Someone lightly cleared their throat, startling Arie. She whirled around to see a young woman who could have only been a few years older than herself. This woman was dressed in a simple cotton dress that was a light and faded blue. However Arie was more concerned about what she saw hidden on the girl's face. Even with the long curtain of ebony black hair covering most of her face, Arie could still see four parallel scratch marks etched onto her left cheek.
"I'm here to take you to your room, my lady."
Arie snorted to herself and then rubbed the back of her head when she realized this woman would stand on proper manners whether Arie told her she was no lady or not. So she sighed and bit back to the comment. Instead she allowed herself to be lead away. Nadia maneuvered maze of hallways and stairs with practiced ease that made Arie think she had lived and worked in the castle for most of her life. Finally they came to a stop outside a large door. Inside there were two beds, a small cot next to the fireplace, a wash stand, and another door that lead off to the bathing room. Nadia went to the bed that was farther away and pulled an old trunk out from under it.
"My Lord has requested that you join him and the others for dinner tonight. It was made clear to him that you may not have anything to wear so he gave leave to borrow one of his daughter's old dresses. We will be having dinner shortly so you might want to bathe now."
Arie's heart skipped a beat as she watched Nadia pull out several dresses.
"I think I'll eat with the King's Own."
"That won't be possible tonight. I'm under the impression that you are to be treated as a guest not a soldier."
"I can't."
Nadia gave her an incredulous look.
"Of course you can."
Blush colored Arie's cheeks. How on earth did she tell this woman that she had never worn a dress, she wondered, much less that these were her mother's things. Nadia watched her expression until a look of understanding passed over her face as she noted Arie's clothes were more for men.
"Have you never worn a dress?"
Arie hung her head in shame. It was one of the few things that her mother hadn't insisted on. In fact her mother seemed convinced it was safer for Arie if people believed her to be a boy. In hind sight she could see that her mother was right to hide as a man even with the protection that Twitchy had come to provide later.
"I can help you. That's why I'm here. Most ladies do need help with the ties so there is nothing to worried about."
Arie nodded mutely, there was no need to say anything about her mother, she thought to herself.
"First things first though, you should probably take a bath." Nadia paused and asked tentatively, "Would you like some assistance?"
Arie blushed scarlet and shook her head no.
Nadia nodded, "Alright, well the tub has been filled and there is soap in the dish. I will be here in case you need anything."
Again Arie nodded and moved into the bathroom.
True to her word, the tub was filled with steaming water and a scented soap sat in the little dish beside the tub. Quickly, Arie stripped out of her dirty clothes. Underneath her skin was a patchwork of bruises and scrapes covered in caked on dirt, sweat, and some blood. Carefully she eased into the water. It felt like heaven to her sore and aching muscles. She hadn't even realized how much she hurt from sleeping in the saddle. After she was relaxed she grabbed the soap and began scrubbing the week's worth of grime off her tanned skin. She was just finishing running a comb through her now cleaned hair when there was a knock on the door.
"Arie? You in there?" It was Kel.
"Yes, I'm almost done."
"No worries, I had a bath in one of the other guest rooms."
Arie grabbed her towel, dried herself off quickly, and then tied it around herself before entering the room again. Kel was standing over by the foot of her bed already in her dress. Nadia was behind her finishing tightening and tying off the sash that wrapped around the lady knight's waist.
"What do you think?" Kel asked.
Arie had to admit the other woman looked beautiful in silver with a white sash wrapping around her waist. She noted the skirt wasn't one of those massive ones that make it almost impossible for a lady to sit without briefly flashing her under garments.
"Very pretty."
Nadia nodded and then seemed to notice Arie's hair. She made a brief O face then went to the trunk and sorted through it. Finally she came back carrying a slim dress that had Arie startled. It was eerily the same color as the ends of her hair. Nadia held it up to Arie and beamed.
"Looks like it would be a perfect fit and it will match the color of your hair." Then realizing she might have over stepped her bounds she lowered her head. "If you like the color."
Arie fingered her hair; she had forgotten that she had taken it down, and nodded.
"That looks lovely."
Nadia quickly scurried about, helping get the dress on and shifting it so it would lay properly. The whole process took a few minutes longer than it should have because Arie fidgeted while Nadia worked. Then Arie plain out squirmed as face paint and other products ladies used were applied to her face. It made her incredibly uncomfortable to have someone putting brushes and other implements so close to her eyes. By the time they finished Nadia was laughing herself silly and Kel had to step out of the room. Arie suspected the knight was laughing at her too.
The maid was disappointed when Arie asked her to tie her hair up so the blue green color wouldn't show, but Arie insisted and asked that Nadia not mention it to anyone. The girl agreed easily and started twisting up her hair and pinning it up into a decorative bun.
"What happened to your cheek, Nadia?"
The other woman's hands froze briefly on Arie's hair, then she tried to continue as if nothing had happened.
"I play with some of the cats here in the castle. One of them scratched me when it got scared by a dog."
The griffon feather that was still tied into Arie's hair warmed against her skin. Lie. That much Arie knew herself. It was true enough that Nadia had numerous scratches down her hands and arms that were from cats. But, Arie reflected, most cats don't leave four separate trenches in skin that are that far apart from each other unless the cat was very large. No, Arie thought, those were made by a person.
