VALOR POV

"Thirty-nine, Is the number of steps on the grand staircase. I do think that having you two thoroughly clean it is a fair punishment. You will sweep every one of the steps. After that, you wash and dry them." Madam Eithne explained. She is an older woman who has worked at the castle since long before we were born, we have known her for so long that she feels like family. She is stern but has her kind side. Eithne is the Steward of the Royal Court, she controls the household affairs, making sure everything is clean and neat. That there is food on the table and everyone and everything is paid. "Well get onto it you two, and do not rush the job it has to be done well." I take the two brooms and hand one to Zora, before walking up the stairs to start sweeping. When we are halfway down Madam Eithne says she has other duties to attend to, leaving us alone. Well, almost alone. Across the hall, two guards stand on duty.

"I despise cleaning," Zora complains. "This is a cruel and unjust punishment, I am a princess and should not be treated like a servant." Trying to ignore her, I keep sweeping the dirt off the stairs, three more to go. You should think that at my age, I would be too old to be punished by my father. But that is not how my life is, you don't go against your parents. Especially not when he is a king, I am forever stuck doing my father's bitting. "Valor! Are you even listening to me?" Zora ask. Her annoying voice is competing for my attention with the voices that keep whispering for me to push her down the stairs, a tempting suggestion. "No, can you stop complaining, this punishment isn't that bad, this is nothing compared to some of the other things Father has put us through. Remember what happened at the winter solstice celebration." I see the fear in her face over the reminder of the caning she got. Push her down the stairs, push her down the stairs. I hear being whispered. With Zora being quiet I am left alone with only the voices in my ears.

Finally done sweeping, I go and get the heavy pail of water. It is warm for having been boiled and has a salty smell to it, no doubt the water is from the sea. A block of lyan soap is floating in it. Zora watches as I carry the pail up midway on the stairs "Are you gonna help or what?" Zora takes a dry rag, "You wash then I dry them off," she suggests. "Fine by me," I say walking to the top of the stairs with the wet one. "So Valor. What is your plan?" Zora asks. "Plan? What are you talking about?" "About the girl, she is a deserter, which makes her a traitor to us, I have doubts about how eager she is going to be about helping you in any manner whatsoever." I sit down on the step, Zora does have a point. "Well, what do you think I should do. After all, she was your guard" I say. "Know her? She was a guard I don't spare them any thought." Making a sigh, I can't handle more of her attitude today "Let's just get back to work."

When we finally finished cleaning every step, the supper was about to be served. Which meant we had to sit at the table in our dirty clothes. Of course, Father had given us a lecture for not changing, when Zora tried to say we just finished cleaning and had no time to change. He replied that wasn't an excuse for coming dressed like this, and if Teival weren't here he would have sent us to our room without supper. I wish he had. As Duke Teival spent the entire time talking about the border expansion. "The border villages should be the first ones to receive guards I think." That is the whole reason for the wedding, my sister is being sold for land. My father is sitting at the end of the table. I am on his right, my sister Zora is by my side and Keisha is by her side. Usually, Keisha sits on the other side beside Malika. But Teival has received that spot. Steering my food around, my hand aches. My entire body is soar, but my head is damm right tortured, the voices feel painfully loud tonight. I already felt full from the first course, this second one I could go without, besides I don't particularly like pork "Why are you having fish, don't you like pork?" I hear Keisha ask Teival. Looking at him I see him smile when replying "I don't know I never had it." Keisha most likely was confused over his answer. "Why, it's so good?" "It might be but my religion forbids eating pork." "But that is weird," Keisha says. I do agree with her, what good comes from prohibiting food? "Keisha we don't disrespect other people's religion, it's against his religion there is no more to be said on the matter." My father lectures her.

