A sea of stars glittered above when the horse and cart made its way down the hidden path. The covered cart had five riders and one driver. Lazily coasting along the road. The cart was filled with goods and the riders were quiet and reclined against the goods. Partially asleep.

“Almost there, need a couple to open the way.” The driver called back.

“I got it,” One of the riders said.

“I’ll help,” The one opposite him got up at the same time. None of the others stirred. The two hopped out of the cart and lightly jogged to the bushes at the end of the path. The pair pulled the bushes away and held them for the cart to pass by. After the cart rolled past the pair moved the bushes back into place. They walked after instead of running to hop back inside.

“We’ll meet you in-” One of the pair waved but stopped as he saw the lit house. “Side?”

“Eoin must be back early,” The driver said.

“Why would he have all the rooms lit?” The first of the pair asked.

“Let’s leave our stuff in the cart for now,” The driver said warily, She hopped down from the front of the cart and held the short sword at her belt. The other riders were alert and jumped out of the cart. Each had their own weapon that they moved for quick access. As the six advanced toward the house with hands on their weapons. There was a savory smell that created a bubble around the house. The cart driver was leading the group stopped as she entered the bubble, the first row of the group hypnotized by the smell stopped two. The third and last row breathed in deeply.

“Is Eoin cooking?” One of the first row asked.

“It’s not his turn,” The woman behind him said. “It’s Kyi’s.”

“Maybe he didn’t want to eat charcoal meat and uncooked rice again,” The person next to her said. A shudder and groan moved through the group.

“We are home late,” One of the pair who’d opened the gate said. “He probably got tired of waiting.” The driver stared at the house, her thumb tracing the twists of leather wound around the hilt of her sword. Finally she released her weapon.

“Yeah, I guess it’s just Eoin. Probably got home early and got hungry.” She shrugged with a short laugh. The group echoed the uncomfortably paranoid laugh.

“Ah let’s all grab our shit,” The driver pointed to the cart.

“Iekika, Lucero. You two got the horse?” The driver pointed. A woman with a purple streak in her hair and the man next to her with jet black hair started toward the animal at the front of the cart.

“Yeah we got it,” The woman called. Taking the horse’s reins and flipping them over for her to lead him in.

“All right, the rest of us should unload the cart and bring the groceries inside.” The driver directed. The group sighed collectively and dragged their feet toward the cart. Canvas bags were grabbed and hoisted over the group’s shoulders. The driver was the first through the front door, she stopped in alarm at the insides of the house. Behind her the group slowed to a stop. Staring into the house with equal amounts of concern.

“Did…” Started one, holding a basket of jars. “Did Eoin clean the living room?”

“I don’t know,” The driver said slowly. She slipped in a little farther, again grabbing the handle of her sword again.

“Which one of us forgot to lock the door?” Whispered one with cotton candy pink hair.

“Who breaks into a house and cleans it?”

“Someone who steals stuff! They need to clean it to find the good shit.”

“What’re you all doing in the doorway?” Eoin rounded the corner with an armload of clothes.

“What are…” The driver in the doorway shook her head quickly. Trying to process the scene. “Are you doing?”

“Gathering up clothes,” He said, Raising his arms full of laundry as if it were so obvious.

“You’re” The driver was staring at the clothes with a twitch in her eye. “Doing everyone’s laundry?”

“No,” He scoffed with a roll of his eyes. “The new kid already did all the laundry.”

“Oh!” The driver let out a sigh and dropped her hand from her sword. “Why didn’t you start with that? We thought someone broke in.”

“Who breaks into a house and cleans it?” Eoin laughed.

“That’s what I said!”

“So who’s the new kid?” The mob began to push into the home and toss down the bags and boxes on whatever surface was available.

“A noble,” Eoin smiled proudly. The swordswoman in the center of the room sighed and put a hand over her face.

“Not the one there as a hit out on,” She lamented.

“That one,” Eoin smiled with a face up toward the light in triumph.

“Damnit Eoin,” She shook her head. “You and your damn bleeding heart,”

“Hey now, if I had a bleeding heart I’d be dead.” Eoin dropped the laundry on a chair and pulled down his shirt.

