by B B Reed
The noble tipped her head at Halena, looking a little surprised, “Ah, you’re awake. What is it, dear?”
“How soon until we go to this party you mentioned? Will Lord Calyrien be there?” She asked, shoulders tensing.
“It’s the day after tomorrow and I’m fairly certain he’ll be there. Why do you ask?” Jeanne’s brow furrowed.
Halena shook her head, “Oh, no reason, really. I just… Heard his name last time I was in the city. He, erm, sounds important.”
Lady Ravenwood rolled her eyes, “Don’t let him hear you say that, else his prick will pitch a tent big enough to house the Val Deah Circus.”
Halena’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at Jeanne, the tips of her ears burning. A smirk spread on Inka’s lips and she rolled her eyes. She looked up from her papers to Halena, “Don’t worry, he won’t pay attention to you if you just keep your head low.”
“Then why are we going to the city so early if the party is two days away?” The witch asked.
“There’s a Ministry session I must attend before the ball, and you need a dress so you can blend in.” Jeanne pointed to her, “Unless you’ve been hiding noble finery in that satchel, you need to visit my tailor.”
Halena frowned, “Won’t it still be suspicious to have me join you in a party like this?”
Jeanne waved her hand in a dismissive flick, “Don’t you worry about that. I can handle any troublemakers if they try to start a scene. As far as they’re concerned, you’re just another retainer like Inka making sure I am taken care of and make it home safely.”
“That depends on how much you end up drinking, milady. Being your damage control is no easy task.” Inka quipped, giving Jeanne a scolding glance that a mother casts upon her child.
The noblewoman chuffed, pointing across to Halena, “Good, she can help shoulder some of the effort when I do get sloshed.”
Halena glanced between the pair, a lost look hanging on her face, “Pardon me, you keep calling me a retainer. I still don’t know what that is.”
Jeanne sighed, shaking her head at Halena, “You’re book smart, but there’s much you have to learn about the social arena, isn’t there?” She motioned to Inka, “Retainers are workers that provide some kind of service to another. Inka handles trade agreements for me, as well as assist in any resources I need to pull from the Manin College.”
The noblewoman leaned forward, pointing at Halena, “You are my retainer now, assisting me with archives and advising me on research. That’s what you say if anyone asks.”
A prompt nod of confirmation came from the witch, and Jeanne sunk back into her seat with satisfaction, “Very good. You’ll learn in time as we work together, dear. For now, keep your head low and observe.”
Halena remained silent for the rest of the ride, content in doing just as Jeanne instructed, observing the nearing skyline of Arras Ando. The pair across from her continued to discuss business while the carriage rumbled along the road, a majority of the financial jargon and names flying over the witch’s head. The sun descended on the horizon as they neared the sheer walls of the grand capital city. Halena sat up, preparing to disembark as they neared the coach houses outside of the gate as their ride came to a stop. The others did not stir and Jeanne urged Halena to remain in her seat. She watched with confusion as one of the gate guards exchanged with Liam at the driver’s seat. He waved Liam along and the carriage bucked, rolling under the portcullis onto the cobblestone street as they were carried up to the city’s inner ring.
The streets held vague familiarity from her pass through with Edward and the immense arches of the avenue that led to the markets were coming closer. The carriage turned to the right, approaching another portcullis manned by more watchers in their brass-colored chainmail. Another quick check with Liam and the carriage ascended the ramping street to the upper terrace. Halena peered out the window, taking in the new sights of the upper terrace. Flanking both sides of the boulevard, well-manicured parks breathed life into the stony edifices of the great city. Trees provided sparse shading overhead and between their trunks the trimmed grasses, bushes, and beds of flowers could be seen along walkways.
Just a little further, they passed a tiled plaza in the middle of the grass, ornamented with godly carvings and accented with vines, a forum for discussion sat empty in the waning daylight hours. Growing closer in the distance, the impossible spire of turrets, gables, and balconies pierced the orange twilight sky. Halena glanced out the window, realizing they were heading towards the towering citadel of buildings mashed and stacked on top of one another. How it all did not crumble with a gust of the wind vexed her. They pass through a final gate, the carriage rounding off to the right to stop in front of a small building. Liam hopped off the driver’s seat to open the door with a pleasant chirp, “We’re back at your home away from home, my lady.”
