A Mix Of Metals

Chapter Fifteen: Kensington Gate

<<<< Ok, a bit of action now! This chapter is slightly longer - I almost divided into two but then changed my mind - thinking it would be more exciting as it is!

ENJOY :D >>>>

Mizu lay on her bed, hands tucked away behind her head. She stared resolutely at that same wooden knot in the ceiling above her, tracing with her eyes its whirling lines, imagining they represented the way in and out of the palace.

"Knock, knock!" A soft, melodious voice came from outside her room. She gently got up from the bed and tiptoed towards the door. It creaked as she opened it guardedly, leaving a small crack to peer through. When she saw it was Henrietta, she drew the door wide to reveal the woman grinning, a pile of clothes in her arms.

"Here you are! Nice, more or less clean clothes of mine, from my modest, ambulant wardrobe!" She stretched them out towards Mizu who eyed them suspiciously.

"Don't worry, they only very slightly smell of horses," Henrietta added, rolling her eyes when she saw Mizu's reaction. "But I mean, you only have one change of clothing yourself, so put your own house in order first," she chortled tentatively, nudging the pile more insistently into Mizu's arms, who smiled and accepted the clothes. She was amused that the woman thought the smell was deterring her from taking them, when it was rather the fact these clothes were bound to accentuate her female features and risked revealing her sex.

"Thank you," Mizu replied, bowing her head and taking a whiff of the clothes. She made her nose twitch, so as to make the woman laugh; and it worked. The clothes indeed stank of stables, but Mizu didn't really mind the smell; they also bore Henrietta's scent, one she had caught a few times lingering on the air around. It was a pleasant mix of fresh river water, dried autumn leaves and soft magnolia petals.

"What about you?" Mizu asked, raising an eyebrow. Henrietta shifted on her feet.

"Oh well, Brom's lent me some of his," she gestured carelessly towards a basket behind her containing some more clothes. "They'll probably be a little oversized, but never mind. I prefer that than having my arms come out for miles in Griffith's sleeves, and vast amounts of fabric dangling in front of my belly, because he's much shorter and fatter than I am." Mizu chuckled in a low voice, eyes twinkling at Henrietta. She leaned against the doorframe of her room, pressing the clothing tightly against her chest.

"You're actually funnier than you look," Mizu teased. Henrietta narrowed her eyes, putting her hands on her hips in feigned irritation.

"At least one of us is."

"Ouch," Mizu exclaimed softly, bringing one hand to her heart. They both giggled shyly, locking eyes as they did. Mizu drew breath and continued smiling while she observed Henrietta. She was curious to see what the woman would look like as a man. She'd surely make a handsome one.

Henrietta suddenly felt uncomfortable with the long silence and self-consciously looked away from Mizu's insistent stare. She brought her hand to her mouth, to muffle a small cough.

"Er, we can meet down in the courtyard, er, once we've changed," Henrietta finally uttered, dancing on the tip of her toes with her hands in her back.

"What, you're not changing here?" Mizu shot daringly; the words came out, so untameable and fast she couldn't contain them, and was startled by her own boldness. They were incentivised by a fire within. However, it was a different fire from that which pushed her to exert her vengeance.

Henrietta's jaw dropped and her cheeks went so red, Mizu could almost perceive the hot steam evaporating off them in the evening cool.

"Er, well... I..."