Cecilia POV:

Okay, knocking me out, that was justified, after all, I was ready to fly out of there and probably get myself killed. Bringing me down here, that was their job, and I can accept that. So maybe, I might just be overreacting when I say that I want to beat Tychus’ face in, and yes, I just remembered his name from somewhere. So, I will be brutally honest, do I care about whether or not I’m overreacting?

The answer won’t surprise you.

“WHO THE HELL KNOCKED ME OUT!!” Cecilia

Whilst trying to get up in this strange nightgown-.. oh I swear, if someone other than a woman put me in this thing, I will not be happy.

I hear the sound of a pair of chairs scrape across the floor as they are pushed back, hurriedly. Me, I’m still inspecting this nightgown to make sure it isn’t, well, like some of the ones mom gave me. I hear some metal clacking across the stone floor and heavy boots accompanying it. As I’m satisfied with the lacking of any intentional holes existing in my dress, get up off of the surprisingly comfortable bed.

Actually, now that I think about it, where am I? I know for a fact that it was the Guard who knocked me out, none of them seemed as if anything were amiss the instant prior, and Tychus sounded as though it was intentional. They said they were bringing me to the tower, but I have yet to have seen this room. Is it a hidden room? This is the palace, after all, everything here has some manner of hidden passageway or another.

The opening of the door catches my attention and snaps me from my thoughts. I turn my head towards the pair who’s looking in here, it’s Saran and that one. I don’t even care if my desire to challenge comes from my heat, but for now, I’ll just dislike him.

Way easier that way.

“Care to explain?” Cecilia

My tone was cold and very much so similar to me when I’m angry, but I’m not quite there yet. I would be really angry if someone stole all my stuff while this was going on or tried something funny, like claim I’m going to marry them for breaking their shoddy fucking door handle as repayment. Ah, that was pretty relaxing seven minutes and twelve seconds. I wonder if that sleazeball found someone who could put his dislocated arm back together again? Not that anyone in that village would have done so, a few of the village boys and girls were thanking me profusely for that little incident. Hard to imagine someone would help out a piece of scum like that.

He was the first to start talking, a questioning look in his eye.

“According to Saran, you were resisting the Guard, so they went with plan B and knocked you out. The warning bells were going off in several locations, last I heard, so going out is an impossibility. Also, no, no male is allowed to see you naked. Your personal servant was brought down here, or at least she should have been. Also, have you met your personal servant? She was running all over the place yesterday with, what I assume to be, her stuff. But from what I remember about her, she can be a little… well, honestly, I don’t think there’s a word for it. You’ll find out oNCE SHE GETS THE HELL OUT HERE!” Gabriel

The last part wasn’t an angry shout, more a shout one gives once giving an obvious order, that is posed as a part of the previous conversation. Also, to clear away any non-existant doubts I may have had to the opposite, a Wood-Kin girl peeks her head out of the base of the bed. Wait, that’s the same woman who stole all of my equipment!

Why the fuck was she sleeping there?!

“But I’m right here?” Girl

“Hahhh~. Of course you’re sleeping underneath her fucking bed. You know you have a bed, right?” Gabriel

“Of course I do, but there’s a state of alarm on and I need to be constantly at the ready to give my life for my Queen.” Girl

The girl spoke in a reverent tone while looking at me. Slightly too loyal, isn’t she? Gabriel just rolls his eyes at her and speaks in a voice dripping with sarcastic flare.

“Oh yes, because you are so capable of taking any attempts the floor may have on her life. Who knows, maybe the underside of her bed is plotting against us? Probably just waiting to revolt.” Gabriel

The girl gets a pissed look on her face.

“You expect me to sleep on top of her?” Girl

He just snorts before promptly answering.

“No, I expect you to sleep in your quarters.” Gabriel

“Fuck you.” Girl

“While I appreciate the sentiment, really, to have a beautiful girl such as yourself offer yourself up, I believe it’s time you introduce yourself to the lady you’ve been watching sleep.” Gabriel

He was motioning towards me at that last part. Wait, was she watching me sleep? I hope to God not, that’d be terrifying. She growls at him before I’ve figured that I’ve had enough of this.

“Stop. I’m tired, and you have been running around all over the place with my stuff. Also, close the door, minister, I’m unseemly and would rather not be seen by men at the moment. Also, I agree with the introducing yourself part, because not much has been making sense in the past few hours.” Cecilia

Gabriel nodded and close the door, but I heard Vanar growl, which caused him to pause for a moment before slamming it shut. I notice a tinge of color on his cheeks, which made me realize what reaction that dog just had. Or rather, the one I just had.

Fuck my ancestors…

“Um, milady? Are you okay? You’ve gone red as a beat.” Girl

FFFFUUUUUUUUUU-

“Yes, yes, perfectly fine.” Cecilia

I managed to reign myself in and gave a rather polite answer, and I think I’m smiling rather disarmingly. The girl looks disarmed, or calmed? Yes, that’s probably the right word.

“Now, can you just tell me everything I need to know about you? We’ll be working together for a while, and I know how annoying it can be for the servant if their charge doesn’t give a damn about them. Plus, it will help me get an idea about how we can best work together.” Cecilia

She beams me a smile that could melt ice. Looks like they pay her enough for those teeth care potions. Good for her. Come to think about it, I wonder how much I made? Mom always kept my wages when I served Talia, so I suppose I never really found out how much I actually earned for my work.

