The Ardoon King Page 81
Chapter 79: Ready Room
Fiela and Thal readied themselves to leave the Queen Elizabeth II. In just over an hour, Thal was to be formally transferred to Persipia.
Thal, wrapped in a towel, said, “I’m going to be sick.”
Fiela put her arm around the woman. “No, Thal. You’ll be fine. Remember, you’ll be home by this time tomorrow. Sooner, if Persipia permits it.”
“Home,” muttered Thal.
“This place. It is our home, in a way. Even if we are not always here.”
“It is more than that. It is my sanctuary.” The woman sniffled. “Thank you, Fiela, for everything you have done for me. I can never repay you, I know. Especially not now. You have not only saved my life, you have, in almost every way, kept me whole. The things that would have been done to me otherwise are unimaginable. I know I made a fool of myself at the hearing.”
Fiela rolled her eyes. “Hardly! Gods, I would have fared far worse than you. I am unafraid of almost anything, but those tortures…” She shivered.
“Yet I am unable to repay you, truly.”
Fiela squeezed her. “You are my mentor. You will repay me by continuing my education. But do not tremble so! You should not fear Persy. She’s not a bad person.”
“She hates me.”
“Perhaps a little. But Lilian once hated Persy, too. Now they are like best friends.”
“As you say,” said Thal, thinking that those two women were now too close.
Fiela stepped back. “Okay, let’s get this over with.” Hands on hips, she scanned the woman from head to toe. “You have done everything required for your introduction?”
“I think so.”
The queen crossed her arms. “I do not think I did a very good job with your hair. The braids are horrendous. I have no experience in such matters.”
“It is well enough, I’m sure.”
Fiela went over her mental checklist. “Light make up. No jewelry.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Go ahead.”
Thal looked at the girl, concerned. “Fiela, why-”
“You must stop asking that question. It serves no purpose. I did all I could for you but you are her wardum. Modesty is a luxury you cannot afford.” She put her hand out.
Thal removed her towel and handed it to the queen, who threw it to the side. Instinctively, Thal sought to cover her nakedness with her hands.
“Stop it,” said Fiela forcefully, pulling them away and examining them. “Is this the right nail color? I thought she required a light color?”
“It is light red,” said the woman, frowning.
“I would have suggested something lighter, like pink. But we do not know her standards on such things. If she asks, tell her I chose the color, not you. Smile.”
“What?”
“Smile.”
Confused, Thal did. Fiela moved her face closer and then, to the woman’s horror, used her fingers to pull Thal’s lips apart. The woman pulled away.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking your teeth.”
“Why?”
“To ensure they are clean.”
“I am not a horse!”
Fiela’s face darkened. “Thal, I have warned you not to be a child. You have been entrusted to me. I asked Persy what her requirements were and she gave me them to me. She has been highly professional. I am responsible for ensuring you meet her requirements. I seek only to aid you, yet you choose to be obstinate. You will not make a fool of me.”
The blood drained from the woman’s face. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “It is unusual, that’s all.”
Fiela’s expression softened. “I was raised in an environment of military inspections. I take them very seriously. I am not used to being questioned during an inspection. I should not be angry with you. You must work with me, okay? You are literally my responsibility. Do you understand?”
Thal nodded and, feeling very foolish, opened her mouth.
Fiela resumed what she was doing. Finally, she said, “Use mouthwash before you go. Your breath smells of coffee.”
Without warning, Fiela crouched, and Thal gasped.
“Take it easy,” the girl said. “Geez! We shared the same bed and the same bath for a month and I did not molest you then, did I? I won’t touch anything. Persy’s got this weird thing about body hair. She hates it.”
Fiela rose just as quickly as she’d dropped. “Let me see your ears.”
Thal, grateful at the reprieve, complied immediately, ducking her head and tilting it to one side, then the other, while the girl examined her ear canals.
Finally, the queen said, “Okay, use the mouthwash and eye drops. Your eyes are bloodshot.” She kissed the woman behind the ear. “Look, I’m sure she will give you clothes to wear later. But you must be presented as you are. You know the Code. You must go to her with nothing. She will demonstrate her benevolence as your dominus by giving you whatever she thinks you need. Hopefully it’s clothing.”
“I will die of fright before I make it to the door. What if someone sees me?”
“I told you I’ve taken care of that. We need only ascend one set of stairs. Persy is just above us. Ben is occupied with Wily and after that will go to his study until late. I have a fetch watching for him – a female fetch. She would give us fair warning. I’ve also sent all the servants to their rooms with a command not to return. The only people in this entire wing are you, me, Persy, and my sister. Oh, and Heidi, maybe. She’s Persipia’s new handmaiden. No one is going to see you.”
Thal stifled a moan. “Except for you, Persy, Lilitu, and a girl named Heidi.”
“All women. It is no different than being in a girl’s locker room or shower.”
“I have never been to such terrible places! And I will be the only one without clothes!”
Fiela looked surprised. “Really? You never even shared a locker room? You really were pampered, huh? The stories I could tell from the academy! Yowza! Trust me, there are many women you never want to see naked.”
“This is not comforting me, Fiela.”
The queen sighed and crossed her arms, rolling her eyes to the top of her head. She tapped a bare foot on the floor. A minute later, she snapped her fingers.
“Problem solved.”