Izrina dragged her feet, her eyes still clogged with sleep and tiredness. When Spinola said she would stay awake all night. Izrina hadn't believed her until the woman woke her up before dawn, even remembered it comes with light. In normal time somewhere between three in the morning.
The princess walked sluggishly, each movement a reminder that she should never have abandoned her bed, and that was wrong. Izrina had many regrets, and at that moment, she would have chosen prostitution if that secured her with normal sleep.
"Watch your step," Spinola whispered so softly that her voice sounded like she was breathing. She reached for Izrina's hand when the girl fell forward, almost crashing onto someone.
"You!" The woman stood up, pointed at the blank space before falling back asleep.
Spinola inhaled deeply before placing Izrina's hand around her shoulder so she could guide the princess's steps. The girl was still half-asleep.
The duo left the room, avoiding by a whisker being seen by others. And it was all thanks to Spinola, who stopped Izrina from falling on others or crashing into the floor or slamming head first on the door. By the time they stepped outside, the frosty morning made Izrina rub her palms on her body.
"It's cold out here. Let's go back inside." Izrina muttered, with her eyes narrowed. She glanced around the place.
The palace was in darkness and under a starless sky. Every room had its curtains drawn except for the fire torches lit outside. The place was akin to a graveyard with the eerie silence that followed.
Spinola ignored the girl. She knew Izrina was sleep talking. Dragging both of them towards the fountain she'd noticed the previous day, Spinola helped Izrina sit on the pavement.
"I picked the best time to do this," Spinola assured herself, getting the clothes out of the sack and other things she had stolen while everyone slept. She tapped Izrina to wake her up.
"The water is cold, but a girl needs to wash up." A princess more so. Spinola completed in her mind. She no longer wanted to say it out loud because Izrina's eyes became dull whenever someone mentioned her past title.
Izrina's head bounced back and then to the side. The grip of sleep clutched her neck, and there was little she could do. Though she heard Spinola's voice but it was all muffled.
Spinola scooped water from the fountain and, without warning, splashed it over Izrina's face.
"Ah-m." Izrina woke up with a start.
Spinola quickly used her palm to cover the girl's mouth before she woke up the entire kingdom of Zephyrus. "I'm sorry... I couldn't get my hands on hot water, and I can't remember where the kitchen is anymore...this palace is so..." the woman's voice trailed, her face creased with genuine worry for the princess.
Izrina shook her head. The water brought her back to her reality. She might never taste the comfort she was used to. Moving her face to the side, Izrina scooped the water with her hands and poured over her face.
"Mmmm." She exhaled softly when the cold droplets slid from her face down to her neck and into her dress. It felt good for some odd reason. Like the pain that came with an aching sweetness. A cold that felt better than burning.
"This is good, Spinola.... I'm awake now." She said with a smile, going further to wash her hands and feet.
Spinola reached for the scented soap she had stolen from another woman. "Use this."
Izrina stared at the small cubed shaped soap. "A stable boy doesn't need all that," she reminded the woman before returning to her little bath.
Spinola nodded in agreement. She had been more worried about the princess having a commoner's scent that she forgot what their present situation was. Sometimes Spinola was glad the princess was one to face reality and adapted quickly.
Izrina finished washing up, drying up with a towel Spinola handed to her. It was finally time to get her transformed. The first step was getting into the clothes.
"I will tie your chest with this, so it looks flat in the shirt." Spinola raised the bandage that had been used to tie Izrina's ear when her injury was still bleeding. She had washed it and had kept it since.
Izrina nodded, lifting her hands up. She watched as Spinola wrapped her chest firmly. Though she wasn't very tall and appeared small compared to other women her age. Izrina had her womanly curves developed in the right proportions.
"Let me know if it gets too tight." Spinola raised her face to ask Izrina gestured with her hand to continue. The woman held it with a pin after she was done. And when Izrina wore the shirt, her chest looked just as flat as any man except her hands disappeared under the sleeves.
The shirt wasn't as bad as the trousers. Once they got to Izrina's hips, they slid with ease back to the ground.
