The night breeze blowing from the hallway window was cool against her skin, the scents of spruce and evening primrose heavy in the air. She didn't know why she so intent on walking the school grounds in the dead of night, but wore Josie's dress still, just in case, and the cold-eyed gaze of one of the many servants conveniently lounging near her quarters let Jess know that Lady Putrice had spared no efforts in her recruitment, and truly Jess thought it a sad thing to see that things had gone so far.

"Hello, Tal," Jess said to the suddenly discomfited man whose fever and awful wheeze she had treated just months before. She remembered how hot he had been, moaning and thrashing, before she and Lady Salrie, the head herbalist and perhaps the only professor save Eloquin who truly cared about her, for all that Jess was not even formally her student, had managed to coax their tincture down his throat.

Tal grimaced, dipping his head in courtesy. “Hello, Lady Jessica. I hope... I hope you are doing well this evening.”

“Well enough, and I am glad to see you looking hale and healthy once more. Your family, they are free of the pink flu as well?”

Tal nodded. “Thankfully they didn't get it at all, my lady.”

Jess smiled. “I'm glad. My hope was that when we cured the illness from your lungs, that those humors would fade entirely, unable to spread when you had ceased coughing.”

Tal dipped his head. "And you never charged me, care the damn Healers Wing wouldn't think to give lowly servitors. Only you and Lady Salrie ever take note of the people under your feet."

Jess gently clapped his shoulder. "Don't take such things to heart, Tal. The healers are quite busy in their own way. True, they rarely have time for any save injured students, but that is because they devote themselves to the wealthy patrons that help keep this massive fortress of stone awash in coin, so that I may attend classes, and you and your family be assured of full bellies, coin for your purse, and a safe place to rest your head."

Tal's brows furrowed as he gave it some thought, slowly nodding his head. “You have a good point, my lady. Please... forgive rash words that perhaps should never have been said at all.”

Jess winked. "'Tis quite all right, my friend. Believe me, there are certainly serpents aplenty in our fine school. Serpents that would do all they could to strike down a student for no greater crime than refusing to be one of her complaisant sheep. For daring to do what she had to, in order to protect the people of this school, and Erovering as well."

Tal paled at that, giving a slight jerk of her head. “I... I think you are right, my lady.”

Jess nodded. “Which is why I know I can count on you to help me weed out the serpents. You, at least, I know wouldn't betray me.”

Tal winced. “No, my lady. Never that.”

Jess winked. “So when Lady Putrice, who never gave a damn for anyone without rank, asks you to do your part to see me expelled from this school, I know you're one friend who won't let me down.”

Tal sighed, shaking his head. “'Tis possible rumor got out that sometimes I'm a bit too fond of the bottle. Things said in drunken jest, taken the wrong way... if it gets to the wrong ears...”

Jess nodded. “I understand. Why give coin to servants when you can use intimidation instead?”

Tal frowned. “My lady...”

"She is a foul bitch, hungry for power, who enjoys squeezing students and servitors however she can, should they refuse to play her games by her rules."

Tal barked a laugh at that, before clearing his throat, suddenly embarrassed.

“Fear not, Tal. I understand your position, and I'm happy to vouch for you, push come to shove. For the nonce, you can say, in all honesty, I left my quarters in a dress, unarmored, enjoying a walk, since I was unable to attend my... military lessons today.”

Tal nodded sadly at that. "Rumor's gotten around our way as well, Lady Jess. Word is Putrice wants to break the will of any female would-be Aspirant or Squire, make them no better than her lickboots, ladies-in-waiting ashamed of their own strength." The servitor bowed his head. "I'm sorry to find you under her gaze."

“And I you, Tal, so let's look out for each other. Fair enough?”

Tal smiled. “Fair enough, Lady Jess. You enjoy your walk, not that we had this conversation at all, of course.”

And with a farewell nod, Jess did just that, hoping her sense of Tal was correct, his aloofness having instantly melted when Jess compelled him to remember kindnesses she had done for him and his. Certainly she saw no malice in his gaze. Then again, neither had there been in Lady Putrice. Horrid as the thought was, maybe the lady actually felt justified in trying to crush Jess's dreams.

Knowing how many pieces were set in play against her did make her wince, but as Jess quietly walked the grounds just outside the massive stone fortress that served as the central building of their college, no further than would any proper lady enjoying the evening air, certainly not wandering off to training grounds reserved for Squires, she allowed herself a single bleak smile as things began to click in place.

Friendship was important. As were extra linen and cotton sheets, and perhaps some more of the plant dye she had used on her hair. Finding comfort in a renewed sense of purpose, for all that she hated the way people now gazed at her so... appraisingly, with dress and make-up both in play, a resolved Jess was about to head back to the keep proper and her quarters when she was stopped dead in her tracks.

“Jessica.”

She froze. Unable to move.

Heart hammering, dreading what was to come, she slowly turned around, the icy blue gaze of none other than General Eloquin locked upon her own.

“You did not attend training. Neither today nor yesterday.” Unfathomable eyes froze her to stillness. “In fact, no lass who would ride under my banner was anywhere to be found. Curious, don't you think?”

Jess swallowed. Throat suddenly parched, unable to speak.

Eloquin's piercing gaze never left her own. “We leave at dusk. Mercy will be saddled and readied, your gear upon the table by her stall. If you would blacken your dagger for me, you have but to arrive at the stables.”

And still, heart racing, Jess could barely breathe. There was so much she wanted to say, needed to say. About Lady Putrice conspiring with her fellow professors, conspiring with Jessica's mother. No. As much as she admired the man before her so fiercely it hurt, there was no way, absolutely no way she could ever put her mother under the man's gaze... not in this, at least.

And Lady Putrice had played her hand masterfully. What Eloquin's Squires would embrace were clandestine missions undertaken for the sake of king and Crown. Missions that were bleak, ugly, and could never to see the light of day, nor ever be acknowledged. And were Eloquin to fight Putrice too fiercely, Jess feared it would shine light upon that which the king himself wanted kept comfortably in the shadows. And somehow, Lady Putrice knew, and was more than happy to use those dark truths to constrain Eloquin before he could even fight to keep Jess.

Jess shut her eyes to bitter tears, furious with her mother and Putrice both, so determined to decide what was best for Jess that they would destroy the life she had fought so hard to make for herself. All so her mother could live through her, vicariously savoring yet a second coming of age. Yet this was Jessica's life, not her mother's, and if she didn't take a stand now, she never would.

Jess took a slow, deep breath, trying to figure out still how to explain all this to her mentor.

But when she opened her eyes, Eloquin was gone.