"Awfully big cat."
Nadia pretended to be engrossed in finishing up Arie's hair. Arie sighed, she wouldn't force the girl to give up her attacker, but maybe she could prevent another attack and help heal what was already done.
"Will you at least allow me to heal them?"
Nadia paused what she was doing.
"I'm a mage," Arie explained. "And it's the least I can do for you after you've been so patient with me."
Nadia's lips twitched up, but didn't quite make a full smile. "Sure." Nadia finished pinning up Arie's hair.
Arie had the maid sit down on the edge of the bed before she reached into the well of power inside herself. Drawing out the blue green power of her Gift, Arie laid a hand over the torn skin of Nadia's cheek. Slowly the skin twitched and knitted itself back together. When Arie pulled her hand back the deep slices were gone, now only pale scars were in their place. Maybe in a year or two even those would completely fade, Arie hoped. Nadia touched her cheek in surprise then ran to look in the mirror. Arie heard the small gasp come from the bathroom. When she came back out she said,
"Thank you."
Arie shrugged and went to her bag. She found the tangle of charms right where she had left them. Nadia watched as Arie slowly began extracting one of the rose charms from the mass of string and metal.
"These are beautiful. You made them?"
Arie nodded and muttered a curse as she came to a particularly nasty knot. "I had a little bit of help." She swore under her breath until finally the little necklace came free from the rest. "This charm will protect you from those who intend you harm or evil. It has a particularly nasty side effect on men who do not understand the word no."
Nadia opened her mouth to protest, but Arie didn't let her.
"It won't hurt a cat who is defending itself or telling you to leaving it alone. It stops evil and harm not well deserved punishment or accidental play fighting. So any cats that scratch you will be safe unless they mean to eat you."
Nadia smiled a true smile this.
"However it does not stop a death strike."
Nadia stared wide eyed at the little flower.
"Please hold out your hand."
The other girl didn't even hesitate, good, Arie thought. Then as she had done previously, Arie laid the charm in the woman's hand and passed a bit of her Gift into it. The charm glowed the color of her Gift.
"Please don't take it off, it doesn't work if you take it off, however a person can't take it off you."
Nadia nodded.
Kel choose that moment to peak back into the room. "You guys ready?"
Both of them got up and left. Nadia took the lead and lead them through the maze again. Arie was starting to remember the passageways. She even made note of servant doors that they passed just in case. At last they came to a large oak door that Nadia ushered them through, but didn't follow them in. Inside the room was large, a long table was set in the center of the room though only the very end of the table had chairs and place sittings. Imrah sat at the head of the table with Raoul, Flynn, and Abba seated on the left side. Three open chairs were on the left.
"Please sit," Imrah gestured to the chairs to his left. "My wife hasn't been feeling well so she may or may not join us tonight."
Kel took the second closest seat while Arie slipped into the furthest seat from Imrah. Food was brought out by servants and much to Arie's surprise, Lerant. The young man nearly dropped the jug of juice he brought for Raoul when he looked at Arie. Raoul cleared his throat to get the young man's attention. Arie noticed out of the corner of her eye Kel wiped her mouth on her napkin to hide a grin. Sourly, Arie wondered what the lady knight thought was so funny.
After that most of dinner Arie spent quietly and politely eating. The few times she was forced to speak is when Imrah asked her direct questions about different things that related to the work she would be doing. All throughout the meal she could feel the nobleman's gaze on her as if she were some kind of puzzle he was trying to work out. Mercifully dinner was short and Kel got them free even sooner. Arie hung back and waited to speak with Abba. When the big woman exited the dining hall Arie walked up beside her. Abba smiled,
"I was wondering when you were going to come find me."
Arie grunted and Abba raised an eyebrow at her. Arie sighed,
"How is everyone? No problems during the journey?"
"There were no problems with the journey. We are settling into some into houses not far from here. There were some grumblings because it would be more cramped than what people are used to, but they'll get over it or they'll be put in their place."
Arie nodded, Abba was not a woman to cross lightly.
"What about the injured?"
"Almost better off than those who aren't." Arie was surprised by this. "The lord gave Sir Neal control over the largest clinic in the city. Everyone is getting treated."
Arie let out a sigh of relief then asked, "You haven't had any trouble from the lord's men?"
"We have not had been here long enough to have them trouble us just yet."
"Please be su-."
"You will be the first to know if and when that changes."
Arie blushed and looked down at the floor. "Sorry, I don't want to do your job."
Abba laughed and patted her on the shoulder. "You are a good woman Arie. Even though you are young you have cared for and protected people even though it may cost you to do it. Those people that see that and respect you for it." She paused and was thoughtful for a moment. "I sense a storm coming and not the rain kind. Remember what I've said." There was silence between them for a long time, before Abba added, "I think you may have forgotten your newest chick."
Arie growled softly and Abba chuckled. "I never forget."
"I know, that's why I asked if it would be alright if little Jess stayed with you. I think she would feel safer with you and the Lady Knight anyway."
"Thank you."
Abba laughed again.
"Don't thank me just yet. I think that girl might stick to you like honey sticks to fingers."
Arie sighed, that would be okay.