After a dreamless night, Bir gently shook me awake. “Good m, Lady ’s time to wake up.”

  Disoriented I sat up and looked at Bir. The st of soap still g to her. My cheeks warmed as I remembered the night before. I’d thhly soaked Bir after she made the mistake of attempting to brush my tail.

  ?Does it still hurt?? I asked, gazing at Bir’s stomach. I’d actally kicked her after the brush she used yanked out some of my fur. I didn’t sider myself very strong, but I’d still sent Bir carreening backward into the bath.

  “I’m an expert in healing magic, Lady ne.” Bir rubbed her stomad smiled. “I’m good as new.”

  ?Isn’t healing oneself really plicated??

  “For most healers yes, but not because it requires a different approach. It’s hard to trol the flow of ichor in your body when you’re in pain. I’ve had enough injuries during my knight training to learn how to deal with it.” Bir smiled and held up a cream-colored dress. “I was thinking you’d look cute in this, Lady ne.”

  ?It’s a little,? I paused for a moment, my face growing even hotter with embarrassment. ?Revealing, isn’t it?? I wasn’t opposed to revealing a lot of skin when I was wearing shorts. In fact I preferred it, as sometimes excess clothes would just slow me down. But dresses and skirts were always enemies of mobility. A slick ledge or a stiff breeze would be all it took to rob me of my modesty. If there were people after my life, a short dress was the st thing I o be wearing.

  “It’s a little revealing, but it’s the dress I have for you. The clothier Lady Edna pns to take you to only serves the nobility. I didn’t want them to look down on you for wearing something unfashionable.”

  ?Okay. I’ll wear it then.? Knowing nothing of the nobility, I decided to trust Bir’s opinion. I reached out for her hand a her pull me out of bed. Once I was standing, I shimmied out of my pajamas and held up my hands for Bir to dress me.

  “May I braid your hair, Lady ne?” Bir asked, once I was dressed.

  ?Sure.? In my half-asleep state I struggled to care what Bir did to me. So far she’d had my best is at heart. I didn’t feel as if I could let my guard down around Bir yet. But if I had any true allies in my new life, it would be Bir.

  “You’ll have a light breakfast with Lady Edna in the lounge,” Bir informed me as she brushed my hair and began to style it. “After that we’ll depart the manor by carriage. Despite the retive risk, you’ll only be apanied by two guards in addition to myself.”

  ?Do you not think two guards is enough?? Prince Edmond’s brother, Prince Owen, would likely e for me someday, but I couldn’t imagine he’d e so soon. Maybe others would e after me to try a ransom money off a princess. Not that I knew how much a princess was worth, Elise had refused every request she ever received for such work. As thieves we invenienced people, but she refused to traumatize them.

  “I haven’t been here long enough to assess the skill level of Lady Edna’s guard. I’d rather uimate them, thaimate their abilities.” Bir replied finishing one braid and starting on another. She’d apparently decided to give me braided pigtails today. It was a cute hairstyle, though I felt it made me look a bit childish.

  Personally I wasn’t too ed with so few guards. I trusted Bir to protect me, and Edna was already a hero. Even if she didn’t think she could muster the army destroying power she’d once shown, I doubted a standard kidnapper would stand a ce.

  With my hair was finished Bir guided me to Edna’s louhere, just as pnned we had a light breakfast before heading out. Edna’s guards followed our carriage on horseback, only Bir sat ih us.

  “Do you have a particur style of clothing you prefer, Lady ne?” Edna asked as I watched the buildings slowly passing by outside.

  ?I like clothes that are easy to move in.?

  “Like the sundress you’re wearing today?”

  ?I’d prefer to wear something I run around in.?

  “I see,” Edna pced a hand over her lips as she giggled at me. “We will definitely have to get you some clothes more suited to physical training. But, certainly that isn’t all you want to wear is it?”

  ?I’ve never had the luxury of experimenting with my clothes. I always just wear whatever I’m given.? The fancy dresses human women teo wear were unon in my tribe. Evehy wolfkin teo wear light clothing when possible. Normally only children wore clothes which covered a majority of their skin, and only in winter.

  “Well, that’ll be ging soon. By the time I’m done, you’ll never want for more sele.”

  ?Would you also be willing to buy me a worn scabbard for my sword??

  “Ohat’ll fit over the existing scabbard?”

  ?No. To repce the current one.?

  “Is that possible?”

  ?It should be.? Rochelle had already stated it would work, but I wasn’t sure if I could say that. She hadn’t said I o keep our psychiion a secret. I just worried that the religious people around me would try to use me to interrogate her ohey learned about it. She was after all a remnant of the real saint, and not just a vessel like me.

  Elise would often tell me that thieves lived and died by information. It was in our best io listen more than we spoke. Before sharing anything she wanted me to sider the worst possible oute first. I wasn’t very good about being so cautious, but something as important as the existence of Rochelle’s spirit gave me reason to sider her advice.

