As soon as Claudia got out of the carriage, the icy wind bit her nose. The coming of winter, no matter on what corner of Northislay, was always hard. But on their arrival to Wexford, the weather was more unwelcoming than ever, as if the city itself did not want them there.

She readjusted her scarf and continued to pull the heavy luggage. For a person her size, it was difficult to do weighty tasks, and by the time she put her bag inside, Alexander had already unloaded everything else.

The professor, in his sixties, was still fit and strong like a youngster. A luck his wife didn’t share. During the last few months, Claudia witnessed an unforgiving disease taking away Anna’s strength little by little.

Weakened, the woman struggled to get down the mounting steps. At that stage of her illness, she could still fend for herself, but the journey from the countryside took a toll on her.

“Leave that bag and help my wife, damn it! I will take care of everything else!” Alexander said. As Anna had predicted, her husband could not cope with her illness and the more sick she was, the more angry and frustrated he became.

The professor paid the driver and took a long drink from his flask. During the entire journey, he emptied over four bottles, and Claudia couldn’t believe the man was still on his feet. Even less, to behave as if his constant intake of alcohol had no effect on him.

Their new home was a two storey detached house, with beautiful decoration and furniture of the highest quality. It was a spacious and well-lit place that somehow had a bigger but similar layout as their old house. In both, the entrance led to a foyer that served as a reception and contained the stairs to the upper floor, reserved only for bedrooms, and a sliding door that led to the kitchen-living room.

“It’s a nice house,” she said, while helping Anna to lie down on her bed.

“It’s big. You’ll have to clean up more,” replied the woman with a weak chuckle.

Claudia looked through the window. The room overlooked a park as big as two blocks of houses that overflowed with trees, grassy esplanades and red brick paths to stroll along. The university had made sure that they were placed in a quiet and safe area, away from the bustling Wexford downtown. Alexander had explained to them during the trip that it was a newly constructed neighborhood with a symmetrical plan, where each one of the house blocks was exactly like the others. Each building had a water and gas supply that was achieved with underground piping, and there was even a system to dispose of waste in an odorless way. The streets, though cobbled like in Bratsberg, were cleaned daily and lit by gas lantern poles. Which provided them with light even at night. For Claudia, it was all hard to believe, but if the professor, who was the smartest man she had ever met, said so, it had to be true. Still, surrounded by such wonders in that new and pretty city, a thought repeated over and over inside her head:

“It’s not Oxbridge.” she said, with a glimpse of sadness.

“Well, one of the perks of getting older is that you’ve been through a lot.” Anna said. “And I’ve been through a few wars already and let me tell you something. Herjard and Northislay are like two brothers who are constantly at each other’s throats. For as long as I can remember, there have been four wars between the two. Plus three more including other countries. The longest was two years. We will return home. Now, do you mind bringing me some water, please?”

Claudia returned a smile, but inside she was far from being happy. Anna’s cheeks, plump and full of life months ago, were now part of the gaunt face of someone who’d not survive two more years. The maid headed to the kitchen, trying to get those bad thoughts out of her mind when she came across a scrawny man who was talking to Alexander submissively.

“There are five dormitories on the first floor, professor. And the laboratory is below the living room. No noise will disturb your wife’s night.”

“Excellent. Is my laboratory ready?”

“I’m afraid it is not. The university will provide everything you requested promptly.”

“By promptly, I suppose you mean tomorrow. I have no time to waste.”

“I will do everything at hand, professor.” The gaunt man farewelled with a slight touch of his cap and passed her by the side without paying much attention.

Alexander took a drink and strode to the corner, where there was a door to the basement. As the house rumbled with the creaking of wooden stairs, Claudia, who didn’t dare to enter the living room, hurried to fetch some water. She didn’t like to spend time around the professor. When they first met, he was a nice man, who told funny jokes and silly stories. Now he was always in a bad mood and she used to pay for his radical mood swings.

The kitchen was big, with a working table in the middle. It had all the tools and cutlery she’d need and someone had brought baskets of groceries that were now scattered all over the worktop and floor.

