Disclaimer: This whole story is based in Tamora Pierce's world, with all characters belonging to her, with the exception of Bailey and Jophad.
Chapter One The Chest
Welcome, adventurers, to the twisted wasteland that is my mind. Alas, you must turn back now, or be forever trapped within these walls. Go on, get.
No? You're staying?
Well then. I suppose some company wouldn't be so bad to the places that I'm going. Where are we going? Don't ask me- I'm heading towards the edge of a forest, just off the road that leads to Corus, the capital city. May I never end up there. It would almost be as bad as going back home. Back to Father.
Ho, what's that? Something big has caught my eye. It's square and wooden and leaning against a tree, not twenty paces to my right. I walk over purposefully, savouring this feeling of direction, like, I'm finally going somewhere, and I know where it is. I don't care if it's only a few seconds away. My boots crunch over the muddy snow. It's a sunny day, though, and I keep my hood up to stop sunburn.
I stand over the box, hands on hips and a quizzical expression on face. It's a chest. An overturned chest. I bend down- but not too far down, for there is not a lot of me to bend- and set the chest the right way over. Snow slips off its curved lid. Something golden and round is attached to a latch on its front.
Ah. A lock. Something shiny is on the ground just near it.
Ah. A key. Disturbingly convenient. But why shouldn't my luck change, for once?
I hope it fits. I slot it in. The lock clicks and springs open. I slowly lift the lid. It MUST be treasure. C'mon treasure.
Woe, 'tis not treasure. 'Tis cloth. Cloth? Cloth! How infuriating. Is this some sort of sign from the gods that I must become a dressmaker? I could just imagine it.
BAILEY, Mithros would say, THIS IS A SIGN FROM US GODS THAT YOU MUST BECOME A DRESSMAKER.
To the Death Realms with that idea.
I pinch the red material that sits on the top, and hold it up for my inspection- then almost drop it in surprise. This ain't no ordinary cloth- it's a dress. A beautiful, no, magnificent dress. I've never seen anything like it. And I see more of them in the chest.
BAILEY, WE'VE CHANGED OUR MINDS: WE WANT YOU TO SELL THESE AND BECOME RICH AND PROSPEROUS INSTEAD.
I start laughing. What a thrill! From now on, my life is going to be different. Yes, very different indeed! I place the red dress down with all the life-changing respect that it deserves, and admire the other two; a blue and a green. They have perfect stitching and wondrous patterns. They feel smooth and welcoming. Gods, they even smell good! Like morning fresh grass.
Now I'm twirling around, doing my little dance with the green dress in my arms.
"Oh, what beautiful world it is! I love this place!"
I spin and leap and cheer. Eventually I tire myself out: it's the safest way to go when I get excited. Perhaps there are even more things in the chest. I plomp down with the chest between my knees and sift through the material. Tucked in a corner is a little compartment. I open it up. I squeal. Jewellery! A fortune of the stuff. I gather a pile of it up in my hands and kiss it.
This is almost unfair. It's too easy. Stuff like this isn't suppose to happen to farm girls like me. I mean, I'm going to be rich, live in a mansion! Even have my own servants, and cooks, and I'd never have to feed the chooks or milk the cows again.
Suddenly I'm scared. What if I'm robbed? Beaten? Killed? I look down at my new life. There are people who would do anything to get their hands on this. I sigh and put the jewellery back. I lie down in the snow and chew my lip. I'm getting wet. What to do?
It's not long before I'm sitting up again, running the blue dress against my fingers. It's calling to me. Put me on, it's saying. Wear me.
Alright.
I stand and take the dress behind a particularly large tree. I shed my dull, muddy peasant clothes and begin to put on the blue dress. It's a little more difficult than I expected. I put my head up through the middle, but there are too many skirts and tidbits that I keep entangling myself in. Finally I give up and just step into in, slowly drawing the tight bodice over my waist. I'm holding my breath, and release it when I successfully get my arms through the sleeves without ripping anything. Phew. What I'd do for a mirror right now. I comb my fingers though my rough, long brown hair that's almost the same shade as my hazel eyes. I'd be quite a sight. A messy person in a dress like this! I sway my body from side to side, admiring the way my dress flows. My dress. I hold my skirts up from the reach of the snow and go back to my chest. I crouch before it, looking for a necklace.
Whinny.
What was that! That sounded like a horse. I look at the road. A few hundred meters away I spot the shape of a horse and cart, heading west, towards Corus, towards me.
I look back at the chest. This cart is an opportunity that may not come up again. Not in this season. I fetch my peasant dress and stuff it in- for once I've sold the dresses and jewellery, I am going to have to have something to wear, but only for a very short time, of course, before I get more suitable clothes for someone who is rich and prosperous. I lock the chest and slip the key in the front of my dress. It should be fairly safe there, I hope. I grab a handle on one side of the chest and drag it behind me as I make for the road, using my spare hand to hold my skirts up.
