“Just homesick,” I said, taking the cup from her gratefully. It warmed my hands while she draped the cloak around my shoulders and fastened it with an eagle-winged brooch at my throat. Though the colors were much duller than I was used to, it was still beautifully made, and the fur immediately warmed my neck.
“That happens to me, too,” Raven said as she met my gaze in the mirror, “but mostly at night. I miss my sisters.”
I turned to look at her. “How many do you have?”
“Two, but they’re younger than I am. Being promoted to serving you has been a huge blessing from the Lord of the Skies because now my sisters will have better prospects for marriage.”
I was dumbfounded for a moment, completely out of my depth at this small glimpse into Zephyrian society. “I’m sure your family is extremely proud of you.”
“It’s certainly worth the homesickness to know I’m helping them,” she said with a kind smile.
“I can relate.”
Her eyes widened. “Yes, of course. I’m sure your people are so thankful that you agreed to the terms of the treaty. It must have been really hard leaving your family.”
She was the first one who had said this to me, and it had theimmediate effect of causing my eyes to well up. Embarrassed by the sudden flood of emotion, I swallowed hard and nodded. “Anything for peace,” I managed to croak out.
“We owe you our gratitude for that, too.” She handed me a soft cotton cloth to dab at my eyes. “I’m sorry! I think I’ve only made you sadder.”
“No, it’s been so nice feeling understood for a moment.”
She still looked at me with concerned sympathy, but then she sucked in her breath. “I know what will help. Have you been to the hot springs yet?”
“No, I didn’t realize there were any near here.”
“They’re in the palace, on the lower level. The water is green and as big as a lake. It feels amazing.”
My new cloak would keep me warm, but I loved the idea of soaking in hot water. “I would love to go.”
She walked briskly out of the sitting room and pulled open the door to the hallway. “The future empress would like to go to the hot springs now,” she told Baz, who stood guard.
He hesitated. “I’m not sure—”
“The emperor told me he hoped I would get acclimated to palace life,” I interrupted. “Surely a visit to the hot springs is nothing out of the ordinary?”
He looked from me to Raven before finally nodding. “Of course, mistress.”
“There are plenty of thick robes for you to use to dry off with,” Raven said. “Baz will take you to the private area for royalty only so you will have the space to yourself.”
After thanking her for the suggestion, I followed Baz down the long hallway and into the labyrinth that was the palace. We walked in silence for a few minutes, until we turned a corner and suddenly heard voices. Lord Heron and two noblewomen lookedup at our approach, and immediately, a sudden chill raced down my spine.
Their expressions were pure disdain.
“Future Empress Zara,” Lord Heron said with a mean smile, “how nice to see you out of your room.”
I just arched an eyebrow at him in answer, refusing to rise to the bait.
“Allow me to introduce Lady Corvina and Lady Starling,” he said, and each woman did a quick bow.
They were both dressed in heavy fur-trimmed brocade gowns, one a dove gray and the other a winter white. Both wore their shiny, jet-black hair in low chignons. That was where the similarity between the two of them ended, though. Lady Corvina watched me with small, narrowed eyes, her mouth pursed in what looked like a permanent pout. Lady Starling wore a smile that could have just as easily been a grimace.
“These are prominent ladies from noble houses,” Lord Heron continued. “Either of them would have been considered a good match for the emperor.”
I didn’t know how I was supposed to respond to that, so I just stared at him until he shifted uncomfortably.
“I tell you this because they can be invaluable at helping you to learn Zephyrian etiquette—if you’re open to that, of course.”
“I’m sure I could use the instruction,” I said, trying to keep the sarcasm from my voice. “I was just heading to the hot springs, though—”
