Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Game.

The Flower Maiden

Chapter Five: New Talents

"You have natural talent as an actress." Arcadia clapped for Ishtar.

Ishtar grinned. "Thanks! I always wanted to tread the boards."

"Great, now you are going to be even more over dramatic than usual." Duzell grumbled.

"This is good practice." Arcadia told Duzell. "She can rely on her acting skills to make her seem believable to anyone suspicious of her identity."

Duzell waved the often heard explanation away. "Yes, yes, I've heard you say that before. It has to become second nature to her."

Duzell uncurled himself from the chair and walked out the door without another word. Ishtar and Arcadia watched him go with varying emotions. Ishtar just brushed it off with a wave of her hand but Arcadia watched him go with a frown.

"Your guard always seems to be a bit tightly wound." Arcadia remarked to Ishtar.

Ishtar laughed at the remark. "Yes, that's Duzie. Don't worry, he'll get over it."

The easiest way to explain Duzie's presence to Arcadia was for Vord to tell his old friend that Duzell was Ishtar's devoted bodyguard and friend. It was true enough in its own way.

"So what are we doing today?" Ishtar looked expectantly at Arcadia.

Arcadia smiled at the young girl's fervor. "Well you're well on your way to catching the acting bug, aren't you? I thought I would teach you about method acting."

Ishtar took a seat near the older woman. "Sounds interesting."

"Oh it is." Arcadia assured her. "Method acting is one of the greatest weapons in an actress' arsenal. You study the character and build up her personality in your mind. You have to become that character."

Ishtar frowned. "That sounds hard."

"It is." Arcadia nodded. "But it's well worth it in the end." She continued at Ishtar's questioning look. "A good method actress can fall into the role you are playing. In essence, you are that person."

Ishtar clapped her hands together excitedly. "That sounds like fun!"

"Would you like to try it?" Arcadia smiled at her.

Ishtar was enthusiastic. "Sure!"

"Then your homework tonight will be to invent a character." Arcadia said. "Place of birth, favorite food, personality traits and that sort of thing. I want you to come down to breakfast tomorrow as that person. Hold character as long as you can. The first break in character signifies the end of your acting."

Ishtar stood up. "I'm going to start right now. This will be so much fun."

Ishtar rushed upstairs with a bemused Arcadia staring after her. Arcadia set down her teacup after a muffled cough caught her attention. She looked up to see that it was Duzell.

"Nice one." He remarked to her as he sat in the chair Ishtar had vacated. "You made it seem like a game to her."

"It is now," Arcadia agreed. "But when you two leave, she can rely on it to save herself from getting into real trouble. I'm also going to introduce you to a friend of mine tomorrow."

"Hmm... Who is this friend?" Duzell asked coolly.

Arcadia picked up her teacup, sipped, then set it back down. "Her name is Darzia. She'll be teaching Ishtar some of the finer points of being a lady's maid."

Duzell fought a smile as he relished the thought of sweet revenge. "Oh this will be fun."

"WHAT?" Came the outraged shout.

Darzia, a naturally timid girl, cowered at the explosion. Duzell just stared at Ishtar who had shouted a loud protest to Arcadia's directions. Arcadia just shook her head in disappointment at the princess.

"Is she always this spoiled?" She said to Duzell.

Duzell nodded. "Most of the time."

"I'm right here!" Ishtar stamped her foot. "Don't talk about me like I'm invisible."

Duzell snapped at her. "Don't act like a child."

That brought the princess up short. "But... I don't want to." She whined at last.

"Life is full of things no one wants to do." Arcadia said sternly. "This is a skill to help you, if you need it. Are you serious about wanting to be free? If not, this is an excellent time to go back home."

Reluctantly, Ishtar took the threaded needle and cloth from Darzia. Darzia began to teach and Ishtar listened with a sullen expression. Duzell and Arcadia watched as Ishtar stabbed the cloth with the needle then howled when she pricked a finger. She stuck the throbbing finger into her mouth then listened earnestly to Darzia's teaching.

"At least she's trying to learn now." Duzell whispered to Arcadia.

She nodded in agreement. "Even if its only to save herself some pain."

To Ishtar's amazement, she actually learned to like sewing. Of course she wasn't any good at it in the beginning. Her stitches were large and irregular but became small and neat as she kept working at it. But with cloth provided to her by Arcadia and further instructions from Darzia, she learned to hem, darn, knit and crochet. Ishtar also learned all the other things a good lady's maid would need to know to keep her mistress' belongings in excellent shape. Within the month Ishtar began turning out clothes of an average quality that passed Darzia's sharp eyed inspection.

"Very good, miss." She praised Ishtar. "Keep working at it and you'll get even better."

"Thank you, Darzia." Ishtar said. "Without you, I couldn't have come this far."

Darzia blushed. "Thank you. I think my job here is done, Arcadia."

"You've done a wonderful job, my friend." Arcadia smiled at her. "You're results are always incredible."

"I need to get back to my shop." The rosy cheeked tailor curtsied to Ishtar then hugged Arcadia before exiting.

"What now?" Duzell entered the room. "I just saw Darzia leaving."

"Our time is coming close to it's end, my dears." Arcadia told her guests. "I would love to continue hiding you but it wouldn't be safe for you. The guards have exhausted all the possibilities from abroad and are coming back for another search of the local area."

"Darres." Ishtar breathed with a look of longing mixed with despair.

Arcadia sat next to Ishtar and patted her hand. "The good news is that my oathsister will be here in less than a week. When she arrives I will take the two of you to meet her. If you meet with her approval, you may travel with her."

"Oathsister, travel?" Ishtar straightened with sparkling eyes. "Do you mean...?"

Arcadia grinned. "The Rom might shelter you, yes."

"Ishtar? Gypsies?" Duzell grew light headed at the thought.

Ishtar was enough trouble for two by herself but add in a tribe of wandering gypsies? Duzell had the sinking feeling that whatever trouble they had found themselves in so far was only the tip of the iceberg after Ishtar teamed up with a group of people who believed that laws were meant to be broken.