part0004

“I still don’t understand why we can’t stay at my family’s place.” Greenville was a town known for its hot springs and landscapes, and as such a fairly popular venue for vacations. Its central position only made it more attractive, and it wasn’t rare for noble families to have a manor in the area.

When Julie suggested they adjourned there for the days off the princess gave her, she expected to stay at the Daubigny manor. Miriam had other ideas however.

“You can never truly get to know a town by laying about in some mansion, miles away from where the people live.” Miriam’s smile made her whole face shine for a moment. “A land is its people, and only by meeting the people can you understand the land.”

“You’ve read that somewhere, didn’t you?” Julie asked, pursing her lips, and Miriam laughed, loudly. It made the noblewoman’s heart soar, but then, seeing her lover happy always did. Being near her always made her feel good, and lately they hadn’t had too much time for one another.

Some of the people in the streets looked at them, and then away when Julie returned their gazes. She was a noblewoman after all, and most commoners would be afraid of having her attention. Julie pursed her lips once more. Respect was something owed to nobles, true, but what she felt from these people wasn’t respect, but fear. She didn’t like it.

Not that it was something uncommon, plenty of rulers only knew how to command through fear, but she didn’t have to like it. It wasn’t her problem though, not in that moment. She was in Greenville to enjoy some days with her lover, without worries, without fighting. There was enough of that in Amelie’s court, and she had sacrificed her share to fight for justice; she deserved some time for herself.

Miriam’s hand on her shoulder made her startle, and she realized she had lost herself in thought. Her lover’s gaze showed her understanding, and Julie smiled back at her, before grabbing Miriam’s hand and tightening slightly, letting her beloved pull her away.

The Grove was an inn near Greenville’s main plaza, though not exactly a famous one. She didn’t know how Miriam found about it, or who she contacted to arrange for accommodations there, and when questioned her lover only smiled. Still, when they reached it, she could see it was a clean place, and entering the building only reaffirmed her first impression.

The innkeeper smiled at them when they entered, though he hesitated slightly when he realized they were nobles. Well, she was, Miriam only seemed one, but then Miriam had even better poise than Julie, and was more attractive. She dressed more feminine as well, and Julie shouldn’t be surprised that people would think her a noble. They had used that little ruse more than once before, and those that knew better understood that Miriam was under the aegis of house Daubigny.

Her lover winked at her, then stepped forward to talk to the man, and Julie let herself stay behind. Miriam knew what to do after all, and Julie used that opportunity to study the inn a little better, as well as its guests. There were a few men and women seated in the tables near the bar, and she studied them for a few moments, though none of them drew her attention. Soon enough, Miriam was back at her side.

“Did our things arrive?” Julie asked, once more taking hold of the other woman’s hand. Miriam nodded. They sent a courier ahead with their belongings, preferring to travel by horse, and not wanting to be burdened by anything. Not that they sent much, just clothes for the most part.

“Yes, earlier this day. Our room was booked as well, the best in the inn, the innkeeper says, though I’m sure he would have said the same even if it wasn’t.”

Julie nodded. “Then what now? Do we rest, or do we move out?” There were still a few hours of daytime left, but she was tired. Miriam smiled though, and she knew her beloved. There would be no rest for her, not yet.

They walked through the streets and saw the sights: from the church in the main plaza, and some statues and other buildings of importance, to the circular walls that protected the richest part of the town, which had grown far past its humble beginning. There were several bathhouses all over the city, all of them supposedly enjoying water from natural springs in the area.

Though tired, she let her lover walk her all over town, and didn’t regret it one bit. Every time Miriam smiled when she saw a new sight, Julie smiled at seeing her lover happy. Every time, Miriam caught her smile and turned to her, and they would kiss.

She had never let herself so freely love the other woman, so openly, but in Greenville she was a stranger and no one would bother her. Most of the people that saw them politely looked away, seeing they were nobles. Some had something like interest in their eyes, but did nothing to talk to them, or bother them in any way, and Julie felt comfortable ignoring them.

Miriam realized that, and tried to push at their boundaries. More than once, her hands had moved down Julie’s body, touching in a way that was anything but appropriate, and Julie had been forced to push her away, though perhaps not as quickly as she should have. The smirk in the other woman’s lips showed she noticed, and Julie had to resist the urge to color.

“Maybe we should return to the inn?” She asked eventually, once she got tired of stopping Miriam’s advances. At least, that would be what she would tell the other woman, and herself, even if deep down she wanted nothing more than to make love to the other woman. “Adjourn to our bedroom?”

“I thought you would never ask.”

Unfortunately, it was not to be. They were passing near a closing store when Julie heard something that made her freeze in place. Miriam closed her eyes, then opened them and looked at her beloved, silently asking her to let it go, but that was not the type of person Julie was.

“Excuse me,” She started, turning to the merchant. He turned to her with a scowl in his face, but it vanished quickly enough once he realized who he was talking to. None who saw Julie would suspect her of being anything but what she was: a noble, and a powerful one, in both influence and magic. He started shaking. “Did I hear you insult the princess?”

His mouth opened and closed a couple of times before actual words started coming from it, and Miriam almost snorted. The sight was amusing, she couldn’t deny it, even if she would have preferred Julie to ignore him. She didn’t like the fact that even when they were alone they weren’t able to completely get rid of Amelie’s presence.

Much as she hated it, the princess had crawled into their lives and wouldn’t so easily vanish, and she was realizing that even the other woman’s shadow bothered her.

The shopkeeper trembled under Julie’s eyes, which Miriam found amusing. Her lover was a bit petite, and the man must have weighted twice what she did, but he still drew back, afraid. Julie calmed down slightly when she saw that fear, leaning back, and toning down her glare.

The man still swallowed and his words failed him once more before actually saying anything, and Julie’s patience wasn’t infinite. “Well?”

He threw himself to his knees, bowing his head at the same time, looking like a supplicant. It startled Julie and made her take a step back, and whatever anger showed in her face changed into something else.

“I’m sorry milady, I spoke without thought. I only wish the best for the princess.” He trembled as he said the words, fear dominating his motions, and Julie could see it.

Both of them could. Julie exchanged a glance with her lover, letting her confusion shine through for a moment, before turning to the man on the ground once more. “Get up, man. I’m not going to harm you.” Even if the thought had crossed her head, she wouldn’t be able to do it, not after seeing him brought so low by her words. She didn’t understand his fear, but maybe there was a reason for it. Her words became softer. “I just want to understand why you would curse our princess.”

He gazed up at them, licked his lips, still hesitant, and she reached out with her hand, helped him to his feet. It seemed to reassure him slightly, and he started talking.

He told them about the recent increases in taxes, and the tax collectors that had been plaguing their town for months, every week. How no matter how much they complained if they didn’t pay they would find themselves losing their properties, and the local lord was unable to help.

Julie’s face became stony as she heard his tale, and nodded along his words, and at the end of it she told him she would try to intercede with the baron for their sake. The shopkeeper’s face brightened, and Julie smiled before grabbing Miriam’s hand and pulling her away.

The former prostitute studied her lover, knowing something was brewing inside the noblewoman’s head. Julie was pensive, and her pace hurried. “What’s going on?”

Julie hesitated before answering. “Someone has been playing a game of some kind, and I fear we’ll have to cut our vacation short.”

Miriam sighed, especially when her lover looked almost ashamed at her. “I should expect something of the kind to happen. What was wrong about his story?”

“I’ve been Amelie’s confident and champion for almost half-a-year, and she hasn’t approved of new taxes in this whole time, nor any increase of the taxes that already exist. Someone’s lying about her role in this whole mess, and I intend to find out who.”