Going anywhere by herself was impossible. The moment Maud stepped out of her room, two Clerics were waiting, in thick armor and blue tabards with that cross and the upside down seven pointed star she had sewn on Draka’s silk shirt that she turned into the flag.
It was a mistake forever sealed in history. But—she was eventually reassured—it also distinguished their tabards from those who had earned their points by going on crusade campaigns. Well, surviving campaigns. The seventh point, pointing up through the middle of their cross, meant they were higher ranking than those with less points on their star.
They followed her everywhere in the fort. When she went to the lavatory to relieve herself, they waited at the door. When she had her lunch, since she slept through breakfast, they ate theirs in a rush at the nearest table to make sure that they were ready when she was. She wondered what they would do when she would return to her studies with Pierre once he had his new office organized. Probably join in. Can they read or write?
Maud decided that they needed to be put to good use when she went back up to her room to change into what Alice called her ‘walking coat.’
Just before she went in, she said to them, “If you see Alice coming this way, knock twice. I’m going to knock once before I open the door. You check the hallways. If she’s anywhere between here and the way out, you knock twice. Understand?”
They looked at each other suspiciously. Then at her with matching crooked brows. Silent.
Maud rolled her eyes, “It’s nothing like that. I have to go to my Aunt and I don’t want her to see. Just, do it, okay? Or I’ll tell the King you tried to kiss me.” And she closed the door behind her to the sound of armor chain shirts clinking. She winced and opened the door to peek out, “I’d never do that.” And narrowed her eyes at the two of them, who were regarding her like one would a rabid dog, “Or would I?”
She closed the door again. She grabbed one of the bags that had been used to bring her things from the house to her room and stuffed the stained dresses into it by the fistful. Adrian’s warm blue coat, with its odd gilding and fluffy fur cuffs and collar made her hesitate in wonder, but she decided against it. She put on her ‘walking coat’ that was a pretty shade of green that matched her eyes with its simple embroidery.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she wondered if it would be better if she changed into one of her old dresses to be more inconspicuous, if that was even possible. A look through her wardrobe and she cursed Alice with a growl. The woman got rid of them, the beast!
Maud stepped out with the bag of dresses under her arm and the Clerics weren’t the only two at the door anymore. Three more had joined them.
The original two gave her the smuggest smirks she had ever seen when she noticed that all three of the new ones were women. Touche, Maud put a tongue in her cheek with a glaring nod at them.
One of the three had four points on her star. “Where do you intend to go, your Grace?” That one asked.
“The market, to Leticia Vorner,” Maud straightened. She heard Adrian’s voice in her head and she said, “My aunt.”
“We are your escort,” the four pointed star nodded with a warm smile. Her eyes were big for her round face and close together. She had thin lips and a dominant chin, but her nose was pert and she had hair that lay straight, pecan, and just thick enough to curve upward from her forehead before falling over the sides of her face, the lucky woman. “I am Cleric Fleurie.” She motioned to the one to her right, “This is Cleric Yi.”
Yi was a pale, oval faced, raven-haired woman with hooded eyes to match, and an overbite that—though Maud noticed it—didn’t make her seem ugly but actually more beautiful and, in a way, exotic in her eyes. She had never seen anyone who looked like her before in her life and who was—for once—the same size as Maud, yet had two points on her own star.
“And Cleric Radhya,” Fleurie motioned to the darker skinned, round faced, broad nosed woman a little taller than Maud, with hair that was dark, lightened by rows of bronze that matched her eyes. Maud gaped at those eyes, even from a few steps away in the dimly lit hall, she could see the flecks of gold in them.
Radhya’s plump smile widened to reveal thick white teeth and a pink tongue that stuck out as she giggled. “It’s alright,” Radhya shook her head, “Not many of us venture this far east.”
“Your eyes,” Maud blinked. “I don’t mean to…I just, I used to not see color. May I—I mean, when we get outside, may I get a look at them?”
Radhya raised a brow, “You were color blind?”
Maud nodded sheepishly. “I’ve never seen eyes that color before. Draka’s—the King’s—were the closest I’ve ever seen to that color, but yours are…amazing.”
Yi bumped Fleurie’s elbow. “I really thought it was something else.”
“Me too,” Fleurie shrugged. To the two who had been following her around before, “We will send word upon our return for you to return to your posts. You stand relieved.” Then, to Maud, once they were no longer within earshot, “Please tell me you’re not going to be that much trouble. I heard good things about you in Strasbourg and what they said was upsetting.”
