War of Shadows

Girl Time

Chapter 24

Shockingly enough, I hadn’t seen Caz in a week since he had essentially declared that my fate was in his hands. I knew he was standing guard outside my door during the night, because I could smell him. That’s another thing: things had started to…change since we severed my bond with Eli. The scarring around my wrists from the handcuffs have dulled from puffy pink scars to thinner, pale lines. I had started to fill out again already, my shape finally smoothing over back into its original curvy state it was in since before Kertain took me. Most of all, and maybe the most noticeable change by far, was my progress in training. Caz had assigned someone else to take over my defense and combat training, and I now had a separate trainer to help me with mobility, balance, and strength. It seems that’s all my life has become, combat training twice a day and strength and mobility training once a day.

A few days ago, I had started receiving approval from my combat trainer on how far I’ve come in such a short amount of time. I feel stronger now than I ever have before, both physically and mentally.

A part of me feels guilty with how I had treated Caz that morning, and I find myself debating poking my head out into the hallway at night to apologize to him. But I don’t. He’s made it very clear that we aren’t friends, nothing more than a guard and his little pawn.

Dasia and I walk through the gardens, the sun at its peak above us, casting shadows beneath the vibrant flowers that rustle in the soft summer breeze. We’ve taken to having regular picnic lunches stuffed in my busy schedule, and I appreciate the private “girl time” that we’ve grown to cherish together.

“The general will be on the prowl tonight,” Dasia warns as I flick a sheet out onto a grassy clearing between rose bushes.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to avoid him. He won’t even notice I’m there anyway.” She plunks down across from me on the sheet, placing a woven basket between us and we begin to remove its contents.

“You're lying again,” Dasia teases in a sing-song voice. I forgot she has that particular intuition, and goddess do I hate it. I let out a strangled huff.

“I’m a little worried about it, I would be stupid not to be. My need for something fun just outweighs my fear of Caziel’s wrath,” I shrug and pop a crystal blue sphere shaped fruit in my mouth, earning a snort from Dasia.

Tonight there will be a party. A ball, I suppose, maybe even a gala? Whatever they refer to it as, I’m going. The queen sent a summons straight to my room along with her personal seamstress, saying she would like to finally meet with me at the event and insisted on providing me with a gown courtesy of her majesty. I’m unsure if Caz is aware I’ll finally be let out into the public, but I only assume that he won’t be happy about it.

“Tsk tsk,” she wags her finger at me and lowers her tone. “If you say that too loudly, he’ll sniff you out and put you in your place.” She winks. “But I'm guessing you wouldn’t be too upset about that?”

“Dasia,” I shriek in disgust and try my best not to snort out my water. “You are vile! I wouldn’t touch that man even if my life depended on it. Goddess knows I feel bad for any woman that winds up with that grumpy troll.”

“Oh please, Stel. I’m not blind and neither are you- I have to admit that the man’s a looker. Plus, word on the street is that his little girlfriend made an appearance last week.” She raises her eyebrows at me and shoves a dumpling-like ball of minced meat and veggies into her mouth.

Something flickers in my gut, but I chalk it up to this morning’s workout not mixing well with lunch. “Oh? Is that why I haven’t been seeing him around?”

“Careful, Stella, you might start to sound a little jealous,” she warns.

I finish off my lunch and wipe the crumb off on my knees. “Can’t be jealous over someone you hate, Day,” I point out. “Besides, maybe you’re projecting onto me and you’re the one who’s jealous.”

Day stands with a grin, then pulls me to my feet as well. I hate this part, knowing that it’s right back to business so quickly. Everything just seems normal when I’m having lunch dates with her. Lauren and Carter would love her.

“Everything okay, Stella? You look a little down.”

I shake my head, clearing my wistful thoughts away. “Everything’s great, I promise. I’m just getting a little bored with the routine.”

I see Day turning something over in her head before gesturing me forward, toward the path. “I’ll come to your next lesson with you!”

I want to reassure her that she doesn’t need to do that, but a big part of me melts at the gesture. I enjoy my time with Dasia, and I dare say that I consider her a friend- something I’ve needed for a long while. So, I smile and lead her across the campus to the weight rooms. It’s easy to fall into a playful banter with her, and before we know it, we’re entering the indoor section of the training grounds.

“Cohr!” She booms to my lifting and balancing instructor, who jolts at the noise from his place perched on top of a box jump and saunters over with a grin on his face.

Cohr looks about the same age as my mother, leanly built with a salt and pepper beard and short, choppy hair. The crows feet on his eyes deepen as he grins widely and pulls Day into a quick and rough embrace.

“The Goddess has blessed me with a visit from the little firecracker herself,” he whistles under his breath. “Haven’t seen you around, child! How have you been?”

Day beams at Cohr, and I watch the interaction with a warm heart. “Actually, I stopped by to let you know that I’m stealing Stel away for the rest of the day.”

Cohr looks between us with a knowing glint in his eye. “Festis Ball?” He asks.

Day winks and pulls me with her back to the door. “Us girls need a little extra time. Perfection doesn’t just happen, Cohr.” Her eyes are wide with pseudo innocence as she creaks the door back open.

