The morning went by like a whirlwind of water and soap. And Marta's tongue snapping like twigs. Serenya felt her hands rougher than before and raw from all the scrubbing. Carrying heavy buckets of water brought an ache to her shoulders. This must have been the most she had worked in her life.
The soft hands of a noble daughter, though disgraced, never saw such hardships before. But serenya pushed through with every task and order, leaving no moment. She was this close, she could not afford to slip up and make mistakes. She had to toughen up if it meant survival outside her family home. If she slipped, there would be no other chance to get in.
After the day passed, Marta yelled at them to retire and Brisa guided her to the servants' quarters. Serenya's body was practically begging her for sleep and the room, however cramped, was inviting her in for a tiny nap. The cots were lined up, leaving no space between them, so much that their shoulders nearly touched. But it was better than nothing.
Brisa pointed at one in the comer. "That cot is empty, yeah. Ye can have it." Brisa herself plopped down onto one with a loud sigh and patted the space next to her.
"Ye did well," she said, flashing a toothy grin. "I see Marta didn't curse ye twice. Thas as good as a blessin' round here."
Serenya settled down beside her, rubbing her sore hands. She said in a low voice, making sure to keep on the accent. "Guess I'll live to see another day, yeah?"
Brisa laughed. "Aye, ye just might. But let me tell ya, the real game ain't surviving. it's the stories the folk round here whisper." She leaned in close, mischief sparkling in her eyes. "So, ye seen the Captain yet?"
The question caught Seranya off-guard. Seen was an understatement, she practically had a stare-down with him. Her mind stumbled, replaying that moment in the hallway: his cold grey gaze pinning her down like prey. Forcing a blank expression on her face, she replied "Ye, just once"
Brisa nudged her shoulder playfully. "Well, half the lassies in Blackfen would trade their dowries for even that "once". Me can't even wrap ma head round it-he looks more a ghost than a man-but they can't stop swooning, aye. Always goin' for the ones who don't want ya."
The young maid from earlier-Serenya learned her name was Ana-walked into the room and snorted, "Captain don't want no on. Never seen him smile, never courted. Nothin'."
"Thas cause he's made of stone." Brisa teased, rolling onto her side and propping up an arm to hold her head. "Or maybe... he's hiding secrets"
Serenya's hand stilled from where she was picking on the frayed hem of her clothes. This pricked her curiosity but she tried to be careful to not sound too interested, her voice coming out softly. "Secrets?"
Brisa's face split into an excited grin and she opened her mouth-
The door swung open with a bang. Serenya stood up straight. Marta strode in, her heavy boots thudding against the floorboards. "Enough with all the chatter," Marta snapped. "Yer tongues be wagging faster than yer hands."
The servants piled in after her, the room filling up too quick. Servants climbed into cots, yanking off their aprons and stretching their tired arms. Brisa turned over and pretended to be asleep. But Serenya stood still, waiting Marta's response. This is it, she thought, its now or never. This moment would decide whether she succeeded or would have to go back empty handed. Her hands folded tightly into a fist, her heartbeat faster.
As expected, Marta paused at Serenya's cot, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looked at her with scrutinizing gaze, her eyes as hard as flint. "Didn't foul the mornin'. Saw the rooms were shinin' after ye cleaned them. Surprising, but true." She nodded curtly, "Ye'll do."
It was better than Serenya expected. She dipped her head and said "Thanks, Marta." She let out a sigh of relief and loosened her shoulders. Approval was good. Approval meant she could stay. Staying meant she could watch.
Then, with the same force she brought when she walked in, Marta walked out. The room gradually quieted down and snores sounded one by one. Brisa slept curled up like a kitchen, her lips curved up in a small smile even in her sleep. Serenya lay still with her wide open in the dark. Her body ached with the day's toil, begging her to sleep but her mind would not. It stayed sharp, replaying Brisa's words from earlier. Secrets.
She rested her body until the breaths around her evened out. Then, as quietly as a shadow, she slipped out of her cot and outside the door. Thankfully, they didn't close it, it would have made noise otherwise. Her bare feet padded along the cold floor as she made her way to the halls.
The wooden floorboards under her feet creaked, the sound echoing loudly in her chest Serenya crossed the kitchen. A rat scurriod across the floor making her jump but she continued moving. The house felt quite different at night. In place of warm liglits and polished furniture, the darkness engulfed her. When she reached a narrow staircase she let her fingers trail along the wall for balance.
At the top, she hesitated. The morning's memory passed through her and she felt a shiver go down her spine at the thought of being caught, again, by the Captain. Shaking away her nerves and steeling her determination, she opened the door leading to the hallway, shadows stretching long and thin as moonlight spilled in through the windows. She knew where to look-Brisa had earlier mentioned the study in passing, a place no servant dared linger long.
The lock glinted in the moonlight. Serenya's hand shook as she pulled out the pin from her hair, letting it cascade down her back from its otherwise neatly tucked bun.
Wedging it into the latch, she twisted it along the side, making sure to make no sound. Seconds felt like hours, then-click.
The door swung open.
Serenya took one look along the hallway and walked in, making sure to close the door behind her. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of leather, ink and paper. Books were stacked in a neat order on the shelves lining the wall, the other wall a huge window stretching from the ceiling to the floor. Moonlight shined in onto a desk, neatly organized. Maps hung on another wall and weapons leaned against a rack by the hearth.
Her heart pounded as she made her way to the desk and opened the top drawer. There were a stack of papers and her eyes skimmed through to find something, anything. Lists, numbers and names of regiments but nothing suspicious. Another sheet. And another. Her hands moved too quickly and she didn't realize the papers rustled loudly. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck.
She must have been deeply engrossed in her task because she didn't hear the door open.
"Looking for something?"
Serenya froze, the voice sharp and cold sending a chill through her veins. Her head snapped up.
Darian Valeric stood there, right in the doorway. He was half drenched in moonlight but half engulfed in shadow. His arms were crossed and his gaze locked on her. Not the papers, not the desk. Her.
Her breath hitched. The paper she held in her hand was now crumpled by how tightly she gripped it.
For a heartbeat, neither moved.