by M. Gregg Roe
He smiled confidently. “All right. I’ll hear you out. Should we have the pudding for dessert?”
Audrey laughed and gestured. “Of course! That’s why I come here.”
He insisted on paying for the meal because he had asked her out, and she decided not to argue. As they headed east along the main road, she asked, “Where do you live, Erwin?”
“Just west of the North Lake, so not that far from where you live.”
“That’s true. Okay, I’m going to tell you my bizarre and shameful story.” He deserved to know the truth, and it was nice to have someone to talk to about it.
By the time she had finished, they had walked all the way around the inside of the wall to the North Gate, and it was beginning to get dark. She had begun with Saxloc healing her leg in Farmerton, and didn’t omit her later seduction of him. She also explained Almera’s role in her fake engagement.
Erwin shook his head and smiled. “I appreciate your honesty, but this is a great deal to take in. You will need to give me some time to think things through. I also think that you need to decide how you really feel about Saxloc. Let’s head back toward where you live.”
Audrey nodded, and they headed south along the North Road. “You’re right; I need to decide. Sometimes I just want to use my Shorinken training to beat the crap out of him, but Grasapa probably wouldn’t approve.”
Erwin laughed, and she thought he had a nice laugh. “No, probably not. But from what you described, he certainly deserves it.”
“Oh yes, and he is going to pay for his treatment of me eventually.” She smiled mischievously and suddenly took his right hand with her left. He smiled pleasantly and squeezed her hand. Audrey liked the feel of it. “Walk me home,” she said suddenly.
“Aren’t you afraid Saxloc might see?”
“I hope he sees.”
“To make him jealous, or because you like me?” he asked seriously.
Audrey felt guilty and confused. “Both. I’m sorry.”
“That’s good enough for now,” he said with an amused smile.
When they reached the iron gate, she hugged him and kissed him on the lips. It lasted longer than she had expected. Erwin definitely knew what he was doing, and she was starting to get excited. She let go of him and stepped back smiling.
“Thank you for a lovely dinner and walk, Erwin. I’ll see you in class.”
He bowed to her. “It was my pleasure. Take care, Audrey.”
As he walked off to the east, she called out, “Take care!”
Audrey wound her away around the paths, passing over the fish pond on the way. She went in through the front entrance and found Almera sitting in the parlor looking at a huge book filled with color illustrations of flowers. She looked up and asked, “How did your date go, Audrey?”
“Fine. I like him and he likes me. I explained my situation, and he’s going to decide whether he can get past that or not.”
“That is why I told you to lie.”
“I know, but I just couldn’t. I’m just going to hope for the best.”
Almera sighed. “And I’m going to hope that my son comes to his senses soon. I’m really starting to wonder about him.”
♦ ♦ ♦
“I am very disappointed in you, Audrey.”
Grasapa’s words stung far worse than the kick that Cinda had delivered to her ribs earlier that day. Audrey felt deeply ashamed of her actions. She had completely lost control. Grasapa would certainly suspend her; she might even expel her. The thought of it made her sick to her stomach.
Bennet and Zalina had been careful to keep Audrey and Cinda apart during class, and especially during sparring, but it was in the woman’s changing room where things had finally come to a head. Cinda was now a model student during class, but outside of class was another matter. She somehow found out that Audrey was from a small village, and that seemed to deeply offend her. She insulted Audrey at every opportunity. She even made it clear that she blamed Audrey for her suspension. It was unbelievable. And Cinda either didn’t notice or didn’t care that the other students all disliked her.
Cinda was the only one in the changing room when Audrey arrived that day. Cinda immediately began taunting her, calling her a “filthy peasant”. Audrey wasn’t offended when someone like Almera referred to her as a peasant. She was a peasant, after all. But Cinda clearly intended it as a deadly insult, and Audrey finally reached her limit. She screamed back at Cinda, calling her a “spoiled rich girl” and a “stuck-up bitch”. Cinda’s face twisted with anger, and she suddenly lunged forward and delivered a kick to Audrey’s side that cracked ribs. Audrey instantly retaliated, landing a punch to Cinda’s midsection. They continued fighting until Bennet and Zalina ran in and ordered them to stop. Bennet dragged the now-terrified Cinda off to see Grasapa. Zalina checked Audrey’s injuries, and then took her to the instructor’s office and wrapped her ribs tightly with cloth. Audrey waited in dread for over an hour before being summoned to Grasapa’s office.
“I’m sorry,” she said in response to Grasapa’s initial statement. “I know that I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
“That is correct,” replied Grasapa. “You should have remained calm, and you two certainly should not have been fighting each other. Cinda, however, has confessed that she provoked you and that she started the fight.”
Audrey was amazed that Cinda had told the truth. “Uh … I see.”
“I have already spoken extensively with Cinda and decided her punishment. She will not be returning here for some time. She will also be paying a substantial fine.”
Grasapa paused a moment before continuing. “Audrey, you should have reported Cinda’s behavior to either myself or the instructors. That you did not makes it clear that we need to do a better job of educating our students. We can all learn from what has happened.
