Trina snorted, but Wynnow added in a gentler tone, “Do you know how to change your own clothes, my lady?”
I shook my head to her question, and she undid the buttons down my back before assuring me I could figure out the rest of it. I entered the room, which was almost too small for me to turn around. A little light filtered in from above, which helped, but it was taking a long time to change and Trina was making it clear through her numerous huffs that she was growing impatient.
Then she said, “I would’ve offered to help, if you didn’t treat everyone around you like they’re servants.”
“Most people around me are servants,” I said. “Why should I treat them otherwise?”
Trina muttered something that might’ve been an insult, had I heard it. Instead, for reasons I couldn’t explain, I was hit with a sudden rush of fear. That the walls would cave in on me, that I wouldn’t get enough air, that I’d be trapped in this tiny space forever. What was this?
I closed my eyes, attempting to stay calm, which only worsened the feeling that I was not safe if I remained in here. I knew it was only my imagination, but that didn’t matter. I was terrified. I tried to dress blind, but then it was taking even longer to finish and every time I opened my eyes, this tiny room felt smaller than before. Surely the air was thinner.
Even before I had finished changing, I darted from the room, out of breath and with my heart threatening to pound out of my chest.
“My lady?” Wynnow’s brows were pressed together in concern. That was the expression I expected. Not Trina’s gaze of suspicion, which I couldn’t at all explain.
Trina leaned in to me. “You were nervous in there.”
“Nervous? No.” That simple word failed to describe the wave of horror that had shot through me. But how could I explain that, with no logical reason to justify what I’d felt?
“I saw it on your face as you exited, heard it in your voice. I’ve seen you panic in small spaces before, and I recognized it now.”
I was feeling calmer now, and I needed to take back control. “We’ve never met, Trina.”
Her eyes narrowed as she continued staring at me, as if I were the one who was lying or making up stories. She was worse than unkind and possibly insane, as Coracks often were, according to my father.
Wynnow broke the rising tension by saying, “You’ll need help with your hair, I think.”
I sat in a nearby chair facing away from Trina, and as Wynnow began working at what had become a mop overnight, I repeated Simon’s question from this morning. “What do the Coracks want with me?”
Trina said, “Captain Tenger will explain that.”
I was sure he would and that it probably would all be a lie. Because all Coracks lied.
I asked, “Is Simon a Corack?”
Trina answered, “He was, until recently. Now … we’ll have to see.”
“Why did he leave?”
She sighed. “The truth is that Simon has become … a problem.”
“How?”
Trina walked around until she was facing me. “Honestly, Kestra, the problem is you. If you haven’t already noticed, Simon has a rather intense interest in you.”
I frowned. “Yes, I might have noticed that.”
Wynnow added, “Now that we’re in camp, the captain should be able to put an end to that.” She finished my braid. “There!”
Trina opened the door for us. “Let’s take her to Tenger.”
We returned to the cave corridor, where we almost immediately bumped into Basil, being escorted by the boy who had tended to Simon’s horse last night. After meeting with Tenger, Basil seemed no worse than before, a great relief, but his eyes widened as he looked me over. “Trousers?”
“Riding breeches,” Trina said. “Far more practical out here.”
“I agree.” Basil forced a smile to his face, as if his approval was even remotely on my mind. “I’ve taken care of everything, my love. Very soon, I can explain all of this.”
I gave him a polite nod. I had only made up with Basil last night to keep Simon at a distance. As with nearly everything else in my life, what I said and what I felt had little in common.