TWENTY ONE: The Record Hall pt 1

Lord Hegai's audience chamber was set up similarly to their first meeting.

In the middle of the room was a table set with tea supplies and cushions on either side. Around the edges of the room, servants waited with their hands clasped and heads bowed.

Though she knew well that she wasn't here for another interview, that Lord Hegai had already agreed to grant her request, Esther's stomach still fluttered uncomfortably. As the resident of the best place in the House of Women, she felt a certain sense of pressure--to please the lord equally well this time.

After exchanging pleasant greetings, she knelt at the small table and got to work straight away preparing tea.

"Ah. You do not need to do that," Lord Hegai remarked. "I know you are in a great hurry to explore the record hall."

Esther paused to consider the man's words before shaking her head and continuing with the tea.

"My chest fills with excitement at the mere thought of entering that place," she admitted, "but to serve tea to the Lord is a rare opportunity that I cherish."

She wasn't only speaking pretty words to flatter the man.

Simply accepting the permission she desired and then running away was far too ungrateful. Rather, she felt preparing tea for the Lord was the least she could do to repay his great favor so far.

"It is I who cherishes being served by such young and skillful hands," Lord Hegai replied with a smile.

They talked briefly about the House of Women while Esther finished with the tea. The Lord asked many questions about whether her lodging was sufficient or lacking, if her food was to her liking, and how she was faring with the other Candidates.

Esther answered each of the questions honestly.

The lodging was magnificent, and the Lord's great attention to the detail of her care had not been lost on her. She'd had but sparing time to spend with the other Candidates, but did not find any of them quarrelsome.

"I will grant you this now, Queen Candidate, Esther," Lord Hegai remarked after their chat, sliding a talisman across the table.

Esther flinched ever so slightly as her eyes rested upon the neatly painted wooden block.

"This is the Lord's personal identification tag," she pointed out, her mouth growing dry. "Can I truly receive this?"

"Of course!" Lord Hegai beamed with delight at having caught the girl off guard with his gift.

Resting his chin in his hands, he leaned forward.

"Anything you desire, you simply have to ask of me."

"I-I thank you, My Lord!" Esther bowed her head to keep her shocked expression from showing.

"This tag will unlock many doors for you, Queen Candidate, not just the record hall," Lord Hegai explained.

"I am not worthy of such an incredible gift," Esther expressed her gratitude again, feeling grateful but rather overwhelmed.

It seemed every time she met with the Lord, he left her with something far greater than she could ever think of receiving.

"You always handle things with care and grace," the Lord mused, turning his attention to the cup of tea in front of him.

Not a single droplet had splashed above the waterline due to Esther's immaculate pouring.

"You can imagine my surprise," he continued, "when I heard you had spilled a cup of tea on one of your fellow Candidate's dress."

Esther gulped.

Of course, Lord Hegai would receive reports on the Candidates and their doings, but she had not expected him to have been made aware of the day's events already, much less bring them up.

"Ah.." Esther trailed off, not quite knowing how to respond.

"Such a silly mistake," the Lord sighed, tapping his fingers on the table. "... though it ended up perfectly solving the tension at the tea party."

Esther glanced up, her eyes wide.

Lord Hegai stopped tapping his fingers and smiled at her.

"What a coincidence."

Letting out a slow breath, Esther bowed her head once again.

"I have much to learn, My Lord."

"Raise your head, Child, I mean not to scold you," the Lord responded.

Once Esther was looking at him again, he gestured toward the identification tag.

"The time for our meeting has come to an end, so please take the tag with you," he requested, rising to his feet.

"Of course, thank you again, my Lord!" Esther grabbed the tag and quickly jumped to her feet as well.

Lord Hegai smiled at her.

"Take care, Queen Candidate, Esther."

With another meeting having passed with Lord Hegai saying what he wanted before abruptly shooing Esther on her way, the Queen Candidate of the best place in the House of Women, exited the audience chamber.

"If I may make a suggestion, Queen Candidate," Baara uttered as they walked back toward Esther's room. "Perhaps, it would be best to turn down all future tea party invitations."

Esther nodded absently, feeling dazed as she replayed the Lord's final words to her over and over.

No matter how she thought about it, Hegai seemed to be commending her for her actions to stop the squabbling at the tea party. Though spilling Queen Candidate Habeth's tea on her had been crude and completely unplanned, it had indeed been effective.

Both Habeth and Lord Hegai apparently appreciated her for it as well.

Silently, Esther offered an apology to Mordecai, who no doubt had felt a chill come over him wherever he was. Once again, she had struck up interest--this time from two potentially dangerous sources.

Suddenly remembering the tag in her hand, she smiled. At the very least, she had gotten what she desired: entry to the record hall.

"Can this small thing really take me to many places?" Esther asked aloud, holding the tag up in front of her.

"More than you could even dream of," Baara clicked her tongue. "I must implore you, My Lady, to never show that to the other Queen Candidates."

"I suppose it would make them bitter toward me," Esther sighed.

Unless the Lord planned on giving an identification tag to each Queen Candidate, it would certainly serve her well to follow Baara's advice.

"Let me say it this way," Baara clarified.

"If it was not clear before that you are Lord Hegai's favorite Queen Candidate, the tag dangling from your fingers is undeniable proof."