Karah pulled the back strings of Aurelie's corset. Aurelie lost her footing and took a step backward, stepping on her toes.
"You're pulling too hard," she said, turning slightly to glare at Karah.
"I have to. It's how these things are worn." Karah returned the glare and pulled again.
Aurelie tumbled back. "For the love ofâ"
Karah caught her and pushed her upright. "We're not going to make it in time if you keep acting like a child!"
"Just tie the damn strings."
"Hold on to the counter."
They turned so that she could hold on. Aurelie definitely didn't possess much strength or balance. Compared to her, Karah had the power of a giant. The gown and its accessories were ridiculous, and she had worn plenty of corsets before. This damn thing made her unable to breathe or bend. Plaster would have given her more freedom.
"I'm uncomfortable," she complained and placed a hand on her stomach, which by now was surely merging with her other organs.
"You have to look respectable for the queen." Karah tugged again, forcing Aurelie further upright.
Aurelie panted. "Why?"
"Because she has to see that you can be one too." Karah tied the strings and reached for the skirt.
"She can tell all that by a dress?"
Karah lowered the skirt to the ground and Aurelie stepped into the center and Karah raised the skirt up to her waist. "No," she raised her brows lazily, "but she'd be able to tell that you're a peasant by that one."
"I'm going there to discuss an alliance and not to attend a fancy dress party."
Karah pulled the shirt piece off the counter and held out one of the sleeves for Aurelie to slip her hand through. "Everything is a fancy dress party for the Royals."
Aurelie put her other hand into a sleeve, and Karah walked around to fasten the buttons at the back.
"So much fabric." She looked down at the layers and layers of red that made up her skirt, wondering how she would ever be able to drag it around.
"I think you look lovely. Though, I don't know what they were thinking when they made the shoes."
Aurelie watched Karah observe the royal blue, velvet slippers, and wondered whether she really didn't grasp the message behind them. Nick, or his fatherâ whoever picked them outâwas implying that she was the leader that they were going to support. At least, that was what she could come up with. Royal blue for a royal. A cheap trick to impress her. Nick's easy charm made Aurelie think that it was his idea. But after she saw him with Karah, the effect of the charm faded quickly.
"They're royal blue," Aurelie said.
Karah placed them on the floor for Aurelie to slip her feet through. "Of course!"
There was one box left, the smallest one. Aurelie put on the shoes, with Karah's help, and pointed at the box. "We missed one."
"I left it for last."
Aurelie raised a brow. "You know what it is?"
Karah smiled sheepishly and pulled at the string. "I shook it earlier. Jewelry." She shrugged and opened the box.
Aurelie's neck was bare to an uncomfortable extent. With her hair tied up, she yearned to cover some of the bulging of her breasts that the dress exposed. The corset had made them look three times their size and Aurelie couldn't look down without blushing. The jewelry would have been a nice cover.
Karah swooned as she removed it. Rubies, large and small, made up a large triangular necklace.
"You keep that."
"God, no!" Karah put the necklace back into the box.
"Oh stop!" Aurelie rolled her eyes and pushed the box away. "I can hardly endure wearing the dress."
Karah shook her head, eying the necklace. "What am I going to do with it?"
"Wear it to bed, sell it, hide it. Honestly, I owe you, Karah." She opened her mouth to protest but Aurelie cut her off. "I do. You know that I do. For the medicine and for your advice. It wouldn't be right if I didn't give you something and that is all I have right now. Please, take it."
"Are you certain?"
Aurelie looked down at her chest and sighed. "Yes, but there is, however, something I was meaning to ask you."
"Well, what is it?"
"I've been getting episodes ofâI think I might be ill."
"Episodes?"
"I'm getting hallucinations, sometimes it feels like I cannot breathe and like my heart is jumping out of my chest."
Karah smiled sympathetically and nodded once. "Anxiety."
"Even the hallucinations? How can you tell?"
She nodded. "I've been inside your mind, remember?"
"How can I stop it?"
"Well, you'll have to stop dragging yourself into situations that create the attacks."
"Ha! That's an easy out. I'll just stop worrying. Only, the fact that I have to stop worrying is currently making me worry." Aurelie rolled her head backward.
"I'll give you something for it but it's your mind, dear, I'm certain of it. At some point, you'll have to learn to control it." Karah removed a vial from under the counter and placed it into the gap between Aurelie's breasts. "Rub that onto your temples when you feel it coming. Come on, there's one last thing we need to do."
Aurelie followed Karah through the corridor. It was painted with symbols that Aurelie couldn't understand, or geographically place. They were not runes, nor a language that she had ever come across. Karah looked back. "They mean nothing if you're wondering."
"Why do you have them here then?"
"For the show."
"And the animals?"
Karah laughed. "Took you a while to ask that one. They're there to keep the locals away. Brings a sort of darkness to the shop. Mostly for the pesky children."
