7 Maerryl #2
Legus’s severe expression, looming over me with his seven-foot-something Dragonborn height, will forever be branded into my memory.
But after a couple minutes of my halting apologies and explanations, he broke into a soft smile, confessing that he really just wanted to see how long I’d bumble on if no one stopped me.
This earned him a playful jab in the gut from Saho, who declared that they’d already forgiven me as soon as I returned with a full coin purse to spend.
Then they squeezed me in a quick hug before flouncing off to the kitchens yelling about how we must try their dinner special, or they wouldn’t forgive me.
By the time full night fell, Telen and I were full of delicious seafood stew and rosemary cheddar biscuits, and we’d secured a room together.
The next morning, after hours of truly marvelous sex and a deep sleep, I slipped out of bed and scrawled a quick note that I was running an errand nearby and would be back in a few hours. I asked her to wait for me.
Whistling, I’d grabbed an apple from the empty kitchens and strode out the inn’s doors.
The sun had been just breaking the horizon, too early for anyone to be up yet.
Such a gorgeous morning—the air crisp and fresh, bright little dewdrops hanging on every blade of grass.
I’d set off to the priory on a borrowed horse with the weight of coin at my hip and a hopeful heart.
But reality had come crashing back after I’d visited Balfie in the infirmary. I’d remembered that he should be—and always would be—my top priority. Nothing was more important than getting his cure. Saving him—that was what I should have been focused on, not beautiful women and crazy adventures.
Trying to pull myself out of these memories, I focused on my body, where I was now.
In this unfamiliar, too-big room, tucked into a massive country manor.
Sweat cooling stickily on my skin, eyes still gummy from sleep.
I pushed away the images of what had come after: the sharp fear; redoubling my determination to get the money needed, no matter the cost; heading to the closest city.
Leaving Telen without an explanation. Losing myself in the search for a way to steal a small fortune, then finding and joining the Takers Guild.
The months since, desperate again and lonelier than ever before.
A few sharp clacks of the slitling’s beak broke me out of my reverie. One beady eye glared at me, as to say hurry it up, girl, or else. It took a couple menacing steps closer on the windowsill, and I shook my head, refocusing on the message I’d been trying to compose to Zephyra.
Have successfully secured the bodyguard position & infiltrated the manor.
Focused on recon now, and getting the lay of the land.
My charge is an obstinate, resistant brat—no surprises there.
And the Lord & Lady W seem at once distant & overbearing.
Very lavish household, but suspiciously understaffed & tight-lipped. They’re hiding something.
I’ve been added to both the household wards and D’s private suite wards. I’ll keep learning as much as I can, and will send word as soon as I discover anything.
—M
That done, I tentatively tucked it into the slitling’s waiting leg pouch and watched it fly off, closing the window firmly behind it.
Then I stalked to the washbasin again, thoughts swirling.
After stripping my nightshirt off and dunking a cloth in the water, I scoured my arms and upper body until the skin turned angry.
Thankfully, I’d been able to have a proper bath in the servants’ quarters last night after a solid meal.
Despite Dove’s threats, Choia had ladled up not the pigs’ leftovers but a delicious, steaming-hot vegetable stew.
Mostly vegetables… though I did notice some small pieces of squid floating around.
When I questioned the cook about the appearance of this supposed rare delicacy in the servants’ dinner, she’d replied, “Oh, Dove always has me order enough of whatever I get for the family so that we can have the same. Bless her, though most of the household staff don’t care for some of the strange things rich folk eat.
So, I just chop it up and mix it into something like stew. And no one’s the wiser!”
She’d laughed, and I’d smiled along with her, taking a tentative bite of the squid.
It wasn’t half bad. Chewy, with a novel squishy texture that was a nice contrast to the soft bite of squash, potato, and lentil in the rest of the stew.
I finished every last spoonful, keeping Choia company while she prepped dough for tomorrow’s loaves and then set it magically kneading itself on the counter as she bustled around cleaning off the counters.
