Amilie knew the end was near before the big scruffy man stepped out of the bushes, waving a club at her. This was why she chose not to run. She sat perfectly still and continued rinsing the queen's clothing in the crystal blue lake. She had accepted her fate this morning when during the Teller's daily visit, he had said a servant would die today. Everyone had looked at Amilie. She was twelve and very weak, having just recently recovered from a serious illness. She wasn't pretty either. Just a scrap of a girl with long wispy brown hair. Her skin was pale, she had spots, and no pretty coloring in her cheeks. She had black eyes, and a small pink mouth. Her smarts were average and she always did what she was told, no matter how difficult, dangerous, or stupid. The other servants saw this as a weakness, and thought she was crazy. But Amilie was not crazy, she just knew that to earn the queen's favor and her pay, she must do what she was ordered.
The big man advanced on Amilie. She realized his boots were much too small, and his shirt as well. She kept her eyes down though as the man spoke.
"Be you this girl?" He held out a scroll, on it was printed a name. Long bold curlicues strokes ran up and down the paper. Amilie did not know how to read very well, however it didn't take a scholar to read the name. Amilie examined it again. She cleared her throat and peered more closely. She squinted. The man roared. "Hurry up! Me master be waiting!" Amilie nodded and looked again. In the black ink was scrolled Olivia Malone in broad strokes. It was not Amilie's name. No. It was the princesses.
