Raina: Tovi told me. Brenica’s amazing. You’ll love her once you get to know her.
Raina, typing fast and making mistakes: Listen, you’re about to get dragged into an Ansi thing, just trust me, go with it. They do it to all new arrivals. You’ll be a lot more comfortable if you let them dress you and paint you.
Me: ?
Raina: it’s a little strange and invasive the first time
Me: Strange, how?
Raina: Especially the hair removal part. Think of it as a spa! Waxing!
Me, panicking: WHAT
Raina: Just go with it!
Me: WHY DIDN’T YOU WARN ME
Me: WHY DIDN’T *ANYONE* WARN ME?!
Me: I’m going to kill Lorcan for this. Tovian, too. Hope you’re ready to be a widow.
Raina: Reception inside the village is crap call me when you’re out in the field tomorrow—whatever you do
The text message cuts off as though she hit send prematurely.
“Zosia?”
I tossed the phone onto the bed.Fuck, fuck, fuck.“Yes?”
“Queen Brenica is asking for you,” Lorcan called through the covered entrance. I smoothed my hair away from my face, gathered my courage, and descended the walkway to meet my fellow queen.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
“Princess Zosia. Your presence here is an honor.”
I bowed. “It is an honor to be your guest.”
I may be the future queen of Auralia, but here, I am a foreign dignitary. An itchy, grumpy, tired, smelly one who isn’t in the mood for formalities.
“According to our custom, everyone who comes from the outside must wash away the scent. The Ansi go out into the world but, until recently, we did not invite the outside world in. You have Princess Raina to thank for our newfound openness, as well as the Skía and their pirate army.” Her smile faded. “The work of ridding our shores of that scourge is not yet finished. My ladies will prepare you and your companions for the next phase of your journey.”
Oh, great. Here we go.
“Each step has a purpose, Princess. I understand you may find our methods intrusive but they are necessary. We will scrub you clean” —the queen’s nose flared delicately— “and make your skin smooth so that our paint sticks properly. The paint keeps away bothersome gnats” —I am sold— “and other discomforts, as well as providing camouflage. You will be given clothing appropriate to protect you in this environment. My sons will show you how it works tomorrow. Your knight is already familiar with this process.”
I cast him a withering glare.Thanks for the heads up.Lorcan’s eyes crinkled at the corners.
“When my son said you were small, I assumed you were short as well, like his wife. As you are considerably taller than expected, the clothes we have might be a little... skimpy.”
Auralia, kill me now. I am begging you.I forced a smile. “I’m sure I’ll manage.”
The queen’s dark eyes danced with humor. “I doubt your knight will mind. Will he be painting you?”
“I...uh, as opposed to?”
“The ladies.”
“Yes. Sure.” Better to have Lorcan do it than strangers, right? How do I get into these situations, anyway?
