The Umgadi Problem

by Kyze Larion

All firstborn daughters by tradition are forfeit to the Umgadi. Why should she be any different? A series of events explaining Mileena's honorary status as an Umgadi warrior.

8. Think it Over

Her assumption no one would want to speak of such a debacle was proven false following that eventful stay at the training grounds. A week after they returned, Li Mei was given a letter explaining just what the woman had said. The high priestesses apparently knew nothing of Elaine and Hiziza's ordeal with that matron, or her plan to kidnap Mileena. They were summoning them for a proper hearing.

Between that horrible eye-opening experience and receiving that damning notice, Mileena was grateful she'd spent every waking moment with them. It truly could have been the last time she saw any of them.

One minute, she was in the barracks, helping Julie start lunch. Elaine was falling asleep at the table. Everyone else was either sitting in bed or doing little tasks. In the middle of such a normal day, they were urgently called away by Li Mei. Led outside and ushered away by an official Umgadi escort.

What was the last thing she said to Elaine? Had she said anything at all? No farewell kiss or hug. She was so tired, all Mileena could remember was telling her to go lie down before she fell and hurt herself. She didn't even look worried sitting in the back of that wagon, just tired. And there was nothing Mileena could do.

They were allowed no representation. Neither Tanya or Li Mei were permitted to speak on their behalf. No witness or character statement could be given. They were just gone.

For once, she really was stuck with no choice but to wait. She didn't know where they were going, or how she could help. Her thoughts tried to calm her with nonsense that would only make sense to a child with no concept of importance. They left everything, their beds were unmade, dishes not clean, food cooking. They couldn't leave without taking care of those things. Or say goodbye to friends. They had bonds and lives outside the Umgadi. That had to count for something. They couldn't just be taken away like that.

Now would have been a good time to reflect as her father had advised. She still had their talk to look forward to. Which meant, Elaine could very well still be in jeopardy when she made it back from the hearing. Why hadn't Mileena been just a little deceitful? Some random girl at a bakery that could easily be forgotten, or a beautiful woman she'd seen at the park and just couldn't get out of her head. No, she had to tell her father, about this forbidden fancy of hers, that lived in the castle, was always in arms reach and could literally be disposed of at a moments notice. No matter how agreeable he was, moving them out of the castle was all too real an option.

What would this room become?

"Princess, while I enjoy not having much to do, walking down here, just to stare at this messy room, is a little depressing."

Despite not really being in trouble, Tanya didn't escape the whole of Li Mei's wrath. She was now Mileena's personal appointed guard. Temporarily stripped of the freedom of being a squad leader.

Though she felt bad for putting her in this position, she was glad Tanya wouldn't look at her strange for needing to be around Elaine's things. Well, not strange in a disgusted kind of way.

"I'm sorry Tanya, but I told you you could wait outside."

"No offense princess, but I'm trying to get back to my squad. I've known Li Mei my whole life, she's not in the mood to be disobeyed right now."

"She's, really mad isn't she?"

"That, and she's worried."

Mileena walked over to Elaine's bed and touched the indent they'd left. "If she's so worried, why didn't she just go with them?"

Tanya narrowed her eyes at her. "Maybe she would have, if she could trust you to stay here and behave yourself." Hissing, she bit back her words. "Come on, don't do that. I'm sorry."

Vision blurring, she bit her lip, to quiet the whines. "She would have gone if not for me?"

"No. No. Even if you weren't here, she couldn't go, calm down." Tanya tried to get her to sit on Elaine's bed, she refused, bending at an odd angle, twisting away from her. She relented and they chose another place to sit. "Memorializing things of the living is bad luck you know." Mileena ignored her, using all her mental energy to see Elaine's form in the soft outline left behind. "Women, don't like being idolized."

"What?"

"It's overwhelming. Don't you think it's more endearing for her to know you cared enough, to make sure she came back to a clean home. Than to know you stared at her dirty sheets every day?"

"Isn't it worse to wash her away, than to leave her things how they are?" She couldn't say why she really didn't want them to clean the room. She didn't have anything of Elaine's that was personal to her. Nothing with her scent or anything to keep her near. If they washed it all away, she'd have nothing to cling to until she returned.

Tanya let out the loudest, most annoyed moan she could muster. "You want something that smells like her, don't you?" Dragging her feet over to the bed, she whipped the pillow back at Mileena. "Now I'm going to have the maids come clean this, and you're going to let them."

Pillow cradled to her chest, like a cherished companion, she let Tanya lead her out, in all her indignant glory. "Tanya, it wasn't really my fault Li Mei couldn't go right? She would have went if it was me, wouldn't she? This is serious isn't it?"

"Of course she would have gone. I'd like to say the women at the training grounds are few and far between, but the truth of the matter is, they aren't. Traditions, rules and hierarchy are important to them. Hopefully this shortage works in their favor. We really can't afford to lose any more members."

"That doesn't explain why Li Mei didn't go."

"They don't trust her. I have no doubts she made sure everyone who was supposed to know, knew. But her superiors probably thought it best to keep the higher ups out of it. It's easier to beat children into silence, than to explain how they let something like that go on for so long, and almost lost you too. I wasn't there when she was apprehended, but I heard she caused quite a bit of trouble."

"All of that, wasn't Elaine or Hiziza's fault. None of the girls on the squad were even involved. So what will they do to them? What's the worse,"

"You already know the answer to that. There's no reason to get yourself worked up."

Feet planted in the ground, she trembled in the middle of the hallway. "Why would they though? Why can't they just let them go? They aren't children, they can survive on their own."

"It's the fact that they aren't children. It's sad, but the moment that woman laid hands on them, she sealed their fate. Depending on who you ask, it would have been better for this to have never been discovered. I wish I could say, this was rare."

"What do you mean? It's not?"

"I have no proof it isn't. I pray it is. It's just, growing up, knowing how things are, the Umgadi always has to protect its right to exist. In the eyes of the public, it's bad enough that the women are finding companionship among each other. If they found out some were extending such roles to the children, the decline would be quicker. Your parents would have no choice but to disband us, immediately." She sighed. "On the bright side, it could be remedied with little trouble. It's just a matter of us having garnered enough support to weather the cleansing. For as much as those girls went through, and for them to still be such good kids, small blessings."

Small? That was huge, unfathomable. Elaine loved the Umgadi. She wanted to be great in their eyes, when it was them who tried to ruin her. By all means, she had every right to be worse than Hiziza.

"How long do you think it will take them to make their decision?"

"Could take anywhere between days, months, years. I doubt it's a priority, so they may keep them waiting around. On the off chance they get seen right away, well I don't know."

"On a scale of one to,"

Tanya yanked the pillow from her arms, handing it off to a passing maid. She kindly asked her to make sure the Umgadi quarters were thoroughly cleaned for their return. "They're going to need all the luck they can get. So, pray for them."

With no plans for her days, she let Tanya take the lead. Since Tanya's sole job now was to look after her, it was like the blind leading the easily distracted. Day in and day out.

"Princess, I can't be with my team, and walking around the castle all day is, rather tiresome. Don't you have anything you'd rather be doing?"

You don't leave the castle and enjoy your kingdom.

"I guess I could, go outside today. I'd just have to ask Li Mei. Is she still, upset?"

"Of course. But it's better to ask permission than forgiveness."

She smirked. "I thought it was the other way around?"

"With anyone else maybe. But I think you've run out of preemptive forgiveness with her. Let's go."

She failed to remember a time where walking to Li Mei's office was this frightening. The last time she was this scared, was after they'd returned from the training grounds. Telling herself Li Mei couldn't physically discipline her or strip her of her ranking, didn't quell the fear. If anything a lashing or harsh ridicule would have been welcomed. She wished in some respects she could be punished like anyone else. She could handle that much better than how Li Mei was currently choosing to teach her a lesson. Complete indifference.

Passing her in the hall and only speaking to Tanya about how things are going. Giving her disappointed yet respectful nods when she'd wave at her from afar. No quick philosophical conversations when Mileena was obviously in a bad mood and needed them. Had she not been punished enough?

The title mother was not one she gave lightly. But that's exactly what she'd consider Li Mei, a second mother. If it was her mother, she wouldn't be above going right up to her, bawling her eyes out, and crawling in her lap. But that was her mother. She couldn't do that to Li Mei, she was the constable, her superior. She needed a dignified equivalent.

"Good afternoon. Li Mei."

Li Mei only briefly looked up from her desk, directly at Tanya. "Is something wrong?"

"The princess has something she wishes to ask you."

Lacking all the warmth she'd come to know and love, Li Mei patiently folded her hands over a stack of papers and glanced at her, expressing pure disinterest. "Yes princess?"

"I-I just wanted to let you know I was going to take a walk today, just around the kingdom. Not far. I'll be back before it's dark."

"Where exactly are you going? I want streets and planned destinations." She went back to writing. "If you can't provide those, you won't be going."

"I," She looked to Tanya. "I don't know the streets, not all of them. Li Mei, that's unreasonable." Her voice lowered as she noticed the whine creeping into her words. "Can I at least,"

"The Edenian Quarter, near the upper end, from the entrance and back. You know where the boundaries are right Tanya? There's heavy patrols down there today. That's the only section she's allowed in. If she gets bored with that, bring her back. I want her back before sundown."

"Understood. Come princess."

"Li Mei," Her head tilted up, but her eyes stayed down. "I know I said it before, but I'm sorry. I was just, worried. She's not just my squad leader. She's my...friend. She's capable, but that was, it would have been too much for her. Those women were terrible to her."

She didn't even give her a second glance. "Tanya."

"Come, please princess."

"Li Mei, I'm sorry. Doesn't that count for anything? I just wanted to make sure she was okay."

Setting her quill down, she folded her arms, finally giving Mileena the undivided attention she didn't want. "I had more trust in her, than you had in any of us. I know what that young woman is capable of. I even tasked Tanya as a safeguard for her. You're a full fledged warrior, as is she. Our ability to trust in each other is the crux of our strength. Your lack of trust in us has put your friend in very real danger because you've made her and me look untrustworthy."

If there was a way for her to fix this, Li Mei would have made her do it. Lives were at stake. She wouldn't sacrifice them just to teach Mileena a lesson. What point would there be in asking if her explanation would be of any use? All she could do was feel sad over what she'd done. It was not enough, and too much, at the same time.

"Remember what I told you Mileena. The only thing trust cannot be, is as it was before. With time, and a lot of work, it can, potentially be stronger than it was. I'd start working on it now if you ever want me to feel comfortable enough to let you go anywhere with them again."

She didn't even want to leave the castle anymore. If not for Tanya's insistence, she would have stayed in her room. Mileena was careful not to even look in any direction other than that of their destination, for fear of wandering off accidentally.

"Princess, you can relax. I won't lead you astray."

"I want her to trust me again Tanya. I lied to her, put her in danger, myself, you, everyone. Even if I didn't ask Hiziza to lie for me, that was my fault too. She didn't deserve that. Had I just told her what I felt, I believe she would have gone to check on her."

"I don't think she would have. Unless you know something she doesn't, that would make it a priority, you would have had to fight her to come."

"That probably would have been better than everything else I did. How long do you think she'll be mad at me?"

"Long enough for you to never want to do that again. Not to lessen the effect of her anger, just know she's more upset you put yourself in danger. Somehow, she's always the one who has to bring bad news about you, to your parents. In her eyes, she's let them down many times, yet they still trust her. You were under my care, when you and that little hot head, decided to instigate such a ruckus. Had you been severely hurt, Li Mei would have taken the blame herself. You'd think her immortal as often as she chooses to fall on the sword."

"You think had I not gone, everything would have been fine?"

"Why do you want to make yourself feel bad? You went to help someone you care for. You provided a lot of relief and you were a great influence on your little sisters. That little boy too. I can personally vouch for your benevolence. You'll have many subjects who would gladly stand beside you for you, not just the crown."

As charitable as her words were, what would any of that mean if she caused Elaine's death? If her friends didn't return, because of her benevolence, she would see no reason to be so kind ever again. For the Umgadi to rid themselves of one of their best examples, deeming her ruined by a product of their own means, she would side with her mother and see them dismantled.

There was an unusual concentration of guards in the Edenian Quarter, for there to be so few people. Traffic was light and stores were few. Like many places in the inner royal city, it was a gem on the eyes, beautiful and alluring. A residential neighborhood with an abundance of resting places, fresh water, fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices growing everywhere. Heavily influenced by Edenian culture. While the castle had many Edenian stylistic choices, this place was personally remodeled under her parents careful eyes, to be a bastion of peace for Edenian residence. All were welcome, but few outside of Edenian heritage visited. The air was rather, stiff.

"I always feel, over and under dressed when I come here." Tanya said, apparently thinking out loud.

A pair of women walked by in, interesting outfits to say the least. Satin brassieres lined with gold, jeweled straps, and sheer skirts. Faces painted to match their outfits, golden headdresses, colorful hair ties. Outside of that, they were exceedingly beautiful. So tastefully exposed, like living breathing pieces of art. The fact that this was a common sight in these parts took nothing away from the view. All the women here looked like this.

Born and raised in Outworld, she was still an Edenian by blood. Her parents had brought her and Kitana here sparingly throughout their childhoods. Her mother adored their people, and tried to make sure they at least absorbed their basic mannerisms, but her father preferred they be more ingrained in Outworld culture. Kitana took to it a lot easier than Mileena. While Mileena was away on her Umgadi training trips, Kitana spent a decent amount of time here.

That was probably why she was having a difficult time initiating communication. She was so pleasant once you got her talking, she just couldn't open up herself. And her big sister, let her go off to meet some new people, who her family already didn't want her to be around alone. Had she just went with them, all of that mess wouldn't have happened, she could have helped her sister, spoken with her father, and gotten Elaine kicked out later, after she returned. It was destined to be a tragedy either way.

"Maybe I should buy a new outfit while we're here."

"A new outfit? You mean more fabric?"

"No. I mean, a new, already made, outfit."

"You have other clothes?"

"For my off days you silly girl. Did you think I just wore this uniform, all the time?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, I guess you would think that. It is kind of a privilege for the older, more trustworthy members."

"Don't rub it in please." A new curiosity took the place of her melancholy thoughts. What kind of outfits did Tanya wear when she wasn't in uniform? "What kind of things do you like to wear? What kind of colors?"

"Would you like to help me pick out some things?" She agreed and they were off.

This little slice of Edenia didn't have many shoppes, but they had many items in the few they did. The first boutique they visited was packed from the ceiling to the floor with many lovely fabrics and accessories.

"Hello, oh. Um, is something wrong?" A soft featured woman wearing just a bit more than the girls outside, came to greet them.

"No, we're here to look around. See your wares."

"Oh, then please come in. I've been seeing so many guards around lately, I thought something may have happened."

"We just like to keep ourselves easily accessible to everyone in the royal city. It's so peaceful here, I could see how frightening it may look seeing so many of us appearing so suddenly."

"Yes. Well, can I help you, or would you prefer free roam? Just looking at you, I have a few lovely pieces in mind."

"Thank you, but just looking, I don't want to bother you."

"And you, lady Mileena? Do you require my services?"

She was shocked the woman actually recognized her. "Oh, um, no, no thank you. I'm just looking too."

"It would make me very happy to see you and your sister in something from my shoppe. Whatever you and your friend want today, please consider it a gift."

"Thank you miss."

In the back, sticking close to Tanya, she watched her look through the sea of outfits lining the walls and racks. "That's, not the reaction I normally get when someone recognizes me."

"Edenians have a different relationship with royalty than most. You should find something nice like she said. Have you thought of your sister at all since she's been gone?"

"Of course. I think of her every day. If I were to get her a gift, it wouldn't be clothes. She likes games, books, little interesting things. Our parents buy us clothes."

"So she's as childish as you? I wouldn't have figured that. That woman would appreciate it though, so do it for her. You could find a matching set."

"We don't like to match."

"How about I find you both something? You can tell her it was from me."

"If you want."

Shopping for clothes had never been her favorite pass time, but watching Tanya quietly pick through them was oddly consoling. Her little humming, that sweet lazy smile, her eyes lighting up when she saw something she thought was nice.

"Isn't this soft?" She held a thin cloth to Mileena's cheek. "It feels like a cloud on the skin after you've been wearing this all day. Edenians bring a tenderness you can't really find anywhere else in Outworld. That's why their fabrics are so sought after. Nothing like it."

Their little escapade ended too soon. She was carrying three little wrapped packages, and had no idea what Tanya had selected.

"I can't wait for my next day off. I'm going to enjoy that outfit."

"What do you, do on your day offs? Elaine and everyone just kind of, do nothing. What do you do?"

"The same. But I do so, elegantly. Beautifully. As Delia would want."

"You get all dressed up, to do nothing?"

"You are, so young." She didn't expound on her statement, she just kept walking.

"I'm not that young."

They took a cobblestone street down a path, putting them closer to the entrance Li Mei spoke of. Under stone arches and pillars, they were brought to a large open plaza, decorated with trees, lanterns and statues. It was so stunning, she wondered aloud why her parents hadn't just done the whole city like this.