Karah led her through an arched doorway into a room covered in black curtains and lit by a candle chandelier. In the middle, a round table stood with a stack of cards at the center. She pushed one of the curtains to the side and reveal a single bedâdisturbedâand a chair in the corner that was stacked with clothing. The bed was covered with a thick, white fur blanket.
Karah pulled it off the bed, and Aurelie realized that it was a coat. "Come on, turn."
"I hardly need that," Aurelie said. The last time she used the portal there was a slight breeze that past her while the others with her almost froze. She didn't need a coat; the dress was more than enough.
"How long were you there?" Karah placed a hand on her hip.
"Does that matter?"
"Put on the coat." She spread it out so that Aurelie could step in.
Aurelie sighed and turned. The coat pulled her back as it landed on her shoulders, and once again, it was up to Karah to help her upright.
"Can you walk?" Karah asked.
"I think so," Aurelie said. I'm not sure for how long, though.
"Well, you just have to make it to the castle."
"And where is that?" Aurelie took a step forward, trying to establish how much strength it took to keep herself upright. She remembered how she used to wrap sheets around herself and roam outside, pretending to address her subjects. That was about the last time she had worn high heeled shoes as well.
Karah shrugged. "I'm sure someone will show you."
Aurelie turned, and Karah backed up into the wall to give her some space to move. With the dress and cloak there was barely any room to move for one of them, never mind two. "Can't you see?"
"Not everything."
"How unfortunate."
"Ugh, no!" Karah said and pushed past Aurelie's dress to get to the bed. "We forgot the stockings." A pair of thick, white, woolen stocking hung from Karah's arm. "Come on." She sighed.
Aurelie looked down at her dress. She'd have to take off her shoes and sit down. All of that would have been much simpler if her corset allowed her back to bend. "No."
"You'll freeze yourself blue."
Aurelie raised a hand and flicked it toward Karah, dismissing her concern. "Then I'll make a fire."
"Have it your way," she said and picked up Aurelie's cloak. Karah bent down and crawled under. Aurelie felt her skirt tighten around her waist as Karah pulled. She secured the stockings in Aurelie's skirt and climbed back out. "Now, at least you have an option."
"Fine," Aurelie said. "Are we done?"
Kirin's note had not been written, and at the pace that the dressing was going, she wouldn't have the time to either. "I need paper and a quill, remember?"
"Ah yes, come on." Aurelie followed her to the front of the shop, where a tall and slim man stood waiting at the counter.
"Karah Dear," he said as they emerged from the curtain. "Grandmamma Elis needs her drops refilled!" The man lifted the empty vial and shook it before placing it on the counter.
"Edward, how nice to see you," Karah said and bent down to pick up a vial infused with what looked like lavender. "It's helping them?"
"Yes, yes," the man nodded, "she's almost good as new!"
Aurelie tapped Karah on her shoulder and leaned closer so that she could whisper in her ear. "Paper," she said and turned to Edward, smiling. He looked at her briefly, flabbergasted, and dropped to one knee.
"Under the till, dear," Karah said, and turned back to him. "God Edward, get off your knees!"
Aurelie had to lift the till to reach the paper, with the quill atop it. There was, however, no ink. She looked under the counter and lifted the till again, just in case she missed it. She tapped her fingers impatiently and waited for Karah to finish her sentence.
"How's the lumber trade treating you then?"
"Karah, please!" Aurelie moaned. Leila would arrive at the house at any second.
"Just write!" Karah turned her wild eyes onto Aurelie.
"I can't find the ink!"
"You don't need ink, you silly girl."
Coins stirred as Edward dug around in his pockets for the payment.
"Oh, no please, tell Elis it's my gift!"
The point was sharp enough to spill blood at the softest touch, and still whiteâas if new. Aurelie pressed the point to the sheet of paper, and sure enough, a black dot formed and spread out. She turned to see whether the edge was stained, and still, it looked good as new.
"No," Edward said, and held out the coins. "I can't possibly."
"Bring me some lumber in the winter!" She smiled. "I insist!"
Edward hesitated, and then placed the coins back into his pocket. "Bless you!" he said and turned to the door.
Aurelie leaned down onto the small, round stool that Karah had behind the counterâher gigantic skirt would not allow her to sit fully. Not even a single word came to mind. She tapped the quill against the page, staining it in small specs of black.
"What do I write?" Aurelie asked when Edward had finally left the shop.
Karah crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips. "What would you have liked to hear?"
"I would have liked it if he hadn't left me," Aurelie said, leaning her head to the side.
"But if he had?"
"I guess I would have liked to know that he was coming back."
Dear Kirin,
Aurelie started, finding it much too pompous for her liking. She scratched it out and crumpled the paper.
"Who is he to you? What are you to him?"
"That's a tad long for a note, don't you think?" Aurelie laughed grimly. It was easier, in every sense to just say it to him, instead of writing it down, and trying to sound poetic in order to lessen his rage, or rather bait his forgiveness.
