Death was the farthest thing from my mind now. I still wanted to kill General Halvar. I still wanted to put an end to the Quest for Resources and avenge my family. But when I thought about King Torvald, all I could see was the kindness in his eyes.
Viggo’s words buzzed around my brain. If Torvald truly was a good man, I couldn’t kill him. I knew enough about Holger’s politics to know there was a way I could change his mind, however. If I gained his confidence, became his friend, and proved I was capable of giving good advice, he might make me one of his counselors. Then I could tell him my story and suggest he put an end to the Quest for Resources.
If King Torvald were reasonable, he would listen and consider the opposing view before making a decision. Perhaps I could persuade him to call in some of the general’s soldiers, give them truth serum, and ask for their stories. Perhaps we could find another way to gather more natural resources for the people of Holger. Perhaps there was hope for those nations that had yet to be conquered. And after the general was punished for his crimes…
What will become of me?
“Where would you like to go first?” Samir asked.
“I—” I looked down at my clothes, at the lounging shirt and trousers I had been wearing all year. The boots I wore were the ones I had grappled in. I’d tried to clean them up but they were still awfully shabby. I would be embarrassed to appear before anyone of status looking like this. “Clothing store first, please.”
I’ll worry about accomplishing my plan before I worry about what I’ll do afterward, I decided. It felt cowardly, but I honestly had no idea what I would do if I succeeded in my new mission.
While in the academy, I took very little notice of the passing seasons. There had been time for nothing else but training. Now that I was free, I wished it were summer.
In Kenshore, it had gotten warm enough for the fireflies to flourish at night. Even at the center of the town, the songs of the bugs could be heard. During the day, I would force Sylvi to take a break from her drawing and piano-playing to jump into the lake with me. We would dry out under the trees and snack on the golden apples of our neighbor’s orchard.
I sighed with longing and looked up at the cloudy skies. At least it stopped raining.
Shaking off my nostalgia, I watched the women walking along the sidewalks. I didn’t know the fashion of Holger. I had been wearing men’s clothing since I arrived. If I were to assimilate into King Torvald’s court, then I would need to know the latest fashion. Unfortunately, the women on the sidewalk wore working attire. Seamstresses, bakers, grocery-store aides, schoolteachers, nurses, and bank tellers rushed to get lunch before returning to work. I also spotted several professional governesses in their sleek black skirts, and cream-colored blouses with long sleeves and frills down the front.
There were a handful of women standing outside shops with their delicate parasols in one hand, holding the skirts of their ridiculously big dresses with the other, noses wrinkled in distaste as they waited for their rides to come. They each had a servant or two by their sides, carrying their purchases. I hoped the women in King Torvald’s court weren’t as frivolous. Even if they were, I couldn’t dress like that. I wouldn’t be able to move.
My chauffeur/guard stopped the carriage before the largest dress store on the street. “Go on in and choose what you like.” He must have seen the horror on my face because he added, “There’s nothing to fear. The seamstresses will take your measurements and coach you through the process. You can have them deliver your purchases to the hill if you like. One of the king’s rings is in that pouch. If they doubt who you are or where your money came from, that ring will silence them. We will be patrolling the street.”
“We?” I asked, taking a look around. I nodded in understanding when I noticed two more carriages coming up the road, bearing the king’s crest. “I see.”
“Whistle when you are ready to leave and we will come for you.”
I thanked him before climbing out of the carriage. I looked up at the clothing store in trepidation. The dresses displayed in the windows were so fine. The women shopping within the store looked so fancy with their lace bonnets and satin handkerchiefs. I shuffled my feet, scuffing the side of my already well-worn boot against the dirty pavement. I didn’t belong here. I took a deep breath and summoned my courage. If I didn’t belong in a fancy store dressed like this, I would most certainly not belong in the king’s court. I lifted my chin and walked in.
Chapter Eleven
Everyone stared. It was as if they had never seen a pair of trousers before. The women shopping scuttled away as if my unkemptness was contagious. I had no idea what I was supposed to do next. I looked around as discreetly as possible, hoping to gain a clue by watching the other shoppers. I wandered over to the display of dresses and pretended to take a look.
One of the women at the counter hurried over, face pinched in sympathy. “Merciful heavens, child! You’re in desperate need of assistance.”
I laughed shakily. “I suppose I am.”
“Where have you come from?” she asked, looking me up and down. “What are you wearing?”
“I’ve just graduated from Dotharr’s Academy. These are the clothes they gave me.”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, but the color of my eyes kept her from questioning me further. “Dotharr choosing a woman to join his anointed… It’s almost cruel. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, living with those men. No wonder you’re in this state. And that hair!”
I fingered my braid, suddenly defensive. “What’s wrong with my hair?”
She patted me on the shoulder. “It’s in need of some pampering and a good, fashionable cut. But you can arrange that later. You’re here for new clothes.”
I pulled out my coin pouch and dug around inside it. “Yes, now that I’ve graduated I’ve been hired by the king. He gave me some money so that I could buy suitable clothing.” I found the ring and fished it out to show it to her. The golden band had a blue sapphire encased by four prongs. The letter T had been artistically carved into the stone’s surface.
The woman blinked down at it in amazement. “Freedom and a job at the royal hill. How marvelous. Congratulations, child!” She opened her arms to embrace me, but stopped short. She patted my shoulder again. “Come now. My name is Thora and I’ll help you choose your new wardrobe.”
Thora ushered me into one of the changing rooms and measured every part of my body. Then she stripped me to my undergarments and was gone, taking my clothes with her.
“Era, Ragna!” I heard her singsong voice say. “I have another project. I’ll need your assistance.”
“Are you referring to that street urchin who skulked into our store?” someone sniffed. “You’ll be here all day, Mother.”
I scowled at the curtain. “I can hear you!”
“She’s no street urchin,” Thora scolded. “Didn’t you see her eyes? She’s a warrior, the first female warrior, and she’s been hired by King Torvald. We must make her look like a princess. Now, come help me choose some fabrics for her.”
“Fabrics will do little to improve her,” another girl murmured.
“I can still hear you!” I raised my voice to say.
“Mind your own business,” that same voice snapped.
“She’s a paying customer,” Thora said. “And she’ll be treated with the same gracious attention as any other. Not another negative word out of you two or I’ll be docking your pay.” In a lower tone, she said, “Now, what do you think of this fabric? Wouldn’t the purple make her eyes shine?”