Another update so soon! Yay for drama!
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"Your Majesty, there's been an incident."
Coulson's flat, quiet tone wasn't something that would alarm any visitors, but it had Steve snapping to attention and politely excusing himself from a conversation with the ambassador from Wakanda.
"I am eager to hear more about your trade incentives, but you must excuse me," he said with a pleasant smile; one that he only managed from practicing his entire youth. "I have another matter I must attend to. Please, continue to enjoy yourselves."
Steve followed Coulson to a quiet corner and angled himself to block most of Coulson's face from the room. One never knew which nobles were particularly adept at reading lips, and he wasn't foolish enough to believe that none of them wouldn't wish for some salacious tidbit to carry back to their own king.
"Is it Loki?" He asked, fearing the worst. It would make some sense, causing chaos and turmoil on his coronation day, if Loki's people had caught word of it. It would do well to make him look weak or unstable. But Coulson shook his head and fidgeted.
"No, Sire. Unfortunately it has to do with Lady Sutton."
Steve's head snapped up yet again and scanned the room, but he couldn't catch sight of the gentle glow of her dress or prominent wings anywhere.
"Where is she? Is she hurt?"
"Not physically."
His expression narrowed as he fully faced Coulson.
"Explain."
"One of the staff informed me they overheard a discussion between Lord Ashton of Korwyne and the Lady of an upsetting nature. He accused her of being, forgive me Your Majesty, a lady of the night."
Confusion, disbelief, and then rage swept so quickly through Steve that for a moment he was frozen in place. He stared at Coulson without expression, and only Coulson, a man who'd been in his life since he was a child, could stare back without shrinking.
"Did he not know with whom he spoke?" Steve chipped out.
"Clearly not, Sire," Coulson said. "Though neither option speaks much for his
intellect. I thought your intentions were subtle, but unmistakably clear."
Steve ran a hand down his face as he contained his rage. He had tolerated Lord Ashton on his introductory visit as a gesture of good will towards Korwyne and to keep the peace. But this was nearly an insult too far. Perhaps it was.
But a king did not fly off the handle, as desperately as Steve wanted to grab Lord Ashton by his frilly lace collar and throw him across the room.
"Where is she?" He asked instead.
Coulson dipped his head.
"In her room. Mistress Coriander saw her enter," Coulson paused, "in a state, she said."
Steve clenched his fist and looked away as he considered his options. The celebration was in full swing as the evening grew later. To rip Lord Ashton from the crowd and drag him away, while satisfying, would start talk he didn't need. There would be talk regardless, that was certain, but he could only mitigate it. And while he was within his rights to take full offense at Korwyne itself, he didn't need an unnecessary enemy, especially while war with Loki continued to brew.
"I want Lord Ashton brought before me first thing tomorrow morning," he told Coulson. "Before breakfast; I don't care if he's still half drunk. Draft an official notice for King Harold relaying the full offense and let him know in no uncertain terms that I do not accept Lord Ashton as ambassador to our nation any longer."
"It will be done as you said, Your Majesty."
Steve looked out to the crowd and managed to pick out Lord Ashton's dark ensemble like a stain in the room. Tomorrow. His rage and insult would have to wait until then.
"Announce that I've retired for the evening, but the guests are free to continue enjoying themselves. You can break into the Latvarian wine if you need to in order to ease any disruption it causes. And ensure the staff rotates if celebrations continue on too late."
"As you say, Sire."
"Thank you, Coulson."
Steve slipped from the room and headed straight for the guest wing. On his way he worked to restrain his fury. Sutton was upset. She'd been insulted to the highest degree in his own home, and she didn't need to fret over his own grievance. Especially when she was insulted based on the honors he'd bestowed on her.
Whining alerted Steve as he rounded the hall, and he found Sprinkles already at the door, scratching madly in an attempt to get inside. She turned her head at his footsteps and whined more loudly as she scratched with more ferocity.
"My girl is in there and she's sad!" Sprinkles howled. "She's crying the bad cries! Let. Me. In."
Steve halted at the door and hesitated in uncertainty.
