The princess and her companions settled into small talk, discussing the lovely journey up the mountain and the herbal scents that saturated the manor. It was light, polite chatter; the sort one used to occupy time in the presence of a listening attendant. Only when they heard Winnie’s footsteps recede entirely did they pause and glance at each other meaningfully.
Aer gave a quiet cough and a signal. Liori lowered her voice. “Faye… the coast is clear.”
From within the canopy of curtains came a sudden flourish as the dark cloth swept aside to reveal Fayelwen Lareth Strumwiever. She looked anything but frail at that moment: beneath the gauzy bed drapery, her features lit up like a sunrise. She was clad in a flowing, full-length night slip, the pale fabric outlining her graceful figure. Her long, dark, wavy hair cascaded past her shoulders, and her midnight-blue eyes shined.
“I have never been so happy to see you three,” Faye declared, her voice excitedly lit. She coughed once more out of habit before hurrying behind a delicately painted silk screen in the corner of the room. “Just let me—” Her night slip rustled as she exchanged it for more practical attire: a silk shirt of deep forest green, a fitted vest with golden filigree at the edges, and a pair of slim trousers. Finally, she slipped her feet into soft leather boots, tying her dark hair back with a ribbon. When she emerged, her cheeks glowed with unbridled glee. “Girls, I did it! I created a portal!”
Faye pressed her hands together, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Liori blinked, her teal-colored eyes narrowing in curiosity. “Where is this portal?” she asked, scanning the dim corners of Faye’s bedroom as though expecting a swirl of magic to appear at any moment.
“I thought you would never ask!” She shot them all a triumphant grin, then hurried over to a large, framed painting of a home surrounded by tall, colorful daisies hanging on the wall. Faye pushed the painting to the side, revealing a hidden alcove cut directly into the stone.
Through this narrow opening, the three could see the dim outline of a space that wasn’t part of Stormweaver’s architecture.
“I was able to connect my room here to my bedroom in our family’s central townhouse,” Faye declared, voice brimming with pride. “Now I can slip into the city whenever I want!”
Elle and Aer exchanged wide-eyed glances while Liori leaned in, her mouth slightly open in awe. They crowded around the newly revealed portal, questions pouring forth.
“How did you figure out this spell?”
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“Have you tested it before?”
“Is it stable?”
Faye’s midnight blue eyes sparkled under each barrage of queries. “One at a time!” she laughed. “Yes, it’s stable—so far,” she added with a playful wink. “I tested it this morning with a simple walk-through. It’s just like stepping across a threshold into another room, except you’re halfway across the city in reality.”
Her three visitors were torn between exhilaration and concern. Liori brushed her fingers over the carved markings around the opening. “This is…remarkable,” she murmured, recognizing some glyphs. “You’ve combined runic anchoring with a spatial-folding incantation. And you did all this while you were supposed to be resting?”
Faye shrugged, an unapologetic grin on her face. “Resting gets dull when you’re stuck in bed day after day. Besides, the books in our library are quite inspiring.”
Elle craned her neck to peer through the portal. “It’s a bit dark on the other side,” she remarked, squinting. “But you can see a faint glow. It looks like a room in the city.”
“So,” Aer said softly, brushing her silver hair aside. “This means you could just…leave Stormweaver without asking anyone’s permission?”
Faye nodded, beaming. “Precisely. I can explore the city streets, visit our favorite spots, and slip back here instantly before anyone notices I’m gone.”
Their hushed excitement filled the air like a rising tide. None of them noticed the door creaking open until a voice spoke.
“My lady, I—”
They all whirled around in alarm to see Winnie standing in the doorway with a trolley of steaming refreshments. She blinked several times, taking in the shifted painting, the unmistakable rift in the wall, and the princess, the ranger, and the priestess gathered around it. Then her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. Winnie’s instincts to call for help were swift, but Faye reacted faster.
“Lorna!” she exclaimed, pointing a slender finger toward the maid. A soft pulse sprang from her hand, enveloping Winnie like a gentle haze.
In seconds, the maid sank to the floor – thankfully, the plush carpet cushioned her unceremonious collapse. The trolley wobbled but did not overturn, the teacups rattling gently as if in protest.
“Oh dear,” Liori breathed, rushing to check the maid’s pulse. She found it steady, just as Faye’s spell intended. “She’s completely out.”
“Help me move her to the couch,” Faye muttered, tugging Winnie’s arms. “I wish Kali were here for this – she’s stronger than me!”
Together, they lifted Winnie’s sleeping form onto a nearby chaise, propping up her head with a decorative pillow. The maid’s chest rose and fell peacefully, oblivious to everything.
Faye straightened her vest and wiped an errant strand of dark hair from her face, acting as if nothing was amiss. “Well then,” she said, turning back to the portal with a sly smile. “Shall we go?”
Elle, Liori, and Aer exchanged incredulous looks – part shock, part giddy admiration. This was, indeed, so like Faye. She was unstoppable once she set her mind to something, even if it meant casting a quick spell on an unsuspecting maid.
“At least she’s not hurt,” Aer murmured, catching a final glimpse of the slumbering Winnie.
Liori, equally anxious and exhilarated, pressed her palms together in a silent prayer for the maid’s well-being before following Faye. “Then I suppose we’re doing this,” she said.
Elle glanced once more at the portal, feeling that familiar electric thrill. A hidden door to the city, something new and unexpected, a taste of freedom. She smiled, her heart fluttering. “Lead the way, Faye.”