Free The Fire Lord's Lover - 1 by Kathryne Kennedy Page B

than she usually wore them, and she could see the tip of the girl's tongue as she concentrated on lacing her stomacher to it. But in a surprisingly short time Cass was clothed and searching the trunks for shoes.
       "My dear papa," she said, tossing another set of high-heeled shoes over her shoulder, "provided a most fashionable wardrobe. But I refuse to wear"—and she tossed out another pair stitched with fleur-de-lis— "heels that I can barely walk in." Cassandra sat back, brushing her hair off her forehead with the back of her hand. "Somewhere among these trunks are my sensible shoes."
       Gwen's crystal eyes sparkled with an ethereal light, a hint of gold within the hazel, and then she pointed to the third trunk on the left. "They's in there, my lady."
       Cassandra's eyebrows rose but she opened the trunk the child indicated, and down near the bottom sat her collection of low heels and slippers. "Your finding magic is most impressive, Gwendolyn."
       The girl beamed.
       "Now, then." Cass slid into her shoes. "I must find a vanity for my cosmetics, as I suppose I'll have to get used to using them now that I'm at court." She shoved her hair up off her forehead again. "And a hairdresser."
       Gwen practically leaped to her toes. "My friend May does weaving near as fine as ye can get."
       "I'm not sure—"
       "Oh, she does all the horses' tails for the grand processions. And," Gwen lowered her voice to a mere whisper, "I've seen her weave the sunlight, my lady. Truly I have."
       Cassandra smiled. "Magic appears to run strongly in the kitchens."
       "La, it does. The looks too." And Gwen preened her silvery hair.
       "Well then, let's go find your May and see if her talented fingers can be trained to a lady's coiffure." Cass ran a quick brush through her hair, twisted it into a simple bun, and then followed an eager Gwen from her rooms.
       Thank heavens she had the girl for a guide, for she couldn't yet make sense of the sprawling layout of Firehame Palace. It seemed to be designed purposely to confuse, and magical artifacts and items lay around every corner. Stationary walls appeared to breathe and shift, mirrors reflected imaginary scenes with her face floating inside them, carpets flowed like water, and ceilings trembled, threatening to come down upon her head. Gwen cautioned her not to touch this or that, and Cass could only wonder if the griffin statue would have come alive and pecked off her fingers if she had stroked that mighty beak. Or would it be capable of doing something much worse? The elven lord protected his palace in subtle ways and had an odd sense of humor, so Cass obeyed the young slave girl's advice.
       Her unusual companion drew only a few startled looks from the nobles they passed, but Cass still breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the basement kitchens. She must get Gwen suitably attired before any gossip spread.
       Cook stood nearly as tall as the general, a robust woman with red cheeks and matching hair. She wielded her spoon like a sword, but it seemed most of her helpers had acquired a certain skill at dodging it. Roasts stewed and pastries baked, and the delicious aromas made Cass think that Cook had a bit of elven magic herself.
       "So," she said, eyeing Cass with a frown, "yer the champion's new bride."
       Cassandra froze, feeling as if the other woman sought to strip her bare and expose her soul.
       "Ye just might do."
       "Indeed?" snapped Cass, refusing to let a servant weigh her worth.
       "No offense, my lady. It's just glad I am that the champion has someone to take care of him now."
       Cass's annoyance evaporated in the hopes of finding out more about her new husband. "I've never met a man less in need of being taken care of, Cook . Why would you say such a thing?"
       Cook leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper, strands of red hair flopping over her forehead. "Have ye not heard that appearances