5. Eshe
Eshe
I packed my bag and slipped into a clean burnt-orange dress that flowed to my ankles.
The front dipped to my mid-chest with a black belt around the waist. I secured a two-inch knife inside the belt—perfect for a death by a thousand cuts.
I smiled and studied my dress, feeling free with the long slit that peeked along the side.
Rushing out of the Folendra, I felt the air brush through my dress. It was going to be a great day. I decided to play between the upper and lower classes by wearing expensive jewelry on my body.
I learned last night that Khraus was the wealthiest Priestelhood in the city and was known for its respectable Priestels who perfected the art of dancing and music. Like Seda said, the dancers were paid well, but that wasn’t the reason for my next task.
I only had to ask a few women shopping at the outdoor market stands for the correct route to Khraus. Sandy streets eventually brought me deeper and deeper into the city and the cobblestone alleys. I waited by the side as a donkey carrying a wider set of merchandise rolled through.
Eventually, I approached Khraus and its magnificent golden-brown doors, fortified by a wall that not even the tallest man would be able to peer over.
The townhouse tavern across the street displayed a rooftop with shade.
Entering the dim-lit tavern, a few men lingered by the edge of the walls on low couches, smoking strong-smelling herbs.
I walked up to the man tending the bar, passing a coin over the high wooden top. “Do you mind if I spend the day up on the terrace?”
His blue eyes darted to the coin he weighed in his palm. Licking his lips, he raised an eyebrow. “Will you be doing any business up there?”
Ew. Gross. Of course he thought as a woman, I must only be here to sell my body. Totally not to have a drink. “Nope.”
Satisfied with my answer, he tilted his head in the direction I assumed were the stairs.
I flashed him a smile before departing. My legs rushed up the staircase, and I opened the wooden door to the rooftop terrace. It was plain with a few low seating areas, but half of it was covered in linen to provide shade.
For a few hours, I peered over the wall, waiting for something—anything.
Patience was a peculiar taste, one that I did not possess. Tapping my toes until the sun went down, I was annoyingly surprised that the doors to Khraus did not open once.
Begrudgingly, I trotted down the staircase to find a tavern full of men, with a few dragging their hungry eyes over my body. I made a sharp turn to my blue-eyed friend.
Passing three coins, I asked, “A chamber? And no, it’s not for business.”
My voice attracted more onlookers.
The blue-eyed man didn’t look my way. “Two more.”
I slammed down two more coins, and he threw me a key. “Second floor, third on the right.”
I didn’t bother nodding. He ripped me off, and we both knew it.
After a weak night of sleep, it was hard to meditate and also be on the lookout for a certain door to open. I hated wasting time. It was my biggest issue. Killing two birds with one stone never seemed so difficult. It was like the only thing I could do was stare at that wide set of wooden doors.
I’d been out here for six hours, and the sun was directly above me, causing sweat to drip down my temples. I saw a woman enter the tavern from below with an older man. No doubt she was working.
In that precise moment, I heard a creak loud enough to pierce my ears—okay, maybe it was because I’d been so adamant about hearing any noise coming across the street, but there it was. The door of Khraus was opening.
Three women dressed in traditional Priestel garb—pastel pants with thin, flowing drapes that covered their shoulders and arms—came through the doors.
Like clockwork.
Without wasting another goddamn minute, I rushed to the wall of the rooftop and crawled down the side of the tavern using the indentations in the clay bricks to anchor myself.
When it was a safe distance, I jumped the last ten feet and landed on my feet.
Choosing to dress in pants this morning paid off.
I pulled my scarf closer around my face after catching a couple of quizzical expressions.
My heart pounded as I trailed the three women. They sashayed closely together with hooked arms and spoke in hushed feminine voices. People parted for them as I prowled closer.
“She’s giving me a headache every night before I go to sleep. All I hear is, ‘Don’t do it like that, Norrah. Do it like this.’ I swear I’m going to lose it if she corrects me one more time!”
“Norrah.” The girl in the middle, dressed in soft pink with copper-colored hair, tilted her head toward the girl on her right and clicked her tongue. “That’s what Sorrella is there for. If she didn’t know what she was talking about, she wouldn’t be Head Priestel.”
“I know, Ana. I would rather she not show up in my dreams. I’m not getting the best sleep these days,” Norrah admitted.