This thing is quite heavy, I soon realise. The cart is about to drive past, and I haven't even made it to the road. Much to my relief, the horse slows and stops. A young man hops down from the front seat and jogs to me.
I let the chest drop and shake my sore arm. It's time for a bit of acting. I mightn't be groomed like a noble, but at least I'm dressed like one.
The man stops before me and exercises an awkward bow. This feels so strange. He has short, windswept brown hair, a bit darker than mine.
"My lady," he says, "how may I be of assistance?"
"I'm heading to Corus," I say, sticking my chin out. I probably look like an idiot. "My carriage was attacked by bandits, and I only just managed to escape with my luggage. Would you be so good as to take me to the city?"
"Of course! It's just where I was heading. Please, allow me to help you with that-" he steps past me and grabs one handle of the chest. Instinctively, I pick up the other handle to help. He gives me a strange look and I drop it instantly.
Idiot. I meant to be a posh rich lady. I turn on my heel and flick my hair back over my shoulder. I await the young man at the side of the cart whilst he struggles the chest onto the back of his cart. He springs into the driver's seat and leans down to help me up. Once seated, I smooth out my skirts. I'm the biggest fake ever to walk this earth.
The man flicks the reins. "Get up!"
The city. Wow. What can I say? It's big. There a so many houses! So many people! I didn't know there were so many of us. Gods almighty. I just got a glimpse of the castle. It's huge. Since when could man make such things?
"The castle is stunning, isn't it?" I breathe to Jophad, the driver. Along the way here we talked. He's quite nice.
"The castle?" He says, cocking an eyebrow. "My lady is mistaken. That's just one of the mansions."
Just one of the mansions?
He rounds a corner into a less crowded street. He points straight ahead. "That is the castle."
My breath catches and I grip my skirts. "Oh," I say calmly. And I thought that mansion had been big! The castle is about ten times the size. Bigger! It's so glorious, and so...scary. Oppressive, striking and frightening, all rolled up into one gargantuan structure. And why are we driving towards it?
It hadn't taken me long to realise I shouldn't ask questions. I'm supposed to know all this stuff. We had already driven through what I assumed to be the market. It had left me wide-eyed. That's where I 'wanted' to go, too. I sigh.
Jophad mistakes me. "I envy you," he says. "I wish I was staying there."
Staying there? At the mar- oh, he must be talking about the castle.
The castle!
"I'm staying at the castle?" I ask without thinking.
He laughs. He sees me frowning and turns the laughs into coughs. "Meaning no disrespect, my lady," he says finally, "but where else?"
"Oh. Oh, my...mansion of course," I say, waving a hand at the estates. "But I suppose the castle will be adequate."
He turns his head, but I still see the grin spreading across his face.
Ungrateful swine. I should- oh gods. Did I just think what I think I thought? Half-hearted or no, I hope I won't let this role get to me. It's just...I've never felt like this before. It's strange. Yes, a very peculiar feeling indeed. What do you call it? I'm respected? Is that it?
Nevertheless, it's time to bring myself back down to earth. I'm here to sell these dresses, become rich and prosperous, and...leave? I shake my head. I am a fool.
"Hey Jophad," I say, tapping his arm.
He turns, expression blank. "Yes, my lady?"
I hold out my hand. He frowns at it. I grin and pick up his hand, and shake it. "Thank you for your assistance. I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't come along."
He looks surprised. "My lady, I did only what any other soul would have done. It has been a pleasure."
I smile crookedly and hand him a golden ring that I had taken from the chest hours ago.
He stares at it, then at me. "My lady. I- do you know what this is worth?"
"Of course I do," I lie, biting back apprehension. How much had I just giving him? "You deserve it."
He shakes his head, but not in disagreement. More at the foolishness of nobles. He sends his horse into a trot, driving us straight towards the castle gates. I start to sink in my seat the closer we get.
Just before the gates I say, "Stop!"
Jophad pulls back on the reins and we come to a halt.
"Th-thank you, Jophad. I shall walk from here."
"But, my lady..."
"But nothing, Jophad," I say. "I want to get out here."
"What of your chest?"
Indeed. What of my chest? I suppose I could ask Jophad to mind it while I look for somewhere to sell the dresses. But...what if he takes it?
Jophad wouldn't take it!
How long have I known him for, though?
Jophad is a good man. He wouldn't touch it. Especially since I gave him the golden ring. He's loyal.
The argumentative part of my mind subsides.
"Alright, Jophad. Is there somewhere you could wait while I have a look around the city? I am eager to explore. Because as you've already guessed, I have not been here before."
"I could wait right here, if it pleases my lady."
