The Tollkeeper (Fairy Tales Behaving Badly) - Plot & Excerpts
The madame tells Adelai this as she brushes her hair, until it’s golden enough to her satisfaction. For the first time in her life, Adelai was surrounded by servants, who help her into the elaborate weaves and frills of her bridal gown. Shrinemaidens to be consecrated all wear the same thing - white silk affairs of ribbons and lace, cut low enough to display hints of bosom to draw in more bidders, but high enough to maintain a pretense at modesty. But modesty, Adelai knew, is not one of the many things that shall happen tonight. Over the babble of the other shrinemaidens getting ready the High Priestess Saleia tells her the same thing, as she scrutinizes her appearance. Though her eyes are failing and her back is stooped from forty years spent overseeing rituals and ceremonies like these, she is quick to spot and point out every flaw, from a wayward lock of hair to the minute, nearly invisible creases in my dress. Tonight, she insists, must be perfect. High Priestess Saleia runs the temple of Inne-annah, in the kingdom of Atalantea, like a soldiers’ barrack, and to girls like Adelai it feels natural to be just a little afraid of her.
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