"Not at all."
"I think he knows."
"Men often need to be reminded," she said and ran her hand down Aurelie's cheek. "Go on now, I'll be at the back."
Kirin,
I'm sure Leila has told you everything she knew which, I assure you, wasn't much.
I wanted to tell you so many times, but I feared that had you known, you would not have let me leave. I couldn't have you fight me on this. We're out of options, love.
I have watched Orken grieve the death of our friends and of Sasha and felt that I had come much too close to having to grieve you. I can't do it.
I remember, as a young child, I used to imagine what it would be like to lose my aunt. That was my only fear, not monsters under my bed or the wicked witch that roamed Highfire and ate naughty children. I always knew that those creatures could never harm me. Perhaps, even then, I knew that I was the monster to them. My aunt is gone but I have you and I refuse to live without you.
That is why I am doing this. Truth be told, my selfishness would let the world burn at my feet if it meant that I could guarantee your safety. You're all that matter to me now and you want to finish this. So I will finish it for us.
You are the gust that saved a dying flame.
I love you.
Aurelâ
A breeze blew a lock of loose hair into Aurelie's face. She looked up to see whether a customer had opened the door, and instead found herself screaming, "Karah!" in sheer panic.
A purple ring formed on the floor, whirling from a black hole. Karah rushed in seconds later, her eyes wide.
"Here," she said and ran up to Aurelie. Swinging open Aurelie's cloak, she yanked her hand into a hidden side pocket and withdrew the portal.
Karah handed the portal to Aurelie. The fur on her cloak blew with the wind as the portal grew. Hanging animals swung from side to side. Aurelie ducked, dodging the owl hanging just above her.
The wind grew stronger. Aurelie was being pushed back into the wall. She looked at Karah who struggled to remain on her feet. "Go," Karah shouted and ran through the curtain.
The note flew off the counter. Aurelie reached to grab it but it was blown further away. She dropped down to her knees and crawled to reach it. Grabbing the note, Aurelie stood to put it back on the counter.
The black hole in the floor was gone. Instead, Kirin stood before her with the purple and black whirlwind surrounding him. "So, it's true," he said so neutrally that it frightened her more than it would have had he shouted at her.
Aurelie kept her eyes locked on his as she moved her shaking hand to place the note back on the counter, hiding the portal behind her back. She nodded. "That's for you."
"A note? That's what you wanted to leave me with?" He sniggered and took a step closer.
He looked like a predator from afar. "I..." she started and stopped, unable to find the right words to defend herself.
"You what? Didn't think that I would let you go?" He took another step.
Aurelie heartbeat quickened. She tightened her grip on the portal and held it out in front of her. Kirin saw it and kept walking. She placed her other hand over the portal and made as if to turn it but couldn't leave him. Turn it! Turn it! she told herself.
Kirin stopped in front of her and placed his hand on hers. "I think you should go."
"What?"
He smiled and shook his head. "That's exactly what I would have told you had you come to me."
Aurelie leaped forward to hug him and turned her head so that her lips pressed against his neck. "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry." Bumps formed on his neck as she spoke. "I thought you'd not let me. I thought you'd break it and I have to do this. I have to."
Kirin leaned back and placed his hand under her chin. "Never hide anything from me again, okay?"
Aurelie nodded and smiled. He pulled her chin up and kissed her.
"Okay," she said when their lips parted.
"Now, hear what the Queen has to say, never let the portal out of your sight. If anything seems odd, you use it and come back. You hear me?"
"I will. I promise." The contents of the note seemed silly now. She reached for it but Kirin grabbed it before she could.
"Oh no, please," she begged. embarrassed now by what she had written there.
Kirin smiled and opened the note. "I want to read it."
Aurelie grabbed for the note, but he swept it to the side. "Read it when I'm gone." She blushed.
Kirin's smile faded. He wrapped his arms around her, and pressed her tightly to his chest, resting his chin on top of her head. "Promise you'll be safe."
Aurelie nodded and felt her eyes warm with tears. She closed them, suppressing the tears. "I won't be long."
"I hope not."
She turned slightly and looked up. He kissed her once more and let go. "Okay," he said and shook his head, his eyes now shining too. "Okay, go or I swear I'll cling to your feet in a second."
Aurelie took a step back and held the portal in both hands. "I love you," she mouthed before turning it. A cold wind blew against her cheek. Kirin and the inside of the shop stretched and mixed with white and grey lines that swirled into around her. Aurelie gave the portal a final turn, and Kirin was gone. She was in the middle of a white field, alone.
A mountain with a razor sharp peak stood in the distance, hiding smaller bumps behind it.
The hair on her legs rose, forming small bumps beneath them. There was nothing around her that would indicate which direction it was that she had to follow. She wrapped the fur coat tighter around herself and looked around, more attentively this time.
"Princess Aurelie!" someone exclaimed from behind her.