Marina bought a fish soup for Isla-Dove and still showed up that same night with a basket of meat and bread.

Isla-Dove heard the pebbles hitting the window and scrambled off of her bed to open it before Miss Capen heard and woke up. Marina stood below on the ground, smiling and holding up a basket. "The food!"

The sun had already set, so Isla-Dove wouldn't remember the taste of the food, but at least she'd feel the difference in her body when she woke up. As Marina tossed the end of the rope upward, Isla-Dove reached out and grabbed it. She began pulling it through the window. Marina let got once the basket was suspended in the air.

Isla-Dove's mouth was watering before the basket even got to the windowsill. She closed her eyes as she took in the smell.

"Enjoy!" Marina called in a whisper.

"Thank you, you're the best!" she whispered back. She really was.

Once Marina disappeared into the night, Isla-Dove gently closed the window and sat on the ground by the rickety bed with the basket on her lap. She had a dimly lit lamp on the crooked bedside table and used its light to navigate the food. She pulled out a chunk of ham. As it touched her tastebuds, she leaned back against the bed, her body relaxing. It was honey roasted ham, a meat that Marina was an expert at cooking.

As she ate the food, she realized there was a canister of water at the bottom of the basket too. A smile spread across her face. She owed Marina so much.

The food and water energized Isla-Dove enough to where she felt motivated to slip down the stairs and assess the fabrics available to remake the queen's gown. She grabbed her lamp and inhaled deeply, tentatively lowering her foot onto the first step. It creaked softly. She winced. Miss Capen slept in a room adjacent to the craft area. If she heard any noise, Isla-Dove would have no time to hurry back upstairs before she opened the bedroom door.

She carefully made her way down the rest of the steps, taking extra time so that she didn't accidentally slip and fall. Once she made it to the bottom, she used her lamp to illuminate the lines of fabric neatly stacked across several shelves before realizing that she needed the sketchbook first to be certain of the exact fabrics and seaming patterns for the gown.

She retrieved the sketchbook from its normal location propped against Miss Capen's prized trophy. She won it as a teenager, being the fastest seamstress to sew a gown that year. Isla-Dove flipped through the pages, squinting as she reached the gown design for the queen. She held the book close to her lamp, studying the sketch and reading Miss Capen's scrawled notes.

She looked over all of the fabrics, trying to find the right ones. Only after three searches did she realize that Miss Capen no longer had the fabrics for the gown.

Isla-Dove quickly sat down on the workbench before she passed out, a lump of worry in her throat. She had to go purchase the fabrics, which also meant that she had to take the sketchbook with her to make sure she purchased the correct ones. She looked at Miss Capen's bedroom door. Hopefully the seamstress would be working elsewhere the following day.

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Isla-Dove awoke slowly, vision blurry as she sat up in bed. It took her a moment to register that a basket was on the ground, along with a note. She recognized her own handwriting. She picked it up, waiting for her head to clear from its fatigue, before she read it.

No fabric for the gown there at the shop? That made the task a lot harder. How was she going to get more when she had no money?

Her eyes fell to the basket on the ground. It was empty, but there was a lingering smell of honey ham and nutty bread. Marina must have stopped by in the night. Isla-Dove realized that her stomach didn't pulse with hunger pain like it normally did.

She slipped out of bed, stretched, and then descended down the stairs to find Miss Capen leaning over her worktable. The seamstress glared at her when she looked up. "Why aren't you already gone? You have lots of deliveries today."

Isla-Dove saw the delivery basket by the door. It nearly overflowed with clothing. She could already feel the ache in her arms and back. She looked back at Miss Capen. "Will you be here at the shop today?"

"No, you dumb girl, I'll be measuring Princess Kerensa's lady-in-waiting. She is due for a new dress." Miss Capen sounded irritated as she looked back down at what she was doing.

Isla-Dove nodded before slipping back up the stairs. At least she would have the time to gather the fabrics. She scooped up Marina's basket before slipping her shoes on. Once back down on the main level, she placed the little basket on top of the big one.

"Where did you get that?" Miss Capen stood up straight, arms folded.

Isla-Dove already had an answer. "Somebody offered it for free yesterday. I figured it would be handy in case anybody wants to provide donations for you and the shop."

The seamstress eyed her with disdain before rolling her eyes and motioning for her to leave. "Very well."

The sun was hot against Isla-Dove's skin as she stepped outside the Door Of Doom. She shivered, releasing the cold that followed her out of the shop. She quickly scanned the paper on top of the basket with the names and locations of the clothing recipients. One of the purchasers was near the fabric shop that she needed to go to.

