The light burned.

After however long Iliana had been trapped in the tower, the faintest hint of light that shone down from the fading evening sun was too much. Her eyes stung, reactive tears threatening to fall. She was given no time to adjust, though, as the three guards silently urged her forwards.

The hands weren't as rough as before. Perhaps they wanted to avoid any bruises before she was presented to Zuher. After all, the only ones he would be expecting were the ones he placed himself.

Her mine spun, making placing their location in the palace hard. Not that she had much to go off of in the first place. Her best guess, however, was that they were leading her in the opposite direction of the throne room. Curiosity and wariness rolled through her, flooding her bones until her tongue seemed to move of its own accord.

"Do you speak Empor?" she asked the closest guard.

The man didn't react, instead continuing to stare at the path before them. A feminine voice behind her sighed, however, and gave the small of Iliana's back a harsh prod.

"He can't hear you. What do you need..." the woman trailed off, hesitance in her irritated tone. "...milady?"

As the woman spoke, Iliana was guided around yet another corner. Towering above them at the end of the path was an impressive stone building with lattice fence lining the sides. Lush green vines tangled around the wood which stretched further back than Iliana's line-of-sight. A large wooden plaque was affixed above the building's stone archway, but unfortunately the words were carved in a language Iliana couldn't understand, likely Reotakian.

"I'm not a lady," Iliana argued as possibilities surged through her mind.

Was she to be interrogated about her origin? Was this the famous menagerie? A meeting place for nobility? Zuher's private quarters?

"Where are we going?"

The woman ignored Iliana in favor of shoving her forward as the man to her left grabbed the door. They walked through a wall of heat at the entrance, scattering Iliana's theories to the wind. The faintest sound of falling water reached her, springing a new thought to the front of her mind. A public bath?

The two male guards paused at the entrance as the woman behind her prodded Iliana to continue further into the building. The short hall gave away to a wide, open room that was dominated by an open air bath. On two sides of the pool towers of stone stretched five feet above the flooring, ending with arched spouts that continually poured fresh water. Curiosity warred with her wariness as she studied the spouts, attempting to decipher how they functioned. Was Reotak more advanced hygiene wise than the noble houses she'd lived in before? Or was it magic?

Whatever the source, Iliana didn't argue as she was steered to a small room off the left side of the bath. After over a month of travel, just the option of washing stole any rebellion from her mind. Her steps slowed, however, as the small dressing room they entered turned out to be occupied by a scrawny, pale blonde. Her mud brown eyes seemed hollow as she offered Iliana a short bow, then looked to the guard.

"Corinna is a silenced maid," the guard explained. "She's been assigned to you when necessary. At this moment, she is here to help you bathe."

Silenced? Iliana wondered.

The maid stepped forward, causing Iliana to reflexively step back as the rest of the sentence sunk in. "I don't need help."

"You'll accept her help," the guard instructed with a sigh. "Or I'll have no choice to say you were disagreeable. I believe we can both understand why that's not to your benefit."

The tower flashed through Iliana's mind, and she shuddered. Was her privacy worth another day in that darkness? It wasn't as if she'd never had a handmaiden before. She'd done her best to be independent when she lived in Aeolis, but the fashion there was unreasonable. There had been balls and other events that'd required her to dress in clothing, oils and paints that couldn't be donned without help. And you did decide to behave, she reminded herself.

Even if she'd failed with the initial introduction--something that, while stupid, couldn't be helped, given that lashing out when fearful was as natural to her as breathing--Iliana still preferred not to drag attention to herself when she could.

So, reluctantly, she held still as the maid took another hesitant step towards her. What followed was an uncomfortable silence as Iliana was encouraged to change, then wrap herself in a towel, before returning to the bathing room. The two guards at the entrance were thankfully far enough back that between the hall and the steam, her descent into the bath was as private as currently possible.

The careful application of soap, then scented oils reminded Iliana of her time on the island. Not a word was spoken as the maid slipped from one task to another, and soon Iliana realized what silenced meant.

Odds were, the girl couldn't speak. Iliana shivered despite the heat of the water as several details started to align in her mind. The guards who 'couldn't hear her' as the woman had put it. The maid who likely couldn't speak. She was being surrounded mainly by people who she couldn't easily communicate with.