"Outworlders wouldn't find it welcoming. Some Edenians find it hard to be around after they've spent enough time with other cultures. It's, encompassing. It's welcoming, but not embracing. What you see in other parts of the royal city, you won't see here. There are no accommodations for Centaurians, Shokan and Naknadans. No room for assimilation."

Looking around, she did notice the narrowed doorways, that wouldn't allow a Shokan or Centaur to enter. "Should we allow that? Outworld is about unity and,"

"They are hurting no one. Everyone has a place they belong. We don't need to be together, to be unified."

She was going to mention how the Umgadi suffered after the Shokans and Centurs withdrew, but she was still having a hard time seeing the good in them right now. The Centaurs and Shokan were right to get their kids away. They probably would have suffered horrible treatment too, for things they couldn't control.

A grassy incline where they could rest was the final destination of this outing. Passing people provided cheery entertainment while they relaxed in the calming atmosphere.

"I may come back here, with Kitana. I think she likes this place."

"Don't you?"

"Like you said, I'm an Outworlder. I'm just sitting here, doing nothing, and I feel a little anxious. Feels like home, but not my home."

"That's fine. Not every home is yours. Even if you are the princess."

Content to silently take in the change in scenery, a woman walked over to them, interrupting their quiet time. She didn't look Edenian, but she wasn't that out of place. The way she moved set her apart more than how she looked. She lacked that inherent graceful fluidity.

"Greetings, ladies. Mind if I join you?"

"Nothing to join but be my guest." Tanya offered the space on the other side of her, away from Mileena. "I could be wrong, but you don't seem to be from here."

"Perceptive. Then again, what should I expect from an Umgadi warrior. I'm not, I was just passing through. It's always so quiet here. Easy to be. Such a romantic little nest. The emperor and empress were so kind to bring a piece of Edenia to us uncivilized beasts."

"That they were."

"I hope their lovely daughters follow in their footsteps and bring much more beauty to these lands. A dynasty under them is just what we need. It would be, prosperous."

"Luscious." Tanya's voice matched hers in sensual praise.

Though the conversation was innocent in nature, it felt so much more sultry than it should have been. She wanted to turn away, but that would have been strange. She needed to hear the words of her people.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the woman reach into Tanya's vest. Before she could turn and look properly, her hand was reaching over Tanya, toward her. Tanya stopped her.

"Really? That's a shame." She stood, patted the wrinkles out of her clothes, then walked away. "I look forward to seeing you there."

"Seeing you where?" Mileena asked. Without thinking, she reached for Tanya's top with the intention of pulling out whatever the woman had given her.

Forever ready and alert, Tanya popped the offending appendage. "Be respectful little sister."

"Sorry. Can I know what she gave you?"

"No. Whatever she gave me, was meant for me."

"You stopped her from giving me one."

"The fact you don't know what you were being given, meant it wasn't for you."

"Did you know her?"

"Yes."

"Was it an invitation? She said she looked forward to seeing you there." She tried to find the outline against Tanya's breast.

"I hope this isn't how you treat your, friend. Treating her body as an extension of yours, gazing at her breasts so brazenly."

"No! I," Not only was she now feeling shamed, she was reminded of her sadness.

"That's not a good sign. You need to be more mindful."

"It's not that, I miss her, and what if she never comes back? I couldn't even hug her goodbye."

"Why not?"

"Everyone was there. I couldn't. I can't just hug her."

"I don't understand."

Mileena hid her face and fell back in the grass. "If I hug her, I'm going to hold her. If I hold her, I can't not," Explaining the very necessary, completely unavoidable kiss that had to come after those prerequisites was enough to burn those tears away.

"Young passion is so, aggressive. I can't imagine her being the same way."

"She isn't, she has much more control than me." She sighed. "She isn't so needy. It feels so bad to think of such things, while she could be...but I really miss those things. Since the first day she let me, I haven't gone a day without. I feel so bad."

"You feel bad, remembering things about her that made you happy?"

"She could be dead, right now."

Tanya lied beside her, with her head propped up. "She could very well be. But, because of you, she will have died experiencing things not a lot of us get to. You've given her a lot more than you took."

Lying in the grass, gazing up at the clouds, a serene aura overtook her. Things were feeling, clearer. An undefined clarity was all around her. There was nothing she could do but wait. No amount of feeling sad or dwelling on it was going to change the outcome. Time would pass. She would, live with whatever came with that.

She tried to shake off this undeserving sense of calm. The least she could do was feel miserable, yet she couldn't. The feeling grew stronger by the second.

"Wonder what that's about. They're opening the gates. We should go."

The only crowd forming was that of the many guards patrolling the streets. She and Tanya joined the rest of the Umgadi warriors on the front line. Through the open gates rows of them line the path leading inward.

"Were we having guests today? I wasn't told of any special company." She was much too informally dressed to meet anyone right now. She hoped it was just a very important merchant or something. If not, this would be the first time she treated guest alone and they would not be receiving a royal greeting. Her parents would be very disappointed. Acting as their stand in when they were absent came before her Umgadi duties.

Horse hooves transitioning from dirt to stone meant they were just outside the gate now. Royal guards marched in first making sure the path was clear. That's when she saw her.

Kitana!

Lazily waving at the small crowd of people who waved back. A tame smile on her lips, a dim sparkle in her focused eyes. Like she was looking for someone.

Before she had a chance to let the mischievous thoughts take route, she was already spotted. "Mileena!" Kitana must have been brimming with too many emotions for her body to handle. She was bouncing around, doing little dances in her carriage until it stopped before Mileena. The ones closest to her who saw where having a good round of giggles. When her door opened she held her arms out to her like she expected to pick her up. Arms out, clapping, arms back out. She didn't know what to do with herself.

Honestly, Mileena felt the exact same way, but she had to be a bit more mature about this, at least until they were safely in the carriage. The second the door closed, she was matching her overcharged energy and surpassing her.

Holding, hugging, kissing, wrestling, tickling. They were so riled up they couldn't say words yet, just the odd noise and incoherent babble. There was so much she wanted to say and ask while they had the privacy, nothing would come out. They had to reconnect first.

Lying on the floor of the carriage, settling down from expending so much energy, Mileena closed her eyes to just feel the change in the world around her, now that she was whole again. That heartbeat, those gentle breaths, the entire body next to her. To say she missed her, didn't even cover a fraction of it.

"You two. Come on now."

"Jerrod look at them. So precious."

Her mother's cooing pulled her out of a restful slumber. Crunched up in this uncomfortable position, she'd never been more rested. "Mother. Father. Welcome home."

"My baby." Her mother's kiss filled her nose not only with her motherly fragrance, but a hint of something fruity and slightly alcoholic.

"Wake your sister, if the two of you are going to nap, it shouldn't be in a carriage. Go to bed."

"I'm awake now father." Kitana sat up next to her. Instead of going out her own side, she waited until Mileena slid out, then hopped on her back. Had her father not been there to catch them, they'd have landed face first in the dirt. He made Kitana get down and walk on her own.

"How was the trip?"

"It was, something, that's for sure. How were things here?"

"Un...eventful. Nothing notable."

"Did your little friends return dear?" Her mother's out of character delight when mentioning them made Mileena laugh.

"They had to leave again, so they aren't here."

"My poor darling, here alone."

"I was alright mother."

"No." She had her cheeks pinched and gingerly caressed. "How could we leave you here alone? We should have brought you with us. My little baby."

"Come Sindel, lets get you to bed. We've had a long journey. My greetings will have to wait love. I can see you're well, so forgive me. Get some rest Kitana."

Kitana refused to let her go even after she was in her room. She kept her eyes on her while she switched into something less formal. "I have so much to tell you, but I want to hear all about what you really did while we were gone."

"What do you mean?"

"You really stayed here, by yourself, until they returned?"

"Of course not. Li Mei was here."

"I'm glad she was. She got my message to have you waiting in the plaza. We could have arrived yesterday but we spent the night at this really nice bunkhouse practically in the middle of nowhere. I can't wait to tell you all about it."

"You sent her a message?"

"Yes, I wanted to surprise you. I sent word ahead when we stopped yesterday. I asked if she could get you there, without telling you why." She stretched, her brown eyes beaming. "First, how were you, here by yourself? You said Elaine and everyone came back before leaving again. Did she take you out like she promised? Did you get the puzzle open? What was in it?"

Did she really just forget her for that short time?

Kitana came before her, bending to look into her downcast face. "Did something happen?"

What could she say? Should she say anything at all? "So much happened. I'd like to say I'm trading one secret for another, but I'd be very surprised if everyone but you, mother and father didn't know in a couple days. If you have to know, I'd rather you hear it from me."

Her sister stepped back, with a hurt expression on her face. "Mileena, you didn't go did you?"

"Kitana, you've known this whole time, haven't you? About what happened at the training grounds?" That pained look in her eyes, after she'd just been so happy. "I'm, not upset. I realize everyone was trying to protect me. I just, kind of wished, of all people you would have told me. I went, I found out. Everything that could have went wrong, did."

"What happened?"

She needed to get comfortable for this, so she motioned towards the bed. Sparing no detail, she unleashed the whole of her adventure on her sister. She was so deep in her retelling she forgot to leave out the more personal parts.

"I honestly feel like we wouldn't have gotten in as much trouble as we did had Hiziza not gotten involved. The fight was winding down, she was pulling more girls in." No laughter, no reassuring words, just silence. "Li Mei's mad at me. Elaine's gone. I have no idea how mother and father are going to take this. I've felt your absence so strongly, I didn't notice how strange things felt until now. Now that you're back though, I'm scared of what's to come. Mother and father are going to be livid."

Kitana opened and closed her mouth several times. "Mileena, why is it so hard for you to think anything through?"

"Are you really going to come down on me? Everyone else is already so upset with me. Did you expect me not to go?"

"Yes. I honestly did. I expected you to for once obey our parents, and just, listen. One time. If any of those women recognize you,"

"I wish I had, if that means anything. You didn't see how miserable she was. No one else saw that. Everyone was so worried about protecting me, no one protected her." Kitana's face morphed into some emotionally constipated amalgamation of feelings that couldn't coexist. "I don't know how it sounds to you, but it was so much worse than I feel I'm telling it. I saw parts of her that made me question if I even knew her. I don't even feel connected to what happened. But it was all my fault. And she still cares for me. If someone would have told me, I would have just forced her not to go, and none of this would have happened."

Kitana shied away from her glare. "I was scared. Everyone acted like this was such a bad thing, and it would hurt you. You don't remember how miserable you were when they executed that woman. You wouldn't eat, you weren't sleeping. You were crying until you were sick. You stopped talking to us, refused to go to lessons. No one could reason with you. When Li Mei came, you were a little better. Then what was left of that woman's group was brought over, you were almost back to yourself. Father thought it would be best if you resumed your training immediately. After just a couple months, you were okay."

Not sure if she really wanted to know the answer, she geared up for her sister's side of the story for her next question. "Did you know what happened to Elaine and Hiziza before they were brought here?"

"What do you mean?"

"They were practically tortured, to spare my feelings. Do you know if, mother and father had anything to do with that?"

"I knew it was serious, but nothing like that. These are our parents. They wouldn't do something like that Mileena. As much as mother might not care for the Umgadi's ways, she does feel for the children. As mad as she was at that woman, she wouldn't have let them be harmed, even if it was to protect your peace of mind."

"I hope you're right. I couldn't look at her the same if she did knowingly allow something like that to happen."

"Well, now that you know. And you've pretty much become the delinquent they were afraid of, are you going to tell them, everything?"

"What do they need to know? If it comes up when I talk to father, maybe. But I'm trying to avoid them finding out about it all together. The Umgadi will want to keep this from them at least. I hope anyway. Did he say anything to you about our talk?"

"He had a talk for me while we were gone. We may have both gotten you in more trouble than you anticipated."

"What? What does that mean?" Kitana rolled away from her. "Kitana, what does that mean?"

"No, what you were talking about was much more important. I, I can't tell you. But if anything comes of it, I promise I'll fix it! Forget I said anything!"

"Fix what? What did you do? Kitana, you're scaring me."

"I can't tell you, unless you promise not to get mad. Remember you love me."

"You know how mad that makes me! What did you do?" The way she scrunched up her face, and exhaled. "I can't be in any more trouble, than I'm already in. I, won't get mad. I just want to be prepared. So can you tell me?"

Kitana hid her face in the comforter. "The eldest daughter of the Vilapilik family. She's, like you. She too, prefers the company of women."

She didn't like where this was going at all. "Okay? And? How do I factor into this? How did you find this out?"

She sat up, still avoiding her eyes. "She was very, forward with the information. She was a very gracious host, and was very upset you didn't come. I was up, late at night, she came to keep me company. I was talking about you. In the middle of me talking, she tried to kiss me."

"She did what?"

"I wasn't quite caught off guard. I don't know why, I just wasn't. I wasn't expecting her to do that, but something about her just, I don't know. When I wasn't as shocked as she expected she asked why. I just thought about you. How vulnerable and scared you were. I felt like letting her know, she wasn't some horrible thing, would be a kindness. So I told her. She wanted to know all about you and the girls you fancied. I didn't use her name, but I did describe her. I was worried about it the whole time, but she was so kind and she is a lot like you. Even after I declined her affection, she still showered me with a lot of it."

A whole host of feelings were bubbling around under her surface. For some reason, what was sticking out the most was the audacity this woman had to just, throw herself at her sister. Passion be damned, her disrespect was too bold. She didn't care how lovely and amazing her sister was. The fates had intended Mileena to fight regardless of which path she took.

"Mileena, I'm so sorry. I know how serious this is. I just, couldn't stop seeing you. In light of everything else that's happened, I feel I've just made things worse for you. I mean, you made them pretty bad, but still."

"I was going to say, don't worry about it. But you can be a little worried." Falling back in her bed, her head was finally empty. "When will I learn Kitana, when will I learn?"

"So much for that proposal of hers."

She sprung upright. "Proposal? What kind of proposal?"

"Not that kind, not that she didn't mention that. Gwen, is a very straightforward woman. She offered me a gift for you and your, special lady friend, as she put it. She said I'd be welcomed too, but I feel it would be best if just you and Elaine went, since you didn't like just doing nothing."

"Went where?"

"From what she described, it sounded like a place you might enjoy."

"What does that mean?"

"It's a surprise."

"I really can't take another surprise at this point."

"She said that's the best way for you to experience it, as a surprise. Wouldn't you like that? For you and Elaine to both be excited about this, together?"

"Kitana, I'm not so hopeful about the future anymore. Elaine, if she doesn't come back,"

"Have faith she will. This will be perfect for the both of you, when she does. It's good she isn't here now. It's not something that's around all the time, she'll have to request time off for it."

For her sister's sake, and her own state of mind, she worked up a smile. "I look forward to it."

With the heavier things out of the way, she let Kitana go on and on about her trip and this Gwen, who she seemed very fond of. She'd ask Mileena about some of the happier moments she encountered, like with the kids and Elaine. During their conversation, both of them happened to drift off at the same time.

In the morning she awoke in the same outfit she'd gone to sleep in, letting her know Kitana hadn't gotten up before her. At the foot of her bed, were two of the wrapped packages she'd gotten with Tanya.

Oh no, she'd completely forgotten about Tanya. Even if her family was home, leaving her side like that, not even offering her a ride back to the castle, was rude among other things. Kissing her sister good morning and goodbye, she hopped out of bed, washed off the woes of the previous day, then left to find Tanya.

Speeding through the castle, giving warm morning greetings to everyone she passed, she was stricken with a bout of paranoia. What if her parents asked the staff how she'd been in their absence? Someone was bound to say they hadn't seen her for a majority of the time they were away. Her mother was smart enough to ask people who had the highest probability of seeing her daily. Hindsight wasn't useless, but it sure wasn't as helpful as foresight.

"Good morning princess Lee."

Down by her legs, Bryn was jogging beside her, with his little satchel of food packages. Him casually holding her hand derailed her train of thought. Now she was walking with him to make his deliveries. A haircut and change of clothes really did make the man. He still had the same sweet little face. But seeing him now, it was hard to picture him in Umgadi robes. He wasn't the same stinky little urchin, she'd mistaken for a girl. He was now an official ward of their kingdom, unofficially a soldier in training. He technically lived in the same part of the city as Reiko and the other soldiers. But more often than not, she'd seen him leave with Skarlet. He spent a lot of time running errands for her, and cooking with her, when he wasn't training.

Fed, clean and following a routine. One very prominent reason she didn't regret what she'd done.

After dropping him off, and seeing a few Umgadi women, obviously flirting with the guards, she remembered she was looking for Tanya. Once she assured them she had other business with her, than to tattle on their attempts at wooing these men, they reported seeing her with Li Mei a while ago.

Just the place she didn't want to go.

Slower this time, she trudged down to Li Mei's domain. Head down, eyes already wide and pitiful. If she drug this out, she might miss Li Mei all together, her morning patrol was going to start soon.

"I see." Right before the last turn into Li Mei's corridor, she heard her father's voice. Did she dare eavesdrop again, after all the trouble it landed her in the first time? She did. "That is troubling. Hopefully, we hear good news."

"Indeed, I pray for the same. If you'll excuse me, I have to get going." She was walking the opposite way?