  Our carriage came to a stop along a busy street. Looking outside I didn’t see any stores which appeared to sell clothing. ?Why stop here??

  “It’s a good mid-point for us to return to.” Edna replied. “Once we finish your clothes I was thinking we’d wander around the market for a bit. Having the carriage here will e is not far if anything happens. I have informed the driver to take you home if you arrive without me. So, do not attempt to wait for me if you’re in danger, Lady ne.”

  Stepping out of the carriage, Edna offered me her hand. “It’s my hope that the two of us will grow closer over the course of today. I do not wish to begin your training while I am nothing more than an untrustworthy stranger you’ve been forced to live with.”

  I pced my hand in Edna’s and she helped me out of the carriage. With a stretch I signed my thanks and took a look around the market. The square in front of us was full of street vendors. Just outside of the square were many shops with buildings of their own. Sniffing the air I took in the st of spices, baked breads, and alcohol.

  “Let’s see the clothier first. The sooner we pce our order the sooner we’ll fill out your wardrobe.” Edna announced our pns giddily. Despite her age, she had a childlike vigor. She seemed genuinely happy to be purchasing clothing on my behalf. Maybe she po get a little something for herself.

  ?Uood,? I nodded and followed after Edna. As we walked, an oddly familiar smell filled the air. It was like the charged st of a thuorm mixed with damp moss and rose petals. It reminded me of Lydia. The st of moss and rose g to her, and she kneell to produce lightning. Gng around I tried to look for any signs of magic being used but I saw none. As quickly as the smell appeared, it faded, leaving me w if I’d imagi.

  “Is everything alright, Lady ne?” Edna asked, her brow furrowing in .

  ?I’m fine. Just admiring everything.?

  “Do you feel something, Lady ne?” Bir asked, her voice barely a whisper. As she spoke, Bir’s eyes began to shift bad forth, sing for threats.

  ?No. I just smelled something familiar, but it’s gone now. Are you able to sense magic??

  “I know a few spells to detect active magic, but I ot se naturally. Only a hero or a demon would be capable of such things. If you smell it agai me know and I’ll cast a dete spell.”

  ?Okay. I will.?

  “Here we are,” Edna announced after Bir and I caught up with her. As roached the clothier a man in a suit stepped outside ahe door for us. Ihe shop was astoundingly beautiful. Its interor was made entirely of heavily polished and waxed wood. The main room had several golems with human-like proportions standing around, dispying various dresses and suits. As I gawked at the dispys, the golems slowly twirled revealing the intricate details of the attire they had on.

  “Wele to Rika’s Atelier,” A young woman with short blonde hair greeted us. I nearly gasped when I looked at her. The tips of her ears were pointed, and stretched nearly as wide as her shoulders. She was without a doubt, an elf. “It’s a pleasure to see you again tess. Might I know the name of your panion?”

  “This is Lady ne, she’s nobility from one of our neighbors.”

  “It is a pleasure to take care of you, Lady ne. In the elvish tongue I am Wind’s Whisper, but you may call me Rika. The honor of providing my services to visiting nobles is a rarity. It is equally rare that I have ts with tails, as so few beastkin afford my services. I ot tell you how delighted I will be to indulge in both of these rarities, should you be looking to buy.”

  “Lady ne’s carriage was attacked and much of her wardrobe ruined,” Edna he lie rolling off her tongue as easy as a breath. “As a sign of our friendship, I’d like to repce her wardrobe. We’d like both and ready-made articles. Enough for any occasion.”

  “Delightful,” Rika’s eyes creased in delight. “You are such a kind soul, Lady Edna. I will not let yenerosity be in vain. I promise gowns so beautiful they will bee heirlooms in Lady ne’s family.”

  “We’re looking for more than just gowns. Lady ne is quite the tomboy despite her fragile appearance. I’ll tire for both formal swordpy and hunting too.”

  “That is no bother at all, my dy. After all, in elven society it is our men who wear dresses and skirts.” Rika grinned as she spoke, stepping arouo pce her hand on my shoulder. “e now, Lady ne, I’ll o take your measurements before any work begin.”

  Curiosity pgued me. If elven men wore dresses, was Rika implying she was a man? She was wearing a beautiful blue and grey dress herself. Or, had she adopted human s, just like I had. I wao ask but worried it might upset her. Without giving much time for me to debate such things any longer, Rika grabbed my hand and began to guide me toward the back of the store.

  “Rika,” Edna stepped in front of us, preventing Rika from taking me away. “Just a note, Lady ne is incapable of verbal speech. Her attending maid will be transting for you.”

  For the first time since we arrived at the store Rika seemed to notice Bir. “I’ve not had the pleasure of learning sign nguage, so I’ll appreciate your maid’s assistance, Lady hank you for inf me, Lady Edna.”