Zuher didn't intend on letting her talk her way into an escape.

"What comes after this," Iliana asked the guard. "... and what's your name?"

Irritation flashed across the woman's face. She stood a dozen feet away from the bath's edge, her wary black eyes no doubt taking in every movement Iliana made.

"I don't see how my identity matters, Milady," the woman retorted. "And next... we go to the witch."

Cold crept into Iliana's veins. "There's a witch doctor here?"

It was a stupid question, she knew. Of course there was a witch doctor in the palace. Almost unconsciously, she reached for the tattoo on her upper arm. If someone like Eumelia was willing to risk the wrath of the gods with blood magic to bind Iliana's voice, what would someone under Zuher's guidance do? What magic was Iliana about to have forced upon her?

The guard scoffed. "Of course. Their name is Aatami, and they're...skilled. Any magic that needs done is overseen by them, whether it is witch doctor magic or otherwise."

Otherwise? If the guard had simply meant that the witch watched over the faeries and their elemental magic, then she would've said it. That meant there were nightmares under orders of the witch.

"Their?" Iliana confirmed rather than voice her thoughts.

The guard nodded her agreement, and before Iliana could ask anything else, the maid beckoned her from the water. Another towel was shoved in her arms, then she was escorted back to the side room. She sat where the maid indicated as the girl slowly brushed, and dried her hair, then stepped over to the wall to pull a simple shift from its hanger. Uneasiness drew Iliana's shoulders taut.

"I don't see any other clothing," she observed, glancing at the guard. "Am I putting my old things back on?"

"Please don't be a problem, Milady."

With that illuminating answer, Iliana reluctantly allowed the maid to tug the shift over her head. The thin fabric hung loosely to her ankles. By Aeolian standards, it was positively indecent. She tucked her hands over her bare elbows as the maid placed simple flats on her feet.

"Zuher won't be there?"

The guard shook her head. "Only Aatami." She hesitated. "You don't look Reotakian."

It was Iliana's turn to hesitate. Well, it wasn't as if someone widely traveled couldn't recognize her origins. "I'm from Aeolis."

"I thought as much," the guard replied, then paused for a moment before continuing. "The fashion here is less...stiff. I believe that's the word. While this," the guard gestured at Iliana's clothing, "is still considered...lacking, you won't receive as much attention for that here, as you would in other places. And, there isn't any other option, even if you protest. In the past, some have attempted to harm the doctor, or hide wounds. This was the solution, clothing that conceals nothing. You'll change afterwards."

Iliana bit back a sigh of relief. She wouldn't be expected to wander the palace in what barely counted as more than underwear. The guard's words haunted her mind, however, as she was waved to her feet and escorted back into the hall. Some have attempted to hide wounds. As in, they'd viewed imprisonment as a hopeless situation. That was the only reason she could see to hide one's health from the doctor. They'd hoped to escape through death.

That won't be me, she reassured herself. No matter how long it takes. I'll leave this place.

More than a few palace workers and nobles stopped to stare as they walked, pulling Iliana's temper taut as a wire. Thankfully, before she snapped, they entered a large building that might've been the palace entrance. It looked similar enough, but after having been turned around as many times as she had, Iliana had no idea. The guards lead her to the second floor, where a series of doors lined a long hallway. There were nameplates above each of the doors, leading her to believe they must have been offices.

They stopped outside of one that lacked a name on the plate, which was instead decorated with a simple handprint. One of the guards opened the door, and the thought of what might happen after entering the room had Iliana taut as a wire.

The office reminded her of Eumelia's rooms aboard the mercenary ship, but more cluttered. Shelves lined the walls, stuffed to the brim with varying jars, boxes, and books. A desk laid shoved against the back wall, but the majority of the room was dominated by a large, mostly empty, table.

"Oh, is it time already?"

The voice drew Iliana's attention to the left side of the room. Standing just a bit behind the door, shoving a book back on the shelf, was a lanky, masculine-looking scholar. Their salt-and-pepper hair was trimmed short, and their weathered skin a faded tan. The presumable witch shoved their glasses higher on their nose, golden eyes flicking over the group before settling on Iliana.

