Though she would never admit it, Lescelli was overcome with an incredible feeling of helplessness as she stared out the window. Back home, her window had given her a view of the port. The sunshine and sea breeze had always calmed her and while she was more prone to being out among them than staying indoors, whenever she had needed or chosen to retreat to her quarters, she would sit on the window ledge with her legs tucked up and simply watch all the sailors bustle about amongst the ships. There were always people loading cargo, unfurling sails, and stoaking engines that made steam burst from the chimneys of the barges. People would shout, gulls would squawk as they swooped overhead trying to pilfer any unattended scraps, and the wind and waves would create music better than any she could listen to over a radio.

Here, however, there was no window seat and beyond the windowpane was a mountain range of concrete, steel, and glass. Even during the day like this, bright neon lights flashed from various signs and logos all through the city. It was harsh and unnatural. Sure, she was familiar enough with the concepts of skyscrapers and gadgetry, just as much as she had seen behemoth stone castles and fortresses left over from prior to the war, but her home did not lean as heavily into the modern advancements. Most of their developments were put into their businesses and trade ships, not everyday conveniences like self-driving vehicles and lights that turned themselves on with a clap of one’s hands.

It was a different sort of world and while she was adaptable, the knowledge that she was trapped here was making her feel incredibly alone. She was rapidly beginning to miss the modest inn suite back in Prewport.

She sighed and clenched her fingers into the thick, dark curtain hanging to one side of the window. With a wrench of her arm, she yanked it closed and turned away with a frustrated growl. She had spent the last hour since she parted ways with Tobin simply unpacking and trying to organize the space in any way she could to feel less out of place, but now she was at a loss of what to do with herself. With a groan of frustration, she flopped down onto the bed.

Lescelli had to admit, it was a very comfortable mattress. It was spongy but firm enough that she did not feel trapped by it, and it was dressed in warm, plush comforters. The entire room had been lavishly decorated and little expense had been spared on it, but she had never required expensive or pretty things. She was much more content with salt crusted on her pants and wind-whipped knots in her curls. The efforts they went through for a supposed guest were pale and empty. The accommodations were fit for a princess, but she was no less a prisoner.

Her father’s words continued to ring in her ears, reminding her of it constantly, while ideas from hers and Tobin’s hastily hashed scheme flickered behind her lids every time she closed her eyes. Things had gotten all twisted up.

And then there was the little, scaly, fire-breathing secret they were going to have to keep. She wasn’t ready to think about that one overmuch. But even if the indigo lizard made her incredibly nervous, she knew she couldn’t avoid the reality for too much longer and supposed that she should go find Tobin and see if he had made any progress in getting it to eat. He’d insisted that he could handle it, but Lescelli wasn’t entirely convinced that the softer-natured guy would fare too well if the dragon hatchling became aggressive once the muzzle was off. It was impossible to determine what the scope of the animal’s personality or behaviour was like when it was injured, confined, and had its jaws secured shut. So while it had appeared relatively docile earlier, that could change at any moment in time.

She supposed she should stop simply wondering about it and actually go check on her friend’s well-being. Though her instincts screamed to be as far from the small dragon as possible, it was something to do and she would not allow her fears to cause her to abandon someone she cared for. Even if he was a knucklehead who had probably just bitten off way more than he could chew. It was all the more reason that he would need her assistance.

The mattress creaked as she shoved up off of it and strode towards the door. But as soon as she pulled it open, Lescelli’s trip came to an end and she pulled up short in front of the man standing in her doorway. He was just standing there, staring at her impassively with his hands folded behind his back. The man had dark hair that was slicked back out of his face and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore a dark suit and tails, with the collar of a white button-up poking out from beneath. Lescelli wasn’t entirely sure why he was so awkwardly barring her way, but unease prickled down her spine at his presence. “Excuse me,” she attempted.

“I’m afraid I cannot allow you past,” the man replied in a calm, flat tone.

When he didn’t move, a scowl warped Lescelli’s features. She lifted her chin and pushed her shoulders back a bit further. “What is the meaning of this?”

“My apologies, Lady Rizzetto, but the esteemed Lord Warinford has instructed that you not be permitted to leave your quarters at this time.”

Lescelli took a step back and her gut pinched into a knot that left the taste of acid scalding her tongue. She shook her head. The idea of being confined to a single space like this was horrifying. She didn’t tend to do well being cooped up. “There must be a mistake. I’m on my way to meet with his son. Tobin Warinford will be expecting me.”

“I’m afraid the young master Warinford’s wishes do not outweigh the instructions of the lord, my lady. You will have to remain here until he has deemed otherwise.”

Lescelli swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She wasn’t going to be able to muscle her way past him without drawing all sorts of attention. “I…have to use the facilities,” she lied. It was a lame excuse and far from her best, but she was feeling very caught off guard.

“You will find a fully equipped on-suite restroom in your rooms, Lady Rizzetto. I trust those will be adequate.”

Damn. She hadn’t noticed that yet. “There must be a mistake,” she pressed. “I won’t stand for this, I am meant to be a guest here. I am not a prisoner.”

