Our turbulent trio traveled without rest well into midday, relying on the gnome's skills to recognize landmarks to set us in the right direction. Zeph surmised the river had taken us further west. We decided we would cut straight through the dense forests until we reached the Opal Valley duchy seat in Crysaltane, then I will use my power as princess to secure us a carriage for the remainder of our travels.

"The duchess is a sour, old widow but she will feel obliged to help me," I explained to them, remembering the slanderous remarks the noble woman had made at my ball. "The trick will be getting an audience with her... but we will simply tell the first servant or guard we see that I am the princess---"

"Ignoring the safety issues with telling just anyone that you are a princess," Tallis interrupted, "are you sure they will take your word that you are a princess? Even the ogre chief had to be convinced and they are as far from civilized society as you can get." Tallis chewed on a blade of grass eying my loose, dirty hair and ruined tribal wedding dress then looked over at Zeph. "Present company not included."

Zeph scoffed and trudged off grumbling something about scouting the main road up ahead.

"Do you have to antagonize him so?" I asked Tallis as soon as the gnome was out of earshot.

"Me antagonize him? He's the reason we are in this mess. You may have a tender heart and be willing to forgive the toad. But I do not." He threw the blade away. I felt his frustration at not even being able to imagine that it tasted good enough to eat. We haven't had much luck finding food.

"You know, Tallis, when we were in the river and I was inside your head, I didn't get to see how you knew where Zeph's village was... or how you got there or how you got Zeph to teleport you into the tent when you rescued me?" I eyed him curiously. In fact, Zeph did not try to argue with Tallis on this return journey as he did on the first trip. I thought it had to do with the guilt he felt for deceiving us. But now I felt there was something more to it than just that.

"It doesn't matter. Plot convenience," he said nonchalantly, confirming my own suspicions.

"You're avoiding this. What are you hiding? Don't--ah!" I had moved in front of him, and he easily spun out of my way so I tried again only to trip over my own two feet. Tallis caught me by the arm yanking me back up before I made unpleasant contact with the ground.

"Sienna!" Tallis groaned. Feeling irritated because he was, I pushed his hands away only to wince when I tried to take a step.

I grabbed onto his shoulder. "Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Zeph blinked in front of us, crossbow loaded and aiming it every which way to find the danger. "What happened? What's wrong, Princess?"

"Calm down, gnome. She just twisted her ankle," Tallis said with a tone I didn't care for at all.

"Oh... then perhaps we should rest?" Zeph suggested.

"No. I am hungry. A duchess's manor means food. We keep going," Tallis said dismissively.

I crossed my arms about to reprimand him for his attitude. Hunger was really making him grumpy. But I lost the words when he suddenly bent down in front of me.

"Get on my back. I'll carry you."

"But won't you get tired?"

"Naturally. Now any other pointless arguments you'd like to offer? C'mon. You're hurt and I'm hungry. Let's go."

I rolled my eyes but did as I was told, wrapping my arms about his neck. He rose up and I accidentally choked him. He quickly repositioned me, jolting me up and grabbing me by the underside of my thighs.

Embarrassment and some other disarming emotion I could not quite define shot through me like lightening. I let out an involuntary squeal and pulled away from him. This impulsive action had me falling backwards onto the ground, nearly landing on my head.

"Ow!"

"Sienna! Why in the names of all th--- why would you let go like that? You could've really hurt yourself more!"

I curled my legs up under me and tugged on my skirt, feeling like I was beside the fire again. Tallis was looking at me like I had lost my senses. "I don't know-- I'm sorry! It felt weird. Maybe Zeph can just---Just stop being so--- I wish you weren't so upset right now." I stammered out.

"Me?" Zeph asked confused.

"No! Not-- you!" I pointed my finger at Tallis, my loud exclamation making some capers and fizzles scurry off.

"Okay, okay." Tallis put up both his hands like he was calming a cornered animal and spoke in a soothing tone. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, Sienna. I'm sorry. I'm not angry. It's just not easy dealing with my own emotions and now I feel yours too. It is a bit overwhelming. We will have to bear with it until we get back and your great sorcerer does... whatever magic is supposed to do. I'm just hungry and frustrated from walking all day."

"I know..." I said in a small voice.

"If anyone is wondering, I am hungry, too," Zeph called out.

"No one is," Tallis said, his words short. I gave him a pointed look and he sighed in exasperation then mouthed the word 'sorry'.