"Has she not heard you?"
"People's hearing is so bad," Sprinkles cried. "Open the door; open the door!"
Steve tried knocking, but was met with the same lack of response. It would be considered inappropriate for him to enter her private room without permission and with no chaperone. And the last thing he needed was substantial talk to back Lord Ashton's assumptions. He looked down the hall, desperate, and nearly sighed in relief at the sight of Mistress Coriander coming with a tray filled with a full tea spread. She dipped her head as she neared him and Steve gestured towards the door.
"Have you seen her?" He asked.
Mistress Coriander shook her head and his anxiety rose.
"Not since I saw her rush in, Your Majesty. I just thought it'd be best to approach with a bit of something to offer to ease her. If anything can."
"You heard."
"Talk amongst the staff spreads quickly, Sire, and I directly assist her. I imagine she's feeling rather lowly."
Steve sighed in aggravation and ran his hand through his hair; Sprinkles clawed at the door with growing frustration.
"Open it!"
"I can see if she's in a state to talk, Your Majesty. If that sounds amenable."
Steve nodded and tried the doorknob, relieved to find it unlocked. Sprinkles barged her way in and took off towards the bedroom. Steve saw only a glimpse of the sitting room before Mistress Coriander followed and he shut the door.
He paced the hall for ten long minutes before Mistress Coriander cracked the door open again and slipped out, sans tea tray. She clasped her hands in front of her and pressed her lips together; Steve's stomach sank.
"I'm afraid she's already dressed for bed, Your Majesty."
He clenched his fist again and released it, rage rekindling.
"How is she?"
Mistress Coriander considered her words carefully.
"She's distressed at the idea of having brought shame to your house," she said.
Pressure built up around the back of his head and he went still to keep himself from exposing the tension. He let a breath out of his nose and straightened his shoulders.
"But she's alright to be alone?"
"Sprinkles is with her, Sire. And I think the tea will help."
He nodded once and took a step back in preparation to leave.
"Please keep me updated if she needs anything at all. Let her know we can discuss the incident in the morning."
"Of course, Sire."
Steve left the guest wing no less furious than when he arrived. Weeks. He'd spent weeks just trying to get Sutton used to the idea of simply being in the castle. Being part of his world in more than just the basic sense. All without adding the weight of informing her they were True Loves when she clearly wasn't ready for it.
And now Lord Ashton had come along and destroyed all the growth with one five minute conversation.
That was something that Steve could not forgive.
[]
It was not a common practice to summon someone before breaking fast. Especially not after a long night of celebration. After a celebration, breakfast would be held at a later hour than usual to give the guests time to recuperate. A summoning like this conveyed some sense of urgency or importance.
The rest of his guests could sleep but Steve did not feel so inclined to extend the courtesy to Lord Ashton. Steve hoped he knew it was not a meeting of pleasantries. He would find it more insulting to find the man thought he did nothing wrong.
When the doors to the meeting room opened permitting Lord Ashton to enter, Steve remained seated on his throne. For a moment he did not move. Did not speak. Lord Ashton lingered awkwardly at the end of the room and Steve let him.
He looked like he'd rushed to get dressed after being summoned. His dark hair was not slicked back as he usually wore it, and one of his jacket buttons was undone.
The presence of others in the throne room was the norm, but today there were far fewer than the expectation. Steve appointed Tony to watch from the corner of the room as a witness and as enforcement, if need be. Though cursing an ambassador was no small thing. If Lord Ashton had even the smallest shred of sense, he would give them no reason to.
There were a few guards as well, as was standard, and a royal transcriber for keeping the record. Having the transcriber would signal something official was occurring. But given the ambassador's lack of awareness Steve had reason to doubt he'd pick that up. When Steve finally saw Lord Ashton fidget, he spoke.
"Approach, Lord Ashton. I pray you know why I've called you here."
Lord Ashton approached the throne and, to his credit, appeared uneasy.
"You summon and I answer, as is my duty, Your Royal Highness."