Maud hung her head. “I didn’t mean it, but they were looking at me like I’m…” She huffed, “I’m not used to—I’m not a plowing princess, alright? I’m a farmer’s daughter and I don’t like being followed down a hall when I need to pee by two men. Do you?”
The three exchanged glances. Yi was the one who shrugged with a nod.
“And they didn’t want to do what I asked. It’s simple, I don’t want Alice to see me with this,” Maud held up the bag. “For a reason. Now, are you going to help me or are you going to treat me like I’m some dumb princess who didn’t grow up making her own dresses and cleaning her own messes?”
“You have my attention,” Fleurie grinned. “What’s on your mind?”
“No killing,” Yi pointed with a tilt of her head. “Unless they’re very naughty and we can resurrect them after.” Fleurie swatted the back of Yi’s head without looking, making her thin hair spill over her face as she beamed a smile far wider than seemed possible until that moment.
“And we won’t cover for you to do anything that will dishonor yourself or your family,” Radhya was quick, her voice soothing. Her accent had a similarity to Olaf’s but the ‘R’s were softer in their roll, and she emphasized the ends of some words almost as if she were singing them. “Otherwise, we’re yours.”
Maud looked over her shoulder, “I stained my dresses. My Aunt Leta knows how to get the stains out, but I have to get them to her without Alice knowing. She has a stand in the market. Leticia Vorner, Gergor Vorner’s wife, sells poultices and salves.”
“Fish oil lady,” Yi nodded.
Maud nodded glumly. “Yep. Her.”
Fleurie led them by a few paces and would stop them at each bend of the hall or opening of a doorway. After peering through, she waved for them to continue and do the same all the way until they were crossing the drawbridge over the lake into the village, something that Maud hadn’t done in what seemed like a lifetime. With those three women around her, in their chainmail armor and belted riveted maces, she didn’t remind herself that she should feel nervous walking into the village without Draka or Vigora at her side until she was well into it. And even then, it was more the realization that she wasn’t.
The market rounded the old village square, with the ribbon pole and all the colorful decorations twirling up it in preparation for the Ribbon Dances in a few days. No, Maud suddenly remembered…tomorrow! Other poles had been raised on the road all the way through the village past the migrant sections, which meant they were going to have their dances, too. The young ones of the village—including the boy she had held when she returned from the hunt—were helping decorate the poles, while others were building the stages for dancing and the tournaments. There would be pageants and plays, wrestling matches among the boys, and beer boots, with prizes ranging from counterweight clocks to a kiss from the pageant winner or the envied place in the first Ribbon Dance on one of the poles.
Fleurie kept behind her, Yi and Radhya on her sides, as she searched the stands of the market. There were so many in comparison to before. There were Alcrois stands, more that had trinkets from far off places, others with wares she had never seen in Talkro before in her life. Armorers, Smiths, potters, and even a man with plants in baskets of dirt with small labels and pictures or tiny scrolls attached to them, all with wood covered carriages in odd shapes they draped tarps from over their displays. There was one who had jewelry of all sizes and colors, gemstones that she had never seen, in colors she never knew existed.
One vendor had piles of books. Books with names on them she had never seen, in languages that made no sense to her but used the same letters. And with pictures on them that were vibrant and fantastical, with dragons and knights, others with men that made Karl look like a child with a toy sword. One that caught her eye had a man swinging on a rope with long flowing hair like Alden’s and a women arching her back over his arms as if they were being carried by the wind over a horizon. It was in French.
She turned it over. The back told of it being an adventure where the woman was captured by pirates and the hero was a scoundrel who would have to rescue her against all odds. She decided to get it. She had already read the Bible through and Pierre’s books were always about philosophy or theories, always something with some hidden reason she would be tested on. This looked like it would be one of her former fantasies without her having to hop about in the woods making a fool of herself to enjoy.
She paid the vendor with a beaming smile. The looks the three women gave her when she turned around made her hesitant as she put the small book in her bag. “What?”
“Ever read one of those before?” Radhya pointed.
Maud shook her head.
Yi bumped Radhya’s shoulder, “Let the woman have her fun. What better reason is there for confession?”
Maud crinkled her brow. “Why would I need confession from a book?”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Yi and Fleurie snickered a little. Radhya started to say something, but they both stopped her. Radhya let out a long breath. “You’ll see.”
“There’s Fish Oil Lady!” Yi pointed.
Maud found herself looking in the bag at the book. What could possibly be in a book that makes her need to confess? And why would two of them think that it would be something she should find out on her own? But not Radhya? Maud was beginning to suspect there was a very distinct difference between Clerics and Paladins as she was led to Leta’s stand through the crowd.
