There was a tingle on her neck and arms. Melusine kicked out like a startled horse. It was only when she heard Lee yelp and drop to the floor that she registered how her body had reacted.

"Damn," Melusine muttered under her breath. She squatted down next to the beastfolk, hesitating to touch him in her panic. Lee was prone on his side, clutching at his calf with both hands. "Lee, I'm sorry! I didn't—" Melusine barely remembered moving, which was much more worrying than it used to be. Her only comfort was that Lee's leg wasn't bent oddly, and he was breathing through the pain.

"You looked ill a moment ago, but that's no reason to use violence against a friend who was trying to help." Baugulf stood over her, horrified by what he had seen.

"I didn't mean to! It's just happened sometimes ever since— oh never mind about you! Lee, can you stand? I don't think your bone's broken, but just to be safe, we should…" Melusine paused. A doctor wasn't likely to help Lee without a hefty fee, which would be raised to a ludicrous amount if Melusine was the one asking. She glanced up at the knight with his glittering armor and hair. "We should send Sir Baugulf for a doctor."

"Why are you talking like you're genuinely worried you might have broken my leg?" Lee grunted out, trembling on his side like a newborn foal. "All you did was kick me, and I'm… oh gods it hurts… made of sturdy stuff."

"Well..." Melusine closed her eyes, remembering all the times she'd shown a sudden amount of strength in the past six months. The broken table that she cracked in half with a mere angry strike of her fist, the discovery that she could now drag their fattest pig from his trough with ease, and the look of horror on her mother's face the first time Melusine had picked up their old hen only to crush its body between her arms. "It's not outside the realm of possibility."

"I want so desperately to say that I need a doctor... just to see the look on your face." Lee chuckled, and patted Melusine's shoulder when she glared at him. "But no, I don't think you did. I'll be fine, promise." She stared him down, her eyes narrowed until he whimpered pathetically, his ears pinned back. Her displeasure made clear and Lee's normal nervous self returned, Melusine slung one of his arms over her shoulders.

"Shut up, you jerk. If I didn't break anything, stop whining and get up," Melusine grumbled as she helped him to his feet. By the time he was back on the stool behind the counter, Melusine was resigned to leave him out of her personal matters. It's not as if I'm going to hold up my end of the deal staying home. Even if I hate the idea of getting involved with the king. It was time for the fledgling to leave the nest. Melusine heaved a deep sigh and turned towards the knight. "Let's finish this talk on my way home. Once we get past the gates, the only ears listening will be the wildlife."

"If you're comfortable with that," Baugulf replied with a well-mannered smile. Melusine glowered at him as she picked her items up and exited the bakery. Baugulf followed behind her as she tottered her way through the village square.

"I can help you carry the potatoes, Miss Melusine," he offered. Did he want so badly to make her believe that he was a good person? Why did he care what she thought? She was a peasant, and he was nobility, wasn't he?

Melusine had only laid eyes on one noble in her entire life, the one who managed the fiefdom Hathorn and a few other villages were part of. He was an arrogant, snobbish man who seemed to resent the villagers for not making him wealthier.

"I'm fine, I don't need help. The weight isn't the problem, it's trying not to jostle the water too much." Melusine didn't bother acknowledging the guards as she and the knight passed them. She could feel eyes boring into her back while she walked away. This flashy stranger must've been why they weren't their usual unpleasant selves. Everyone's being weird today. Melusine grunted and paused to adjust her grip on the bucket once they were out of a normal person's earshot. "So what does the king want with me?"

"I thought you didn't know who the king was," Baugulf teased. Melusine felt her cheeks grow hot.

"Playing the idiot has never been my strong suit."

"Neither is lying." Baugulf chuckled and his tense muscles relaxed. "The king is summoning you to court because you're the Dragon's Proxy. The Dragon's Proxy is meant to serve the king, just as the previous Proxy did."

"So I'm not the first," Melusine mumbled, half to herself. "What if I don't have any desire to serve the king?"

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice," the knight told her in a soft voice. Melusine frowned. He was right, of course, she knew the answer before she even asked. Every commoner knew the risk and heavy cost of disobedience. But if she never tested the waters for freedom, she'd lose what little chance she might've had. "Your mother had word sent to the guard captain of the capital some time ago, asking for you to be escorted to the king."

Those words made her freeze in place. She nearly dropped the water, barely able to set it down before it spilled. Melusine stared at the bucket. The liquid inside rippled and jiggled up against the lip. Her mother hadn't known, right? Right? Images flashed through her mind of the final time she'd seen her mother, the grim and knowing glint in her eyes. The way they'd been trying to pretend that nothing was amiss, tiptoeing around the villagers, like they were waiting for… for a rescue.