"Princess I'm glad you made it home alright."

Squeezing her chest from the shock, she turned around to see none other than, Tanya. "I was looking for you."

"I'm glad you knew to start here, and not the last place you left me."

"Please forgive me." She bowed. "I was just so excited to see my sister."

"Oh I know, that was just the cutest thing." She tried and failed to slap her hand away from pinching her cheek. "Did you need me for something?"

"Well, Li Mei wanted you to follow me, I didn't know if, she still did."

"Since more of our guards returned with your parents, I think she might not be as strict about that, but if you just miss my company, I have no problem staying with you. I haven't been instructed to return to my own squad yet."

"You don't have to do that."

"I don't, but since you came looking for me, I probably should."

"Mileena? Good morning dear." Her father came around the corner, picking her up in the process of hugging her. "Hello Tanya, how was your time away?"

"It was, entertaining."

"Something about that doesn't sound great, but if that's how you see it. I hope she wasn't part of that entertainment."

"You know your daughter, always getting into something or other. She keeps us on our toes. She was, however, the least bothersome aspect."

"That's a relief. Mileena, if you'll join me." They left Tanya where she'd found her, yet again. "So, did you do as I asked you? I hope you haven't been here sulking or collecting unnecessary stress?"

"I did. I did."

"Good. I've been thinking a lot of how I want to bring this to your mother. In light of some things I was just made aware of, I feel now, may not be the best time."

As relieving as that was to hear, she still wanted to have complete control over when this conversation would happen. She'd had enough of needlessly putting Elaine in danger. "Father, about that, do you think we could, maybe not tell mother?"

"I can't. Mileena, this is serious,"

"Why? As you said, I am young. Talking with you, relieves these feelings, in a way. I'm not so sure, this won't pass. We could be making her worry for nothing."

"I can feel your nervousness, but Mileena, I already told you, we won't stop loving you."

"Father, she isn't like you! You say that. That's how you feel. I know mother loves me, now. I know she's loved me through a lot, but I don't want to strain that, unnecessarily."

He exhausted all his breath. "What are you suggesting?"

"Until something, noteworthy happens, can we just, not tell her? Until I'm sure?"

"You sounded sure before. Are you suggesting, these feelings are tied exclusively to that girl?"

Twiddling some loose fabric between her fingers she stated, "I'm not drooling over every woman I come in contact with father. You weren't even aware until I told you."

"Mileena, I know my wife. Your mother."

"I just want to have it figured out. I won't talk to you about it, mention her to you ever again. It can be like before, where you didn't know. Maybe you'll forget. No one else knows." She lied. "I just want to be sure, father please!"

"Your sister knows."

"And she wouldn't tell anyone either." She lied again.

"That's not what concerns me. She thinks the world of you."

Grasping his meaning, she froze in place. "Are you saying you don't want me around Kitana?"

Smothered into his chest, he cradled her, hiding her from the world around them. "Of course not, of course not. This is a happy time. Our family is together again." He brushed his hand through her hair. "Forget I said that, forgive me. I'm just speaking. Not thinking. I'm sorry you inherited that so strongly from me. If you really want the time, that's reasonable. She is already under a lot of stress right now. That could easily lead to saying things she doesn't mean."

Recovering enough to understand she was being given her reprieve she decided to forgive him, in spite of the lingering tightness in her breasts.

"However, I will ask, you not stop telling me things. Don't repress yourself Mileena. That will, make it worse. I want you to talk to me. About anything you want. It's best I know all I can, to help you. Rather that means, dealing with this, or us looking back on it, as just another phase in your life, that turned my hair grey. I rather like your mother's hair how it is." He finally pulled her away. "I don't want to do this. I'm trusting you. You're growing up. I'm going to let you handle this."

"Thank you father."

"Aside from, that, how were things while we were away?"

"In light of some things I was just made aware of."

"What did Li Mei tell you?"

He crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at her. "Nothing about you, oddly enough."

"Oh, really?" Her eyes shifted to the side. "What were you talking about then, that might upset mother?"

"I asked about you. You're not making a good impression as someone who wants my trust."

"Father, I was here, wasn't I? I behaved myself. I feel if I were to bore you with the details of what I did, while you were away, you'd be proud."

"Go on then. I don't mind being bored. I quite like hearing boring stories about you."

"It's so boring, but the Vilipal, the Vap, Villi, the family you went to see, how did that go? I didn't get much out of Kitana before she went to sleep, and she only really spoke of the daughter. What of everyone else? Did you and mother accomplish what you set out to do?"

He was skeptical, but he knew she could keep this game of avoidance going on for hours if need be. "I guess if it was really bad, Li Mei would have said something. I trust her judgment."

There goes that bad feeling again. Tarnishing Li Mei's bonds of trust.

"I fear things are more unstable than we thought. We actually left early because we had Kitana with us. His enemies are getting restless and taking more risks. He's grown paranoid. Going so far as to suspect his wife and children. I understand his plight, but I couldn't imagine."

"That is horrible. From what you saw, do you believe there's any merit to his belief?"

"I can't say. His wife is a very delicate woman, strikingly beautiful." He looked at her, for what reason, she didn't know. "I don't think she'd have to try hard to rally more able help to dispose of him, but she doesn't strike me as that kind of woman. His sons adore him. His daughter, she's a strange one, still I wouldn't suspect her of such things. Someone that close could have easily gotten rid of him. She isn't as warm or inviting as the rest of her family, but she was nice to your sister. I think she may perhaps just be shy."

Not likely. What he was reading as strange and shy, was anything but. If she ever got the, pleasure, of meeting this woman, she was going to have a talk with her.

"Well, I started my day early for a reason. I have to get to it love. Make sure you see your mother. I'm off then."

For whatever reason, Li Mei hadn't told her father about her going to the training grounds, he agreed to indefinitely postpone their talk until she was ready. If she could get a solid word on the condition of Elaine and everyone else, she would consider this a catastrophe avoided. She swore, if this turned out alright, she would change her ways, think things through thorough and listen.

"Did you get the packages I left for you?" Tanya appeared out of nowhere, occupying her father's empty space.

"Yes, thank you."

"So what are your plans for the day?"

She had none, and so she did what she always did, whatever she felt like. She spoke with her mother, rejoined her sister, snuck down in the barracks to lie in Elaine's bed, then roamed around until dinner. This was her routine for an entire week as things began to normalize. Hanging out with her sister, spending time with her mother. The girls still weren't back, and as far as she knew, Li Mei hadn't been given any word from their officials.

In no time, another month came and went.

"These things take time Mileena. Travel, deliberation."

One leg resting on the branch, the other swinging freely, a depressed princess continued her light mourning. Elaine wouldn't have gone this long without trying to contact her. She knew Mileena would worry. That could only mean she was either being tortured again, or she was already dead. Living in denial would be worse than slowly coming to terms with that likelihood. Until she received irrefutable confirmation, she would take these guesses as truth, ingesting her grief in manageable bites.

"Mileena, I'm sure there's a good reason you haven't heard back from them. It's very possible they've been given other duties to fulfill before they return."

"Is she still in that tree?" Tanya joined her sister's side on the ground.

"I try to give her her room, but she's being ridiculous. It's not fair to me Mileena. You hide this from mother and father, but you make me watch you be so sad, for no reason."

"I came up here, so you wouldn't have to see. You followed me out here."

"I don't want you to be alone!"

"I want to be alone!"

She felt something hard poking the back of her calf. "That's the problem. You can't reason a stubborn cat out of a tree." Tanya was down there, jabbing her leg with her staff.

"Would you two leave me alone? I'm not bothering anyone, for once."

"We're your guards, we can't leave you alone. What if an assassin saw you sitting there, all by yourself?"

"What good are you down there," Knowing how silly her sister and Tanya would be about this she tried to take back her words, but it was too late. They were already climbing. As much as she didn't want them up there, she still helped Kitana get safely on the branch with her. Tanya went a little higher, going for the thicker branch above them that she could lie on.

Kitana lied her head back on Mileena's chest and draped her arm around her neck. "You're going to feel so silly when she returns."

"She's going to be very disappointed in how you wasted time."

"If I could see things the way you do, maybe I wouldn't feel this way. She would have said something, sent word."

"And what would you have done?" Tanya's nails tapped on her scalp.

"Used the letter to," Was that why Elaine hadn't sent word? Had Mileena burned her bridge of trust with her too? Before, her hatred was misplaced. Now, all the misfortune that she was in, could be traced back to Mileena. Were it not for Mileena, she could be happy, unbothered. Leading a life typical of Umgadi youths. No crazy princess undermining her authority, forcing a life of secrecy and immorality, putting her in a position to lose favor with the king and queen. What had she really given Elaine? She didn't have much and Mileena took it all. What did she give her?

She didn't want nor deserve the reassurance that would be sure to follow if she did voice her concerns. From the moment she met Elaine, rather it was her fault or not, she'd been nothing but a burden on her. If she was dead, all Mileena would have given her was a release from the anguish she put her through. Were she not holding her sister, she would surely lean over and descend this tree head first.

The palm of Tanya's hand pressed against her forehead, holding it firm against the trunk of the tree. "You really care for this girl?" Mileena nodded into her hand. "Do you really think you wouldn't feel her departing from this realm? When she's happy, aren't you happy? When she's sad, aren't you sad? The heart you put into these bonds, is still yours. It will tell you how it's doing. When she's gone, it will return to you with a piece of her. You will know."

"Do you, really believe that Tanya?" Her sister asked.

"Of course. We couldn't all be blessed to have bonds as inherent as twins. We have to work for them."

Kitana snuggled closer to her. "Sometimes, it's not so easy. Like now. I feel so sad, even when I'm not near her. She doesn't think of her poor sister, who she's making miserable. I believe everyone will be alright, you believe it too. We're all patiently waiting for them to return and Mileena's sitting here, being so sad."

"Tanya, what's it supposed to feel like, if she's gone?" Mileena asked.

"It won't be pleasant, but it will be unique."

"What do I do if that happens?"

Again, her hand came down and pinched her cheek. "If I'm not with you, come find me, we'll go from there."

Her sister and Tanya were relaxed enough to fall asleep, unaware of the scrutiny she was putting every single reaction that passed through her being. A message from Elaine was going to come in the form of some unique feeling, she would be on the lookout. Rather good or bad, she was ready to receive, as long as it came.

What would she do if it didn't? What would that mean?

Another month, came and went. Tanya was still her guard, Li Mei was still on tense terms with her and the Umgadi quarters were now being dusted once a week.

Mileena had ceased to feel most things to keep her pathways clear for this message. She had the barest of emotional output for daily dealings. She was listening twice as much, speaking less than that. That positive change Elaine brought out of her, was a shell of its former self. Maybe that was good for a future queen, but it was torture for an emotional young woman.

Everyone else had left the great hall. She knew the meeting was over, if she had reason to leave, she would have. Since she didn't, she sat on her stool, losing herself in the emptiness she resided in. Drowning out her emotions for so long, put her in a state of constant fatigue. Just being alive didn't take as much energy as one would think, when you weren't getting into trouble, or filling your days with meaningless nonsense.

"I can only guess, why you're moping around like this." Her father's voice, came out of his image. "Why is it, whenever you're doing what I want, it's never something I can rejoice in? Only in the face of sorrow, can you be a model apprentice. You said talking helps. Talk to me."

He must have remembered where they were, and the echo all around them, even with such small voices. They left for a more private setting. A place she hadn't been in so long. His study. His personal library.

With him behind his desk and her in a chair on the other side, she was taken back to a simpler time. When Elaine was just someone she admired. She wasn't much older than she was back then, but she felt it. If she could go back and tell herself to let it go, knowing what lied ahead, she might. If only to spare Elaine this future. She would break her own little heart, to save herself from this suffering.

"It was in here, you first told me about that girl, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

He clasped his hands on his desk, and stared at them, like his thoughts were painted in the wrinkles. "If things were different, I would have picked up on it. I may have teased you a little. Let's give it a go, shall we?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your heart is taking flight isn't it? Tell me about...her."

Emotions were flooding into her, she couldn't let them. Not yet. "You don't have to do this. You, and Kitana, have been so wonderful about this. Please, let me be considerate. It's hard for me to watch you struggle, and know it's because of me."

His head came up. Her original eyes smiled down on her with the warmth of her sister's. "That's why I'm doing this. It's hard for me to watch you struggle. You've come into my office, you're excited about your latest outing with your squad, tell me about it."

Chipping away at her hesitance, she tried to think back to that time. She was already there when she walked in. Instead of wishing she could take it back, she was trying to recall every detail. "She let me drive the cart, even though I made a few mistakes, she trusted me to do it. But she kept her arm around me to keep me from falling off, even while she slept. When we got there, I crashed it. She said she'd never let me drive again."

"I should thank her." He smiled. "Then what happened?"

"I paid for the repairs, and we worked all day. Kitana helped too. She never wanted us to burden the town's people, so she had us pick and catch our own food."

"I recall you saying she was thoughtful."

Mileena shrugged. "That day, I saw two of my squad members kissing." Picking at the fabric of her leggings, she let a few seconds go by before continuing. "At the time, she told me to ignore it. When I asked her later, she said, she didn't really...I don't know. I can't really remember what she said."

"Was that the change you mentioned? Something she would change."

"Yeah. I think. She said she'd keep the rules as they are. I don't see why anymore. Father, the Umgadi, isn't what I thought it was."

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen parts of it that, make me feel conflicted."

"What have you seen?"

"Self righteousness, mistrust, impurities outside my own. I've seen things that make me believe, barring them from having relations should be the least of their worries. They should be happy to have more girls like Elaine. She didn't even want this. She tried to be what they wanted. It was me. It was all me. Everything bad that happened to her was my fault."

"How?"

"She tried to stay away. I was the one forcing her to accept me. How could she say no? She didn't have a choice. I'm, the princess. The next in line for the throne."

He propped his head up on his hand. "She knows you. She had much more to lose by saying yes, than saying no. You're not an animal Mileena. You wouldn't have forced yourself on her, had she said no." Thinking back to that time in her tent, she put her head down in shame. "Mileena?"

"Remember when I brought Kitana back with a broken arm? Well, the night before, I'd tried to talk to Elaine about how I felt. I climbed into her tent, held her down, and forced her to listen to me. She rejected me. I ended up chasing her through the forest the next day, we even fought a little. That's how she sprained her ankle."

"Please tell me, you're just making it sound worse than it is." She hung her head lower. "Is that the kind of queen you plan to be?"

"No. I just wanted to talk to her. I knew she wasn't listening to me because I hurt her feelings."

"What else did you do?"

"When we got back after the Tarkatan attack. I promised her I wouldn't leave her. I made her bring me back so I could get back to Kitana. Then I left her. When I tried to talk to her about it, she tried to leave. She started crying. That's why she was in my bed. I had to be there when she woke up."

"I, should have got a drink for this. For future reference Mileena, never do what you've already done, again." He leaned back in his chair. "Alright, you're skipping around. Start from where you left off."

She started off slow, but once she got going, she was speeding down memory lane, dragging her father through side streets and alleyways. All her feelings and hypothesis, her regrets and moments of clarity. Like with Kitana, she may have forgotten to omit more than she did. Hearing how often his daughter had gone to bed with this woman, or how she cherish being in her arms, might have been much.

Stopping just short of the training grounds, she was out of her seat, breathless, talking with her hands. Illustrating both their parts with her body. She was the impulsive, emotional, wild one. Elaine was that levelheaded, stern, secretly passionate, holster of her heart. She considered downplaying her sister's involvement, but he had to know. She had been no influence on her. Kitana was her own person, separate and in control of herself. She could interact with Mileena, love her and offer her support, without adopting her desires.

Through it all, her father truly did travel back in time with her, and gave her more than what she expected from his words. He gave her advice, reprimands, criticism, and praise. He never bit his tongue or compared her to the son she wasn't. He was laughing. He was interested. He wanted to know more. He wanted there to be more.

Sitting on his desk, scribbling on some papers, she ended her autobiography with Elaine's departure and how she was handling it. Holding nothing back, she spoke of sickness, depression and an overall feeling of dread that curtained her view of life at the moment. She wished to fall asleep in Elaine's bed and wake up to her there. She wanted to make her meals and handle the domestic chores to take the weight off her. Even when she was queen. She liked doing these things for her. It gave her something to do, that felt meaningful, without being a royal obligation or a task of great importance.

Surprising even herself, she was smiling. Through her declarations of misery, while spitting in the face of her future for the life of a common housewife, she was smiling.

"I've cooked for her a few times, she said it was good. She's not the type to lie to spare my feelings, but maybe then, because she wanted me to keep trying."

He clutched the arms of his chair, bracing himself as though her words had actually moved him. "So much has gone on, right under my nose. To think, this whole time. I thought I was closer to you girls than this."

"You would have been the first to know if I was able to tell you. Well, after Kitana. I trust you father. I value your opinion. This was just different, as you understand." He nodded. "I guess it's good things happened this way. I was running out of excuses with the princes. Now I guess, none of that matters. If she doesn't come back."

"Have you been told why she's been summoned?"

