Sheala by Mays Judy

Author:Mays, Judy [Mays, Judy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781419955891
Google: yNVFGQAACAAJ
Amazon: 1419955896
Goodreads: 1925942
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Published: 2006-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

“Who are the women with them?” the elegantly clad young Gattan woman asked her maid.

“An Aradab, a Drakian, and Sosha Kanicsdotir,” the girl answered timidly.

“Sosha Kanicsdotir?” Kadis questioned with a frown. “We thought she was somewhere with a Medirian prince. What did she say?”

“Nothing, Mistress.”

Kadis’ lip curled in a petulant sneer. “Her parents will probably beg Mother to take her into service also, the little slut. Who are the others?”

Kadis tilted her head and admired herself in the mirror. So what if Marljas had once wanted to marry Sosha. She was a nobody whose parents were the caretakers of her mother’s country estate—mere servants—even if her godfather was the ambassador to Drakan.

She tilted her head the other way and admired the slim column of her neck. Marljas would never consider marrying the little upstart with her here proposing a betrothal at the queen’s behest.

“They said nothing about the Aradab,” the maid said swallowing nervously.

“And the Drakian?”

The maid swallowed again. “Alalakan dem al’ Sheala.”

Kadis sneered at her reflection. “Denieen must have brought them. The fool woman is convinced that trade rather than conquest is best. Mother and I will set her right after I’ve married Marljas. Where are they now?”

“They have all gathered in Teena Seenasdotir’s private apartments,” the maid answered with less tension. More persistent questioning by her mistress would have earned her a slap. As it was, she did not plan to be anywhere near Kadis Jadisdotir when she discovered Marljas had married the Drakian woman.

“Send a message that I am ready to join them.”

“I will take it myself, Mistress.”

“Good, you’re finally beginning to learn your place.”

“Yes, Mistress,” the girl answered as she left the room. Tonight she would ask sanctuary from her mistress’s hosts. From everything she’d heard from those who worked here, Drefes Cardesson would pay off her father’s debt to Kadis’ brother and would be much more understanding in their repayment of the debt to him.

Smugly, Kadis Jadisdotir watched her maid leave the room. It had taken only a few slaps and three days with no meals for the girl to learn her place.

Then Kadis frowned. With Denta gone, she’d have to brush her hair herself. Turning to face the full-length mirror, Kadis unbelted the robe she was wearing and let it drop to the floor so she could admire her nude body. Everyone said she was a younger version of her mother, and at forty-five Jadis Franasdotir was still considered one of the most beautiful women on Gattan.

Her mother, Kadis concluded, was correct. She was the great beauty of her generation. Unlike many other members of her tribe, she did not have stripes on her face or the front of her body. Instead, dark brown stripes began at her backbone and circled around her sides, fading into the warm tan skin of her breasts and belly. Black eyes hid beneath thick lashes, and full, red lips smiled beneath what was considered a dainty nose for a Gattan. Dark brown stripes began

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