Chapter 21

Asona's POV
As I pushed open the kitchen door, the familiar scent of strong spices and flavour greeted me, mingling with the soft hum of murmured conversations. The usual chatter of the girls filled the room, but as I entered, I noticed a sudden, almost palpable shift in the air. It wasn't surprising. It was not the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.
Matilda, Fiona, and the others were clustered around the central island, their heads bent close together. They straightened abruptly as I walked in, but not before I caught the tail end of Fiona and Matilda's conversation.