Her scribbles matured into deliberate ideas to keep her busy while she prepared to enlighten her father. "I know. I don't want to get into how I know, but I know. I know it was all to protect me. I know it was to stop this very thing from happening. I can't say rather it failed or succeeded. What I can say is, you and I both agree, this wasn't the way to handle it. Keeping me safe, caused a lot of unnecessary hurt. To answer your question from before, it's worse being the one to keep someone in the dark. All I had to do was exist. Learning the truth was hard, but nothing compared to what was done to others, to ensure it was kept from me." She stopped, glaring into her father's eyes. "Did you and mother have anything to do with Elaine and Hiziza's conditioning before they were brought here?"

"Conditioning?"

"She said they were, treated very harshly. You're my parents, I know you feel you had noble reasons, but I wouldn't be able to forgive that. I wouldn't think it possible. But mother, I know she's taken extreme measures, some that even I agree with. If she had a hand in that, for my sake,"

"I'm not going to pretend I had much to do with anything outside of suggesting your training continue. But, as I said. I know my wife. I can say with certainty, she'd have no part in harming children, even for our own."

His convictions put her heart at ease. Her mother wasn't cruel. Knowing all she knew, seeing her and Elaine growing closer, she could have easily driven a wedge between them, yet she didn't.

"I've gotten what I hoped for out of this. Did you?"

"Yes...what did you hope for?"

"I just wanted to see you smiling again. Have patience love. These things take time."

Everything, was wrapping up so nicely, perfect almost. Without her friends and Elaine, it was sadly meaningless to her. With Kitana and her parents return, she had nothing else to anticipate, to mitigate this tension. She was either waiting for great news, or terrible news. No one seemed to understand how knowing she could do nothing but wait, was killing her. Time was all she had, it was indefinite. There was too much and too little, it dragged on, it sped by. They'd been gone for months already. How much time was needed to understand such a simple story?

An entire month crept by again while she pondered that very thing.

"Mileena," Just from Tanya's tone, she could tell she was unhappy about something. "Are you badgering the other girls for the location of a classified Umgadi office?"

"Asking once shouldn't classify as badgering. They didn't tell me anything, so what does it matter?"

"I thought you said you wanted Li Mei's trust."

"These things take time, don't they?" She mimicked Tanya's face and voice. "I didn't do anything."

"Can you at least wait until your parents get back before you do something crazy?"

"When are they coming back?"

"When they are ready."

Life had officially returned to normal. A kind of normal. Her parents were back to traveling for their meetings and affairs. Kitana and Tanya were stuck to her like glue. Li Mei was still being cool to her. That emptiness was replaced by anger and resentment. If a year was allowed to pass before she saw them again, she would have no choice but to believe they were no longer in this plain of existence. Or, they had been stationed elsewhere. Either option would seriously tempt her resignation from the Umgadi. She would side with her mother and see them dismantled. And if she asked why, she would tell her everything herself.

"I hope they return tonight."

Not so self centered she'd ignore the obvious anger in Tanya's voice, she stopped stewing in her own diabolical future, and inquired about her elder's trouble with the present. "Why do you sound so upset? Is something wrong?"

"Tomorrow was going to be my day off. But, since the king and queen are gone Li Mei might request I stay on duty. This is the perfect setup for you to disappear."

"Disappear where? I don't know where she is. Do you?"

"Mileena! You're going to have to grow up sooner or later. You're at the tail end of this, youthful immaturity. You're so full of it, you make others act out."

"I haven't even done anything. I'm moping around, by myself, bothering no one, and you're all acting as though I'm plotting some grand escape and rescue."

"You were just trying to get information about its location."

"And no one's giving it to me. So what does it matter?"

"Do you think you should be rewarded, for not learning a lesson?"

"I'm not in the mood."

"No one is. But do you think, you should be rewarded for not learning your lesson?"

"What lesson?"

"Patience. Acceptance. Perseverance. Trust. No one is telling you you can't feel this sadness. But a wounded warrior must still fight."

"War isn't what killed her."

"Stop acting like she's dead."

"Give me proof she isn't. Elaine knows I'd be like this. She'd send a letter. Someone would send me a letter! Word through another soldier. Even if she's worried I'd try to find a way to her, she'd find a way to let me know, without telling me."

The sigh flowing from her mouth was strong enough to cover the whole room. "What should I expect of someone whose lost their peace? Mileena, I do not mean to intrude on your, lamenting. I only get involved because this, cloud of negativity is, infectious. We're worried. We're all scared too. The more you remind us, those children might not be back, we mourn for our little sisters too. But we will not, until we know it is appropriate. The worse you act, the less likely you are to be told any news."

"Are you saying, Li Mei could already know something, and she's just not telling me?"

"If she knew anything, she would surely tell me. And I, in spite of any logic, would tell you. I could only pray night and day, you wouldn't make me regret it. What if you're keeping anything good away with this dark energy?"

"Tanya, you're much more immature than I thought. Whatever is going to happen, will happen. Rather I'm in a good mood or not."

"Maybe I'm trying to meet you, at your level. The world gives what it is given. A letter could be on the horizon, and your negative thinking has conjured up a storm on that poor courier. They could be in a carriage right now, and you've broken their wheel."

"Don't treat me like a child!"

"Don't act like one. See, someone just got a blister and can't finish walking tonight. That's another day of you waiting."

She would leave before she got disrespectful. But her anger would be known. Every step smacked against the stone, hard enough to hear and feel.

"Every move made in anger is another trial they must overcome." Tanya sang.

She would personally beg Li Mei to give her her day off, a couple of them, in a row. Mileena would swear on her life she'd sit in her room and stare at the ceiling the entire time, if she could just get away from her for a little while.

Though her sister was much more understanding, she could take a bit of separation from her too. Even she was acting like a sponge for Mileena's mood. Following behind her, sneaking glances, sighing and fidgeting.

"Kitana, why is everyone so uncomfortable with me being sad? Is it really that much of a bother?"

"Huh? What?" She shook herself out of whatever space she was lost in, then put her hand over her mouth. "Did I say something? Did you?"

"What's got you so lost in thought?"

"Nothing."

"It's not me?" She shrugged. "Is something bothering you?"

"I'm fine. Were you saying something? How are you?"

Now, while Mileena was looking right at her, she was averting her eyes, while still taking cautious glances. "What is wrong with you? You know what's bothering me. What's bothering you?"

"Nothing."

"Kitana."

"It's about...well. Can I tell you tomorrow?"

"Why can't you tell me now?"

"I might not need to tomorrow. Everything could be resolved by then."

"What could be resolved?"

"I think I've been pretty good about not interfering with your attitude as of late. Please be as kind to me."

She had. Of the few who pestered her about it, Kitana had been the first to give her the proper room to express her issues. She sat by her, accepting whatever extreme mood she would experience. Only she had the power to make Mileena feel selfish and regretful of how she was carrying on. She hadn't even been too sure what Kitana was getting into while she was going through this. Where she went when she disappeared, or what she did day to day when she was out of her sight, was a mystery to her.

"Kitana...what is it? I want to know. I want to help you."

"It's not really for me."

"Then tell me, what it is?"

"No."

"Even I haven't been being this difficult." Mileena stood up from her spot on the ground. Dusting herself off, she took an authoritative stance before her sister. "What is it?"

"It's nothing. Go back to, whatever you were doing."

In a flash, she had her hand on the nape of Kitana's neck. Squeezing gently with her thumb and index on either side. Kitana cringed, her legs folded. "Stop!"

"This is a terrible, terrible vulnerability for a guard." The more she resisted, the easier it was for Mileena to find more ticklish places on her. Kitana was shifting from mildly pushing her away, to actually trying to fight back and Mileena was still tickling her with ease. "I feel, so unsafe right now."

"Stop it now or I'm telling mother!"

"Mother isn't here to save you."

"You're too old to be acting like this!"

"You're too old to be getting caught like this."

They were no longer children, where one had the upper hand from years of training. She wasn't the little sister who could only gain her freedom at Mileena's mercy. Sometimes, she was strong enough to break free on her own.

"You're such a child!" She screamed as she ran down the hall and outside.

Mileena watched from a window, letting her get a good head start. When she made it to the middle of the grassy plain, and started to slow down, thinking she was safe, that's when she leapt from the window.

"Mileena stop this! You're being ridiculous!"

"Run faster, it shouldn't be this easy for me to catch you!" She was already an arm's length away.

"It's never too late for me to change my mind!"

Fingers grazing her shoulder blade, just to show her how close she was, Mileena could feel that smile creeping back into her face.

In that half twist she made to bat her hand away, she was transformed into another love. Mileena saw Elaine, running from her in the forest. Not until her arms were around her, and they were tumbling down a hill she wasn't aware of, did she remember it wasn't her.

Cradling her head, keeping their arms tucked at their sides, she and Kitana endured nauseating rolling and bouncing down the steep path.

At the bottom, when the ground began to feel level, she let her sister go, so she could hopefully stop sooner. She was able to save Kitana a couple more spins.

Watching the clouds go by as she oriented herself, Mileena took in that peaceful feeling again. Kitana, didn't seem to be having the same reaction.

Gasping at all the grass stains, she shook her head. "I'm going to start telling everyone I'm the oldest, since you refuse to grow up."

"You could have avoided all this, if you'd just told me what was wrong. You're no better."

"You're impossible. Tomorrow, alright."

She felt an apology was owed. In place of it, she helped her climb up the hill without mocking how much she struggled. She was going to need a lot more training if she really wanted to be her guard.

Maintaining her elated mood was as easy as continuing to smile as she walked. This happiness must mean Elaine was alright, and probably on her way back right now. This jolt of playfulness had to come from somewhere. What if she was back right now? Maybe Li Mei was still too upset to tell her. And Elaine would want her rest. Everyone would be tired. But if they were back right now...

Fantasy was a dangerous thing to a fragile heart, but she'd allow it, just this once. If she could use her imagination to grieve, she could use it for joy too. If Elaine was back in the barracks now, she'd allow her to rest. Seeing her now, would do nothing but turn Mileena into a sobbing mess. She didn't need that after whatever she'd gone through.

With that pleasing scenario in her mind, she moved about her day with pep. She thumbed through some books, tapped on a piano in the courtyard, and organized some things in her room. It was while she was organizing, she realized she hadn't seen that outfit Tanya picked out for her. She'd left it in Kitana's room. Hopefully she hadn't thought both outfits were for her.

Outside her door several women with bundles of small wooden food boxes were speed walking by. Behind them, Bryn was shuffling as hard as his legs could go.

"Hello Bryn, where are you off to?" She called to him.

"I'm taking this to sister Li Mei. Then I have to hurry back. I'm helping Skarlet cook for the soldiers."

He was moving fast, but by time he made it, Li Mei would probably be gone. "Would you like me to take it for you? I'm going to see Li Mei right now."

"I'm supposed to do it."

"I don't mind. It's alright. You work really hard."

Bryn slowed down but didn't stop. "Princess Lee, do you think we could take some food to everyone back at camp? Skarlet's food tastes so good. They would like it."

Her brightness, flickered. "Wasn't the food at camp...good?"

"No. I told Skarlet about it, and she said I should be grateful, even for bad food."

That sounded like Skarlet. "It's good to be grateful."

"Can we go visit them sometime?"

"I...I'm not sure. Maybe, someday. But,"

He sprinted down the hall screaming for Li Mei to halt for her meal. She met him halfway, thanking him for his efforts. Bryn ran away with a grin as wide as his head. "He's a very helpful lad. Spirited too."

Shocked Li Mei was being so talkative, she enthusiastically agreed. "He really is. So, how've you been? Is all, well?"

"Yes. You?" She rocked her head in a so-so way. "You know, Tanya has the day off tomorrow."

"Yes. I was considering asking her to postpone her break until your parents returned. You seem a lot more responsible under her management."

"Please don't do that. She deserves a break. I'll be on my best behavior. I'm dedicated to earning your trust, and proving myself to not be so inconsiderate." Li Mei waved her into her office. They both took a seat as she unwrapped her meal. "I, don't wish to meddle, but, have you heard anything?"

Li Mei blew the steam off whatever tantalizing feast Skarlet had prepared. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No."

"Would you like some?"

"No. Please, enjoy your meal." She desperately wanted some, however, it would be rude to take from her superior.

"Mileena, I know how close you are to them. I wouldn't withhold information about their return from you. I understand and admire you doing what you did, despite wishing you hadn't. I admit, in trying to teach you, I may have been a little harsh. No one could punish you, as hard as you've been punishing yourself. Tanya tells me you've been quite glum about this."

"It's my fault. You were right. I should have trusted you knew what was best. Elaine would have been fine."

"Right, wrong and fault belong to all of us. It's very possible I could have misjudged what she was up against. I dare say by now, you probably know her better than I do. You did what you thought was best. That's all any of us can ask for."

The chill she'd come to associate with this room was suddenly gone. Flying out of her seat, swinging around the desk between them, she clung to Li Mei. Pushing her back in her chair, shifting her from side to side, squeezing her neck.

All she needed now was to know Elaine was alright. That was all she needed.

"Still as affectionate as you were as a child. I still expect you to behave yourself while Tanya is off. I won't be having you followed. I hope I can trust you."

Head on her shoulder, she kissed her cheek. "You won't hear a word of misdeeds tomorrow. It will be as if I slept the day away."

"Well, don't do that. Try and do something productive. You've been slacking on your training, reading. You should be using your time wisely."

Positive thinking, and a smile seemed to be doing the trick. Leaving Li Mei's office, she remembered where she was off to before her joyful interruptions. Onward to her sister's room.

Kitana was still sore about her clothes, to cheer her up, she suggested they unwrap their outfits together. "If you like mine, you can have it. Would that make you happy?"

As expected, Kitana jumped with joy at her present. Flared shoulder sleeves, a long sheer skirt with slits going all the way up to her hips, a pair of small shorts to go underneath.

Mileena's was similar, except her shirt had one strap instead of a sleeve, and her bottoms were more pants like, with legs that were tied at the knee, but still had slits in them. Her entire thigh was out. Had she not been there to see where she got it, she would have known it was Edenian.

"It's so cute Mileena. Tomorrow would have been the perfect place for this."

"What do you mean? Perfect place for what?" She clammed up again. "Kitana, can you please just tell me? Tomorrow, I want to be as stress free as possible. I'm on decent terms with Li Mei again, I don't want to mess that up. With Tanya off for the day, I want everything to go well. If something's bothering you, and dealing with it might get me in trouble, just tell me now, so I can deal with it today, and behave tomorrow."

"It's nothing like that. It's nothing bad. Just forget about it."

"I'm in such a good mood. Don't do this. Don't make me beg you."

She fiddled with her outfit lying on the bed. "The surprise, that thing Gwen told me about. It's tomorrow night. I was hoping she would be back by now, and you two could experience it together."

"Oh."

"If she were here, then she could take you, as your guard. But now, especially since Tanya can't take you, not even you can go. It's terrible. Gwen said it would be horrible if you missed it."

"I see. I'm sorry Kitana. I'm thankful though. I'm sure it would have been lovely, whatever it was. Should I ever meet her, I'll explain what happened, and thank her regardless."

"I'll think of something. It's just one night, for a few hours. They trusted you to go days away,"

"With an entire team."

"Of youths in training. I'm just as capable as Tanya, wouldn't you say?"

She twiddled the fabric of her new outfit between her fingers. "This is such a soft pattern."

"Mileena!"

"You're, just as capable as...Leisa. You're certainly on track to become as good as Tanya. I'd trust you, without question. But that might not be enough to persuade Li Mei, and I can't lie to her, ever again. I won't."

"I'll think of something." She looked at their outfits. "Doe she have anything nice like this to wear?"

"I, don't think so."

"Gwen said you had to dress nice."

"I think the nicest thing she had, was that outfit I fixed up for Tanya."

"I'd have let her borrow this. That way, you two could have matched."

"As stunning as she'd have looked in that, it's too small for her."

"Maybe we should go buy her something nice? If you really can't go, I guess I could always write her and ask when the next one is." She sighed. "Even if Elaine turned up in the morning, she'd probably not be up for traveling and going out that same night."

"Since I'm likely not going, can you tell me what I was in for?"

"I'm not so sure you aren't going. Even if I could just get you there."

"You want me to go alone, to some secret event, that impulsive woman told you about? Kitana, there's few situations I've gone into, skeptically. The things father said about them, make me feel as though I'm being set up to be kidnapped."

"Gwen's only strange, because she's alone. What if you'd been alone? Yes she was impulsive, but you have, Elaine. She doesn't have anyone to hug her, hold her, kiss her, like you do. Her family, isn't close like us. They, push her away." Kitana straightened out her outfit again. "She was kind enough to share this with me, and she was so worried for you, she practically begged me to make sure you got there."

"I understand that, but there's nothing we can do. She wanted me to go with Elaine, Elaine isn't here. I can't go by myself. I don't know much about this place, but this doesn't sound like the kind of place I'd want the Umgadi following me to. What do you want me to do?"

"I'll think of something."

"And if you can't?"

"That's a bridge I've never had to cross before. What do you normally do when you get there?"

"I, accept what I cannot change."

