Chapter 60: Safety or Whim

Ellis shook her head. “It does me no good to go on a show right now. I don’t know what I would say either.”

They gathered the clothing and Ellis and Laurel set off for the Koln shelter. Some of her own clothes were in the bags, as well. A handful of women had come with some of the Kolns. Some were widows who had fallen in love with the Kolns who served them. A few had left behind husbands, a dangerous situation which would require palace guards to be present.

When they arrived at the shelter, Ellis was swarmed. Nin hadn’t exaggerated when she said the Kolns loved Ellis. They wanted to touch the hem of her clothes and Ellis had to bear stoically. Nin, too, was surprisingly gentle as she moved the crowd back a few feet away from the Empress.

Ellis and Laurel were passing out the clothing. A man and a woman knelt in front of her and Ellis automatically held out a woman’s tunic to her. Ellis was surprised to see a face she knew…a