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THE PRINCESS LED US out of the dining hall, out through the maze that is the guard’s wing and up a winding staircase. We exited on the second level and walked across the outdoor passage to another set of stairs. Our chamber was high in the turret, only one more flight would have taken us to the outside air. I wasn’t happy about that. At the top of the next landing, the princess pushed open the wooden door and led us in.
The room was laid out in a large semi-circle. There were five beds and their headboards rested against the curved walls going around the room while their feet pointed towards the center. Each bed sat on a large rug that extended beyond its borders. Next to each bed stood a cherry wardrobe closet and a wood burning stove rested in one corner. I loved it and by the looks of it, so did Tessa.
“Each of you has been assigned a bed. Your names are etched into the tops of the closets,” the princess told us.
I went to the one that had my name etched in it. Tessa’s bed was the first, then mine and then Ryanne’s. On the other side of Ryanne’s bed was Aednat’s and then lastly Davina’s. On one of the two closet doors there was a large nail sticking out of it with a smooth round edge.
I opened the closet and hanging inside were three white sleep shirts that had ruffled collars. There was also a set of brown pants and a matching tunic, just like the squires wore. At the bottom of the clothes, where the drawers began, sat a pair of those comfortable looking shoes the princess was wearing and one pair of hard, uncomfortable looking boots. I didn’t like the look of those.
There was one more piece of odd clothing hanging there.
It was black as night and looked like something a child would wear to bed. It covered everything from the neck down and was one solid piece. The arms ended at the wrists and the legs at the ankles. Even though it was black, it glistened, and reflected the light slightly. It reminded me of the way light reflected off a shiny black cat. It felt smooth and soft like one too.
As she held it in front of her body sizing it up, Tessa asked if it came in a smaller size, it was clearly much too large for her small frame.
“I need a larger one. Mine is too small,” Aednat complained.
Princess Evelyn let out a squeal of delight. “They are all one size. Don’t worry, the suit is magic. The wizard himself has made them for you. Besides that one, all of your other clothing has been sized by eye.”
“How?” Davina asked.
I hadn’t heard her speak yet and wondered if she could.
“When you all signed in on that first day, the audition day, the knight made a point to notice how tall everyone was. He’s very observant. Most of them are.”
“What does this mean?” I asked. There was a piece of small parchment, a tag that had writing on it. It read, apta magnitudine.
“Oh, the wizard told me that one. Tomorrow you are to put those on before you head to the courtyard and you must say those words. The black suits will adjust to fit your bodies. Those will be your uniforms and you must wear them at all times starting tomorrow.”
“And what about this?” I asked. It read, expansionem.
“That’s the word you’ll use to make it easier to remove at the end of the day.”
It would probably be a good idea to memorize those words.
“Sleep shirts are to sleep in, obviously, and the tunic and pants are there for recreation. I would ask that you all change into them now. The boots go with the black suit and the shoes go with the tunics,” the princess said.
“Would any of you care to wash up before changing?” asked one of the maidens who was quietly watching everyone.
“Where are my manners? My mother, the queen, is always telling me I need to pay attention to them more.” She introduced them each with her upturned palm. “This is Neala and this is Branna. They will take care of all of your needs. I will assist them when I can, but anything you need they are here for you. They can show and lead you around the castle. If you need anything ask them or me.”
“I would like to wash up,” Tessa volunteered.
“Aye, me too,” I added, looking around for the pail of water.
“Anyone else?” the princess asked.
“Aye, I haven’t washed since two days ago. It was a long trip from Ky’lima,” Ryanne said.
I hadn’t really paid attention to Ryanne and now that I had, she looked slightly different than the rest of us—more... I don’t know... exotic. Her eyes were bigger than most and they had a natural dark line around them. Her irises were a dark brown, so dark they were practically black. Her hair flowed over her shoulders and stopped at her chest. Her body was more developed than the rest of us — much more curvy — her skin was completely smooth, and she didn’t have any hair on her arms.
Aednat and Davina chose to change into the tunics without washing up.
“Neala, please take them into the wash room. I’ll wait here.” The princess sat on my bed, kicked off her shoes and lay down on top of the covers.