Kitana burst into laughter. "So you've traded in your impulsiveness for lying? Well, not traded, you weren't too truthful when you didn't need to be."

"The one time I try to do good, you want me to revert to my old self? Right after you decided to be the oldest. You see how much stress it puts you under? You're drawn to mischief."

"One time. Just let me figure it out."

"If you can, I'll go, by myself I guess. You find a way to make it alright with Li Mei, I'll go."

"Consider it done. You'll leave at noon. Make sure you freshen up. Do your hair a little different, you want to be as discreet as possible."

With Tanya having the day off and Kitana's plan sure to fail, she was content to lie in bed all day, basking in the remains of her pleasant yesterday. Li Mei had forgiven her. That overwhelming feeling of peace was surely Elaine letting her know things were alright. She was, fine.

The next morning, she awoke bright and early. Late by Elaine's standards, but early by most. Was she waking up this early?

The woes of their separation tried to seep in, but that shield of peace was holding steady, keeping those negative emotions out. Everyone was alright, they'd be coming back soon. No one was giving her a reason to believe otherwise, so that was good enough.

"Does she have anything nice?"

While staying in bed was tempting, her sister had given her a much better idea. She could gift each of the girls a new outfit, one fit for celebrations or sophisticated events. Since all they wore were their uniforms, even when they were off, if they were visible and saw someone in need, they were expected to lend assistance. If they could dress more casually they could actually relax, and not be confined to their room.

Skipping over to Kitana's room, she jostled her awake, asking if she wanted to take part in today's festivities. She agreed, after asking for several more minutes of sleep. In that time, Mileena moseyed over to Li Mei's to get permission for the outing. She gave her streets, destinations, possible return times, all of which got much merriment out of her superior. When she made it back to her sister, Kitana was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes while sliding her shoes on.

She slept more in the carriage ride over, only fully rising when they were walking Edenian grounds.

"We should have dressed up. It's so nice out here. I hate feeling out of place like this."

"We're Edenian no matter what we're wearing." Mileena bestowed a royal wave to some beauties who smiled her way. "Everyone knows it. Everyone knows us."

"I know. But it's nice to fit in sometimes. Oh, we should pick you up a new mask to go with your outfit."

"Why do I need a mask? Why do I need to be discreet? It's a play right?"

"Mileena, please just, go with it. No questions."

"Did she actually tell you anything about this place? Or do you not know yourself and that's why you can't tell me anything?"

"That's it."

"Are you serious? Kitana, that's much more irresponsible than even me."

"Really? Had Shang Tsung not been a decent man, you could have very well had us fighting for our lives to escape him. You let a man take us to a secluded tower in the woods."

"Four highly trained warriors." Kitana side eyed her. "Three and you. This is nothing like that."

"I'm joking. She told me, a lot about this place. That's why I want you to experience it blindly. I talked to her, well I listened to her. She's very knowledgeable about these things. And expressive. She explained things to me, that I may have taken for granted."

"Like what?"

"If I tell you, I feel like you're going to shut it down completely."

"I can still do that. Besides, Li Mei is the one who,"

"I told you, I'll see to that." They waved to a couple leaving an eatery. "Do you think yourself, normal?"

"How do you mean?"

"Do you? Think about yourself. Do you think you're, normal?"

Still unsure of what she meant, she used context clues from their conversation. "No?"

"Why not?"

"I don't know. A feeling? How everyone else sees things."

"Hold on." She put her hands together. "How did she explain it? We disagreed here, but I liked how she explained it." She put the ball she made in the center of her chest. "I'm Kitana, at my center, there are things I share with other people, that are still personal to me." She moved her hand to the center of Mileena's chest. "At your center, there are things personal to you. Excluding us being twins, do you think the branches that sprout from your center would be that different from mine?"

"Despite us being twins, we're very different. So, yes."

"You're making this complicated."

"You're explaining it in a complicated way. What did you disagree with her about?"

"Well, because of how she feels, she rejects what we would consider, normal. I can see the hurt she feels from such isolation and repression. She claims her rejection as freedom from the binds we face that inherently comes with acceptance. Despite your feelings for Elaine, you speak of very normal desires."

She still hadn't been won over, her opinion of this Gwen woman, was yet to be wholly positive or negative, but she was getting more intrigued with the idea of meeting her. And this place she wanted her to visit.

Kitana was correct. Every desire she had involving Elaine was born from some unimaginative blueprint laid out by every romantic gesture she'd seen or read between a man and woman. Things were just tailored differently by the nature of their femininity. Or their circumstance? Mileena believed she wanted the life of a normal housewife, but she'd only really experienced it through literature. She was a princess, Elaine was a warrior. While this wasn't a typical match, there was quite a bit of overlap. She cooked for her, cleaned for her, they innocently shared a bed. The more she contrasted these things against her title, the more she realized her mother could never know.

The owner of the boutique was even more gracious the second time around. She even offered more free items after Mileena told her what she planned to do. She declined, asserting she deserved to be paid for her services.

"Mileena, while it's nice, do you think you should buy the clothes, instead of letting them pick something? I don't see anything in here, Hiziza would like."

"I can do both."

"Of course, but this might be fun for them. We came to get something nice for Elaine. You should let everyone else decide what they want."

"I guess. You're smarter about these things. I'd like to make her something too though, to keep me busy."

"I'm surprised you haven't knitted her a teddy."

Face rushing with heat, she tried to hide her embarrassment. "I can't make her a bear. She wouldn't like it."

"I think she would. She's very appreciative. Any gift from you would make her happy. She'd hold it and treasure it. She's sure to get her scent all over it. And you could have it when she wasn't around."

"Tanya told you that? Am I allowed no privacy in this castle?"

Somehow, when she was able to imagine every outfit was something to decorate Elaine's body, she could focus a little better, turning this once loathed activity into something fun and enjoyable. Pecking through the clothes, they were able to find matching masks too.

"It's a sign. Everything will work out."

"Going alone though, I'm nervous."

Kitana folded some clothes they ruffled. "I, don't know if I'd be welcomed. I want you to enjoy yourself. I know when you're around me, you are more reserved than you'd like to be."

"I'm not."

"You are, it's normal. Even if Elaine were a man, I assume you wouldn't overindulge in passionate embraces in front of your sister. After everything you told me about that cabin, I know you hold back way more than you would. Maybe she holds back too."

Had she told Kitana about the hut? How distasteful of her. But, she might be on to something. Elaine obviously was holding back, she was more versed on these things than Mileena, regretful as that may be. Was she holding back out of respect or shame? Both, neither? Something else Mileena couldn't comprehend?

"Maybe being a bit reserved isn't a bad thing." Kitana giggled, holding up another outfit. "What about this one?"

A lovely two piece, connected at the waist by delicate gold chains. The colors were vibrant, bleeding into each other, drawing eyes all over the wearer, in an admiring flow. A headband, waist wrap and slippers to transform it into something modest. "It's gorgeous yes but, I don't know."

"Don't know what? She'd look wonderful in this. And, it reminds me, we need to get you a headband."

The glimmer of hope that her sister's plan succeeded, wouldn't let her argue against buying more for this event. She wouldn't ruin this lovely outing with her sister.

For the first time, in probably her whole life, she'd spent a day looking at clothes and wasn't angrily mucking about whining for it to end. If she could stomach it again, it might be nice to try this with her mother. Unlike the fumble she'd executed with her father, her mother would have to be warmed up to everything. No rushed revelations or throwing caution to the wind.

"It's getting late. By time we make it to the castle, get you cleaned and dressed, it will be time to go."

"There's still the matter of you convincing Li Mei, which you maybe should have tried to do, before we left."

"No. That gives her time to think things over."

"You must not know her very well. She's not the type to waste a day thinking something over. She'll think about thinking it over all day, then she'll say no."

"That's why I'm going to ask, now. Let's hurry."

They hailed a carriage, pleading with the driver to go as fast as he could. Lucky for them he knew of a back way with relatively no traffic this time of day. The second they stepped foot inside the castle Kitana urged Mileena to start getting ready.

Unsure of what to expect, Mileena was much more thorough than usual. Behind her ears, between her toes, under her fingernails, four times over. By time she slid out of the washroom, she felt like a new person. Her clothes were mysteriously laid out on her bed, with the new accessories they'd just bought. Elaine's things and the materials for her other gift were sitting on an ottoman at the end of her bed. If she were here, they could have gotten ready together.

"Oh good, you're almost ready!" Kitana ran into her room, in only a towel herself. Dripping wet, splashing water everywhere. "We're set to go."

"Really? You spoke to Li Mei that fast and she just said, yes?"

"Yes. She did, hurry, finish getting your clothes on so I can fix your hair, wrap it up so it'll dry faster."

"Don't rush me. You're not dressed at all. Are you sure you told her? You've been acting strange lately. Normally I don't mind being an ambiguous influence on you, but I told you, I'm not lying to Li Mei again."

"Good, you shouldn't. Now please get ready. I'll tell you on the way if you must know."

Kitana left, leaving her no one to argue with, so she finished dressing and oiling herself. A new outfit, on a fresh body. There was no other way to experience Edenian fabric. It was as though they had sewn their aristocratic nature into the clothing itself. Admiring herself in the mirror, she pushed her hair back and posed. It would be a crime not to be seen in this, however, she could just as easily get back in bed. Another perk of Edenian garments. Perfect for any and every occasion.

"You look stunning Mileena, just stunning!" Her headband was placed on first, then Kitana styled her hair around it. She said it was a good thing Mileena hadn't cut her hair in a while, it helped to disguise her even more. A braid on each side for control, the rest pulled back in a ponytail, a few accents that matched her outfit for good measure. She really didn't look like herself.

"We shouldn't look like twins tonight. These are cute, but maybe matching outfits wasn't the way to go." No matter what way Kitana styled her hair, when they looked in the mirror, next to each other, it would be obvious.

"Kitana, why does it matter if you're my sister? Are sisters not allowed in this place?"

"I just, we can't be recognized."

"If it didn't seem so important to you, I'd put my foot down. I don't like all this secrecy."

"You'll understand when we get there."

Swapping out their treasured earrings for more complimentary ones, they each grabbed a mask and prepared to go. They were almost out the door when Kitana doubled back around for something she said they needed.

"They wouldn't have let us in without this." She showed her a card and jewel. "This is payment, this in the invitation."

"So it's a party?" When she tried to look at the card, Kitana snatched it away. "Looking at the invitation isn't even allowed?"

"Mileena, the surprise is right there. Why can't you wait? It's nothing but instructions and directions. Calm yourself."

"You were going to make me come alone. I would have had to see it anyway. Unless you planned to just get me there, then leave me."

"It's a good thing we figured something else out then."

"Just so we're clear. I could take it from you if I wanted."

"I already know how to get there, and how to get us in. I will eat this invitation. If you force me to do that, you're going to be so mad at yourself when we get there. You're going to break out into tears over how badly you treated your dear sister, who just wanted to do something nice for you."

"You don't even know if it will be nice. She just told you it would be."

"If it's even a fraction of what she described, you'll be amazed."

"Kitana, you've pushed me passed the point of intrigue and fascination, now I'm annoyed."

"If you can't enjoy it for yourself, enjoy it for Elaine. To be honest, from what she described, I don't know if it's something Elaine would like all that much. But if you experienced it together, I thought, maybe it would still be good for her. You know her better. You'll be able to tell if it's something she'll like. So have as much fun as possible, for her."

That shut her up. When Elaine returned, Mileena was going to want everything to be perfect for her. If this was all Kitana said it was, or hinted it might be, it could become a thing they shared, a rare treat, a real courting activity. Something special for just the two of them.

Wanting to give her sister the reaction she was hoping for, she tried not to draw any more conclusions out of her or herself. She would go at this blind, since that was the best way apparently.

It was clear from the second set of directions, Kitana hadn't thought this through as much as she should have. They took a simple rickshaw to the Edenian district they'd spent the afternoon in. After that they took another through fields and crops just outside the gate. From there, they stumbled upon a wagon, driven by two women, already occupied by a handful of travelers.

"Excuse me ladies, might you two be in need?" Up close, she noted the warrior adjacent matching outfits they wore.

In the back of the wagon, Mileena heard several loud groans and exhales. "Sadly we can't deviate from our course, but it's a long road, terribly long walk." The second woman said. That silenced all the extra noises. "Perhaps your stop is on the way, or you'll consider joining us?"

"They're dressed much too fine to be going where we're going. They're dressed in finery I'd expect to only see in the Eughani Dynasty."

"While they do have luscious fruit there, I'm sure your company will be just as sweet." Kitana curtsied, following her lead, Mileena bowed. One of the women cooed, the other smiled, motioning they get in back.

With that, the wagon came to life with conversation. The bits and pieces she was grabbing made it seem as though they weren't close, but were forming fast acquaintanceship. They spoke of food, clothes. Everyone was complimenting each other on their clothes. The aura was high spirited. Cheerful.

Save for one woman. She was on the opposite end of the carriage, towards the opening. She wasn't speaking, she may have been sleeping. Hard to imagine with how loud they were, but she wasn't bothering anyone, just seemed a bit odd.

Speaking under the women talking, she whispered to her sister. "What was that about?"

"A password of sorts."

"I can't imagine you told her any of this, and she agreed. How did you get her to say yes?"

"I didn't lie, if that's what you mean. I took a few pages from your book. I told her the truth, to the best of my knowledge. I told her we were going to an inn for a performance, maybe I got it confused with a different inn, and we couldn't turn around. And it's very possible, Umgadi warriors would already be there. Even if they aren't, I'm your guard, and I want to prove I can protect you."

"I don't feel right about that."

"I didn't, necessarily lie. It's a new place, I mixed it up with someplace I've been before."

"This doesn't feel like something she'd let slide. But, I won't argue."

"Thank you."

Once they stopped talking to each other, they were pulled into the conversation around them. They were asked if it was their first time going, if they were there together, or if they were just traveling companions. Revealing it was their first time, the group simultaneously agreed to not spoil it for them.

The woman right next to her reached out, caressing her arm. "If you get a little flustered being there, feel free to join me. I wouldn't mind the company." Dark skin, black curls outshining the night sky floating around her head. The gloss from her lipstick caught the light of the coachman's lantern. She showed her teeth when she smiled, tacking a little growl at the end of it.

"Stop it, you'll make them nervous." A woman on the other side of her, reached across her lap to separate the woman's arm from Mileena. "Don't mind her. Oh my, your skin is so soft."

"Isn't it?" Her arm went behind Mileena's back to stroke Kitana's shoulder. "As soft as babies, finer than silk. What do you use? You must tell us."

Gently taking her by the wrist, guiding her away from Kitana, sheepishly laughing. "You've got very soft skin yourself ma'am. I'm sure whatever we use is very similar, or not as fine as what you've got on."

"I doubt it, the scents are completely different." It happened so slow, yet she was still taken by surprise. This woman had buried her whole face in Mileena's neck. "Oh, absolutely delightful." Her lips brushed against her skin as she spoke. "And together, delicious."

The woman on the other side of them got up, pulled her friend away from Mileena and sat between them. "I'm sorry about her. She's, too friendly."

"Is there such a thing? What did I do?"

She knew a quiet scolding when she heard one. Mileena turned back to Kitana. "Are you alright? Where are we going?"

"I'm fine. Please for tonight, don't worry about me. Just enjoy yourself."

"I'm worried about myself. What am I supposed to be enjoying? Where are we going?"

"We'll be there soon, please?"

"Fine, but keep talking to me until we get there."

They avoided any more incidents and had pleasant chats here and there with the other women. The other women. It was rather odd there were only women in this carriage. Half an hour into their journey, they were joined by three more carriages, full of women.

Glancing over her shoulder at the cart behind them, she saw two women lying on a bench together, much like she had with Elaine when they had to sleep outside. The one lying down was pointing at the sky, saying something. The woman holding her caught Mileena looking and licked her lips. "Kitty?" Mileena tugged on her shirt. "No more surprises. Where are we going?"

Kitana's smile put the brightest sparkle in her eyes. She traced Mileena's line of view over to the women in the other cart. She waved at them, drawing the attention of the star gazer. She waved back.

"Tell me."

"You refuse to be surprised. I don't understand. It's right there." Kitana pointed to a large building with many carriages pulling up to it, and parked outside it. "It looks quite different than when we came but, there it is."

From the outside it didn't look any more or less extravagant than any other inn. But the atmosphere was unlike anything she'd seen before. Women were cheering and waving from the second floor balcony, even throwing things to the women outside below. Music was blaring from inside. Newcomers were dancing and singing along while still in their carts.

"Alright ladies, we're here. Please enjoy yourselves." One coachman said. The other ran to the back to help them off.

Mesmerized trying to piece together what she was seeing, Mileena almost walked off the back of the carriage. The handsy woman from before steadied her with hands around her waist. "Careful my darling. Wouldn't want your first night here, to end so unceremoniously. You do plan to stay the night, don't you?" Her hands were still on her hips and rising.

"And if she was, it wouldn't be with you Ren. Let's go."

"What did you come for Lyn?"

"It wasn't to watch you ogle other women. The ones on stage I'll accept, but out here I will not."

