The sight of the clean and formal dress sickened me.

Even more so that it fit so well... as if it had been made for me specifically in mind.

It made sense however, considering Rivini had probably been planning this for many days.

Knowing her she had put into motion many plans the moment she had heard of a Line approaching the city.

She was cunning in such ways.

“Lift your arms again,” the sewer said, and I mindlessly complied.

I couldn't run now. Rivini, and the rest of the Elders had made it clear I was to obey. If I didn't, I'd only cause others to suffer.

If I ran from this duty, Rivini would make Marli the next choice.

As much as I wanted to scream and run... I couldn't stomach the idea of doing to another what had been done to me.

I couldn't become them.

The sewer was rather young, but not from the House of Derri. At first I had found it odd, but once I realized that our House most likely no longer possessed such people, I understood.

A part of me wanted to ask which House she belonged to, but since she hadn't said it and no one else had... they probably wished to keep it a secret.

Just like when I had worked for Bormor in his bathhouses, it was better to remain silent concerning such matters...

She was probably hungry, and the last thing I was going to do was endanger her hope of a full stomach.

Just because her task was aiding in my suffering, didn’t mean it was her fault.

The sewer was diligent in her work, moving quickly to ensure that the dress fit snugly and would be presentable. She and I were the only ones in the room, and had been for some time.

“Now the gloves,” she said, stepping away from me for a moment.

Relaxing a little, I took a small breath and noticed that I'd not be able to breathe too deeply.

I wasn't used to wearing such tight clothing... Such dresses were not comfortable in the heat, let alone when one was working.

“Miss Derri,” the sewer requested my right arm, and I accepted her assistance in donning the first glove.

The smooth cloth felt strange, and went all the way up to my elbow. She made a noticeable sound with her tongue when she noticed the looseness of it.

“Well, it had been made during a time when women ate well,” I said softly.

She paused before going to adjust the glove, her wide eyes staring up at me. “It is fine, Miss Derri. It shall not be hard to fix,” she softly said.

I could tell she was worried I was upset over it, and I knew it was most likely because of my voice. I really was upset and she could hear it... I just wasn't angry over the dress.

But it wasn't her fault, so I had to make sure she understood that.

“I know. I was just letting you know that I understand. Do your best, and that will be enough,” I said.

The young sewing woman kept her eyes on the glove as she hemmed it, but she did at least nod in acknowledgement.

Turns out she had not just been trying to keep me from growing angry... she was able to swiftly fix the glove, making it look as if it had never been loose in the first place.

While she prepared the other glove, I took another glance at the wall sized mirror nearby. It gleamed from the fresh cleaning, and the bright torches illuminating the room, and made me hate myself.

I looked like a bride of Derri.

“How does it feel, Miss Derri?” the sewer asked once she finished the gloves, stepping back a step to study me.

“Disgusting,” I said honestly.

The woman's eyes went wide, and she started to panic, but I gave her a smile and shook my head. “It's fine. Thank you. You did wonderful, I feel as if the dress had been made especially for me,” I added, just as honestly.

A pair of wide eyes looked around, as if in search of help, as she simply lowered her head and bowed to me. “Um... thank you, Miss Derri. Is there anything else I may do to be of service?”

“I don't think so...” I went silent as I stared at the bowing woman, and I noticed the bones which were clearly visible beneath her clothing.

I cleared my throat, and she raised back upward... though her eyes didn't meet my own.

“Just in case, however, I think it might be best to have you stay here for awhile. Would you be willing to wait here until the night? I'll have a meal prepared for you, so that you can rest,” I said.

Finally her eyes met my own, and they became far softer. “Yes! I shall!” she hurriedly said, stepping closer.

She quickly realized her outburst had been uncalled for, and with an embarrassed flinch she lowered her head again. “Thank you, Miss Derri. I shall wait here, long as I am needed,” she said, her voice back to normal.

“Good. Thank you.”

I didn't wait for her to say anything more, and went to the door. I didn't need to open it myself, since as I approached it had opened for me. One of the guards had been outside, and had been listening.

For a long moment the guard's eyes went up and down my body. I'd have been disgusted by the way he did it if not for the fact that I knew the true reason for his actions.

He hadn't been shocked or interested in my appearance... but was instead judging to see if I was going to be good enough to be offered to the Linesman.

“I shall go and let The Grandmother know you're ready,” he started to say, but I stepped out of the room before he could finish.

“I'll go tell her myself. Would you please escort the sewer to the kitchen and get her a full meal? And keep her here, just in case Rivini or myself need her later,” I said.

At first, I expected the guard to defy me... or to raise his voice and ask me who I thought I were. Instead, surprisingly, he immediately bowed his head.

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“Right away, Miss Derri,” he calmly obeyed.

My heart thumped at both his action and the tone of his voice, but I didn't allow my shock to appear on my face... or make me stumble.

“Thank you,” I said, and turned away so I could head deeper into the building.

Leaving the guard and the sewing girl behind, I made sure to walk slower than I usually did.

The dress wasn't too tight, but the last thing I needed was to rip it or make it wrinkle out of place.

After all, if Elder Rivini or the others found my appearance unsuitable... it wasn't me who would be punished, but the poor sewing girl.

With careful steps, I noticed that everyone I passed in the halls made it a point to put their backs to the walls as I walked by. Not just out of respect, but care.

They too didn't wish to be the cause of a failed wardrobe.

It did not take long for me to find the room where the elders were. They were being loud, and there were several guards and servants coming and going from the room.

“She's coming, Grandmother!” I heard Marli shout, and then saw her pop out of the room with great speed to run up to me.

Although I was far from happy, I couldn't help but smile at the beaming bundle of joy as she gushed at the sight of me. “Hey Marli.”

