When the litter curtains were drawn, Marri had taken her daughters by the wrists and fled with them into the palace. the crowds had been a bit disappointeed, but those who knew the desert customs understood their urgency. The desert regent, Arir, who had traveled with them, was the one who made a short speech to the crowd and then was put up for show.
Once inside the safety of walls, Marri let Laisa go. She still tethered Ailia, however, who was craning her neck to look about.
There was an escort of women waiting for them in the grand hallway, and they were taken to a small throne room. On the dais sat a lady who could only be the queen, although the throne beside hers was empty.
"Greetings, sisters of the desert." Her voice was low and kind, and Laisa looked at her in shock. She had no head covering or veil!
Marri politely averted her eyes, and Laisa followed the suit quickly. But she was unnerved. What had possessed her parents, to send her and Ailia to a place where women did not observe common decency! The noblewomen who had escorted them had donned veils, but now Laisa wondered uneasily if that had not been just for the desert people's reassurance.
Marri nodded without making eye contact with the foreign queen. "You are a gracious hostess and most kind to us, Queen Ora." Marri's voice was a timid whisper.
"And these must be the lovely princesses," Queen Ora continued delightfully. Laisa was startled into looking up. The desert women never let feeling shade their voices, and to show emotion of any kind was considered a weakness. And this foreign queen had done that and addressed children both! Children were not meant to speak in the presence of their elders. Didn't she know that?
"Of course they don't have to answer me," the queen said to Marri. "But they are little dears. Now, why don't we let the men get their arrangements settled, and would you like freshen up a bit? I know how tiring the long journey must have been for you."
"Yes, please." Marri answered. "Your kindness is well recieved and noted." Laisa thought ot herself that Marri was not very suited to the station of a visiting monarch.
"Lady Betelle and Lady Hota will show the princesses to their rooms," the queen said. Two women from their escort stepped forward. "And I would be remiss if I myself did not see to your comfort, my dear Queen Marri."
Laisa held Ailia's hand as they walked, both for comfort and to keep her little sister from running off and exploring. Laisa herself could hardly resist the temptation; she herself was, after all, just a few years older than her sister. She'd grown up quickly as a desert princess, and had been like Ailia's mother for most of her life, but though whe was often made to feel ashamed of it, she still had all f the impulses of a normal girl her age. Or, she amended, a normal boy her age. . .she was less than ladylike. Lady Betelle and Lady Hota took them into a different wing of the palace than that which Marri was led to.
"I'm sorry, duck," Lady Betelle said kindly to Laisa, "But you two are members of the palace now, and your mother is in the royal guest suite. I'm sure that you'll see her soon, though, my lady."
Laisa had remained silent, quietly wondering what a duck was. She didn't ask, because she knew that questioning your elders was a horrible offence, and that her parents would never forgive her for offending the islanders. And she didn't want to explain that she was glad Marri wasn't going to be near them.
Ailia's chambers were across the hallway from Laisa. "You'll be staying here from now on, Little Mistress," Lady Hota said to Ailia in a baby-talk voice.
Lady Hota gestured, and three servants appeared seemingly from nowhere to attend Ailia and her. Then Lady Betell smiled at Laisa and opened the other door.
"And this, my lady," she told Laisa, "Is your room."
