Mynah was building to a rabid dislike of this dollie role. The wigs itched, the clothes scratched, and the makeup made her sweat in the sun, which made the makeup run, which inspired Nonnie to cake more on her.
It was serving its purpose, though. The Velisians either stared at her outright, or carefully avoided looking; [...]
Mynah, Riding With Focoso
Umbra in Exile, Episode 11
Bellende, Pillow Talk
Umbra in Exile, Episode 10
Malin didn’t let Bellende fall asleep. “You have duty in the morning.”
The camp was about a mile from the town, far enough to keep down disruptions and let them maintain a proper perimeter; it wasn’t a long walk. But she wouldn’t feel like making it in dawn’s bloom.
She sighed and turned over on her back. [...]
Bellende, Brooding Over a Beer
Umbra in Exile, Episode 8
Bellende was looking into the empty mug in front of her, despondently contemplating the consumed beer. This trip was a hell, and tonight she was brooding. Which called for beer.
A hand clapped her shoulder, and a voice rang out. “I’ll buy you another.”
She looked up. Her favorite pretty boy stood above her. Malin was out [...]
Tanilly, Watching
Umbra in Exile, Episode 7
Tawny walked two paces behind Bellende, hyper-aware of the wide pavilion they entered and the figures scattered around them. There were more people than they had been expecting, and the diplomats’ plans had already been changed more than once that morning. The Guard was nervous.
Bellende had settled into an unnerving coiled peacefulness. She glided [...]
Tanilly, Hiding in Plain Sight
Umbra in Exile, Episode 6
Tawny was nervous, bored and offended. But mostly bemused. She stood in the diplomats’ tent, watching Dilbra be silently wroth.
A seamstress and Bellende were both feverishly stitching, adjusting one of Bellende’s uniforms to fit Tawny’s lank form. Each held an armful of dark brown cloth, dark enough to be nearly black. The jacket in Bellende’s [...]
Lucretia, Newly in Velise
Umbra in Exile, Episode 5
Lucretia sat in a high-backed and well-cushioned chair. It was not moving, but she still felt the ghosts of bumps. And though she knew the bumps weren’t real, pain still shot through her hips and back with rhythmic regularity. She had been nearly a month in her carriage, by now. Stopping was not enough [...]
Read AllTanilly, in the Western Green Belt
Umbra in Exile, Episode 3
Passing through a town was mildly miserable. Tawny was pressed into a gown in the brown and gold of Velise, and her hair was pulled back into a too-tight braid and woven with whatever flowers could be found. Residents lined up, applauded respectfully and craned to peer at her. She walked the length of the [...]
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