Bright and early, Freya got up to brush her little cousin Kayli’s hair. Kayli hadn’t learned her lesson about the ka-pi and had been stealing it every time Grandpaw had left it out.

Saying her goodbyes to Old Gran, she left to hitch a ride with Holly again.

Both Mother and Father had already gone out to work before Freya had even left the burrow as evidenced by their walking sticks and robes were off the hooks. Since both worked in the city and it was a fair bit of a walk, they tended to leave and return together, leaving Kayli, Bard, and Freya in Old Gran’s capable paws.

The evening before, her tired mother was quite surprised to see that Freya had a few of the lacquered cards in paw for her to examine. She noted that for the most part, the artist's renditions were accurate, encouraged Freya to continue her course, and then she retired early.

Her mother’s words rang in her mind, as she looked at Holly.

“We are your clan, we are a tired working-class clan. We can give you safety but we cannot prepare for you. Learn everything you can, and tomorrow come visit me once you’re done, and we will have a suitable dress made.”

A free dress seemed like enough of a hook to keep her going at least till the end of tomorrow, and Lady Raina's estates were a bit closer to Yellowrock. This time she would mention that she wanted a cape on it, she was sure of it.

Holly was already in the carriage as she held the door open for Freya.

“It’s too bad that Abigail is coming from the other direction,” Holly said as they began their short trip. The half-hour ride got them there in one piece and they had some time to talk about the various eligible bachelors. Holly had a card representing the fox—bearing a unique beautiful melange coat—that Abigail had expressed interest in; the jack of swords, Henry Richards.

The fox in question, one Lord Richards, had fur of red and black in a mix, unlike most foxes. Abigail thought that the coloring made him look dashing. Holly and Freya thought that it made him look like a cat. The best gossip had him as one of the few foxes making rapiers, those weapons that the Aviary preferred to use due to their weight and grace.

Holly for her part drew out a card of a rabbit that had caught her eye. Captain Bell, carded the knight of grain, had missed the previous year’s societal events due to some far-off deployment. Lady Raina said that he was an upstanding member of society that she had harangued previously to actually show up and engage in these events. She also said that this was one of the more accurate portraits on the deck.

Arriving at the small unassuming estate, Tulip welcomed the two of them. Tulip again wore the simple brown tunic over her small clothes that Freya had begun to think of as Tulip’s official dress. Tulip gave her the slightest nod of approval as she came in.

She ushered them into the drawing-room where Abigail sat alone. She rose to greet them. Abigail had a light blue high waisted dress on that immediately made Freya feel underdressed for the occasion. It looked as if her traveler's cloak over the mouse tunic she wore was the most casual dress, with the possible exception of Tulip.

“Good morning, my dear Abigail,” Freya said. “I believe that we have something that you are interested in.”

“Do you have my Jack of Swords? I was certain that I’d taken him home, but I grew more and more despondent as I flipped each card through the deck,” Abigail chewed her lip.

Holly grabbed both of Abigail's paws with her own.

“I am so sorry Abigail. Please take this, I didn't know until I arrived back home,” Holly said.

Abigail's face lit up as Holly pulled the card out. She hugged Holly as Freya turned to see Tulip leave the room; probably going to fetch the Lady of the house.

“I feel like you’ve made up your mind already,” Holly said.

“I… may have. I’ve seen him before and to me… he is beautiful,” Abigail said. “I know it’s just a card, but well I may have really just embarrassed myself just by getting so invested in it and…”

“Abigail, it’s okay. I’m really sorry that I took him from you,” Freya said, meaning it.

Abigail smiled as she gripped Freya and Holly’s paws. She squeezed and then released them as they heard footsteps by the door.

Lady Raina walked in and all three of them were still standing. They turned to curtsey as they were instructed to do when greeting someone.

“I am so glad to see that you’ve decided to still join us, Freya. Now, let us begin with some more dancing.” Lady Raina clapped.

Tulip’s strong rhythm brought them all back as they got into position. Getting into it, Freya almost didn’t notice the robin, leaving out the front. For a second she didn’t understand what she was looking at, but then the robin took off, its red feathers flapping against the bright sun. Focusing back on the work, Freya delved into the practice as they moved into scenarios, dances, and all the things that seemed on the surface to be of minute importance in the grand scheme of things.

She wondered for a second what it was like to fly as she danced gracefully around Holly.

So it went for the better part of a week. Dancing, acting, and learning about court politics were the daily discussions and Freya loved stumping the other two. It was too bad that compulsory school ended when the girls turned eleven and she had no more outlet where she could compete with her peers. Well, no more outlets until this week.