“Aye, Princess. It’s just this way.” Neala motioned for the three of us to follow her.
Wash room? A room just for washing? I’ve never seen or heard of such a thing. I checked to see if the other girls were questioning this as I was. By the wrinkles between their eyebrows, I thought so. Neala and Branna took us into an adjoining room, the entrance was through a large, heavy wooden door set at the opposite end of the turret. It creaked open and the princess announced from behind, “Neala see to it that someone comes to take care of that while the ladies are at their evening meal.”
“Aye Princess,” Neala answered, and then closed the door once we were inside.
“So this is a wash room,” I said under my breath.
In the middle was what appeared to be an indoor lake. It was circular in shape, but big enough to fit at least ten of us and stood as high as my stomach. Neala dipped a finger and shook her head. “Much too cold.” She walked over to a large barrel that rested on a steel frame. She lit a match and a fire roared to life underneath it. “This will only take a moment. Please feel free to disrobe while I warm the water.”
We all looked at each other. My stomach filled with butterflies, but Tessa giggled and then began undressing. She couldn’t wait to get out of her clothes and with a blink of an eye she was undressed and at the water moving her hand back and forth like a boat’s oar. She had a long scar across her back, as if she was cracked by a whip, or perhaps a stick. It couldn’t have been a sword, could it?
This kind of reminded me when Mother and me would go swimming and boys would try to spy on us and sneak a look. I imagined it like that. Like swimming at the lake. So I undressed and so did Ryanne.
We stood waiting for Neala’s water to be ready. Why Neala and Branna had undressed along with us was still unclear. Using a smaller pail, Neala poured hot water into the water that was already in the circle lake. She dipped her finger again. “Much better. Branna please get in and test it. I’m going to add another pail just to be certain.”
“Aye, Neala,” Branna said.
On the two ends were steps leading up to a small platform at the top of it. Branna retrieved wash cloths from the table that held them and climbed the steps on the farther end and paused. She placed the wash cloths on the edge, carefully sat down and let her feet dangle into the water before sliding in the rest of the way.
“What do you call this thing?” I asked.
Neala and Branna stared at each other in amazement. Branna let out a snort.
“Branna!” Neala scolded. “Forgive us my lady. We’ve never met anyone who hasn’t seen a bath before.”
“A bath, that’s what it’s called?”
“Aye,” Neala said pouring a second pail in.
Branna crouched down and stirred the water, mixing the hot water in with the cold. She looked at me and held her hands out. “My lady, come in.”
I was about to move when Tessa pushed past me. “I want to go first.” She climbed the steps and sat on the edge the way Branna had. Branna held onto her and guided her down into the water. “Carefully now.”
Branna grabbed hold of a wash cloth and started at Tessa’s shoulders, washing the dirt away. Neala entered the bath and when I was asked to get in, I followed what she had done. I walked up the steps and stood. Half of me wanted to jump in like so many times at the lake, the other half knew it was too shallow and I might break a leg or something.
“My name is Alora.”
“My lady?”
“Call me Alora.”
“That’s not correct my lady. It’s improper for us—”
“Nay,” I waved my hand, “call me Alora.”
She looked at Branna and I could see the fear in her eyes. She wasn’t sure how to respond.
“If it’s something that will get you in trouble, then just call me Alora when we’re not in public.”
“Aye, my lady... I mean Alora.”
Ryanne watched as Neala washed me and waited patiently for someone to tell her to climb in.
“The ladies of court enjoy sitting in the bath for long periods of time discussing the events of the day.” Neala waved Ryanne to the steps. “Feel free to do so, but since the princess is anxious to take you on a tour of her castle, we mustn’t keep her waiting long.” She held each of Ryanne’s hands and helped her in.
“Are you going to wash everyone? Everyday?” Tessa asked.
“It’s our duty, my lady.”
“Tessa. Call me Tessa.”
“And I’m Ryanne.”
When they finished washing us, they helped us out of the bath and dried us off. I didn’t want to seem rude, but I’ve been washing myself since I could remember. While I must admit it was nice being taken care of, it was going to take some time getting used to this lady life. Being treated like royalty was not something I, or I’m sure the others, were used to.