"There's two of them." Her pleas fell on deaf ears. She finally left them alone when her unimpressed companion walked away.

"No more questions. We are here. Let's go inside." Kitana took her hand, dragging her toward the building, into the slew of women lingering around.

Everyone was dressed up to varying degrees. Suits, robes, armor, dresses, skirts, pants. Loincloths? She was looking high and low for a man. Whenever she thought she saw one, further inspection only resulted in more women, such dashing women simply wearing male clothes.

A couple centaurs, a few Shokan, all dripping with women. A gaggle of them were gathered around one Centaurian woman. Petting her, rubbing on her skin, stroking her mane. Three of them had climbed on her back. They let out girlishly shrill screams when she trotted in place.

The dark got even darker for a second. Mileena looked up, seeing a mighty Shokan woman towering over her. "The lady up there has a message for you." She pointed to a woman leaning over the balcony, smiling at her, waving and blowing kisses.

What was Mileena supposed to do about that? Did she expect her to run inside and find her? Or climb up the side of this building?

Before she knew what was going on, she'd already slipped out of Kitana's grasp. The Shokan woman had taken it upon herself to see to it Mileena got her message. High above everyone, she was hoisted up by her hips, then lifted even more by her feet. Her head came just below the top of the railing.

The maiden who called for her fanned herself, extending her hand to Mileena. As she went to take it, something was slipped into her palm.

"You should come see me later. Bring your friend if you like. I'll be waiting." She did a little dance. A sensual swish of her lower half and twirl of her hands. She kept Mileena's full undivided attention throughout her descent.

Her kindly Shokan acquaintance was lowering her with much more care and patience than she used to lift her. Pulling her closer to her body, finding more ways to hold her. Even keeping her suspended a few seconds more, before finally setting her on her feet next to her sister.

"Mileena what happened? What was that about?"

She opened her hand to see a little thin block with some numbers carved into it. "I don't know. She said I should see her later. You can come too."

"Did she say what for?"

"No. Oh, thank you miss." She awkwardly stuck her hand out.

"No, thank you. You have very lovely legs. I look forward to seeing them again, over my shoulders if at all possible."

"What?" Clutching her block, she struggled to make sense of the Shokan's statement.

"Oh, girls there you are." One of those women in men's ware wedged herself between Mileena and the shokan. She had long light colored hair, fair complexion, scars covering both arms and her abdomen. "Excuse us, if you will." An arm around both her and Kitana, this woman led them to the door, where they gave the greeter their jewels. "Are you two alright? I think it's barbaric they open these events to those creatures. It's a kindness to them I guess."

"We're fine." Said Kitana.

The woman backed away, holding up her hands. "So sorry ladies, where are my manners? I'm Dante. It's your first time here I presume, or is your naivete part of your charm? You just look so, amazed and stiff. I can hardly see your face and I can tell your mouth is hanging open. Come, lets not block the entrance. Have a seat with me, please?"

Dante weaved them through the crowd. Everywhere Mileena looked, there were women. The barmaids were women, the entertainers were women, the servers were women, the women were women. Behind the bar, in front of it, on top of it. In the windows, in every doorway. It was crazy to think, but it felt like every woman in the kingdom was there. So many women.

And they were all over each other, casually. Cuddling, kissing, caressing. It was easy for her not to stare, as there was so much to see. Did all these women really fancy one another?

Dante yanked one of the passing barmaids by the arm. "A round of drinks please love? Something sweet, surprise me. Thank you." They grabbed a table near where they'd stopped her. It was low to the ground, with pillows around it, creating a couch on the floor. They were separate from everyone else who was walking around or standing. The floor rose in layers. The women in back sitting at the top had to crawl into their seats. It looked cozier up there, and quieter.

"You catch on quick. Those are the best seats. They go pretty fast. Gotta get here pretty early to get them. Not that a bit of fun can't be had down here too."

"Dante, you come to these often?" Kitana asked.

"As often as I can. They're somewhat worth the trip. Especially when you can see new faces. Well, parts of them." She gave Kitana's mask a gentle tug. "What are you hiding under here? You're likely to get mistaken for entertainment with these on. We're all, friendly here."

How many people in her kingdom saw her daily and didn't recognize her if she wore different clothes? In the mid morning sun, she was a stranger to those who worshiped the ground she walked on. Who could possibly know her, in this oddly lit tavern, looking completely different than normal, in a place she'd never be? It was probably safe to take these off.

"Doesn't that feel better? Now tell me, are you two here, together? Did you meet on the way?"

Mileena sank down in her seat, still unable to communicate. "We've known each other a while. We're, friends." Kitana spoke in her place. "I'm Xandra. This is,"

"Lee-Lil-Lily. Lily."

"Your name is as cute as you are. Why are you so shy? I get it's your first time, but one would think you'd be more open and excited. You're melting into yourself. Hopefully the drinks help."

"Are you here alone Dante?"

"I came alone, but I'm not really here alone. You're never really alone here. You're always sure to see one or two people you know, or will know by the end of the night." Dante stroked a woman's back as she walked by. "What's your type? You're getting a lot of attention, but you're not giving any. Come on now. Have any of these beauties caught your eye?"

"Yes, Lily, have any of them interested you?" Kitana joined in the light teasing.

They didn't understand how overstimulated she was right now. She wanted to look at everyone, talk to everyone, ask questions. She also wanted to just sit here and feel comfortable. She was free to look and stare. Observe, take everything in. Kitana should have warned her. If she'd just let her be prepared for this, she'd be enjoying herself now, maybe. Could she? What was she supposed to be enjoying exactly? She felt it. But what was it?

When the maid came back with their drinks, Dante implored her aid in getting Mileena more relaxed. "It's my friend's first time here. I'm trying to calm her down, but those melons you're smuggling in your blouse are driving her mad. I'm sure if she got to hold just one, she'll be good as new. Part of the service right?"

The woman rolled her eyes at Dante. "Of the girls upstairs." She set their drinks on the table, but didn't leave right away.

Dante pinched Mileena's cheek and puckered her lips. "Come on. Look at her. She's adorable. Give her a feel. At least a peek."

Her resistance was halfhearted at best. She tried one time to pull free from Dante, only to have her wrists gripped even tighter. Their waiter bent in front of Mileena, presenting her endowments just inches away from her face.

Under Dante's control she was made to feel this woman's curvaceous, plump, round, soft. There was so much to hold it was spilling out of her hand. "That's why you were given two hands." No protesting on anyone's part, Mileena's other hand was brought into the mix.

What was she supposed to be looking at, or thinking about right now? Her eyes were open, but she couldn't understand anything she was seeing. Her mind was completely blank.

Was everything going well? She could only assume. Her dazed condition made it hard to tell.

"To the nether with you Dante!"

Empty hands cupped air. She was frozen in place until she felt some liquid splash on her. The barmaid had thrown a drink in Dante's face. She pulled a napkin from her pocket, gingerly wiping some droplets off Mileena.

"I'd suggest you find some better company than this little terror."

Dante was curled up, laughing behind Mileena. She waited until the woman left, after cursing her one more time. "That silly wench. Don't listen to her. She's just sour. She's gone and ruined my shirt." Just like that, her breasts were just as exposed as the maids. Her chest covering was much smaller than it should have been. "They're not much, but you're welcome to them if you're still in need."

"Dante." Appearing almost out of nowhere, a girl Mileena could only truly describe as, boyish, materialized beside Kitana. "Pardon me madam. I hope she hasn't been giving you trouble." The voice coming out of her surely was hers, and yet, Mileena was so perplexed she couldn't help but focus on her as she spoke. "Itani says you've been a pest. Considering it was just her, I'm guessing you just got here."

"Edmond? What have you done to yourself? Your hair." Edmond's eyes went up, like she wasn't aware of whatever Dante was talking about. "Can you believe her? Hair used to be as long as mine, and she wants to cut it off like that. Absolutely crazy. And let her tell you the ridiculous reason why,"

Edmond cut her off. "I like it like this."

"I think it looks nice." Kitana smiled at her.

"Why thank you." Edmond was careful not to touch her. "May I sit down?" Kitana made room. "You're much too kind to be acquaintances of hers. Greetings, I'm Edmond. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"Xandra. And this is my friend, Lily."

The second Mileena turned to greet her properly Edmond was going back and forth between them. "Friends? Not sisters? Possibly twins? You two look, strikingly similar."

"Twins?" Dante grabbed them both by the face, holding them side by side. "Well I'll be."

"Don't be rude." Edmond reached over the table pushing Dante away by her chest. "What happened to your shirt?"

"Itani happened. I don't know what she told you, but she threw my drink on me, for no reason. I was being kind to my new friend here. You know, women."

"Yes. I know women like you."

"I'm the best kind of woman. You should be honored to share the title with me."

"You'd be 150% the reason I reject it, if you were one reason. You and half the ill mannered harlots in here. I understand wanting a bit of freedom, but look at you."

"That's why I invited you. You need to be reminded of how wonderful women are from time to time. Besides that you're always going on about how loveless you are. If you can't find love in here, the problem is you."

Edmond blushed and looked away. "You make me sound whiny and pitiful. Am I not allowed a moment of weakness?"

"Only here do I encounter those." She turned around in her seat and howled at the women behind them.

"If I didn't know you, I'd ask if you were unwell."

As Dante yelled at the girls behind them, she shifted closer to Mileena, throwing a leg over her lap, straddling her. For the second time, in a very short amount of time, she had a strange woman's breasts in her face, with no idea what to do. She had an earthy smell, mixed with the alcohol.

"So which one of you is the adventurous one?" Kitana quickly pointed to Mileena. "The one whose barely said anything?"

"She's just a bit, in awe right now."

"Really? You're going to spend the whole night, with your mouth hanging open, nothing going in or out?" Her hand darted down Mileena's shirt, snapping her out of her stupor. "Give me that block that woman gave you. Come on, be generous. If you can't handle sitting in the lobby, you're not going to survive spending the night with her. She's liable to raise the soul from your body. I'm doing you a favor."

"Get off her Dante, are you mad?"

"I have to pay for those. She gets one for free, the first time she comes? Where's the fairness in that?"

"That's left up to the ladies. You know they don't honor swapping numbers."

"She was all covered up when she came, she won't know the difference."

"Everyone here knows you Dante. You show up, she's going to throw you out. Leave her alone."

"You leave me alone. Where did you hide it?" She sat back on the table, then thrust her cold hands in the slits of Mileena's shorts. "Did you eat the damn thing? Or, did you give it to her?"

All it took was hearing her sister's nervous chuckle as Dante was leaning toward her. She wrapped her arms around Dante's midsection, swung her off the table and onto the pillows. The momentum put her on top of Dante when she threw her. Mileena worked up a playful smile, realizing how crazy that must have seemed, her sudden shift in manners.

"I-It's mine. You can't have it."

It may have been loud, with talking, shouting, music and singing in the background, but she was certain she'd heard her say "I'll fight you for it." She'd been in many different brawls, fights, scuffles, tussles. This felt like none of those. Even the play fights she had with her sister were of no use here. The only thing she was fighting was immodesty. How many woman were going to have their hands all over her before the end of this event?

"Is there a problem here?" Two women, dressed like the coachman, were standing over them. "Is she bothering you?"

Dante weaved her arms around Mileena's neck, and raked her hands through her hair. "We're fine. Just having fun, right darling?"

Thinking she was done, Mileena was going to confirm everything was alright, until she was rendered unable to speak.

"Dante!" This brash woman was jerked down Mileena's body, leaving a deliberate trail of kisses as she descended. She anchored herself to her stomach. Could she feel the butterflies as she nuzzled her face against her skin? "You wonder why they call you a deviant!"

"Not only have I never wondered, I've never cared! From the moment I get in that cart, til they put me out, I'm here for a good time, if not a long one. Fate brought us together. I rescued her from that Shokan animal."

"Then turned into one yourself?"

Dante hopped back into her original spot, then helped Mileena back into a sitting position. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry love. Please forgive me." She held her again, kissing her cheek and neck. "It's just so hard, you won't believe what I've been through, being where I've been. Expressing my love and appreciation for all the lovely damsels I'm fortunate enough to encounter. No matter how straightforward or explicit I am, I get dismissed, while the oafish ogres who put in half the effort, are bedding them by the barrel. It's enough to make a girl cry. I'm a lady, I wouldn't kiss and tell. I understand the need for discretion. I'm tired of making myself clear, and still being misunderstood. Let me scream while I am here." Her breath tickled Mileena's ear. "Or make me if you can. I'd surely love for you to try."

"Some lady you are. You haven't even offered them food, yet you're trying to bed them."

"You lot hungry? Let's go order something then. You can help me pick out something Lily."

Turning to her sister, she asked if she'd be alright by herself. She said she would, and Edmond would keep her company.

Somehow, Dante's antics were helping her get acclimated to her surroundings a lot quicker. Wandering hands aside, Mileena wasn't terribly put off by her clinging. It was comforting in a way. Her breasts flat against her back, hungry pecks on her shoulder and jaw. That possessive and protective hold she had on her. It was calming.

"What should I order Dante?"

"What do you have a taste for?"

"Something meaty?"

"Alright then. Let me handle this. You just stand there and look pretty."

First her eyes went back to Kitana, she was still at the table, talking to Edmond. The room had calmed down significantly, she was seeing things she hadn't before, like actual activities. Games were going on on the other end of the tavern. She was particularly drawn to a loud group of women at the furthest corner from them. Whatever they were playing was eliciting a multitude of reactions every couple of seconds.

"Dante, I'm going to see what's going on over there."

"Hold on, I'll go with you. Probably just knife board or something." She pointed out their table to the server, then took Mileena by the hand. "You're sure to get snatched up without me by your side. These women can be absolutely vulgar, unlike me."

Perhaps it was her presence, or maybe not everyone in here was as, inclined, as she. Nearly every woman they passed while making their way through the crowd, was polite and respectful. All the compliments she received were tasteful. The few times she was grabbed it was to keep her from falling after she'd been bumped into. As it stood, the most vulgar woman in this place, was the one dragging her through this room, and even she wasn't that bad.

Or Mileena wasn't that bothered.

"Just as I thought, knife and board game." She groaned. "I fancy card games myself. This is a game for peasants trying to make quick coin. Takes no mind."

"It's just harder to cheat, Dante." The speaker turned around after just embedding her knife into the board two rings from the center. Her slender, muscular physique was a rarity in both the Umgadi and royal army. She looked strong enough to wield a long sword or warhammer, but petite enough in the frame to be light on her feet. She had cat like eyes so bright they seemed to glow. She didn't appear bestial, but she didn't look like anyone from around here either. "Funny you should say it takes no mind, when you have no mind to give. Or coin."

"I have plenty of both. And still wouldn't waste it here."

"Plenty? Then what's a friendly wager? Come play with us."

"After you insulted my pride by calling me a cheater? I won't out of principle."

The woman rolled her hypnotic eyes dropping them right on Mileena. "What of your friend here? Would you like to play?"

"I would, but I don't have any coin on me."

"Dante, give your friend some coin. Let her have fun."

"No. We'll have no parts of this silly game."

"She may not have coin, but she's got valuables on her." A woman from the cat eyed girls' side came forward. "Like those earrings."

"True. But she looks so delectable with them on. Would be a shame to separate any part of this ensemble. Tell me, are you from here?"

"Yes?"

"You like it here? Never thought of traveling? Even just for a little while? I could introduce you to marvelous women, just like yourself. Here's what we'll do. If I win, you come away with us, for a bit. You win, you get this." She jiggled a hefty pouch of coin in her face. "I imagine you'd want to get away from this place. Must get tiring having to wait for this little celebration to enjoy yourself. If you want to skip the game and just come with us, I'll understand."

She couldn't go, and she didn't care about the coin, so she had nothing to lose either way.

"Lily, what are you doing? Are you any good at this game?" She shrugged. Dante wailed out a monstrous groan. "I'll cover her wager."

"No, no I'm pretty satisfied with this arrangement. She's agreed, it's fine."

"I have no idea why they keep letting you in."

"I could say the same about you. I offer an invaluable service, as you know. You offer immeasurable grief. Does she belong to you? The fact she's near you, means you just met her. So this really has nothing to do with you. The only way a woman as fine as her would let you near her is if she didn't know any better."

A familiar feeling ignited in her chest. Something she hadn't felt in a long time. She hadn't known her long, and had only started recently enjoying her company. Lucky for her that was enough for Mileena to consider her a friend. And she didn't stand for her friends being slandered. "Dante is a very decent woman. And a tolerable friend. This is between me and you. So, let's play."

"Wooo, I like you. I can think of several others who would kill for the chance to meet you." Under the hollers and jeering she distinctly heard someone say "Or own."

A fresh board was hung in place of the marked one. "Everyone know the rules? Best two out of three. If it ends in a draw, you can take it to the table."

"Do you have your own knives, my fair lady?" Cat eyes grinned at her. "Here, I have spare."

"Don't worry, she can use mine." The knives Dante presented looked very different than the ones the other woman had. Much more frail and dainty, more decorative than combative.

"They don't even look like they can pierce the board. Do you want her to lose?"

"So kind of you to care. I'll go make sure they can."

