Ashisma’s kindness had been unfailing. Her kitchen companions had welcomed her into their fold. Karl had taken a fancy to Kela, taking care of the heaviest of chores. Zaria taught Kela how to peel an apple with one cut.

Maria shared the court’s gossip, more so than work. Kela had no issue with her talking of the day’s events.

Kela found it of great interest, especially the intricacies of lords and ladies. She was not surprised to discover that King Edulf was well loved. It was those whom he loved that was startling.

“Pernci said that Naemi was livid. The whole of the chamber was in shambles. Broken vases, her gowns ripped into shreds, chairs upturned. The woman lay on her bed, weeping,” Maria whispered to Kela as the two scrubbed the kitchen floor.

“What was wrong with her?”

Maria leaned over closer to Kela. “King Edulf has not come to her apartment in over two weeks. It is rumored he has replaced his favorite paramour with another.”

“What of the queen? Why would she accept such?”

“Queen Beatrix?” Maria chortled. “She would never call attention to her husband’s whores!”

Kela fell silent. How naïve I am! I know nothing of this world! She could never be married to one who sought the warm embrace of another. How sad to be trapped in a loveless marriage.

“It is the way of royal life,” Ashisma said. “Few marriages are made for love. It means little to the men. It is the women who have to accept the life they are given. Queen Beatrix has done her duty and produced heirs. She is greatly admired by her people. Not all can find what Princess Amicia has been given.”

“That would be?”

“Child, you have been well hidden away,” Ashisma went on. “Rumors are flying Princess Amicia will soon be attached to the Lord Commander, the mightiest of our Sordarin warriors. It is not often that a princess be given as a reward for service, but it is rumored that he is bonded to the prophesized Euchoun. He himself may even be the one. Already the children sing of his exploits. Poems have been written. Our beloved princess and our adored warrior!”

“You believe it to be a love match?” Her voice faltered, lost on the belief that Amicia held what was hers.

“How could it not be? You need only to see the young princess look at her warrior and his eyes on hers. Yea, Princess Amicia is fortunate.”

Kela silenced on her words.

She wanted to shout that Cono loved her and only her. In truth, it would be a senseless gesture. She touched the necklace Cono had given her.

Try as she might, she could not deny doubts of his love had crept within her being. She clutched the medallion tighter as the memory of Amicia’s eyes upon her warrior was relived. Amicia loves Cono.

Cono, where are you? I need you to tell me of my foolishness. For she felt lost and ever so alone.

* * * *

The castle kitchen lay with a central hearth and several fireplaces, all to cook meat. Kela was not accustomed to so much meat being eaten: chicken, boar, beef, and ham.

She hadn’t had much within the Forbidden Forest, but what bothered her greatly was when they brought the animals in to be slaughtered, to be spitted, or stewed in a cauldron close by the kill. At times, she was expected to retrieve the animals, which were trussed and tethered.

A task that had to be done, but the sight sickened her.

Most times, Kela withdrew back into the scullery. She escaped to washing the cooking ware.

Over the days that followed, Kela found herself missing the freedom she had within the Forbidden Forest. For although it well held her prisoner, she hadn’t people constantly upon her.

A new woman, Praia, ran the kitchen. She took a dislike to Ashisma, and in turn, Kela. Orders constantly assaulted Kela’s ears. She worked hard, but nothing pleased the woman.

Muffling the sounds of the kitchen, Kela crawled up to a small nook above the scullery. She unfurled a small brown cloth and began to eat her bread and cheese she had taken from the kitchen.

She wanted only to eat alone. She wasn’t alone long. Voices echoed up from down below.

“I told you not to come here. I have work to do.” Kela recognized Praia’s voice.

“I have orders to follow.”

“I care not for your orders, Samulic. I won’t have you come in and disrupt my kitchen.”

“I want only to know if you have seen a girl as I described.”

“Most of the kitchen girls fit your description.”

“It is why I need to go within,” Samulic demanded. “I would know her on sight.”

“You will not go inside. I’ll have none of this in my kitchen. I want not King Edulf’s wrath upon me. You have already created an outcry when you killed the lieutenant in the King’s Wings. What was his name…oh, yes, Harold.”

“It was a necessity,” he said acidly. “Now, out of my way.”

“Nay,” Praia stated. “I have much to do. The king has recalled the Lord Commander. We are to have a feast prepared by the end of the week. Out now with your insolence!”

Kela heard no more. The two went their separate ways.

Her heart surged despite the appearance of Samulic. Cono was returning. Finally, this nightmare she now lived would end.

* * * *

Kela returned late each night and slept only a few hours before she once more began her day again. She had found the weariness of her body was the only way to sleep at all.

This night, she felt a happiness that expelled her fatigue.

Edging into her bed, she found a surprise: two small bodies lying in her space.

Kela held her lantern up to see they were young girls snuggled up together. Their arms intertwined around each other. She saw they were no more than ten or eleven.

She heard soft sniffling, which told the young ones weren’t asleep. Yet, they wanted Kela to believe they were.

She would not disturb them.

Stepping back, Kela eased out and walked to the sanctuary. Lighting a candle, she saw Father Oliver was kneeling in prayer. She waited.

He rose, unfazed by her appearance.

“I see you have found my friends. Their mother brought them to me only this evening. I’m afraid I have no other room to keep them without calling attention to their appearances.”

“I have no problem with sharing my space, Father Oliver,” Kela said. “But know, my days here are numbered, also. Cono is returning.”

Father Oliver pressed his lips together tightly in thought. “In truth, I hope we can settle the young ones before you leave. I have hopes of you asking your young sister if she has need of them.”

“They seem young to be looking for a placement to work, Father.”

