If she were lucky, both pieces were positive, but this was a rare occurence. Neither of those situations happened today. Udaya studied the swaths of jusi folded neatly in each of the women’s laps. In turn, they watched her with expectant expressions on their faces. “What exactly is the issue?” she asked Lagnat, though she could guess. Lagnat, her ever-loyal and long-suffering servant, had been put in charge of these women. In the past, the ones set with the task of preparing Kagubutan’s gown hadn’t needed such close supervision, but these seamstresses were new and younger. They lacked the proper respect for their benefactor. To them, Kagubutan was a name uttered as protection and curse, and not one of the diwata who’d saved them from the invaders who came bearing golden crosses. Lagnat offered her a pained smile. “They cannot do it.” “Why not?” Her question came soft and quiet. One of the women—a young and pretty thing with soulful eyes—shared glances with her companions before leaning forward.
