Soon after prince Edmo, Edna got to work inf her staff that I’d be in her care. Many of them gazed at me with emotion I couldn’t quite decipher as she informed them I rincess of Ezin. Not that it mattered. I wasn’t expeg ao wait on me hand and foot. The thought alone caused a knot to form in my stomach.

  “Follow me, Lady ne, Bir,” Edna beed us to follow her as she strolled through the manor. We asded a flight of stairs and followed a long hallway full of expensive baubles before stopping in front of a door. ”After you.”

  Inside was a bedroom unlike any I’d ever seen. It was massive, with rge ornate mirrors, and furniture that appeared so perfect I could hardly imagine a craftsman skilled enough to make it.

  “For as long as you reside in my manor, this will be your bedroom, Lady ne.”

  ?Do you have always have to use honorifics with me?? Prince Edmond had dropped my titles, why couldn’t Edna?

  “I would be unwise for a tess to treat a princess casually. Even a princess living in exile. I need you to feel fondly about me.”

  ?I’d prefer you not use them.? I expected she’d tio refuse, but I still wao plead my case. Bir smiled softly as she transted my signs. Knowing who I was, she must have found it ical that I believed anyone would agree to address me casually.

  Edna turoward the door for a moment before looking back at me with a halfcocked smile. “Alright. When we’re alone I’ll call you ne. But in front of most members of my staff, and prince Edmond, I’ll tio refer to you as Lady ne, is that alright?”

  ?Yes. Thank you!?

  “Good. Now then, your retainer is hardly dressed for the part. So if you don’t mind, ne, I’d like to steal Bir for a bit. So that I get her dressed in something more akin to what a servant should wear.”

  Bir visibly paled. “I’m not just Lady ne’s servant. I am also a knight proteg her.”

  “True,” Edna grinned and teasingly pced a finger on her . “But a fn princess ot simply bring her knights with her anywhere she pleases. Not to mention, look at how you’re dressed! Oh those garish robes make it obvious you wield magic. It’s as if you’re screaming ’I’m dangerous’. No, most will not allow you to remain at her side. Another, weaker, more doe-like transtor will be found and offered. Then what, dame Bir? How exactly do you pn to protect your charge?”

  “I…” Bir’s mouth fell agape as she looked from Edna to me and back. Any argument she had left was gone. Edna had broken her in mere seds.

  “It would take little effort to make you appear like the cute doe-eyed servant girl no one would ever sider a threat. This is the only course of a that will allow you to remain at ne’s side. If your pride will not allow your to wear a frilled apron, I will find you a suitable rept.”

  “I’ll do it.” Bir’s voice came out a little more than a hushed whisper. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the pirl.

  “What say you, ne? May I take her?”

  ?Yes.?

  After pg Rochelle’s sword on a chair, Bir followed Edna out of the room. For the first time days I was alo first I nervously toured my new bedroom, looking inside drawers, opening closets, and sniffing a few oddly perfumed items. Once I was done, I id on my new bed, my body sinking into the cloud-like mattress.

  "fortable, ne?" Rochelle's mirthful question echoed in my mind.

  "Rochelle?!" I mentally replied, stuo hear her speaking to me while I was in the real world.

  "I did say I would be able to see the world through your eyes as long as you kept the sword near, did I not? That same e also grants me the ability to speak with you telepathically."

  "Why didn't you say anything before now?"

  "It seemed as if everything ying out in a way that would be beneficial to you. As such I saw o distract you by providing guidance you did not need."

  Pouting, I rolled over and buried my fato a devilishly soft pillow. I was happy to speak with Rochelle again. Still, it was annoying she’d kept quiet for so long. Even just a whispered ’I’m here’ would’ve been nice.

  After Rochelle said she saw herself as my mother, I desperately wao give her the ce to act as such. The thought that I’d have to get better at magic—however long that’d take—just to see her again had left me feeling lonely.

  "Are y to melt my heart with your ess, ne?" Rochelle chuckled. "As much as I'd like to let you pout to your hearts tent, I have something important to discuss."

  ”You see me?!” I bolted upright and stared at Rochelle’s sword, still ed in the fabriteo hide it. ”I thought you saw the world through my eyes.”

