I prefer to use the term "bridge" for this chapter, filler being such an ugly word...

So I'm getting mixed feedback on Prince Matthias *laughs evilly* I may have to make an opinion poll.

Mimi returned to her room, still human, still desperate for a good night's sleep despite being human. Somehow it no longer even mattered, at least not then. She tumbled into a chair, falling asleep in its comfort and slept hard through the remainder of the night. Yet she awoke early, eyes opening at the first rays of sun. There was no sign of the prior day's rain. Awaking early felt good, familiar. She stretched her wings, untangled herself from the dress, and hopped onto the ground.

"You're up early." Jacob stepped from his room, still buttoning the top of his shirt. "And you fell asleep in your dress?"

"Nothing happened last night," she replied. "At all. I was too tired after our fun last night."

"I'm flattered to hear I made some sort of priority. I, personally, now think of last night as a lot of fun."

She laughed. "That was fun, wasn't it? I finally saw how made your duke is."

"I'm going to make breakfast," he said. "Keep your ears or whatever geese have open. I want to know if we were noticed."

"You are so paranoid, Jacob. We were perfect."

"We were, weren't we?" He opened the door for Mimi. "For whatever we did."

"Found confession to a murder!"

"He was sleepwalking."

Breakfast preparation consisted of eggs. Lots and lots of eggs, brought in fresh by a smiling Abe. No one gave Mimi a second glance as she settled into a corner to watch. Perhaps it was the years of cooking for Lavender, but the breakfast process fascinated her. She enjoyed watching Jacob work, even listening to him shout orders at everyone, which seemed to be the case today as Abe took prime position—apparently eggs was something with which he was practicing. Jacob hovered around him, varying between kind instructions and encouragements to more cruel snaps and criticisms, all of which Abe took in stride. He was also Abe's assistant, using the same snapping manner to make everyone else, including Michael, to fetch whatever Abe needed for his egg experiment. The kitchen felt safe, calm, far from Eugen's murder, the Duke's madness, and even twittering thoughts of the Prince. And so she settled back, watching and listening, every so often shaking away thoughts of what she should remember for the next meal she prepared. Whenever that would be.

Servants came, grabbing breakfast, chatting, and leaving. Other servants whisked breakfast off to whom she only assumed was the Duke and the Prince. And finally washing and cleaning began as the rush that was the kitchen died down.

"How did the eggs turn out?" she asked Jacob when no one was listening.

"Better than I expected. The boy has the makings of a fine cook. Which is a lot more than I expected when I first took him on."

"That's sweet you're teaching him."

"Not really. He demanded it, and his father is this big guy who works with the horses and frankly, I'm afraid of him. Besides, I've taken on students before."

"Really?"

"I'm actually a highly requested teacher. Great way to make side money."

"But you live here. Why do you need so much money?" The moment she asked it she realized it was an odd question, but in her father's castle she had never really thought of the need for money. Gold was merely tokens paid to her father for magical favors.

"As you saw last night, my boss is a lunatic. The Duke, not Michael. So as you imagine I do not want to be here forever. So this is merely a way to make money that I might someday use to start my own inn."

"An inn? Like with travelers?" She had heard of such things, romantic and bawdy places of questionable reputation; they fascinated her.

"That's what they tend to be. I could cook for someone other than the Duke and the odd assortment of people you see around."

"You would cook for other odd people. I know. We had travelers all the time at home."

"At least there would be a regular change of faces."

"I'd like that," she mused. "It's how I grow up. I'd love to have people coming through all the time."

"So you support my plan, then?"

"Why not? It beats working here for the rest of your life. Though where did you become such a good cook?"

He was silent for a moment before replying "Lots and lots of training."

"Where?"

"A private home, actually. Smaller than this, very quiet. I spent my adolescence there. The lady of the house had exquisite taste, as you might say, so she had an array of the finest cooks you'll ever hope to see. Odd folk, but excellent cooks. Great place to learn." He picked up a pan that been drying, studied it, then hung it with the other pots. "What about you, Mimi? What are your plans if you ever become defeathered permanently?"

"If? Jacob, I don't like that word. Blake is going to figure this out."

"I thought Blake has been a squirrel for the past nine years or something. I mean, you can only be so long under a spell before you figure you have to adjust. Probably. Besides, that wasn't my question."

She froze. "I never really thought about it. I was slaving away for Lavender. I don't know. I never thought about the future. My father tried to teach me a few spells, but I don't have the talent, so I'm pretty much just left with those few spells. You saw one. Or heard one. Though better recognized as voice-throwing."

