I shivered in the cool morning air, my nightgown not doing much to keep me warm on the balcony. My second day in the palace had ended a lot better than the first, thanks mostly to Sam.

I’d even slept in long enough that Haily had woken me up with breakfast. Which I was eating while sitting on a cushioned chair under a clouded sky.

Haily had taken the clothes I’d worn yesterday to the laundry and would be bringing up the cleaned ones I had travelled in later, once they had been dried. That left me without anything to wear out.

She had, in a very polite tone, threatened to trip me when I suggested my nightgown was fine. I’d seen several people in the city wear something similarly covering. But it was made known to me that certain materials were more improper than others.

Sam, the empty dressing room and now Haily had all spent considerable time convincing me I couldn’t wear the same thing over and over again. Trissa had also tried but her argument of, ‘just cause,’ hadn't worked as well.

I brushed off the crumbs from the pastry and realised I’d lost focus on the necklace again. Without two layers of clothes, it was against my skin and if I didn’t consciously try not to absorb the mana, it drained.

I’d taken off the speckled rock from Tometh and was planning to try to get the two stones put on the same string. It was now with everything else in the locked drawer, the key of which was hidden in the room to prevent it from being stolen from my person.

Attempting to push mana into the crystal without holding it was far more difficult despite doing the opposite unintentionally. Getting it back to a similar feeling Morris had put it at involved me draining it and quickly filling it until I got it right since I couldn't adjust the mana once inside.

Haily coming back in through the double doors made me hide it again. “Would you like anything else, ma’am?”

“No, thank you, Haily.”

The young girl smiled and I felt sick with myself for letting her clear away my plates. I had to remind myself that this was something she chose to do and according to Yanla, was getting paid very well to do it. Haily was free to leave at any point and working in the palace would gain her easy access to most other jobs.

“Ah, ma’am. A…A few people saw what happened with the knights outside the gate the day before last. They, ah, wanted me to let you know they would talk about what they saw. If that is what you want. We have issues with the knights sometimes so it would be their pleasure.”

I was at a loss for words. But what she said made me realise her job wasn’t anything like I was made to do. There were more staff members than anyone else in the palace and it sounded like they stuck together.

“Maybe? I don’t want to make things worse. I think I want to just wait until he leaves for school. But thank you and thank whoever told you, for me.”

I was slowly becoming more amenable to the idea of working here but still hoped it could be with the animals and not people.

However, everyone at dinner being polite and thankful to the staff did make me less worried about how I used to be treated when bringing someone food. I blamed the breeze for the shiver that ran down my spine.

To clear my head of ugly thoughts I tried to think of the reasons why I would be talking with a group of teachers later and watched a ladder being brought out near the pond. Translation was at the top with curses and alchemy being next but much less likely reasons.

Another two brought out a small rolled-up sheet and laid it out between two trees. They took ages to untangle the strings that were attached to wooden beams at each end of the fabric.

The hammock looked more sophisticated than the sheet tied around branches that I had imagined. Theirs looked like a waxy fabric with multiple strings looped through the wood on the side so that it balanced well between the two trees it was tied to. One of the women who set it up fell into it and smoothly rocked back and forth with the edges barely curling around her.

I was excited about lying in it myself. More so that it was something done especially for me. Once I managed to get into the library, I knew it would be hard to remove me from that spot.

The others helped their colleague up and packed up to head back inside. They hadn’t been wearing the staff uniform so I wasn’t sure where they would be returning to.

I watched as the hammock swayed in the wind along with the first dead leaves of fall tumbling across the garden. My clothes still weren't ready and I didn’t have much to do in the room so I looked through the cards I’d been given the night before.

They were durable pieces of paper that had a name, number, street name and the city district. I didn’t know the first thing about finding out where it was but was sure someone, maybe Sam could be convinced to help me.

Clem’s boutique was the one I was most interested in but I dragged my fingers through my hair Alisa had clipped and wondered if the hairdresser could get it to curl and shine like the women at dinner. The unruly tangles my fingers caught on persuaded me to consider it.

I hummed and hawed over the leatherworking and blacksmithing one but couldn’t come up with anything I would want. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about what they could do to begin with.

Haily brought up my clothes, folded or on wooden hangers. I thanked her again and pushed away the sick feeling in my stomach.

The last thing I did before leaving was to tuck the crystal back between my shirt and overalls.

The staff on the steps and in the foyer went out of their way to acknowledge me while the knights standing guard seemed to look at me with extra scorn. I thought it might have been because of what Haily had said but put it out of my mind as I made my way to my hammock.

It was as comfortable as I’d hoped and I let myself relax in the familiar rhythm of swaying back and forth. If I hadn't just woken up I would have strongly considered sleeping.

