The Jewel of Kamara (The Delthenon Chronicles) by Bridie Blake Read Free Book Online

bother glancing up from the page he was on when she barged in.
    “We
cannot be late this evening, Tempani.”
    Five
years of silence, and they were his first words to her. She clenched her fists
at her side, and when she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “Why do
you have slaves in your employ here?”
    “Things
have changed since you went away,” he said tersely.
    “Since
you sent me away,” she snapped.
    “Here
we are closer to the palace, and I do not have the authority to do as I wish.”
    “And
what of mama’s wishes?”
    Otto’s
voice was tense as he stood. “You know nothing of her wishes.”
    Tears
pricked at Tempani’s eyes, but she refused to cry in front of her father. She
would not give him the satisfaction.
    He
sighed and sat on the corner of his desk, folding his hands in his lap. “You
have no idea the scrutiny you are under Tempani. Every pair of eyes at court
will be on you. They are waiting for you to slip up so they can say that we
have no place among them. Chae has proven himself. Now you must. We have no
choice but to follow the ways of the Kamaris, no matter how much we disapprove.
Do you understand me?”
    She
glared at her father. He was no longer the man she had known and loved as a
child. Had losing Hamalia stripped him of his ability to love?
    His
voice was soft as he spoke again. “Think of what will happen to Amarill if we
are forced out. Think of your friends in the village. You may think me a
monster, but I do what I must for Amarill.”
    Tempani
left without saying another word and returned to her room, where Zadi was
waiting patiently for her. She swallowed hard and bit her quivering lip. She
peered into Zadi’s dark eyes and saw a fire burning deep within.
    “Please
take my dress and see if you can get the mud out. And I’m afraid that I tore a
hole in the sleeve. My father will be most dissatisfied if I ruin all of my
dresses.”
    Zadi’s
face lit up and filled with pride. “Yes, my lady,” she said before hurrying
off.
    “Zadi?”
She poked her head back into Tempani’s room. “I won’t have you lowering your
heard when you speak to me. You have interesting eyes. I want to see them.”
    “Yes,
my lady.”
    “My
name is Tempani, and I prefer being addressed as such. Where is the point in
letting my name go to waste?”
    “It
is not proper, my lady. Slaves do not address their owners so personally.”
    “I
don’t want you to think of me as your owner. Over time I hope you will think of
me as your friend. Maybe then you will use my name.”
    “Maybe,
my lady,” she said, bowing her head and scurrying away.
    —
    Tempani
stood at the top of the grand marble staircase that she would have to walk down
at any moment into the Royal Dining Hall to be presented to court. Her stomach
fluttered with nerves, and she wished she could have entered the Hall through a
side door rather than this. She did not care to have so many eyes on her,
especially when they’d be thinking that she was not welcome. She wiped her
sweaty palms on her dress as the herald announced her.
    She
descended the staircase, praying to the Goddess Allarah that she did not trip
on the hem of her dress. An audible gasp swept over the Hall as the court got
their first glimpse of the young woman. Tempani was striking in her deep purple
gown, her black hair set in flowing tendrils cascading down her back and held
off her face by a band of amethysts settled around her head. Such extravagant
clothing was foreign to her after years spent in her white shift.
    Otto
walked forward and offered his arm to her. Tempani thought for a second that he
had smiled at her, but whatever it was, a smile or grimace, had faded too
quickly to be sure.
    He
walked them to the High Table where the monarchs were seated regally in all
their splendor. The king and queen looked picturesque side by side. He in a
long black silk robe with wide sleeves and she in a white silk dress and her
golden blonde hair falling to her