"Like I trust you."

"How am I going to cheat? Fine. Here Lily, take the knives, make sure they're sharp enough to pierce the wood. Just give it a stab where the wood should be the strongest, the center should do."

She took the knives and did as she was instructed. She couldn't imagine throwing these hard enough for them to penetrate paper. She was stabbing it and only barely chipping this plank. Did Dante want her to lose?

"You did them all? It's been a while since I sharpened them, but trust me, they're good."

"Um, Dante I think maybe I should use,"

Cat eyes put her spares away. "With friends like those, who needs enemies. Would you like to go first?"

"Oi, Lily, would you like to sign the player book?" She was brought to a table and given a brush. She'd barely put the L down when her hand was grabbed and put in a small sack. "Just part of the rules. Keeps it interesting."

She expected Dante to raise some kind of fuss, but she didn't. "So I can't play with my dominant hand? How do I know she's kept to the same standard?"

"If you can trust Dante,"

Dante came behind her, with that same possessive, protective hold. "You'll do fine Lily, pay this no mind. Just keep your arm strong and aim at the board. We have food waiting, so try and be quick."

"I keep my girls fed. I'll feed you."

It was a minor inconvenience. One hand was definitely stronger than the other but not by much. Li Mei often preached the importance of being capable with both hands. In battle it didn't matter what hand you preferred to fight with. You had to use what was available.

They were taken to a starting point rather far from the board. "May the best woman win." Cat eyes offered her hand. Mileena immediately felt an uncomfortable amount of moisture, strange since the woman was wearing a glove, that she took off right after the shake.

If she was in any real danger, she'd be worried. Then again, how was she to expose herself to escape this danger? Every single time she swore to start thinking things through, she plunged head first into something she could have avoided with just one or two seconds of thought. Announcing she was the princess could put her in more trouble than it could save her from. Everyone might scramble to avoid being seen. All the secrecy that went into this, would they assume she was here to shut it down? Or would they figure out she was here for this celebration too? Her mother would find out, Li Mei would know she lied. She'd never see Elaine again.

Oh Elders, Elaine! Had she really not thought of her one time since she'd arrived? She would be so disappointed. There's no way she'd enjoy a place like this. Hiziza maybe, but Elaine would find it so detestable.

"I didn't come to watch you ogle other women."

That's all she'd done since she got here. Not only had she looked on in awe and adoration, she'd put hands on, and had hands upon her...Dante had been more intimate with her in the last hour she'd known her, than Mileena had been with Elaine in the year since she'd confessed to her.

"Lily, pay attention!"

Knife in hand, she looked around at everyone watching. All these women. If she caused a scene, she'd ruin the night for everyone.

Wielding the knife above her head preparing to throw it, she zeroed in on the center. Applying the tiniest bit of pressure when she squeezed it, it hit the floor behind her. Her hands were too moist.

"Should we count it girls? I say it counts." Cat eyes and her group unanimously agreed Mileena's fumble was a valid attempt.

"You ill bred half breed. How is that a mark against her? Do you have such little honor you won't even give her a fair chance? Move Lily, I'll do this."

"Watch your mouth Dante. You can take her place in the game, but not the wager, so you may as well let her play herself. I couldn't give you away."

Dante picked her blade off the floor. "Grease, of course." She wiped Mileena's free hand on her pants. "Remember Lily, just aim and throw." She gave her another awkward hug, getting very close to her face. "If you miss the next one...run."

Cat eyes threw her next shot. It was closer to the center than the first, but still well outside the circle. Mileena adjusted her grip. It was a bit easier after Dante cleaned her hand. She just had to throw it hard enough to stick in the wood.

Not a complete extend, but she needed good follow through...

"Come on!"

There was no way. She glared at the woman who'd tried to shake her concentration. "You want to redo that one? You seemed a bit distracted. I'll allow it,"

"No, it's good. I dare say it should be an automatic win."

"What? But Dante," She looked at the target. Amazingly, her knife was dead center of the board.

"Considering her last one didn't even make it on the wall, no. We've each got one more throw."

"Fine. If you wish."

"Since it's the last go, let's make it twice as interesting. What do you say, we go at it blindfolded?"

It was said like she didn't really have a choice, so she agreed. Cat eyes went first. Mileena was skeptical about the whole thing, as even when she was blinded, she took her position perfectly, and did just as good, if not better. Her knife pierced the outer line of the center target.

"I'll do it." Dante ran to tie a rag around Mileena's head. She turned her once, another pair of hands turned her again. "Stop, you'll make her dizzy!" She assumed it was Dante turning her again. "Just like before. Aim and throw. Trust in yourself."

Unbelievable. Here, in a deviant hub of debauchery, she was potentially playing a knife and board game, for her freedom, while her sister was hopefully still safe with Edmond, who Mileena could only hope was as nice as she portrayed. No one knew where they were. Their faces were exposed, so if they were recognized later, she'd probably be better off losing and going.

What did it matter if she made it or not?

Still, trying to run away, would ruin everyone's night. She may as well try her best, whatever that meant.

Envisioning the board in her mind, pumping two fake throws, she whipped it with all her might on the third go. Everyone was, silent.

"Check the knives! You cheated Dante!"

She pulled up her blindfold to see her second blade right next to the first, dead center the board. Cat eyes was wielding an actual blade, not meant for games, in Dante's face.

"I wasn't even the one playing. How did I cheat? Pay her. I know they let you conduct business here, it's my understanding, you have to have some kind of honor. You bet everything. So it looks like you're done for the night anyway."

"I can't find anything on them." A woman came over with two of Dante's knives.

"She wasn't perfect, the first one didn't go in. Are you upset your cheating didn't work?" They were all distracted by a cat jumping on a table with the bag of coins on it. "Get your mother off our winnings."

"No. She'll play again, with our knives. If she gets even one in the center,"

"What's going on here?" Two guards showed up with Edmond behind them.

"My friend beat her, fair and square. She lost, like the morally absent filth she is. After cheating. She put up that bag of coin, and won't hand it over."

Cat eyes was doing everything to not face the guards. "Settle it, then leave."

Cat eyes grabbed the bag off the table. "We'll handle it, it's fine."

"Don't let us be called back. We told you, not to do this in the open."

When they left, Edmond and Dante came to Mileena's side. "Give her her coins."

"A deal. I'll give you half. You know you didn't win it fair."

"I didn't cheat. I played with my weaker hand, a blindfold. I just wandered over here. This is my first time here. How would I have cheated?"

Cat eyes pointed at someone behind her. Two women walked up, one being led by chains. "I'll give you half, and you can have her."

"No. You'll give her all the money. She doesn't want your defective product."

"Shut up Dante! I'm talking to her. It's your first time here. I assume you're from here?" Mileena nodded. "Most of these women aren't. Very few like you here I imagine, except those Umgadi girls and among them it's not only rare, it's really not worth the risk, with their rules and all. She's mute. Doesn't read or write. Perfect for satisfying those urges. She's free of disease."

While Dante argued with Cat eyes, Mileena was watching the chained woman. She was taller, looked a few years older, she didn't look like she was from the kingdom. Her eyes looked slightly swollen, and her wrists where the chains were, had open and healed over cuts.

"Take the chains off her."

"I assume that means we have a deal?" Cat eyes must have seen the sympathy in her. "She's costing me just to keep her alive. If you don't take her, she's likely to find herself in a butcher's shop."

"Fine. Half is alright. Remove the chains."

Dante opened her own coin bag to collect the spoils. The woman rubbed her wrist, looked at Mileena again, then stood next to Edmond.

"You're too kind." Cat eyes bowed.

"Let's go, before they give us fleas." Dante pulled her away. "We could have gotten both if you just let me do the talking." She gazed back at the woman. "That's your type? She's nice, but, I didn't take you for the type to go for that."

"She isn't. I couldn't leave her like that. She's not a thing. She's a person."

"That you won in a knife game. A bit much for a souvenir. Hey Ed, did the food come? Is that why you came to get us? Or were you just worried about me?"

"No actually. I came to find Lily. It's about your, sister."

"What? What about her? Is she okay?"

"I don't know. A woman at the table next to us called her over. She didn't seem like she wanted to go. She said she was fine but she didn't look like it. She didn't look comfortable with her at all, but she wouldn't leave." Edmond looked ashamed. "She was rather intimidating."

She hadn't seen intimidating. If she was still there when Mileena found her, the guards were going to have a problem on their hands they weren't ready for.

"Some man you fancy yourself to be Ed."

When they made it to their table, Dante had the woman sit with the food. Just as Edmond said, Kitana was at the next table, being held in place by...a living piece of art.

Her bronze skin shimmered in the uneven light, sparkling, glowing. Her long shapely legs on full display, as her skirt had fallen to one side. Going further up, her curves just wouldn't stop. After the barmaid, Mileena couldn't help but wonder what those succulent marvels felt like. They looked like they'd fit perfectly in her hands. But she had to remember, she was angry.

"Ki-Xandra are you alri-,"

"Lily." It couldn't be. "Won't you join us? Sit down." What was she doing here? Had Li Mei sent her? Had she followed them somehow?

"Hold on, you don't have to sit down if you don't want to. She's in charge of nothing."

"Oh but I am. I'm in charge of both of them."

"Lily, is this true?" Mileena nodded. "In that case," Dante dropped to her knees. "You can be in charge of me too."

"Cute, but no thank you. You're much too young for me, and two is more than enough."

"You look like the kind of woman who could handle three."

"Begone, child."

Mileena gently tugged on her pants leg. "Dante, please, just go."

"Fine. I'll be right over there, if any of you need me."

After her new friends went back to their table, she slipped down on the pillow next to her fiery superior. "Is Li Mei mad again? Tanya I,"

"I already know why you're here, how you got here, and what you've been doing while you're here. Molesting the maids, howling at women like a starving animal?"

"That wasn't me, howling."

"Getting acquainted with the women upstairs too? We're leaving. You shouldn't be here. Neither of you."

"But Tanya, can I please stay? Please? We're already here. I'm sorry Li Mei made you follow us on your day off but,"

"This isn't about Li Mei. You shouldn't be here."

"Not about, does she not know? You just followed us?" She looked at her clothes. "No. You were already here. There's no way, you ran here and your clothes stayed that clean. Or you just got here. What are you doing here?"

"Don't question me, about what I do on my days off."

"Exactly your day off. Pretend you don't see us, like at the training grounds."

"And you see how well that went? Thank you for reminding me. Let's go, right now."

"Tanya!" She whined, lying down on the pillows. "Why cut both our nights short? We're already here, I won't get into any trouble, I swear. No one's recognized us, it's one night."

"That childish behavior is exactly why you shouldn't be here. I came to relax. Not watch you two all night."

"I'm telling you you don't have to do that. I'll just be at the next table."

"She really hasn't been the one doing those things. Her new friends, well one of them, is a bit eccentric. She's a little rowdy, but I believe she means well. It's my fault anyway Tanya."

"Tanya?" A light skinned woman with curly hair and freckles walked up to their table and knelt down next to Kitana. "Are these friends of yours?"

"Not really friends, responsibilities."

"Oh. Umgadi? Is something wrong? I thought you had today off."

"I thought I did too. You never really get time off when you're in charge of such immature girls."

"You don't have to leave do you?"

As Mileena tried to crawl away, she was yanked back by her ankle. "As you can see,"

Giving up, lying flat on the floor she sulked. "She doesn't. I believe she's just looking for reasons to leave. Like she doesn't want to be here. I would sit right over there, behaving myself, in clear view, where she could keep an eye on me, and we wouldn't have to leave."

"Tanya, I don't understand. What's going on? Your little warrior sisters can't sit over there while you stay? I know this is, somewhat important to you, but I thought,"

"It's literally the most important part of my life. If it were anyone else. This one," She pointed to Kitana. "Isn't a problem, normally. It's that one."

Mileena gasped. "That one is extremely hurt by such an accusation. I'm not being the difficult one here."

"So I'm guessing you won't be," The croak in the woman's voice made them all look her way.

"One. One incident, we're leaving. When those lights go off, I want the both of you here, on this pillow, beside me. Don't make me have to come look for you."

It was just 10 ft away, but it felt like she was on the other side of the room. She was grateful all Dante wanted to talk about was how alluring she found her. The things she was saying went from surprisingly romantic, to obscenely inappropriate. "Dante please, I have to see her on a daily basis."

In stark contrast from the earlier hours of the night, Mileena was finally settling into the groove of things. No longer bothered by Dante's wandering hands, as she was now well aware of what Mileena was and wasn't comfortable with. They ate together, ate off each other. More than once they opted to taste the other's food via kiss rather than sampling the actual dish.

Sometime while they were eating performers took to the stage. There was singing, dancing, magic. The lights were dim, but they weren't out.

"Wanna go somewhere with me?" Dante whispered in her ear.

"I can't. I kind of told her I would stay here, all night."

"What's she going to do? Chase you through this building? Come on."

She leaned over to Kitana. "If Tanya asks, I'm just going to use the washroom."

"Where are you actually going?"

"I don't know. I'll see you when I return."

They crept, weaved, snuck and ducked until they were away from the sitting area. "Want to see what's upstairs?"

"Are we even allowed to go up there?"

"Right now yes. Come." Dante opened every door like she owned the place. Twice they'd had to evade dishes and shoes. Every room had someone in it, who either didn't want to be disturbed, or seen.

The last room they went into however, didn't mind them all that much. They offered them drinks, and some kind of vapors. Mileena declined, but Dante stepped out on the balcony to enjoy them with a couple girls. Leaving her, sitting on someone's bed, sipping away at her drink.

"Your outfit is so cute. Where did you get it?"

"Edenians. Are you from the royal city? There's a shop there,"

"No." The lady moaned. "Edenian fabrics are so expensive, but worth it. So soft and warm. They hold such wonderful fragrances, and keep their color. Feels magical against the skin. May I?" She pinched the outside of her pants leg. "It almost feels like satin, but finer." Yet again, another woman's hand was invading her shorts. She wasn't even touching the fabric, just fondling her thigh. "Finer than silk." Her other hand massaged her leg from the knee down, playing with her slipper.

"Hey Lily outside, ooooh. I'll just leave you to it." Dante went back out the door.

"Wait Dante. Excuse me." She shook the girl off her then left after Dante. "Where are you going?"

"What are you doing out here? I was just going back downstairs."

"Through the balcony?"

Dante leaned over the rail. "You think I couldn't get down from here? This is nothing. I could jump this with no problem. But, there's also stairs on the other side." They took those stairs back down to the first floor. There were quite a few people hanging around outside. Sitting in carts, walking the grounds, or playing around.

"Why are they all out here? It's not that crowded inside."

"Have you never wanted to just, be alone with someone?" They walked around the back of the building. It was mostly empty save for a few people walking off into the woods. They sat in the only unlit patch, between two lanterns. "This really your first time here? You enjoy yourself?"

"Yes. I feel like a lot of that was thanks to you. So, thank you Dante."

"You're very welcome Lily. I hope your sister had as much fun. Edmond is, not as exciting as me I'm afraid."

"I'm glad of that. My sister, this isn't exactly the place for her. She came so I wouldn't be alone."

"So the chances of us sharing a night together..."

She laughed. "She's my little sister Dante, goodness."

"Alright then. Just you? I feel like we've been hitting it off rather well."

"Dante," Being caressed and kissed by her, while they were alone, felt even better than when they were inside. It was true, in the few hours they'd been together, she was more than happy to be in her embrace. Content to spend the rest of the night out here doing whatever Dante suggested. And yet, she was overcome with such sadness.

A heathen. Traitor. Liar. She'd have sworn it to anyone who would listen. If Elaine died, this affliction would die with her. She could never think of another woman as she had her. She would never crave another. Her heart would forever be nothing more than a pump to move the blood through her body. If Elaine lived, what she hoped and prayed for with every breath and thought, how could she face her again? How could she treasure any of those special moments she'd worked so hard to achieve with her, after she'd had that and more with this woman she'd just met?

"Are these tears of joy, or have I completely misunderstood something?"

"I, have someone."

Dante huffed, pushing away from her. Sitting with her back against the building. "I'm guessing you brought that up because, you wanted me to stop? You were having second thoughts? I know you said it was your first time here, but you get what goes on. I think I've been an excellent guide." She couldn't really see her, but she heard the smile in her voice. "A husband? A fiance?"

"Nothing like that. She's someone very special to me."

"That woman in there? You and her? If that's so then, congratulations. She's beautiful. Does she keep you hidden away or something? You're so bashful. Not to be impolite to what you have going on here but, it looked to me like she planned to enjoy this night with someone else. Are you not allowed to do the same?"

"Tan, no! No. It's very shocking to me that she's here. I had no idea she, had these feelings."

"Oh, so what's your relationship with her then?"

"If you let her tell it, she's my sitter. In all actuality, she's my superior. That's the least complicated way to go about it."

"So she is in charge of you. Interesting. But she's not this someone special that you have. What of her?"

"She's gone. And I don't know when, or if, she'll return."

"It's your first time here, but by design, no one just stumbles into these events. What did you come for? Comfort? A night away from grief?"