I rewarded him with a dazzling smile. He rolled his eyes, but offered a half smile, his mood lighting up. "Okay, let's try this." He offered me his hand and I took it hesitantly. He pulled me up and before my weight could rest on my swollen ankle, he had swung me up in one swift motion and caught my legs under my knees. "Is this better?"

"It's not uncomfortable, I suppose." I was still feeling embarrassed, but it was not as bad as before.

"Good. We will get you your silver carriage soon enough, milady."

"Silver? Not golden? Hmph. I suppose I can settle for silver given the short notice," I said in a posh tone.

He looked down at me lifting an eyebrow.

"I'm teasing!"

He grinned. "I know."

"Still here," Zeph mumbled as we saw the main road come into view.

~~♡~~

Opal Valley has always been one of the wealthiest noble estates of Alderias. The inside of the Duchess's manor attested to this, bright with the gold trimmings the Crystaltane mines were famous for. It almost pained one's eyes to look around too long without blinking forty times a minute. I have blinked precisely fifty-nine times in this last minute. Wait. That was Tallis's thought actually.

Who in their right mind counts their blinks?

"Sienna. Focus," Tallis said, snapping his fingers in my face.

"You're the one counting your blinks," I whispered.

Tallis actively ignored me, and he knew that I knew this. Have you ever literally felt someone ignore you? Well, now I have. It feels about as great as you think it would.

"Sienna..."

"Okay! Focusing. Um... maybe we should go ahead and try the upper level. I would guess that is where her chambers are. We may run into her."

"No. We do not need to draw attention to ourselves. We should wait til Zeph gets back from scouting the garden. If he comes back at all."

With Zeph's teleportation magic, it was relatively easy for the three of us to sneak into the manor and steal some servant clothes. Since we could not be sure where the duchess was, we sent Zeph to check outside before going any further in the manor beyond the ground level servant quarters.

"He is coming back, Tallis. At this point, he needs us to get to Highveine more than we need him."

"Right. You have a good point. Alright. I am going to use the room across the hall to change. You do the same in here. I'll knock twice when I come back."

Letting out a sigh after he left, I began circling the small room. My eyes lit up upon seeing a simple wash bowl and pitcher on a dresser. I opened the small window and threw out the dirty water then refilled the bowl with the remaining water in the pitcher. I quickly stripped my clothes and began washing myself with the lukewarm water. Then I threw on the servant dress and found some matching slippers in the wardrobe. The train of the dress dragged across the floor. How can servants work with such skirt lengths? The previous owner of this dress had to be of giant blood or perhaps the dress hasn't been hemmed?

Shrugging off these thoughts, I began combing my fingers through my hair.

I couldn't help but think things would be easier if I could just walk up to someone and tell them I am Princess Sienna and order them to take me to the duchess. Not long ago I would have done so with no hesitation. I know it's smarter to be less trusting, but I hope I don't become as jaded as Tallis.

He did say the world would be better if more people were like me... but I would be dead if not for him.

Did he really mean it when he said that then? How can I still be second guessing his thoughts when I can feel what he is feeling?

A couple of knocks sounded on the door arresting my thoughts. I opened it and Tallis quickly slid in.

"Don't laugh," he warned.

I glanced at his outfit and covered my mouth with my hand to stop a giggle from escaping. Like its female counterpart, the male attire was bright teal, off white, and peach colored featuring large baggy sleeves. His pant legs were puffed out until they were cut short just above the knees. His shoes were long and pointed. His jacket, like my dress, had so many gold buttons and tassels with no practical use making it look tacky. The hat was a tricorne with a long, orange curled plume.

I cleared my throat and tried a soothing tone. "These are high quality fabrics. I'm surprised and quite pleased that she dresses her servants so well. But the men's ensemble does seem a bit..."

"Ridiculous?" His plume fell into his face and he blew it away.

"Much." I shrugged and burst out in a fit of giggles as the feather continued to pester him.

The door slammed open. A servant girl with a fancy caramel colored swirl updo burst into the room catching us completely off guard. It was hard to tell if she was pretty. Her face was powdered a snow white, and a deep rouge was smudged on her cheeks. "What are you two doing in here? There is work to be done. If you have enough time for frolickin', you have enough time for workin'!"

"Sorry." Tallis went to grab me but his hand was smacked away with the ladle she wielded like a weapon.

"Sir, have you no shame to compromise this young one's virtue? Out with you!"

"Okay! Geez." He looked in my eyes and I knew he did not think it wise to cause a scene. "I am going to help out in the kitchens. I'll come find you later. Be careful."

