“There you are!” came Madame Brandra's voice from behind her. Kazia turned to see Brandra struggling to keep her parasol above her head with one hand while lifting her skirts in the other as she trod across the cropped grass. Kelvaran came behind her, clearly impatient with Brandra's slow pace.
“Oh, Kazia, don't you look lovely today! Mistress, doesn't she look lovely?”
To Kazia's surprise, she felt a fleeting agreement with Madame Brandra from Kelvaran, before he brushed the sentiment aside and returned to his gloom. She risked a glance at him, but he was looking away now, his attention on a young man who walked on his hands while shaking his belled feet in the air.
“And how are you feeling today, dear?” Brandra continued. “All better?”
“Yes, thank you, Madame Brandra,” Kazia answered. “I am quite well today.”
“Shall we?” Amelys said, pointing her cane toward the fair.
“Oh, yes,” said Brandra. “Something smells delicious over there and I wouldn't mind investigating.”
Together they perused the rows of brightly colored tents and booths, sampling local culinary specialties and admiring the work of village artisans. Brandra purchased a bolt of handwoven cloth, which she handed off to an irked Kelvaran to carry, and Kazia and Amelys each chose a matched collar and cuff set from a lace maker.
They stopped to watch a troupe of young girls perform the ribbon dance, Neiphi among them. The dance was based on a very old fertility ritual, but since the Great War it had been altered, now symbolizing the twining together of the Five Nations. As the dance ended, Kazia added her applause to that of the crowd gathered around. She saw Neiphi spot her and the girl's face beamed. Neiphi ran full tilt toward her, but she stopped short and looked at the ground demurely.
“Mistress, you came,” Neiphi panted, and gave Kazia a deep curtsy. “I am so pleased.”
“What is this formality?” Kazia said. “Have you been replaced by a changeling?” Neiphi began to laugh, but then minded herself quickly.
“Mother told me-”
“Oh, I see, say no more,” Kazia interrupted. She narrowed her eyes at the girl, a sly half-smile on her lips. “Well, I suppose it won't hurt you to learn some manners. You acquitted yourself very well in the dance, by the way, and your new dress is indeed very pretty.”
Neiphi beamed again and began fluffing the ruffles on her yellow skirt. Kazia turned back to her company and rested her hand on Neiphi's shoulder.
“Mistress, may I present my student, Neiphi Gewalt?” she said. “Neiphi, this is Lady Amelys Thanelin of Loranar, Mistress of Alchemy to Queen Inaissa of Caedra, Lord Kelvaran Meratha of Valesk, and Madame Brandra Giris, Secretary to Mistress Thanelin.”
Neiphi curtsied again. “How do you do? I am so very pleased to make your acquaintance,” she said in practiced recitation.
“And I yours, Miss Gewalt,” Amelys replied. “Tell me, do you make as much trouble for Lady Kazia as she did for me?” Neiphi's face flushed red and she opened her mouth, but only managed a few stammered syllables. “Good,” Amelys said. “It is a fine thing to see justice served.” She winked at Kazia, who was going a bit pink in the cheeks herself.
“Mistress, may I be excused?” Neiphi said to Kazia. “Only now that the dance is done, Mother will want my help at home.”
“We'll drive you,” Amelys said, looking to each of the company in turn. Kelvaran scowled, but Amelys waved a dismissive hand at him. “Well have lunch with the Gewalts and make our goodbyes now so we can get an early start in the morning.”
“Oh, won't that be fun?” Brandra said to Neiphi. “Have you ever ridden in a grand carriage before?” Neiphi shook her head. “You'll feel like the queen of the fair!” They all walked together to the public house to order the carriage readied.
“Mistress, are you a Princess?” Neiphi asked as they waited. “I heard that your father is a Prince.”
“No,” Kazia answered. “In Valesk only those who might become King or Queen are given that title. I am not in line for that. My brother is the next Prince of our family.” Kazia glanced at Kelvaran, hoping this talk was not troubling for him. Apparently it was, judging from his glower.
“You have a brother? You've never said.”
“We aren't close. He is much older than me and had a different mother.”
“I am much older than my baby brother,” Neiphi said after some quiet consideration. “Do you think we won't be close?”
“I think that your family is very different than mine,” Kazia assured her, “and your little brother will love you dearly.”
The carriage driver had hitched all of the horses by now and Kazia and Neiphi climbed into the front compartment with Amelys and Brandra, and Kelvaran took the back compartment alone. Kazia really couldn't blame him. The Seamist was wearing off and the presence of others was beginning to exhaust her. She was ready for some time alone herself.
As they drove past the fairground Neiphi waved from the window to her friends, who watched in astonishment as the carriage went by. Neiphi was all smiles, and her joy lifted Kazia's weariness considerably. While Neiphi admired the brocade cushions of the seats, the fringed valances and pull shades on the windows, and marveled at how the hills outside seemed to be moving, Kazia closed her eyes, the rocking of the carriage beginning to lull her into a catnap.
“Miss Kazia... Mistress,” Neiphi said with a sudden alarm in her voice. Kazia snapped awake. “Isn't that your cottage?” She pointed out the window, and her face had gone white.
Kazia leaned across to see where Neiphi indicated. They had reached the edge of the Gewalt property, where the farm laborers' cottages were scattered in a loose little neighborhood. None of the residents should be home now, and yet smoke rose from three of the cottages, including Kazia's, far more smoke than would come from the usual hearth fire. Gates were seen to be smashed through, as well as doors, and effects from within the houses strewn about outside.
Amelys began to rap the ceiling of the carriage with her cane. Kelvaran stood and opened a hatch in the roof, putting his head out to shout orders to the driver, who turned the carriage toward the cottages at the next opportunity. Before the carriage even came to a complete stop, Kazia opened the door.
“Stay in here, Neiphi,” she said, her tone commanding. She leaped out of the carriage and turned to the driver. “You!” she cried. “Sound the alarm bell, there by the well.”
Kelvaran emerged from the carriage and stood surveying the wrecked and burning houses. Kazia unbuttoned the top of her skirt and petticoat, allowing them to fall to the ground, and stepped out of them. She pulled a long dagger out of her boot. She noticed Kelvaran scrutinizing her, now standing in her pantaloons and the long, jacket-cut bodice of her dress, which at least covered her to the thighs He bristled with a curious fusion of hostility, shame, and admiration.
“Are you always armed?” he asked, his tone wary.
“Aren't you?” she retorted.
He looked back to the nearest house.
“Of course,” he said dryly.
The alarm bell began to peal behind them, and a man flew out of Kazia's cottage, rushing straight toward her.
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