“SEREN!” Eoin yelled, then turned and counted. “Wait, is everyone here?”

“We’re missing two,” the swordswoman said, still rubbing at her face tiredly. Seren walked in from the kitchen and paused in the doorway. Having cleaned out the sewing room; they’d picked out a breezy light yellow shirt that was a little big, tucked into some dark navy pants and held up with leather suspenders. The large sleeves were rolled up over their elbows and their short hair was clipped back and out of their face with a red ribbon.

“Hey, why’s there a bunch of junk in the-” The last two house inhabitants walked in and paused at the group all standing idly in the living room.

“Okay!” Eoin swooped in and wrapped an arm around Seren’s back. “Let’s get everyone introduced. Right up front is my beautiful partner, Pandora. She speaks you better fucking listen.” Eoin pointed to the swordswoman in the center of the room.

“After that we have Kyi” Eoin pointed at the tall person at the back with the pink hair.

“Mykolas,” A blonde with freckles.

“Aurora,” A woman with hair that curled in every direction.

“And the husband-wife team; Lucero and Iekika,” The last two to enter.

“Everyone, this is Seren.” Eoin patted Seren’s shoulder. They waved awkwardly.

“Thanks for cleaning up,” Mykolas broke the silence.

“Oh, yeah. No problem.” Seren cleared their throat into their fist awkwardly. “I, uh, made dinner too.”

“Sweet!” Kyi tossed their bag to the couch and strode toward the kitchen. They lightly punched Seren’s shoulder as they passed. “Welcome home, new guy.” Kyi broke the spell over the rest of the room. Pandora crossed the room and shoved Eoin into the kitchen with a stern look.

“Good work,” she said shortly to Seren. Shoving Eoin into a quiet corner of the kitchen.

“What’d you make?” Lucero shut the door behind him and headed for the kitchen with Iekika just behind him.

“Smells delicious whatever it is,” she said. “We could smell it from the road.”

“I’m starving,” Mykolas jogged lightly up behind Lucero and Iekika. Seren moved to the side and let the group pass. Aurora was the last to pass by.

“Happy to see a new face,” She said. “I hope this place feels as much like home as possible.”

“Thanks,” Seren felt a little blush cover their cheeks. They covered their face as the kitchen started humming around the woodstove. Bowls and spoons were grabbed as the mob crowded the stew pot. Seren pushed the oversized rolled up sleeves above their elbows, but they fell right back down again. They walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl alongside the rest of their new housemates. Those that had already grabbed their food moved to the dinner table and sought out specific seats in a practiced order. Eoin and Pandora were still whispering in the corner when everyone had sat down. The table only had two seats left without them. One at the head of the table and to the right of it. Seren looked over to Eoin and Pandora, then looked back to the two chairs for three remaining people.

“Mm, grab a chair from over…” Kyi started to point with their spoon, pointing it around the room but not once falling on a spare chair. “Uhh… there were three of them here.”

“I had to move them,” Seren said. “There wasn’t room for them in the kitchen.”

“Oh, just move them back.” Kyi shrugged and went back to their food.

“Right,” Seren said. They put the bowl down and headed for the back door. Passing Eoin and Pandora. She was giving him a good talking-to.

“You know we needed that money!” Pandora hissed.

“We can find another source, Lana’s looking for bear pelts. We’ll just-”

“And ANOTHER mouth to feed?” Pandora cut off Eoin before he could finish. “A damned noble? They can’t go anywhere, they’ll be recognized. That’s assuming they aren’t the usual selfish and bratty type most nobles are! What the hell were you thinking?”

“Now you’re over-reacting,” Eoin snapped back. Making Pandora back up a little. Both went into quiet glares as Seren slipped past them and out the back door. They headed for the stable where they left the spare furniture. Seren’s hands were shaking, their insides were twisting into a knot.

Inside the stable there was a well organized and neat little area filled with the extra furniture and decorations in the house. The horse was enjoying his own dinner in his little stall. The cart was left barely inside the stable. Seren got to the little furniture area and grabbed one of the chairs. Their entire body was shaking and they couldn’t muster the strength to lift the chair. Seren sunk to their knees, pressing their forehead against the wooden back of the chair.