But I had and without a book to occupy me, I found myself getting up and walking the gardens instead. I tried to get the thick rope-like vines climbing the building to follow what I wanted like the treant had. It worked well enough that I stopped before I brought the entire wall of them down.

Inspected the flower beds had uncovered some interesting plants I hadn’t seen before and I helped along those that looked like they needed it.

…

“It feels weird being able to sense you,” Annalise said after catching up to me in the gardens. “Would you like to have lunch together?”

I had waited to see if she was trying to find me after sensing her mana from behind a few of the hedges. She looked comfortable and warm in a wool sweater with chunky patterns knitted into it, very different to the flowy dress she’d worn last night.

“I would.”

We hadn’t had any chance to speak since we’d arrived. I didn’t have anything, in particular, to say so trying to find her door to knock on seemed a bit much. Going to the stables to see the horses was my main intention but I had hoped to bump into her there or on the way.

“Sorry I haven't been around much, lots of things to catch up on with captain duties and family. How have you found the palace so far?”

“It’s…a lot. I do like the people I talk to like you, Sam, Yanla and Haily. The gardens are really nice too.”

I walked next to her back to the palace, fidgeting with my hands behind my back. “Are you happy to be home? Seeing your parents and brother?”

“Have you met Alonso?”—I shook my head—“He’s an…acquired taste. Goes down the street to play board games with his friends a lot, just younger than Samuel's whole age group. If he asks you to play, don't let him trick you, it’ll definitely take longer than the hour he promises.”

I wasn't expecting any invites but it didn’t sound like the worst way to spend my time.

Stolen story; please report.

“It’s nice to be back and sleep in my own bed. But I do want to travel again. It’s one of those things you miss and look forward to rather than enjoy in the moment.”

I nodded slowly. It had been an interesting experience but having explosive spells being flung at me was definitely only something to enjoy after the fact.

The smaller dining room we entered only had two places set up, but without the myriad of utensils we’d had last night. There was only one of each and I appreciated the simplicity. Going from using almost no utensils to having to use all of them was a lot to handle.

“So, you told the commander about what happened near my cottage?" I asked while waiting for the food to be brought. “Could I tell Sam about it?”

“Sam, is it?” she said with a smirk that faded. “I did, it was a formal debriefing and I’m not sure. You can if you want but I don’t think letting it be known you’re related to a witch is ever a good idea. Might make things difficult for us here as well if he tells his parents.”

That’s the same thing I kept coming back to so I asked something Sam had made me curious about. “Are they getting punished? Barick seemed upset when I went through the gate the other day.”

“Fuck…I didn’t think the commander would say enough to make them feel reprimanded. I’ll see about moving him to the night shift until they leave. And why didn’t you tell me about that night with Daral?”

“He said he would tell you I tried to run away and I didn’t want you to think that. And I would rather just leave Barick be, I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

Annalise sucked in a breath before sighing. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to see some kind of punishment, I felt better about it after hearing Sam get upset at some of what they did but was confused about my own feelings. Sometimes I wanted to shove him off the walls, into the lake, and other times I felt indifferent.

I didn’t like the conversation so I interrupted her while she was thinking of an answer. “Do I have to call the duke ‘sir?’”

Her frown disappeared as she snorted. “Uhh…I’d actually like to hear you ask him that question.”

“I was asking you,” I mumbled under my breath. “How long will I be allowed to stay here as a guest, or do I also need to ask him that as well?”

Her smug grin told me the answer.

Our food was brought in, mine by Haily who kept glancing at a notepad she brought out from behind her back when describing the dish. It was cute to hear her try to pronounce ‘thyme.’

While I was eating I kept catching Annalise staring at me out of the corner of my eye. I wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand and then the napkin when that didn’t stop it.

I caught her gaze the next time. “What is it? Is there sauce on my face?”

“Ah, no. I was just looking at you,” she said.

“Okay…why? Is it my hair?” I said and brought it around my shoulder.

“What, no. But it may need a brush,” she said. “Sorry if this is rude to ask but was anything about your father ever mentioned?”

My heart skipped a beat when I thought back to the only day I’d ever heard mention of him. It was right after coming back from speaking with the treant. “I think she called him a mage and that’s about it. I didn’t even know what a father was at the time. The closest I’d been to a man was like…the length of this castle.”

She started chuckling. “I wish I could say the same sometimes.”

I stuffed my cheeks with the remains of my lunch. “Do you know why I’m meeting with teachers later?”

“Maybe we should get you an etiquette teacher to meet with instead.”

That reminded me of Jaqalin so I started shaking my head as I finished my mouthful.

“I know who it’ll be and have a good idea of why. Head of Mana theory, Professor Jacomier. Professor Chimbwanda of Minds and Personalities. And Professor Mitchell of Curses and Old Magic. Morris and a local enchanter named Hark will also be there.”

“They’re here for the doll?”