Isla-Dove made her way down the streets carefully, remaining wary as she noticed people staring at the basket. Out of all of her years working this job, she was surprised she hasn't lost the basket to a thief.

"How was the food, Isla-Dovey Love?"

She smiled when Marina sidled up next to her. "I can't remember eating it but my stomach is happier this morning."

"I'm glad!" Marina made a grabbing motion at the basket.

"Do you have work today?" Isla-Dove asked as she slowly handed it over. She wanted to put in more effort to accept help when it was offered. Who knew how beneficial it would be longterm for her body to have those breaks.

"No, it's the same as yesterday. Unless I'm summoned anywhere, I'm free."

"Well...I actually need to stop by the fabric shop."

"Why?"

"I...met a guy a few days ago and-"

"You met a guy?" Marina stopped dead in her tracks. Offended green eyes met Isla-Dove's. "You met a guy and didn't tell me?"

"It wasn't like that," Isla-Dove said.

"That's what they all say."

"Stop, that isn't even the important part," she insisted. "He helped me one night, recognized me later on, and we had a conversation. Anyway, I was talking with him, and when he left, I realized that the basket was missing. We have a few spares at the shop, but in that basket were a few dresses for commoners and...and the queen's gown."

Marina froze again. "Oh, no."

"Yes. So I'm trying to remake it before Miss Capen notices, otherwise..."

"Say no more, I'll get it all for you." She paused. "We should deliver these clothes first so we have room in the basket for the fabrics."

Isla-Dove hadn't even thought about that. She wanted to decline Marina's assistance in delivering, but she held back. They spent the morning and afternoon delivering clothes, slowly but surely making the basket lighter. By the time they made it to the fabric shop, it was about suppertime.

"Holy hellwater," Marina huffed, collapsing onto the steps outside of the shop. "How...on earth...do you walk all over the city...almost every single day?"

Isla-Dove laughed a little at her winded state. "I've had ten years of practice. Might have six more."

"Are you able to carry through with what the magician is requesting? I know you said you can't tell me what it is, but is it something that you can accomplish?"

"Uh...yes...it is."

"That's good. At least he's reasonable." Marina hugged the tall basket to her chest, resting her face against it. "I thought I was in shape, but now I'm questioning."

Isla-Dove sat beside her. She was in no rush. Thanks to Marina, the deliveries went by faster than usual. Isla-Dove's favorite part about deliveries was the excitement the recipients displayed when she knocked on their doors. Capen's Boutique was not cheap but it was worth the price. She would acknowledge that, even if the creator was very dislikable.

"How about I go and get the fabrics while you wait out here?" she asked, patting Marina's shoulder.

"Alright." Marina handed her a pouch of coins. The weight of it in Isla-Dove's palm was satisfying.

Inside the shop were rows and rows of fabrics displayed in all kinds of ways; rolled up, wrapped around wooden boards, crafted into unique shapes, and hanging like tapestries. The owner approached her with a smile. Her gray hair was bundled behind her head, held in place by black clips. Her wrinkled eyes smiled. "Hello, dear! Can I help you find what you're looking for?"

"No, thank you, I already kn..." Isla-Dove trailed off as a realization hit.

She didn't have the sketchbook.

The shop was a long walk away. She wouldn't make it to and from easily. She leaned against the doorframe as her head suddenly swam, gripping the wood.

"Is something wrong?" the woman asked.

"No, I...I'm okay." She would have to go based off of memory. It was risky but she trusted herself. Her memory had always been quite reliable, which was where the irony stitched into place when it came to recalling what happened at night. "Thank you."

The woman watched Isla-Dove as she made her way over to the shelves of fabrics. The more she observed the different options, the easier the image of the gown in the sketchbook came to her. She trusted her instincts, and soon after, found herself with a small mountain of fabrics in her arms.

Once purchased, she crossed the threshold to the shop. She couldn't see Marina beyond the fabrics but she heard her laugh.

"You make things too difficult for yourself." Isla-Dove tilted slightly as she felt fabrics being lifted from the top of the pile, her arms now being able to stay level with her stomach. Marina dumped them into the empty basket. Isla-Dove followed suit. "Alright, looks goo-"

"Marina Friad?"

Both girls quickly turned to find the source of the voice. A guard was walking briskly toward them, helmet bouncing slightly on his head.

"Yes?" Marina asked.

"You are being summoned to the palace. The prince's dog has collapsed."

She glanced down at the fabrics in the basket. "Okay, could you finish accompanying my friend with these back to her shop?"

