"You told me to leave. I'm just working my way out the door," Flora said with a lift of the corner of her lip.
"Forsake women—" Oswald mumbled under his breath grabbing her elbow and towing her to the door. He led the way, hiding Flora behind his body as they moved out the door. The crowd was still huddled in a circle screaming and clapping.
"Why don't you just help me escape if you are so eager for me to leave?" Flora asked looking up for the sun. "Which way is West?"
"I can't," Oswald said back, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not right now. Will you just be quiet for a moment?"
"Why not?" She pushed.
"If I got caught doing so now, worse things would happen. And if you don't infuriate Lord Reynald, at least you will stay alive at least in the short term. I hope snooping in his office was worth it," Oswald grunted.
"Then just let me go, you won't even be involved," Flora said.
"I can't help you Flora," Oswald said again under his breath. Oswald tugged her towards the party and she dug her heels in. "You came with the Prince, if you disappear now there will be questions," Oswald said.
"Then let me go to him, you shouldn't be dragging me. I am a Lady," Flora said still resisting.
Oswald growled and dropped Flora's arm to drag his hand through his hair. "Then get, straight back to him," he said pointing his arm towards the crowd. Flora could see Prince Fergus's head turning around in search of her, but he was in no real panic, as his eyes dragged back to the fight with interest.
Flora brushed down her dress and gave Oswald a deep curtsy. With a flourish of her skirts she swirled back towards Prince Fergus. Grabbing the string around her throat and dropping her cloak onto the ground at the edge of the crowd to reveal her dress once again.
Garden Parties
Prince Fergus had found her again soon after. Flora kept her eyes wide and flustered as she was battered to and fro by the men trying to get a better spot to see the fight. She let out a squeak as she a man had stepped on her dress, causing her to fall into the crowd. Prince Fergus had saved her, catching her by the arm.
Flora could tell he was satisfied with himself, his shoulders had stood straighter as he walked them away from the guards boarding area and the maneuvered through the garden. Flora felt her own back straighten as she felt secure in Roanan and Lorcel's safety. She felt more at ease than she had in days. She smiled and Prince Fergus smiled back, though they smiled about different things.
They wandered on as the sun rose in the sky, and Prince Fergus's stomach growled as they came upon another crowd of people. "Lunch time," Prince Fergus said, smiling casually at Flora. "Do you mind if we stop? We need to be here for this evening's entertainment anyway."
"Of course," Flora said and Prince Fergus nodded, heading off in the direction of the food. Flora drifted casually through the group looking for a place to be. The noon sun had made it stifling hot, and the space under the covered tents was filled. There would be nowhere to sit in the shade for her. Most chairs that were exposed to the sun were empty, only a handful of Nobles dared dally in the heat. Flora could even see the boiling ripples in the air, making anything in the distant look mute and blurred together.
Young Nobles played out on the grass with what energy they had while the elderly Nobles sat in the tents, another handful of Nobles walking slowly around the gardens. Taking in the rows of green foliage; pine trees, willows, oaks and maples and so many more. Hedges and bushes. Tunnels and sculptures. Green upon green upon green, nearly no other colour in sight beyond the bark of the trees and the stone pathways that wove through them. The ripple of leaves and the low murmur of conversation were the only noises coming through the heat.
Flora's dress was so tight she didn't know how all the other ladies were even breathing in the heat, as she circled around a small fountain, leaning onto its rim. A handful of ladies walked past and she noted that none of them wore a tight corset dress. All of their pastel dresses were much looser around their cores, designed for the summer heat. The fabric of her own dress was so dark it was nearly black, and Flora was unsure what shade of colour it was, indigo perhaps. The dark tone absorbed every drop of sunlight that made it to her, and she relished the faint spray of mist coming from the fountain as it settled along her.
