It was still dark when I woke up. Morning chill crept in through the gaps in the doors and shuttered windows. Shivering, I almost went to the hearth to light a fire. Endure Daria, I told myself. You won’t always have a warm fire when you’re on the road. 

Yawning and stretching, I hurriedly took off the red silk gown. It was crinkled like scrunched up parchment by now. Throwing it on the bed, I donned a pair of fitted leather breeches and a linen undershirt. Over it, I wore a coarse woolen tunic. Instantly, I felt warm despite the roughness against me skin. Over the next hour, I added layers of blades and needles around my clothes, hanging them from tiny wiry hooks. The weapons were wafer thin, making them very light but incredibly sharp, sliding over each other along with the movements of my body.

I braided my hair in a thick, long plait, leaving it plain and unadorned. Without a speck of rouge to color my cheeks, I looked like a farm maid in my woolen garb. 

I wore knee-high leather boots, the only item of luxury among the hemp and wool. I could do without fancy clothing but an assassin had to be quick on their feet. These boots were my best asset.

Tuto hooted sleepily, one tawny eye opening as he watched me tie a cloak around my neck. I prodded him in the chest. “I am leaving soon. Can you find me when I call for you?” He snapped at my finger and turned around to show me his tail. “Grouchy.” 

I moved away from my grumpy familiar. Come daylight, Tuto will fly to me. He wouldn’t have trouble finding the way because of our connection.

Going to the low table in the corner, I poured myself some water from the earthen pitcher. There was a parcel of wrapped leaves with leftover bread from yesterday. Sitting down, I tore into the bread and drank the cold water, reminding myself not to go into the kitchen for hot porridge. My meals would be like this until I’d completed my mission.

After the meager breakfast, I shouldered my bundle and headed out to meet the princes. 

Dawn was breaking in the east. The whole valley of Linmoor was covered in thick gray fog. Some of it snaked its way around the cottages and trees, giving everything a smoky, spectral appearance. Reaching the princes’ quarters, I saw packed horses neighing softly by their cottage. 

Adal walked out to reach for one of the horses. He was attired in coarse brown wool, similar to mine, but his regal persona wasn’t diminished one bit. When his soft eyes landed on me, he came near and smiled. “How are you, Daria?” he asked in a pleasant voice. 

“Sleepy.”

He laughed softly, rubbing one of the horses’ necks fondly. “I had to drench both my companions to wake them up. They aren’t used to waking up before dawn.”

“What about you?” I asked. “Why would a prince need to wake up so early?”

“Sometimes, I study the stars,” said Adal, looking up to the sky. I followed his gaze and looked at twinkling specs left in the lightening sky. “Some can only be seen at break of dawn, so I am used to waking up early. There are nights when I get so engrossed in a text, I forget to sleep at all. It’s no hardship for me at all.”

I glanced at the golden-haired prince. He was the most beautiful of the three princes. While Cain and Norvin exuded their masculinity in speech and manners, Adal was soft-spoken and gentle. He was highly intelligent but his wisdom didn’t make him vain. He seemed eager to share what he knew. A warm feeling expanded in my chest as he related stories of his observatory room back home. 

“I would love to look at the stars through one of your glass pieces,” I said as he explained about the crystals that could bring a far-off object into close focus. “By the way, Prince Adal, are you hungry? The kitchens don’t open for another hour but I could get you something.”

He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, stopping me from turning away. Up close, I looked up at his soft eyes and felt my heart race. “We want to leave before anyone wakes up. I drank some water for now. We will find something to eat on the road.”

Cain and Norvin stumbled out of the cottage, looking disheveled and exhausted. 

“How can you two look so fresh and summery?” groaned Norvin as he came close to us. “It’s still night time.”

“Don’t complain,” said Cain shortly, struggling to suppress a yawn. Dark stubble coated his strong chin. With shadowed eyes, he looked towards me. “Are you ready to head out, Daria?”

“I am.”

“Let us move then.”