“You look wonderful! Oh there's no way he'll say no! I knew Jorma didn't know what he was talking about!” Marli happily shouted as she rounded me, taking care to not physically touch as me as she got as close as she could to study the dress.

“Thanks... I guess,” I said softly, now once again depressed.

Sure I didn't want to do this, and sure this made me sick to my stomach... but it was also quite annoying to hear how little Jorma expected of me. Did he think I was that unbecoming?

“Hurry, hurry. He's on his way, and they'll want to see...” Marli started to say, but a distant shout drew our attention to the room nearby.

“Come here, Telleya!” Rivini shouted, louder even than whoever had shouted earlier.

Marli giggled as she gestured for me to hurry, and I took breath to compose myself.

It wasn't Marli's fault she was so ecstatic. She didn't realize what was happening, after all.

Chances were, only a few of them did.

Passing a pair of guards, whose eyes were glued upon me, I entered the room to find all of the elders of the House of Derri.

The moment I stepped into the room, it became deathly quiet.

Several dozen pairs of eyes focused on me, and I felt far colder than the mildly warm room should possibly be able to make me feel. Not only did the elders study me, so did the guards and servants.

“Well done, daughter,” Rivini was the first to speak, praising me.

“She looks perfect,” another said.

“Thank the Sands! This just could work!” Vectam said loudly, a little too loudly, making me flinch. The warrior was wearing his armor and even had a small spear in his hand. He thumped it on the ground, and the thick rug he thumped gave off a strange sound in the process.

“You were so worried a few hours ago,” Jorma teased him.

“Do you blame me? The Markith warriors were in full-battle gear, not display armor!” Vectam laughed, causing others to join in and voice their agreements.

While everyone spoke to each other, with smiles on their faces... I stood there in shock.

Battle gear? The Markith warriors had been seen in such a thing?

That hasn't happened in years... the last time it had happened, two Houses had been lost to the Sands.

Which meant...

“He's here!” Marli's worried voice shouted, causing everyone to go silent.

“Quickly now,” Jorma ordered, and everyone went into motion. The elders went to their seats, the guards to their positions, and the servants hurried to put themselves out of sight.

Although I too had to go to my own position, I did so without much thought. After all, my mind was still focused on something far more important than worrying over appearances.

Walking over to a nearby wall, I stayed out of the way and out of sight.

My duty was to be a sacrifice, to be an actress in a play... they most likely didn't want me to speak a single word. Just to stand here and smile.

Which was fine with me. The less I had to be involved the better.

The main entrance to the room was positioned nearby, and I was standing where one wouldn't see me unless they looked around. The Linesmen who would soon enter the room would probably not notice me until I was pointed out to him.

A part of me knew I should be focused on the man about to enter the room. The man I was about to be sold to. To be sacrificed to, and placed into his mercy.

But instead I could think of only one thing.

War.

If warrior Vectam's words were true... then the House of Markith was on the brink of declaring war.

So... we were that close to going to war...?

No... If that was true, then we were still on the brink of it even now.

Chances were the only reason blood wasn't being shed this very moment, was because no House wished to risk the ire of the Linesman.

The only thing standing in the way from the fall of this House, was me... me and of course the Line owner.

“Lord Noth!” warrior Vectam declared, and a man entered the room.

As I had expected, the man didn't notice me. His eyes had kept themselves forward, staring at the elders.

Two other men entered the room after the Lord of the Line, only one of them was dressed formally while the other seemed to be dressed far too plainly. Both walked behind him like servants would, making it clear the one in front was definitely the owner of the Line.

The owner of the Line had not seen me, but the plainly dressed man who entered after him had noticed me immediately.

I paid no attention to the scary looking man's eyes, and instead focused on the strangely dressed man who approached the elders.

“Lord Noth, welcome back to the House of Derri,” Rivini said with a smile, gesturing with wide open arms.

His clothing was odd... strange enough that I wanted to draw closer and study it closely, but my curiosity was quickly devoured by my strange hope.

This was the owner of a Line. A man so powerful and wealthy that his mere presence had sent our entire city into chaos.

A man who nearly single handedly brought down the House of Derri.

“Rivini,” the man called Noth said, as he looked around the room at the elders.

“Please sit, we have much to discuss,” Rivini said, gesturing for him and his servants to join them.

For a moment Noth remained still, and silent. It lasted long enough that a few of the elders, notably Jorma, looked around in concern.

Then the man sighed, and took his seat. Although his two servants stayed standing near him, neither of them took the nearby empty chairs for themselves.

While he sat and got comfortable, I noticed that all of the elders were happily anticipating the upcoming conversation.

Even Rivini, a woman who normally kept a stoic mask of calmness, had a huge smile on her face.

If not for my situation... if not for the stupid dress I was wearing, making me overtly self-conscious of my current circumstances, I would have been amused and would have laughed aloud at them all.

To see the great elders of the House of Derri acting so foolish, doing their best to please this single man. Betting their futures, the entire House, on him.

To see them act so desperately.

It was an amazing sight since it was one I never thought I'd ever get to see.

And it also meant something wonderful.

It meant that this man... this Noth... had full control over the situation.

He had our House... no, the entire City... every grain of sand within the palm of his hand.

“Before we get started... Telleya, come introduce yourself to your husband,” Rivini warmly beckoned for me.

For the first time since this all started... I was able to put on a real smile as I approached the man.

Noth didn't turn to look at me, so I had to round his servants and put myself in front of him. I gave him as formal of a curtsy as I could, as flawlessly as I could within the dress, and accompanied it with a warm smile.

They could force my fate... but they could not force his. He was beyond them. Beyond us all.

Which meant he could do it.

He could accomplish what I couldn't.

“Pleasure to meet you, Lord Noth. May the Sands bless our meeting and union,” I said, greeting the man who would soon bring down the House of Derri.