The Pirate and the Amber Cat 32

Chapter 32

Suili faces the realities of being home again.

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Suili stood expectantly in the hall with the accompanying guard, waiting. Her eyes raised to the burgundy and green fringed tapestries that hung from the high walls, then went to the gold statues on either side of the wide arched doorway and the crystal chandelier. Everything was new, and for a fleeting moment she feared the house was no longer in Shaenen possession.

Of course everything is new, she told herself sharply. Cortleno's men had destroyed nearly everything during her capture. Destroyed, she recalled, but nothing had been carried away as plunder. Cortleno had been specific about that.

"Dai Suili!" Maren's voice brought her wandering thoughts back to the present. "I'm amazed to see you! Come, come, girl. Are you well? How ever did you manage to escape?"

Before she could answer, he was shouting orders to servants and escorting her to a parlor within the huge house. She took a deep breath, hoping Maren couldn't detect her trembling. He was a tall, thin man, and had always frightened her with the way servants jumped to do his bidding.

But he is nothing more than a highly positioned servant himself, she reminded herself. "Where is Juriz?"

His face fell at her question, a movement she read too well. "Of course you want to see him, dear girl. I can't tell you how worried we've been about you. With that cutthroat," he scoffed with a haughty sniff, dusting a hand down his burgundy tunic as if to shake away the word.

Her hands tightened on the bag when a maid bowed and tried to take it from her. "I'm sorry," she said lowly to Maren. "I guess I'm a little possessive."

"Go, go," he shooed the maid, who bowed and backed away. "Of course you are, Suili. I'm surprised you're sensible at all after the ordeal you've been through. Please, sit down."

She sat on the brushed leather settee as another maid bowed and poured a crystal goblet of sherry. "Where's Juriz?"