TWENTY
Lagle's chamber was as spare and small as Ava's old one at the women's palace. More so, perhaps, as she had no spare clothing or even any belongings to personalise the space. Ava dreaded what Lagle would say when she discovered she'd slept upon a pallet and not the golden feather bed she'd boasted about so many times in the harem.
"Has she awoken?" Ava asked, though she knew the answer before the words had left her lips. If Lagle had awoken before this, the whole palace would have heard what she thought about being made to lie on a pallet. As the girl who crouched on the floor beside Lagle shook her head, Ava said, "Very well. Have my old chamber prepared – the one where I was taken before I wed the prince – and see that she is moved there. She must be cared for as though she was