"It doesn't fit." Spinola bit her lower lip. She had searched all night for a sewing kit but didn't find any. Taking out the elastic hairband she found, she pulled the trousers back up to Izrina's waist and tied it very tightly until it fit her hips.
"I'll just fold these." Spinola folded the trousers until they were a little above Izrina's calf. Then she brought out the shoes she had spent an entire night wiping.
"I don't know who had worn these, but I cleaned them until they were squeaky."
Izrina slipped her feet, and luckily it did fit enough for her to walk around, though she still had spaces left inside the booth, but no one would notice unless she was asked to run.
"Its not terrible." Spinola mused, now rolling the sleeves up Izrina's arm though it kept falling back down.
Izrina tugged her breeches when she felt them sticking up around her inner thighs. She shifted to the side. Then asked, "And my hair? I need to cut it, right?"
"No!" Spinola wasn't having that idea. "I've seen some of their men pack their hair...so you will do the same, and I'll try to fold them with these." She showed Izrina the hairpins she had gathered.
Izrina sat down, letting Spinola gather her hair with the pins first before she packed it up. The woman was so skillful that no one could have noticed the pins. It just seemed like Izrina had a wolf cut hairstyle.
"Do I look like a man now?" Izrina asked, touching her face.
Spinola parted her lips. "Darling...." Her eyes trailed. It felt like something was still missing. Taking out a powder from the bag, Spinola dabbed the content Izrina's face. Applying marks around her brows and chin making them look like scars.
"A stable boy must have had it rough." Spinola applied same on Izrina's hand and her legs. Mixing the content with water so it could be sticky and stay on her skin.
"Maybe this is better." Spinola replied, her voice laced with uncertainty. The womanly looks were still there, alright. Like her long lashes and small chin. The small full lips and especially the permanent blush on her cheeks. And the full eyebrows that were as red brown as her hair.
"A beautiful man...that is what you are." Spinola commented.
Izrina's eyes lit up. She stood on her feet, raising her hand so she could get a closer look at herself. "So nobody will ever know its-"
The first sound of the morning cock interpreted Izrina. It was then they noticed the orange hue forming along the thin distant horizon of the sky.
"I'd be damned." Spinola cursed, "It is morning already. How had I not noticed?" She turned around. Gathering up their belongings fastidiously. Taking the clothes Izrina had removed, so they didn't leave any trace behind. They had been so engrossed in getting ready that they had not realized how much time had passed.
"Quick, let us leave. We have to find the stable before others wake up."
Izrina dawdled behind Spinola the best she could with her heavy shoes and new fit.
"You let anyone who asks know that you are new." Spinola continued, her voice still barely above a breath. "But try to stay hidden, if that's possible."
They had passed the fountain, making their way to the other side of the palace, when a guard stopped in front of them.
"You two..." The guard sized them up and down with a glare. "Lady Feyrne's doves now pleasure even commoners?" His voice toned with disdain.
Izrina gulped. The guard thought her to be a man? That means it worked?
Spinola blushed, hitting the guard's chest playfully. "A woman needs to make a living somehow." Her words seemed to have made the guard relax.
"I get it. Old doves like you are rarely taken. I can use your help to ease a little before I resume my duty post. I woke up a little randy." He licked his lips with a lewd gaze that ravished Spinola's body.
Izrina widened her eyes, realizing what was going to be done to Spinola. She grabbed the woman's hand to stop her from going. "No..." she whispered.
"What is wrong with him? The guard asked with a deep frown.
Spinola tightened her grip around Izrina's arm, but to the soldier she said. "You know what they say about old grapes....They make the best wine. This young lad here is drunk on me." She moved her fingers with the ease of a temptress.
"Heh." The guard sneered. "Get rid of him and follow me. Now." He turned around.
Spinola quickly hugged Izrina. "I will come find you at night. Wait for me at the fountain."
"Please don't go with him, Spinola...Please." Izrina gripped the woman.
"Stay alive, princess." Spinola's voice cracked. Before she pushed the girl away, running after the soldier.