Annalise nodded. I convinced myself they were trying to help and not just use me as an experiment. It didn’t help remove the pit forming in my stomach.

“Why is this the only time I’ve heard anything be called ‘magic?’” I asked.

“It’s just old-fashioned. Mostly appears in historical studies and children’s books.”

…

I talked more with Annalise over some blackberries I got her to ask for. In exchange, she convinced me to ask Sam to take me shopping in the city and gave me advice on what I should get for the coming seasons.

I said I would think about it but knew I would avoid asking.

We were walking across the front gardens to one of the smaller brick buildings for the meeting. The two knights outside saluted Annalise as we walked in the double door. Inside was a foyer like the palace, but with a plain red carpet that had pathways faded in it from constant walking.

People not in uniform but still dressed smartly walked about with stacks of paper or in pairs having discussions. Doors with name plates lined the hallways with most of them being open. The desks inside were covered in more paper and piled up folders.

Other rooms had oval desks surrounded by chairs with some of them being filled with people passionately discussing different topics. This was where most of the chiefs worked with their assistants, advisors and other experts.

We were off to the third floor where Morris’ office was.

Annalise opened the door and the first thing I noticed was the smell of the smoke from the pipes people liked to puff on. The room was quite full with three women and four men including the Duke Riker, Janette and Morris.

Bookcases covered in leathery spines and other small trinkets towered over everything.

Heavy curtains hung behind a dark wood desk and sofas crowded around a rug that looked like a map.

Of the two men left. Hark must have been the one in only overalls with a visible tan line while Professor Chimbwanda was the well-dressed man with a darker complexion.

I looked across to the woman and saw the doll sitting on the table with its amber eyes looking at me. The taste of something bitter in my mouth stopped me from looking at the other professors.

Underneath the smell of smoke was the scent of a sweet and woody perfume made of daylilies. Something Mother often made.

I knew they were talking. Talking to me, but my ears were ringing too loudly to hear.

The room blurred as I turned around. Annalise was standing between me and the closed door. I tried to push past her but she grabbed onto me. I think I was talking or screaming but didn’t have a clue what it was.

My arms were squished into my side as I tried to push Annalise off me.

Something fowl invaded my nostrils and I jerked my head away from it. I started coughing into Annalise as she continued to hold me. My eyes were watering but the ringing in my ears was gone.

“What was that?” Annalise asked from above me.

“Smelling salts,” a blurry Professor Chimbwanda said while putting a stopper back into the neck of a glass vial full of white crystals. “She was having a fight or flight response to something in the room, possibly the doll.”

“Valeria?” Morris asked from next to me. “Are you well enough to let me examine you?”

I wanted to scream at him to get away from me. But Annalise’s arms around me helped me hold my tongue and relax enough to hold out my arm.

“She’s physically fine, the only abnormality is an elevated heart rate,” Morris said.

“Can we open a window?” I asked once I got my arm back. Morris tried to get me to sit near him and the two women professors. I moved to sit in the free spot on the sofa next to the duke across the room from them.

My nostrils still burnt from the smelling salts. That and the strong wind blowing in from outside helped to keep the perfume away from me.

Morris introduced me to his old colleagues. Professor Jacomier, Head of Mana Theory was a stern older lady with short hair and still wearing her travelling clothes and a fur coat. She looked upset with the window and me for letting the cool outside air come into the office.

It was either her or Professor Mitchell of Curses and Old Magic who was wearing the perfume. She was taller than most and had a slight point to her ears.

“Quite an interesting case you’ve brought before us, my duke,” Professor Mitchell said after the introductions. “May I examine the object now that the patient is here?”

I glanced at the duke when I noticed he was looking at me. He was waiting for me to answer so I nodded to the professor.

Professor Chimbwanda also went over and flicked the doll just under the knee while watching me. I felt it but it was hardly a surprise or painful.

“No reflex,” he said to Morris. “Not neurological then?”

Morris shrugged. “Is it only pain, Valeria? Do you know what would happen if, say, the doll lost an arm?”

He was going out the window if he tried. “No, but you’re not trying that.”

“He won’t,” Duke Riker reassured me, with his arms crossed.

Professor Jacomier came up to where I was sitting and I leaned further into the couch. She had the perfume on but it didn’t affect me again as much besides a stray memory flashing by.

“Take off that silly trinket, please,” she said with her hand out.

I glanced at Morris who nodded. The necklace came off and I was about to hand it over to her but she waved it away and motioned for my arm instead.

“Is this your hair?” Professor Mitchell asked.

“Amber for the eyes?” Hark asked. Both were squatting near the table with the doll.

“It is, to both,” I said as my hand tingled in the other professor’s grip.

Annalise was whispering by the door with Janette and they occasionally glanced at me. Chimbwanda and Morris were having a spirited discussion with a lot of medical terms I recognised and many I didn’t, being thrown around.