She cursed Lord Reynald then, but even the heat couldn't penetrate the relief of having three of her brothers safe. She was mostly just annoyed with the dress. Careful not to drop her neck down too much unless her useless matching hat would fall off. She pulled at the front of the corset, feeling trapped, her ribs wanted the freedom to move. There was enough humidity in the air that she was glad to be able to have stretched the strings of the corset a bit. At least now she would be able to get a little air in against her skin. It wasn't much, but it made Flora relax a little as she attempted to let the heat roll off her. Relaxing against the fountain again.
She could feel a ball of sweat drip down below her spine, absorbing into the cloth at the base of her neck. Every time she swallowed she could feel the damp cloth scrubbing at her skin, and she knew it would be raw by the end of the day. She looked down into the water, wondering if a drenched dress would be more comfortable than if it were just fairly moist with her sweat.
She barely recognized the girl rippling there in its reflection, whose hair was rolled into a bun at the base of her neck. It wasn't that she looked meek or harmless. She looked sharp, and every inch of her body screamed that she was a woman of her own making, and did what she wanted. She almost laughed at the thought, as she was nothing but Lord Reynald's pet right now. Until she got out of this castle, that is all that she would be.
From the set of her jaw to the strength in her shoulders. The reflection of a woman with a mind of her own. Why was this the costume Lord Reynald had wanted her in? It didn't seem nearly meek enough to tempt anyone into talking to her, if that was indeed what Lord Reynald had dressed her for. As he did not yet take her back to her call. Even when she had been deserted by Prince Fergus.
The frilly trim was nearly more intimidating than the leathers had been, thought Flora. The dark shades and cut did nothing to help her fit in with the Noble girls around her. It made her chin seem more pointed, her height seem taller, and her elegance sharper. If anything, this dark dress probably made her presence feel ominous. The occasional glances from some of the Nobles around the garden told Flora enough that someone sensed a rat. These Noble women could sense others difference's like a bloodhound.
Let them quake, thought Flora, they should be afraid. Flora felt like she was vibrating with compressed power and heat as she sat along that fountain rim and she grazed her finger across the surface of the water, destroying the picture of the women there. Wondering how it would have been to live and grow up among these people. Wondering if she would have turned into the person she could see in the water.
The rippling surface of a small earthquake rolled through the garden then. Flora watched everyone leave the safety of their shaded realms as she stayed on the rim of the fountain. She did not mind any of the water that soaked into her gown as waves bounced over the edge. She saw one tent fall down and settled herself to see if more would.
"Good Day Miss Faodail," said someone over her shoulder. She pressed herself off the rim fountain with her hands, leaping as far as she could, but it was only Vander. She smiled before hurriedly dipping into a curtsy. Hoping that he had not noticed her startle. Hoping that none of the Nobles did either. Luckily, the quake disappeared as quickly as it had come and everyone went back to their seat.
It had taken a lot of power from her legs to move that far back. A strength many delicate ladies around her had no need for, and demonstrations like that would not help her blend into their mob.
"Those quakes are getting more dangerous," Vander said, "everything is becoming less stable."
"Couldn't be more dangerous than us," Flora said. Vander's teeth rose in a wolflike smile.
"You seem better than you were last I saw you," He said hol
ding out his arm to her as the quake faded and a mumble of conversation picked back up around the garden. "Have you had a chance to explore yet?"
"It is more of a lawn than garden no?" Flora asked, wrapping her arm around his. Following as he guided her up along a path, many eyes followed their wake. A Folk male walking with a mysterious woman was not something that went unnoticed, especially not since they had drawn eyes dancing at the revel. Perhaps Flora could have blended in more had she not been walking with Vander, but Flora didn't regret standing beside him. His presence was reassuring in some way, wilder. It made her feel as fierce as the woman she had seen in the water.
