Historians

02.

01.20.4010

How do you face the world when you are suspected of being a traitor? I fear that I will have an uphill battle to face over the next coming months. The capitol before has always been a warm and welcoming place but I have not made my entrance easy. Already I have caught the displeasure of a very powerful man. It will not be an easy bridge to repair given the line I crossed. Sometimes a mother's advice of holding one's tongue when you don't know all the details and she certainly hadn't remembered that...

The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon when Tiffani began directing the staff on the movement of her mistress' wardrobe. The time it took to travel to the capital from their estate would take the whole day, if they were lucky though they would arrive before dark. Tiffani was working hard to make sure she had herself in order for such a trip. She didn't enjoy traveling in the first place but traveling with an irate mistress would be even more unpleasant. As the last of the trunks were moved out Tiffani went to check on her mistress. Anastasia was sitting out on the balcony watching the remains of the night sky as the sun rose behind the house. "Miss, you should get ready for the day." Anastasia sighed. "I need you to take these letters down to the butler." She handed Tiffani two sealed envelopes bearing her family insignia. One was addressed to the bank in town. The other was addressed to the tailor in town. Tiffani smiled softly. "Yes, missus. Your traveling gown is laid out on your bed. I'll help you lace the back when I get back from handing these over." She dipped slightly before turning on her heel to leave the room. Her mistress was clearly still wrapping her head around the change of things. The betrayal of one's own brother was a hard thing to get over. The butler should have been down in the kitchen at this time of the morning but when Tiffani got there she found that he wasn't there. She headed down to the servant quarters to see if anyone had seen him and was told the last place he'd been seen was at the stables. Tiffani frowned at the thought of going out into the chilly morning air without her wrap. If the stables were her best bet then she would have to give it a shot. Her hard soled shoes clicked with each step she took on the hardwood floors. If the butler wasn't at the stables she would just send a stable boy herself into town with the letters. As she headed toward the door she heard the hushed tones of a private conversation in the drawing room adjacent to the door outside. She knew she should go around when she found herself continuing forward to catch the conversation that was occurring. "You need to keep a close eye on Niko's daughter. Niko is too blinded by her to see her for the true danger that she is." Tiffani knew that they would suspect her mistress but this voice sounded very angry. "Yes, Sir. I'll try to stick close."

"Good I can't have an ignorant old man ruining things." Tiffani felt their conversation was coming to an end and she continued along her way quickly passing the cracked door on her way to the courtyard. If she were lucky they would not notice her. They had not heard her coming down the hall so she thought she was safe. They took notice however as the door opened. She hurried along her way putting as much distance between her and the door after she closed it. She would not look back to see who was having the conversation, lest she prove her guilt for eavesdropping. Thankfully as it happened the butler was indeed in the courtyard by the stables. He was organizing the stable hands to prepare the wagons and transportation of the day trip. "Gregory!" Tiffani called. Gregory turned toward Tiffani upon hearing his name. He frowned at seeing her outside. The silly maid was always sticking her nose in right where it was not needed and what was worse doing so at the worse possible times. "Yes, Tiffani? I am quite busy right now." She bobbed her head curtly, "Yes, well the missus needs you to send these letters down to the town with the utmost haste." Gregory nodded his head taking the letters from Tiffani "Very well I will have them sent down with the stable boy that is going to pick up more supplies. Now go see to your mistress." Tiffani dipped her head having been dismissed by the butler and turned to make her way back into the house. Tiffani hoped she'd been outside long enough that she would be able to get back to her mistress undisturbed, but the moment she got inside the house she knew that was not going to be the case. At the entrance stood one of the soldiers that had arrived the night before. He had a stern frown on his face. "Excuse me, ma'am, I was wondering if you happened to hear anything as you walked past in the hallway?" Tiffani dipped her head. "Aye sir, I heard muffled sounds and mention of an ignorant old man." He seemed to study her for a few moments before shooing her off with a wave of his hand. "Pay no heed to the words that you heard." Tiffani gave her best curtsy before walking away. Tiffani knew she was a horrible liar but she also knew that sometimes she could bend the truth to work in her favor. If the man was fool enough not to ask her if she'd heard anything else she would not give it away. As she climbed the stairs on her way to her mistress Tiffani replayed what she had heard. She had no idea who had given the order but she knew for certain that she'd be seeing that soldier again.