The goose is introduced in on an open platter. As attractive because it seems, I wager a lot of the friends have misplaced their appetites.

We’re served, and though the empress chews her meals with little enthusiasm, she carries on dialog along with her lord’s with out awkwardness. Her face is just not tinged with colour, and her palms don’t falter of their actions. Is the lady unshakeable? If the demise of her canine doesn’t transfer her, then what is going to?

10

“Caedryn.” The empress finds me in my research. “I’ve recognized the malefactor.”

“Your Highness?”

“The imbecile who chopped off my canine’s head.”

Her response has me intrigued. “So quickly?” Whereas I solely relayed my suspicion about Drago as a doable weak spot to my dragon, who then should have taken it to the lords, I don’t know who acted on the data. Lord Siarl warned me to guard my innocence in any respect price, so to keep up my ignorance, I’m not to be concerned in schemes. Neifion stays a wonderful buffer.

The empress narrows her eyes, daring me to impugn her capability to determine the reality in such a well timed style. “Include me, Caedryn.”

“As you want.” I shut my guide and depart it on the desk beside myself.

The empress scoffs however strides from the room with me and two guards shut behind. Though I despise the lady, I like the way in which she strikes with confidence, with command. Her heels strike the bottom on the tile ground, demanding the earth to evolve to her wishes.

We descend into the depths of the stronghold, however we flip previous the dungeons, to a extra welcoming place, to a hotter place, the new springs the stronghold is constructed round.

The empress pauses exterior her private spa room. “I invited the lord’s daughters to wash within the privateness of my sanctuary, to guard them from leering eyes within the public tub. I would like you to really feel out the intentions of the ladies within the room. Inform me who’s responsible and who’s harmless.”

“Your Highness, you possibly can’t presumably assume one of many younger ladies killed Drago.” I consider the faces of the women through the night’s leisure. Pure innocence. None of them would ever dream of harming a dwelling creature.

“Do as I ask.”

“I’m solely curious as to why you believe you studied.”

The empress smirks and doesn’t reply my query. “It’s possible you’ll watch from the passage over there. There’s a seam within the panel.”

“I don’t want to look at. I can really feel everybody within the room and inform you now.”

“Watch.” The empress pushes the doorways open and warmth blows into my face. As she strolls into the room, her guards usher me into the passage the place the panel is.

I roll my eyes. That is pointless. I scan all the women within the room with my mild, with out taking a look at them. Most of them drown with worry now that the empress is mere toes away.

A guard pushes my face towards the crack. I wave him again however look by means of the hole so I don’t find yourself with a damaged nostril due to disobedience.

Ten ladies lounge within the water. Most of them are submerged as much as their shoulders and huddled within the corners. The pool’s floor ripples, suggesting that solely moments earlier than the women had been enjoying.

The empress holds her arms extensive, and the servants wearing cream-colored shifts start relieving the empress of her cumbersome garments. After her cloak comes off and her heavy leather-based shirt, a tiny lady unlaces the empress’s bodice and peels it away. The empress is left in a black shift.

I flip my head away, however the guard clears his throat. I drive myself to look at. The empress drops her shift to her toes, and he or she steps onto the primary stair. As she descends into the pool, I understand each inch of her physique is difficult muscle, apart from her breasts, the one gentle spots, the one clean rounds of flesh doable on such a ferocious lady.

“Girls, please, delight me along with your chatter.” The empress submerges herself as much as her chin as she slips by means of the pool towards the cowering ladies. “Converse to me of the newest gossip.”

A servant on the pool’s edge palms a vial to one of many lord’s daughters. One other servant passes a comb to a youthful lady. One is handed a sponge.

The empress spreads her arms extensive. “Come, I want you to attend me. When you are at Caer, don’t deny me the pleasure of your attentions.”

An older lady with sweat-dampened curls pinned atop her head drifts by means of the water towards the empress. She takes the empress’s arm and thoroughly runs a sponge up its size. The empress ideas her head to the aspect when the lady reaches her neck. The opposite ladies come nearer. The poor lady with the bottle of shampoo, timidly, on the verge of tears, coaxes the empress’s head again to moist her locks within the water.

The spectacle sickens me.

A guard nudges me within the again. “Do you sense something?”

“Nothing of significance. Nothing that may point out betrayal.” In addition to the worry and animosity leaching off each single little one—wretched little mice bathing a bloodthirsty cat, however unable to disclaim the cat for worry of her claws.

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