“I’m afraid there is no mistake, milady. I was instructed by Lord Warinford personally. I do not know the reasoning behind his commands, but those are his wishes.”

Lescelli gritted her teeth and growled at him. “Then I’d like an audience with Lord Warinford as soon as possible.”

The guard – or whatever he was – inclined his head towards her. “Lord Warinford has already made arrangements to meet with you this afternoon. Until then, I’m afraid you must find means of entertaining yourself within your room, Lady Rizzetto. If you require anything, it will be fetched for you, but I may not permit you to leave at this time.”

Lescelli clenched her fingers into fists and glowered at the man. The impassive look on his face forced her to back down despite her desire to launch into a tirade about the etiquette around hosting guests. Her opinion was irrelevant and would fall on deaf ears, and she would only be wasting her breath anyway. It didn’t matter what she said to this man, he was clearly a guard or servant and he would obey the orders given to him by Lord Warinford. Nothing was going to change that. Her breath whistled out between her clenched teeth and she finally turned away from the guard. “I understand,” she caved. “But I have yet to eat this morning. I was planning to meet up with Tobin and find something to snack on, but if I’m not permitted to leave…” Lescelli trailed off and allowed the implication to hang.

“I will ensure a meal is brought up to you promptly, Lady Rizzetto.”

“Thank you,” Lescelli offered lamely. There was no point in further conversation, so she grasped the door by the thick brass handle and pushed it shut. As soon as it closed, a little red light flashed and the sound of the lock clicking into place was like a punch to Lescelli’s gut. There was no worse feeling than that of being trapped.

She gritted her teeth and stepped away from the door. As her frustration built and bubbled like acid in her core, Lescelli spun around and slammed her fist down against the mattress so hard the bed frame shook with complaint. She bit her lip to smother a cry of outrage and took a breath. Then she punched the bed again with the opposite fist.

Within moments, it became an ill-placed, makeshift punching bag as Lescelli drove her clenched fists against the soft surface over and over and over again until her arms were shaking and her brow was slick with sweat. Her legs were wobbly and she sunk to her knees. Each breath rasped from her chest and she twisted to lean against the side of the bed with her head tilted back. She curled her fingers around the opposite arm and dug her nails in until the prickles of pain helped her get her emotions under control and the stinging in her eyes began to fade. She refused to start crying over the situation. She was stronger than that. And based on how things were already playing out in her first proper day in Cardinal, it was clear she was going to have to get a whole hell of a lot stronger still, and fast. This was not like any other place she had visited or any other courtship she had been forced into. She had always at least had a friend or two, the crew of her ship to fall back on when she needed a breath. But here, she may as well have manacles on. They were serious this time and her only ally was just as trapped as she was in the arrangement.

After taking another breath, Lescelli pushed herself back to her feet and set her jaw. She shoved her emotions down into a lockbox in her head and lifted her chin. Showing weakness would only get it exploited. She had done it before, all her life, and she could play the long game once again if she had to. She wasn’t porcelain and she wasn’t going to crack under the pressure.

She had collected herself just in time because a light knock on the door drew her attention. Hastily, she swiped her bangs back and rubbed at the moisture still gathered on her hairline. “Come in,” she granted as she returned her hands to her sides and focused her attention on the doorway.

The handle turned and then a woman shouldered her way through with a silver platter with a metal food dome perched on it. The woman herself was a little on the short side, with broader shoulders and rounded hips, and bright hazel eyes. The lids were dusted with glitter and her lashes were full. She wore a knee-length gray dress and stockings, and her light brown hair was woven into so complicated an updo it made Lescelli wince. It did not look comfortable piled in tight braids encased in a bun on the center of her skull, but Lescelli also hated to pull her hair up unless she had to, so she supposed she really didn’t know what styles were and weren’t comfortable to wear.

Still, Lescelli couldn’t contain the start of a smile. Perhaps the next few hours wouldn’t be entirely horrible, so long as she could convince the other woman to stay for a little while.

The girl crossed the room and set the platter down on the small table-for-one that was in the room before she turned and dipped into a curtsey. Her gaze remained trained towards the floor, but her voice was smooth as honey as she spoke. “Good morning, Lady Rizzetto. Is there anything else you require?”

“Lescelli.”

“I beg your pardon, ma’am?”

Lescelli shook her head and closed the distance between them in a few steps. “My name,” she clarified. “You’re welcome to use it.” Lescelli reached out and guided the other woman’s gaze to her own. “And if it’s not too much trouble, I’d much prefer if you looked at me rather than the floor. It can be a little discombobulating to be in a foreign country when no one seems to want to use my name or make eye contact with me.”

The girl’s eyes widened and her lips parted. “Oh! Lady Rizzet…er…Lady Lescelli,” she stammered. “I did not mean to cause you any discomfort.”

Lescelli shook her head and her lips split into a wide grin. “Never,” she assured the other woman. “What’s your name?”

“Rachel.”

“Rachel,” Lescelli echoed. “It’s lovely to meet you, Rachel. I’d very much like to get to know you a little better if you’re not swamped with your work. I haven’t had much of an opportunity to make any friends or really experience any of the cultures of this region. And I find myself restricted to the room for the moment, so some company to pass the time would be lovely.”