Cohr laughs and waves us away. “I’ll let Ashteh know your second combat session is canceled, see you at the ball!”

I squeal as we hurry throughout the halls to Day’s room, laughing at the red-faced guard shadowing behind us the whole way. I’ve learned to ignore them, but it’s hard to do that when their metal is frantically clanking behind you at every turn you make. He wears a nervous tilt to his mouth, as if he knows he’ll get an earful about me pulling hookey.

Day pushes open the door to her room, similarly set up like my own. While my room is all cold tones and minty blues, Day’s sheets and decor are a dramatic black and golden theme throughout. The glass doors to her patio remain open, and the sheer black curtains flap gently in the breeze.

“No, absolutely not,” she orders, and I twist to see her usher my guard for the day out of her bedroom. “Should I let Caz know that you pushed your way into private chambers with Stella?”

His response gets muffled through the heavy door and she pushes it closed and rushes into her bathroom.

She emerges shortly, both arms full of towels and jars and a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I live in a world full of brooding men with way too much ego, it’s not often I get to share my luxuries with another woman.”

I giggle and follow her into the open space before her fireplace. “What exactly are your luxuries?” I eye the bundle of items questioningly.

“Oh Stella,” she sighs dramatically, “You look like a fuzzy animal under those pants, don’t tell me you planned on going to the ball like that?”

Excitement burns through my chest and I’m nearly tripping over the couch to join Day on the floor. “Goddess, you have no idea how much I’ve been wanting a shave, I feel like a downright cavewoman.”

Day laughs. “I don’t know exactly what you mean, but I’m sure you're right. Have you waxed yourself before or do you want me to?”

I still for a moment.

She takes the cue, and instructs me to strip down. She places hot towels on my underarms, then spreads on a honey-like gel. It sits hot on my skin until it dries, and she rips off the spots with a furious jerk, fire raising on my skin in response.

“s**t f*****g HELL,” I cry out, and we both laugh at my expense.

“Don’t be a baby, this is only the first strip of hundreds from what I can tell,” her face beams radiantly with a wide grin.

I can’t help but choke out a giddy giggle, excited to be able to pamper myself a little bit after everything has gone down.

……………………….

By the time we’re done waxing, soaking, and pampering, the blazing sun and the midday heat has settled into the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant purple clouds and orange horizons. Day has just finished blowing on my freshly dipped fingertips to dry them, leaving a light reddish brown stain on the tips of my fingers. She insisted that it was only a temporary stain made from various tea leaves, clay, and berries, but that it’s the latest fashion trend here in Ghashia.

I raise my hand in front of my face to observe the beautiful stain, only to realize that it didn’t stain my finger nails.

“Dasia,” I lean over to show her as she dips her own manicured nails into the mixture. “Is it supposed to wipe off of my nails?”

Day takes a peak at my nails to scrutinize. “It looks perfect to me!” She frowns pensively. “Of course, if you don’t like it we can always just take it off.”

“No, of course not! I love it actually, I was just asking about my nails because I’m used to using nail polish at home. Strangely, it's the polar opposite of the trends I'm used to, but I think the stain makes my fingers look more delicate.”

Dasia studies me for a moment, c*****g her head to the side, careful not to move her hands while they sit in the bowl. “I wonder if we can hire a seamstress to design clothing that feels more natural to you. Would that help you adjust better?”

I didn’t give it much thought before now, but after a moment of quiet I can't hold myself back from asking. “Day…Do you think I’ll be able to go home?”

Day returns her gaze to the bowl, where she finally lifts her hands out to air dry them. “I really don’t know, Stella. If you want complete transparency, which I can tell you need right now, I think that if you do return home that it won’t be for a long while.”

A heavy silence settles between us as I take the emotions that spark around the idea and lock them away. They won’t do any good here.

“Have you thought about whether or not you want to claim your throne?” She asks.

“I haven’t,” I confess with a sigh, “I’m not even sure I’ve completely wrapped my head around this new reality. There’s so much that I need to process, but it seems like I’m just too busy to do that. I lost my mate, and I haven’t really allowed myself to grieve that. Not to mention that I don’t belong here, or there. How can I take over a throne over people I don’t even share the same language with?”

“It is indeed a lot to consider,” she agrees, “but I think that if anyone is capable of making the right decisions for yourself, it’s you. Don’t let fear get in the way of your fate.”

I mull her words over, and they help to settle a twinge of anxiety sitting in my gut. I clear my throat.

“So anyway, do you have any makeup?”

I see Day’s eyes light up and she dabs the excess stain off of her dried fingers before standing up again.

“What color is your dress?’

Shoot.

“I-I actually have no idea,” I admit, following her lead and standing. “The Lord sent over someone to take my measurements but we didn’t actually discuss the dress.”

Her eyes narrow and she sucks on the lip. “Hmm,” she hums thoughtfully, “Maybe we can just do something light and natural. That way, it will look good regardless of your dress. Plus, you look amazing now that you don’t resemble a hairy, old elf.”

“Wow, who knew you could be so sweet?” I lay my hand dramatically over my heart and flutter my lashes at her.

“I’m not, but I’ve taken you on as my project tonight,” she throws back at me.