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The overpowering desire to bathe flashed like fire on ized, I ripped the prison robe off and raced to the washing area Hot water poured down in a cascade when I opened the duct above my head The Commander’s castle was equipped with heated water tanks located one floor above the baths, a luxury even Brazell’s extravagantthe druhts of poisons Obediently I washed my hair and body twice My neck, wrists and ankles burned from the soap, but I didn’t care I scrubbed twohard at the stubborn spots of dirt ononly when I realized they were bruises

I felt unconnected to the body under the waterfall The pain and hu arrested and locked away had been inflicted on this body, butthe last two years I had lived in Brazell’s e of Brazell’s son suddenly flashed before e I stepped back, reflexively jerking

It was an effort to dry off and wrap a towel around ly e called forth

Even clean, my snarled hair resisted the comb As I searched for a pair of scissors, I spotted another person in the baths from the corner of my eye I stared at the body A corpse looked back at aunt, oval face Thin stick legs looked incapable of holding the rest of the body up

Recognition shot through me like a cold splash of fear It wasno desire to assess the daaze with a purpose Had Reyad’s death released my soul from where it had fled? In my mind I tried to reconnect my spirit to my body Why did I think ed to Co poisons I turned away

Pulling clued the rest into a single long braid down o all I had hoped for was a clean prison robe beforeinto the Co barked, startling ht doze "Here are your uniforms Get dressed" Her stiff face radiated disapproval

As I dried arments, the food taster’s uniform consisted of black pants, a wide red satin belt and a red satin shirt with a line of small black diamond-shapes connected end to end down each of the sleeves The clothes were obviously sized for aonly four inches past five feet, I looked like a child playing pretend with her father’s clothes I wrapped the belt three tis

Margg snorted "Valek only told me to feed you and show you to your roo at the open door, Margg pursed her lips and added, "You’ll need boots too"

Obediently, I followed Margg like a lost puppy

The seaaily at my appearance Her heart-shaped face had a halo of curly blond hair Honey-colored eyes and long eyelashes enhanced her beauty

"The stable boys wear the same pants and the kitchen maids wear the red shirts," Dilana said when she had stifled her giggles She ad the tiether tighter

Fussing aroundwofriends She probably had many acquaintances and suitors who came to bask in her attentions like cave dwellers drawn to a blazing hearth I foundh the piles of red, black and white clothing stacked around the room

Everyone orked in Ixia wore a uniforuards wore a variation of black, white and red color clothes with vertical diamond-shapes either down the sleeves of the shirts or down the sides of the pants Advisers and higher-ranking officers usually wore all black with small red diamonds stitched on the collars to show rank The uniforained power so everyone knew at a glance who they were dealing with

Black and red were Commander Ambrose’s colors The Territory of Ixia had been separated into eight Military Districts each ruled by a General The uniforht districts were identical to the

Co black with small purple diamond-shapes on her apron therefore worked in Military District 3 or MD–3

"I think these should fit better" She handedto the privacy screen at the far end of the roo, I heard Dilana say, "She’ll need boots" Feeling less foolish in ave theed to Oscove, the old food taster," Dilana said A sad expression gripped her face for a moment before she shook her head as if to rid herself of an unwanted thought

Allfriends with the Co emotional risk My stomach hollowed out while Dilana’s war a cold bitterness behind