"I welcome you into my lands, I let you into my home, offer friendship, provide you food and drink, and this is how Korwyne repays my open generosity? With insults and simpering? I was only crowned yesterday, and yet my first official act must be to address you."
Steve's voice lilted in anger as he rose from his throne, and Lord Ashton took one step back, hands raised as he pleaded.
"Your Majesty, I don't know what you mean. I assure you! Korwyne gives no insult."
"No?" Steve intoned. "So then my people are liars, then."
"I, of course, would claim no such thing, Sire. Perhaps if you spoke plainly-"
"Plainly. Indeed, I'll be as plain as you dared to be. In my home, at my coronation, while I was in the very same room; did you not dare to call my True Love a harlot?"
Lord Ashton froze and his face blanched. One could have heard a quill drop as he processed his grievous miscalculation. The shock and realization on the man's face only further blossomed Steve's rage. The absolute gall.
"Either you are an idiot or you think me a spineless fool," Steve snapped. "Whether or not she was as you said, you know the courts, and you cannot think such talk would not come back to me. Korwyne dishonors my house and spits on my virtue."
"No," Lord Ashton managed to force out. "No, Korwyne is as devoted a friend as ever-"
Steve prowled closer as his eyes bore into the man who quickly wilted in front of him. Good. Such men as Lord Ashton were the kind to forget their own rank and place. Steve could suffer many offenses, he had the patience and the humility, but this was not one of those slights.
He had his close circle to keep him humble and human, but never in his life had someone dared to demean and insult him so thoroughly. And at his own coronation.
"It will be up to your king to decide how friendly we remain," he said, and Lord Ashton turned ever paler. "Your belongings are being packed as we speak and will be ready at the front gates. I want you off the castle grounds by lunch."
"Please," Lord Ashton's voice warbled. "Please, Sire, I beg your forgiveness for this slight- a bit too much wine-"
"Slight?" Steve interrupted in disgust. "A slight would be belittling my staff. Or even forgetting my rank in address, I could forgive. No. You insulted me boldly to my face. Not only me, but my True Love. Ansolasia's future queen. I would not excuse this slander even if you'd had an entire barrel of wine. It would only speak to me of your poor judgment and a gluttonous character. If it were not for your rank or my desire to maintain peace, I would demand far more than just your removal as ambassador."
Lord Ashton looked ready to cry, but Steve felt no sympathy.
He took another step nearer, towering over the shorter man, and glared down at him.
"Your king will decide what to do with you, but know this. If I ever see you in Andolasia again, I will take it as a personal offense. Do I make myself clear?"
[]
Sutton skipped breakfast. Cori knocked on her door, but Sutton only pulled her comforter up higher over her head and ignored the attempts to cajole her out of the room. She'd done this before; ignored adults at her door who told her "things were fine" and "you need to get over it" and "you can't stay in there forever". They all eventually left. And they were happier after they sent her back.
Sprinkles snuggled next to her and Sutton buried her face against Sprinkles' side. Her warmth brought a sort of comfort. A few more tears ran down her face into Sprinkles' short fur and she sniffed. She couldn't stay. It shattered her in a way she thought she'd grown numb to, but it was the right thing to do. Clearly the way Steve treated her was unusual and noteworthy, and he already proved to her he wasn't willing to stop. He was just too kind like that. A real Disney prince. King, now. But he would only drag his own name through the mud more and more the longer she stayed.
And he was only officially crowned last night. A scandal was the last thing his new reign needed straight off.
The nobles talk, Tony said.
Well, the staff talked too.
Everyone talked.
She might as well have stitched a giant scarlet "A" to her dress and rouged her cheeks. She felt so stupid.
Sutton forced herself out of bed despite her deep desire to mope. There were things she needed to do if she planned to leave. Things that Steve and his closest friends couldn't figure out if she wanted to make a clean break. After all, even if adults didn't want you, they still made a fuss if they saw you with a packed bag. Sprinkles watched with obvious worry as Sutton dug through her racks and wardrobes and closets of outfits.
