AYLETH
Ayleth had never walked into a room when she wasn't known, wasn't seen. She'd never felt invisible, or unimportant. But as she descended the stairs to the feast that evening, she'd also never had a room stand to applaud her.
She was stunned, forced to stand three steps up from the bottom and accept the praise of everyone from her parents to the servants—who beamed smiles of pride larger than her parents'.
Her ladies tittered and gaped and whispered to each other, nudging her when, as they finally weaved into the room to their table, the men gave her heated looks and fancy bows. Ayleth's cheeks heated. For the first time in her life, she truly wished she could be unseen, unnoticed—and could go in search of Etan.