"My, you are extra warm Flora. An unusual choice of dress for August," he said, eyeing her dark gown before continuing. "History says once it flowered but they died, for whatever reason. Cursed perhaps, the gardeners have struggled to bring them back. I have heard that Queen Curilane goes through a new set of gardeners every year as they continue to fail to bring back any bit of vibrant colour back into this landscape. Even in the spring before the solstice all there is green. Or so I am told. The flowers they bring in merely wilt, even in the castle. You would have seen that all the decor is gold or iron. Barely a petal in sight," said Vander with wonder looking down along the grass at their feet. "Maybe that's why they hate the Folk so much." He laughed with gleaming eyes, bringing them back up to dance with Flora's own. "We are wild things that have grown so rampantly when their own wild things have not."
"You hardly seem wild to me," Flora asked to Vander's grin as she smiled slightly. Wanting to know so much more, but unsure what to ask, or even where to start.
"Miss Flora Faodail," came a voice, drifting to her over the lawn. Both of Flora's and Vander's shoulders slumped as they turned to look. It was none other than Princess Kalida, walking slowly towards her, with a few more girls in tow. She could barely make out their faces for the large hats they wore, though she saw Lolita casually walking in the back. Chin raised high with her arms grasped behind her. Their eyes met and Lolita winked at her, but Flora turned away and stared ahead.
"How lovely to see you again Miss Flora, I am sorry to have missed you at dinner last night. Are feeling well?" Said Princess Kalida
"Better your Highness," Flora said, for what else could she say as she curtsied.
"Hmm, and Vander," Princess Kalida said with a nod, a half smile on her lips. "It is a pleasure."
Vander bowed to Princess Kalida. "Likewise, your highness."
Princess Kalida glowed at Vander's remark, and the girls behind each other prodded each other with raised brows and wry smiles. "May I steal Miss Faodail from you Vander? I am so keen on getting to know the new Lady of the court," she said with a secretive voice.
Flora felt a laugh bubbling but pressed her lips flat. Her eyes flicking with to Vander to catch his bitter smile. "Who am I to say no?" Vander asked. He bowed to Flora, keeping his eyes locked on her own. "We will have our moment to talk eventually, Miss Faodail." He stood and walked away, heading towards a crowd.
Princess Kalida wrapped her arm around Flora's bicep and guided her to the other side of the garden, where a large shaded tent stood empty with small seats and tables in it. Butlers handed them glasses of lemon water as they entered, and the area smelled like flowers, although there were none in sight.
"My goodness, I do not want to sit by you for long. You are boiling," Princess Kalida said with a wave over her shoulder as they walked farther away from Vander's hearing. "Let us sit. My tent should withstand those disastrous quakes. Isn't Vander a dream. Those shoulders, those eyes. You can't find those in any random tavern."
"Those other bits?" Joked one of the ladies in waiting behind them.
Princess Kalida turned her head to glare at the perpetrator, before smiling at Flora. "Are you close?"
"He is something," Flora said dodging Princess Kalida's large hat as it swung around and unsure what to say as her muscles tightened. "But not well—I only met him recently."
"He has caused quite a commotion here. I so wish I was not betrothed to another," Princess Kalida said as she finally sat, letting the other ladies and Flora follow suit. "Lolita may just be trying to take that space beside him though."
Hearing her name Lolita came to the front of the group. "If you want him, your highness, you can have him. I am sure I can find another in his group."
"You are chasing Vander?" Flora asked. "Even as you gather weapons to kill him?"
Lolita flashed her eyebrows. "There is life and then there is business."
Flora nodded cooly, and turned back to Princess Kalida and into safer conversation territory. "You are already engaged?" Asked Flora as she swallowed. "Even so young?"
Princess Kalida pouted. "The life of a Princess, to be honest I have not yet tried to see if I can get out of it, the Folk are all so—new. He was the dreamy one, before Vander stepped on the scene, all wild and exotic—."
"And waiting for us to tame him?" Lolita piped up and Flora swallowed as she remained polite.
"You are vicious," Princess Kalida said back to her, though her cheeks lifted in a smile. "As if we all didn't know how far you have gotten there." The girls let out a light laugh as Flora pinched her lips shut.
"Do you have brothers Flora," Princess Kalida asked. "Many of these ladies are still single."