“I am not going to punish you further, Audrey. Instead, I am going to be teaching you personally for a while. You will learn some breathing and relaxation techniques that are usually taught to advanced students.”
Audrey felt incredibly relieved. “Thank you, Grasapa. That sounds like something that I could benefit from.”
“Yes, and Cinda as well.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Audrey took a walk around the grounds that evening, reflecting on the mess she had made of her second date with Erwin. She had been delighted when he asked her to dinner again. They went back to The Watch, and she became drunk on rice wine, stupidly assuming that she could now handle it. Afterward, he politely helped her back to the entrance to the grounds, but she could tell that her inebriation bothered him. He had only drunk water with his dinner, which she realized should have tipped her off. She wondered if he would ever ask her out again.
She spotted the black-and-white cat watching her suspiciously from under a bush. He suddenly looked to the side and ran off. She looked around and was startled to see Cinda standing not far away with a bewildered expression. She noticed Audrey and her face showed relief. “This garden is a maze, and I am quite lost!” she exclaimed. She was wearing an elegant purple-and-gold dress, but her hair was disheveled and her eyes were red and puffy.
“It really is,” replied Audrey as she walked over to her. “I think it’s deliberate, to confuse intruders.”
“Then I must an intruder be,” she said forlornly.
Cinda suddenly dropped to her knees and leaned forward until her face nearly touched the ground. “Mistress Audrey, I apologize most deeply for my improper behavior, and for causing injury to your person. I sought to make you the target of mine own suffering, and I am truly contrite.”
Audrey was touched by the apology, and unlike her previous one, it sounded sincere. It was also embarrassing, especially since she could now see Cinda’s tears staining the ground. She stepped forward and helped Cinda to stand. The skirt of her dress was covered with dust, and she looked miserable.
“I accept your apology, uh … Mistress Cinda.”
Cinda displayed a tra
ce of a smile. “Are you well, Mistress Audrey?” she asked.
“I’m fine now. Draymund used magic to heal my injuries.”
“I have not sought out healing. I will suffer the harm you have given to me as part of my penance.” She gave Audrey a pleading look. “Mistress Audrey, why did you not make clear to me that you dwelled here? Mine own mother informed me that you are betrothed to Lord Draymund’s son.”
“I am,” admitted Audrey. “But it’s complicated. I prefer not to tell people about that, or that I live here.”
Cinda sighed. “And I have boasted repeatedly about living in luxurious accommodations. This is most humbling. You may be of common origin, but you live far better than I. I feel most foolish.”
Audrey smiled at Cinda’s tear-stained face. “I may live here, but I really am a peasant at heart. You have no idea how much of a shock it was for me to come here. My parents’ house would fit in the parlor with room to spare.”
That seemed to cheer her up slightly, but she still looked dejected. “Lady Grasapa has suspended me for one full month. Then I shall be required to undergo special instruction. My parents are most displeased. I do not know if I shall return.”
“Please do,” said Audrey, and she was surprised to realize that she really meant it. Cinda had major faults, but she sounded genuinely remorseful.
Cinda looked at her in surprise. “Truly?” she asked.
“Yes,” replied Audrey simply.
“I will think upon it, Mistress Audrey. You are most kind. I apologize again for troubling you so. May I know the way out of this vexing labyrinth?”
Audrey didn’t actually know what vexing or labyrinth meant, but the overall meaning was clear. “Of course. If you would just follow me.”
14
‡ History ‡
On the eighteenth day of the first month of Autumn, Almera told Audrey that she wanted to take her to dinner and that she would need to wear a dress. Audrey pulled out her blue dress and put it on, but it didn’t fit. It was loose everywhere, especially around the waist. She had noticed that she had lost some weight and was looking less plump, and she could tell from the belt she always wore that her waist had become smaller, but she hadn’t realized that it was so much. When she thought about it, she realized that she hadn’t even worn a dress since shortly after she began her Shorinken training.
Audrey stripped off all of her clothes and then stepped in front of the full-length mirror. She had never seen such a thing before coming to the Witch’s City. She still shuddered at the memory of the first time she had stood in front of it naked. The mirror had shown everything. Her hair had looked dull, her shoulders stooped, and she had been decidedly plump. The scars on her left leg had looked horrible. After that, she had only used the mirror to check her appearance after getting dressed.
She stared into the mirror in wonder. Was this really what she looked like now? She still thought that she looked a little plump, but nowhere near as much as before. Her arms and legs were definitely leaner, her hips were narrower, and her waist was substantially smaller. She even thought that her breasts looked smaller, although not by much. It was no wonder her dresses didn’t fit properly anymore.
Audrey got out her sewing supplies and hurriedly altered the dress to fit well enough for now. Almera took her back to Lucien’s and this time she had no trouble reading the menu. While waiting for their food to arrive, Almera said, “I was hoping that you would wear that nice dress I bought you when you first arrived.”
“It doesn’t fit,” explained Audrey.
“What?! You should have said something. I’ll take it back and have them fix it.”
“No, that’s not it. It used to fit just fine. It’s me that’s changed. All of my dresses are too loose now.”
