“What do you think!? Oh, what do you think, my princess!?” Sally cried excitedly as she unwrapped the dress in front of her.
Danika was dumbfounded at the beauty of the dress. The plain slave-wear Sally went out of the house with wasn’t so plain anymore. They sewed silk beneath it and lace outlined the upper part of the red wear. “It is so beautiful, Sally!”
“I know, right!?” As she looked at the dress, a huge smile was on Sally’s face. Then the smile fell. “I know it’s nothing compared to the dresses you are used to, though.”
“Don’t go there, Sally. That’s the past, and this is the present.” She took the dress from her. “This is the best dress I’ve had. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
The huge smile was back again on Sally’s face. “Really? You really like it?”
Danika closed the distance between them and hugged her closely. “Yes, I love it. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Isn’t the day looking so bright, my princess?” She beamed.
“It is. And the only person brightening up the day is you, my Sally.”
Sally pulled back then and stared at Danika’s hair in concentration. “Your hair is all messed up. I’ll get it into a beautiful braid just like when we were in Mombana. We might not have the expensive pins and needles, but I can still get it looking beautiful with what we have.”
Danika smiled in gratitude and started towards the bathroom. Sally watched how she walked gingerly and bit her lips in worry.
“What is it?” Danika asked when she caught the look.
“Your walk. Are you hurt, my princess? The king—did he hurt you?” she asked with concern, dreading the answer.
Her assessment reminded Danika about her sore muscles she never really forgot. A flush spread over her face and she shook her head at Sally. “No, he didn’t. At least not in the way you think.”
She let out a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank heavens. I thought you must have knelt all night, or he whipped you because your father is dead, and it’s your fault that the poisoned arrow traps caught him.”
Danika shuddered at that. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what would have become of her if he had punished her for that. “No, he didn’t.”
“Have you seen Madam Baski?”
“Yes. I saw her and Remeta when you went into town with the dress. She has given me herbs, and I got to play with Remeta. She’s doing so much better.”
“Yes, she is. I’m so glad about that, my princess. The ghosted one? No one will call her that mean name again. I hope you’ve applied the herbs. You can’t walk this way on the evening walk,” she added with a purse of her lips.
Danika let out a soft laugh at the look of seriousness on Sally’s face. She had taken it upon herself to ensure she had a good evening. “Yes, I’ve applied the herbs, Sally.” Her cheeks reddened more when she remembered the way Baski took one look at her, and her brows had shot up.
“But he is sick. How did this happen?” Baski asked with just one look at her.
“I… erm, we…” she’d swallowed tightly. “He ordered it,” she’d said at last.
A smile had crossed Baski’s face before she began attending to her. “I’m happy to know that he’s doing better. I will go in later in the day to see him,” she’d said.
Now she reassured Sally that she’d be fine, but she needed a little sleep.
“You can sleep all you want, my princess. I have your back right here.” Sally was determined to make sure that no one would wake her up, too.
Danika smiled at her in gratitude. “What would I have done without you, Sally?”
She waved her off with a smile. “You could have done so much and more. But I’m not letting you go. I stick like glue.”
The king was in the library in the inner room, reading a book in concentration, when Vetta announced her arrival.
“Where have you been all day?” he asked without raising his head from the book.
She was standing just outside the library and bowed her head. “I went into town to shop for new laces.”
“You didn’t take the carriage. No maids or servants,” he added.
Her heart skipped. “I didn’t, my king. I needed a moment alone, and I was going into town, so I didn’t bother to take them with me.”
He finally raised his head and stared at her. “Nowhere is safe, Vetta. You must be careful wherever you’re going. Take a few guards with you next time and the carriage, too.”
Her heart fluttered at the obvious concern for her, even though his face didn’t reveal anything. “I will keep that in mind, my king.”
“I have been looking for you.”
The revelation gave her mixed feelings. Why would he be looking for her? Is it because he wanted her company? Or because of something else?
“I am sorry, my king.” She bowed her head.
“You can come in.” He turned his attention back to his book.
She entered and walked towards him. “How is your health, my king? I was so worried last night; I couldn’t sleep.”
“I am fine. The wound is healing.”
She sighed softly. “So, even in death, King Cone still torments us.”
He stiffened at the mention of the dead king’s name. He said nothing.
Vetta pushed on. “My king, don’t you think we should whip your slave for what happened? She should pay for the pain her father caused you.”
“She is already paying for that; she is my slave.” He didn’t spare her a glance.
“But my king---”
“My battles, Vetta. I can fight my battles. I do not need your help. I am not weak.”
“I’m sorry, my king. That wasn’t my intention.” She lowered her head to him even as anger filled her insides.
“She nursed me all night. Cried for me.” He paused and raised his head as if in remembrance.
What!? That bitch! Vetta did her best to keep her voice calm. “I know she must have been pretending to care. She is trying to get in your good graces, my king. Don’t let her; it is all pretense. She is the daughter of the most manipulative man ever born. Of course, she will be manipulative too.”
Calmly, the king closed the book, and his eyes met hers.
.
.