The King's Woman

1

Henna smiled with her veil still covering her face she stepped out. The other girls were already dancing for the men sitted around, she joined in the dance as the musicians began playing the violins. She wanted to take a nap, she was already tired from the previous day she had spent with that annoying young lord from the sand lands. She knew she didn't have a choice, she had been working this job since she was 15, mistress Madin had taken her from the streets and made her work here. It wasn't all bad, she had fed her and taken care of her all these years so she owed her. But she hated doing it, dancing for proud annoying men who dragged you back to their rooms after. She used to complain but she got used to it, even though her first time was the worst, she almost shed a tear thinking about it. It was the son of the high lord from the moon lands, mistress Madin hadn't even told her, she only sent her to his room with a tray of wine. She was so excited to be in the presence of a lord she didn't realise he was standing behind her until he grabbed her, when she tried stopping him he wasn't pleased. It was the worst day of her life, he didn't go easy and she spent the whole night begging him. When she returned to her room, Madin was waiting with candies to comfort her and to give her the full speech of her future. She was taught how to dance to entertain men and began to get used to being sent to whoever paid the highest for her. Her worst days were the days that young lord showed up, he seemed to enjoy torturing her because he always paid the highest for her. She was starting to wish he would get a wife, but even when she heard he did, it didn't stop him, he had sent for her the day after his wedding. Henna snapped back to reality when Jenn slightly shoved her,"focus," Henna only smiled back. She was no more bothered by her life, she was used to it all and didn't care. As long as she scored the richest man present here, that was all mistress Madin wanted. The girls soon split in different directions each focusing on different men. Henna scanned the room for someone who looked 'high and mighty', looking around she realised the room was filled with a lot of them. Maybe she didn't need to make so much money today, maybe she could take some time off and just have fun with someone who would not bother to show up again. She smiled looking around the room then spotted the young handsome man sitting at a corner of the room. For some reason he was watching her and smiling, he was alone which made it easier to approach him. As Henna got closer she realised he was really handsome, he had dark eyes and an attractive smile. He also had long dark hair pinned neatly behind him. Henna knelt in front of his table without taking off her veil, "all alone sir?", she said pouring his tea as he smiled at her," not anymore ", he replied.