“Maud!” Leta leapt from around her stand, followed by Alexandra from the one beside it. Both quickly embraced her. “How have you been? First day in your new palace!”
“Love that dress!” Alexandra said while hugging her. “And, look, Leta, makes her eyes positively glowing! We need to find you material that color. Greg will be eating off your feet the moment he sees you in it.”
Maud heard Yi’s muffled snicker like a stick being rattled across a roof from behind her. She wagged a hand behind her for them to give her a bit of distance. Leta took one of her hands and Alexandra the other. Both of them led her to the shade of their stands. Leta was quick to grab her a chair and, as if they had already coordinated it, Alexandra threw a blanket over it before she sat.
“Odd weather, isn’t it?” Alexandra was trying harder than ever. She was setting a goblet in front of Maud and pouring steaming coffee into it without even asking if she wanted some. “Overnight, it became so cold and just hasn’t changed. So early in the year, too. Thank all that is good I was able to wrap the roses in time before that frost a few days ago.”
“Killed my last bit of apples,” Leta shook her head. “And don’t get me started about the vegetable garden. Nearly took all of it.” Then, without missing a beat, she turned to Maud with a hand on Maud’s arm, “But you’re taken care of along with my boys. I’ve never been so proud. My Hugo to be a knight and my Leo, a royal Cupbearer!”
Maud saw the twinkling rage in Alexandra’s grin behind the cup of coffee she tipped. Even though she knew Sorin had made a good bit from the sale of the land for the watchtower, they weren’t being given any sort of royal seats for their sons or anything like that for their daughters. Though, Maud couldn’t help but meet her glance with her own flashing reminder that God forgives, but she never will. Alexandra’s glance drifted away from hers, softening.
“I need your help,” Maud dug into the bag and held up the ink stained dress from the coronation.
Alexandra whistled. Leta hissed as if it were a sore that had been rubbed wrong.
Maud sank. “Please tell me you can get the stain out.”
“That’s ink, Maud,” Leta shook her head. “In satin. You’re never going to get that out. How—” Leta took a handful from Maud without pulling the dress completely out of the bag and shook her head, “What happened that you…Maud, this is real satin. And silk. And velvet. Oh, Maud, what did you do?”
Maud tucked her lips, staring at it. What did she do? She lost her temper. “You can’t do anything to fix it?”
Leta looked up to her, gasping, “Maud, did you do this intentionally?” Maud didn’t move. Leta only closed her eyes. “You didn’t.”
“I ruined two others. I thought they could be—”
“Spoiled, stupid girl,” Alexandra said under her breath.
That made Maud want to run and hide. Also, want to turn and yell and shout into Alexandra’s face that she didn’t understand. That she wouldn’t understand because she didn’t love her husband or have a brother who would have died protecting her knowing that he wouldn’t survive no matter the outcome. She didn’t know what it would be like to be asked to give up their memories by someone who had just ruined what she thought would be the rest of her life. No, she danced a ribbon and kissed the man she wanted one day. She hasn’t had to fight for anything until her husband tried to crucify someone and murder Maud’s father.
“You can’t fix this,” Leta shoved the material back in her hand with a huff of disappointment. “The only thing you can do is dip it in a bucket of ink and hope it comes out even. Then, pray that you don’t have any children so your hips don’t widen by the time your husband dies so you fit in them when you have to wear them for mourning, because what you did to these is that evil!” Leta stood from her chair. “You have any idea what it is like for me to touch that material? Your mother and I would have a hand sized bit of satin for the sole of shoes—barely the size of my palm when I was eleven, Maud—and it cost thirty gold! That dress is covered with it. And silk is nearly three times that, and it’s lined in layers of it. Don’t even get me started on the velvet, Maud. That’s like spitting wine in my face when I’m dying of thirst.”
“Aunt Leta!” Maud gaped at her. “I didn’t know, I thought it would come out. I was angry. He…you wouldn’t understand.”
Leta shook at her. “You’re right, I wouldn’t. Your mother and I had to fight to get food and have a place to sleep at night. You poured ink on—not one, not two, but many—dresses because you were angry about what? He said something? No, sorry…wrote something. Didn’t strike you, didn’t kill your horse, or send you to a convent. He said something that hurt your feelings. Was it that guard of yours?”
Maud wanted to scream. “Does everyone know?”
“About your honor having to be restored by a duel? Yes,” Leta leaned to catch her eye. “That other ward of his saved you from making a fool of our King, not to mention the family as a whole.” She leaned close to Maud with a glare, “For generations, Maud. You would have stained us for generations. Anita’s reputation would have been ruined, ever think about that? I know you don’t care about your father’s side, but those poor girls are getting the blunt of it regardless. Poor Josey has been struggling to find anyone of the old families willing to accept her on their poles. May God have mercy on Mia and Sarah when they’re old enough. You did that.”