Lady Jeanne was the first to climb out, smirking at her trustworthy driver, “Try as I might, they keep dragging me back, do they not?”
Inka and Halena joined her, taking the opportunity to stretch their stiffened limbs. Halena’s eyes lingered skyward at the incredible citadel looming overhead while Lady Jeanne was received by a steward from the checkpoint. The sound of luggage being dismantled from their fastenings on the carriage tore Halena’s eyes back to the ground, watching a pair of adolescent boys dressed in brown doublets take down the cargo while Jeanne passed off a handful of coins to their balding boss.
“We’ll be up soon enough. My steward knows to let the boys in if they beat me to the doorstep.” Jeanne smiled, tucking her shaded glasses away into her coat. The man bowede to Jeanne, then turned away to supervise the youths while they worked.
Something tapped Halena in the rear, making her jump. She turned around, meeting the noblewoman’s grin as she ushered her along with a wave of her cane, “Aren’t you coming?”
“Y-Yes.” The witch answered, eyes warily watching the cane before she started following Jeanne and Inka. She rubbed where the cane swatted her butt, fuming with mild embarrassment. Narrow street paths wound to each of their sides, the center plaza welcoming the trio with an immense sculpted mural in the white stone wall.
At the floor, likenesses of soldiers gripped in battle against towering men with the heads of bears, eagles, and wolves provided the foundation to the scene. Rising up the carved work, the nearly incomprehensible shapes of five winged beings watched over the frozen battle below, each one unique from the other, yet each shared a similar physiology. Great pairs of wings and two pairs of arms each figure bore. Behind them all, impressions of grand rays of sunlight poured down from these gods to light the theater of battle.
The witch’s head turned as she passed the incredible stonework, noting the flecks of sparkling minerals in the marble. Her attention was torn away as she followed her companions up the short walk of stairs, more elegant structures closing in around them. There appeared to be few shop fronts down the flanking lanes, then Halena’s attention moved towards the brass cages of great elevator shafts, four cars in total. Her head spun at the sight, intimidated by their presence and the clanking noises in its belly. In an attempt to keep up with Lady Jeanne and Inka, Halena swallowed her reservations and took a hesitant step into the empty car, shuffling to the back. Lady Ravenwood joined them last, nodding to an attendant manning the cage door, “Second tier.”
The attendant nodded, pushing a lever up two clicks on the panel next to him. The car groaned and Halena’s stomach dropped as they rose up into the air. Her knees trembled as she watched the plaza grow smaller and smaller below them. The gables and wisps of smoke from chimneys of the city could be seen through the car’s rigging. She clenched her eyes shut, the rumbling of the car only worsening her anxiety. To ground herself, the witch gripped Inka’s arm, giving the scholar a start. It seemed to never end, her nerves fraying from the rising sensation and did not dare let go of her anchor. The ride slowed and the car rocked, locking into place at their destination. Inka squeezed Halena’s shou
lder, “Are you okay?”
She peeked an eye open, the sight of more buildings surrounding the new elevator landing making her vertigo disappear. Halena sucked in a breath of air, nodding and prying herself from around Inka’s arm, “I’m fine. Just… Heights.”
Jeanne snorted and stepped off from the car, followed by Inka still fussing, “Are you sure? I thought you would be sick.”
Halena looked back at the lift cage with wary suspicion, “What is that thing?”
“A grand piece of House Astor engineering. The lifts were implemented about fifteen years ago to replace the old rusting ones and bring a little life back to the nobles’ district.” Jeanne said, already walking off down the lane.
“District? I feel like we’ve walked into an enormous castle.” Halena chuffed, still floating from the rush, and falls into step behind Jeanne. The dying rays of golden sunlight washed up through gaps in the rooftops as they traversed the street, no sign of the city below a telling sign of their height. It made her stomach turn again and she kept her eyes on the finely cut stones of the street.
