CaptiveoftheStars Read Online Free

want to make a place for myself here."
    Dorith laughed. "Just let General Alsco under your skirts and you can have whatever you wish. We have all seen him watching you."
    Maida chuckled as well.
    "I have no interest in the general or any man here." It was a lie, but she wasn't about to tell them that. Her daily dose of herbs was keeping it plausible.
    "His lordship watches you as well, but there is a different look to him. Like a man in pain." Dorith scraped their plates into the rubbish bin and slid the dishes into the steaming sink.
    Pain? She hadn't made eye contact with him since the kiss. She turned to Dorith, "Do you think I can take up more duties?"
    The housekeeper shook her head. "No. His lordship wants you only to serve and that is all you will do until he says otherwise."
    The noise of a crowd emanated through the keep from the courtyard.
    Maida laughed and darted to the window, looking up at the milling beast feet and wagon wheels. "They are back! That was quick."
    Dorith grinned. "They probably didn't have to stop to recover straying women on the way."
    Nasha blushed.
    Her guard of the day, Tonio, came to her. "You are needed to help the Fano women bathe and dress."
    She nodded and fought a grin as Dorith yelled out, "You got your wish. New duties."
    Nasha walked with Tonio to the guest quarters where she had had her first bath. Pages and kitchen lads were rushing past with buckets of hot water drawn from the hot spring in the lowest level of the keep.
    "How many women did they bring back?"
    "I don't know, Haella. Lord Kalowell just asked me to bring you." He escorted her to the door and then opened it to let her inside. It closed with a grim finality behind her and she looked over a series of welcomed faces.
    "Welcome to Kalowell. You may not remember me, I am Haella." She smiled at the women who looked at her with relief.
    Tish grinned. "Ah yes, the madwoman of the village. You seem to have done well for yourself."
    "I have survived. My duties are light and Lord Kalowell is kind. It makes me regret what brought us all to this moment. Now, ladies, please enter the large bath and I will help you with your hair and scrub your backs."
    Her women looked scandalized, but out of the five that were looking at her, not one would betray her. They all shucked out of their clothing and slid into the pool.
    "How did you come to be here?" Nasha scrubbed each of their backs in turn, her hands rapidly getting wrinkled as she worked her way around the tub.
    The women blushed as she helped them, but she didn't make a fuss, so neither did they.
    Vavi sighed. "We came back looking for you…Haella. There was no trace and the scouts were just waiting for us to emerge from the caverns."
    "That was my fault. I led Lord Kalowell to the gateway. I wasn't expecting him to catch on so quickly. Hence, my jewellery."
    She poured fragrant soap onto her hand and tapped Tish on the shoulder. Tish ducked down and emerged with her hair wet so Nasha could go to town. The lather built quickly and another light tap got Tish to rinse.
    Nasha worked her way down the line to Vavi, Lass, Orial and Mithwai. When all of her ladies in waiting were squeaky clean, she returned to the door and asked for clothing for the women.
    Tonio nodded and reached to the shelf behind him for a collection of brightly coloured clothing. Nasha sighed in relief. Her companions were not to be consigned to duty in a kitchen or menial service.
    She took the clothing with the matching slippers and ducked back into the bathing room. As each emerged from the bath, she wrapped them in a towel and led them to a chair. When all of the women were seated, she went down the line brushing the hair of each of her ladies in turn.
    Each colour went with the woman that it best suited and when they were dressed, she backed away to return to Tonio. "They are dressed and ready. What is my next assignment?"
    He looked confused. "Don't you wish to remain with them?"
    "They are attired as ladies,