There were so many gorgeous outfits in her borrowed collection, but Sutton ignored them to grab only a couple of the most plain dresses and tunics, which was no small feat. Even the most plain were extravagant in some way, whether in fine fabric or cut. But they weren't hers. And she really had no right to take any of it. That's why she only grabbed barely enough to keep herself clothed and warm. A couple unadorned dresses that may have constituted as their equivalent of "lounge wear", a tunic and legging set, a warm night dress, a cloak, and a pair of shoes.
She'd return them once she earned a bit of coin and replaced them with more reasonable clothing.
Sutton slipped one one of the simple dresses. It still had decorative roping around the shoulders that opened into a pouf sleeve that cinched at the wrist. It was a neutral cream color, which, in her opinion, made it comparatively "more plain". Though it did still have a few pearls stitched around the bodice. She ran her fingers over a few and sighed.
She wouldn't lie to herself. She would miss the dresses.
Sprinkles wiggled her way to the edge of the bed as she avidly watched Sutton.
"Are we going to breakfast now?" She asked. "You can even make my plate and I won't take your bacon."
It was a generous offer from Sprinkles.
Sutton swiped at her eyes then piled her hair up on her head and struggled to tie with a ribbon.
"Sorry, Sprinkles. I'll have them get you some food. But we can't stay here," she said quietly.
Sprinkles scrambled off the bed and bumped her in the side as she snorted through her nose.
"This is our house! We can't leave."
"No, this is Steve's house," Sutton corrected. "And we're getting him in trouble. We've stayed here long enough anyway. Too long"
"No, no." Insisted Sprinkles. "There's parks and giant dogs and treats and King Steve. We can't leave."
The argument pierced Sutton's heart as she moved to rifle through her closet for a bag. She stopped and stayed crouched in the closet a moment as her breath hitched and she blinked rapidly. More ice spread through her.
"I- I know you love it here," she said, voice hollow. "I don't know where exactly to go, or how to get work yet. Steve- Steve would let you stay, if you want-"
Sprinkles stomped her paw and let out an irritated bark.
"No!" She protested. "You can't go by yourself, you'll get lost! And I'm My Girl's protector-knight! If you try to leave alone I can find you anywhere," she warned.
Sutton gave her dog a watery smile and wiped at her eyes again.
"Then we'll figure it out, huh, Sprinkles? Just like we did before."
Sprinkles still didn't look like she was fond of this new plan, but she merely sat and let out another whine as Sutton stripped a linen garment bag off a dress. She couldn't find anything like a duffel bag or a tote in her wardrobe collection. She'd have to make do.
She shoved her borrowed clothing inside and glanced around the room. It'd be wrong to take anything else. Nothing was hers. She really had been relying solely on Steve's generosity this entire time.
No wonder people talked.
In a last second decision, she grabbed the soaps and other hygiene products from the bathroom that she'd already used. They likely wouldn't reuse those for other guests.
A knock on her door startled her, and she shoved the linen bag into the back of her large closet before she rushed back out into the bedroom. Sutton hesitated and debated on whether she ought to go answer the door. The idea of seeing any of her new friends made her feel nauseous. She wasn't sure how she could face them ever again.
Sprinkles ran up to the main door and did an anxious circle. Another guilty stab of pain shot through her. On top of everything else, she was causing Sprinkles distress again. First living in an apartment, being alone half the day, and now this.
Why couldn't she do even just one thing right?
"Sutton? Are you awake? Please, we need to talk."
Her heart stopped beating and clenched painfully at Steve's voice. She wanted to see Steve the least.
She clutched at the skirt of her dress and panic rose as she tried to decide if she should acknowledge him or not. Sprinkles made the decision for her.
"King Steve! We're awake!"
Sutton hissed at her dog and squatted down to speak to her.
"You don't talk about leaving, okay Sprinkles? It might make Steve upset and we don't want him to be sad on his first day as king, do we?"
"That's a bad surprise," Sprinkles glowered.
Sutton pressed her lips together.
"You let me worry about that."
"Sutton?" Steve's voice called through the door again. "Please."
Sutton let go of her skirt and flexed her fingers, took a deep breath, and pushed everything down, down, as far as she could.
