She was respectful, yet witty. She had a captivating smile. She even entertained Xandra. Which was hard to do. They bantered back in forth with flowery speech meant to be both flattering with an underlying insult, Xandra was famous at court for it. They made a good match for each other for no one won all the battles. It was entertaining to watch them lay out careful construed attacks, women would be accomplished strategists if only they focused their attention from themselves to the battlefield. That was what made Nerys such an amazing girl, she used her mind for worth not play. At times, she could be quite tiresome with her incessant questions and ideas, that he wished for a few moments she could take the time to chat mindlessly about corsets and stockings. He wished she would be a woman instead of a man trapped inside a woman�s shell, at times.
�I have just came upon a wonderful idea,� exclaimed Xandra. Her beautiful face lightened up underneath the layers of white paste covering it. �She shall become my hand maid.�
Caden smiled at the thought. �Sister-wife, one doesn�t order the people into slavery. And slavery is a kind word to use for a job such as your handmaid.�
�I am flattered�,� started Cahira as fear rose in her throat. She was cut off as Xandra grabbed her hands.
�Brother-husband, just look at these hands so nimble and quick� A little rough, nothing a good moisturizer wouldn�t fix. But just imagined what she could do with these hands,� Xandra smiled mischievously as the thought crossed Caden�s mind in a rather dirty manner, so she quickly added, �to my hair.�
�I�m sure it would be lovely,� he said as he first cleared his throat.
�The pay would be wonderful. Twice was this place gives you,� insisted Xandra as she stared into the growing pits of fear that were Cahira�s eyes. Xandra loved it.
�At least twice, maybe even three times,� Caden added.
Cahira felt her head swimming and her body grow hot. It was all a game to Xandra and she had caught her. Perhaps, unknowingly, although she doubted it. She couldn�t very well go live with them. She couldn�t abandon Ailis and how would she meet with Connor with new information. She couldn�t refuse or it would be disrespectful. All she could do is stare open mouth.
�With my deepest respects, my lord. I cannot allow my daughter to leave her home. She has a sick sister that needs tending. She is only here since my one bar maid is in a motherly condition. She must take care of her sister,� said her father. He bowed deeply. �My apologizes, my lord.�
Cahira forced herself not to sigh with relief. She looked to Caden and saw his eyes filled with concern. Why? What did it matter to him that she had a sick sister or more likely whether or not Xandra got another hand maid? She bowed to him as her father had done. �My apologizes, my lord,� she said.
�Your apologizes are unnecessary, Cahira. Family is a very important thing. Pray tell me what ails your sister?� he asked with genuine concern. Cahira looked at his eyes and saw that he was making no jest of the situation. Inside she quivered for his eyes mystified in a manner no other�s had. The pitcher in her hand shook and his hand reached for it and held her hand steady a moment.
�Crazy like a loon, that girl be. Pity, was a looker once,� said the commander Ifor.
�Hold your tongue. Have you no manners?� demanded Caden angrily. He looked to the hurt Cahira embarrassed. �I am truly sorry for your plight and my commander�s rude manners,� he said. He lifted one of her hands to his mouth and kissed it. Startled she dropped the pitcher and it smashed onto the floor and rolled under the table. Xandra laughed and Caden smiled as he grabbed it and placed it on the table.
�I apologize�,� she started.
�For nothing, for no harm has come. I hope you find your sister�s mind, Wenchie-Woo, for I am not the only one who would like your services,� said Xandra mischievously.
�I am truly flattered that you regard me with such highness, a place I dare not even dreamed to have been placed, my second princess,� she said quietly aware of all the eyes. Especially, the intense dark ones that burn into her so painfully pleasant.
�Lady-Wench, more beer!� hollered Connor. Much to her relief she excused herself to quickly refill her pitcher and go to his table in the corner.
�Aye, Connor, I fear I cannot do this no longer,� she said strained. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest she felt like a mouse before a hawk. Her eyes were unable to stay away from the eyes following her.
"Ai, I see why. The young Chief Commander has more then an eye for you, eh?� he said as she spilled some beer out of his glass and onto the table.
�Sir, that is a vile lewd remark,� she spat angrily.
Connor chuckled. �I meant a job� as his sister-wife�s hand maid. Where is your mind, love?� he responded in his usual manner of smug humor.
Cahira�s face went to an impossibly brighter shade of red that Connor feared her head may at any moment spill its guts upon his table. He smiled and looked over to the Chief Commander�s table. �They have spoke of nothing of importance. The day is jolly for something is happening in the One God�s kingdom, a marriage or something,� she said.
�Ah, well, I have discovered a wee bit on my own, dearie. I told your parent�s to bring you tonight and the young Badir,� he said. As Cahira opened her mouth to speak he began again. �Ai, time for you to return to the charming company of the Chief Commander and the second princess.� She nodded and walked back to behind the bar to refill her pitcher.