The War of Queens

Chapter 32

Asha

 It had stopped snowing for once, but started raining. The white blanket that had covered the grounds surrounding Wolfsbane castle turned into grey slush that was halfway between snow and water. It managed to penetrate all sorts of footwear Asha had tried wearing and it made the most annoying sounds when she treaded through it.

 She sighed, turning away from the window. “I hate this weather,” she muttered.

 Hiram was sitting on the bed, flitting through a book absent-mindedly. He looked up when she spoke. “Why don’t you go home, then?”

 She fell onto the bed beside him, sighing again. The weather was not only depressing, it was also preventing her from going outside. Even if she went outside, she would have to wear layers of clothing that would make her feel enclosed, and too warm while still freezing to death. “You know I can’t.”

 He returned his attention to the book. “You’re the Kahari,” he reminded her. “She can’t keep you here.”

 ‘She’ meant Lady Caterina, of course. Hiram disliked her for the simple reason that he blamed her for pulling them north. He does not see the bigger picture, she thought, resignated.

 “You need to understand why we’re here,” Asha told him. When he did not reply, she sat up and leaned against his back. She could see the book over his shoulder, and the little blotches of blacks that he read words from. Thomas had once taught her the numbers, but she hated reading. “Where did you find that book?”

 “Lady Caterina told me I could borrow one of her books,” he said. “Alice took me to the library yesterday, but the books are all old legends about storied nights.” He slammed the book shut. “It’s boring.”

 Asha’s hand reached into his hair. “Alice?”

 “Yes. She’s our serving girl. Haven’t you spoken to her?”

 She leaned over to press a kiss to his temple. “Probably.” Once more, she kissed him. “But there are so many.”

 He leaned away just as she was about to do it again, looking at her with a frown. “You truly are adapting to Caterina’s lifestyle.”

 “What?” Asha watched as he stood up, dumbfounded by his words. “What do you mean?”

 He looked her over. “Asha, there are women seeing to your every need and you do not even know their names. You have changed - you are changing, into another one of those northern ladies who were born with too much money and too much wealth. Women unlike you, who take everything for granted.”

 She gaped at him. “Just because I forgot one name? Hiram, we’ve had at least a dozen different serving girls. Can you name them all?”

 “Not all of them,” he admitted. “But there’s Beth, Tess, Johanna, Lucy…”

 “Alright!” she shouted. “I get it. You are better than me.”

 “That is not what I said.”

 “That is exactly what you said,” she shrieked. “Is that why you take such great care to know these women? To speak with them? After all, the see to your every need.”

 His eyes widened with anger and he drew in a deep breath, as if to shout, but then he closed his eyes tightly. “Asha, please do not do this.”

 “Do what?”

 “Be unfair,” he said. “Why would you even think that I…” He trailed off, hands gesturing as he searched for the right words.

 But Asha was unforgiving. She stared at him as she spoke. “Well, I’m always away at my stupid war councils. War councils you won’t even try to understand. And apparently, you think that I am changing. Why would you even want me?”