Cozying up to the door, Mouse drew out his handkerchief and pretended to polish a nearby side table, quickly extending the illusion to turn the pristine white cotton into a stained and ragged terrycloth. His ears flicked, angling to best pick up the conversation from inside the room.
“…that plan went sideways. I want her gone, Lilith. Gone!”
“Focus on the goal. Rivals are secondary,” Lilith placated Sabelyn.
A huff, short and sharp. “And now this nonsense. Hot springs. Does he think I have time to while away? I’m a busy woman!”
“If I may…”
“Yes?”
Lilith paused, then pressed on. “There are… opportunities, at the hot springs.”
“Opportunities? How so?”
“If we blight the source—”
“Harder, girl! That table will be dusty come next year at that rate!” an irate maidservant snapped in Mouse’s ear.
Mouse jumped, slapping a hand to his ear. Ow!
The older maidservant crossed her arms and frowned at her. “Had to spend all morning running around for those filthy, blighted border races, and you little maids are out here slacking off? No, ma’am! That table better shine! And once you’re done with that, I’ve got silver for you to polish!”
Leaning toward the door, he tried to catch the conversation once more, but only caught silence and the shuffling of skirts, retreating from the door. Dammit! Miss Noisy over here went and alerted them, and just as it was getting juicy!
“I know you aren’t scowling at me, young lady. Don’t want you becoming one of those blighted border filth.”
“Filth?” Mouse protested, unable to stop himself.
The maidservant waved her hand. “What else do you call it? The capital didn’t have any troubles with blight until those border princesses showed up. And we all know about that drow getting blighted out of her mind.”
“Right… but what do the border princesses have to do with the blight?” Mouse asked, cocking a brow at the other maidservant.
“They showed up, and so did the blight! It’s clearly their fault. Weren’t you listening at all? Are these ears just decorations?” Frowning, she reached out to tug on his ear.
Mouse ducked, but too slow. The maidservant’s hand closed on what appeared to be empty air, and her frown grew deeper. When the air shimmered and wavered around her hand, the frown only deepened. “What in the hells—”
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Mouse gently but firmly removed her hand from his ear. “Excuse me. I’ve got errands to run to.” He half-jogged away, hustling around the corner.
“You…” The maidservant watched him go, then looked at her hand, more befuddled than anything.
Around the corner, Mouse dropped the illusion with a short gesture. He rubbed his ear and shuddered, both ears twitching involuntarily with the shudder. Ugh. I hate it when people grab my ears. Especially non-elves. They have no delicacy about it!
Out of the palace and into the gardens, where flowers bloomed in abundance despite the late summer heat. Leaa’s doing? Mouse wondered, gently brushing the heady blossoms.
“Mouse!” Brittany called, enthused.
He glanced up. Brittany half-stood out of an ornate, white-painted metal table, the top laid out with a light breakfast. Clarita sat beside her, quietly holding her hand under the table. Cel stood casually against the foliage, fading into the background. Mouse nodded at her as he took a seat at the table, and she nodded back.
“Thank you for everything. I would have regretted it forever if they’d locked up Brittany for a crime she didn’t even commit,” Clarita said, nearly as soon as his rear touched the seat.
“Oh, yes. Thank you so much,” Brittany added, tossing a wink and a squeeze of Clarita’s hand into the middle. Clarita turned and gazed at her with a gentle emotion in her eyes, clearly besotted.
Mouse cleared his throat and nodded awkwardly. Why invite me? I’m a total third wheel. If you’re going to sit here and gaze lovingly at each other, then don’t bother to invite outsiders!
“Have you heard? Apparently the hundred-year hotsprings are filling up once more. It’ll be such a wonderful… bonding opportunity,” Brittany said, glancing sidelong at Clarita again.
Clarita blushed and slapped Brittany’s leg. “Yes, I’m quite excited to get to know the other princesses a little better.”
“I as well,” Mouse replied, trying not to sound stiff. I have to go, now that I know Sabelyn and Lilith are up to something. I guess I’ll have to stave off actually going into the hot springs at the last second, claim I got heatsick or something.
Cel raised an eyebrow at that. Mouse subtly waved her away.
Brittany leaned toward Mouse. “I’ve arranged a little help for you, as thanks. Why don’t you take a stroll around the corner, there?”
A little help? Mouse frowned at her, brows furrowed.
“A little… something, to help with that sausage problem of yours,” Brittany added, winking.
Mouse blinked, taken aback. “What?” Sausage? Wait, is that… is she talking about… He glanced at his lap, then frowned up at Brittany. She knows?
Brittany rolled her eyes. “The nose, remember? We vampires can discern a lot from the smell of one’s blood. Blood type, age, virginity, gender…” She raised her eyebrows meaningfully.
Mouse left his face frozen in a puzzled expression, refusing to give her any hints. Right, she's been hinting about it for a while. I can't be too surprised. No—I guess it makes sense. Achlys knew as well.
Wait… how long has she known? He pressed his lips together, concerned.
“Brittany, what on earth are you talking about?” Clarita asked, turning to Brittany.
“Just go, just go.” She waved for Mouse to go around the large rose bush to their left.
Hesitant, Mouse stood. He glanced at Cel, who shrugged. I guess Brittany doesn’t want to reveal me. It should be fine for now, maybe?
He turned around the corner. An empty space on the garden path awaited him, without particular features. Confused, he glanced around. “Is there supposed to be something over here?”
“Tell me your wish,” a voice whispered in his ear.
Mouse jumped and clapped a hand to his ear. He spun, looking around. What is with everyone and my ears today? This is harassment.