Ghost Stories: Garen's Turn: The Princess
Lord Rahl never seemed very interested in marriage," began Garen. She caught Triana and Denna's significant glares at Cara and sighed inwardly.
Why would Lord Rahl marry when all his Mord'Sith schemed to be his favorite? And if Cara happened to enjoy that position, why would her Sisters ever let an opportunity to destroy a bit of her happiness, no matter how petty, go by?
Garen, by no means immune to this impulse, smirked in Cara's direction. Cara remained impassive, but Dahlia pouted. No one thinks that's cute, Garen thought angrily at Dahlia's bottom lip.
"But one day a princess arrived from across the sea, and she said to the Mord'Sith who guarded the gate, 'Let me pass. Your Master has sent for me.'
"Lord Rahl was angry at being disturbed, but he welcomed the princess, and told his Mord'Sith to give her every consideration.
"Soon it transpired that the princess was fleeing from enemies possessed of strange, powerful magic. So Lord Rahl ordered one of his Mord'Sith to impersonate the princess, for 'her protection,' he said.
"What an awful assignment," Cara commented.
Garen flushed with pride at her interest, and went on, a little nervously. "The Mord'Sith wore the princess's gowns and made public appearances with Lord Rahl, and at last she was woken one night, in the princess's soft bed, by the glow of unfriendly magic. Hesitantly, she lifted her hand to block it—
"'Fair is foul, and foul is fair,' she heard, and there was a flash of light—
"And then Lord Rahl was there, and he absorbed the powerful magic. The next day he used the princess's blood for his journeybook, and the Mord'Sith rejoiced that she was only a means to an end.
"But the Mord'Sith who had impersonated her found herself weak, so much so that merely looking at her own agiels brought her pain and fear—her wits were dulled, her senses confused—she was a coward, no longer worthy of the title Mord'Sith.
"And even Lord Rahl and all his magicians couldn't make her a warrior Mistress again."
Garen waited, hoping beyond hope that she had held her Sisters' attention. They had only attained the rank of junior Mord'Sith a few weeks before she had, but when she was with them it felt like years. Cara was already Lord Rahl's favorite, Dahlia might be pouty but she was absolutely ruthless, Triana would be leading missions soon, and Denna—
Garen would never admit it, but Denna scared her.
Triana punched Garen's shoulder, and Garen was grateful for the nonverbal support.
Dahlia leaned forward. "We've been saving the best for last," she grinned.
Garen watched as Cara put a finger against Dahlia's lips. "Hush," she whispered, bringing the sweet taste of fear back into the room.
Jealousy stirred in Garen's heart, like a snake shifting its coils, and she scowled.