“It will all be fine. There is no future in which I die here. So, inevitably, you do your job just fine.” He leaned across the carriage and smacked my shoulder.
I grunted and shoved him off.
“You need to work on your manners and disposition, Rohak!” He wagged a finger at me. “Can’t have you scaring away my allies and their daughters.” He gave me a toothy grin. Alois was always the charmer and I was the surly, quiet shadow. Our quirks only manifested as we aged and settled into our roles.
“Can you just try a smile for me?”
I glared.
“Just one?”
I bared my teeth in a look that I was sure resembled a cornered animal. Alois recoiled.
“Yeah, maybe don’t do that. Just . . . stand stoically by me and glare at anyone that gets close.”
“So, what I always do,” I deadpanned.
Alois let loose a loud laugh that shook his whole body.
“Wonderful, Rohak. Now let’s discuss our next steps.”
We leaned toward each other in the carriage, and I listened to Alois’ plan. It was good, I’ll give him that. A long game play rather than a short one, but based on the information he had, it should work.
As I listened to Alois, I fiddled with my crystals and hoped we weren’t walking into a trap.
Chapter 15
Ellowyn
Pip and Jaclyn woke me before dawn on the day of my Awakening Ceremony. I had slept blissfully the last few nights due to the sleeping draught that Jaclyn suggested, though the concoction made me drowsy in the morning.
The two servants worked in tandem to prepare both myself and my room for the day. Pip quickly opened my curtains and set about starting the fire and preparing my bath while Jaclyn pulled my clothing for this morning and prepared my wardrobe for the plethora of changes I would have to make today. I was grateful that my mother lent me Jaclyn, even if it meant I had to rise earlier than normal to receive her help. Pip was adjusting well, now that she was trained by the other girls, but she was still lacking in a few areas.
I stretched languidly, reveling in the feeling of my muscles stretching and straining from a long night’s sleep. It was nice to wake up with no lingering dreams or visions, but it also felt like a piece of my soul was muffled. It was an odd feeling.
I didn’t have much time to think about it, though, as Jaclyn threw back my covers and I shrieked from the cold hitting my skin.
“Jaclyn!”
“Miss! It’s time to rise and bathe. There ismuchto do and not a lot of time to do it. We’ve received word from a messenger that Lord d’Refan willbe arriving within the next two hours.” Jaclyn almost seemed giddy about his arrival, which was somewhat of a contradiction to her normal stoic personality.
“You know, Jaclyn, one would think that you’re actually excited for his arrival,” I called as I flounced to the bathroom for a quick bath.
“Wash your hair, too!” Jaclyn called, completely ignoring my comment.
Pip scurried out of the bathroom as I sunk into the warm water, ducking under the surface to wet my hair as well. She still hadn’t gotten used to nudity, though the girls assured me that she was making great progress. I absently wondered what “getting used” to nudity training looked like as I scrubbed my skin, and I giggled at the thought of girls standing naked in front of Pip while one of them forced her to look at them.
“What’s so funny this morning, miss?” Pip asked from the corner of the room, and I burst out in laughter.
“Nothing, Pip. Nothing at all.” I didn’t want to scar the girl any further than she already was. “Come here and wash my hair for me, please,” I called.
Pip made her way silently across the floor and efficiently washed and rinsed my long hair, a few errant wet curls sticking to my forehead. Her hands didn’t even shake when she saw my breasts just under the water’s surface.
That naked girl training must be doing its job.
Pip grabbed a few towels before helping me from the giant basin of a tub and drying off my hair while I wrapped a towel around my body. I turned and smiled warmly at the girl.
“Thank you, Pip. I’m impressed with your progress.” The girl’s cheeks pinked with the praise, and she bowed her head as I walked out of the bathroom. My bedroom was warm with the fire crackling merrily in its grate. It seemed everyone and everything was anxiously anticipating today.
