Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
I giggled again from where I reclined still wearing my orange drapings, though I did not quite understand what this “soaked” business was that the ladies were tittering about.
I had flicked the silk off so my legs weren’t covered.
My mother would be scandalized.
But the sun on my legs felt wonderful.
At my giggle, Queen Elpis turned her gaze to me and gave me an affectionate look.
By the gods.
It was true.
She liked me!
“You would never kiss him,” Zosime said as if she was horrified.
“I would not,” Nyx agreed. “But I wouldn’t mind him threatening me with it.”
Elpis threw her head back and shouted with laughter.
Then she lifted her fumaria to her lips, drew in and eventually popped the lavish stopper from the top, taking in the smoke.
When she did, I decided to do the same.
I just loved listening to the bubbles in the liquid at the bottom when I drew in.
“Those piercings are pleasing, Silence,” Hera called after I’d set my fumaria aside. “I’m thinking of getting some.”
“Oh, you should,” I declared, as I’d been shown a mirror and saw the small, gold hoops in my ear, nose and lip, and since my to-be husband had the same (and more!), I’d adored them. “They’re lovely.”
With that, I got another affectionate look from my soon-to-be mother-in-law.
I settled in my lounge, feeling quite happy.
Though, they’d taken my monkey away.
If I had Piccola, I’d be happier.
And if Mars was close and I could show him my new gold, I’d be happier.
And if he was close and I could also tell him how much I loved my monkey, I’d be happiest of all!
With what sounded like care, Jasmine asked Farah, “Will True give you a wedding chain?”
Appearing like she was being certain not to glance Elena’s way, she replied, “I don’t know. It will be his decision.”
“I think you should ask him to give you one,” Elena said quietly.
Elena was so lovely.
Farah looked to Elena.
“I agree,” Ha-Lah declared.
Ha-Lah was so lovely too. Her manner was regal, but kind. And her skin was the most beautiful skin I’d ever seen. And I envied her bouncing curls. And maybe a little bit, I envied her courage to slide into the water nude.
For when she did, she got this odd, fetching expression on her face, like she was coming home.
I felt that way when I was in water. I adored a bath.
But since I didn’t have a body stocking and I wasn’t brave enough to go nude, I was on my lounge in the sun.
Though I had my smoke. So this was all right with me.
Maybe another time. After I was wed, and I was Firenz as well as Dellish.
“He might not take one himself,” Elena went on, her gaze kind on Farah. “But he should give you one with the understanding he gets all of that from you, and even if he doesn’t wear it, you get it in return.”
Yes.
Elena was so very lovely.
She was clearly not getting along with Prince Cassius (he should give her a monkey!), but she was being very kind to Farah about True.
“I will discuss it with him,” Farah murmured, and Elena smiled.
“And he will then give one to you. That is True. If he has it to give, he will give it. But if he cares for the one who’s asking, he will move sky and earth and sea to hand it to you.”
Hesitantly, and what appeared hopefully, Farah gave Elena a return smile.
“As far as I can tell, you all are fortunate,” Nyx declared. “Of course, outside the Beast rising. But I had to win my Lorenz and he did not make it easy. You were all given the finest warriors of your realms without any work involved.” She smiled largely. “If I did not eventually win my Lorenz, I would be most jealous.”
“There is naught to be jealous of,” Elena declared. “For as mentioned, mine is a lout.”
Everyone giggled again.
“I’m so very glad you’ve decided to join us these last days, Queen Ha-Lah,” I called when I was finished chortling, and the queen turned her beautiful face to me. “We have much time we will spend together, and it is good knowing you.”
“That is very kind, Silence,” she replied in her extraordinary voice. “It is good knowing you too.”
“Your husband scares me though,” I shared.
It was then, she started laughing.
I did it with her, even though I had no idea why I was doing so.
“He is not such a brute as he appears,” she told me.
“He is very large,” I told her.
Her head tipped to the side and the curls she had pinned to the top bounced that way. “And your Mars is not? Though it would seem you don’t find your king frightening.”
I thought of this and burst into giggles.
“’Tis true!” I cried.
Everyone laughed with me.
“We are very fortunate,” I declared when we were finished with our merriment. “In so, so many ways. At home, in my father’s house, I had no one but my Tril. And sometimes, my mother. And now.” I swept my arm out. “Look!” I cried. “I am surrounded by friends.”