"Please excuse me. I must go for some fresh air."
Esther's chair scraped against the floor as she rose.
The other Candidates fumbled about at her sudden announcement, all wrought with worry that it hadn't only been the Queen Candidate of the second best place but also the Candidate of the best place they had offended.
As invitations to join her poured in from all corners of the table, Esther held up a hand. Incredibly, at just that small gesture, silence fell over the women once again.
"Thank you for inviting me to this tea party, Queen Candidate Habeth," she bowed to the woman at the head of the table before gathering her maids and exiting the room.
Baara and the other maids who had accompanied Esther to the tea party scurried nervously behind her as she walked away from the second best place in the House of Women.
She continued past her room and down the hallway, pausing as it began to open into a large plaza.
"I'd like only my handmaiden to accompany me for a stroll now."
"Yes, Queen Candidate."
The maids bowed dutifully before turning to scurry back the way they came.
When they were left alone, Baara and Esther continued into the garden, the handmaiden trailing behind her master with her hands clasped in front of her and eyebrows knit together.
With no sound except the rustling of their footsteps along the path, the two women walked.
Finally, when Baara thought she might presumptuously ask concerning her master's troubles, Esther stopped walking.
The place they had come to a halt in front of was a charming clearing, teeming with flowers and butterflies. Though, not long ago, it had been giggling girls with cups of wine in their hands occupying the space.
"That woman.." Esther suddenly whirled around to face her handmaiden. "The woman we met here that day, was she the deposed Queen Vashti?"
Baara sighed before nodding.
She, too, could remember, quite vividly, their encounter with the late queen.
"Why was she here?" Esther asked.
"I'm sure she wished to observe the Candidates," Baara offered. "Vashti still holds much power among the women of the palace."
"That's right.." Esther thought of what had once been shouted bombastically by a street crier in the marketplace. "She was sent back to the House of Concubines."
Baara nodded again, tightening her clasped hands as she quickly glanced around.
"I have so many questions," Esther frowned, "but I suppose I most desire to know what happened to her. What sin did Vashti commit?"
Baara's eyes widened.
"My Lady, I don't-"
"Have you not been reading the records properly?"
A voice suddenly interrupted the woman, causing both her and her master to flinch.
"My Lord."
In unison, handmaiden and Queen Candidate bowed to the man emerging from the clearing.
"Greetings, Queen Candidate Esther," the man smiled warmly.
"I did not mean to intrude, Lord Hegai," Esther bowed even more deeply, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.
If the late Queen Vashti was indeed a taboo topic, perhaps, she had just lost some of the Lord's favor with her clumsy questioning.
"On the contrary, it is always a pleasure to cross paths with you, Esther," Lord Hegai replied. "Please, raise your head."
Behind him, three servants emerged--a stark contrast to the usual horde of attendants Esther usually saw him with.
"Since you have not answered, I will ask again," Lord Hegai drew Esther's attention from his servants. "Have you not been reading the records in the record hall properly?"
"I read diligently," Esther hesitated, unsure how to answer the vague inquiry. "However, there are many records there, My Lord."
"Have you heard of the Golden Hall, Esther?" Hegai immediately fired another question.
"Ah, yes," Esther felt a surge of confidence at a familiar term. "The throne room used by His Majesty as he handles all of the Empire's business."
"Correct," Lord Hegai rewarded her knowledgeable response with a grin. "And are you aware that record keepers are stationed there at all times?"
"Record keepers.." Esther echoed. "To keep a written record of all the King's dealings?"
"Right again," Hegai nodded, "and every account from the last twenty years or so is stored in the record hall."
Esther paused, considering this new information.
Once again Lord Hegai was trying to convey something to her without saying it outright.
She didn't have to ponder for long, however, before she understood what the Lord of the House of Women was trying to say.
Her questions about Vashti would not be (or, more likely, could not be) answered by the people around her. She would find answers, however, by searching the records from the Golden Hall.
As soon as she had the realization, Esther scolded herself internally. For all the mornings spent leisurely at the record hall, how had it escaped her mind to search for information regarding the late Queen and other important topics?
The next morning, she would immediately hunt for the section of records from the Golden Hall and-
"Oh.. the restrictions," she sighed quietly.
"My tag."
Esther jolted from her thoughts to see Hegai looking at her expectantly, his hand extended.
"Of course! The identification tag!"
Rapidly, Esther untied the tag from where it hung at her belt, just under the fold of her dress to prevent it from being seen. Gently, she used both hands to lay the wooden tag in the Lord's open palm.
"You've cared for this very well," Hegai smiled, turning the tag over as he examined it.
His praise could not be fully enjoyed by Esther, however, as she found herself full of apprehension at what the man intended by asking for the tag. She hoped desperately that he would not revoke it from her.
Or if his intention was to take it from her, she hoped it would only be during the time while the new restrictions were in place.
Either way, Esther silently rehearsed her response in preparation for Lord Hegai's next words. She must display her sincere gratitude for having been granted the token in the first place without allowing even a hint at her disappointment to escape.
"I'm sure you remember what I told you when I gave you this tag."