Claudia couldn't believe that filling a simple glass of water was so stirring. The faucet, as the professor explained, provided the house with water with no need of a well or stream. She turned the handle as she had been told, slowly, with a mixture of fear and excitement. The pipes rattled and brown water came out. She made a grin of disgust. If having dirty water was the price to pay for not having to go to the well, she would much rather walk, she thought. The dirt did not last, and soon the water turned clear. Amazed, She filled a jar and rushed out, happy that Alexander was still in the basement.

Anna had her eyes closed when she entered the room, so she left the glass silently on the side table. The maid remained motionless at her side, checking for breathing.

“I’m all right, dear. Just resting,” Anna said, with her eyes still closed and a cute smirk on her face. “Go check if Alex needs anything and later come back.” Claudia’s cheeks reddened and, overwhelmed with embarrassment , she left her mistress to rest.

Alexander was accompanied again, this time by a young, slender man wearing an elegant upper-class suit. She did not find him attractive, although he had a kind of special charm. He, on the other hand, stalked her with the eyes, as so many other men had done before him. A reaction that she couldn’t ever get used to.

“It’s a delightful house. But the air is not as clean as they promised.” Alexander complained to the newcomer. “I will definitely talk to Miller about it tomorrow. Oh, Claudia. Be a darling and prepare some tea for Mr. Shelley. ”

“Coffee will do better.” Mr. Shelley said, eyes fixed on her. “And who is this lovely lady? You daughter, professor?”

“She is just the maid. Have a seat, have a seat. My wife doesn’t let her wear a uniform. She is like that.”

“Mr. Shelley,” She said, doing a timid curtsy.

“Victor! Please!” He removed his top hat and bowed exceedingly.

“How is your father doing these days?” Alexander asked, pushing the young man’s harassing eyes away from her.

“He is doing well, sir. He sent the warmest regards. It filled him with joy and pride to hear you were interested in a collaboration with me. Well, he thinks it’s university research, but still.”

The maid closed the door. Still amazed by the wonders of that house, she filled the kettle with water and searched for the coffee among the bags. She was incredibly skilled at grinding coffee, but lighting the stoves, which disappointingly still ran on wood in that house, was something she wasn't very good at.

After a long time wasted heating water, she returned with a beautiful ceramic set and poured a cup for the young man, who had changed his welcoming smile to a much more serious facade. However, she did not dare to look at the professor’s face. Knowing how long it had taken to prepare the coffee, it was sure that he would not be happy. Claudia had improved a lot in those months, but Alexander seemed increasingly displeased with her performance. Still, she felt proud of serving the drink without trembling a single bit, especially with the nuisance of Victor’s stare fixed on her once again.

“Today? Sir, the… the subject,” mumbled Mr. Shelley, moving uncomfortably on his seat “The subjects need formalin or at least ice. The smell, sir… they decay fast.”

“It doesn’t matter,” said the professor, trying to recover the young man’s attention. “I want to see by myself that electricity reaction you talk about, that’s all. We get rid of that one tomorrow. I have ordered a tank where we can preserve the following.”

“Professor. With all my respect. I’m sure you calculate all the steps, but regarding my part, the ending results are… how could I say…” The young man’s eyes bounced from teacher to maid without knowing where to set. “Unpleasant to the eye.”

“I have calculated everything. Victor, your achievements are truly remarkable, but even though absolutely necessary, they are only a tiny part of my experiment. Your help is essential for everything to work. Especially with your notes and with the supply.”

“Yes professor. I have men in the hospi-” Victor moved on his seat again, glaring at Claudia, who was standing behind them, as the maid protocol dictated.” I have resources. But… well… not ideal... Professor, it really upsets my heart to discuss these matters in front of a lady.”

“is all right. We are leaving,” Alexander said, getting up suddenly.

“Leaving? Whe… Where?”

“To your place. I want to see the equations. We cannot waste time.”

Confused by the sudden change of plans, Victor rose to give a long, gentle bow. “Miss Claudia. Your company was a pleasure.”

Alexander held out Victor’s jacket to encourage him to hurry. “ I will be back around dinnertime. Be sure my wife has everything she needs.”

Slowly, She followed them, turning to the stairs instead of the front entrance. She knocked on the room door gently. “Do you need anything, Mrs?”

“Come inside, dear,” Anna was leaning on the back of the bed, looking out at the street. “It’s getting cold outside, isn’t it?.”

