Saraiah sat back into her chair. Layla couldn’t read her face but knew that Saraiah had heard her. Saraiah scanned her up and down slowly. Layla sat back in her chair as well. She was suddenly overcome with a sudden crippling sense of insecurity. She didn’t want to let it on to Saraiah so she mimicked her behavior.

Saraiah smirked ever so slightly to herself and then snapped. A female servant appeared with a chalice of wine and set it to the right of her. Saraiah took a ...