Flora swallowed unsure of what to say. "They aren't much like Vander," she finally said as the girls laughed. Flora eyed the Princess who smiled at her easy. Did Princess Kalida know more about Flora's past?
After that the girls mostly gossiped about people who walked by, but Flora did not know most of them. However, Flora received more of an education about the nobility during those minutes then she had in the weeks since she had first come to the castle. She watched them, and she noticed Lolita doing the same, but Lolita did not partake in the gossip. She soon made her excuses to Princess Kalida, saying she had business to attend to with some of the people in the garden and so off she went. Flora watched her pass through a circle of other Folk to find her way between Vander and Lady Dells, who lounged casually under a tall tree.
"That woman is all work," one of the ladies said with a laugh.
Princess Kalida raised a slow eyebrow to the women who remarked, while the victim's cheeks went red and her eyes fell. "Lolita is extremely good at her work," Princess Kalida said. "The kingdom values her well, unlike some."
The group stiffened and no one spoke.
"Apologies, your highness," the Lady said finally.
"Hmm," Princess Kalida said and stared at her for a few moments longer before nodding her head. The tension in the group immediately relaxed and Flora could hear the rustle of skirts as everyone resettled themselves.
Flora bit her lips as she sat there with her back straight, watching the women again. Seeing them giggling made her miss Melinoe, knowing the two of them could have had as much fun here as they were. They had done similar things in the Tavern. In her other life anyways, it seemed so long ago.
"Lord Reynald," Princess Kalida spoke up, standing with a wave of her hand as he walked past the tent.
Flora stood along with all of the other women as Lord Reynald turned to look at the party before coming over. Princess Kalida had sat before he got to them and they sat with her. Flora watched Lord Reynald closely and could see him scowl when he saw her seated calmly beside Princess Kalida.
"Reynald, you awful man," Princess Kalida said. "How could you have kept your—cousin from me for so long?"
Lord Reynald's bowed slowly, his eyes on the princess. "It is a mistake I will not make twice."
Princess Kalida nodded her head, smiling with satisfaction. "She is so very interesting isn't she. She knows so much about the city," she said, an evil smile at her lips. "Have my parents yet arrived? I have not seen them."
Lord Reynald stood straight and a light flashed in his eye. "The Queen is asking for you, she sent me to find you. I am sorry to disturb you and your present—company," Lord Reynald said, and Fl
ora could smell the lie as his eyes flicked to her.
Princess Kalida breathed in deeply and Flora could hear steam coming out her nose, as her trained shoulders drooped. "Very well," she said standing. Smacking a hand into her other palm. "Not even I can keep the Queen waiting. Miss Faodail," she said looking over and giving a slight nod of her head. "It has been a pleasure, let us do this again. Soon."
Flora curtsied, and as Princess Kalida wrapped her arm through Lord Reynald's he escorted her back to the castle. She could see him look back over his shoulder at her. The other women around her broke quickly up, disappearing into the other crowds. Leaving her once again on her own.
Dragon
She was walking through the crowds when she heard a distant clacking and paused to look around. It was slowly growing louder as she turned her head. Whatever it was, it was coming closer. She heard the crash of bush nearing before she saw it, a creamy blur of a horses mane flying as it bolted along a stone path in their direction.
Vander saved her from being trampled by the horse, missing the horse's hooves by less than a foot. Flora could feel his biceps bulge under his shirt as he pulled her back, his wrist squeezing tight, but without bruising her already brittle skin. The horse pranced back when it noticed them, startled as much by the presence of something it didn't expect.
Prince Fergus sat upon the beautiful glistening white horse, his own white clothes blending into the horse's coat. As the horse pranced around the green it really looked like a beautiful fictional mural. Stable hands and gardeners came rushing behind him with grimaces on their faces and curses falling from their lips. The gardeners went to quick work to start repairing the hole in the foliage, each with compressed anger written on their faces. The stable hands stayed at a distance, their hands out in front of them as they watched Prince Fergus prance around. None of them had the courage to contain him.
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