“Would you like me to bring a bed warmer, Mrs?”

“Not yet. Just stay for a while and chat with me .” Anna paused long enough to let her sit next to the bed. “Have you seen the park? I would like to walk around and sit on one of those benches when it’s not so cold. What do you think?”

“That will be nice, Mrs. Almost like when I walked through the trek of the Spring valley to fetch water.”

“Exactly, although there are no wolves or bears here.” Anna chuckled. “But they say that cities can be even more dangerous, you know? I’ve never lived in a city this big. How was Bratsberg? Was it dangerous?”

The memories of her hometown felt bitter. Bratsberg was nothing like Wexford. The southern city, even more populated than the capital, was a mixture of factories and slums. It was a dirty, stinky place, full of lowlifes and criminals.

“Bratsberg is not nice, Mrs. People there only walk the streets because of the need to go work or go home. It’s gray and sad. Nothing like this neighborhood. but...” The maid hesitated.

“What is it, dear?”

“I… I was wondering about the war, Mrs. I mean, we are closer to Herjald now, aren’t we?”

Anna looked down at her hands while considering what to answer. “I think we are. Alex always says that wars are mostly fought at the sea. When armies invade the land is when the sea defenses have fallen already. If that’s the case, we will have time to evacuate.”

“Timmy, the blacksmith’s son, used to say that warships can bombard coastal cities and reduce them to ashes.”

“Yes, that can happen. But this city has the biggest fort ever built. Needless to say, Northislay’s navy has about three hundred ships, and of those, nearly half patrol the island constantly, making port here. Alex told me. Don’t worry, child, we are safe.”

Anna took her hand, as she used to do every night before sleep. This time, her touch felt colder, weaker. “My husband is getting grumpy these days. Don’t take it personally, all right?. He is a good man. It’s just that.. he… he is just lost and scared.”

She nodded and pressed her hand gently. Anna leaned back on the bed. “Could you bring me that bed warmer, please?”

She did, and when Anna dismissed her for the rest of the afternoon, she rushed to her room to search for the copy of the Hundred dreams of the Red Princess.

Claudia did not always have time to hike around the landscapes she loved so much. Thanks to her mistress, she found in reading another way of dreaming awake, a way of traveling and seeing wonders beyond the four walls of whatever house she was in.

At first, she devoured the novellas of the Tiger. The adventures of a good-hearted pirate from the remote islands of the South-east. They were entertaining stories with a dreamy main character and wonderful locations, but it's pages were filled with fighting, and she soon found a better fit to her taste in romantic poetry.

With the book in hand, she sat on the couch. After a page, her eyes felt heavy and the fatigue of the stagecoach trip engulfed her.

“That’s not the point!” Alexander shouted. Claudia jumped in her seat, completely disoriented. She’d swear her eyes closed for just a minute, although there was no more sunlight through the windows.

“Everyone can be tired, even maids. And I can still make a simple soup!”

The couple was sitting at the ends of the table. Him, filling the glass with liquor and her, eating a bowl of soup.

“She is here to help you. A maid that sleeps instead of working is as useful as nothing.” He yelled again. Realizing that the fight was about her, she turned away so she wouldn’t have to face them.

“I said, I can make soup myself. I’m not dead yet!”

Alexander squeezed his glass and snorted heavily. “Don’t say that! You… you are not dying!”

Anna stood, her anger pushing away any signs of weakness. “I’m going to sleep. You better stop drinking and eat something.”

“Goi,” he said, in a more calm manner. “Come back, goi!”

The professor remained silent on his spot. Claudia, drowned in shame, did the same. With a frozen gaze and a lump in her throat, she tried to blurt out an apology. Nothing came from her dry mouth, and time passed almost in complete silence, except for the fall of liquor on a clinking glass.

The squeak of the chair gave her the push to spit some words that came out as a babbling squeal. “Sir, I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Alexander put a hand on her head, softly. The caress of his fingers sent a terrible chill through her spine. “It’s fine,” he whispered in a thick voice.

“I’m really so-“

“I said it’s fine. Do not worry,” He lifted his hand to drop it again, stroking her hair like a master does to a dog. “You are not unuseful, darling. I didn’t mean that. You are, well... indispensable.”