A maid was sent to my room-I think, it was the only reason I had as to why she sauntered in. She introduced herself as Kyla and walked in as if she owned the place. Her hair was the golden hue of wheat with a slight wave to it if the loosened tendrils were any sign. She was pale, her hands not as calloused or scarred as I would have expected someone working as a maid.
Even Gretchen's hands had some scarring from working on the farm and her knowledge of wound care from her grandma is probably why she was able to have soft skin along with her tinkering with the various bottles and poultices led her to finding how to to keep her skin soft. Kyla carried a pot of liquid and set it over the hearth to heat up. She was a lot slender than me and seemed to struggle a bit when heaving the pot over. Another maid arrived at this point, carrying a simple silken nightgown in a pale golden-green and let out a soft whisper-shout when she saw Boyd loafing on a pillow on the bed.
“My lady, do you wish to have the cat…stay, on the bed?” I nodded, giving Boyd a few scritches. Kyla and the other maid worked to undo my hair, attempting to take off the wreath of lilies only to find it was very much attached to my scalp when I quickly pushed their hands away to alleviate the pain. The other maid chatted a storm, talking about everything and anything, her name was Gallia and she was a dryad who came from the Vernal court. She had started serving the Highkin seven years ago and was excited to serve me as well. I noticed she had pupils, slitted like a cat’s and her irises were as pink as fresh rosebuds. Her hair was a rich, vibrant green and pulled from her face in a thick ponytail with a few sprigs of oak acting as a placeholder.
Kyla shooed her off-Gallia looking a bit disappointed but obeyed-after she finished placing the nightgown on the counter in the bathroom. She was a bit rough with the cloth, my skin reddening and burning slightly when the air touched it. She didn’t even care to be gentle around my leg and she scrubbed off the sap over the scars.
There was a soft knocking at the door as Kyla finished helping me bathe and dress for bed. Her eyes looked over the scarring from the lightning and my troll attack and I saw a flicker of emotion I’d rather not be reminded of in her eyes. She did see a bit perplexed by the weird marking on my chest but made no mention of it.
Her footsteps were soft and measured as she strolled to the door, opened it and Jules strolled in, robes flapping slightly from the speed he was exerting. He barely gave her a glance as he dismissed her and she left with a curtsy, the door cracked open behind her.
“I have a favor to ask.” I motioned for him to continue. “Can you find a way for his lordship to stop putting off meetings with the Fae Nobles? He uses you and the festival as an excuse to not get bombarded by them but he must speak with them on important, historical matters that are happening right now. He is the Highkin, it’s his duty.” I mentally chastised Vervain for neglecting them.
“Does he not like doing it? What are they about?”
“Ensuring spouses for the nobles, dealing with unbound Fae causing havoc, settling disputes between the courts, basically, being a king.” I thought for a minute.
“What are unbound Fae?” Jules paused for a little while. I took a long look at him, he was pale, with dark hair and pupilless eyes like Vervain though not as tall or broad, leaning in more to the slenderness of what normally elves were thought to look like. “Right, you haven’t grown up in this world. I shall give you lessons when the festival is over. It could work in the courts’ favor too, with you being busy he will have to finally attend to his duties.” He smiled, happy with the potential outcome.
“Ah, right. There will be alcohol served tomorrow at the festival, I can't force you to abstain but please be mindful of the drinking.” I nodded, he was the medical professional. He did a final check on my leg, frowning when he noticed it hadn’t been wrapped and the scarring didn’t have that salve on them. Jules was quick and through, setting a pair of metal rods among the wrapping to keep my leg straight and elevated it with some extra pillows.
“For now, I am retiring to my chambers.” He bid me goodnight and showed me the cord for allowing the curtains to drop from the posts and block out light.
I did my best to sleep, granted I’d was kept awake by unusual sounds, something that flittered about my senses enough that alarm bells rang in my head every time I tried to shut my eyes and just the different sounds the manor itself made. It did not make noise like the cabin does but on occasion, the floorboards creaked under feet, rarely I would hear the door open to my new room and someone walk in, around the bed and walk out.
Morning arrived too quickly and I slowly sat up right as Gretchen and Margret arrived with a bundle, my crutches strung across Gretchen’s back.
“Hard time sleeping again?” I nodded while handed a bit of mint sprig to chew and clean my teeth with. I really do miss coffee. Kyla shouldered her way in between the two of them and a part of me worried about the little bundle in Margret’s belly when I saw how hard she shoved at them. Margret stumbling had Gallia not rushed in to catch her. Gallia backed up after making sure Margret was all right, looking pensive and I waved her over. She nearly skipped in her steps. Kyla rolled her eyes and stared at Gretchen and Margret.