"You must be the siren."

Stress sharpened her tongue, but somehow she bit back the words threatening to escape. "Iliana."

The witch paused for a moment, eyes flashing to Iliana. There was a furrow of their brow, then realization as they shook their head, as if to free themselves of something unseen.

"Yes, yes, of course. Here, come, sit."

The witch ushered her towards one of the two chairs settled at the large work table. A glance over her shoulder revealed the guards had spread out in front of the exit, with the woman resting her back against the door. Her stomach twisted into knots, but knowing there was no other option, Iliana sat.

Aatami bustled from one wall to the other, filling their arms with various objects, before dumping them all on the desk in the back and grabbing a bowl that'd been shoved between stacks of worn parchment.

"Sorry for the rush, but we've little time to work with, you see," Aatami explained as they returned to the table.

The bowl they held was half-full of a dark, ruby red liquid, and varying floating herbs. Iliana could've sworn she could taste bile as Eumelia's previous magic flashed through her mind.

That's blood. And a lot of it. She shuddered. Zuher meant to bind her.

"Give me your hand."

Her attention refocused on Aatami, who held a blade. Fear had her reluctant to move, but the clearing of the female guard's throat reminded Iliana of what little choice she had. She could play along, be the compliant captive, or continue to fight and have around-the-clock guards. It wasn't as if singing had done anything for her so far. Right?

Unlike Eumelia's simple prick of Iliana's finger, the moment Aatami had her hand, they slashed the blade across her palm drawing a sharp curse from her lips. The witch turned her hand over the bowl as a faint golden glow slowly shifted over their touching hands. As the first drop fell into the liquid, however, Aatami went stiff.

Their eyes snapped to Iliana, narrowing, then widening with realization. There was suddenly a very careful, measured edge to the tension in their frame as they looked past her to the guards, a casual smile on their lips.

"Ah, I realize, since this powerful magic, it might be easier if you were outside the room. I'm not asking you to leave, just put a barrier between us. You understand, right?"

"I don't think--" the woman began.

"Zuher asked for me to make sure this binding is perfect, and I know you wouldn't want to disappoint him, Aria."

Everything was quiet for a moment, then Aria cursed, and the door slammed against the wall. "If you get your ass fucking siren charmed I'm not saving it!"

Iliana didn't pull her attention from the witch as they laughed. Their tense shoulders, and the harsh grip they had on her hand said that whatever reason they wanted the guards out of the room, it probably wasn't because they were worried about distractions with their magic.

Her theory was proven the moment the door clicked shut, and the witch released her hand. Aatami jerked to their feet, rubbing their hands against their pants. There was a new, jittery edge to the way they moved back to their desk, shoving papers around, and incidentally knocking a multitude of clutter to the floor.

"What's--" Iliana began.

"You're Iliana. I didn't see the name. I saw a lot, but not a name. I should've remembered the face. Siren's have memorable faces," Aatami interrupted.

Surprise stole Iliana's thoughts, which gave the witch time to curse under their breath, and knock an entire stack of papers over. They didn't seem to care, instead seizing a leather bound journal from the back of the mess and spinning around.

"You're Iliana, and you bare that magic, which means it's time."

"Time? Time for what?" Iliana demanded.

Aatami darted back to the table, flipping through pages as they went. What little Iliana could see of the papers were covered in illegible writing and drawings that seemed to cover every open surface.

"Time for it to begin."

They seemed to reach the page they were searching for and slammed the journal down on the table. Sprawled over both pages were intricately sketches of each charm on Iliana's anklet.

"Zuher's fall." 

A/N: Sorry this is so late! I didn't anticipate the Holidays interrupting my schedule so much. But, surprisingly, I did things with people this year. (well, remotely, gotta be safe and such)

Anyways! New chapter is finally out. I didn't have time to go over it like I usually do, so I apologize if there were any typos I missed. 

See you guys in two weeks~ 

Or maybe sooner. If I can get an extra chapter done to justify posting for my birthday. We'll see. 

Hope you enjoyed~ Not a lot happened, but we did reach some ominous stuff~