  ”Even if all I see is the darkness of your pillows, my imagination is quite capable of juring up how you must appear to an outside perspective.”

  ”Rude.”

  ”I’ve been called worse. Now then, there is something I’d like to discuss before your new guardian maid returns.”

  "What?" I huffed.

  "I would like you to learn more about the tess."

  "Edna? How e?"

  *"Iwo millennia I've guided vessels, I've never heard of a human obtaining agelessness before. Only demons have ever been ageless. She’s such a peculiarity that I ot keep my curiosity in check.”

  "Do you think she's a demon in disguise?"

  *"No. Though demons do beore ing over time, I’ve never known a demon able to sate its bloodlust enough to ie into human society. She is not the first hero to have obtained an inhuman ability for herself. But this ability in particur is quite useful. If we could win her allegiance, she would be a powerful ally multiple future vessels could rely on.”

  ”Assuming she find them. Azmoria said that its possible some vessels live and die without ever being found.” I replied, clutg a hand to my chest. Though I uood Rochelle’s perspective, I couldn’t help but feel a bit somber to hear her already talking about the vessels after me. She and I had only just met. Even if it was childish, I wanted her to foe.

  ”The discovery of new vessels will be difficult, but I’m sure with Edna’s help it could be made easier than it is today. After all, I’ve never met a vessel who hasn’t been borhe site where I died.”

  ”Wait… what do you mean?”

  ”You may not be familiar with it o the north there is a pine forest surrounding a rge barren hill with soil as bck a charcoal. I died atop that hill. It seems as if every vessel I’ve met so far has been born no further than a week’s journey from that spot.”

  I trembled. The hill Rochelle spoke of was one I knew well. It loomed over my tribe, stretg high above the tips of the neighb trees. When I was a child, the tribe’s elders told us it was a cursed pobody was allowed to climb the hill. If they did, the gods would bee angry.

  ”Does the churow this?”

  *”I’m uhe church as it exists today is nothing like the church that existed during my time. I believe it began to take on its current form after your elder sister Ingrid oisoo death by the leader of the previous.”

  ”The church poisoned a saint?!” I nearly gaged as I filed my hands around, signing my disbelief at the same time I psychically screamed it.

  ”They did. And they caught hell for it. By the time Ophelia was born, the church as I k was gohey’d failed to cover up the truth behind Ingrid’s death and has colpsed. Religion became mional after that. Ophelia spent most of her life pulling it all back together. It may surprise you, but the rank of Exalted was once held by her. She was the Exalted Saint whht anized religion back to the people.”

  “Lady ne,” A gentle kno the door drew my attention. Soon after I heard it, the door opened. Sheepishly, Bir stepped into the room. Her bck hair ulled bato a tight braid and ated with a ce sleeve giving her an air of purity and meekness. The impression was heightened further by the pristine frilly white apron and bck dress—it’s skirt a revealing a bit more leg than what I’d seen Edna’s maids expose.

  “I’ve returned.”

  ?You look cute.? I was admittedly a bit frustrated that Bir cut my versation with Rochelle short. There were so many questions I wao ask, but I couldn’t focus enough to ask them. But it wasn’t her fault. There was no way Bir could know she was interrupting a versation happeniirely within my mind.

  Climbing off the bed, I approached Bir. Doing my best to hide my sour feelings, I circled her, iing her new dress more closely. ?Why is it short??

  Bir’s face flushed with embarrassment as she nervously pulled on the skirt of her dress. “Lady Edna said this was the best length to ensure I would never be asked to leave your side.”

  “She cried a little when she saw herself in the mirror,” Edna noted, slipping in through the open door.

  Edna’s st was everywhere, masking her arrival; and she walked with such grace even my sensitive ears couldn’t pick up her footfalls. She startled me. Jumping backward on instinct I put distaween us, croug defensively.

  “Would you prefer I return some other time, ne?”

  ?No. I’m sorry, I wasn’t expeg you.? Feeling a bit silly, I tried to rex.

  Edna smiled. “Well it is my home. Now then, if you’d like, dinner is about to be served. Care to walk with me to the dining room?”

  ?Sure.? I nodded and began to follow after Edna as she took off down the halls of her manor. Bir followed behind us. At the angle she was in it’d be difficult for her to see my hands enough to decipher my signs. I hoped Edna would be aware of this and not ask too mue until we were seated.

