"Ah, yes. His Highness has told me quite a bit about you, most of which were the same things the physician had already told him," Circe said, her smile never wavering. She had learned long ago that people were far more willing to speak freely when they felt at ease, when they did not suspect that every word they uttered was being quietly examined and criticted.
"All good things, I hope," Morana said, her tone giving nothing away.
"Of course," Circe replied. "Though, I must admit, I had never heard of you before this. Neither has any member of my staff who has lived here in Amris longer than I have."
After Ragnar had voiced his distrust of the new midwife, Circe had chosen to look into it herself. She had instructed Nieah to discreetly question the household staff on her behalf, asking whether any of them had so much as heard the name Morana Silhara before. Every answer had been the same—none of them had.