I really hope it wasn’t much, otherwise I would feel the need to punch my mom.

If she were still around, that is.

The girl got out from underneath the bed and kneels in front of me, getting on both knees and stretching both hands outstretched. it ‘s an introduction a servant gives to their master, obviously different to one that a person gives to their liege.

“Ti’sha, Your Majesty. I served under Minister Tor until recently when my contract was transferred over to you. I’m a debt servant, but don’t let that fool you, I am one of the best around. I have been doing this for fifty years!” Ti’sha

Fifty?

“How old are you?” Cecilia

She looks away bashfully. Oh don’t you fucking dare.

“Milady that’s an awefull--” Ti’sha

“Nope, we’re not doing this. You look like you're twenty and that’s all you care about. Now tell me your age and don’t play the bashful little innocent princess. Or servant, in this case. I’m not a man” Cecilia

She just gives me a blank look that conveys more meaning than words.

“One hundred. I’m one hundred.” Ti’sha

I raise an eyebrow.

“Really, one hundred years flat.” Cecilia

The question was more a statement than anything else. I knew her game, it’s a common game among women. She just sighs and starts hanging her head.

“Fine, one hundred and fifteen.” Ti’sha

Thank you mom for all your lessons.

“So you’re one hundred and seventeen years old then?” Cecilia

I flash her a smug smile as she looks at me wide eyed. What, never had someone know your act before hand? It shouldn’t be that surprising, you’re not the first woman I’ve ever met. Hell, I AM one. Well, technically, I’m turning sixteen at the end of my… choosing stage. Unlucky how those dates line up with one another.

Crap. I’m never going to have a normal birthday again.

***********************

Bart POV:

If I had a knife right now, I would have sliced both their throats. These people are betrayers, the lowest of the low. Honor has many meanings throughout the world, in some nations honor is measured in how direct you are, like not fighting “dirty”, and the like.

A view that’s seen as pure idiocy in Eria.

In other nations, honor is measured by how many feasts are thrown for you, or how much renown you have in the area.

This one is also seen as idiotic to us.

How do we measure honor? We don’t, not publicly at least. Honor is directly bound to loyalty, and who you are loyal to. A man who is honorable is one who stands by your family and friends, one who stands by the law, one who stands by their duty, morals, their word, etc. In this aspect, even a thief can be seen as honorable. We recognise cunning as a gift, deviousness a quality, but one who stabs their friends in the back is pure, unadulterated scum. It is understood that one must sometimes choose between their loyalties, and are rarely spurned for such a choice, it would be foolish to do so, after all. Who knows when you yourself will be forced to choose.

So, in essence, these guys deserve to rot in hell.

Just wish I had a knife to help them on their way. I left it back at the warehouse because I thought it wouldn’t be necessary, plus the guardsmen might have taken it away in their security checks… why didn’t they give us security checks? Don’t tell me that everyone was in on this! THE FUCK!

I grip my shield harder and look over towards Shawn. Right now, he’s trying to calm down a Fox-Kin girl who’s shaking like it’s the dead of winter and crying. I swear, it’s like he has an ever changing map that leads him straight to these girls, it’s bullshit! The annoying thing is he hasn’t hit the Beast-Kin equivalent to puberty yet so he doesn’t actually understand the interest in relationships and that sort of thing, which is more bullshit!

I go over to him just as the woman smiles at him, meaning that he’s hit not paying attention phase and is probably about to swipe a few coins. He really is a bit over the top at times, I mean, really? We just got done with a near death experience, and right now he’s taking advantage of the poor girl!

It should be said that we prefer to steal when it’s necessary and only from asshole merchants and the like. But Shawn here has the occasional problem of roving hands, in that regard. He doesn’t take the time needed to find out who it is he’s stealing from, or why they have so much or so little coin on them.

I go over towards him and his eyes flicker towards me, I try to get closer, but the girl just goes and hugs him out of nowhere. Their is a great bit of confusion on his face, and a tinge of red, which manages to plaster confusion on mine.

Complete bullshit.

I just shake my head a few times and tap the girl's shoulder. She looks over with a slightly fearful and confused expression.

“H-huh?” Girl

“Sorry ms?..” Bart

She promptly releases my brother, much to his… displeasure? And holds out a hand for me to shake.

“Oh, Cerene, I’m Cerene. Nice to meet you.” Cerene

Something doesn’t sit right with me about this one…

“Bart, nice to meet you too. Now, can I borrow my little brother for a sec? There’s something I need to talk to him about.” Bart

She gets a hint of red on her face and looks down in an overexpression of fear and worry.

“O-okay…” Cerene

Shawn gets a slightly panicked look on his face? What? He leans over and speaks in an… well, I’ve never heard this tone from him.

“Are you sure she can’t stay a little longer?” Shawn

I pull him over a bit closer.

“Shawn, not the time to start going into puberty. Firstly, we’re in a life or death situation, secondly, you’re definitely not thinking straight, and thirdly, I don’t want to cause a panic with her hearing this.” Bart

I hear another voice enter our whispered discussion.

“What would cause a panic?” Cerene

FUCK BEAST HEARING!!