Page 182 of The Crown's Awakening
“We have a Matron. I will have someone take you to her and she can find you one. Or Brinette, perhaps, can be your companion. Asharin enjoyed her."
Nox tried not to smirk. Brinette was certainly not an option.
“Majesty, I want Lady Yvara.”
That gets his attention. “Why the fuck do you want Lady Yvara?”
She lets the hesitation linger. “Because we have written to one another for years,” she says. “About jewels and dresses and silly things.” A small breath. “And now she is here and I am here and I am told she is in a dungeon.” She looks up at him, letting her eyes do what they need to do. “My father will expect me to write to him soon, Majesty. I would very much like to have something pleasant to report.”
She watches the calculation move through him, the particular arithmetic of a man weighing a small concession against a larger inconvenience.
Ah yes, king. Pleasing my father could mean opening the gate, and that you cannot resist, can you?
Then, “Corafar.”
A man steps forward immediately. “Yes, Majesty.”
“Bring me the Matron.”
Nox lowers her head to hide her smile. One of hers. Wearing the Matron’s face as naturally as the Matron once had.
The Matron enters moments later. Or what remains of her.
“Yes, Majesty.”
“I will have Lady Yvara brought for tea with the visiting princess,” Sevrin says. “See that she is washed and dressed properly. Afterward she is returned below.”
Corafar clears his throat. “I was under the impression Lady Yvara’s dungeon was not to be cleansed. Thus, the harki infestation remains present, Majesty. How should we proceed?”
Sevrin does not look at him. “I hear the prisoner in the east dungeons, Barsolik, has the same infestation.”
“Yes, Majesty,” Corafar says.
“Then cleanse Lady Yvara’s chambers. When she returns to the dungeons, see that she is placed in Barsolik’s.”
Corafar hesitates. “And where should Lord Barsolik be placed, Majesty?”
“Barsolik,” Sevrin corrected. “His title has been removed,” he said, voice flat. “He can be executed tomorrow. It was his wretched son who participated in harming Princess Asharin.” A pause. “It seems fitting Lady Yvara will be the one sleeping in his chambers. Perhaps the harki in his cell are more zealous than her current circumstances.”
Nox shudders. Harki were terrible green bugs that infested the hair and skin of those in unclean environments. Barsolik will probably be relieved to see the executioner.
“You may cleanse her current chambers, but wait a few days to be certain. Then have the caremaster inspect them thoroughly. Only then may she be cleaned and brought up, and only for tea.”
Yes, please, a caremaster, a fortnight, whatever would be necessary to clear her of such an affliction before bringing her anywhere near her, Nox thinks to herself.
“Of course, Majesty.”
Perfect.
“Thank you, Majesty,” Nox says softly.
He looks at her then, really looks, and she lets him take his time with it. She is not what he is used to finding in these rooms.Where Asharin is gold and warmth and the particular softness of someone who does not know how dangerous she is, Nox is something else entirely, dark hair and pale skin and a body that curves in ways that have never once gone unnoticed, the kind of presence that fills a room differently than beauty alone accounts for. She has used it before and she will use it again and she feels no particular way about the fact that he is looking.
Nox holds still and lets him.Yes, king. Look. She is not gold and she is not soft, but she is far more interesting.
Sevrin blinks once and turns back to his map. “You are excused, Princess.”
Nox rises, curtsies, and leaves.
