Frumpy flared her great black wings and settled gently on the grass, cooing, expecting praise.
“That’s a good girl. You’re such a good girl, aren’t you, Frumpy?”
The beast nuzzled Maiya, who patted her snout.
A receiving party appeared through a hallway, and Maiya jerked back.
Oops! Nearly blew it there. Gotta be angry. Time for some Head Handmaiden chalface. C’mon, Maiya, you got this!
The Balarian Guard marched up to Maiya and placed their spears. The Garrison commander bowed respectfully. “Esteemed madam handmaiden, welcome to—”
“You’re late.”
“P-pardon?”
“You are ten seconds late. Is this the level of discipline that passes at Garrison Nihira?”
“N-no, madam, it does not. Our visitors, er, have taken issue with some of my orders. I was merely—”
“Excuses? You come late and give me excuses?”
The Garrison commander paled. “I wouldn’t dare, madam.”
Maiya sighed. “Do not disappoint me again. Princess Ira is not nearly as forgiving as I.”
“Understood, madam handmaiden,” the commander replied, a bead of sweat trickling down his brow.
Phew! Think I managed to pull it off, Maiya thought nervously, her eyes darting around the courtyard.
“May I lead you to our mercenary visitors?”
“Yes!” Maiya said slightly too excitedly, nearly breaking her act.
“No need,” a freckled woman with long blonde hair called out from the hallway. She was flanked by a male in brown gambeson, and a female wearing a dress.
Maiya’s heart pumped so hard, she thought it’d burst.
A warrior and a mejai. Where is he, where is he, where is he?
The armored woman strode up to Maiya with the confident steps of someone who always got what she wanted. In her case, that couldn’t have been more true.
“So you’re the one who’s bullying my brother.”
Maiya wanted to shake the princess and ask her where Vir was, but instead she narrowed her eyes. Ordinarily, Princess Tiyana Matali would be so far above Maiya’s station, she wouldn’t even dare look her in the eye, let alone address her.
Now, though, Maiya wasn’t merely Maiya. She was a royal handmaiden and a direct representative of Princess Ira. She’d been given nearly all of Ira’s authority, and her words carried royal weight. Still, to the princess, she was a lowly commoner.
Which made for a very uncomfortable situation. She didn’t rightly know how to address the princess.
“Watch your tongue, mercenary.”
Ah, shoot. My head handmaiden chalvoice slipped out. She’s gonna hate that.
Tia leveled a death glare at Maiya.
Yep. She hates me now. She’s clearly not used to having people boss her around. Well, nothing to do but roll with it, I guess.
“You know who I am,” Tia said coldly. “You dare speak to me that way?”
“Yes, I’m aware you’re the leader of a B-ranked Party, Spear’s Edge. Behind you are your two bodyguards, I presume? Though, you appear to be missing your newest member, a—” Maiya nearly slipped, but caught herself, “an Apramor?”
Sadness and rage still filled her head when she recalled the name of her father. The name Vir had used as an alias. For a brief moment, she imagined Hiranya’s capital burning to the ground, the knights who killed her family slaughtered.
Princess Tiyana took a half step back, and only then did Maiya realize how she must’ve looked.
She wiped her emotions, silenced by her professionalism. She had a job to do and errant thoughts of revenge had no place here.
Please tell me he’s here…
“Have we met?” Tia asked, suspicious. “You’re awfully well informed.”
C’mon, just tell me where he is!
“I don’t believe we have.” She posed her question again. “I’d expected a party of four. Is your fourth missing?”
“He had matters to attend to,” Tia replied. “He will not be joining us.”
Maiya stared blankly for a second. Then two.
“Is… something the matter?” the mejai asked when the silence grew awkward. “I can assure you we are quite capable as a party of three.”
“No, nothing. I feel as though we got off on the wrong foot. You may call me Maiya.”
“Tia. And we’re not done here. If you think you can strongarm me and my brother into—”
“How about we have this conversation elsewhere? I do not wish to sow discord among the ranks, and I believe you also have cause to appreciate a degree of privacy?”
The last thing Maiya wanted was to talk to the princess right now. She wanted to be alone, so she could hole up in a corner and cry. Of course, she let none of her emotions show.
Tia bit her lip and nodded. Her bodyguards averted their eyes.
“Good. Then you can accompany me as I make the rounds. Commander, er…” Maiya said, looking at the still-bowing Garrison commander.
“I am Rohin, madam.”
“Commander Rohin. As you were. You are well versed in what is to come, yes?”
“That’s correct, madam. This isn’t the first time we’ve had some special guests over.”
Princess Tiyana frowned in confusion but kept her silence.
“Good,” Maiya replied. “Carry on with your business. If I find any issues with the garrison, I’ll find you.”
“As you wish, madam handmaiden.” Commander Rohin retreated with his guards, leaving Maiya alone with Spear’s Edge.
“Walk with me,” Maiya said curtly.
“You know exactly who I am, so drop the attitude,” Tia replied. “You will treat me with the full respect I am due.”
Ugh. This is gonna suck. Why did I even go through all that effort, if this is how things were gonna turn out?
Whatever excitement Maiya had about this opportunity evaporated the moment she learned Vir wasn’t present.
“Of course,” Maiya said, doing her best to humor the princess. “I am happy to afford you the respect you deserve, so long as you reciprocate.”
“See, I try to do right by my friends. Ask these two; they’ll attest to that. Just, I have a thing against people who blackmail me. You want my respect? Then you shouldn’t have manipulated my brother.”
Maiya turned abruptly, bringing her face within inches of Tiyana’s.
Tiyana held her ground.
Maiya couldn’t let this go on. Tiyana had to recognize Maiya as her superior in this engagement. Anything less, and Maiya would have a prana mine on her hands.
“Tell me, Princess Tiyana Matali, what respect is that, hmm? Your country is in shambles. It may fall any day now, and if it does, who will your brother come running to for help? Who will restore order when chaos breaks and crime runs rampant in your streets?”
Tia glared.
“Us. Kin’jal. The most powerful empire in the realm. And you… Look at you. You’re a princess in name only, adventuring like some commoner. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? I am, just looking at you. You’re a failure, Tiyana. A reject. You want my respect? Earn it.”
This is so bad. I’m gonna die.
Tiyana’s mouth opened and closed, but she said nothing, backing away slowly, keeping her eyes locked on Maiya’s.
“I’ll remember this,” she said softly.
Maiya sighed internally. She was seriously about to punch me.