Chapter 30

It was where Ivy’s chambers were—and, from my vague memories, where my own used to be.

We didn’t get too far when a guard stopped us. “Halt!” He said, so sternly that I flinched. “What are you doing?”

“Delivering laundry,” I said, holding up the stack of clothes we’d offered to run for Sakura.

The guard eyed us suspiciously. “You cannot pass at this time.”

“But we need to, sir,” I asked, pleading him with my eyes.

“No,” he said firmly. I exchanged a glance with Maple.

She sighed. “Let’s go back,” she whispered, soft enough for only me to hear. I nodded at her, and then the guard, who continued watching us with narrowed eyes.

We turned and headed back to the laundry room, leaving the clothes there before going to the servants’ hall.

“Did you deliver the clothes?” Sakura asked as we came in.

“No,” I said, shaking my head, “They didn’t let us go through.”

“I thought they wouldn’t. It’s alright now,” she said, smiling.

We unrolled our bedrolls and sat down on them. We were closer to the fire today.

“Let’s do the story!” Poppy said.

I exchanged a glance with Maple, who looked utterly understanding—before she caught my pointed look and made her face confused.

“What’s that?” She asked quickly.

“Well, it’s like this. First, all the new maids make a story—each says a line. The rest of us listen. Then all of us will do it.”

I nodded slowly.

“You’ll understand,” she said before standing up. “Everyone, listen!” The conversation quieted as everyone looked at her. “I think it’s time for tonight’s story!”

They burst into agreeing cries, and Sakura looked at us. “New maids, come ahead!”

I stepped forward, with Maple, Daisy and five others. Sakura sat down. “Any of you, tell any line you’d like.”

We exchanged looks.

“Sit down!” One of the old maids did.

We did so. None of us started, however.

“Don’t be shy!” Another said.

I cleared my throat. “I’ll go.” I thought for a moment before saying, “In the valley, on a stormy night, a young male was standing in the rain, getting drenched.”

Maple continued, eyes sparkling, “For her was waiting for a pretty village girl who’d promised to meet him in the dead of night.”

Then another maid, grinning. “But the girl was a cheat, you see.”

The older maids began laughing. I grinned.

“She didn’t want to meet the young boy at all—only make a fool of him for pursuing her.”

“As she’d told him she didn’t want to be with him,” Daisy said softly, blushing.

“She finally came out and gave the foolish boy a solid talking-to.”

“He understood that her heart did not belong to him.”

“And he went home.”

The hall burst into cheers and claps and laughter. I hadn’t expected the story to go that way, but it was good.

“Now everyone!” Sakura said, gesturing to us. We scooted back to our bedrolls as the rest of them lined the walls, making a large circle.

“One day, a male drank water from an enchanted stream and fell in love with the first female he saw,” proclaimed a red-haired girl at the far wall.

“That’s Rose. She always starts the story,” Sakura whispered.

“Only, she was in love with another male.”

The story continued on and on. By the time it reached us, the male still loved a girl who loved another male who loved another girl who did not love anyone at all. And another girl loved the first male.

And the enchanted stream was also a key character.

“The girl stumbled on the banks of the stream as well, and she was attracted by the sparkling water,” Poppy said, eyes twinkling.

“Both males and the other two girls reached the banks as well—they stared at each other for a moment,” Sakura said, pulling her knees up to her chest.

“They decided to drink the water from the stream, as the first male said it was very sweet,” Maple said, giggling slightly.

“The stream reversed its effect on the first male!” Daisy said.

“Those who loved fell out of love, and those who did not love fell in love,” I said, raising my voice dramatically. The others clapped, and I grinned.

The others took up the story, and it finished in full circle with no one loving anyone at all, but seeming perfectly content on their own.

Then, Mrs. Anise stormed in and shouted for us all to go to bed—so we did.

***

The days flew by, and with every day, my heartbeat grew faster. But being with the maids in the servants’ hall managed to calm all that.

One day, we’d shifted from stories to songs.

A young elf had sung a fast-paced village reel, half the hall joining in. The they turned to us.

“Something from the new maids!” One of them said, followed by cheers.

“Go, Calla,” Poppy said, pushing me forward.

“Oh, no, I don’t sing —”

“Don’t lie, I heard you humming to yourself. You have a beautiful voice,” Sakura said, smiling encouragingly.

I glanced at Maple helplessly. She shrugged.

“Go on, Calla,” Sakura urged. I sighed and stood up, grinning at the others, who’d begun clapping.

“I’m not a wonderful singer, mind you,” I said, half-laughing myself.

“She’s lying!” Sakura said loudly. I gave her a flat look, but she only grinned at me.

I cleared my throat. There was only one song I knew properly—though it wasn’t truly a song.

*“Moonlight shining in the glade tonight,

*Moonlight shining in the glade so bright.

*Here I know I am safe in your arms,

*Here I know we can come to no harm.”

*“Water ripples gently in the lake,

*Patterns of stars are there for us to make.

*Here, come to me and extend your hand,

*Here, together we will make our own land.”

*“Clouds drift far above us in the sky,

*The moon hides behind them, oh so shy.

*Here I know that we won’t go too far,

*For here is the place where you and I are.”

*“In this meadow the wind blows past,

*We will stay here till the last.

*Here I see that we are always free,

*Here is a place for just you and me.”

The hall, which had gone deathly silent, erupted into applause as I ended the lullaby. I smiled at them and sat down again.

“That was beautiful,” Sakura said, giving me a small hug.

“My sisters used to sing it to me,” I said softly. Maple squeezed my hand gently.

“Oh—you had more sisters?” Sakura asked, glancing between the both of us.

I cleared my throat and nodded. “Yes, two—they’ve passed on.”

“I’m sorry,” Sakura said, her face showing true sympathy.

I smiled at her. “It was a long time ago.” Sakura smiled back and nodded, and we listened to the next song.

Finally, much later, when the rest of the maids went to sleep, Maple touched my arm gently.

I turned to her. “Is it time?”

She nodded. I glanced around the hall once, seeing, in the dim firelight, all the sleeping girls. But we couldn’t be too certain.

I groaned, clutching my stomach.

“What’s wrong, Calla?” Maple asked, sitting up straight.

“My stomach hurts,” I said, shifting a bit.

“Let’s get you to the infirmary,” Maple said, grabbing my arm. She helped me sit up straight. “I’ll just tell Sakura.”

She shook Sakura’s shoulder.

The girl opened her eyes blearily. “What’s wrong?”

“Calla’s stomach is hurting, I’m taking her to the infirmary,” Maple said, gesturing to my pain-filled face.

“Alright,” Sakura said, her face concerned.

“I might stay with her there, but I’ll be back in the morning,” Maple said.

“Of course. Go, fast,” Sakura whispered.

We nodded and Maple helped me up, leading me to the doors. Just as we exited out into the long hallway, out of sight of any guards, she pushed aside a tapestry, high up in the wall.

It was too high to get into, but I lifted some dirt high enough for me to step on, and clambered inside.