"I'm sorry but I am to walk you to the palace."

"Walk me?" she scoffed. "For a dog?"

"Yes."

Marina glanced at Isla-Dove. The shop was not on the way to the palace. They couldn't drop the fabrics off, and Isla-Dove wouldn't be able to carry them that far on her own. "Do you mind coming to the palace with me?"

"Miss Capen is there to measure Princess Kerensa's lady-in-waiting," Isla-Dove said in a murmur that only Marina could hear. "She can't see me with these fabrics."

"Miss Friad."

"Okay, yes, be patient. Patience is a good thing to learn." Marina shot the guard a glare before leaning toward Isla-Dove. "Wait in the front courtyard for me. I'll be in and out. I suspect the dog ate something that she shouldn't have in the garden." The thought made Isla-Dove nervous, but she nodded. If anything, she could hide behind some bushes if she spotted Miss Capen at all. Marina smiled reassuringly before turning back to the guard. "Make yourself and those unnecessary muscles useful, then, and carry this basket?" She lifted and thrusted it into his arms before he could respond.

Marina had something against guards. Isla-Dove didn't know if there was a backstory to it, but at times, she acted as if they were a different, dumber species. Because of her status being well above theirs, none of them had given her a problem about it yet.

The guard quietly accepted the basket. He was much taller and bulkier than both girls. If he made them carry it, that would say a lot about him. It would to Marina, at least. Isla-Dove suspected that guards tried to stay on her good side because, if it came down to her treating them for injuries or illness, they worried she would let them suffer or die. Or both. Isla-Dove knew that beneath the attitude she gave them, Marina would not allow anybody to die without putting in all of her effort to save them.

It took over an hour just to make it to the hill that led up to the palace. Once again, Isla-Dove envied the rich folk who floated by on the canal in boats rather than taking the difficult ascent. Even if there was a staircase where the canal led, at least they would be trustworthy, flat steps instead of uneven terrain.

Isla-Dove wasn't used to having as much food as she did in her stomach. Between however much Marina provided the previous night, as well as the fish soup she had gotten her, she felt weighed down. Her steps were heavy and breaths labored. Her stomach didn't hurt with hunger pain, but it did stick out now from too much consumption.

Remember to eat less next time.

The guard was slightly ahead of Marina and Isla-Dove the entire walk up, despite having the basket. When they finally reached the palace gates and had given their names, Isla-Dove collapsed to the side of the courtyard, fanning her face with her hand. The guard set the basket down beside her before attempting to usher Marina to the palace doors.

"No! Stop it. I am not a child who needs an adult to guide me," Isla-Dove heard Marina say indignantly as she made her way across the cobblestone and into the palace. Her friend was no doubt nervous about facing Prince Romare again.

When she was out of sight, Isla-Dove leaned back slightly, her head brushing against one of the dark green bushes that decorated the large courtyard. There were rows of bushes, many decorated with different colored flowers. Between each row was a cobblestone pathway for folks to leisurely walk and enjoy the beauty of the yard without their clothes snagging on anything.

Isla-Dove only had a minute to relax before a guard standing nearby straightened his stance and bowed. "Your Majesties."

The king and queen were emerging from the palace. She leapt to her feet, quickly brushing off her dress and attempting to smooth her hair. She wiped at her face to try and remove any dirty smudges before they noticed her. She bowed. "Your Majesties."

"Hello!" Queen Serilda said, smiling. "How are you, my dear?"

"I'm good, thank you."

"How is my gown coming along from Miss Capen?"

Isla-Dove's heart nearly skipped a beat. A rush of heat spread to her cheeks. She glanced down at the fabrics in her basket and quickly croaked, "It's coming along great. Won't be long before it's complete."

She had completely forgotten that the queen could inquire about her gown. She deemed herself lucky that Queen Serilda asked her about it when Miss Capen was in the palace that very moment.

"Excellent." She beamed, running her fingers delicately through her dark hair.

"I can't wait to see it," King Altun said with a smile. His red hair complimented the gold crown on his head, especially as the sunlight hit it. "If you'll excuse us, my queen and I are off for a stroll."

"Oh, of course, I hope you enjoy yourselves." Isla-Dove bowed again as they walked away. Then she lowered herself back down to the ground, hugging her knees to her chest.

She really needed to get started on the gown.

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It's actually been quite a while since I've updated at least seven chapters of one of my books. 😂 Now that I've gotten this far, I'm in it to win it! I've been in a habit of publishing a new book, but then taking it down after 1-3 chapters, so I'm proud of myself right now haha!