On Fire's Wings - Christie Golden [23]
“I am in need of refreshment,” Yeshi said. “Go to the kitchens and ask Sahlik to prepare a plate. Make sure there is something you enjoy on it, too, Kevla.”
Kevla floated down to the kitchens and repeated Yeshi’s request to Sahlik. The head servant nodded, pleased.
“Don’t forget to let her eat first,” she said as she arranged the tray. “And don’t pay any attention when she tells you to have some paraah, it’s her favorite fruit and she’ll want to eat it all herself.”
Kevla nodded obediently. It was perhaps natural that Sahlik should worry, but there was no need. Kevla understood exactly how to handle someone like Yeshi.
After Kevla had lit the lamps, candles and brazier, she and the khashima lounged on embroidered pillows, nibbled the delicacies, and sipped a beverage that was both sweet and tangy and which made Kevla feel a bit light-headed. Yeshi was chatting and Kevla was listening as attentively as possible, giving the potency of the drink, when there came a knock on the door. Yeshi sighed.
“And we were having such a good time, just the two of us,” she said. In a harder voice, she called, “Who knocks?”
“Please, my lady, it is only us,” came a timid reply.
“Enter.” The door opened and two young women stood in the hall. The older one, whom Kevla suspected was in her late twenties, was tall and voluptuous, her dark blue rhia straining across her full breasts. She started when she saw Kevla and her eyes widened, then whatever emotion was in them was quickly hooded.
The younger was only a few years older than Kevla and shorter and slimmer than her companion. The most noticeable thing about her was her hand, which was swathed in bandages. Kevla felt a pang of sympathy and wondered what had happened.
“You are late,” said Yeshi.
Their eyes widened in apprehension. They exchanged glances. “Didn’t Sahlik tell you?” asked the larger woman.
“About Ranna’s hand? Yes, but there was no reason you needed to stay with her so long, Tiah.” Yeshi’s gaze returned to Kevla, and she smiled affectionately. She was quite lovely when she smiled, thought Kevla.
“It was lucky that Kevla is as skilled as you are, Ranna, otherwise my back would have been protesting your absence. It looks as though it will be some time before you will be able to rub my feet.”
Ranna’s dark face flushed. “Yes, my lady.”
Tiah glanced at Ranna and said, “Maluuk said that it was lucky she did not die.”
“Mmm,” said Yeshi. “Well, Ranna, you have one good hand. Go down to the kitchen and get me another skin of wine.”
Kevla knew she was a good observer, but even the greatest dullard would have had no trouble interpreting the looks both handmaidens shot her. She swallowed hard, and despite the strange sensation the wine was causing in her, wished she dared have another cup.
“Ranna,” said Yeshi, “I did not mean tomorrow.”
Ranna jumped slightly. “Of course not. Forgive me.” She reached with her good hand to take the wineskin and darted out the door. Tiah moved to settle behind Yeshi on the cushions and reached to touch her hair when Yeshi ducked her head.
“No. Kevla will brush my hair. Tiah, you will bathe and massage my feet.”
Kevla rose and did as she was commanded. Tiah, safely out of Yeshi’s line of vision, mouthed the word skuura, female dog, and glared as she rose. A knot in her stomach, Kevla knelt behind Yeshi and began unbraiding the thick locks with nimble, gentle fingers.
Yeshi chatted on about nothing. Ranna returned with the wine. All three servants chimed in with appropriate noises from time to time. Tiah bathed Yeshi’s feet in a ceramic bowl of water scented with flower petals, lavishing attention on them. She dried them carefully and massaged oil into them, her gaze darting up now and then to gauge her mistress’s reaction.
Kevla dutifully brushed and oiled Yeshi’s hair, and while pleased to hear such compliments as “Your touch is so gentle, child!” and “That feels good, Kevla,” wished silently that Yeshi would spare a kind word or two for