A Scheme of Sorcery by Ennis Rook Bashe

Author:Ennis Rook Bashe [Bashe, Ennis Rook]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, Romance, fantasy, new adult, other-world, non-explicit, lesbian, cisgender, enemies to lovers, knights, magic users, royalty
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2021-08-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

After hurriedly changing into clean, dry clothes and braiding her hair once more, Sariva passed through the sitting room.

“Lady Cypress, can you do a service for me?” Lisette called.

Sariva tried to not sound skeptical. “What is it?” Despite her opinions, she ought to aid her coworker for the good of the palace.

“I’m buying a new dress, and my allowance is two hundred florins.” She mentioned the huge sum so casually.

“And you’d like me to help figure out what you ought to wear?” Perhaps Lisette had noticed her dressmaking talents.

“No, I thought you could come help me bargain.”

Had she misheard? “Pardon?”

“Well, because you’re Northern.” When Sariva didn’t reply, Lisette evidently took this as a lack of understanding because she hurried to explain. “You’re good with money. You could help me get a better deal on fabric. And I’m doing a lot to stop the political abuses in the North. I sign petitions, I’ve got a handcrafted scarf made by a refugee nomad artisan, and I never buy anything from occupied areas. What have you been doing for the nomad refugees lately? Come to think of it, I haven’t heard you condemn the Northern government’s abuses at all.”

Sariva stared at her blankly until she realized Lisette expected an answer. “Let me see if I understand,” she began. “You want me to take action against people in a country I’ve never been to and don’t have citizenship in, where politicians I can’t vote against make policies in a language I don’t speak.”

“They’re your people,” Lisette replied with a shrug, poised between offhand and affronted. “If my country did war crimes, I’d take action. You have to be politically engaged about the issues.”

“And the form you want my engagement to take is…helping you bargain for a dress even though I’m not great at numbers or math?”

Lisette sighed. “Listen, I know you’re desperate to wear your tacky symbol and pretend you’re oppressed even though your country has a giant army and your people are rich. I get it. You have such a hard life. But could you at least stop pretending I’m traumatizing you? It’s only shopping.”

“She’s right,” Fabiola, one of Lisette’s friends, added. “I mean, the least you could do is condemn the human rights abuses in the North. But you’re just here flaunting your privilege.”

Lisette jabbed a finger at Sariva’s Goddess pendant. “And you know what? The queen wouldn’t let you wear divisive jewelry. You know who else wears religious pendants? Nationalists.” She held out a hand.

What did she expect Sariva to say? You’re right, I must flee my oppressive culture, and wearing something incompatible with activist politics burns my skin! Get it off! Aaaah!

She’d hoped for friends here. People who cared if she couldn’t find something to eat, who would cover for her when she had to go to religious services. At least reading tragedies had taught her to survive alone and friendless. “I’ve an appointment,” she blurted, pushing past them both.

“You’re only defensive because it’s true!” Lisette called after her, and Fabiola giggled.

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