Or maybe he and the Inquisitors would torture me to death, trying to learn about the Shadowlands and the black tide.
They would never believe I knew nothing.
"Are you okay?"
Bláth's voice struck me like a slap. I slammed my head against the wall as I whipped around to look at her.
"Well," Bláth said, running a hand along the wall as she approached me. "You aren't now, at least."
Rubbing my head, I gathered myself. "Is something wrong?"
"No.” She knelt beside me, frowning. "We haven't had time to talk. You must be wondering what I think."
I shifted into a more dignified sitting position. "About Cierthine choosing me? Or about all this?" I gestured vaguely.
"The former," she sighed. "Reese told you I'm a handmaiden, right? Unfortunately, I don't represent what Forlaith will think." Her lips spread into a grin. "You probably don't have many allies, right now. But I think it's grand."
Plenty of women around the kingdom would find news of my title fascinating. Inspiring. Plenty more would be appalled.
At least this one liked the idea.
"How did a Solheart become a lowly handmaiden, anyhow?" I asked.
Bláth sat beside me, one knee pulled up. "That is a long, touchy story. I'm not a noblewoman. And I'm a foul-blood, at that."
"But all Solheart children?—”
"Are Solhearts.” Bláth rolled her eyes. "Not in Forlaith, they aren't. If you aren't pureblood, you're cast out.” She chuckled. "Being a handmaiden must sound mundane, but my Lady gives me interesting work."
"Like dying at the hands of dragons."
"Brighid is lucky she pays me well, otherwise I'd quit." Bláth nudged me. "I'd bet she'd love to meet you. Would try to sponsor you, too. Vouch for letting you keep the title."
"You'll have to introduce us.” I sat up and cleared my throat. "So, you used to work with the Paragons?"
Bláth's eyes fluttered closed, and she hung her head. "I could found a city, and I'd still be better known for that."
"Sorry. Touchy subject?"
"No." Bláth lifted her head. "It was a fun few years. And then, it ended. That's all there is to it."
I rolled my tongue in my mouth, trying to parse what I was feeling. I'd nosily pried into others' affairs countless times. Asking about someone's old flame had never felt so awkward before.
Why did this feel so awkward?
"That's not a good enough answer," I said, turning away. "I'm from Aenir. We perish without a weekly dose of gossip."
"Ferris said the same thing." Bláth shook her head. "I'm afraid nothing sordid happened. We had a nasty fight. The kind you cannot reconcile from."
A hint of regret laced her words, but she spoke with certainty.
Relief washed over me. Why did I feel relief?
Was I an idiot? I'd just done the single most heretical thing in the history of the world, and I was worried about love affairs?
Bláth touched my shoulder. "I came here to tell you something important, not gossip." She smiled. "You won't have many friends in the days to come. Some people might seem like allies at first, but they'll throw you to the wolves in the end. If you need help, you can come to me."
I studied the Solheart woman, her warm smile, and beautiful eyes. "Why would you do that for me?"