"Are you alone?" She asked warily.
There was a stagnant pause.
"No," Steve said. "Mistress Coriander is here as well. With some coffee."
He sounded oddly disheartened while giving his answer. The regret must already be kicking in for him.
Sutton eased forward and gripped the door handle. It wouldn't be hard. Just one more conversation. Though she'd rather have had their talk at the coronation be the one that lived in her memory.
What if he asked her to leave before she could do it on her own? The humiliation would eat her alive again.
The door made no sound as it opened; Steve stood right in front of it, Cori just behind him. They lingered for a moment silent, staring at one another. Steve's gaze roved over face in a desperate sort of way. He was probably trying to absorb all the guilt himself.
Sutton broke eye contact first and stepped to the side to let them in. She gestured to the table in front of the couch to offer a place for Cori to set her tray of coffee, then remembered it wasn't her space to dictate. Her fingers curled back into her palm and she dropped her hand.
"I suppose someone told you." She tried to keep her voice detached, light. "I- I am so sorry that I caused a scene at your coronation party."
Steve immediately looked confused and his face wrinkled in distaste.
"You?" He questioned. "You did nothing!"
Cori set down the tray with coffee and cleared her throat as she poured a tea cup. Sutton took the distraction and moved around Steve to one of the couches; she accepted the cup with a quiet thanks and added some cream. Sprinkles snapped up a scone without asking. Sutton felt terrible enough about not getting her breakfast that she didn't say anything.
"I shouldn't have drawn attention," she clarified after taking a sip of her drink.
"Lord Ashton was out of line," Steve said hotly. "He disgraced himself with his actions."
Sutton glanced at Cori to gauge her reaction then looked back down into her cup.
"But he wasn't entirely off, was he? People already knew I don't belong here before he said anything."
"It's my kingdom, my castle," Steve insisted. "If I say you are welcome here, then you are welcome."
"So it's not strange? It's not unusual that I get to stay here so long? That I get to eat breakfast with your circle and sit at the high table?"
Steve opened his mouth then closed it. She watched the distress flash across his face; he fought back something he wanted to say, and Sutton nodded.
"It's not as he said." Steve sounded like he was pleading.
"Your people are very courteous," she said diplomatically. "But I would hate to know that your reputation was tarnished because of me."
"No," Steve insisted in a rush. "That is not the case."
Cori idly stood in the corner of the room, as chaperone, and Sutton saw the flash of pity cross her face. Clearly there was something more. Some bigger thing that Steve was trying to minimize, probably to spare her feelings. Sutton smiled thinly.
"Okay," she said.
That stopped him short. He paused and appeared baffled.
"Okay?" He questioned.
Sutton shrugged and put more distance between them by pretending to be interested in the coffee fixings and food. There was only half of one scone left.
"Why not. It's all rather silly anyway, isn't it? A literal king and some nobody girl no ones ever seen before?"
Steve grimaced yet again and Cori turned her head to look away. He, too, knew it sounded stupid. Far-fetched. But it still chipped at something inside of Sutton to see him react that way. To have him agree that the entire notion was ridiculous.
"You're not nobody," Steve insisted.
"Thank you for checking on me," Sutton said. "It was very kind of you. But I'm fine. Just trying to, you know, stay out of the way."
"I sent him home." Steve edged forward and Sutton eased back. "He will never speak to you again."
"Hopefully he'll learn to do better at his job. I can't imagine a good ambassador insults his host."
Cori snorted from her place near the wall; likely not meaning to be heard.
Steve looked so lost and Sutton felt sorry enough for him that she nearly told him not to worry, she'd be out of his hair soon. But he'd feel obliged to protest. Better to make it clean.
Silence lingered once more and Sutton set down her still hot coffee. She wouldn't have enchanted tea cups wherever she ended up next. It was a novelty she'd miss. But like everything else, she could live without it.
"Is that all?"
Steve's expression shuttered.
"Do you wish me to leave?"
"You should stay," Sprinkles spoke up. Sutton shot her a scowl.
"I just think, given what Lord Ashton said… maybe it'd be best to, you know. Not feed any rumors. It's only your first day as king, afterall."
