The Tiger Within

Within moments of reaching Mally"s room, she had recruited the help of several other maids to help the weakened woman strip out of the b.l.o.o.d.y dress and help her into a sleeping gown . What took Mally almost 3 hours to painstakingly fit, was now nothing more than a b.l.o.o.d.y bundle of rags on the floor . Kyera offered an apologetic smile, knowing how proud Mally had been of that dress . Though she would never admit it openly, Kyera did feel a twinge of sadness at the gown"s fate .

"I"m sorry Mally, I should have paid more attention . " Kyera offered and Mally shook her head with a wistful sigh, examining the b.l.o.o.d.y cloth . Sections of the blood were already dry and the pale green colors were stained maroon .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"Let it go deary . " A older, stout woman patted Mally on the shoulder and lead Kyera to a bed . "Now you lay down and rest a bit . Us girls will round you up something nice to wear when you wake . " She was like a little grandmother, putting her grandchildren to bed after a long day of mischief . Her kind pale eyes, and gentle expression were enough to put Kyera at ease . It had been a long time since a maternal figure had paid her so much attention . Obediently, Kyera laid back and closed her eyes, her body taking refuge in the healing powers of sleep .

Mally and the other maids walked off toward the room of things cast aside . Curtains, sheets, dresses, shawls, and all manner of material lay in that room to be made into rags or reused in some sewing project or another . Surely there had to be something worth making into a dress .

********************

The Palace of Dancing Wind (Prince Clovis" palace)

The courtyard was graced with the swirling winds that the Palace was known for as the night breeze took the place of the warm noontime air . Effectively, the palace cooled and calmed as servants went about their finishing duties and the guards on the gates gave their reports so that they could go home for some much needed rest . Between the Princess going missing the day before and the mess with Rasha today everyone was on pin"s and needles . The last thing they needed was something else to get through their defenses . The Emperor was already head hunting for who may have placed such gruesome traps in the woods . Everyone"s minds were on these matters . Well, Almost everyone .

Clovis sat at his desk in his little fenced in garden and went over papers and ledger books . Gold . That was where his mind was currently trapped . How much did they have? Where was it being spent? What was bringing in gold and what was costing more than it should? Was any going missing? If so, where too . ? These were the questions that plagued his mind as he sipped his tea .

Yes, he had heard about all the happenings of the day . Rasha"s injury, the Second Queen"s part in accusing two innocent girls and even how those girls escaped her clutches . However, he was more concerned with the woman they had not heard any news of today . Where was First Queen Kira and what had her so busy that she missed a golden opportunity to get closer to the Emperor?

Clovis had a feeling he knew exactly where she was, and he didn"t like it at all . As he poured over papers, a pair of younger men approached him, kneeling as they waited for him to bid them to speak . "Why am I coming up three gold short?" He sighed exasperated as he stared at the figures before him . One of the men stood and moved behind the desk to peer over Clovis" shoulder .

"Right there, My Prince . Your missing the three gold paid to the milk maid . " He pointed out where the column had not been filled out . Clovis stared at that blank with disdain in his eyes .

"From now on, if someone doesn"t fill out their ledger properly I will personally whip their hide . It is not that difficult! I am not asking for Kong Fu while playing the dulcimer!" he growled and set his pen down . After a deep breath he looked at the man who was standing next to him . "What news do you bring, Vestil?"