The Crimson Dragon

Chapter Three

Ada bit her lip as she approached the back gate to the Palace. She had been through there a couple of times to make a delivery, but always with Elise.

"State your business," one of the guards said as she approached.

Thankfully, the other, younger guard spoke for her. "That's the herbalist's sister, isn't it? Ana?"

"Ada. And I'm the herbalist. My sister just makes deliveries. But she's busy today."

"Yeah, I saw Madam Celeste is back in town. Does that mean Elise is going to perform tonight?"

The other guard glared at him. "You're not here to make chit-chat, Jenkins. You're already on report for being late, don't make me write you up again."

The younger guard - Jenkins - straightened his spine at that, his eyes wide with terror for a moment before he gave a swift nod and turned to me. "State your business."

"I'm making a delivery to Tyene. In the kitchens."

The older guard frowned. "Personal deliveries shouldn't be made to the Palace."

Ada just shrugged. "These are the instructions I have, and she'll get sick if I don't get this to her. I promise, I won't wander."

"See that you don't. If I see you trespassing, you'll be in the darkest depths of the dungeons before you know it."

Ada nodded before scurrying past him, heading straight for the kitchens.

They were busy and noisier than she expected, and she found herself making a distressed keening sound in the back of her throat.

She did her best to stop it as she realised that it was earning her weird looks.

This was why no one liked her.

Why they thought she wasn't even human...

With a sigh of relief, Ada spotted the cook in question - a middle-aged woman named Tyene - sitting on a stool out in the corridor.

"Ah, Ada, you caught me on my break," Tyene said as she looked her up and down. "Your sister not able to make it?"

"She's performing tonight," Ada managed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Tyene nodded. "Of course she is. Do you have my salve? How much do I owe you?"

"It's here. And three silver."

Tyene shook her head as she took the coins from her pocket. "I swear, one day it's going to be cheaper to just let the damn leg drop off."

Ada shifted awkwardly. She knew that most of her customers didn't have much money, so she charged as little as she could get away with, but she and Elise still needed to eat.

"You could always go to the Mage Hunters," Ada offered. They had worked for the last King, but when King Lyvan took the throne, he'd dismissed them.

They still lived in their towering spire in the city, though, and they had healing knowledge that they would barter services for, rather than coin.

"Don't mention them in the Palace," Tyene hissed quickly, her hand moving as if to smack Ada, but then paused.

Apparently, she decided better of it.

Tyene sighed as she passed over the coin. "They're lucky King Lyvan didn't kill them all after he was crowned. And if I'm hurting for coin now, how much worse off do you think I'll be if my employer thought I was friendly with those who would have seen him dead just a few years ago?" She shook her head. "I know you're not all there, girl, but even you have to know how dangerous that would be."