Alexandria
I slept fitfully that night, as I always do before a crescent moon. I would toss and turn for a few hours, then get up and wander my room, staring out the window at the dimly lit courtyard, or flipping through a book, or returning to lie on my bed and wait for sleep to come. I was awake when Cynthia's gentle knock came at my door, dragging my gaze away from the creeping sunlight that was starting to fall on the western guard wall outside my window. "Come in," I called, swinging my legs around to sit up as I renounced sleep at last. I heard the creak of my doors swinging open accompanied by Cynthia's "G'morning, m'lady. How did you sleep?"
"Same as always," I replied, reaching for the gold circlet on the dresser beside my bed. I heard her cluck her tongue as I settled it in place before standing and throwing the door to the rest of my quarters open. Cynthia already had the table set with my breakfast, as she did every morning since I can remember, and perhaps even before then too. I slid into my chair to pick at some eggs as she bustled around the room, tidying up the forgotten books and stray blankets I had left behind in my midnight wanderlust. "You'd best eat up, dear. You'll need your strength for today, no doubt," she said as she eyed my mostly untouched meal. I wrinkled my nose in a grimace, but complied, eating with more gusto though I had no appetite at all.
"Ah've sent word to the servants quarters that you'll be having guests again, it's lookin' a fair bit like poor Phillip is to be your manservant this time around," she said with a chuckle as she opened my wardrobe doors to survey my clothing options. I snorted, remembering his pale face and no doubt rather traumatizing effect I'd had on him. Now I felt a little bad for that, but I didn't think I was going to see him again so soon. Servants passed through my quarters like clouds in the sky, perhaps staying for a short while, or hovering in bad times, but for the most part drifting through. They would stay on for a few weeks, perhaps even a few months if they could stomach it, but I had yet to see anyone last beyond that besides Cynthia and Marco. I absentmindedly tore a piece of bread to bits as I tried to guess how long Phillip would last.
Cynthia scolded me across the room, "Alex, you leave that poor bread alone, 's done nothing to you! Now come here and get some clothes on."
"Nothing yet," I retorted, stuffing a bite in my mouth so I wouldn't have to respond again. She had laid out my favorite tunic and leggings, a set of cloth and leather affairs that hugged my body in a way some would say was rather unbecoming of a lady. I smiled inwardly at Cynthia letting me wear this today, when I knew she rather disliked it. Good thing I wasn't considered a lady. Cynthia chattered on while cleaning up breakfast and I dressed myself, telling me the latest gossip from the seamstresses, about how the castle had received more word of the crown prince's victorious exploits at the southern war. I couldn't help rolling my eyes. Of course he had been victorious. Why wouldn't he, with a great army of mages and skilled soldiers at his command, and the fine looks and charm of his father? Richard IV of Verbania was the pride of the country, the heartbreaker of women across the land, and in all the ways that I wasn't, perfect. And a male, to boot. I pushed aside my bitter thoughts as I finished lacing my boots up, heaving a sigh and raising my hands above my head in a final stretch. Time to face the day.
Leonard
I tried my best not to sleep that night. Macie was out as soon as she laid down on the feather down bed, her tiny body exhausted from the events of the day. I, on the other hand, took to pacing the room, checking the lock on the door a dozen times to make sure it had not been magically opened by the Princess, deciding to change her mind and get rid of us after all. Our conversation kept turning over in my mind as I tried to fathom her reasoning for offering us the deal. Yes, of course, her personal interest and all that, but people, even royalty, rarely did anything on a whim. She was probably hiding something, not to my surprise. People don't get a reputation of child killer by accident, and I'd be damned if I was just going to roll over and take her word on it. No harm in letting her think that's what I was doing, though. My gaze wandered to Macie several times as I contemplated the legitimacy of her offer. I didn't know enough about royalty to know if she had the power to do something like that, but if she did it would be life changing for Macie. With an education, and castle one at that, she'd have the world at her feet. Perhaps she could even put the magic in her blood to decent use, learn to protect herself. I grabbed a hold of that thought, reining myself in. One day at a time. We need to see if the Princess will keep her word first.