They held their breath to keep from crying. After a few deep breaths, some held until their head spun, Seren opened their eyes again and stood up. They looked up as the horse came over from it’s stall. Seren moved to the opening of the stall. The horse was chestnut brown with a diamond of white on his forehead, with his nose white like it had been dipped.

Seren held out their hand flat and he lowered his nose to sniff at their hand.

“Sorry, I don’t have any treats.” Seren chuckled, petting his soft muzzle. The horse snorted at them. Jerking out of their reach so they could sniff at their face and clothes. Seren pat the horse’s broad neck and went back to the chair. Instead of picking it up they collapsed into it. Pressing their hand onto their forehead. Running it over their hair and stopping at the ribbon they’d used to tie it back. Done up in a hasty bow.

They drew up a knee to their chest and rested it on the end of the chair. Pressing their face into the navy fabric.

Seren had spent the better part of the day, almost all of it, on picking up, organizing, and cleaning the house. They’d cooked and did all the laundry. They weren’t sure what more they could do. Seren replayed the interactions and scrutinized their every action. Trying to find their fault. It had to be somewhere. Seren curled up into a ball onto the chair, staring blindly at a stray piece of hay on the ground.

“Hey,”

Seren jumped, turning in the chair toward the entrance. Pandora walked around the cart.

“Look, I’m sorry for whatever you heard. Really,” Pandora came around and pulled up one of the other chairs. “It’s not you, and I really appreciate the work you did today. You did good.” Pandora awkwardly patted Seren’s knee and stood back up.

“Let’s get back to the dining room before dinner gets cold,” She held out a hand for Seren to take. They took it and stood up as well. Pandora nodded at them, then turned and left the stable. Seren sighed and grabbed the chair they’d been sitting on and picked it up. Half carrying and half dragging it towards the house. They got the kitchen door open and brought the extra chair inside.

“Why are there so many extra chairs?” Seren said as they brought it in. They turned, a little surprised there was no answer. But when they turned around they found out why. The table was empty. Only the dirty dishes were left.

“Ah,” They sighed. Seren pulled the chair up to the empty end of the table. Seren ate slowly, staring into the bowl miserably. Stirring the contents of the bowl around more than they were eating. Their appetite had left when they had left the kitchen.

“Sup?” Kyi asked as they strolled back into the kitchen. “I gotta do the dishes. We have this rotational chore thing that is gonna be a lot more even now that you’re here. When one cooks, another cleans. Since it was my turn to cook, I’ll clean.”

“Oh, that’s handy,” Seren looked up from their bowl. Fully masking the misery, plastering a new purely curious face over top of it. “When you cook, I clean?”

“Ahh-bout that…” Kyi scratched at the pink hair as they winced, looking about the kitchen melodramatically. They took a deep breath and put their hands down onto the table with a very intense stare. “Look. I can’t cook. So what if you take over my cook nights and I’ll do your clean nights?”

“Uhh… yeah sure.” Seren nodded slowly. Kyi smiled broadly.

“Awesome,” Kyi grinned and got up, they went to the sink and started on the dishes. SEren watched Kyi doing the dishes for a few minutes then went back to the bowl of stew in front of them.

“You do anything for fun?” Kyi popped up. Seren stirred their spoon around the bowl.

“I, uh… not really I guess.” Seren struggled to think of anything they did in their spare time. There were times they had spare time, but they couldn’t think of anything.

“Yeah?” Kyi asked excitedly. Pumping the basin’s handle until water spat out. “Why don’t you join me tomorrow morning? You can spar with me! No one else does anymore.”

“That sounds like it might be dangerous,” Seren said. Trying not to offend the person but also thinking about why no one would want to spar with them anymore.

“Nah! It’s fine!” Kyi said with a wave of their hand. Flinging water everywhere. Kyi swiped the dishes into the water filled basin. “It’s an important skill! C’mon! You might like it,” Seren thought it over. Lifting and dropping the spoon in the stew. Pushing the stew chunks down into the bowl thoughtfully.