"Well, with any luck, you'll remain a goose forever. That's it. You can be in a show. Freak shows are always popular. The amazing Goose Girl who transforms into a human girl and back at obscure hours of the night."

"I'd let you cook me first. Which reminds me, I am currently incapable of preparing myself breakfast."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. I suppose it would be weird to feed a bird eggs. Can't you just go catch bugs in the yard like normal geese?" But instead of grabbing old bread, he grabbed a pan and a stool, threw a sliver of butter into it before oatmeal and spices. "You'll like this."

"Better than bugs?"

"Better than bugs."

"Are you still talking to that goose?"

Lucy stood in the doorway of the kitchen, staring at the two of them with real amusement and yet something else. Her eyes were worried.

"I think the entire manor is aware that I am now the lunatic who speaks to the goose," Jacob said, "so yes. I'm also making her breakfast. See?" He nodded at the pan.

She nodded. "Cute. Very cute. Don't worry, I don't think you're crazy."

"I'm beginning to think you're crazy for standing in the doorway."

She swallowed, and the smile vanished. "I… I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other night."

"Apology accepted."

"And I want to know why you brought up the name Eugen?"

Eugen. Mimi's heart suddenly ached for Blake.

Jacob did not speak for a moment, but concentrated on stirring the oatmeal. "It's a long story. Is there a reason you're so curious?"

Lucy sighed and leaned against the table. "I lied to you. I'm sorry again. I probably shouldn't say anything, but if it's just you and the goose… I had heard the name Eugen. I know exactly who Eugen is. Was." Her voice cracked.

Jacob continued to stir. "The heir to the dukedom before His Madness."

"You knew that? How? Did someone in town say…"

"It doesn't matter. I'm on your side. And what? You and your family worked for him? You and him…"

Lucy blushed hard. "That's not funny, Jacob. A gentleman would never make such a suggestion."

Indeed. Mimi wondered if he would bring up the kiss.

But there was no need. A few sniffs later and Lucy spilled everything. "I always thought him handsome. He knew my name. He always spoke so kindly to me. We would sneak into… here... for treats when we were little children. He and his brother. I'm sure it's nothing. But, Jacob, he came here that morning. Here. Just outside. I saw him. I mean, he'd come around before, and we sometimes spoke, but never so close. If you know who he is, then you certainly know the history of this manor. It wasn't safe for him! The Duke did it. I'm sure of it. He kissed me, Jacob. He kissed me, and the next thing I hear he's dead. Poor Abe. He found him." She pounded the table hard. "I came back here for him. This place is supposed to be his. I guess I thought I could help…"

"You might need some of this, too," was all Jacob said as he continued to whisk the oatmeal.

"I can't possibly take livestock food."

Mimi resented that. Perhaps Lucy needed a good bite.

"Tea, then?"

Lucy smiled. "You are so weird."

And that was how Mimi wound up having tea with her breakfast.

The following few days flew by with no more excitement, but settled into a steady pattern. The few times Mimi saw Lucy brought no more mention of Eugen. As for Blake, she thought she saw him sometimes, when she felt like sneaking out into the yard. He never seemed to see her. It might have been another, ordinary, squirrel, but Mimi did not think so. He would be perched in the top of the trees, staring at the manor. She could not imagine how he felt.

She continued to meet with the Prince. The clandestine meetings were short, but the highlight of her time. He was so smart, so sweet. He would tell her about books he had read, life at the royal palace. And he would kiss her. Oh, how he would kiss her! The kisses were things from stories, only real. And then she would leave, exchanging with him a wink and a laugh.

Yet the days were interesting as well. She no longer slept in, but awoke with Jacob. She became a fixture in the kitchen, a favorite of Abe's, and even Michael talked to her, thankfully less as a pet and more of a companion who would listen to him droan without the bother of reponding. She liked everyone in the kitchen. And when they were gone, she would talk with Jacob. Or play chess. It was becoming their game, and she soon became rather skilled at moving a piece with her bill. She missed Blake, but it did feel good to have another real friend in Jacob. Perhaps she simply liked someone with whom she could talk, but he was fun.

It seemed as if the entire manor was willing to let Eugen's murder slide into the past. Sometimes she and Jacob spoke of sneaking back up again to the Duke's quarters, but what would they for? And, after Lucy's confession and Blake's story still in mind, further searching did not seem right to Mimi. Not until Blake told her what he wanted.

The situation was unfair, that much was clear. Grotesquely unfair. And yet no one did a thing.