Chapter 27
I don’t follow Kaldar out because I’m still wearing his shirt. “Should we get started?” Rakel asks.
“Sure.”
I study her a moment and wonder how she’s going to do this with a baby on her hip.
But my curiosity is sated a moment later when she picks up a long piece of fabric and ties it around her and then crisscrosses it in front of her before slipping her little one inside.
She grabs her bag from the hall and places it on the floor before closing the door. “Let’s get started,” she says brightly.
She spends the next few minutes measuring me and writing down all my measurements. “That’s really great how you do that with your little one strapped to your chest,” I point out about halfway through.
She glances down lovingly. “It’s much easier than trying to keep her occupied.”
“What’s her name?”
“Liella.”
“That’s beautiful.”
Rakel beams at me. “Thank you.” And then she gets right back to work. A few minutes later, she pulls some clothing from her bag. “Okay. Let’s see what I have that we can make work for today. Shirt off.”
I blink at her a moment and glance around. “Uh.”
Realization dawns on her. “I’ll turn around,” she says politely.
When she turns around, I take Kaldar’s shirt off.
But now I’m left with a whole new problem.
I’m completely naked now. Well, at least I have my undergarments on.
When she turns back around, I try not to make a big deal of it.
Thankfully, she doesn’t either. “Here. Slip this on.” I take the silky fabric and pull it over my head.
She hands me a pair of silk pants next. I step into those as well.
She steps back and looks at me a moment before she digs in her bag again.
“Let’s try this one instead.” I try on two more shirts and another pair of pants before she’s satisfied. “Yes. I can make this work for today.”
She spends the next few minutes sticking pins into the fabric and ripping out stitches in another area. I don’t say anything; it’s just fascinating to watch her work. Finally, she steps back. “Yes. That will work nicely for today.” She spins me around. “Where’s the mirror? Ah.”
I follow her over to the bathing room where there’s a long mirror behind the door. I stop in front of the mirror. “Oh, wow. You’re a miracle worker.”
Rakel laughs lightly. “Not really. I had a great canvas to work with.”
I stare at the bright colored fabric. It’s brighter than anything I’ve ever worn before with pink and teal and yellow.
But it looks like what I’ve seen the others wearing in this kingdom.
The pants are silky and loose; they flow freely.
I really like that. And the shirt wraps around my torso and ties at the side next to my hip.
It’s flattering and looks like it was made for me. “I love this. Thank you, Rakel.”
“Hopefully, His Highness isn’t too disappointed in this new look.”
I feel my cheeks heat. “He’ll be fine.”
She gives me a knowing grin and begins to pack her bag. “I’m going to get to work. I’ll have another outfit for tomorrow and more in the days to come. Anything in particular you have in mind?”
“No. I trust you.” Liella lets out a little fuss, and Rakel works at pulling her out of the fabric she tied to her chest. I smile at that adorable little face.
“Do you want to hold her?” she asks.
“Of course.” Rakel passes her to me, and I can’t help my smile. “She is so precious.”
“She is.”
“Hey, Lovie.” Her big eyes fasten on my face, and she gives me the most adorable smile.
“Ooo, she likes you. I’ll have to remember that. Maybe you can watch her for me some time.”
I smile down at Liella. “I’d love to.” I hold her a few more minutes while Rakel finishes packing her bag.
“Oh, Kinsley,” I hear a singsong voice call out.
Rakel smiles at me. “I believe Mae is here.”
“I think you’re right.” I pass Liella back to her and straighten the outfit I’m wearing.
Rakel grabs her bag and walks out, and I follow. “Kinsley,” Mae calls out happily when she sees me. “Ooo, you look beautiful. I love your outfit. Rakel, you’re the best. Isn’t she the best, Kinsley?”
“How do you find time to breathe?” Harper asks her, and I shoot her a look that I hope she interprets to be nice.
“Good morning, Maelin,” Rakel says graciously.
“Good morning, Rakel,” Mae responds in kind.
“Are you ready?” Mae asks me with bright eyes.
“For what?”
She continues to beam at me. “We are going to the Grove today. My cousin reamed me out for not taking you yesterday, so I hope both of you are ready.” She looks between Harper and me.
“I’m going too?” Harper asks.
“Yes. Of course,” Mae says in return. “Let’s go. We don’t want to miss lunch.”
I turn to Harper. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“And miss out on food? No thanks.”
In that, we are both on the same wavelength. Growing up with the banished, food was scarce. Neither of us ever miss a meal if it’s possible now. I turn to Rakel. “Do you need anything?”
“I’m good. Thank you. I’m going to put Liella down for a nap and then get to work on your wardrobe. I’ll bring over some pieces as soon as I get them done.”
“Thank you, Rakel.”