“It’s about time,” Aednat huffed when the three of us emerged from the wash room with our towels wrapped around our bodies.
“Nonsense,” the princess said curtly, “it takes time for a lady to get clean. You’ll find out this evening.”
The princess had been kind enough to lay out our clothes on our beds and waited patiently while we dressed.
“Look at those legs. They look like a horse’s,” Aednat teased. “Don’t get too close, I wouldn’t want you to step on me with those things.”
“Shut it!” I yelled.
“Aye,” Tessa interceded, “they’re perfect. Perfect for kicking your—”
“Ladies, that is no way to act. Wait, I sound like the queen.” The princess caught herself and laughed a hiccupy laugh. “Everyone here will be fighting side by side. Try and act like it.”
Aednat looked angry. She didn’t like being scolded by the princess. I squinted and glared at her. How dare she talk about my legs, when she looks like a boy? Neala and Branna emerged from the wash room dressed and carrying our clothes.
“Take those to Tatiana,” the princess ordered them.
They nodded.
“Time for the tour,” the princess said, clapping happily.
On the way down, the princess made sure to point out that the second level had a balcony that overlooked the courtyard where we would practice. She and the king enjoyed spending time watching the knights. Once in a while the queen would join them, but she was interested in more lady like things. “The queen doesn’t understand my fascination with war. She just doesn’t get it,” the princess said with a sigh.
I understood completely, of course. We crossed the second level to the other winding stair case and walked down—exiting into the stone maze. “Princess Evelyn, do you think you could show us how to navigate this area better? There seems to be so many turns, I can’t tell which way is which,” I pleaded. I hated not knowing where I was or where I was going. I felt so out of place here unlike in my woods, where I could navigate them blindfolded.
“Of course. This is the wing for the king’s guard. All of the area from the courtyard wall to the very end is restricted to knights, me, my mother and Father. Right, from here if we walk straight ahead we end up at the entrance to the courtyard. That’s where we’re headed, but I’ll show you how to get back to the dining hall.
“We turn left here and walk until we’re forced to change direction. See, we’re forced to go right. Once again, we’re forced to go left and we can already see the door to the knight’s dining hall. At the entrance there’s another passage to our left. At the end is another staircase leading up to the knights chambers. It’s not that difficult to maneuver, is it?”
“Not at all,” Tessa said.
“Thank you Princess. I think I have it.” I thought of another question for her. “Where are the other boys staying? The ones training with us.”
She pointed in the direction we had just come from. “Their chambers are at the top of the turret next to yours. You get off on the second level and cross over, but if you were to keep rising, you would find them.”
“What are you planning at,” Aednat griped.
“Nothing. I was just asking.”
“Oh be quiet, Aednat,” Tessa said, annoyed with her constant disapproval.
“Alora, lead the way then. Take us to the courtyard,” Aednat said mockingly.
It was easy now. The passages led me directly to a wall. If I turned right, there was the turret leading up to the second level. Turn left and there was the courtyard entrance. We entered the courtyard and then left the guard’s wing.
I paid careful attention as we walked through what I considered to be another maze, even though it really wasn’t. I listened carefully and heard the crowd of people. If I ever got lost I needed to just stop and listen for them, I told myself.
“Princess, I don’t feel like walking anymore. Is it alright if I return to our chambers and rest until the evening meal?” Davina asked.
“Me too,” Aednat said.
“I wish you would stay, but if you like, feel free.”
“Thank you Princess,” Davina said, and then left.
The princess went on and on about the castle city. She didn’t let anyone get in a word otherwise. Not that any of us had much to say. What does one talk about with a princess anyway? She showed us her favorite merchants. The baker, known for his amazing sweet bread. Her favorite fisherman, who would stop by once a week to sell his catch. She showed us the stables towards the front gate and even taught us how to get free food from the merchants.
The merchant handed me an apple and the princess told me what to say. “The king and I thank you for your generosity.” That was the last thing she showed us for the day. She needed to work on her stitching and took off skipping towards the royal palace.
Me, Tessa and Ryanne walked wherever we were allowed, which was pretty much everywhere except one place. Directly on the other side of the castle city, from where the guard’s wing was located, was the royal palace.
