The ball in honour of the five ladies was in top form and Flick had had enough. Her two close friends, Lady Rilla of Imlay and Lady Tienne of Rosslin had long been engaged in dance and Flick was bored. Unlike her two friends, who had jumped at the chance to dance with the 'handsome lads,' Flick spent her time, dodging the men, refusing to let any of them catch her eye and ask her to partner them. She couldn't take much more of this though. She had to really escape.
Moving slowly so to attract little attention, she fled the room, unaware that a single green-eyed figure was watching her every move.
This is more like it, Flick thought contentedly, as she wandered the deserted corridors of the kingdom. The surrounding walls were covered with paintings of past royals and intrigued, Flick drew closer to the portraits of the present rulers, Jonathan of Conte and his wife, Thayet. Flick sighed. There was no doubt about it, they were the most handsome couple she had ever seen. It's not fair, I don't want to be standing here staring at paintings of you, I want to be serving you.
Flick turned away abruptly as a disturbance around the corner reached her ears. Curious, she followed the sound. Rounding the corner, her eyes widened as she took in the scene that lay before her.
A young girl of about 11, with messy dirty-blonde hair was crouched, her hands held protectively about her skinny frame as a tall, foreboding figure stood over her, flaying her. Flick's senses came to her in a flash, and fury overtook her. She strode forward determinedly.
"What do you think you are doing? Stop that at once." The person turned, a whip hanging from her hand. It was a lady, a terrifying figure of a lady. Dark greasy hair hung before brown, beady eyes which were narrowed to dagger points.
"Get out of here,"she scowled, "I'm in the middle of teaching this brat a lesson."
"How dare you whip a child. Leave her this instance." Flick was trembling with fury, never had she believed such cruelty was possible. And she knew cruelty. She had lived with her aunt Lady Marianne long enough. The lady grinned maliciously.
"One problem, the brat belongs to me, I can do whatever I want."
In a split second, Flick knew what she had to do. Retrieving her purse, she stepped towards the lady. "Not anymore. I'll buy her."
"You?" the lady sneered, looking down her nose at Flick's clothing. "A Lady? What do you need a commoner child for?"
Flick had no idea.
"She can assist me with my clothes and duties. Here," Flick offered the lady a small amount of money, "this will cover her." The lady snatched the money, counting it greedily.
"Fine, take her, but you'll need this, " she jeered, offering Flick the whip in return, "if you want to keep her in line." Flick flinched in disdain.
"Never," she gasped, "I will never whip anyone."
"Fine," the lady pocketed the whip, "good luck, milady." With that, she hurried away down the corridor.
Flick turned to see the girl, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, huddling in the corner. "Come here," Flick said gently, extending her hand. The girl cowered, eyes wide with fear.
"It's all right, I promise I won't hurt you and I certainly shall never whip you." The girl took a few tentative steps forward until she stood before Flick. Flick crouched down to her level.
"What's your name?" The girl stared at her, remaining silent. "Okay, we'll start with mine then. I'm Felicea of Emeryia, but my friends call me Flick." She deliberately left out her title, no need to scare the girl any more than she already was.
"I...I'm Loisei, I have no friends," the girl announced in a timid voice.
"Loisei," Flick said brightly, "that's a lovely name." Loisei glowed. "And as to friends, you've got one now."
"You, lady?" Flick nodded, whilst glancing over Loisei's thin frame. Her neck and face were lined with heavy bruises and her clothing was a shift dress that looked like it had never been washed. "Now, how about we get you out of those clothes, into a bath and then into a bed? What do you say to that?" Loisei nodded vigourously. Thankfully, Flick's rooms were just down the corridor and she guided her young charge there.
Suddenly she remembered the ball. She realised she would have to return now before Rilla and Tienne noticed she was gone. "Loisei, I have to leave you for a little while, there's a bath set up in my room, use it. You'll find some clothes laid out on the bed, they'll be too big but will do for now. I'll be back soon I promise."