The next morning Zalean was awoken not by the sun, which was burning brightly in the sky, but by the sound of creaking floorboards. Opening her eyes she was surprised to find her blue stared into by brown. All sleepiness dissipated leaving Zalean wide-awake. Carefully she stood up putting the bed between them; the girl sensing her startled state backed away.

"I'm sorry, I was just looking. You seem familiar." The girl squinted her eyes trying to remember, her short red hair and golden complexion gave her the look of a fox.

"You must be mistaken, I've only just arrived." Zalean looked about the room and realized it had been cleaned. The clothes from the floor were washed and folded neatly, the furniture dusted, and the mud she had brought in last night nowhere to be found. "Did you- did you do all this?"

"Oh yeah. I'm Wynona." Wynona curtsied; all though the look on her face told Zalean it was all bull. "I part of Dorothea's "Extended Court", which simply means she pays, gives me a decent place to live and I thus clean up after her. It's an okay job, but just scarcely. "

"I guess I know what you mean. I feel okay living here, as long as I never find out what they do behind closed doors." Zalean glanced up at the girl- who couldn't be older than twenty one- searching her face for a sign that she had spoke too much.

Wynona simply chuckled a warm melodious chime, which in turn brightened her face. Bending down Wynona started stripping the bed with a bundle of clean sheets levitating in the air beside her. Zalean was overcome with self-consciousness, she had never been waited on before and she didn't want someone as friendly as Wynona to start.

"You don't have to do that, I can handle it."

"If you're worried about the thing between the mattresses," Subconsciously Zalean walked closer to the jewel's hiding place suddenly doubting the girl's intent, "don't. I never invade another's privacy out of respect for them and myself."

Relived Zalean grabbed a corner of a fresh sheet and helped tuck it in smoothly. Wynona awarded her with a smile and they worked together silently. A question prodded Zalean's mind but if she asked Wynona how could she be sure that she wouldn't report it to Dorothea. After the bed made Wynona made ready to leave, but the question became so heavily she blurted it out.

"Have you ever heard of a clear jewel?"

Wynona stopped her hand on the doorknob and turned with a quizzical look on her face. Scrunching her nose reveled a wrinkle in her forehead of thought, and then as if a bolt of lightening had hit her she jumped. "Ah ha, yes now I remember."

"You have heard about it, really!" The excitement swelled and she couldn't contain it.

"Oh course, it is the jewel that resides in the center of Web Landings. The jewel that all Colored Winds connect with, but I've only heard it used for that. In fact it's pretty useless."

Zalean's excitement vanished, "Oh okay."

Wynona frowned, "Wasn't the answer you were looking for huh? I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help kid." Smiling she curtsied again mockingly and headed out the door.

Sighing Zalean slide to the floor her back against the wall. After a while she stood up and downed a rouge gown and folded her nightly neatly to save Wynona some work. Just as she was inspecting herself in a mirror from her plaited brown hair to her thin, finely shaped legs there was a knock on the door.

On the other side stood Jolouque in a neatly tailored suit. The way his eyes lit upon her made her tremble, and the memory of last night filled her. Before she could say anything he hurried inside and closed the door behind him. In moments she was in his arms and her mouth entangled with his.

Anger rose in her and in panic her knee rose headed for his groin. Expecting such an act he easily evaded her and returned this time with his mouth at her ear.

"Don't think Dorothea's the only one interested in you. Be careful."

With that he stepped back and made a polite swooping bow, his attitude completely changed. Looking into his eyes and she was startled to see only blankness. What was he up to?

"Earn requests your presence I'll be leading you there." With that he looped her arm in his and guided her into the hall.

A/n: Lady11Occult I hope you like your character and I exuded a little to the jewels but there is still more to come. Review.