He took a step back then, and a string of emotions flashed across his face. Anger, confusion, frustration, sadness.
Sutton knew what it would end on. What it did every time. People liked to feel like they'd done everything they could to help or connect with you. But once you let them know they were truly off the hook, you could see it. Their acceptance followed by relief.
Steve's lips flattened to a thin line and he folded his arms behind his back.
"I understand you were insulted and demeaned in every way. For that I am irrevocably sorry. I understand if you need the day to yourself. Mistress Coriander will be at your disposal. Please don't hesitate to call on her, if no one else."
Sutton nodded and after another brief hesitation Steve left the room. Her eyes stayed on the door even after he closed it behind him and Cori had to place her hand on Sutton's arm to draw her attention away.
"I beg you, My Lady," she said. "You must eat something."
The half a scone left was now gone. Sutton picked at her sleeve as she got an idea.
"I really don't think I can manage facing anyone today. Do you think you can bring me some things that will keep? Then I can just… pick at it as I feel hungry."
That looked to appease Cori.
"Of course, My Lady. That would be no trouble at all."
[][]
Slipping out of the castle wasn't exactly as invisible as Sutton imagined it. It should have been, she thought. She wasn't anyone important and with both a looming war and a fresh coronation, everyone ought to be busy with other things. But apparently seeing a woman with an oddly lumpy garment bag was something notable.
Her only solace was how trusting the staff were. When she told a questioning maid that doing laundry helped ease her mind, the woman believed her. She led Sutton down less populated halls and staircases to a laundry room and bid her well. From there Sutton was able to find a small side door which led out to a secluded, grassy area where they hung the washing to dry.
Sprinkles trotted loyally beside her, though Sutton could hear her grumble and whine under her breath. They managed to escape the populated gardens and courtyards to the more open stable area without being stopped.
"We should stay," Sprinkles attempted to argue again as they ducked around a castle wall to avoid being seen by any stablehands. Luckily for them there was only one young girl with plaited blonde hair shoveling old straw who didn't appear to notice them.
"I explained why we can't," Sutton whispered back.
"It's a very silly reason. You're being very silly."
Sutton rolled her eyes and sighed. A dog wouldn't understand the complexities of human
social norms or noble hierarchies. And silly was the word Sutton most often used when Sprinkles had been being a bit obstinate or naughty back on earth. That better not be how Sprinkles was using it on her.
"We can talk about it more after we find some place to stay."
Sutton kept her head down and didn't make eye contact with anyone as they managed to weave their way to the main courtyard and finally reach the gates.
Something made her halt right before passing through. She looked back at the castle in all its shining glory, with its luscious plants and cheery spires and content workers. It chipped at her again and she found herself sorry to say goodbye. She knew, like the glow-in-the-dark stars, she'd always remember how the castle made her feel.
For a moment, protected. Safe. Like she had a home.
Something that almost sounded like a long whistle or perhaps a lonely note rose on the wind, but the moment was broken when Sprinkles' head shot up and she began to lick at Sutton's hand with a fretful growl.
"King Steve will be sad too," she said. "He might wait at the door for a long time and think you got lost."
Sutton's grip on her linen bag tightened and she tore her eyes away from the castle back to the town beyond. Maybe coming to this world had been a mistake. Or maybe she'd have a more pleasant, simple life than she could have hoped for. But either way, she was here now. And Sprinkles could talk. Sutton would never want to take that away from her, even in a hypothetical "what if".
Sprinkles dutifully followed after her as she walked down the cobblestone road, passed carriages and animal drawn carts full of various goods. At least the weather was good.
Sutton hefted her bag over her shoulder and tried to paste on a smile.
"You'll see, Sprinkles," she said. "It'll be better than the apartment. I can try to save up for a cottage with a yard, and people probably won't even mind if you wander a bit by yourself."
Sprinkles harrumphed.
Given time, Sprinkles would settle into a new routine. It was fine. It would be fine. It always hurt a little at first; that was only natural.
