Chapter 21
WHEN THE ASTROLOGER announced that Lana was born in the sign of the Eagle, people in the hall gasped and stared at her, including Nashi, whose face was pale with horror.
“No, I didn’t know that. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lana frowned at her. “Do you believe in this nonsense?”
“No, no, no, it’s not nonsense. Everyone knows that it’s an omen to be Eagle-born.”
Lana was surprised that this star sign folklore had penetrated into Chevakia. Maybe a sign that Aranians had been crossing the border regularly for a long time?
“Well then, what does it mean?”
“I presume it means that the king wants you in his house.”
The blood roared in Lana’s ears. “Does that mean. . . ?”
“His harem. His Mothers.”
Lana felt like the ground had opened underneath her. She’d heard and read about the