  “Unless you’re opposed to it I was thinking tomorrow the two of us could visit a clothier I frequent. We’ll have you professionally measured, order a few dresses, and then pick up a few ready-made articles for you to wear while we wait.”

  The thought of wearing dresses weighed on me. I’d been given a few to wear from Azmoria, but they weren’t my favorite attire. As sdalous as humans would believe su outfit to be I preferred shorts that ended well above my knees and sleeveless tunics. Such clothes did enough to protect my modesty without getting in the way of the only true physical asset I had—my agility.

  “Here we are,” Edna smiled as a maid opened a door for us. Beyond was a rge room with a table long enough to sit at least a dozen people. At the end of the table silverware and dishes had been sat out for two people

  ?Where will Bir sit?? I asked, turning so that Bir could see my signs clearly enough to rey them.

  “She will eat her dinner with the other maids once you and I have had our fill. I know you’re not used to the s of the nobility, but it is a major faux pas for a servant to sit at the same table as her master.”

  ?It’s only you and I here though? We don’t have to obey rules we don’t like.?

  “Never assume your as go ued, Lady ne. Even when you believe you are surrounded only by those loyal to you. I assure you, Bir will be well-fed. As the personal maid of a princess, even one in exile like yourself, she has priority over everyone else.”

  The way Edna raised her voice when she said ‘in exile’ as if she wanted everyone in the room to hear it, put me on edge. She’d said before that she believed some of her servants were w for Prince Edmond’s brother. I gnced around the room at the maids waiting to serve us. Was the traitor among those present tonight? Did Edna know who it was?

  “Normally an attending servant would stand behind her master in the event she is needed.” Edna said as she and I took our pces. “But I’ll allow her to stand behind me so that she better see your hands to transte. In her pce, I’ll have Sophie stand behind you to tend to your needs during dinner.”

  After versing over nothing at all, we finished our dinner. At the first avaible opportunity I escaped bay room and flung myself onto my bed. I didn’t dislike Edna’s pany, I actually enjoyed my time with her. Still, the o put on an act made it hard to feel like we were actually getting to know each other. It all felt like an eborate py.

  ”Was the food not to your liking?” Rochelle asked psychically.

  ”The stress of being watched and w about spies was too much.”

  ”Pirl. At least it’s all over. I wish I could fort you more, but once you left the room our e was severed. I’d like for you to start keeping my sword at your side whenever possible.”

  ”Isn’t the sword tnizable for me to be carrying around?”

  ”Perhaps. But you have the power to return it to any scabbard. When you get the opportunity to speak with Edna alone, request that she acquire ohat is well-worn for you to sheath the sword into. It’s uhat anyone will believe it is my sword then. After all, most believe my sword and its scabbard are a joined pair.”

  ”Isn’t that… disrespectful?”

  ”I am a phantom of the sword’s inal owner, and you are my desdant and rightful heir to the bde. The opinions of others as to how we care for it are worthless.”

  ”Uood.” Rolling over in bed I stared up at the white opy overhead. My eyelids became heavy as I id in silehey’d nearly closed when the door to my bedroom opened once again.

  “Are you awake, Lady ne?” Bir asked softly as she approached my bedside.

  ?Yes.?

  “Would you like for me to give you a bath?”

  My ears te Bir’s words. What did she mean when she offered to give me a bath? Was she asking me if I wanted her to prepare one? Or was she me wash my body herself? Like a mother with a young child.

  ?You aren’t to wash me yourself, are you??

  “I am.” Bir replied, a light tint of blush appearing on her cheeks. “It isn’t unusual for a maid to wash her mistress, Lady ’d be more weird if I didn’t aid you.”

  Sitting upright I gazed into Bir’s eyes. ?Why go this far?? I signed, fused as to why she was willing to endure so much humiliation for me. ?Is it just because I’m the saint? Do you feel as if you’ll be punished if you don’t??

  Bir’s brow furrowed as I signed. When I’d finished she held a hand over her mouth and turned away from my gaze. Bir stared at the floor for what felt like ay before she turo face me again.