"Excellent! I'll be back before dark."
He looks at me, frowning. He seems troubled.
I almost laugh. "What is it?"
He blinks. "What? Oh...nothing. Except- I would not wish to damper my lady's day- but...there a thieves and...ruffians lurking about the streets. Not to mention you'd catch your death of cold."
I tilt my head to one side. That's about the nicest thing anyone has said to me. He's worried. That's so sweet.
"If it makes you feel better then, my friend, perhaps you might take me to a dressmaker's shop?" The idea came to me as I spoke. Surely they would buy dresses at one of those. I could just tell Jophad I have other dresses for me at the palace.
"I know just the place," he says. "She's the best dressmaker in the city. Used to work for the Protector of the Small."
"Really?" I say, impressed.
He sends the horse forward. "Yes, my lady. I don't suppose you've ever heard the tale of Balor's Needle?"
"I don't believe I have."
Jophad goes on to tell me how Lady Keladry saved her maid from the tower instead of attending the tests. I listen, enthralled. Jophad is quite the storyteller.
We reach the bustling shop. I step in. Jophad waits outside. REAL noble ladies are in here- all standing in small groups and chatting. A doorway leads to a back room where I see some women sewing. Another woman is serving at the counter, but she is occupied. I step over to a shelf with folded material and run my fingers across the finery.
"Excuse me, I don't believe we've met."
The voice is directed at me. I turn to find a pretty, black-haired lady in a peach dress smiling at me.
"Oh," I say ingeniously, before I can get my bearings. "I am Bailey of Southsea," I tell her, using the same title I had told Jophad. "And you must be..."
"Moselle of Mountainpass," she offers, battering her painted eyelids.
I hold out my hand to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
She doesn't move, just looks down her nose at my pro-offered hand. "What do you want me to do," she asks, "kiss it?"
A group of ladies behind her burst into merry laughter. They all sound exactly like one another. Suddenly I get the feeling this wasn't meant to be a friendly encounter.
I ignore the group and fix my eyes on Moselle. I smile sweetly at her. "Oh, I'm sorry. You must not know of Southsea traditions. Here..." I take her hand, "let me show you." I shake it. And I mean shake it. Her whole arm flops and she almost loses her posture. Almost.
I drop her arm. She stares back at me, unfazed. "And I suppose rotten hair is a tradition of Southsea, too, then."
Moselle's little fan club laughs.
I glare at Moselle. That little wench just insulted my Southsea. Nobody, and I mean nobody insults my home, even if it is just an imaginary place. And besides, s'not my fault I haven't had the opportunity to wash my hair. Some people just don't have all the luxuries of a stuck up, wicked, evil little- uh oh, better reply.
"And I suppose rotten manners is a tradition of Mountainpass," I say.
She laughs gleefully. "Is that the best you can come up with, little girl? Or perhaps you'll need until tonight's Midwinter Ball before you can make up a more worthy reply."
I admit: it had been a pretty bad reply. What's wrong with me? I should be able to do better than that! "I look forward to seeing you," I say. "It won't be very hard finding you- all I have to look out for is the girl with the 'bed me' sign stuck on her chest."
Her jaw drops, and I don't wait around for a comeback. I turn on my heel, snapping my head around so that my 'rotten' hair slaps her in the face. That'll show her. I half expect Moselle to come up and rip the hair from my scalp, but only silence follows me out the door. I jump onto Jophad's cart, radiating my excitement. I just had a bitch fight with a noble!
What? I warned you at the start I had a twisted mind. You'd be amazed.
"Where to now, my lady?" Jophad asks.
"To the castle, faithful driver," I say rather dramatically. "Onwards!"
He grins from ear-to-ear and cracks his whip. "Forward, mighty steed," he cries.
The horse doesn't exactly rise to the occasion. He snorts and pulls us away.
Once the castle comes into view, I sober. So. It has begun. Not entirely of my own choice, I have started a masquerade second only to that of Alanna the Lioness'. I will live in the castle and pretend to be a noble. If I don't turn up, then Moselle will think I backed down. I am way too proud to let something like that happen. But not only that, I'm not one to turn down trouble. Oh, what would the nobles think if they found out that Bailey of Southsea was just Bailey-nobody from a farm.
But they aren't going to find out, are they?
And what's life without risks? Mother had always told me I needed a hobby.
I smile grimly. Well, when I found that chest, I was right about one thing: my life is going to be very different. Yes, very different indeed.
Warning: Hello readers- if you like this fic, and want more, review. Sorry, I don't mean that to sound bad. Ha, this isn't a threat or anything, it's just I don't know about continuing with this. I'll most definitely get a chapter two up, but after that…there's just other fics I'm itching to start, and I don't know if this one's worth it. I know the ending to it. It could be good, so if you're interested let me know! Thanks :)