“I didn’t know that,” Maud gaped.
“Well, now you do,” Leta sat back down. She raised a chin toward the crowd.
Maud followed her gaze to find Adrian dancing through the crowd with smiles and spins around milling passersby. He was munching on an apple, always keeping his cheek full, even when he was smiling and tipping two fingers to his forehead with a respectful bow to a passing family. He had his sword on his back and was wearing a black robe like the blue one but with gilding that had roses along the toggled hem from top to bottom. His boots were bent downward to reveal thick furs within. He stopped now and then to look over a vendor’s wares, would say something that made the vendor smile and then would dance his way to the next. And there was no other way for Maud to describe it in her head. He was dancing through them, often purposely turning his back to the direction he was going as he swept himself around, as if he were moving to music in his head through a moving forest of people. A forest of people he was mostly taller than.
“That boy saved us when he marked him. It wasn’t just a duel to restore your honor when he did that. He let the whole village know that the mark was that man’s alone to bear.”
Maud bit the side of her lip. “I’ll never let that happen again. And I’ll talk to mother about what to do about Anita and Josey. They don’t deserve that. They are my cousins and I am the Princess of Alcalia.”
Alexandra harumphed.
Maud leaned to look at her, “Alright, out with it.”
“Nothing,” Alexandra stiffened. “Just, I have two perfectly eligible boys who will be on the poles tomorrow and I was just thinking, perhaps, you could put in a word for them, too. Since I am such a close and trusted…”
Maud shook her head with rolling eyes in Adrian’s direction. “Sure, why not.”
Adrian was nearing the bookseller. Maud was ready to roll them again. There was no way he would stop there. He was certainly going to proceed to the armorer or the swordsmith past it.
“I’ll see what I can salvage out of it and piece something together, maybe make you a petticoat at least. And get you those sequins and pearls…are those diamonds?” Leta was thumbing through the dress again.
“Let me see,” Alexandra was leaning over toward it.
Maud wasn’t paying attention to them as she said distantly, “Uh-huh. They are. Keep them. As payment.”
Her brows were smooshing together as Adrian stayed in front of the bookseller longer and longer, piling book after book under his arm. Thick ones. She recognized the one with the dragon. Another that had a woman dressed much like Alice always does on the front. Maud found herself leaning forward in her chair. The vendor looked her way, she quickly looked down at what Leta and Alexandra were stretching between them.
“This one only has a small bit here. We can patch it if we make it into a ruffled skirt, don’t you think?” Alexandra suggested while running her fingers over a splotch on one of the other dresses.
A book was set on the stand with a thump loud enough that it made Maud jump. Adrian was beaming down at her. He nodded to Leta and Alexander with the very same, knowing grin, “Ladies. Princess Maudeline.”
Maud had fully sank into the chair, but she was grinning up at him. “Prince Adrian.”
He slid the book toward her. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he disappeared for a moment to pick up the other books he had apparently dropped in his efforts to put the one on the stand. “I—well—should have finished the apple first. Some things need more than one hand it seems.”
“Indeed,” Alexandra regarded him from her chair with a crossing of her legs at the ankles.
That made Adrian blink and rearrange his eyes in all directions like someone had rattled his brain.
“Right,” he swallowed. He was nervous almost to the point of panic. “I saw you looking at the books earlier. This one is one of my favorites.”
Maud nodded. “Glad you were able to find it while you are here.”
That made his brow crinkle a little. “Yeah—no—yeah. You…I meant, I got it for you.”
Maud’s eyes widened. “You got it for me?”
Leta and Alexandra both shifted their seats to look directly at Maud.
Adrian nodded. “Yes. A book.” His eyes looked upward. Then sideways. Then the other way. Then at the book. “A very good book.”
“Thank you,” Maud grinned. She didn’t know what else to do.
Adrian nodded back. He took a few backward steps with a huge chomp of the apple before calling, “Let me know what you think of chapter nine!” And he spun around to dance through the crowd again, having slid the other books into the pockets of his robe.
“That’s the man who marked her guard?” Alexandra watched.
Leta nodded. “That’s right.”
Maud pulled the hardbacked book into her lap and opened the first page. ‘A War of Two Hearts,’ it was titled. She closed it and put it in her bag against the other, smaller book. Which one would she read first, she wondered. She leaned back into her chair, grinning at nothing in particular as she thought about it.
She knew which one.
