War of the Willow
an excerpt

This is from chapter three. My MC is getting ready for a festival to see her and her father off on the progress. I should mention for those who read the prologue that Cassandra has changed quite a bit and she has actually turned into something of a bitch. Enjoy. Oh and for those who don't know, the king is not actually her father, she's a lord's bastard.

Cassandra found her bath prepared when she arrived at her rooms. Six handmaids gathered round, brushes and soaps in hand, waiting for her entrance. A giant tub sat in the center of the room brimming with what she hoped was warm water. A fine and earthy scent enthralled the room as her nursemaid dumped spices and oils into the water, decorating the top with rose petals.

She slipped into her undergarments and then relinquished herself of them as well. Standing naked above the tub she slivered down into the warm water, feeling the stress flee from her body as if the water was Rhantor with his blazing sword. She eased herself in a sitting position and then beckoned for the handmaids, who were bickering over who got to wash what.

“This time try not to turn my skin pink with those damn brushes. I must look perfect tonight!” Cassandra held her arm up presenting it to the closest handmaid, Onni, who began to scrub in gentle circles.

“Yes ladies, our Princess must be perfect in every way for the festival tonight,” Rinna cheered as she handed a dish filled with the scent of warm summers to a woman at Cassandra’s head. “There will be some very important people coming and not a spot on this princess must be imperfect.”

“Oh, no worries, Rinna, we shall scrub her fine,” consoled Isadora, a handmaid who was washing the dirt from Cassandra’s feet. “My, that’s an odd ring for you to wear, my lady.”

She pointed to Cassandra’s left hand where a gold band with a snake rearing to strike was prominent. Cassandra quickly plunged her hand into the water, hiding the ring from sight.

“Perhaps you want to look a bit more special for the man who gave it to you? If I saw it correctly I’d believe that was the insignia of the house Rilhin. Ridiculous sign for a house filled with nothing but drunks and cowards!”

“There is no man. I found the ring outside and took a liking to it. I knew not what house it was from nor do I care.” Cassandra glared at Isadora. If she spoke word to anyone, if any of them spoke word, then her plans would be spoiled. She made a mental note to keep all of them close to her and, also, not to wear her father’s ring again.

“What a shame. It does a woman good to feel the heat of a man at night, if it’s not to bold for me to say so. And you are turning twenty-two nonetheless.” She nodded her head in an all-knowing way.

Cassandra scowled down at the woman. She should have had her dragged out to the yard and have her head cut off, but something caught her tongue. Perhaps it was the fact that the woman was intelligent for a slave and now knew too much for Cassandra to feel easy. Whatever it was, she did not respond.

“I overheard your father just the other day,” Isadora started again. Cassandra sat a little straighter, being sure to catch every word. “He said that he didn’t know what he was going to do with you. You know you have turned down the last ten offers; some of them being very noble, mind you.”

Cassandra eased back as she realized that it had no affect on her plans. “Their stupidity outweighed their nobility, I’m afraid. Besides, I need no man to rule me. I am the heir to the throne and I do not plan to let any man stand in my way.”

“Cheers to that, I say!” Rinna raised a flask that she kept on her at all times and took a long swig from it, burping politely once she came up for air. “No man shall rule my princess.”

A rare smirk passed over Cassandra’s face. Rinna had always been capable of making her smile, the drunken maid always being so blunt, with her off the wall comments. It was that and her fierce passion for power that kept Cassandra from having her killed long ago.

“He also spoke of something I couldn’t understand,” Isadora spoke as if no one had interrupted. “It was some silliness about your mother. If I’m not mistaken he believes that she had had an affair on him while he was away at war; the one just before your birth.” She scrubbed Cassandra’s pearly white legs, a smirk besmirching her heart shaped face.

For a few moments air did not seem to want to enter her lungs. Cassandra merely sat dumbfounded with a far way stare that caught Rinna’s eye.

“ISADORA! How dare you say such a thing in front of the princess! That is conversation left to when no one of importance can hear you.” She huffed herself up with weighted importance. “Besides it is completely inaccurate. It was he who ran ramped on Queen Chirnis, Rhantor bless her soul, during the war. Bastard a son the way I hear it.”

Cassandra peered around warily. “Everyone leave me. I wish to ready myself tonight. I shall call when I’m ready to dress.”

The maids bowed their way out at her command; Rinna and Isadora fighting to be the last one to leave. She did not move once the door shut, however. She laid her head back and examined the ring on her finger. She had known all along that it was dangerous to accept the ring, but she could not resist the chance to receive a gift from her true father.

Now look where it got you, she thought bitterly, taking the ring off and twisting it with her fingers, [thought] nine new enemies that can’t all mysteriously die at once.

It was an unattractive ring and dangerous beyond that, yet something stayed her hand as she went to throw it. It may have been undesirable, but it seemed to glow with a heat not crafted by man. The glow was mesmerizing as it sat on her palm looking up at her innocently. Cassandra never knew how long she had sat in the tub staring at the ring, but night had long since been up and her water was cold as ice when she finally awakened from her daze.

“Stupid ring!” she shouted as she tossed it across the room, watching as it slid to a stop near the door.

With a fleeting glance at the ring she stood and stepped out of the tub, grabbing her robe from the back of a chair. After tying it tightly at her waist, she walked casually over to where the ring lay, forbidden just like the fruit of the old. Bending at the knees she went to grab it when a knock came from the door.

Cassandra kicked the ring further so it stopped just beside her bed and called, “Enter!”

The door swung open, allowing a breeze to pass over Cassandra. Rinna stood framed by the door, a look of worry crossing her face as she saw an unprepared Cassandra.

“You’re not ready yet!” Rinna exclaimed clasping her hands together and beckoning for something just outside of the door. “I knew I shouldn’t have left you. Now look at you; standing there in a robe and a puddle collecting at your feet.” As she said this the handmaids entered the room single file; Onni held a white gown bejeweled with lace and pearls.

“Here we are, my lady, a fine dress for tonight’s festivities.” Onni allowed the dress to fall as she held it up for Cassandra’s admiration.