“I’m sorry I freaked out, but sometimes the silence helps,” I replied softly with regret sinking in. She was innocent, and didn’t deserve my anger.
She smiled and nodded as she and the rest of the gals dropped back to give me a bit of space. Zara started whispering to the other girls as if I wasn’t even there.
“She’s a bust. The king will not enjoy her anymore. She already bears his child. He will move onto another concubine to strengthen his line,” she murmured as the others tried to shush her.
“You don’t know that,” Darynda whispered softly, and I found myself liking her even more. In this place, some of the women seemed a bit catty, but Darynda seemed to say what was on her mind, even if it was dead wrong.
“She’s already pregnant. It’s not like he will keep her in the Queen’s rooms now. I requested this position so that I could be close to the King,” Zara muttered behind me as we continued toward the room she thought I was about to be removed from.
“Claire speaks out of turn when she should hold her tongue. She’s bitter and ruthless as she hides behind a sweet face. We all know that. She twisted her words just to go with the men to the human world. She’s spoiled is what she is, and you would be wise to stop holding too tightly to her skirts. She has no intention of helping you. She wants the king even though he’s meant for her sister in marriage. She was gifted, and has been trying to be chosen as second wife or first concubine. Does that sound sane to you?” Darynda whispered heatedly.
“Synthia seems nice to me, and she isn’t rude and demanding. We may end up back in the pavilion, but at least we won’t be getting our faces slapped for choosing the wrong color dress for Claire. Really, Zara, think about it. How far are you willing to take this little torch you carry for Claire?” Meriel joined the whispered debate in my defense.
“I think Claire speaks true, and I for one plan on making it to his bed. I’m not meant to be a handmaiden. I was born to be so much more,” Zara retorted. I rolled my eyes and wasn’t sure if I felt sorrier for myself, or for the poor guys escorting us, having to listen to this crap.
“He hasn’t even turned his eye to any woman since he brought her here! Do you really think he is going to just boot her back to the pavilion? If his plan was only to secure a babe in her belly, his job is already done. Has been done for a while! Yet she’s still in that room,” Keeley softly added, her voice almost inaudible.
“Claire will have her out of that room before her sister steps foot in this place. She won’t stand for this wench being in that room. It belongs to her sister!” Zara’s voice raised a little at this, as the other four tried desperately to shush her quickly.
I turned and looked at Sinjinn, who was watching me closely. I lowered my eyes and walked briskly down the hall, noting that everyone was keeping up with me regardless of how fast I was walking.
“Claire is filling your head with nonsense. Synthia is the Blood Princess, not some wench. If I were you, I’d thank the Goddess you have an easy concubine who seems to be pleasant enough to say thank you!” Darynda continued softly.
“Everyone keeps saying how powerful she is, and yet she can’t even use glamour. She can’t even cast magic. You really think she can stand up against Claire?” Zara sniped, raising her tone.
“Have you ever considered that maybe it’s because she’s very powerful? How many concubines have you seen come into the pavilion with that mark on them? None! He doesn’t put his mark on anyone other than his Elite Guards. Yet she has it on. Did you ever stop to think that maybe she is too powerful to control without it?” Darynda mused. I sped up a little as I could now see the door to my room.
“I don’t care who the hell you think she is, or how powerful she is. Soon she will be nothing but a fat, useless cow! He will toss her aside for concubines he can feed from. His appetite has to be enormous and I plan to be included with them. In order to do that, I need to serve someone who holds his damn interest!” Zara hissed over the other feeble shushes.
Oh no she did not!
I spun around so quickly that no one else stopped as I walked back toward the negative Nancy who was too stupid to take the advice they were giving her. “Say it to my face!” I growled. She turned as white as freshly fallen snow. “That’s what I thought. You wanna be with someone who can get close to Ryder so you can crawl in his bed? Go find someone else. I don’t want some little brainless twit who can only talk shit to my back serving me. Sinjinn,” I called his name and he stepped up to my shoulder and gently placed his hand on it to reassure me. He looked relieved that I was putting an end to this.