She wondered what Steve would think. If he'd balk in obligatory protest before sighing in acceptance. Or maybe with all his work he'd be too busy to really worry about it at all. Sutton's chest tightened yet again at that thought and she shook her head to try and escape the emotion.
He wasn't hers to worry about. She didn't belong in his world, not really. And she had a lot to do before sunset if she didn't want to be sleeping on the street.
Luckily, the cobblestone road to town was busy with people and they were able to blend in amongst the crowd as they made their way out. It was the first time Sutton had actually ventured out beyond the castle walls since their arrival, and she enjoyed getting to see the sights as a normal person from ground level.
People trekked about with water jugs and kindling for fires while other hauled carts of produce or home goods. Women chatted with each other as they bundled fresh herbs and children ran freely through the street in play.
The further into the town proper they got, the more it turned into a real business center. With the visiting ambassadors, Sutton imagined the local shops were doing their best to provide for the castle and sell whatever trinkets to the foreign dignitaries they could. Perhaps one of these places could use an extra helping hand. Sutton would happily accept even a temporary position just to get herself started. She'd feel better with a few dollars, or gold pieces, she supposed, in her pocket.
"You look lost, girl."
Sutton stopped and turned at the voice. It sounded aged and rasping, but curled softly around the edges. An elderly woman eyed her from next to a fruit stand and Sutton waffled. Sprinkles watched silently from where she stood, but her fur prickled in uncertainty.
"I'm just new in town," Sutton told the woman.
The old woman waved her to come closer and Sutton kicked her toe against the ground a few times before she complied.
"You can be new and lost," the woman said. "It usually goes hand-in-hand. Tell me, what are you looking for?"
"What makes you think I'm looking for something?"
The old woman grinned.
"I can tell these things," she said. "You've got that desperation in your eyes."
Sutton wrinkled her nose at the insinuation and Sprinkles growled lowly. Sutton tapped her on the head to quiet her.
"Thanks? I don't know if I'd consider myself desperate right now. I'm, uh, I've just moved here and I'm, um. Looking for work, actually."
"Poor dear," the old woman crooned. "It's no good for a young lady such as yourself to be all alone, especially not in times such as these. Have you tried the castle? The good king has been known to be generous. Surely you could work as a maid there."
"No." Sutton cut in quickly. "No castle- I mean. I don't, being a maid is- I don't think I'd be a good fit. I was actually thinking something more, um, near nature. Quiet work."
The woman's eyes shone in a sort of interest that Sutton didn't think was warranted for just meeting. She tried to casually rock back away and Sprinkles squeezed herself in front of Sutton, pressing against her legs.
"Quiet work, eh? Well, I heard that the ol' apothecary has been looking for an apprentice for some time. She may take you in if you prove yourself. But she's on the edge of the villages, mind you. Near the forest. And given how the frost has been creeping down from the mountain, it may not be the best place to find yourself."
Maybe it wasn't, but Sutton still couldn't find it in herself to be overly concerned with the entire Loki thing at the moment. As far as she'd seen, nothing had come of his aggression yet, and right now she didn't have the leisure of being picky.
"Thanks for the tip," she said. She readjusted her bag and glanced down the road to try and gauge which direction the apothecary might be. "I'll see if she's still looking for help."
She took a step away and Sprinkles seemed more than eager to go. The old woman threw up a finger with a,
"Ah! Wait!"
Sutton paused and eyed her curiously. The old woman reached over to the fruit stand and snatched a shiny red apple from the top of the pile.
"For you," she said. "You look too thin, dear, and you'll need it if you plan to walk to the edge of the wood."
Sutton almost shuffled forward and accepted, but the image of an old woman offering an apple was just a trope too far.
"Thank you," she said with a polite dip of her head. "But I have food aplenty. Your assistance with finding work is more than enough generosity. Have a good day!"
Sprinkles let out a petulant snort and pressed against Sutton to urge her away and the old woman watched them go, befuddled.
It'd probably be just as insulting as Lord Ashton had been to imply that she was too wary of the idea that the apple could be poisoned.
As if any evil witch would bother poisoning her.