Searing pain rudely woke Raven the next morning. Her back felt as if it were on fire! Stupid lashes! She let out a moan when she struggled to sit up. Apparently the moan was loud because her bedroom door hit the wall with a thud when opened.
"Are you alright?" Came Sigrid's concerned voice from the doorway. Bard's oldest daughter crossed the room to sit beside her on the bed.
Raven assured, "I'm fine. My back is just very sore. Apparently the paste does not last longer than twenty four hours."
"What paste?" Sigrid asked, her curiosity taking hold.
"Some woman lathered white paste onto my lashes yesterday while your father was dealing with the big oaf of a leader who had been chasing me through the city with his men."
"What did the woman look like?" Sigrid asked.
Raven gave a quick description. "If I remember correctly, your father had said she had called a guy by the name of Alfred a weasel."
Sigrid's brown eyes lit up. "Yes!"
"Yes what?" Raven asked, confused as to why Bard's oldest daughter had grown excited.
"I mean yes as in 'yes I know who you're talking about.'"
"Okay. And…..?"
"And I know where to get a paste that will last longer than twenty four hours with stronger effects. I'll be right back."
"Sigrid." Raven called before the young woman could make it out the door.
Sigrid turned. "Yes?"
"Maybe we should have breakfast first?" Raven suggested.
"But your back-,"
"Will be fine for the time being." Raven added, "I can already smell the oatmeal cooking."
Sigrid nodded. "Alright."
00000000
Mid-morning rolled around while Raven ever so gently slipped her halter top on; falling down past her waist to end just above her knees. The top reminded Raven more of a dress, but Sigrid said it was all she could find that would allow her back to breathe freely without causing any irritation. Plus the halter top had a ruby red gem attached to the garment and when Raven finally turned to look at herself in the mirror, she saw that the gem was set to rest center of her chest.
"How's your back?" Bard asked when Raven walked down the small hallway and into the makeshift kitchen.
"Sore," admitted Raven. "I'll be fine though."
"I got more of the salve from Hilda. She said for you to have the salve applied to your lashes twice a day." Bard pulled out the jar with the familiar white paste Raven recognized yesterday evening from when Hilda had applied it to her lashes while Bard dealt with the big oaf of the leader and his goons. Raven reached out to take the jar from Bard. "Thank you."
Bard gave a nod. "Breakfast is ready. After we eat, I'll take you around the city to show you around the city."
Breakfast consisted of oatmeal, fruit, bread, sweet milk and cold chicken. Raven ate her fill then decided to write the letter for either king before accompanying Bard on his tour of the city. Raven supposed she ought to know the kingdom she'd be staying in.
Sitting before the desk in her room, Raven took out two pieces of parchment, a quill and some ink. Dipping the quill pen into the bottle of black liquid, Raven began scratching at the brown paper. A smile pulled at her mouth when she saw the words that fell from her quill, and broadened the more and more she became pleased with her words.
Setting her quill aside, Raven silently scanned over the words of the finished letters to make sure the two kings would be pleased with how she addressed them and informed them of the new change being set in motion.