Guarded by two knights, we were informed that we could only enter by invitation or if we were escorted by the king’s guard, the queen, the king himself or the princess. I had a feeling she would love to show us around. The next free time we got, I needed to ask her for a tour.
Everyone already knew who we were. Rumors had spread throughout the castle of the new knights. The new royal guards that would protect everyone from the evil apprentice.
A merchant woman who called herself Lily, was pleased that girls would be able to learn magic and the ways of knights. “Don’t you know dear? The wizard’s apprentice has betrayed us. He is trying to take over the realm and name himself the one and only true king. He has vowed to remove all kings from their thrones. You and the others will protect him... protect us all, from the evil apprentice. Won’t you?”
“Aye!” Tessa cried.
I nodded.
Magic? No one had said anything about magic to us. I couldn’t wait to learn it.
Walking back to the guard’s wing I found myself missing home. Coming home after wandering in the meadow, enjoying the feel of the grass underneath my soles and Mother serving me my evening meal. I pictured her blue eyes and her smile. She had wanted me to be happy. When I set out to volunteer, I didn’t think that would’ve been the last time I ever saw her. I wished there was somewhere I could walk on grass within these castle walls.
We found our way back to the dining hall in time for our evening meal. I saved a seat for Lucah, and when I waved and called him over, he saw me, but chose to sit with the other boys.
“What happened between you two?” Tessa asked.
“Nothing.”
“Did you have a fight?”
“Nay.”
Tessa shrugged and ate her soup.
The seat I saved was empty so someone else took it. I didn’t pay attention to who it was until he said something to me. “What?” I asked, missing it.
“I said hi, I’m Silas.”
I held my spoon inches from my mouth. Did I just hear that? I turned to make sure. It was the boy with the violet eyes. I plopped my spoon into my bowl. “Hi, I’m Alora,” I said, the butterflies at it again in my stomach.
“Alora? I’ve heard of you. I hear you’re good.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That boy over there was talking about you.” He pointed at Lucah.
I couldn’t believe it. Why was Lucah talking about me at all? “What was he saying?”
“He was telling them all to watch out. That you’re one of the best, next to him of course. He says he taught you everything you know.”
I wondered why he was telling them that. What a big fat liar!
“Did you hear about the wizard’s apprentice?” Tessa asked Silas.
“Nay. Who’s that?”
“We were told about him. He betrayed the kingdom. That’s why we’re here.”
Silas slurped his soup. “Sounds silly.”
Tessa urged him to listen. “No it’s true, that’s what we’ve been told by multiple merchants.”
“I wouldn’t trust what a merchant says. They probably just wanted your coins.”
“We don’t have any coins,” I reminded him.
“Aye, I forgot.”
“And we don’t need any coins here,” Tessa said. “We can get anything for free.”
“What?” Silas asked, surprised by the revelation.
“They just give it to us and we just need to say, ‘the king and I thank you.’”
“Thank you for what?” Aednat stomped into the dining hall and sat across from us. Just my luck. Why did there have to be an empty seat there?
“You should’ve come with us. Then you would know what we’re talking about,” Tessa mocked.
“It’s actually ‘the king and I thank you for your generosity,’” I corrected Tessa.
“Aye, that,” she said, still glowering at Aednat.
What Silas said about Lucah didn’t sit well with me. He was lying, saying that he taught me everything I know. If anything I taught him. I rushed over to the group of boys and tapped Lucah on his shoulder. “Can I talk to you?” I asked.
“Nay, I’m in the middle of something.” He turned back around.
How rude. I made a straight line for the exit and Tessa was waiting.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
Without much enthusiasm I answered her. “Aye.” But I really wasn’t. Why was he ignoring me again? It was almost as though we weren’t friends anymore.
After kicking my shoes off, I laid down on my bed thinking about Lucah and waiting for the maidens to be ready. I was furious and needed to calm down. One of the things that always helped was walking barefoot in my meadow. I shouted out to the chamber maidens and asked if there was someplace I could enjoy walking. They said there was, but only with Princess Evelyn’s permission.
Branna peeked her head out. “In the palace there’s a vast garden with an area of sorts where you can do that, but you need to be invited there.”