They scouted an outdoor seating area and chose a table with a covering above it. Thank God, I was almost blinded by the amount of shining jewelry they wore around their ankles and wrists. How could they wear those earrings without their ears falling off?
I studied as the three asked for some beverages, and I chose to sit nearby, ordering a warm cup of kava.
“I’m glad we had a moment to get some fresh air today.” Ana let out a deep sigh before plopping her elbow on a pillow.
The third woman spoke. “She’s been working us tirelessly, especially with the palace’s celebration coming soon.”
Ana and Norrah hummed in agreement.
“I wonder how the new girl is going to make it work,” Ana murmured.
The waiter carried a platter of beverages to the women.
God fucking loved me. He was encouraging my revenge. I wasn’t religious, but I assumed this was what believers meant when they said he was watching over them. Because in this moment, we were on the same side for sure.
“She’ll be cutting it close. She’s arriving tomorrow, right?” the third girl asked.
If I could kiss God right now, I would.
I got up from my table and strolled toward the women and pulled my scarf back.
I flashed a wide grin. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. I’m the new girl. It’s a pleasure to meet you before tomorrow!”
The wide-eyed girls dropped their jaws. A long pause—and I mean a long pause—occurred.
“Oh my God, where are our manners? My name is Suna. It’s so nice to meet you!” Suna exclaimed, pressing up from her pillows. She had short, dark brown hair with almond-shaped golden eyes.
“Come, sit with us.” Norrah waved her hand over to the empty pillows nearby. Her wrist showed a silver-inked band, glittering against the sunlight, before she pulled her sleeve lower.
I sat myself close to Norrah, who had the darkest but softest eyes. She had several freckles on her pale skin. No wonder she covered her body with two veils.
“Thank you,” I said.
“What is your name?” Ana asked from across the table.
So they didn’t know who this new girl was? “My name is Mara.”
Ana leaned forward. “Where is your uncle, Mara? I heard that he was escorting you?”
“Oh, yes. My uncle—he’s tired and sleeping off our travels. Is there anything I should do to prepare for tomorrow’s encounter with Sorrella?”
Suna waved a hand. “No. We’ll show you everything once you arrive. Sorrella will make sure of it! How exciting!” She beamed. “We usually have a new girl each month, but last month the girl didn’t show up.”
“Really? What happened?”
“She was late,” Ana whispered as if it were a sin. “Most families stay the evening before at the inn across from the Khraus so that they don’t chance being late. But when the girl showed up fifteen minutes late, Sorrella slammed the door in her face.”
I gasped. “No. Does she expect everyone at the same time?”
“Yep, right at noon when the bells chime, every time. Tardiness just isn’t acceptable.”
The conversation continued for an hour more before the girls expressed they had to go back to the Khraus, and I smiled, waving goodbye.
After browsing an outdoor apothecary, I walked back to the inn, next door to the tavern, and checked in for the night. I explained, when questioned, that my uncle would be here soon. The lies rolled off my tongue with no effort.
The next morning, I noticed the same woman and older man I saw yesterday when I was above the tavern.
They were seated outside the inn, most likely counting down the minutes until the chimes echoed across the center of the crossroads.
After covering the few bruises I had with a light brown paste, I rushed downstairs.
I asked one of the staff at the front of the inn for two cups of tea, and no more than a minute later, they delivered. Grabbing the tincture I purchased at the apothecary, I tapped a drop into the steaming tea.
Hmm.
I tapped the bottle for another three drops, splattering the surface of the herbal tea.
Better.
I poured some into the next cup.
This morning, I picked out a similar outfit to the one the woman I encountered yesterday had, but the color was sage-green. I strutted toward the entrance and overheard the conversation between the uncle and his niece.
“If only I could go right now. Stupid rules for no reason.” She pouted and crossed her arms.
“Hello there. Sorrella asked me to bring you our signature welcome tea.” I spoke in my sweetest voice.
After peering into the tea, her nose scrunched up as she glanced at me.
“It’s mandatory.” I smiled.
The girl nodded and downed the rest of her drink. I handed the uncle his cup. I wanted to shake my head at her stupidity, but she’d only be sick for a day—maybe a week—regardless, it really didn’t matter.
Either way, she was going to be late.
Sorrella would be desperate, having yet another new hire not uphold her expectations.
“Have a good day,” I said before striding back to the street. The heavily crowded street provided optimal cover to wait by the tavern, without fear of being noticed.
A few hours later, the bells chimed.