  Rika tio guide me into the back of her store. There she led me into a small room with a single plush couch, and a desk covered in various sewing instruments. “Have you ever been professionally measured, Lady ne?”

  ?I haven’t.?

  “It’s quite a simple process, but ohat some fine a bit embarrassing. I’ll need you to remove everything but your underclothes.”

  Stepping forward, Bir offered to undress me. Despite its y I felt my face flush as my dress ulled off. O was removed, Bir id it carefully on the nearby worktable.

  “Now then, just stand still, I’ll try to make this quick.” With practiced hands Rika began to pull a measuring cord taut near various parts of my body, writing down the results. Having someone I didn’t know so close while I was exposed made my heart race. I knew Rika rofessional, but I still wanted nothing more than to run away.

  “Please try to rex, Lady ne.” Rika asked. “Tensing up like this could throw off the numbers.”

  Taking deep breaths I tried to do as Rika requested. After a few moments she seemed tent with me and resumed taking my measurements.

  “There, all done!” Rika twilled, stepping away. As she did I began to smell something acrid. A sed ter it dawned on me, something was on fire, I was smelling smoke.

  ?Something’s on fire!? I signed, rag to grab my dress. Bir transted as she rushed to my side to help me dress.

  “That ’t be.” Rika stepped out of the little room we were in to iigate. As she stepped into the clearing, a fast moving sphere struck her iomach, causing Rika to fall to the floor.

  Visible smoke began rolling into the room from the front of the store. Bir called for Edna, but there was no response. Either she couldn’t hear us, or something terrible had happened.

  “ your arms around my neck,” Bir anded, scoopio her arms. As soon as I was in her arms, Bir crushed a bck pellet ieeth. Releasing a booming breath of air from her mouth, Bir shattered a rear window a into the alley beyond.

  Bir had hardly began running a bck storuck her in the head. After the impact she crumpled to the ground. Getting onto my hands and knees I looked down at Bir. Her forehead was bleeding, but she was still alive. Turning toward the source of the stone, I saw a hooded figure rag toward me.

  ?Stay back!? I signed, despite knowing they’d likely not uand me. Getting to my feet I dropped into a defensive position. I didn’t know much about fighting, but I couldn’t leave Bir behind. I couldn’t let her die. I wouldn’t lose her.

  ing to a stop the hooded figure held up their hands. “ne, I’m here to save you.”

  The figure’s voice was enough to cause my breath to cat my throat. I knew immediately who she was, but I couldn’t uand why she was here.

  ?I thought you fled??

  “Nobody bees a demon that quickly,” Lydia replied, pulling back her hood. ?Your hair ging color certainly ed me, but I nning to circle back around and take the knights by surprise. I could hardly believe my eyes whearted treating you like an idol.”

  ?Lydia. Please this woman’s a good person, we have to help her.?

  “We don’t have time, ne. We o leave now. Let the others heal her when they find her.”

  A shadow stretched over Lydia. Reag in an instant, Lydia swallowed an ichor bead and raised a hand. A cloud of pulsating green energy rained down on her, only to be repelled by a curtain of lighting.

  “Run, ne!” Edna shouted from her perch atop the clothier. “I’ll take care of Bir, just run!”

  Panic coiled in my gut. I wao tell Edna that I couldn’t. I wanted her to know that Lydia was a friend. I couldn’t let the two of them kill each other over misuandings.

  ?Lydia. You have to surrender. Edna’s a hero, she’ll kill you.?

  “I’m not going down without a fight,” Lydia hissed, the fur oail standing on end. “e, human! Give ne bae, or today’s the day you meet the gods.”

  ?Lydia, Please!? I signed frantically to Lydia, but she didn’t pay attention. She and Edna began trading spells. They were a matched pair, but Lydia was already beginning to look tired. Edna wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

  In desperation, I ran forward. Closing my eyes, I jumped onto Lydia, pg myself between her and Edna’s spells. With my heart pounding, I could only pray that for the oute I desired. Even if it meant dying as a fool, I wouldn’t let Lydia die, and I didn’t want Edna to be harmed either.

  “he air filled with the st of sulphur as Edna shouted. Opening my eyes I saw ash raining all around us. Looking up I watched as Edna slowly drifted down to the alley. Approag me, she took a shaky breath. “You know this woman I presume?”

  I nodded frantically.

  “Uood.” Turning to Lydia, Edna’s features hardened. “I don’t know who you are, but you will not be taking Princess ne. If you’re ed for her wellbeing, I will allow you to apany us to my home. I will have you know, you have ruined what was supposed to be a day of rexation. You should be thankful no one was mortally wounded, or I’d be forced to take your head.”

  “Princess… ne?” Lydia’s eyes widened. In stunned silence she turo look at me, her mouth falling open.

  ?There’s a lot to talk about. But first, please, we have to help Bir.?

  eri