Kaylar brought her down the hill toward a cluster of cottages. None of them had a thatched roof, but they had constructions with white-gray walls and decorative triangular wood patterns that made Rosalea feel like they would normally have thatch instead of shingles. It looked like it was multiple stories, but she assumed it was tall and wide like that to allow the dragon entry when he wanted it.

Even though her feet were cold, she was relieved when he set her carefully down on the doorstep. She was a little surprised he did not go in with her, but just left her with a judgemental feeling comment. “I would tell you not to hesitate to tell me if you need things, but we both know you will.”

She stood there silently watching the dragon go, and she knew she had been called out, but at the same time she half-wondered what he expected to happen. He was trying to manipulate and control her, and he would not lure her into playing. Rosalea took a deep breath, composing herself, letting the blush fade from her cheeks before she knocked at the door. There was a small door built into the big door, just the same as it ‌was at the castle.

“Rosalea!” Rhainnon said, throwing the door open. “Where are your shoes? I have been so worried about you! Kaylar told me you almost died?” Despite how cold and angry Rosalea felt ‌toward everything here, she felt a warmth from Rhainnon’s excitement to see her. It left her with little doubt that Rhainnon cared about her; it was written in her face, the animated way she spoke, the bouncy way that she moved, and the quick way she piled on questions.

Maybe for the first time since Annie had died, Rosalea found herself smiling. “We left before I got any. I am all right now. I just get a little tired.” Rosalea looked around the cottage. It was monolithic looking outside, and the inside was big and open. A kitchen on one wall, a living space where she was standing, and in the back, there were beds and a wash area behind mobile screens.

“How about this fluffy blanket?” Rhainnon asked, digging through a closet. “Also, we’re going to get all the pillows. This is going to be way better than the barn!” Rhainnon chattered animatedly as she moved to a bed that was currently bare and piled on linen sheets and pillows and at least three blankets. There was a fireplace with a fire going, a stack of wood, and things felt cozy in a way Rosalea felt alien to. She had been inside so few houses that she felt out of place.

“I am sure, but the barn was not so bad,” Rosalea said, feeling she was still smiling as she watched Rhainnon fuss with a bed that was supposed to be Rosalea’s. Supposed to be mine, so I should feel something about it? However, she just mostly felt somewhere between numb and warm, depending on if she was just listening to Rhainnon be genuinely happy to see her or she thought about owning her situation.

“I feel like I got to see you for a moment, the day before I got better,” Rhainnon said as she set out pillows. When at last the pillows seemed to be perfect, Rhainnon turned to look at her, blue eyes intense on Rosalea’s face.

“Kaylar taught me to heal, and I used it on your illness. We did see each other for a moment,” Rosalea tried to explain. “You might be able to heal also, since you are an imber mage in addition to your vitae magic.”

Rhainnon grinned. “Still my teacher in your head a little?” she teased so brightly, Rosalea felt her smile widening even as color came to her face. “But really, you were well enough to do that? I have been waiting to hear more about you for days.”

“I was not very well,” Rosalea admitted,taking Rhainnon’s gesture as a signal to move over to her bed so she could test it out. “But I am glad I was able to help you.”

Rhainnon laughed, hopping onto the bed nearby, kicking her feet off the side. “You are as quiet as ever. Aren’t you glad to be here? And, I suppose it does make sense, I felt better practically overnight, it felt like!”

Rosalea looked at her smiling face, and managed a small smile. “I am very glad to see you,” she said sincerely. She could not think of anyone in all her life that had seemed to be as happy to see her as Rhainnon was acting right now, and it made Rosalea all the more attached to her than ever. Even so, she could not help but think to herself, The real answer to the question is no.

“Are you hungry? Supper is almost done; did Kaylar have you eat before you left the castle? You are thinner than I have ever seen you! I am not as good as a cook as my mother, but I have been making stew!”

Rosalea nodded, “I would love to have something warm to eat.” Her feet were cold, and she thought she felt hungry.

“All right! How about you rest a little and I will get everything set up! Also, I think you can borrow my dress and shoes for work tomorrow. Uh… I have the most education, right? So I am currently running things a little around here, so I plan to just have you work with me for a little while.”

Rosalea blinked. “You are in charge of… the work?”

“Oh, uh, the sheep! We take care of them so that we can shear them for wool. Also, we process a lot of that wool. You thought my father’s flock was impressive? Just wait until you see some of these sheep and goats here! I just happen to have a good head for numbers, and no one else wanted to do it.”

“How many people are here?”

“We have four cabins like this one, each with two to four people. There’s eight of us here, counting you and me. I was chosen to take over for someone who died earlier this year.”

Rosalea found herself trying to unravel the notion of draconic… nepotism? But he did not really know Rhainnon before he took her from Mire. Did that still qualify as nepotism? Or was it just meddling? Rosalea realized she was supposed to say something to keep the conversation going, so she asked, “Do you like it?”

