping it.
I frown at her. “Shouldn’t you also be getting dressed? What about Carys?”
She waves her hand dismissively. “I’m an old hand at that—and don’t you dare make a comment about my age.”
A giggle tumbles from me. “I won’t. Besides, you can’t be that old?”
“Thirty. But I’ve been doing this for a while. I’ll be in my dress, hair done, makeup complete in no time. And currently, Carys is visiting the queen.” She smiles at me. “I know I absolutely reek of royalty, but don’t forget I’m a mere servant—Carys’s personal servant, yes, but still a servant. Not much is expected of my attire.”
“You know she doesn’t see you as amereservant.”
She smiles and there’s a trace of sadness in her eyes. “Maybe Carys doesn’t, but everyone else does.”
I go still for a moment, pondering her words. “But if that’s true for you, what makes me any different?”
“Youcreated the dress of her dreams and gave her the confidence that she lacked for this Feast. The suitors are guests of honor, but you areherguest of honor. You must dress and act the part. You might have a lot of attention and questions coming your way tonight. Who knows, maybe you’ll even get a job in a noble’s household. Or perhaps a job in Ballybaeg? You wouldn’t be too far from your home and your loved ones, but you could still supply wearables for Mainland and earn your keep.”
It sounds tempting, but impossible. There’s Taig. There’s my comfortable life at home. I crave the tedium right now.
My last bath in Paramount Castle is divine, and I savor every moment. When it’s over, I sit at my desk in my chemise while Ellynne works her oiled fingers through my curls. Lowri stands within my view,rummaging in the large pocket of the apron over her blue linen dress. She holds up a thick green ribbon for Ellynne, then lowers it. No seal of approval, I assume. Lowri fishes a long, silver clip from her apron pocket. A moment later, she smiles.
There’s the seal of approval.
After my hair has been tugged repeatedly, Ellynne dips a square of muslin cloth into a small container and rubs rouge over my cheeks. “Carys was right. You do have flawless skin. I’m jealous,” she says. She chuckles and I smile back at her. “One more touch.” She holds up a small paintbrush. “A little color on your lips. Just a little.”
I nod and sit still as she applies the color to my lips.
