An Ember's Tale

Chapter Seventeen

Ember was practically shoved behind a changing wall lined with rose and leaves patterns stitched within the screen. She huffed as she turned back to a grinning Nigel who was handing her a ball of tulle and silk. He shoved it into her arms before he moved the changing wall more to shield her from prying eyes.

She tried to protest, but he was already gone as she sighed. She turned back to the wall, which was modest enough, but she still didn't feel entirely comfortable changing with two men in the room. Still, Ember knew she had very little time as she began to strip off her old clothes full of dirt and blood.

Ember looked down at the ball of fabric in her arms before moving it to find that it was a dress. The silk base of the dress was a pale pink, while a soft layer of tulle covered the bodice. Flowers lined most of the top and went out into a skirt elegantly. The only sleeves were a thin strap on one side that was also covered in many small flowers. When she put the dress on, she noticed how it flowed out elegantly at her waist, but it seemed much too long on her as she stepped awkwardly into her boots.

She looked down at the dress and then backed up with raised eyebrows.

"How is this supposed to make me blend in?" she called.

"Has she never been to this island?" she heard Nigel mutter.

"No, not really."

"You'll see!" he called back. "Just come out."

Ember rolled her eyes as she picked up her dress and walked out from behind the changing wall. She looked over to find Nigel eyeing her as if she might steal or wreck something. She then looked over to Mark, who was setting down a book and standing up. His wide gaze met her as she smiled awkwardly. She noticed he had also changed into a black suit that made his eyes look darker and his hair brighter. He had a white lily in the forefront of his breast pocket that matched his hair he had tried to comb back.

Nigel looked between them before he rolled his eyes. "You two are very blatant."

"What?" Ember's face burned as she turned to him.

He looked between her and Mark with a questioning expression. "You two aren't... oh, I see."

"Aren't what?" she questioned before she turned to Mark with wide eyes. "Did you tell him something?"

"No," Mark shook his head as he held up his hands. "I didn't say anything."

"But, he just-"

"We are getting off-topic," Nigel stepped between them. "What we need to figure out is how to get you two to the Air Jewel without the Imperial soldiers finding you."

"You wouldn't happen to have one on hand?" Ember asked in a hopeful tone.

Nigel turned toward her as he shook his head. "No, it doesn't work like that."

"We are in disguises," Mark gestured to their outfits. "Isn't that enough?"

"And that," Nigel pinched the bridge of his nose while he rolled his eyes. "Is why you keep getting almost caught. You two stick out like sore thumbs in any place you go to, which is why-" Nigel reached over and picked up two wigs from the table- "you'll need these."

Mark seemed to be the hardest to convince to put on a wig as he stared at it in disgust. Although Ember couldn't deny that when he put on the raven-haired wig, it did complement his features. Ember shifted uncomfortably in her new, chestnut hair. She eyed the curls spuriously as she kept touching it, but it did feel just like natural hair when she rubbed it between her fingers.