Melusine looked up at the sparkling blond knight in his glittering armor. He appeared concerned for her, all full of good-will and diplomacy. The calvary had come to town. Rage took over her mind, and her vision became doused with a crimson hue. Her own mother had sent her out to be whisked away by strangers. Somehow, Custance had known what her daughter had done, and threw Melusine to the wolves for it. Had this been what Ekaitz had waited so long for as well?

Melusine started to laugh, and combed her bangs back with her fingers. Her nails had grown into sharp claws, green scales covered her cheekbones, and her eyes glowed a horrid red.

"Ah, it was a deal with a demon that I struck, not dragon. Truly, it has a miraculous ability to grant wishes," she scoffed, broken up amidst her mad laughter. Blinding hot tears stung at her eyes. She tilted her head back to stop them, staring at the sky, but it did little good. Despite her best efforts, her voice broke. "What am I to do?"

They hadn't given Melusine so much as a single night to process everything. She didn't have much to pack, so her knight escort had brought a carriage around in the early evening. Melusine had been giving her mother the stonewall silent treatment the entire afternoon. What could she say to express herself, to communicate everything under the surface? The few times she almost thought of something that covered a fraction of it all, the words died in her throat.

Melusine's focus was kept locked in front of her, her jaw set. Every fiber of her energy went into maintaining an exterior of stone. Her ears pricked with the sound of her mother sobbing into her hands.

"Please, Melly, forgive me," her mother wept. "I didn't know what else to do. At this rate, you'll hurt someone!"

"You mean that you're worried you won't be able to feed yourself," Melusine accused.

"That isn't it at all!" Her mother objected.

"Isn't it?" True or not, Melusine wanted to hurt her mother for her betrayal. But despite her rage, she still didn't like it when Custance cried. She tried to pull her down into a hug, but Melusine shook her off. Custance choked on another sob, her hands gripping tight to a package.

"Melly, I barely understand what's happened to you. With your father dead, I can't risk the villagers turning on you. I can't... protect you on my own..." Teeth clenched, Melusine turned her back on her mother. Her muscles twitched and her hands tightened into fists.

"If you don't understand, how did you know to send word to the king of all people?" Melusine muttered under her breath before she spoke clearer. "Ah, sure. You're doing all of this to protect me. Fine. I'll be a good daughter and go then."

"Oh, Melly..." Her mother took in a shuddering breath, and held the bundle out to Melusine. "I want you to take this with you. Know that I love you, Melusine... no matter what, never doubt that. Promise me?"

Melusine glanced at the package, rage and bitterness roiling in her, but underneath was hurt and fear. What her anger hid won out, and the bundle was pulled close to her chest. It was wrapped in a spare rucksack for grain and tied with a waxed thread. However, even if this last gift from her mother was wrapped, Melusine knew that the gift was clothing. It had almost no weight, and wasn't stiff or hard.

"I love you too, Mother," Melusine admitted in a small voice. This time, she allowed herself to be pulled into an embrace. Her eyes stung. She wrapped an arm around her mother's back and squeezed. "Don't let anything bad happen to you," she mumbled.

Her mother laughed and hugged her tight. Melusine felt warm water land on her neck. "Look after yourself, and you stay safe too. Or I'll come find you."

"That's... not much of a discouragement." A twinge of grief corrupted her mother's chuckling. Custance was the only person to laugh at Melusine's dry humor, even when she wasn't trying to be funny.

"She will be well looked after, Miss Custance," Baugulf assured. He'd hung back and stood by the carriage, but when Melusine softened her stance, he'd approached.

"Thank you, sir." Melusine's mother kissed her daughter on the cheek, and stepped away. Reluctantly, Melusine took in the visage of her mother and home one last time. Her mother—with her eyes and nose red from crying, and her home—run down and ramshackle. She'd miss both dearly.

Melusine noticed Lee in the woods behind her house, standing with a hand on a tree. His mouth was a straight line, but that was about all Melusine could make of his expression. He probably couldn't find the opportunity to say goodbye. She didn't realize it until it was too late, but she'd miss him. He annoyed her sometimes, but Lee might've been her only friend.

With a sad farewell in her heart, Melusine stepped into the carriage and let the door shut behind her. Baugulf got on his chestnut steed, and the carriage began down the uneven path to the village. Melusine stared down at the package resting in her lap. It took a long time before she had the courage to pull the string loose. The cream colored tunic was lifted up into the air, and Melusine absorbed every detail. It was simple and plain with tanned leather trim. A black woven string hung loose on the neckline and sleeves, strung between the fabric to allow the cuffs and collar to tighten.

It was only after the carriage had long since passed through the village that Melusine let herself wail into the tunic.