She smiles at me once again. “It’s my honor.”
As soon as she leaves, Mae turns back to us. “Ready? Let’s go.”
We leave the house and step out onto the wooden walkway.
I feel the sun on my face and close my eyes, soaking it in.
“It usually helps if you keep your eyes open.” My eyes fly open at the sound of the voice close to me.
I take in Reika, one of Kaldar’s original five.
I’m about to ask her what she’s doing here when I remember Taren being on protection duty yesterday; this must be her day.
“If you remember how to walk, we can get going.”
I ignore her words and wonder just how it is that she got on Kaldar’s protection team.
Then I remember what he said about her aim.
We walk to the far right. When I look back, I realize there are lines of houses behind Kaldar’s house too.
There are so many houses out on the water; it’s pretty incredible.
The end of the wooden walkway deposits us right on the sand, next to the water.
Mae takes the lead and walks over to the trees, surprising me when she leads us into the trees. “Where are we going?” I ask.
Mae turns back to me. “To the Grove.”
I’m confused why we’re leaving all the homes behind us, but I don’t say anything.
I’m surprised again when we step onto a wooden walkway, just like the one built above the water.
This one leads further into the trees. As we get deeper into the trees, houses start to appear.
I stare in awe at them because they’re literally built into the trees.
Some of them are built around trees; some are up in the trees. “This is incredible,” I breathe out.
Mae turns back with a smile. “You think it’s pretty now; you should see it at night.”
I take in the sheer amount of homes. “I can’t believe how many homes are in here. I thought everybody’s homes were out on the water.”
“Oh, no,” Mae’s quick to reply. “Our people love the water and the trees, and they can choose which place they want to live.”
Walking through the trees is a surreal experience.
There’s so much to take in. Each home is so unique, depending on what kind of tree it’s built into.
Then there are the bright colors everywhere both from nature and manmade.
There are bright-colored flowers everywhere and the most green I’ve ever seen in one place.
The homes themselves boast of color too.
The front doors on every home are different colors, and each house has at least one colorful fabric hanging from it.
The way the fabrics are hung tells me that they’re used both for decoration and for coverage from the sun.
I can’t even begin to take it all in. After walking for a little while, we come to a huge, round building that’s literally built around a massive tree.
Mae heads towards the double jade doors and doesn’t slow down as she opens the doors and makes her way inside.
I glance over at Harper, but she seems to be just as overwhelmed by everything as I am.
“Are you going to continue to just stare at the building, or are you going to go inside?” Reika asks with her ever-present disdain for me.
Harper whirls around like she’s going to say something, but I quickly push her towards the door.
We don’t need a confrontation right now, not when I can literally feel so many eyes on us.
“Just let it go,” I mutter quietly to her as I head towards the doors.
Before I can open the door, it opens for me and somebody steps out.
“Oh, excuse me,” I say and take a step back.
I wait for the person to step out of the way.
When they don’t, I look up. A man I’ve never seen before stares down at me with such hostility, it shocks me.
He crosses his arms over his chest. Before I can say anything, another man comes out and stands next to him.
I have no idea what to make of this, and I don’t want to make a scene.
I take a step to go around them. “If you’ll excuse me.
” The first guy takes a step with me, blocking my access to the door.
I finally look up. “I’m sorry. I don’t believe we’ve met.
I’m Kinsley.” I put my hand out. The first guy makes a point of looking at my hand and not shaking it.
I don’t let it bother me. I grew up one of the banished; I’m used to this kind of treatment.
“Well, if you’ll excuse us; we’ll be on our way. ”
“You can’t go in there,” the second guy says now.
I level a look at them. “Why?”
“You’re not one of us.”
I let the words bounce right off me. I open my mouth to say something in response, but Reika beats me to it.
One second she’s behind me; the next, she has a sword at the first guy’s chest. “Are you telling the king’s mate she can’t enter the Grove?
” Her words have a dangerous edge to them.
I almost tell her not to worry about it, but I’m half worried that she’ll turn that sword on me.
The men both glare at her but then step out of our way.
“That’s what I thought,” Reika says, sheathing her sword.
She steps back and nods her head towards the doors.
I meet both men’s gazes as I pass them; I don’t let their anger intimidate me. Once we’re inside, I wait for Reika.
“Oh good. You finally made it,” Mae says, appearing suddenly at my side. “I thought I lost you.”
Reika shoves open the doors and strides inside. “Thank you for that,” I tell her as soon as she’s close enough.
She doesn’t even bother to look at me. “I didn’t do it for you.”
She takes a few steps away from us, and I let her go. When I turn back to Mae, she’s frowning at Reika. Not wanting to make an even bigger deal, I redirect her attention. “It smells amazing in here.” It’s not a lie. It really does.