AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’ve only had a half hour, my lady. I’ll have her ready.”
“You will. Take her through the city. She should be as familiar with it as any local before we leave.”
Izolda inclined her head. “Yes, Lady Heli.”
The baroness turned back to me. “You will also examine my dresses to acquaint yourself with the styles of court and your work as a seamstress. I assume you are fully trained in the trade?”
I nodded, afraid to speak again.
“Good. You’re dismissed.”
I stood and gave a bow that the baroness ignored. As the door closed behind us, I let out a small sigh of relief. Izolda laughed.
“She’s a little frightening,da?Don’t worry about it. You’ll do fine. Stay on her good side, and you won’t find anyone more loyal.”
I’d be sure to follow Izolda’s advice. Lady Heli was a formidable woman despite her age. I prayed we’d never be enemies.
***
I didn’t see Han as we left the castle, and I soon found myself too overwhelmed with information to think about him. Izolda led me through the busy streets and kept up a constant stream of chatter, interspersing stories about Sofia’s childhood with explanations about the city.
“There’s your father’s old smithy,” she said, pointing as we neared the market square. It was market day, and the square was full of people. Izolda stopped at a table full of hair ornaments to pick up a povyazka and a matching kosnik, a decoration for the end of a braid. Both were embellished with seed pearls. “Spider’s Blood, isn’t this gorgeous? I have to get it.” She paid the woman behind the table, tucking the pieces into her pocket. “Mind you, I have no idea where I’ll wear it. It’s too formal for anything I go to with the baroness, but maybe I’ll find an excuse to put it on at court somewhere.” She led me deeper into the crowd. “Yourshop’s on the other side of the square, but you haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
I shook my head.
“You like pryaniki?”
“They’re my favorite!” The honey-sweet cookies, flavored with spices, sounded like the perfect breakfast.
We pushed through the teeming market crowd until we reached the baker’s tent. A young woman was coming out; she saw us approach and smiled. “What can I get you?”
“Ulyana!” Had it only been a day since I’d seen her? It felt like ages.
She frowned in confusion. “I’m sorry, have we met?”
“Sofia Stepanova owns the seamstress shop on the other side of the market,” Izolda broke in.
“Right,” I said, my face heating. “We met at the market last week.” I wasn’t Mila right now. I was Sofia. I had to remember that.
Ulyana smiled again, embarrassment written on her face. “I’m sorry. I see so many people in the week, I don’t remember everyone. Sofia Stepanova, is it? Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you again. What can I get you?”
“Two orders of pryaniki,” Izolda said.
“I’ll be right back with them.”
She disappeared into the tent, and I leaned closer to Izolda. “I…used to know her.”
“Just be careful. You shouldn’t come across too many people you know, right? We leave for court soon, anyway.”
Once our purchase was made, we made our way back into the crowd. I nibbled on my cookies without tasting them, appetite gone. I couldn’t do this. I was going to get us all killed.
Izolda stopped in front of a small storefront. “Here we are, Fia.” She pushed open the door and gestured for me to enter. “Home.”
The room we entered was dark and stuffy from being closed up. I stopped in the doorway, a sudden sense of foreboding locking my feet in place.
“Go on,” Izolda said, not unkindly. “You’ll be fine.”
I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
