I know, I know I haven't updated in forever! My super apologies. I had a lot of trouble putting my ideas into words. This chapter was going to be longer but because of writing block I couldn't continue it very far. I decided to just post what I had instead of letting it sit and rot in my files.

Alek hadn't been kidding when he said his people were suffering. As they pulled into Prague Deryn noticed the storefronts and cafes were torn down or boarded up. Streets that used to house wealthy homes were no longer rich establishments but run down living quarters for multiple families. She noted several filthy looking people eying Alek's walker suspiciously. Mothers with too many hungry children and men who had spent their last paychecks on liquor stood at crumbling staircases and broken fences. A few took the time to throw an empty bottle in the path of the walker, but most of the passerby just glared angrily at them.

"This used to be a lovely neighborhood." Alek mumbled. "There was a park in the middle of the square where they used to hold a market every morning. That was back when each of these houses was owned by their original families. Now they've been abandoned or bought up by slum lords. Dozens of people will live in one room of a town house that used to house five or six in an entire building."

He didn't need to explain that living arrangements were horrible. Deryn could tell that these homes no longer had heat or proper sewer systems by the way the people looked. They were wearing far too many layers of dingy looking clothing and none of them appeared to have bathed in months. The majority were women and children. Most of the young men had been lost to the war. Seeing their sad faces made Deryn feel ill. The long journey had given her a sour stomach and miserable migraines. Now with this crumbling city she wouldn't receive any relief upon their arrival.

Neither of them spoke until Alek stopped the walker in front of a gigantic cathedral. It was nearly two hundred feet tall with a clock tower, buttresses and large stained glass windows.

"This is the Prague Castle." Alek explained.

"Blisters!" Deryn gaped.

"It was built in the ninth century and contains a monastery, gardens, nearly fifty bedrooms, three grand staircases and two ballrooms." He stated this information like a half asleep tour guide. Clearly the palace was not too appealing to him.

"Is this where you grew up?" Deryn asked.

He shook his head. "This is my Grand Uncle's Palace. I grew up in Konopiste which is a castle outside of the city. It's fairly ornate but not nearly as grand as this one." He almost looked disdainful at the Prague Castle. She couldn't blame him; living in a palace this large in the middle of a dying city was quite a feat.

They exited the walker and Deryn followed Alek to the doorway where there was a butler to greet them. The man bowed deeply and Alek nodded to him.

"Deryn, this is Matthias Brunhilde, he's one of the servants here."

Matthias said something in German and insisted on taking Deryn's jacket. A woman appeared once the door was opened and Alek instructed her to take Deryn to her room.

"I need to wash up and get ready for supper." Alek stated. "I suggest you do the same. I'm certain that Volger has scrounged up some important guests for us to dine with so make sure you dress decently." He gave her a mocking grin. "I do hope you aren't terribly opposed to wearing a dress."

Deryn frowned at him. "Since when do you care what I'm wearing?"

"I don't. I just wanted to warn you that the company I keep may judge you more than you are accustomed to."

Thankfully he didn't push the subject more and instead bid her farewell and left her in the care of the female servant. The woman was a plump older lady named Amalia who didn't talk much. She rushed Deryn to her bedroom in silence and left her there with some towels and a pitcher of fresh water.

The room was extravagant, as was most of the building yet with a careful eye one could tell that the details of the bedroom weren't as perfect as they could be. The enormous double bed was covered in a dusty silk coverlet. She noted that the edges were frayed and holes had formed along the creases. The windows of the room were cracked and the curtains were missing. At one time there had been a painting on the wall but it was now just a faded rectangle within the wallpaper. There was a very fancy dresser for her to store her clothes. It was probably several centuries old and she marveled at the carved bronze drawer handles. But even this lovely piece was worn on the edges with chipped paint. It matched the bedside tables and lamps with more bronze trim. It was all very expensively made furniture; it just seemed that they were unable to keep it up.

There was a knock on the door and Deryn saw Amalia's plump face peering in at her. She said something softly in German and showed her a gown she had been holding. Obviously the woman was here to help Deryn change.

"Ummm….that's alright." She motioned for the woman to leave. "I don't need it. I brought my own dress."

It was true; she had brought her own dress. Dr. Barlow had forced her to buy some 'proper attire' once Deryn started working for her. There were several times during her position at the Zoological Society that required her to look her best and that meant she had to look like a lady. It wasn't anything terribly outrageous. She had picked the style herself. It was merely a simple black gown with a cinched in waist and a scoop neck. There were some embroidered beads on the shoulder straps that made it sparkle a bit. Deryn was starting to appreciate the more modern dresses that were coming out of France. Women no longer had to wear long sleeves and constricting corsets. And with her more proportionate figure maybe Alek wouldn't treat her like a boy all the time.

By the time dinner rolled around there was a knock at her door. Expecting Amalia, Deryn was shocked to be greeted by none other than Count Volger.

"I daresay, you look much nicer than I would have expected." He smirked. It wasn't exactly a compliment but Deryn took it in stride.

"Thankyou, Volger. It's been a long time."

"It has." Out of nowhere he took her arm and began leading her down the hall. "I trust that you are doing well, Miss Sharp. I won't be the first to say that I am rather surprised that His Majesty has brought you to his home."

"As am I." Deryn replied, choosing her words carefully. "Yet I appreciate your attention. I didn't think you would be taking me to dinner."

"It is my pleasure, my dear, however," he pulled her toward the top of a grand staircase which they began to descend and continued in a hushed voice, "don't be fooled by my gestures, Miss Sharp, it is in every ounce of my being to see you away from here and out of Aleksander's presence."

As much as she would have loved to snap back at him, she couldn't utter a word. They had now descended to the bottom of the stairs where a cluster of people had gathered. Alek stood at the foot of the staircase dressed in an elegant military suit which was embellished with dozens of medals and tassels. His eyes flickered warningly to Volger before he snatched Deryn's arm away from the wildcount.

"I thought I made it clear that I would be retrieving Miss Sharp from her quarters." He said with dripping anger.

"Did you, sire? I'm afraid I don't recall you saying so. My apologies, I merely wanted to save you the hassle of conversing with commoners."

Alek didn't allow him to say anything else before pulling Deryn to the other side of the room.

"I see that Volger hasn't changed at all." Deryn commented. Alek nodded and handed her a flute of champagne that one of the servants had been carrying on a silver tray.

"Do me a favor and stay away from him." He whispered. Two women in frilly pink dresses approached him. They motioned to Deryn and said something in German that sounded like a question. Alek followed with a quick response and the two walked away while giving Deryn a couple of odd expressions.

"Nothing to worry yourself about." He mentioned as they left. "They were just wondering who you were."

Deryn frowned. "What did you tell them?"

"Only that you are an old friend of mine. Shall I escort you to the dining room?"