Song of Feathers and Claws

Part 12

Anue sat in the Physicians office while he washed up and bandaged the wounds she got.

As she suspected they weren't horrible. As she had taken much worse in the past.

"Be Careful Moving around. It may reopen that wound on your stomach."

Anue stood. "Understood. I must go, there are guest arriving for the ball." and headed off to her room to change.

"Princess Anue," Anue's handmaids bowed as they greeted her and then quickly got to work. Styling her hair, make up and pulling out her dress for the evening.

"We were not given which top and skirt you wanted," Sehliah, the oldest of her handmaids, the one who had been around since she was a child spoke. Coming up beside her. "Would you like to choose, or shall I?"

Anue turned to see the maids fussing about in the room connected to hers that was were she keep all her dress pieces.

"I look good in the dress that's the same colour of the pink sands on the Beachs of Bsetariva. Pull that one out." Anue said turning back around.

"As you wish, do we want the full set or to change the skirt out?"

The best part of her people's dresses Was the top and the skirt was interchangeable. "Hmm. No stick with the same"

Sehliah nodded as she fetched the dress. Helping Anue into it.

"Anue. What did you do to your stomach?" Sehliah gasped.

"Was just some sparing with Sir Iwen." Anue brushed it off.

Sehliah pressed her lips together. "I'll prepare a second dress just to have it. You are not the most gracious of Lady's when it comes to how you move. You're as gruff as a man."

Anue just let her be. As there was no use fighting Sehliah once she was set on doing something.

A half hour later. Anue stood infront of her mirror and admired the outfit. It was quite a bit more frilly feminine than she normally looked, and Anue did appreciate the change. She mostly wear pants and tunics to make her life easier. The dark colours where just cause they pleased her eye.

Her dress was quite the opposite, large puffy sleeves, and shimmers down the arm. The skirt flowed out with larger shimmers running down the length of it.

"Absolutely stunning Princess." One of her handmaids said.

Anue smiled. But did say anything about it.

A knocking came at the door. Derrick walked in a few moments later.

"You didn't even wait for a response, she could have been exposed. Do you want the Princess to lose her dignity!" Sehliah hollered.

"Sehliah lay off Derrick. He has seen more than me in a dress," Anue fixed her necklace.

"Scandalous!" she cried.

Anue rolled her eyes. Then walked to Derrick.

"Princess" Anue paused and looked over at the newest Maid.

"What happened with that one maid. What's her name, the timid one?" Anue pointed looking at Sehlia

"OH, you mean Belliah, she was moved to another location of the castle." Sehliah said shortly.

Anue tilted her head, "Did she willingly take reduce pay?"

"She was caught being frivolous with one of your night guards. That could cause your life danger."

Anue nodded. "Your name, new one"

The new maid bowed "I am Hiera"

Anue nodded "Hiera you called my attention."