Rachel dipped her chin and a small smile touched her lips. “I can stay a little while if you want,” she agreed. “It seems rather odd to quarantine a guest in the home, but I cannot question the lord’s wishes. I would happily answer any questions you may have in the meantime, Lady Lescelli. I…well, I know how disorienting it can be to come to a foreign land you know little about.”

Lescelli hummed and pulled the chair out from the small table. She gestured for Rachel to sit, and then she perched herself on the edge of her bed while the other girl got settled. “Where are you from?”

“Bilbrooks, Lady Lescelli. It’s part of the same continent, but we are our own nation. I had never been to a city like this in my life before my family moved here.”

Lescelli nodded and tucked some of her hair back behind her ear. “There are cities back home, but they are smaller and have very little in common with Cardinal. I have felt a little overwhelmed with it all, but I suppose I will simply have to adjust to it. I am going to be here a while.”

Rachel’s eyes brightened and an eager grin flowed across her features as she leaned forward and gripped her knees. “Forgive my forwardness, Lady Lescelli, but does this mean you intend to marry master Tobin? You must like him an awful lot to want to stay somewhere so unfamiliar.”

“Like has nothing to do with it,” Lescelli sighed. “The marriage is arranged.”

Instantly, Rachel’s expression fell and her lips parted. Her shoulders slumped and she seemed to flounder for a response. “I…I apologize, Lady Lescelli. I cannot imagine what that must be like. But if it brings any consolation, he’s very sweet. I’m sure even if the union is arranged that you will be happy enough. He is sure to treat you like a princess.”

Lescelli shrugged and leaned back on her hands. She tapped one foot against the floor and pursed her lips. “Oh, I like him fine…just, as a friend. You are right, Tobin has a gentle heart and he is probably the most ideal match I could expect my father to arrange, but unfortunately, my interest in him ends with friendship. My tastes for romance run a little…fairer.”

At first, Rachel’s head tilted. “Oh?” But before Lescelli could answer, she watched a flush creep across Rachel’s cheeks as the other young woman seemed to realize. “Oh.”

An awkward moment of silence began to drape itself between them, so Lescelli shrugged it off. “We all have our burdens to bear. My fate cannot be avoided, but I still intend to enjoy myself in the interim as much as possible. I just want to have a little fun and enjoy the beauty life has to offer before I no longer can,” she admitted with a grin.

“Ah.” Rachel fell silent and gazed down at her lap. “Lady Lescelli, I apologize if I have misunderstood your meaning, but as lovely as you are, I cannot assist you with that.”

The girl was fussing with her finger, so Lescelli finally took a proper look and scolded herself silently for not being observant enough to notice earlier and spare them both the awkward tension. There was an engagement ring on Rachel’s hand. It was a simple band with a small, glittering pink gemstone Lescelli didn’t know the name of.

Disappointment needled at Lescelli, but she forced a smile regardless. “It’s lovely,” she complimented. “Who gave it to you?”

The smitten smile that crossed Rachel’s face told Lescelli everything she needed to know. But it also came with a thorny pang of envy. She would give just about anything to have that effect on someone and to feel that way about them in turn.

“His name is Edgar,” Rachel replied. “He’s an android mechanic downtown.”

“Sounds like you love him a lot.”

“I do,” Rachel agreed. “He was one of the first people I met when my family moved here. I was still in my teenage years and Edgar helped me keep up with my studies. Schooling here is very different than in Bilbrooks, and I fell behind in my studies almost immediately until he stepped in. We have been fast friends and later lovers ever since.”

“I see. Well, I apologize for being a bit too forward. I wish you both all the health and happiness in the future.”

Rachel dipped her head and then shakily rose from the chair. “Thank you, Lady Lescelli. I hope it for you as well, complicated as your situation is. But umm…I really should be getting back to work now…I should leave you to your meal.”

Lescelli chewed the inside of her cheek and tried not to show her disappointment. She would never try to lure an engaged woman to break her vows, but she still would have enjoyed Rachel’s company a little longer as a friendship, but she understood why the woman was uncomfortable now. “Of course,” she agreed with a small smile. “I wouldn’t want to keep you from your tasks or risk you getting into trouble. Thank you, for lingering a while. It was just nice to have someone to talk with.”

Rachel dipped into another curtsey and then slipped back out of the room without another word. Lescelli sighed and pushed herself back to her feet. She eyed the tray that Rachel had brought, but whatever was under the lid no longer appealed to her. She had lost her appetite. So instead, she made her way back to the window and glanced down at the swarms of bustling pedestrians. While previously the massive city had made her feel homesick, now she just wished she could flee this room and join them. At least in the throngs of people, she might be able to forget the cage she was being forced into. If only for a little while.

She might have stayed like that, staring and silently brooding for ages if the door behind her didn’t click open once more. There was no knock this time and when Lescelli turned to see who had let themselves in, her heart sunk. She wasn’t ready to face whatever was about to unfold, but standing in her doorway with a neutral expression and cold eyes, was Lord Farren Warinford.