I went back to the courtyard, but the soldiers were gone, and I felt my heart sink. My only chance to leave was slipping away.
At that moment, I resolved to get another armor on my own before the soldiers began their march. Passing through one of the plaza's walkways where the wives bid farewell to the soldiers, I was surprised to see Daís near the gate. When I managed to get her attention, we both moved to the side, mingling with the crowd – Why aren't you ready?
— The armor's gone, I can't find it anywhere, Daís — I said, slurring my words.
He took off his gloves and wiped away my tears to calm me down — Just say goodbye for me. There will be another campaign you can join me on — he said, trying to put my mind at ease.
— You should leave before your troops advance — I said. Daís nodded, but his gaze seemed lost — What's wrong?
— I suspected something was wrong, so I came to my room for this — he said, pulling a silver crown of flowers from a bag — It's a promise that I will come back for you and take you with me on the next campaign.
I nodded, accepting his promise, and kissed his forehead. I lowered my head so he could place the crown upon mine, and then we pressed our foreheads together with our eyes closed, in farewell.
I returned to my duties with the wives, but I couldn't shake the urge to let go of this opportunity. I walked through the corridors until I reached the bridge leading to one of the towers. I saw many people cleaning the windows and the floor. There was even a group changing the curtains. I peered out of one of the windows and saw a group of children playing with my armor; I knew because Nayol was among them.
— Oh, Dotea! — said the lady of the house at the royal castle — I was looking for you. I don't have anyone to clean the queen's chamber.
—- Valency, I was heading to the combat training hall — I said.
— No, it's already clean. Besides, there's not much that can be done about this place. Come and clean the queen's chamber. King Fortis will arrive today from Valgon.
— Valency! — a male voice called from behind us. It was one of the men who looked after the horses in the stables — He asked me to let him know when the king and queen arrived. We can see their carriage approaching.
— Oh, for the gods, they've arrived early! — the woman said, turning red. She took my hand as she hurried through the corridors of the gray fortress to the stables, where she mounted a horse — Help her, please — she ordered the stableman, who helped me onto a horse.
— Do they need more staff in the castle kitchen? — I asked, confused.
— Follow me! — she ordered, and we galloped along the path hidden among the trees that separate the keep from the castle. When we reached the other stable, a couple of women helped me down from the horse.
— Go change. The king has asked us to present the youngest maidens to be ladies-in-waiting to the queen.
I was given a white dress with long sleeves and ties at the back that cinched at the waist to accentuate my figure. I washed my feet and put on a pair of shoes with silver embroidery.
I thought that the queen was a young woman from a foreign land; it was obvious she would need company to talk to and feel welcome. When I arrived at the drawing room, there were several young women I recognized as part of the castle's retinue. I was so distracted thinking about how I would leave the castle that night that I didn't hear the king and queen being announced. Perhaps I could catch the trail of the encampment if I stole the fastest horse. — Come, my dear — I heard King Fortis's voice a short distance away — You may choose your company.
— Are these the only young women in the entire castle? — the queen asked. Her voice was soft and sweet.
— Yes, Your Majesty — Valency replied — The serfdom has been in the service of the castle for thirty years. Most of the young are barons of the royal guard.
— I understand — said her Majesty — And what is your name?
— My name is Dotea Arteneses, Your Majesty — I replied, bowing my head in the hope that she wouldn't choose me. I kept my gaze lowered, but she asked me to raise my face. From the floor, I could see the fabric of her platinum-blue dress, embroidered with silver thread in the shape of flowers and leaves, which flowed from the center of the skirt up the bodice and sleeves. Her chest was adorned with a small silver and diamond necklace. Her eyes were so bright they seemed to be crying.
— How old are you? — the queen asked.
— Twenty-six — I said almost instantly. She seemed to smile, but I couldn't be sure. My sudden enthusiasm even surprised me.
— I want Dotea to be my lady-in-waiting, and the girl over there — she declared, pointing to Merana, which touched me deeply when I recognized her. She approached her to make sure the king knew of her choice — I want her to be my handmaiden.
— Very well, my dear — said the king. He leaned in to kiss the queen's forehead and then withdrew.
— Lady Valency, please see to it that they receive new clothes and that Miss Arteneses is placed in a room next to mine.
— It shall be as you say, Your Majesty — Valency replied with a curtsy. All of us still in line bowed to the queen as she left — Come with me.
We then arrived at the lower central part of the castle, a place I had never visited before. We walked down a dimly lit corridor to a door — Hello, Yelen. Are the dresses for the queen's maid and lady-in-waiting ready? — Valency asked.
— That depends. They're made in standard sizes because I didn't receive the young ladies' measurements — the man said after letting us in. He opened a wooden chest with bronze corners. I glanced around; it was apparently a large hall, dimly lit by small windows high on the walls. I could barely see some furniture and a shelf at the far end — Wouldn't a brighter place be better? — Merana remarked, as if she were reading my mind.
— I would like the lady to mention this to the queen — the man said, giving me a quick look.
— I will — I said without thinking much.
— Very well, my lady, could you try on the dresses and let me know if they fit? — the dressmaker asked.
— Of course.
— If they're a little loose, don't worry. They'll fit better in time when you're sharing meals with the queen — the man said. Valency chuckled at his comment.
After that, Valency asked a man to collect my few precious belongings back from the Grey Keep: the spear my father had handcrafted and the container my mother had used to prepare the ink for my birth.
I followed Valency back across the bridge that connected the tower to the queen's chambers. We ascended the stairs on the right side of the corridor to a spacious room with open windows that let in the light. The bed was on a mezzanine at the side of the room, and a few steps beyond the mezzanine were a pair of doors on either side. To the right, I could see bookshelves and seating arranged around a small table. In each corner of the room were large vases of fresh lilac blossoms.
— Come with me, Lady Arteneses — Valency said, walking toward the doors on the left side of the bed beyond the mezzanine — Get used to being called that from now on — she added when she saw I wasn't following.
— I understand, but you don't have to address me formally — I said as I followed her to what appeared to be the bathroom.
— If I get used to it from now on, I won't make the mistake of calling you anything else in front of the queen — the woman said as she poured hot water into the bath — Besides, you have to command respect now that you're a lady. Otherwise, no one will listen to you when you give orders.
— Give orders?
— Yes, as the queen's lady-in-waiting, you have to be there for her. You can't expect the queen to always tell her what to do.
— So what are my duties now? I don't understand.
— You must make sure you wake her up, help her bathe, dress, and comb her hair. You must ensure she eats well and gets fresh air every day.
— Is she a child?
— She's royalty. They have the most delicate arrangements because their minds are focused on taking charge of the country. We're at war, and King Fortis wants to ensure an heir in case of tragedy. The queen must be in the best possible condition.
— The war? I thought it was coming to an end — I realized how foolish my comment was when I remembered the constant campaigns Daís had to go on.
— It's only been a few years of peace — Valency said. It pains me to think that people are still losing their lives in a senseless war — Come on — she said — You need to get rid of the grime. Someone will come later to help you with your clothes and hair.