"I was sort of invited here, through an acquaintance of my sister. My sister thought this would be a nice place for me and my, friend, to come. But she hasn't come back yet. I only came to see if it would be someplace she'd like to go. Now, I don't even know if I'll be able to tell her about it."

"I hope not because of me. You haven't done anything to be ashamed of. I've heard of how hard things are here, in the royal city for, deviants as they say. I wouldn't want to come between two lovers who've found each other in these harsh lands."

"Lovers?" She turned her back to Dante. "In the short time I've known you, we've been more comfortable with each other, than I have in the year I've been getting close to her. The way you hold me, kiss me, it took me months to reach that place with her. It should feel different, shouldn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"She supposed to be special. The only one. But being here, I, didn't expect this. And you, you just, I like her just the way she is, but if she could be like you. I only want her. I don't want to want anyone else."

"You want me?"

Mileena pulled her headband over her eyes to soak up the moisture. Behind her she heard Dante coming closer. "Had I come with her, she'd be enough. She's all I see. I've been mourning her for months. I told myself, it was her or no one. If she's really gone, the least I could do was honor her memory by letting these feelings go with her, since she's the one who ignited them. But if she's alive, and she returns? How can I tell her about this? She would hate a place like this. She isn't like this. What if she hated me for,"

"Enjoying this? If she hated you for enjoying yourself, I'd have to question if she really cares for you as you do her."

Mileena whipped around, not expecting Dante to be right over her. "Of course she cares for me! She had every reason to hate me, and she chose not to. But after everything I put her through, and what she deserves, it would be nothing short of a slap in the face to her. It's not about me enjoying myself."

Dante grinned, and from that grin, Mileena knew exactly what was coming and did nothing to stop it. Their lips connected for less than a second, though it were a normal part of their conversation. "You're a very passionate woman. And this could be presumptuous of me, but if I may. That sounds like, so much pressure. On the both of you. She's the first woman you've ever had feelings for, and you've already decided she's going to be the only one? The last? I called you lovers, you called her a friend. Here, to me, in this place, you called her your friend. Edmond is my friend. I just, vaguely don't want her to die." Dante chuckled softly. "If she did I'd be sad, oh no Edmond. But it sounds like, if this girl you call a friend died, you'd lose a part of yourself, because you're trying to give her control over a big part of yourself. Does she feel the same? Does she know of this huge weight she's carrying?"

Mileena could barely look at her because she didn't know. "I can't claim her as my lover, we haven't,"

"You intended to at some point right? Even if you didn't, I don't necessarily mean it as in you have known her physically. You love her don't you?"

She did love Elaine. She does. Had she ever, said that to her? Had she ever used that word?

"I do. But I don't think in this last year since we've gotten closer, that I've ever said it to her."

"Has she ever said it to you?"

She'd know if she had, because Mileena would be replaying that moment every second. "No."

"I'm only hearing, one side, of half a story, but it sounds to me like you two are friends. Very close friends who care for each other. Who maybe, don't know how to be honest with either yourselves or the other."

"The things we've done together, I wouldn't do with my friends. She wanted to give herself to me, and I wanted to give myself to her, but I turned her away, it's complicated."

"Complicated how? I don't really need to know the details, was the reason you turned her away because of you, or something outside you? Did she offer herself because of her, or something outside her? Just now, I was offering myself to you, because I want you. You stopped it, because you were feeling something or other. Our relationship is simplistic, between us. Can you say the same of this other woman?"

"You're a lot more, thoughtful than I thought, Dante."

"You don't live long, not thinking, or understanding. I didn't come here to think. I came to feel. You've been so gracious with me, it's a small price to pay. I assume you didn't decide to have feelings for her. So how can you just decide to not have feelings for anyone else? That's not how it works."

"I was very, new to this. I didn't have anyone to talk to. Everything felt so strongly, and connected to her. It was only after her I started noticing other women. I don't remember feeling one way or the other about them before her. What about you?"

"Won't say from the moment I exited my mother, very shortly after that though. I never wanted anything else. Never tried to. Family didn't care for it much, especially not my brother, with the way I tried to entice his mates. And my parents. But what could they do? Unborn me? Considering I asked every woman in my village and the next, I can comfortably say I was alone. When I finally found a woman who wanted to be with me, I was over the moon. I'd move mountains for her. Over time, those mountains became anthills, and even those were too much. So we went our separate ways. Between then and now, there have been dozens."

"Dozens?"

"Yes. We part ways knowing the pickings are slim. That makes the next one that much more exciting though. I've never met two women like me, who are the same. I was with one girl who wanted me to be some surrogate man. Another who couldn't spell monogamy. I've to my shame had a couple married women too. In my younger days, before I gained some morals."

Mileena laughed. "You're not that old Dante. But you've experienced a lot."

"It seems like a lot, doesn't it?" She sighed. "And you're really not going to experience any of it, because you and this friend won't be honest with yourselves."

"That's not, fair."

"I agree, it's not. To either of you. For you to say, she'd hate a place like this, I have to believe she just doesn't feel the same as you."

"Because she doesn't want to be groped by strangers?"

"Because in this stifling environment she wouldn't jump for joy at knowing she wasn't alone. Not all of these women are here for bedmates. A lot of them are here to be here. To see friends. To talk about the women they like back home. Even being rejected doesn't feel so bad, when I know she's rejecting me because she just doesn't like me, and not because she doesn't even consider me an option."

"I guess I understand that."

"I feel I'm preaching too much but, I want you to come back. I want you to enjoy this, to enjoy other women you just found out existed. Not just because I want to be one of them. I don't want to talk this woman out of true love, but it sounds to me like you have an over accommodating friend. Maybe she likes the affection, maybe she's confused. In my experience, I'm either the first or second to declare my love. I couldn't imagine knowing you a year, having you tell me you desire me, and not telling you of my love every chance I got."

"Dante..."

"I wish I'd gotten to you first. I quite like the sound of my name on your lips. You say it so, beautifully."

Elaine could never know she wished the same. Someone like Dante, as a first love, would have given Mileena the confidence to love another. Instead of the shame that permitted her only one.

"We've been gone long enough. Edmond knows me, she's to think the worse if I don't come back soon. Don't want your sister to worry either. Let's get going shall we?" She stood tall, dusting herself off then extending her hand to Mileena.

"It will be strange, going back in."

"No it won't. The night will continue on how it's been. When your friend returns, you can tell her all about it. You can leave me out if you want. Just know, when I tell everyone about tonight, I'm going to over-exaggerate a little."

After everything they'd discussed, said and did, Dante stayed the same. She reminded her of Elaine and Hiziza, if they were one person. One minute she was holding Mileena secure, showering her with kisses and the like. The next she was roping a gang of women into fondling and feeding Mileena because it was her first time here, or she had recently become a widow and it was her only night away from her boatload of children. Clearly they'd stopped believing the lies, but apparently they found her cute enough to want to do it anyway.

She was lying on a literal couch of women, with Dante trying to woo one of the end pieces, as her sister and Edmond had moved over to Tanya's table. Then the lights got dimmer.

Two of her cushions were wrapped up in a passionate exchange of kisses. So focused on them, she missed two pieces of food flying by her head.

"I think that woman over there is trying to get your attention." Said her headrest.

Wishing for another admirer, she perked up. Alas, it was just Tanya, angrily waving her over.

"Sit down." Dante put a hand on her back as she was crawling over her. "She's not going to come get you. You're going to leave all these women, for that one?"

Looking back and forth between the two, she wondered, if Tanya really would. She'd seen how distraught Mileena had been. Surely she'd understand, oh Elders, she was getting up. "Yeah. I am."

Edmond reluctantly switched places with Mileena letting her sit next to her sister. "You looked like you were having the time of your life." Tanya shook her head, disapprovingly. "I can overlook only so much. Not this. I want the both of you to close your eyes for the next, half an hour. You must retain some level of decency."

"Keep our eyes closed for half an hour? Are you serious? Why? What's going to happen? Tanya we're not children." She looked at Kitana, already practicing reaching around the table for food with her eyes closed. "I'm not a child."

"Okay I'll tell you. Switch spots with your sister." The moment she was beside her, Tanya lovingly put an arm on her shoulder then snatched her headband over her eyes. "Keep it on."

The room got noticeably darker behind her face covering. The room quieted down. Then a woman's voice blanketed them from the stage. "For our lovely patrons who won't have the joy of spending the night with our talented ladies upstairs, they'd still love to present you a taste of what they offer. So maybe you'll consider joining them next time. For those who have received their favors, a peek into your very near future."

What in the world was she missing? The crowd was giving no feedback as to what they were seeing. She'd hear the odd squeal or two. "I have your number!" Someone screamed. Someone else was panting rather rapidly, like they were on the verge of fainting.

"Cover your ears." Tanya whispered.

In the process of covering her ears, she tried to slip her blindfold up just a bit. Not knowing Tanya was staring right at her. And so Tanya took over that task too. Unable to hear or see, she sat there and sulked, until the veil was lifted.

"We bid you goodnight ladies. We hope to see you again at our next gathering, and hopefully, many new faces."

Tanya dragged the both of them outside, fuming. "Stand here while I find us a way home."

Edmond and Dante came running out right to them. "You two are leaving already?"

For some reasons, Kitana had become shy and awkwardly reserved. "Y-Yes. It was nice meeting you, both of you." She wouldn't look at them as she tried to hold her hand out.

"What's wrong with you?" Mileena asked. She wouldn't look at her either.

"Did you see the show? That was incredible."

"I didn't, what happened?"

Edmond mirrored Kitana's strange actions. Dante exhaled everything she had in her. "You weren't watching? That's why you're out here and not fighting to get back in there. I'm going to get up there and someone is going to accept me. All of them can't say no. They will take pity on this humble beggar. I'll cry if need be."

"What happened? Tell me."

"Why weren't you watching?"

"My superior, made me cover my eyes and ears."

"How old does she think you are? I'd have bitten her. Honestly I couldn't retell it and do it justice. I could show you better than tell you, but I need one of them to show me again so I get it right. I need a proper one on one demonstration. Or one on three, remember Ed."

"I wish I'd been blindfolded honestly. There's a reason these things happen behind closed doors. Your, superior, where is she now? She was friends with one of the performers I believe."

"She's trying to get us a carriage home."

"I can get you home. I have my own carriage." Edmond pointed to a horse and buggy tied to a tree.

"Thank you Edmond." Mileena called for Tanya to end her search.

"Good." Tanya folded her arms. "Fine. I guess we'll be going now, if you don't mind."

"Course not ma'am. Your chariot awaits." Edmond bowed to her.

"Tanya!" The woman from before came running from the building. "You're leaving, right now? You can't stay for a few more minutes? The room,"

"I, have to get them home." The woman may as well been kissing her too, as close as Mileena had gotten to Tanya. "You see, she's a child and can't be left unattended."

"I don't know when we'll be back this way, or if I'll be with them still. Tanya, just 10 minutes, what trouble could she get into?"

"If she concentrated, a nation could fall in that time." Tanya looked at Mileena, with one eyebrow raised. "Can I trust you, to sit in that cart, and behave yourself, for 10 minutes?"

"Yes of course. Xandra will be here, she won't let me do anything crazy." Kitana was refusing to look at anyone or anything.

Dante put her hand out. "What number did she give you? I think I should return it for you. They like to keep up with those things, so they don't have to keep making more."

Mileena retrieved her block from Kitana's glove. "532." Dante gasped and tried to snatch the block from her. Mileena held it out of reach. "She gave it to me, personally. I should be the one to give it back, and explain to her that I have to go. I don't want to seem ungrateful."

She didn't make it two feet passed Tanya before being snatched back. "Hand it over."

"Well can I have it?" Dante shifted her raised palm to Tanya.

"Knock yourself out." With her permission, Dante took off. Tanya's lady friend was pulling her toward the building, waving goodbye to them. "I'll be back soon. Keep an eye on them for me Edmond."

"Sure." Edmond looked at them when they were alone. "Please be respectful of her wishes."

The nervousness in Edmond's voice warmed Mileena's heart. "I won't do anything to cause her trouble. Or you. I appreciate you giving us a lift back. Well, let's get to the cart." That woman Mileena won in knife board had somehow snuck up behind them and hopped in the buggy right alongside them. She had no idea what she was going to do with her. Mute, unable to read or write, she couldn't be left alone.

"Hello my love. Long time no see." Dante popped up on the side of the wagon. She hopped over, jumping in right next to Mileena.

"What are you doing here, I thought you were going upstairs to spend the night with that woman?"

"I couldn't let my new friends leave without giving them a proper farewell. Bedwenches, come and go, but friends, also come and go. But they should come and go with goodbyes."

Edmond sneered. "She didn't let you in did she?"

"Of course she didn't. I did tell her you wanted to be there, but couldn't through circumstances outside your control. She said, if you're ever at one of these things again, come find her. I told her you live around here, so whenever they're near the royal city, she'll try to be available."

Now she had yet another reason to come back. That woman deserved an audience with her, she was so kind.

"All things considered, you had a good time?"

"It was, amazing. I never could have imagined something like this. Especially not here."

"Someday, it isn't going to be amazing, and somehow, you'll enjoy it even more." Dante looped an arm around her neck, dragging her to the floor.

"Dante be careful. I'm in charge of them until that woman gets back."

"She's not made of glass Edmond. Calm down." They both turned their heads in Kitana's vacant direction. "I think I know what's wrong with your sister. She may have caught a glimpse of that performance. A little much if it's not something you like. See to her Eddy."

There in the back of the wagon, she expected to see Elaine lying in front of her. All she could see was Dante. "How am I supposed to know when they'll be back? Will you be back?"

"They find a way with these things. They send word to the inn beforehand. Check back here, or ask your superior. She's in with one of the performers. She likely knows before the innkeepers do."

How much closer could they get? How many times could they kiss between breaths? What more could be done? She'd finally worked up the nerve to feel Dante's body. Her boundaries were getting lower by the second. That grainy wood grating her back was nothing compared to Dante's hands stealing the warmth of her inner thigh.

"Let's hold off, until you have things figured out with your friend. Wouldn't want you doing something you wouldn't be comfortable telling her." Melted together by the heat of the moment, they were unable to release each other. "It's alright like this. I can still hold you."

As they waited for Tanya, Mileena and Dante exchanged stories about their lives until they both fell asleep.

She must have been exhausted to not have awaken for the entire ride back to the plains. She was shaken out of her sleep by the mute woman. Still wrapped in Dante's protective embrace as she slept, she kissed her one last time, then whispered a final goodbye. "It's Mil, goodbye Dante."

In the front of the cart Kitana was giving her goodbyes to Edmond. "Farewell sir Edmond, I thank you for your company. You were the perfect gentleman."

"It was a pleasure and much more Lady Xandra. I hope to see you again, somewhere more suitable for your presence." Kitana hurried away to stand beside Tanya, resuming her refusal to look at anyone. Edmond's dreamy smile was all too familiar to Mileena.

"She is wonderful isn't she? Thank you for staying with her."

"I feel I got more out of it than her. She's a very charming woman. No, that's not good enough. She's angelic."

The pity she felt for her was making this even harder. "Yeah. You'd had seen her shine even brighter if she were someplace more suitable for her, as you said. Someplace she'd be comfortable."

"Like a library, or park." Edmond was already there with her, she could see it in her eyes.

"Yes, but, also somewhere where maybe,"

"I understand, she's not taken by women. Well, Lady Lily, Lady Tanya, I bid you good night as well. Get home safely."

"Thank you again Edmond, please tell Dante goodbye for me when she wakes up. Be safe."

Alone, the four of them started the walk back home.

"I don't know where to start. You come here, on the word of some odd girl neither of you really knows, with no protection, and no idea how you were getting home?"

"It's not far Tanya, we would have made it home before morning, even if we had to walk." Kitana whispered.

"Did you miss the entire part about not having protection? I'm especially ashamed at you Kitana. I expect this from her. She couldn't turn over a new leaf if she was a hurricane. But you."

"You were there. We were safe."

"You didn't know I'd be there. And this was my day off. I was told you were there. Someone else who knew all of us was there. She told me, she saw you fondling the barmaid."

"It was, look, look, we're all on the same page, none of us were there. Correct?"

Tanya scoffed. "You have absolutely nothing to bargain with. You shouldn't have been there."

"Why not?"

"Anywhere you can't give your real name, Lily, isn't somewhere you need to be without protection. Don't you agree, Xandra?" They nodded in agreement. "Good." Tanya stopped in the middle of the street. "Ma'am, madam, is there a reason you're following us? Do you need assistance? Are you lost?"

"She's mute." Mileena stood before her mute prize. "Tanya, don't be upset." She could see a literal wick being lit by her words. "I was righting an injustice the only way I could."

"What? What are you talking about? You bring a woman home from the inn because your parents aren't here? I don't know what she told you ma'am, but you can't come back with us."

"She has nowhere to go Tanya."

"More strays Mileena? No. Absolutely not. She's an adult, she'll figure it out."

"I won her in a knife game!"

She inhaled, then exhaled. Looked from the woman, to Mileena, back to the woman, and one last time at Mileena. "This is above me, I'm telling Li Mei."

"Please don't!"