“Yeah, okay.” They nodded, they turned and smiled at Kyi. “But I warn you, I’ve never been in a fight, real or otherwise.” Seren thought about fights. Something that was no doubt important in a mercenary band. Seren wasn’t opposed to it, nor had any real feelings in favor of it. However, they had seen a fight in the castle before. Once. A pair of the guards got into some kind of an argument that got violent. Seren very vividly remembered how solid the punches sounded, and how visible the blood was.

Seren wasn’t keen on the idea of their own blood being outside their body.

“Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you,” Kyi grinned with all their teeth, a few of them a little sharp. Their face hit the light so most of it was covered in shadow in a predatory manner.

Seren swallowed a dry bit of meat thickly, searching Kyi’s face for a hint of a joke.

“Can’t wait,” They said, clearing their throat. Kyi’s face broke into a laugh.

“I’m just messing with you,” They said. “I’ll be easy on you, won’t hurt you too badly.”

“You know I think I’m starting to see why no one wants to spar with you,”

---------

Seren slept fitfully. They'd slept in a number of uncomfortable places. On floors of wood and stone. A bed of hay in the stables, a pile of fabric, a hammock. Even a few different beds when they were in some favor with the Queen. But sleeping in the wooden framed bed, with a Straw filled mattress covered in furs and quilts was uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the noise that kept them awake.

The night was alive with the sounds of crickets and frogs. Trees were moving in the night wind and the sounds of wolves and other predators came far too close to the house for comfort.

Or maybe it was the fact that they were trying to sleep in a house full of strangers, one of which was hired to kill them and could any moment could be pressured into finishing the job.

When Seren's eyes would start to droop, they'd see a shadow and convince themself it moved. Seren would jolt awake and would be awake in a paranoid trance for what felt like hours.

The sky changed and the first few drops of morning started over the horizon and Seren allowed their eyes to close. They succumbed to the dark of a dreamless sleep…

For about ten minutes.

Kyi kicked their door open with a loud crack. Seren sat up and scrambled back against the headboard. Shouting as Kyi shouted at them.

"Wake up sleeping beauty! We got shit to do!" Kyi shouted at them as they charged up beside them. Seren stared at Kyi, eyes wide and nearly popped out of their skull.

"Kyi, people are sleeping." Seren said quietly. Working hard on getting a hold of their runaway lungs.

"What are you talking about?" Kyi asked. Placing their hands on their hips and frowning at Seren.

"The other people in this house," Seren half whispered. "They're still sleeping."

"Nah there's work to be done," kyi said, still loud. "So get up, sleepy head!" Seren stared hard at Kyi. They slid out of bed slowly. As soon as they were on their feet they felt the full weight of the sleepless night on their shoulders. Seren stumbled forward slightly, their face felt hot and the floor was cold.

“You okay?” Kyi asked, taking Seren’s arm and standing them upright.

“Didn’t sleep much,” Seren said quietly.

“What was that?” Kyi leaned closer.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Seren said louder. Pushing Kyi back and standing on their own. Kyi stepped back and looked at the bed then to Seren again.

“Yeah, I guess it would be hard to sleep in a new place with new people.” Kyi spoke quieter. They hesitantly put a hand on Seren’s shoulder.

“We’ve all gone through it,” Kyi stiffly pat Seren’s arm. “You need to sleep in, go ahead. We can do the chores without you.”

“No,” Seren said sternly. They heard Pandora’s words in their head. “No, I don’t need to sleep. I can do the chores.” Kyi eyed them suspiciously.

“You sure?” They asked.

“Yeah,” Seren nodded. Immediately regretting trying to move with any kind of speed. It made them nauseous and dizzy. Kyi shrugged uncertainly.

“All right then,” Kyi said. They took Seren by the arm. “Come… new friend! To the kitchen!” Kyi started half-dragging, half-leading Seren to the door. Seren watched Kyi’s face for a few minutes.

“You don’t actually remember my name do you?” Seren asked.

“Nope!”