Without needing to knock, we were greeted by a maid whose eyes widened when she took in the sight of the princess.
“Take Her Highness to His Majesty immediately,” ordered one of the guards. “This one needs to be seen by a healer. She says she swam the princess to safety.” He inclined his head towards me. I bristled at the disrespect but bit my tongue.
The maid nodded and promptly ushered the princess away. Instantly, another maid appeared and requested that I follow her.
Wordlessly, I trailed behind her as she led me into an entrance hall with several doorways and two grand, stone staircases which I assumed led to different wings of the castle. I followed her through one of the doorways and down a long hallway bustling with activity.
She led me to a quiet room with a small desk, three chairsand a wooden table at its center.
After she excused herself, I took a couple of shaky steps towards the shelves lining the walls. My body ached from the horseback ride, but I was far too nosy to sit down.
The shelves housed an assortment of herbs, a mortar and pestle, vials of liquids, a myriad of bizarre instruments, and dusty tomes. All items that aided the mortals in healing themselves without magic.Fascinating.
I reached out to touch a set of bulbous glasses just as there was a knock at the door. Without waiting for a response, two women entered. The first was tall and lean, wore her gray hair in a low bun, and had a no-nonsense expression on her face. She was followed by a much friendlier-looking woman dressed in sweeping robes the color of a lily pad.
“So, you are the mysterious savior of Princess Amalie,” the first woman said briskly.
Hands now clasped behind my back, I nodded.
The woman continued, “My name is Ingrid, and I’m the matron of Cliffcrest Castle. What is your name, child?”
“Alara.” I might as well be truthful about something.
“Very well. You must be in shock. Marta has a tonic for that.” She indicated the second woman with a tilt of her head. “In the meantime, let her take a look at you.”
Skeptically, I took a seat on the wooden table and remained still while Marta inspected me.
Once she had finished her thorough examination, she spoke. “That cut on your arm will require an ointment to prevent infection. May I?”
I couldn’t exactly tell her that the scratch would completely heal as soon as my magic renewed itself, so, reluctantly, I allowed her to take my arm.
She retrieved a vial from one of the shelves and began dabbing the small cut. I hissed at the sting.
“Count your lucky stars you don’t require any stitches,” she said, not unkindly. “Would you like a tonic? For the shock?”
“No,” I said quickly. “Thank you.”
“That will do, Marta,” Ingrid said, standing. “His Majesty would like to speak to the young lady, but she will need to be cleaned first.”
I couldn’t argue with that. My dress had dried, but it was now completely covered in horse hair and filth. I looked like I had been tussling in a barn; I was in desperate need of a bath.
“Come with me,” she said, frowning at the dress. “I’ll have a bath drawn for you. The maids will find you some clean clothing.”
Without waiting for my response, she took my arm and led me out of the room, completely ignoring Marta’s protests that I needed to rest. I met her hurried pace as she led me to a simple bathing chamber.
“A good scrub is what you need,” she announced. “The staff will assist you in removing your clothing and pouch.”
I didn’t like the idea of parting with the pouch. In fact, a bead of sweat slid down the back of my neck at the thought. “What will you do with it?” I asked, a note of panic in my voice.
She raised her eyebrows. “I can have the maids wash and return it to you, if you wish.” Her tone of voice suggested she would rather see the garment burned.
“Not the dress, the pouch. I need to have it with me at all times.” Without it, I was monumentally fucked. I couldn’t risk losing it.
She looked at me like I had just asked where the king liked to be tickled. “Dear girl, youcannotpossibly be suggesting that you meet the king with a half-drenched pouch hanging off your shoulder?”
I dug my heels in, preparing for a fight. “It’s important to me. It holds the only possessions I have left in this world.”
Speaking to me as if she was reasoning with a small child,she said, “I will personally ensure that it is kept safe during your audience with the king. Now, kindly allow the maids to remove your garment and help you into the bath. I must stress that we cannot keep His Majesty waiting.”