While the servants take the plates away, to make space for the next dish, I stare down at my knife. The voice is urging me to stab myself with it. The voice rarely tells me to harm myself when others are present, normally that only happens when I am alone. Maybe it's happening because I have been ignoring it all day, without a musical break. That girl Lorelei, where is she now? Is she far away or is she at that place, the place, Men's Blissful Menders? She said something about going to be there tonight. I should tell Father, I am sure he will send the guard to that place. But what will happen when they find her? She won't come willingly. What if they get in a fight, oh my god they could kill her. That can not be risked, I have to. No, I need to find her myself. "Father may I be excused, my head hurts horribly, and I think I need to lie down." Father never let us leave early but for once I hope he will relent. As he sternly looks at me I feel uncomfortable "These headaches are becoming a problem Valor. But fine, you may leave." I sigh a breath of relief and stand to leave. "If you have a headache I might be able to help I am quite the skilled healer," Teival suggested. "No it's fine, I just need to lie down," I say rushing out.

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I have no idea where Men's Blissful Menders are located, so I head for the castle library. As it has to be recorded in the city archive. Men's blissful menders, that is an interesting name, must be a form of healing place, but is it religious or alchemy? I should start with alchemy there are fewer of them. The Library is a simple room, every wall is covered by a shelf filled with books, the only expression of art is the ceiling which is decorated with clay figures remising different flowers. In the centre is a single table with some chairs around it. The scrolls with archives over the city are in the far corner, it doesn't take long to find the right scrolls. As the music room is just across the hall, I chose to head over there to read the scrolls. Not many instruments can be played while reading, so the harpsichord would be my best choice. I sit down to play with one hand while holding the scroll in the other. Reading and playing at the same time is difficult, but it's easier to concentrate like this than to be plagued by the voices. My gaze goes through all the names but no name is even close. At last, I reached the last one, nothing. I sigh while rolling it up, it's not an alchemist. Carrishing one hand with the other, stroking the skin, my hands still hurts from cleaning, and playing didn't help. Heading back to the library I notice someone is in there. A dark-skinned male in the royal guards uniform, not the one they wear on duty. But the more subtle one they wear in their leisure time.

"Greetings Your Royal Highness." He says while bowing. The man looks familiar but I can't quite put a finger on it. It might just be because I've seen him around. As he moves I see his movement as stiff but careful, he has a slight sign of a grimace on his face. "Going your rounds?" I ask. I know he isn't, but I didn't know what els to say. "No, I...I am getting a book, Your Highness. I am on leave of absence, because of an injury." He looks down as he says it. Being injured explains his walk. "Thank you for your service, sir...I don't think I know your name." "My name is Clovis. But there is no reason for you to know it as I am a city guard." That means I most likely haven't seen him before, so why does he look so familiar? "I don't wanna uphold you but there might be something you can help me with." As a city guard, he must know every street corner. "I will be happy to help any way I can." " I am looking for this place someone mentioned to me, I think it's a place for healing but I can be wrong. It's called men's blissful menders." The guard's smile vanishes, he sends me the same glare my father does. The disproving glare. "Your Highness, your friend must be playing a prank on you, that place has nothing to do with healing, it is a brothel." The realization of what he said hits me hard and must have been clear in my face since he starts to explain more. "It is one of the unfavourable ones too. I know I am in no position to give advice, but you shouldn't seek out places like that, especially not that one as it's located in the worst part of town." This is horrible, I can't go there, can I? Do I have to? Maybe I should ask for help, as if he could read my thoughts Clovis says "if you truly seek that kind of company, there are much safer and nicer options, I heard tooth for tongue is quite upscale. But no matter what don't go alone. If you do not want it to get out to others, I am at your service. it would be me a great honour to personally escort you."

His offer is tempting. Having someone come with me, who could keep me safe would be the smart choice. But the curse, how am I to explain to him that I need to go to this specific brothel? In the hopes, that some woman shows up. I can't, I have to go alone. "There is no need, I just wanted to know about it because of my friend. But you are properly right in he wanted to prank me." I try to convince him, though I am not the greatest liar, but even if he doesn't believe me, he can't do anything about it "You may be excused."

"Good evening your Highness." The guard bowed before taking a few steps towards the door and then turned around. "Forgot a book." He walks over to a bookshelf and takes the first one, but that shelf is exclusively books in Latin. He must have noticed since he put it back "May I recommend a book?" I ask. "Yes please do." I go and grab a book called The Canterbury Tales "This one is a collection of a lot of different stories. But be warned some are obscene," I say handing him the book. "I will keep that in mind, continue good evening your Highness," he says bowing once more then leaving. After he had left I walked over to the city archive, what are brothels filed under?