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Silence from Eleanor’s bedroom alerts me to the fact that she is probably done preparing for the dinner with Ihohka. My stomach twists painfully and I have to take more, gulping breaths. But this time, not because of any inappropriate images that have risen to mind.
Just be calm.
Just be calm.
Ihohka probably won’t hurt her at dinner. It would be too obvious, and the council would definitely find out.
The door opens, and the servants step out, followed by Eleanor. And when I see her, my heart falls to the depths of my stomach. My breath hitches in my throat, and my skin goes cold.
She is a vision in a long, flowing dress. Her burnished skin is a warm, rosy color, no doubt an effect from the hot bath. Her long dark hair falls down her back, and flowers are threaded through her hair.
The servants have applied color to her lips, and in the steadily dimming light, her eyelashes look long. She is looking directly at me, and the two servants are standing around us, with their hands on their hips, watching us.
I don’t say anything, and I do not do anything. Instead, I turn away from her, and focus my attention on the wall opposite me. I do not miss Eleanor’s sharp intake of breath.
Was she expecting a different reaction? Was she expecting you to say something? To compliment her?The thoughts are tumultuous, and I am tempted to turn back to her and fall to my knees.
I am tempted to tell her how I feel, and that she looks like a goddess. But I do not.
Eleanor stays still for a moment, before speaking. “You need to walk me to dinner. I’m not allowed to be alone, remember?” Her voice is lifeless.
I swallow and then turn. I indicate for her to start walking and she does. There is an extra sway in her hips, and the dress rustles softly in her wake.
I cannot believe she dressed up for that idiot! For that fool!
My anger at the situation grows with every step that we take. All I want to do right then is take Eleanor in my arms and run far away from this godsdamned manor and Ihohka and all the shit that comes with it. In fact, I would be willing to give up working on the rebellion if I could escape with Eleanor.
I shake myself before I dissolve into hopeless fantasies, and also because the servants have been throwing me odd looks throughout our walk to the dining room. I can’t let them suspect anything. And even if I could formulate a coherent sentence, I could not say it in front of them.
Not that Ellie would want to hear it anyway–she hates you, remember.
We arrive at the dining room, and Ihohka stands as soon as we enter the room. I remain in the doorway, and prepare to leave, as Eleanor is helped into her seat by Ihohka.
Ihohka’s eyes widened the minute he saw her. I can see him swallowing convulsively from where I stand across the room. I hate him for looking at her like that. And I also cannot blame him. She is the most beautiful woman both of us have ever seen.
Right then, I know exactly how Ihohka feels about Eleanor.
18
IHOHKA
The dinner with Eleanor is in an hour, and I walk quickly to my office before I start preparing. There are a few things I need to do, and besides, the zagfers are still setting up the dining room, and doing the cooking.
I have also already gotten dressed and done my usual ablutions. My dark hair is tied away from my face, and I am wearing the traditional colors and clothing of the Renzui house.
I realized, earlier as I got dressed, that I was no better than Fohri had been the first night he brought Eleanor home. I am wearing my best, most regal clothing. I am wearing clothing that shows off the wealth of my family.
I let out a snort of disgust as I pull the file that I requested from the desk, where one of my guards placed it neatly. The file belongs to Brilyk, who I do not trust as far as I can throw him. And with my strength, I could probably throw him very far.
Don’t underestimate that guard. He looks deadly,the voice in my head says begrudgingly. There are several reasons why I do not like Brilyk. Firstly, he had no right to step between myself and Eleanor. He also had no right to speak for her.
He is just a guard, and a lowly one at that. I do not like servants who step out of their position.Do not forget that Ellie was bought as a servant, and stepped out of her position several times.A wry smile spreads across my face as I remember the way Eleanor scaled the wall outside her bedroom the first night Fohri brought her here.
The situation with Brilyk is different though.The guards who work for the Renzui family are here to protect us. They are not here in any other capacity. They are supposed to take orders and follow them. The last thing any noble family wants is a guard who steps out of line.
Anyway, Eleanor has proven that she is perfectly capable of speaking for herself. She does not need a guard like Brilyk to speak for her. The thought of the guard’s behavior annoys and unnerves me in equal measure. He seems determined to get between Eleanor and I. The way he jumped between us was going overboard.
His actions do not feel like the actions of a guard who is simply following Fohri’s orders.
