“Ergh, well. I had no orders to let in a new servant.”
Unlike Sylah, Anoor was a natural actor.
“Yes, yes, I sent the notice to you mooncycles ago.”
“Does your mother know? We’ve always had strict instructions never to hire more staff into your chambers.”
“Master, do you know what age I turned on my last nameday?”
“Ergh.”
“Twenty. So, under the household rules set out by your patron, the Warden of Duty, I am of age to run my own home.”
Anoor rounded on her, and despite her small stature, the master snapped like a twig.
“Ah, yes, Miss Elsari.”
“Now give her a token.”
“Yes, miss.” She pushed forward a golden coin hammered with the guild of duty. It made Sylah want to scratch the same sign burned onto her wrist.
Sylah picked it up and slipped it into her pocket. The token would get her into Ember taverns, Ember shops, Ember schools. It was heavy next to her thigh, but she felt lighter.
Anoor tugged on her arm, pulling her away from the front of the queue.
“Oh, dearest Sylah, I hope you haven’t been put off from your first foray into the city.” Anoor linked arms with Sylah, and she tried not to shrug her off. Sylah knew it was all part of the act, but she hated being so close to the imposter. “It honestly is the most beautiful time of year for you to visit. The tidewind has been a touch on the strong side, but I’m sure it’ll calm down soon.”
Anoor leaned in to Sylah’s ear. Sylah tried not to recoil. The girl smelled like sandalwood.
“Smile.”
Sylah jolted at the change of tone. She didn’t realize she’d been frowning. Each step she’d been taking was a conscious effort to prevent her from going back to punch the master’s teeth through her skull.
“Smile less, smile less!” Anoor suddenly cried.
“What do you mean?”
“You look deranged when you smile like that. By the blood, that was terrifying.” She held a hand on her heart then shot a sheepish grin Sylah’s way.
“You realize we’re not actual friends, right?” Anoor faltered in her walk but didn’t respond. There were no smiles, fake or real, after that.
They had to go through the whole facade one more time for Gorn. Gorn was not happy with the new arrangement, but there was little she could do. In the end, Anoor sent Gorn to request more bedding just to end the conversation.
And then they were finally alone in Anoor’s chambers.
Sylah bounced onto the four-poster bed. There were more cushions on the bed than in the entire Duster Quarter.
“I want a bed like this,” Sylah declared.
“Well, you can’t, this was specially shipped from Jin-Noon. It’ll take seven mooncycles for them to make it and ship it out.”
Sylah fell backward onto the velvet covers. They were the softest thing she’d ever touched. “I’ll be long gone by then.” And she would be. In six mooncycles the Aktibar would be over, and the winner would be crowned.
Sylah looked around, still marveling at how crisp everything was. She missed the blurred edges she’d grown accustomed to. But now the haze from her usual joba seed high had lifted, she could finally see the chambers for the first time.
The room was even more opulent than Loot’s lair. Gold dripped from every surface, and if it wasn’t gold it was ruby, or emerald, or the glittering scales of the lava fish. Sylah was both disgusted and enthralled by it.
Could this have been my life?