Tonight was duller than most, with noble after noble rising from his or her chair to toast her health and offer insincere congratulations on her ascent to the throne and disingenuous wishes for her continued health and happiness. All of them had fake smiles plastered across their faces—many of them were the same people who had teased her when she was little and called her “freak” and “mutant.” Their chewchies danced and screeched self-importantly on the tops of their heads while they mouthed their empty platitudes.
They didn’t mean a word they said about wishing her happiness and health and Ellina knew it. She wondered how Grandmamma had stood it for so many years—all the horrible, dull hypocrisy of palace life. How had she sat at the head of the vast banqueting table night after night and nodded and smiled and pretended to like the people on either side of her when she could barely stand the sight of any one of them…
But finally the speeches were over and the servants began carrying around the trays of food. They served over each guest’s left shoulder, as was proper, but when the servers came to Ellina, Ty stopped them.
“I will be serving my Lady tonight,” he informed each server. And, using the golden tongs and utensils as skillfully as any of the trained servants, he proceeded to dish out her meal.
For once, Ellina began to enjoy herself—mainly because she actually got to pick her food this time, which had never happened before. It wasn’t considered proper to refuse a dish or ask for more of anything, so she simply had to take what was given to her.
Not with Ty serving, however.
“Is this dish to my Lady’s liking?” he would ask, holding out a dish of candied eep berries. Or, “Does the Goddess in the Flesh have an appetite for this tonight?” while holding out a tureen of steaming tolgen fungus stew.
Ellina was able to pick and choose but she didn’t taste a single thing set before her until the big Kindred was done serving her. Then she waited while he took a small bite or sip of each item and then nodded his approval to her.
He seemed to linger longest over the pale, buttery yellow ulumina wine, Ellina thought. But at last, he nodded his approval and she had a sip herself. It tasted the same as it always did, she thought, though the big Kindred’s apparent uncertainty made her drink it sparingly.
Down the table from her, she saw the High Priest watching as she brought the silver and gold goblet to her lips. He raised his own goblet in a silent toast to her when he saw her looking at him and smiled.
Bemused at his sudden change in mood, Ellina returned the toast and took another sip. Maybe he was rethinking his earlier behavior and hoping she would forgive him.
At long last, the interminable banquet ended. To her relief, Ellina was the first who got to leave, due to her status as Potentate. After Ty had given her his arm to help her from the table and led her away, the other nobles were free to go as well.
As she left, Ellina heard the low murmuring as they talked to each other, moving slowly away from the table, but she tried hard not to listen to it. Doubtless they were saying what they really thought of her, now that they were fairly certain not to be overheard.
Don’t be paranoid, she chided herself as Lor bounced and squeaked on top of her head. Not everything is about you, you know.
It would have been easier advice to take if she hadn’t heard the same people speak about her so often in the past, when she was a child—when she was trying to fit in with them… But no—she would put the bad memories from her mind and try to start fresh, Ellina told herself. She was the Potentate now, it was time to rise above the pain of the past—or at least try to.
She was glad to get safely back to her apartments and take a long, relaxing bath. At least she had no more engagements tonight—though tomorrow she would have to make a public appearance in the Holy Mists—a prospect she dreaded.
Still, there was no point in thinking about it now. For now, she decided, she would relax and enjoy the time she had off from being on public display.
She felt boneless with weariness and more than ready to go to bed as she slipped into the long, silky nightdress her personal maid had laid out for her. Unlike many of her clothes, it was not Sacred Blue, but rather a warm, golden ivory which Ellina liked very much. She liked the high neckline and low hemline too. She preferred to dress modestly—though she would be lying if she claimed she didn’t enjoy the touch of the cool, silky fabric against her breasts and the rub of it between her legs.
Ellina frowned as she stood before a mirror and rubbed her breasts through the soft fabric of the nightdress. She hadn’t used to notice such things—the sensual brush of silk against her bare skin or the good feeling she got when it touched her more sensitive areas. But lately, it was all she could think of sometimes.
Which caused her to worry.
Please, not yet, she thought as she looked at herself in the silvery reflective surface. I’m not ready yet—please!
But all the begging in the world wouldn’t change things one way or another. It was time to go to bed and stop worrying.
Yawning, Ellina opened the door of her bathing room, intending to cross the living area and go to her bed chamber. But when she looked up, she was so startled she stopped dead in her tracks.
Ty was pacing