“I must get her ladyship ready.” She stated. Gretchen eyed her with a cold look, something that unsettled me as she usually looked so sweet and warm with her bright blue eyes and rosy cheeks.
“We can manage, Rán is our friend." Kyla leveled a glare before walking off with a muttering growl.
“Really should let the head of the village know his daughter is playing maids again.” Ah, that could explain why she had a bit of an attitude. And her bit of a struggle with her tasks.
“Why does she do that?” I asked.
“She likes the Highkin, despite him rejecting her advances often.” Gallia said, preparing the salve they’d been using. A love rival, wonderful. Wait, I don’t love him, yet I think. He does make me happy, is willing to speak about things immediately and it was nice getting his kisses too. I hope I get more from him today.
It hit me. I liked him, I like him. My face warmed at the realization despite the small issue that had popped up. My leg was rewrapped before I was helped into pants.
“Why can't people understand that no means no?” I sighed, shaking my head.
“She is used to getting what she wants, out of all of us in the village, her family is the wealthiest so she isn’t used to the word ‘no’.” I groaned as Gretchen helped lace up my corset, Next came the overshirt, vest and skirt. I smoothed the cloth as best I could and breathed slowly through my mouth.
I dared to look in the mirror. The scars helped distract me, bright streaks across my skin in irregular shapes and weighted lines. They seemed to have followed my veins, no doubt following my blood flow and stopping my heart at the time. I caught Margret’s eye and she beamed at me while Gretchen carefully weaved my hair into a high braid with ribbons and beads, some which were metal-gold-which paired nicely with my hair that seemed to be unable to choose a color, mixing itself between browns, reds and having streaks of gold and white running through the waves from the ribbons.
“They’re pretty you know, and a sign you’re strong.”
“I think you look beautiful, your ladyship.” Gallia insisted, Margret began helping her and added a few pins to keep the shorter strands out of my face.
“Almost forgot, your coins.” She handed me a new pouch, I heard the jingle and peeked inside before tying it closed and hanging it near my hip. “We couldn’t save the coins that got struck but Belgio remelted them into the hair beads and pins for you.” Belgio, I haven’t seen him for a while.
I saw Vervain, dressed in dark brown breeches, a steel grey tunic with a thick, leather wrap and a green silken sash. The green matched my skirt. He grinned at me, taking my left hand and kissing the freckle on my ring finger when I was close enough. His other hand cupped my cheek as he looked me over, a slightly worried frown growing on his face.
“If you wish to retire early tonight, you may.” He stated, rubbing near the corner of my eye. I only smiled at him in return. I wanted to have fun today and was determined to. He greeted Gretchen and Margret who merely shared a smile with each other while Vervain chose to carry me down the outside steps, in the distance I can hear music and see a crowd along the riverbank. Boyd looked pensive as he moved back and forth, chirping and squeaking out, tail curling into ‘S's and ‘C's.
“We're meeting up with Alex, have fun~!” She linked arms with Margret and moved towards the western part of the village where the houses looked a bit larger and some had gardens.
Maybe that could be a plan for Gretchen and her grandmother at their little cabin, a nice garden where they can grow their herbs rather than foraging. Maybe a greenhouse for certain plants.
“What are you thinking of?” Vervain’s rumble drew me from my thoughts as he headed for the barn. I signed my answer and he made an inquisitive noise.
"Glass is expensive, they would have to export it from the coast or the capital and the train only comes by every few months.” He stopped, seeming to think.
“Though, the troll being dead will allow for the train to come by more often.”
He paused at the edge of the doorway. There Arc was being set up to a cart, a smaller one but a cart, several men were nursing forming bruises while a few female stablehands were finishing up with a harness and Jules was already treating a male guard who looked to have been kicked in the face.
“Your beast has a bit of a temper.” I shrugged, I had been warned about that.
“She's kinder to the female stable-hands though and his lordship horse has taken a liking to her as well.” I was set down on the seat which thankfully was a little less embarrassing than being carried by Vervain. It was comfy at least and my leg was carefully settled among cushions and barely jostled.
“We will be having to stop by and meet with the Vernal court, they've been wishing to meet you and thank you for the troll you killed.” I panicked a bit, the distress obviously evident when Vervain tried to soothe me.
"It's not an official meeting, oterwise I would have had you dress in something completely different, the official meeting is next week before the court returns to the high mountains further south." Still did not help, I felt like I was being sent to a lion's den.
"I will be by your side?" He offered. I pouted, staring him down.
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