I was already informed, by those knights guarding its entrance, that I wasn’t allowed in the palace alone. It was invitation only. The princess seemed to be friendly. She had an interest in us. Maybe being a princess, she didn’t have many friends... or friends like us. Maybe she would want to spend time with me and walk in the garden. Maybe.
“My ladies, the bath is ready,” Neala said, and then disappeared into the wash room.
Swinging my legs off the bed, I thought about our first kiss, the way he had pulled me close when I thought he was angry. I couldn’t figure out what I had done to upset him this time. How could he go from caring, to hating, to caring, to hating me again?
I removed my tunic and climbed into the bath. It appeared that Tessa had already decided what her favorite thing about becoming a knight was.
“What? I like being washed, it’s nice,” she said.
“I didn’t say anything.”
I sunk deep into the water, submerging my head and getting my hair good and wet. I reached out and snatched one of the wash cloths sitting up on the ledge and started scrubbing my arms.
“Alora, if you wait, I will get to you next,” Branna pleaded.
“Nay, I can wash myself tonight, but thank you.”
“But she wants to Alora. She’s doing her duty,” Tessa informed me.
Neala completely ignored our conversation, instead focusing on washing Davina’s back, while Ryanne sat in the water and waited her turn. Aednat stood watching us, already having removed her pants and only wearing her tunic. Standing with her arms crossed, she appeared to be contemplating something. She looked around, clearly uncomfortable and said, “I think I’ll wait,” and turned to leave.
“My lady! It is customary for all ladies to wash each and every evening,” Branna cautioned.
Aednat didn’t listen.
“The princess won’t be happy to hear about this,” Neala said.
“Will she get into trouble?” Tessa asked happily.
“Aye... nay... I’m not sure. The princess is kind, but I’ve never known a lady that didn’t wash in the evenings.”
Ryanne had her chin level with the water and was blowing bubbles.
“Aednat’s no lady,” I let slip out.
Ryanne inhaled water after hearing my comment and then coughed. We all laughed.
Coming out of the wash room in our towels, Aednat was already sitting on her bed wearing her white sleep shirt. I went to my closet and threw mine on. It hung just below my knees, while Tessa’s was practically at her ankles. A few more inches and it would’ve been dragging the floor. I joined Tessa on her bed. I was curious to hear what her thoughts were on the Lucah situation. Even though she was younger, she seemed to have more of a handle on the whole boy-girl thing than I did.
“Maybe he’s ashamed of those big, horse legs,” Aednat cursed.
“Mind your own conversation,” I barked at her.
“If you don’t want me to hear, then don’t talk so loud. Or better yet, leave the room. I’m tired of looking at you anyway.”
Tessa pointed her finger in Aednat’s direction. “Shut it, you big oaf. At least we’re not dirty pigs who don’t want to wash.”
That did it. Aednat stomped her way over to us and was about to reach out at Tessa when Davina stepped in front of her. “Back to your bed, Aednat,” she said barely above a whisper. They locked eyes and Davina’s gaze never drifted, nor did she say another word. She just stood there, her one size fits everybody sleep shirt stopping at the top of her thighs.
Davina was shorter than Aednat, but not by much and she didn’t have the boyish characteristics that Aednat had—the short hair, the boyish figure or her heavy stomp. For being tall, Davina walked gracefully, almost as if she was light as a feather.
“You’re lucky, this time. Maybe next time, there won’t be anyone to protect you,” Aednat said, and then turned back to her bed.
“I don’t need protecting, I can take care of myself.” Tessa turned to Davina. “Thanks, I owe you one.”
Davina nodded and went back to her bed next to Aednat’s. I felt sorry for her and lucky for me that I didn’t end up next to that goon. “Keep this up, Tessa, and you’ll owe everybody in the castle,” I said.
She chuckled and picked up the conversation where we left off. “Boys sometimes need a little help when it comes to us. Maybe you should tell him how you feel.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “But he didn’t want to talk to me. He said he was in the middle of something.”
“Next time, don’t ask if you can talk. Order him to talk to you. Command it like if you were the queen.”
“I don’t know.”
“Just try it.”
“Maybe...”