The maid gave him a tut. He left and she immediately pulled me to sit down on the bed. "Don't have time for this. We are swamped with work. And you're not even...ugh. Look. You look pretty young so maybe you don't know any better back on whatever backwoods farm you were raised on. But here you best be careful around those kinds of men."

I tilted my head not understanding what she meant. She had begun rummaging through the drawers in the room. She paused in her task seeing the look of confusion on my face. "You know the kind? The kind that knows they're handsome. You look far too young and fresh to be caught unaware. You're new here, right?"

I opened my mouth to speak but I suddenly did not want to lie so I just nodded. She barely gave me time to answer anyway before continuing, "Of course you are. My name is Martina. Stick with me and you'll be okay. And if you're gonna be sneaking around with a boy, try to keep it discreet. And stay out of my room in the future. Now let us get your face on. Mrs. Corbinette, the head maid, will eat you alive if you come up looking like that. Close your eyes."

~~♡~~

Martina was forceful with her words and her laugh was loud and contagious. After she had colored my face to match hers, she helped me put a bustle up under my skirts. The bustle created a big hump in the back and sides that was almost as high my shoulders, which explained the length of the train. She gathered my hair up in a hurry, pinning it with no grace or style before placing a caramel-colored wig that was intricately decorated. It was at that moment I realized her hair was also just a wig.

Is all this really necessary?

"Keep up," she told me, and she glided down the hall fast with her hands folded in front of her. I copied her strut. We entered a large laundry room full of huge containers of steaming water and clothing lines zigzagging every which way. Even the servants who churned the laundry were dressed as we were; their 'faces' melting from the heat. "Shila! I brought another set of hands."

A heavy-set woman looked up, sweat visibly dripping off the tip of her nose.
I already had the urge to tug at my sleeves that rubbed against my armpits, please tell me I do not have to stay down here!

"Perfect!" Shila piled a load of blankets in Martina's arms. Then she held out more and it took a second for me to realize she meant for me to take it. "Slow one, eh? Haven't seen her. What is your name?"

I hesitated to answer contemplating if I should say my real name or give a fake one? Should I go ahead and tell them who I am? Does Shila have the authority to get me an audience with Lady Marthway? Or should I wait for the head maid Martina had mentioned earlier?

"Are you deaf, girl? Ah! She's a mute. Well, that's a shame. Poor thing," Shila said. "Martina, looks like this one is yours."

"What? I-- I just found her--"

"Your problem," Shila said dismissively.

"Very well..." Martina sucked in her breathe and quickly turned. "Keep up!"

I followed. We came to a room and she began lighting candles as I stood there in the middle of the room feeling very lost. Was I supposed to do something? I wish Tallis would hurry up and find me.

"I didn't realize you were a mute," Martina muttered. "And now I am responsible for you. Cursed be my altruistic heart. Lucky for you though. You were clearly going to be taken advantage of. If I see that bastard, I'll ring his ears. He probably thinks you're easy pickings. Strip the bed with me. The duchess likes her sheets to always smell fresh. Ha! Pain in my ass."

I sat my load down on an armature then pulled the sheets off the perfectly made bed. I struggled to stretch the new sheets over the mattress. I should've corrected the misunderstanding, but I think she was going slow for me because she thought I was dumb. Though I am not sure why dumb, and mute go hand in hand. When it came to doing this kind of work, I was indeed slow. I have never had to dress a bed in my life.

"I can do the rest myself. Go put the extra sheets and pillowcases in that wardrobe over there. We will need them after tonight's soiree anyway," she ordered, and she continued to mutter to herself. "One would think a noble lady of such refined tastes would show some restraint on hosting her little sex parties."

I had walked over to retrieve the sheets that had fallen onto the floor when I heard her last sentence.

Wait. What? What is a 'sex party'?

I struggled to fold the sheets back neatly. Giving up, I wadded up the fabrics and stuffed them in the wardrobe. It will be fine. Now would be a good time to ask Martina if she knows how I can talk to the duchess, but she thinks I am a mute.

I went to speak but movement caught my attention outside the window. Zeph was peering in. He waved and motioned me over.

I pulled open the window and he tumbled inside. "I found her! What is wrong with your face? Where's Master Gray?"

Martina's scream suddenly pierced the air. She snatched up a tall candlestick holder and tried to hit him. He dodged, grabbed onto my skirt, and snapped his fingers.