Inka’s eyes kept flicking back to Halena in concern as she kept pace with her stride, “The castle itself is still farther up. To many in the lower quarters, they call this part of the city ‘The Spine’ of Arram. Quite clever, if you think about it.”
Lady Jeanne grunted and stepped off the road to climb the spotless porch steps up to one of the residences. The head of her cane tapped against the door, and soon the door opened. A well-dressed butler of average size greeted the trio, a manicured thin moustache on his lips spreading in a smile as he bowed to the noblewoman, “My lady, welcome back.”
“Lovely to see you again, Wallace. Did I beat the youngsters with the luggage?” Lady Ravenwood smirked, stepping inside.
The gentleman chuckled, “I believe you have, milady. You’ve been the first to knock at the door since the morning. If you told me you were bringing an extra guest, I would have arranged the spare room.”
“It shouldn’t take the maids much time to prepare the guest room for her. Halena is our newest addition to the staff. See to it that her luggage makes it to her room and arrange for my tailor to meet with her. She needs a dress for the masquerade ball.” Lady Jeanne instructed while shrugging her traveling coat off. Despite the claustrophobic space outside, the townhouse’s interior was just as roomy as the estate in the countryside. The foyer reflected the same reserved tastes Lady Ravenwood kept outside of the city walls, a grand staircase centering the space to lead upwards to the second level. Halena peered through the vaulted doorway into the dining room to the left, and then glanced across to the other side at what served as a living area. Wallace took his lady’s coat and other garments to be hung up while the others settled in.
“Any requests for your meal this evening, madam?” The butler inquired, hands folded behind his back.
The noble shook her head and flicked her wrist at Wallace, “Uh… Something simple. You know how traveling makes me more tired than hungry.”
Wallace bowed and disappeared into the dining room. Halena’s stomach churned, the shallow burn of her lunch crawling up the back of her throat. She touched Jeanne on the shoulder, “Lady Ravenwood… the washroom. Where is it?”
“Down the hall behind the stairs. There’s another toilet upstairs.” Jeanne pointed to the large rising walk. Halena inclined her head in thanks and darted off. Just as the noble had directed, she found the porcelain sink and toilet, locking the door behind herself. Water was poured into the basin and she doused her face in a few splashes to freshen herself while she waited for her innards to calm. She took the hand towel off the hook and dabbed her face off, staring into the mirror. There was a soft groan, Halena ignoring the noise as her guts were still writhing until the sensation of misty fingers raced up her shoulders. In the reflection of the mirror, the whites of her eyes had clouded over into ink-black voids.
“How long are you going to wait… frail flesh?” The reflection hissed at her, the sound of her own voice draining what color remained in the witch’s face.
Her breath shuddered and she shook her head, “I… I don’t know. I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. This isn’t like the other hunts we’ve done.”
Her twisted reflection snorted at her, grinning wide, “No… You know what you have to do. You said you’d make up for killing the madman. When? I’ve been waiting…” She frowned, a mocking attempt to make those malevolent eyes pass for innocence, “…You’ve ignored me. Made new friends without introducing them. I’d like friends too.”
“I haven’t ignored you and I did not forget. As soon as I find something, I’ll allow you to… to feed.” Halena insisted, holding tightly onto the sink bowl to keep herself from shaking with fright.
Her expression simmered into a scowl and the reflection banged its fist against the glass, cracks scattering from the impact, “Don’t you lie to me, frail flesh! We had the opportunity in those woods, and you resisted me!”
Halena backed away from the mirror, balling her hands up into fists and clenching her eyes shut. The demon’s voice drove picks into her eardrums and she shouted, “You would get us killed!”
The witch’s eyes shot open after receiving only silence. Her present trembling form looked back at her in the mirror, the evil eyes gone from her crimson-marked face. The sting of bile shot up her throat and Halena wrapped herself around the toilet. What remained of her lunch went down the drain and she camped in the bathroom for some time until the nausea passed from her burning innards. She lost track of time while praying to the porcelain deity, a knock on the door rousing her back to the present. Heaving herself back to her feet, she answered the door to find Inka.