Almera studied her carefully and nodded. “Yes, I see it. You’re thinner now. It’s hard to notice these things when you see someone every day. And you’re almost always wearing loose clothing. We will have to get all of your dresses altered, or buy you some new ones.”
“That’s not necessary; I can alter them myself. It’s not hard to make them smaller and I enjoy it.”
“In that case, I’ve got a dress that needs some repair work. It’s from that shop that you didn’t approve of. When I went back there to complain, I found out that they had replaced their seamstress with a new one who was cheaper and apparently less skilled. They refused to do anything about it, and I told them they would get no more business of mine.
“But that is not why we are here tonight. I have been speaking with Hawina. Tomorrow will be your last session with her and then we will take her out to lunch. But it’s not all good news. I’m going to begin giving you books to read and then we will discuss them. We will start with some history books, but you may choose some as well. Perhaps you would like to read some books about sewing and weaving.”
Almera picked up her goblet of rice wine. “Congratulations, Audrey. You are no longer illiterate. And thanks to Grasapa, you look better as well. Can you get your nice dress ready by tomorrow?”
Audrey raised her goblet and smiled. “Yes, I think so. Thank you so much, Almera. And Draymund too. I will never be able to repay your kindness.”
“Thank you, Audrey. We have needed someone like you around to stir things up. I think that, at the moment, this is where you belong.”
♦ ♦ ♦
The next morning’s session with her tutor Hawina was perfunctory. They simply sat, chatted, and sipped tea. Before lunch, Audrey put on the beautiful gold dress that she had been up late altering. She walked in front of the mirror and immediately began to blush. She had never owned anything that showed so much cleavage—it was like her breasts were on display. But overall, she liked what she saw in the mirror. For the first time in her life, she thought that she actually looked pretty.
She walked out into the hallway and saw Mianna just off to her right, standing on a small ladder and cleaning a window. Mianna turned and gave her a startled look. Then she hopped down off the ladder and pretended to be afraid. “Who are you? What were you doing in Audrey’s room?”
Audrey drew herself up and tried to appear haughty. “I have slain the peasant who dared to think she could live in such luxury. I shall be replacing her. Be a good maid and dispose of the body.”
Mianna nodded and bowed. “It will be as you say, my lady. We will bury her under the vegetable garden. That way she might actually be of use.”
Audrey burst out laughing and Mianna joined her. She still liked to joke around with the woman, but it was clear that they would never become close friends. Mianna was twelve years older than Audrey, and outside of work, she was really only interested in pursuing men. She also seemed to regard Audrey not as a fellow commoner, but as one of the wealthy elite.
“You look lovely,” said Mianna, now standing relaxed and smiling broadly. “Your training is certainly paying off.”
“It really has, but it’s hard work. Thank you, Mianna.”
She went downstairs and found Almera and Hawina waiting in the parlor. They both complimented her dress and her appearance. The three of them had lunch at an outdoor cafe adjacent to the central plaza. She noticed many people staring at her, particularly men, and she felt both embarrassed and flattered. Lunch was delicious, and the three of them had a good time.
When she and Almera returned home, they encountered Saxloc just as he was exiting the front of the mansion. His eyes went very wide when he saw her in her dress. She smiled innocently and asked, “Do you like my dress, Saxloc?”
“Y… yes,” he replied as his face turned red. He then turned and quickly walked off along one of the paths. Audrey and Almera exchanged a look and smiled.
“I think I’ll start wearing this dress all the time,” announced Audrey, grinning and showing her teeth.
“Now, now,” replied Almera. “You will get it dirty. And Saxloc’s eyes will probably pop out. But you certainly got his attention.”
Almera abruptly stopped as
they were walking through the parlor. “Audrey, would you like to have a larger room? You could move to one of the guest suites like your parents stayed in. Or one of the two extra suites in Saxloc’s wing.”
She had wondered why there were two other suites like Saxloc’s, but it was ridiculous to suggest that she move to one. He would be furious if she did. But Almera would probably be angry if she pointed that out to her.
“I’m curious about that. Were you and Draymund planning on having more children?”
“We weren’t certain,” she replied wistfully. “So when we built the house we decided to allow for the possibility. That is why we added two additional suites just like Saxloc’s. Sometimes half-elves aren’t very fertile. We tried for several years, but then we quit because we didn’t want two children with very different ages. What about you? I was actually surprised that you don’t have any siblings. Aren’t families in villages like that usually larger?”
Audrey felt very sad as she replied. “Yes, they are. But I was the first born and my mother nearly died giving birth to me. After that, there were several miscarriages. There was another baby—a girl named Aldruth—but she died young. They just gave up after that.”
“I see. I never knew that. And now you are thinking that if Farmerton were to have had a cleric or healer living there, then your sister might have been saved. You may well be right, and it’s very sad.”
“Yes,” replied Audrey. “It really is. A lot of the children that are born in Farmerton don’t live very long. But that’s just the way things are. The people that live here are very fortunate.”
“Some of them are. Most of them aren’t wealthy like we are. The temples will help anyone regardless of their wealth, but some of the poor are afraid of the temples. They have heard stories about people being killed and reanimated as undead creatures, and so they are afraid and sometimes don’t go for help when they need it. That is very sad as well.”