When she saw my empty bowl, the gnome plopped in another ladleful of stew without me having to ask.
As I chewed my second helping more slowly, I turned over Choia’s words. It was… interesting. So Dove supplied the same fancy food she eats to her servants as well. Why? A sense of guilt, maybe. Or a passing whim.
Or, a tiny voice in my head pipes up, she might actually care for the people she hired and wished to treat them well.
Nonsense. I knew the measure of Lady Dovenesdrea Iniri Wistrallo III, and I just needed to focus on gaining her trust and continuing to make allies within the household. Someone was bound to crack eventually. Meanwhile, I’d continue snooping.
Now, I tossed on a fresh shirt and layered what I thought of as my thieving leathers over it.
Might as well keep looking the part. The family expected to see a bodyguard, so I’d worn them to the interview yesterday—the top covering my torso from waist to collar, the pants long and not too tight, wrapping just snugly enough around my stout, firm legs and tapering to a perfect tuck in my boots.
The whole outfit was made of soft, supple leather so dark brown that it was almost black, imbued with the same silencing magic that was in my shoes and a protection spell of some sort that resisted puncturing.
I’d learned that the hard way when a tavern brawl exploded one night, and a drunken man’s blade missed his target and found my thigh instead.
There had been a small rip in the leather, and a droplet of blood had welled where the tip of the knife had pushed through, but it had been a scratch rather than a deep stabbing.
I rarely went out into the city at night without donning my leathers after that.
Few perks to life in the Takers Guild, as I’ve discovered, but access to a fully stocked storeroom of stolen weapons, armor, and clothes—when Zephyra was feeling generous, of course—was definitely one of them.
A soft knock at my hallway door brought me back to the present.
“Maerryl? Are you awake?” Petra said in an almost whisper.
I unlocked the door and swung it open, revealing the maid’s sunny, tentative smile. She carried another full tray atop a pile of fresh linens. At the last second, I resisted frowning back. You need to charm her. It’s not her fault you’re an absolute beast in the morning.
“Good morning, darling,” I drawled with a wink. “Starting my day off right, with a vision like you here.”
Petra tittered a little and said, “Good morning! Would you mind opening Dove’s door for me? I wanted to surprise her with a special breakfast.”
Letting her into my room, I surveyed the tray she held. “In exchange for a snack, sure.”
“No, this is for my lady!” She giggled. “You’ll have to get your own breakfast in the kitchens.”
“Hmm, well then, I suppose I’ll need to have a different kind of snack…” I stepped closer, and she moved back against the wall, the tray between us. Her eyes widened, looking like a bunny happily caught in a trap.
After a long second, I lifted one hand to the door behind her and pressed it against the center flower. A tingle washed over my palm, all the way up to my elbow, but the magic still released the door lock.
“Maybe later,” I said, low in her ear, then stepped to the side and opened the door to Dove’s bedroom.
Petra let out a breathless giggle and slipped inside with a smile, crossing the room to set her burden on top a dresser.
Before I closed it again, I caught a glimpse of Dove in her bed.
Asleep, covered in quilts up to her chin.
The corner of one was scrunched in a tight fist, her delicate eyebrows also crushed together.
She looked very young in sleep, and very unhappy.
After another moment, I shut the door on that scene, shaking something loose from my head.
Stalking back to the mirror, I gave my short, dark-brown hair a rough brush, then scowled at my reflection in the mirror.
Good enough. With my twin long daggers sheathed at each hip and various other small blades and tools hidden on my body, I was finally more ready for whatever this strange day would bring.
Just one evening with my charge had left me exhausted by the time I’d fallen into bed. What would she do to me after an entire day?
Voices began faintly chattering in the adjoining room, so Dove must be awake.
I should grab some real breakfast downstairs before the princess gets on the move and disappears into the bowels of this house.
As quietly as I could, I ducked out of the bedroom and slipped down to the kitchens. Goddess, give me strength for this day.