Page 22 of The Starlight Savior

“You’re back,” Saige said as he sank into the empty chair beside her. Out the window, the sun was dipping below the mountains, dusk illuminating the sky.

“Of course I am.” Conor pointed to himself, silver rings glimmering in the candlelight. “I’m assigned to you, aren’t I?”

“Assigned to me?” Saige’s brows furrowed.

“Only by formality,” he said with a wave. “My father wishes to have someone watch over you.”

Before she could respond, there was a curt knock at the door.

“I forgot to mention.” Conor rose quickly, striding across the room. “You have a guest.”

Standing outside her door was a woman. Her small frame was swallowed by a dark blue dress, corset laced tightly around her waist. Long black hair spilled down her shoulders, small wrinkles appearing near her cobalt eyes as she smiled.

Saige had never seen her before, yet there was something eerily familiar as her gaze shifted from Conor to her. “Good morning.” Her voice was as small as her body. “Thank you for arranging this, Conor.”

Conor outstretched his arm. “Come on in.”

The woman turned to Saige. “May I? It is your quarters after all.”

Saige’s head whipped towards Conor. “My quarters?” He had never mentioned she’d be permanently staying in here.

“Thanks for breaking the news, Eva.” Conor flashed a smile towards the woman.

Bringing the coffee to her lips, Saige relished in the comforting taste. Her first instinct was to inquire about who this woman was and what she was doing here, but she was tired of all the questions. Today she’d let everyone else do the talking.

Eva stepped into the room, nodding at Conor. He strode over to the window and leaned against the pane. His arms crossed over his chest, revealing corded muscles under a rolled up white tunic.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you.” Eva walked across the room towards the faded chair Conor once occupied. “May I sit?”

Saige nodded slowly.

“You must have so many questions.” Eva sighed as she sat across from her.

“Of course I do. With not many answers.” Saige couldn’t help the bitterness seeping into her words as she glared at Conor.

Eva nodded slowly. “I understand. Hopefully things will make more sense soon. Conor and I will be here to help you acclimate. Need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” Eva’s hand trembled as she rested it on her neck, fingers fidgeting with a sparkling sapphire. “Which reminds me. Tonight you will be accompanying me to King Vospella’s supper. He holds court each evening with the royal families. You’ll be expected to always attend.”

Saige swallowed. “Well, I expect answers then before I get thrown to the wolves.”

Conor’s laugh was hearty from across the room. “You have a point.”

“We don’t have much time.” Eva hesitated. “Your handmaids—”

“Tell her as she gets ready.” Conor sighed with a wave of his hand. “Not like she hasn’t heard this before.”

With a sigh, Eva rose from the armchair and strode to the door. As the sun dipped below the snow-kissed mountains, Saige’s quarters became swarmed with handmaids. Three girls followed Eva into the room. Their hair was braided and pinned tight to their necks as they bustled from the bathing room to the wardrobe.

“Why don’t you get bathed? We’ll wait out here,” Eva said.

Pale hands with freckled skin helped Saige rise from the armchair, moving her towards the bathing room. A handmaid was filling the porcelain bathtub. With the door closed, the handmaid’s fingers gripped Saige’s clothes tightly, attempting to strip her bare.

“I got it,” Saige said quickly, pulling away from their grasp. She gave a meek smile as the girls bristled and shifted uncomfortably. “S-Sorry,” she sputtered, “I’m not used to all of”—her hands waved nervously around her—“this.”

“We understand, my lady,” said one beside her. She was the shortest of the three, dark eyes wide. “I know you’ve had difficulty acclimating. Etrane is grateful you’re able to join King Vospella this evening.”

When the bath was full, the handmaid placed her hands in the water and hummed a low tune. Steam rose, warming Saige’s face.

“A hot bath?” She gasped. In her twenty years, she had never soaked in something warmer than sunkissed streams.