“Yes! It feels good to have my own place and to be around people that really like each other and respect me. Here! Come sit at the table and have some stew!”

Rosalea stood up and moved over to the table where Rhainnon had placed a steaming bowl of thick, meaty stew. “It smells delicious, thank you!” Rosalea took a few bites as Rhainnon served herself. Despite Rhainnon saying she could not cook as well as her mother, Rosalea found that she really could not tell the difference. But, a few bites in, she felt over-full, and so she stopped eating and just picked at it a little. It was getting harder and harder to muster an appetite lately.

Rhainnon was chattering about what it would be like in the field, drawing comparisons to her home opposed to how it worked here. After a moment, she slowed down, “How are Ian and Haidi?” she asked. Rosalea was jarred by the fact she didn’t refer to them as “father and mother,” and she must have shown it in her face. Rhainnon looked away. “Well, it’s been a long time since I have been home.”

Rosalea was watching her. Rhainnon seemed a little uncomfortable. Rosalea felt uncomfortable also. What was she to say, that she had promptly been thrown out and hadn’t seen them? That Haidi bore such ill will to Rosalea teaching Rhainnon magic she’d resorted to poison? “They miss you,” Rosalea said at last.

Rhainnon sighed. “I am a little out of place, in that I was still with my parents. I would have been out of place in Mire though, once I got a liana. It probably would have ruined my family’s lives.” Rosalea did not really know what to say about that. She had not thought about it quite that way, that Rhainnon was better off not in Mire. She could attest to that, the townspeople had wished her just as much ill-will without any of the cause that Haidi had wished her. “A lot of people are more like you! They have wandered a lot, or lacked a stable home. Though, you are pretty educated compared to them, maybe you will find that you feel you fit in here as you get to know people!”

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Rosalea nodded, but was not sure how she felt. Rhainnon had a family that loved her, that now had to do without her like she had died. Kaylar had threatened her if she did not cooperate. Here did not seem to be the rosy-bright place Rhainnon wanted her to feel it was. Rosalea even felt that taking people who were vulnerable from their bad lives made it easier for the dragon to exert the control he craved. As she looked at Rhainnon, her long black pretty hair, bright blue eyes, and open and friendly demeanor, she felt more than ever that she was only here because Kaylar needed a healer desperately. I am glad that I was able to help you, but I belong here less than ever, Rosalea could not help but think. Rosalea tried to change the subject, “So you manage things here? What can I do to help?” she stirred and picked at her food.

“Yes! Kaylar is going to come check on us tomorrow, and I want to talk to him about having you generally take over Mero’s role. She mostly watches over the sheep and makes sure that the forest stays in the forest, since we are on the edge of the wilderness all to the south. We also have some horses and quite a lot of goats. The goats are pretty aggressive, so they have always been kept separate from the sheep, since they can do some damage when they head butt things. With your abilities, you are going to be perfect at it!”

“I do not have access to my magic right now; the dragon has blocked it,” Rosalea said, setting her spoon down carefully.

Rhainnon frowned, “Are you really done eating? You used to eat like you were starving for food before.”

Rosalea smiled a little grimly. “I have not been very active lately.”

“I can tell you had a bad time; you look so thin. It is no wonder Kaylar didn’t let you out and about until now. Also, you’ve been talking all lady-in-waiting again. You feeling okay?” Rosalea was silent. She offered her partially eaten food back to Rhainnon who poured it in a dog bowl and then carried it outside and set it out. “So, how about we get rest, and in the morning I can introduce you to everyone!” In a moment that surprised Rosalea, Rhainnon walked up to her and threw her arms around Rosalea’s shoulders, squeezing her close. Rosalea felt her whole body stiffen and she patted Rhainnon’s arm awkwardly. “Don’t worry! I know that after a little while, you will feel better, and things will be better all around.”

She let Rosalea go, and they chatted for a little while about the different things people did for work on the fields, and Rhainnon was very animated about the ways she envisioned things improving. However, Rhainnon was still recovering a bit from being sick a good bit longer than Rosalea had been, and so she was soon crawling into the bed across from Rosalea’s and sleeping her expenditure of excitement off.

Rosalea was up for a while, staring at the far away ceiling, tracing the shadows of the rafters with her eyes. Maybe Rhainnon was right, and in a few days, she would start to feel right again, but as it was now, she was growing weary of a perpetually dull world without the vivid life her magic added. She felt full inside in a way that was uncomfortable, and things still felt internally as they still ached from the experience with the dragon’s magic.

She wondered about Rhainnon calling her parents by name. She wondered about this Mero person and what might happen to her if she was no longer useful in the role chosen for her. It made Rosalea anxious, but she told herself Rhainnon would never put someone in a bad position just because they were unhappy in their work.

Most of all, she spent time thinking about and trying to soak in the feeling that Rhainnon had that Rosalea was going to make a home in this space with the dragon looming over everything. It was the first time Rhainnon had expressed a sentiment of judgment that Rosalea was a wanderer that seemed to be without a family. Rosalea sighed and turned onto her side. Maybe that is fair though. When we first met, Annie and I were tired of belonging nowhere and wanted a place to be.