She frowned at the witch, worry written in her eyes for the woman’s pallid state, “Oh… Is everything okay?”
“I think I will be. I suppose I missed dinner?” Halena replied with dryness.
Inka took Halena’s hand, guiding her out of the bathroom, “Not by much. Come, let’s get you to your room.”
Halena pulled away, “No, please, I can make it on my own.”
Inka nodded, concern still furrowing her brow, “It’s down the right hall. I’ll be up in a moment.”
The scholar hurried off before she could protest. The witch sighed and rubbed her head, climbing the stairs to find her guest room. Inside, her traveling bag had found itself to the lone tiny desk. Her boots and sash came off, only her dark green dress loose on her body as she settled in to nurse her headache and sour stomach. Inka returned with a tray of soup and a few slices of bread, remaining at her bedside to observe Halena’s condition. The witch nibbled down the bread after soaking it in broth, then gave up. The room spun too much for her to stomach bear and she closed her eyes, letting out a groan.
“Had enough?” Inka asked, tone as soft as her bedside manner.
“Mmh…” Halena grunted, then turned her head to her nurse, “You’re too kind to me.”
The scholar’s ocean eyes lowered to her lap, fingers playing with the fabric of her dress, “You’re as stubborn as Lady Jeanne when it comes to asking for help. I won’t let either of you suffer in silence like that.”
A tired laugh huffed through Halena’s nose, yet no retort to Inka’s statement. She looked up from her lap to find her patient drifting off to sleep. Inka gathered up the tray of food, put out the lamp and left the witch to sleep off the rest of her sickness.
In the following morning, after a meager breakfast, the witch geared up to take to the streets with Jeanne and Inka in a bout of errands. As they approached the great lift, Halena’s stomach twisted in anticipation. She clenched her eyes shut as they rode the car down, sparing Inka’s arm her grip. Her eyes peeked open to see the ground lobby approach without halt. The ground swallowed up the lift car, making Halena jump. Inka and Jeanne’s calmness eased her down from the surprise. In a dimly lit undercroft, the lift stopped and the cage door opened, letting the trio out to weave their way through the inner
city.
“I’ll handle everything with Mrs. Brisby when we arrive at her shop. Anything she asks you to take off or be measured, you will let her do it. Am I clear?” Jeanne raised an eyebrow as she looked over her shoulder at Halena, “None of that business like you gave Hilde back home.”
Halena nodded, lips pressing together and lowering her gaze to the cobblestones like a scolded child, “I understand.”
“Very good. I trust you girls can handle a dress fitting while I run off to session?” Lady Jeanne added.
Inka looked over to Halena, a parcel hugged to her chest as they walked, “I believe so, Lady Ravenwood. We’ll have her looking sharp as ever for the ball.”
They approached a shop front on the left side of the street, a block away from the bustling marketplace. Jeanne entered first, shop bell jingling, and waved her cane in greeting to the red-headed woman of middle age at the back. The woman rested her hands on her hips, blowing a wisp of curly red hair from her face, “Why, if it isn’t Lady Jeanne Ravenwood. How are the new doublets treating you?”
“Quite well, Lyssa. Without you, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to maintain the title of ‘best dressed veteran’ in the Ministry.” Jeanne chuckled, “I have a rather sudden request to make of you. I need a dress for tomorrow night’s masquerade ball. Could you outfit my new retainer in something for the occasion?”
The head of Jeanne’s cane was directed at Halena. Mrs. Brisby tutted, approaching the witch to look her over, “Heavens above, Lady Ravenwood. Did you pull this one out of the storm drain?”
“I’ll pay you double for the dress if you can get her outfitted today.” Lady Ravenwood insisted, leaning on her cane.
“Fine, fine, I can do it.” Mrs. Brisby scoffed, giving Halena’s face a once-over with her brown eyes. She glanced back at the noblewoman, “Does the face-paint come off?”
Halena shook her head, “N-No, it doesn’t.”
“Give her a mask that covers them well.” Lady Jeanne nodded.