  “Lady ne, I…” Bir paused for a moment. Taking a breath she steeled herself before she tinued. “When I first saw you lying in the captain’s tent, with an arrow stig out of your arm, I was enraged. You’re young. I still don’t feel like I’m truly an adult and you’re youhan me. How could the proud knights of our kingdom ever harm a child? I don’t care if you’re old enough to marry, you’re still far too young for our archers to be taking shots at.”

  Sighing Bir fidgeted. She took several deep breaths to calm herself, before tinuing. “Healers are in high demand. As you know, magic users are already rare. Healers are rarer still. When I shotitude for healing, I was drafted into the knights almost immediately. I was only twelve. I’ve grown to appreciate my position, but I’m not like the other knights, I didn’t choose this life, I was chosen for it.

  “Aiding you, Lady ne, is the first choice I’ve made for myself. I ’t really expin why it's important to me, but it is. Not, because you’re the saint. I guess, I feel like we owe you something more than a tepid apology. The knights hurt you. This feels like paying you back for the suffering we caused. In a way, this is my own justice.”

  ?Will you leave me once you feel you’ve repaid the knights’ debt??

  “I don’t know. I’m sure a rept transtor would be easy to find. But for now, I want to be here. I have only fond feelings about our time together so far, Lady ne. Someday, I’d like us to be close enough that you feel fortable sharing everything there is to know about you. I want to know why your name is so special. And I’m intrigued to hear stories about the person you love so much that you’d turn dorince for them.”

  I didn’t know how to reply. Bir’s reasoning made se it was still hard for me to uand. I’d met few people who didn’t have their own self-i at heart. Even if they were w toward the greater good, everyone wao do something for themselves.

  Could Bir really be as pure-hearted as she seemed?

  “Would you like for me to bathe you now that I’ve shared how I feel?” Bir asked, refusing to look me in the eyes. “If it helps, I was the one who ged you when you were unscious.”

  ?There’s a big difference. I’m awake and perfectly capable of ing myself now.?

  “I uand. I’ll let you bathe yourself then. For the sake of appearances I’ll join you, but I’ll remain by the door.”

  ”ne,” Rochelle called. ”There may be times iure where you are to be bathed by servants unfamiliar to you. It would be worthwhile to get used to suwele luxuries with someone you know. Someday you’ll be forced to experie with those you don’t. Else you’ll likely cause some offense.”

  ”’t the saint just… refuse?”

  ”A saint most certainly could. But an exiled princess from a kingdom that has nearly fallen into irrelevance? Until you reveal yourself, you’ll have little power to refuse the hospitality of others.”

  ?You bathe me,? I signed as I stood.

  “Are you sure?” Bir’s eyes widened, watg me in disbelief.

  ?Yeah. I just realized that this is something I’m going to have to get used to. Since I’m a princess now.?

  “Okay,” Bir smiled. “Well then, if you’ll follow me yhness, I’ll show you the way.”

  ?You seem happy.?

  “I am. Taking care of you is very fulfilling, Lady ne. I guess if you don’t pay attention to the whole servant and master thing, it’s kind of like I’m taking care of my little sister.”

  ?Do you have younger siblings??

  “Yes, and no. After I joihe knights I ted into a baron’s family. I have almost a dozen siblings through my adoptive father, but I’ve hardly met half of them. It’s not as if I ted because they wanted me. It was just part of the process of keeping me away from the church.”

  ?Keeping you away from the church?? I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at that. So far everyone I’d met seemed pretty religious.

  “They’re desperate for healers too. It’s not as if they have enough to send oo every temple in the kingdom.”

  Even after all Bir had said, I was struggling to uand her. I fell into step behind her on the way to the bath, watg her braid bounce bad forth. I appreciated that she was willing to go so far for me. Elise would’ve loved her. A somber pain echoed in my heart knowing the two of them would never get to meet.

  eri

  It certainly didn’t help that Chapter 6 required way more editing than the chapters before it. I just skipped so muteresting stuff here. (I’d write a sentence saying something happened instead of just writing out the se that happened.) Duriing I added over a thousand words to this chapter.

  Chapter 7 will e this Wednesday, September 18th. After chapter 7’s release I’m going to take a one week break so I recuperate. For text, I work at aronics retailer and a certain mega corporation is releasing a fanew pocket regle.

  Love you!