Staff Table

[Kaiia Blackthorn]

Kaiia glanced up as Emilia spoke to her, and nodded. "I won't be long," she said. She had almost finished eating, but didn't want to rush. The extremely rare steak was very good, and the accompanying vegetables were cooked to perfection.

She watched as Emilia walked out of the Great Hall. From the way she looked at Sara, it was clear that she didn't like the new Headmistress. Maybe it would help her to talk about it.

Kaiia finished the last delectably bloody mouthful, drained her glass, and stood up. She nodded politely to Sara, and strolled elegantly out of the Hall.

[Kaiia Blackthorn]

Kaiia took her place at the staff table, suddenly feeling ravenously hungry. She piled her plate with bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, and began to eat.

Her normally pale cheeks were flushed, and there was an air of satisfaction - almost a suppressed excitement about her.

That encounter last night in the Hog's Head had thoroughly fulfilled her desires. It was too early to know, of course, if the other part of her plan had succeeded. It was the right time for her, but it would be several weeks before she could visit a midwife to see if she was actually pregnant.

It sounded as if Rabastan would be around for a while; and when she left his bed that morning, he had implied that he would welcome another visit from her. So even if she hadn't conceived this time, there would be another chance. Kaiia smiled to herself, wondering if Rabastan had any idea of her real motives. She didn't intend to request any support from him - she might not even tell him he was a father.

This child would be hers alone, consolation for those three babies she had lost, taken from her before they had a chance to be born.