His smile broke. “You have not lived among the people, Kela. Often children younger than these are thrown into the streets.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “How is this allowed?”

“Life is not fair, Kela. In this, you are learning. The young ones’ mother works the streets, but not by her own will. She has not a choice. She has taken care of her daughters as well as she can, keeping from them the life she leads. She can do so no longer.”

“I don’t understand.”

“When she was no more than fifteen, she was attacked and taken against her will by a stranger, a warrior of the king’s army. She was marked and had no one to stand up for her. Her family turned their backs upon her. She was flogged and renounced. For those, the choice is limited. Most work the only way they have to survive.”

Shock resonated within Kela. She had only just heard a similar story. How awful for these women! Certainly, her face betrayed her thoughts. “Where is justice? Why would the Great One allow this?”

“It is not just, Kela. It is the law. I can do nothing except give aid when needed. She desires only that her daughters have a chance to live. I have promised I will do all I can. My thoughts turned to you, if you can help the two.”

“What can I do, Father? I myself…”

“Ask not for yourself, but for these young ones. You said yourself that their mother has lived life unfairly. You can do nothing about her life, but her daughters…Can you not ask your sister for aid?”

Father Oliver’s eyes held steady upon her. She knew he expected her to do so. “It seems little to ask. I will try to gain them a position.”

“It is all I ask,” Father Oliver said simply. A moment later, he left her alone with her thoughts.

* * * *

Kela spent the night reflecting on Johannes’s words, Cono’s actions, her actions… Everything rambled through her mind.

She had laid down on the floor beneath the bed. The ground was unforgiving, but it was not her comfort that she sought.

Peace was something that would not come.

In the dark, Kela found white eyes staring down on her. The two looked strangely at Kela. She was certain the young ones were fearful of her. She was a stranger; strangers were not to be trusted.

Taking her only blanket, Kela laid it across both girls. The youngest gave Kela a tentative smile, which Kela returned.

The offering seemed to appease the girls.

She laid down beside them. She was tired, so…so tired.

Soon, they all slept.

* * * *

By morning, Kela had made a decision. She would not ignore Father Oliver’s request. She found herself drawn to the two young ones.

The sisters were devoted to each other. Gila was the statesman of the two, but she said little. The oldest, ten at the most, she seemed clever and pretty. Marisa was shy, with large, expressive eyes. Both had long brown hair, but there was little else of a resemblance. Gila’s complexion was fair, while Marisa had an olive tone.

The two wore sober brown tunics, but both were clean. They had woolen socks on their feet. Yet, Kela saw no shoes.

Kela hoped to ensure them positions as Sareta’s maids. Life would be easier for the girls. Life of poor peasants was tough. Tougher still for bastards living in a brothel.

Scared and alone in a brutal world, Kela understood what they felt. Their eyes never wavered from Kela’s, waiting to be told their fate.

“You may call me Kela,” she said. “Father Oliver has asked that I look after you this day.”

“You will help us find work within the castle?” Gila gave voice to her concern. “It was Mother’s wish for us. Old Man Bennoid said it was an impossibility for ones such as we are.”

“There is no such thing as an impossibility, only if you do not try,” Kela answered. “Your mother placed her faith in Father Oliver. You must do so also.”

“Old Man Bennoid said we would be rebuked and it would be worse for us,” Gila said. The smaller one buried her head into her sister’s shoulder.

“You will not be rebuked. In that, I promise you. You have done nothing. I ask only you be loyal and true.”

It was a statement. The young one’s head uplifted. Her eyes held questions.

“Who are you?”

“As I said, my name is Kela. I’m going to oversee your placement. In that, rest assured.”

“How can you give us such a promise?” Marisa voiced her fear. “None can do so.”

“She is different, sister,” Gila intervened. “Look at the necklace she wears.”

Instinctively, Kela’s hand touched her necklace, which fell freely around her neck. The medallion reflected the sunlight. She smiled confidently.

“This is a gift from one most dear to me. My intended. He flies with the King’s Wings.”

Gila reached out, touching it ever so lightly. Her sister followed suit. “It is the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever beheld.”

Her gaze broke from Kela’s necklace unto her face. “You do not belong among us.”

“I am here beside you. I know not where else I would be at this moment,” Kela said, easing the necklace back under her tunic.

“No,” Gila insisted. “You are here before us, that is certain, but there is something within your face, your eyes, that says you do not belong here. In that, you know.”

Gila’s contention startled Kela. For a belief moment, Kela thought perhaps the girl had sight. Kela quickly dismissed the thought. Gila was only impressed with the necklace.

“I know only of what I must do and at this moment, we need to prepare for the day. Come now, we cannot tarry.”

Within the morning light, Kela walked with the girls through the streets of Yucca. She passed the kitchen. Her path took them past the bailey to the Royal Garden.

The guards gave no notice of the kitchen girl walking with children. A meal was being prepared in the garden.

Kela saw the wonder in the girls’ eyes of the beauty the garden held. Flowers were in bloom. Lilies, iris, and roses’ fragrance filled the air. The marble fountain spurted upward in the air, glistening in the sunlight of a cloudless day.

Here, Kela decided, they would wait.

Sareta would come. Kela had knowledge of Queen Beatrix’s desire to host her granddaughters this morn.

There would be no more delay.

The time had come. She had no choice but to talk with her own sister.

With each minute passed, frustration grew that she could not walk up to her sister without fear of being detained as a stranger. Today, she would use her power if necessary.

In all, Kela cared no more. Father Oliver had set her upon her path.

She would be who she had become. She would hide no more.

Kela watched as the royal women were seated. They were all there. Seeing her sister, she pushed aside all thoughts except her mission.

These young girls deserved her help.

More importantly, her own sister, Sareta, had to be warned.