But it did not change how similar Kaylar felt to her to the Ieshans, and she thought again about Rhainnon calling her parents by name. She found herself comparing Rhainnon’s behaviors to Nerric’s as she fell asleep.

The next morning, Rosalea was given one of Rhainnon’s dresses and some shoes, both in a practical gray color which mostly ended up showing off the hard-metallic silvery quality of Rosalea’s hair. She braided it, hoping it would stand out less, but her yellow eyes also looked extremely bright… since it was about the only color on her.

A similar dress on Rhainnon made her into a silvery princess with her dark hair and brilliant blue eyes. Well, I am not attempting to impress anyone, and if they cannot handle a changer, then I am not sure how long Rhainnon will be benefited by being here instead of at home.

“Everyone here has met at least one other Uryan and Ieshan, so there are benefits,” the dragon said as he entered. Rosalea was still on the bed, lacing her boots as he brought his head near, extra smug acting. “So, you see, you are safe.”

Rosalea gave him flat eyes, Except from you listening on things and doing what you want when you want, she could not help but think back at him. Then, she immediately felt paralyzed with anxiety because saying that out loud in the tone she was feeling would have been the same as picking a fight in any other context.

“How was your first night with Rosalea?” Kaylar asked Rhainnon.

Rosalea felt so tense there was a sensation of blood rushing in her ears and making a white noise as she sat very still.

“It was really good! I am wondering if you could arrange to bring us more bread later? Maybe I can bribe Rosalea to eat that sandwich Wymund showed me how to make when I was in the castle.”

“Certainly. Everyone is ready and waiting. Do you still think I should take Mero?”

“Yes,” Rhainnon said. “You ready, Rosalea?”

The moment had passed. Rosalea was not sure that Kaylar wouldn’t want to retaliate later, but for now, she finished lacing up her boots.

By everyone was waiting, Kaylar meant that they were all waiting outside. There were eight people.

“Everyone, this is Rosalea. She is Uryan, like Rhainnon. She has come to work here.”

Rosalea could see three older ladies with white hair and wrinkles, she imagined that they knitted. There were two men, a bit older than Rosalea and Rhainnon, but still young. One of them was standing with a woman, and they had a son who looked to be eight or nine. There was a woman who was standing off to the side from everyone, she was wearing a shawl.

Everyone greeted Rosalea. She found herself bowing repeatedly and thanking them for welcoming her - which caused giggles and a comment to Rhainnon that she might not be the most educated here any more.

“It is true. Rosalea taught me magic. I am sure she knows many things. She had proper training in a noble house before coming here.”

That got “ooohs” and cackles out of the old ladies that made Rosalea’s face color.

“Mero,” Kaylar said, breaking up the focus on her.

“Yes?” It was the woman that was standing off a bit on her own and had been muted in her greeting. Rosalea heard distinct fear in her voice.

Rosalea found herself bracing, the dragon wasn’t going to hurt her, was he? If you… but she stopped thinking it.

She got a sidelong glance from the dragon, who smirked at her as he clearly caught her trying to control herself and slipping.

She hated him.

“Mero,” Kaylar repeated the woman’s name. ”I have been made to understand that you do not want to be here.”

There was silence for several agonizing seconds. Rosalea watched her turning white… “Master,” was the trembling reply.

“I apologize. I feel that I should have known better. After all, this was your situation before I brought you here, and you were not happy then.” Silence. Rosalea wondered if he was listening to Mero’s thoughts and discerning what she wouldn’t say. It annoyed her still more. People had a right to a certain amount of privacy.

“You saved me.” Mero said softly. “I owe you so much gratitude. How can I not be happy?” her voice was miserable. “I really thought I could make it work if there was not all this pressure.”

Mero was giving Rhainnon an apologetic look, but Rhainnon just smiled brightly at her, letting her know that all was well.

“Mero, there are always plenty of things to do, and as it happens, I have something better in mind for you to try. Cheer up, my little one,” Kaylar said in a reassuring tone that Rosalea did not even know the dragon could possess. A moment later though, the girl was gone from sight as Kaylar moved her to his gem storage.

Rosalea wondered again how close he had to be for that spell. He could cast it by just thinking about it, clearly. He made no gesture, no move, no command. Mero just vanished.

Rhainnon, with a few back and forth moments between people as she checked on the statuses of different tasks, would assign out work. “I’ll take Rosalea with me to mend the fence. I want to give her a tour of everything.”

Even though chores were assigned, people lingered, some of them talked to Kaylar. Rosalea wanted to slink off. Rhainnon interpreted it as excitement to see everything, and Rosalea let her. “Yes, I would love to see everything you do!”

“We do! Starting now!” Rhainnon said brightly.

Rosalea smiled and tried not to let her awkward feelings show.