I didn’t eat until after the maids changed service. I just had a sandwich. Simple and easy, enough to get fuel into my twisting stomach. I wouldn’t be of any use to anyone without at least something.

  Sleep was hard to find, but it eventually came. I woke up to a different maid shaking me. When I opened my eyes, I found Christopher here.

  “I’m awake! I’m not resisting!” I shouted in my confusion.

  He sat on a chair nearby. “Calm yourself. I thought nothing of that nature. We should talk,” he said as he waved his hand, and the maid bowed before closing the door.

  I leaned up and rubbed my eyes. “Can I ask why I am on the third floor? Is it just so my parents wouldn’t hear me crying?”

  He placed his hand on my chin and looked at me. “The crying was certainly a concern. Poor thing, you seem to have been crying quite a bit, haven’t you? But to answer your question, no. It is because you are a noble.”

  “Huh? But, I thought I was a commoner?” I asked.

  “You were. Hmm, your understanding is still somewhat flawed, isn’t it? A noble is a word to describe those who protect the people. It goes further than just that, but for a simplistic explanation, it shall serve us. Nobles can lose such a description if they fail their duties. And commoners can gain it by becoming protectors. Perhaps it is more accurate to say you have one foot in both worlds. One foot in commoner and one foot in noble.”

  “I am not a protector. I am just a village girl. The last time I saw a viper, I cried. How am I supposed to be a protector!” The tears began welling up again.

  He simply sat there for a moment as I cried. Desperately, I tried to stop, but to his surprise, he actually put his hand on my cheek. “No, no. Let them out. Please. It will help us today. Plus, anyone in your situation would likely want to cry. Do not deprive your body of such a thing today.”

  I grabbed onto him and cried. He held me softly like my father would. It caused me to cry even more. I cried until my cheek was damp against his jacket. I cried until my eyes hurt, and my throat grew dry. I cried until… I had no more tears to cry.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “It is no bother. I am going to use magic on you; it should help with the discomfort. Ready?” he asked.

  I nodded. I didn’t know anything about magic, but help sounded nice.

  “Zurein,” he said as he tapped my nose. His finger began glowing, and a subtle warmth coated my face. Like a warm cloth on a cold day, it seemed to wash away all the aching in my throat and cheeks. “Better?”

  “Very,” I said.

  “We should go speak with your parents. Do you think you can manage?” he asked.

  I touched my face. “But they will notice my crying.”

  He gently nudged me over to the desk and pulled out something incredible. It had an image of him. Sort of like polished steel, but it was unimaginably better. He pointed at it, and I noticed my face looked fine—no hint of redness or anything from all that crying.

  “How?” I asked.

  “I told you, magic.”

  Some small, petty part of myself thought back to when I was ten. I remember I was angry at dad for some reason; it escapes me now, but I was so angry, and I knew he would be able to tell. I tried splashing water on my face to rub away the redness, but it didn’t help at all. Magic was unfair!

  “How does one learn magic?” I asked. Learning even that one thing might be worth it.

  He chuckled. “Patience, but you will learn magic. So no reason to rush, but on the prior matter. Are you ready? It would be best to handle things now.”

  “Okay,” I said.

  “I shall do most of the talking. I ask you to tell your parents that I am telling the truth. And try to smile. Even if what I said is not the truth. We can discuss things further later. But we must do as the king demanded. Okay?”

  “Okay,” I said as I held his hand. He seemed so kind, but I remembered him saying yes to killing us all. After looking at the maid's drawings, I had no doubt. I needed to do as he said. No crying. No disagreeing. I took a deep breath.

  He led me with the maid down to the first floor, the same room we sat in when we first arrived. This time, he gestured for me to sit next to him; my parents on the other side.

  “So, thank you for waiting. It did take longer than expected, so I do apologize for that, as I mentioned previously. Julia has been asked to do some work for the king, and she has graciously accepted.”

  “The king?” Dad asked. “What could he possibly want with my daughter?”

  “I-”

  “That is a question I cannot answer. The king has asked us to keep it a secret. Julia and I both agreed. I can answer some details about it, though.”

  “Is this true, Julia?” Mom asked me.

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  My Dad rubbed his chin. “Asking her to do work without us? That is just plain rude. Can’t you tell us something?”

  I went to open my mouth, but Christopher once again was faster.

  “You would ask her to break a promise? I did not expect this. Are promises something Hatula doesn’t value?” he asked.

  “No! We value them plenty,” the chief piped up.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” Dad said.

  “Plus, she is an adult and capable of making choices on her own,” Christopher added.

  “She has been an adult for only such a brief time, though,” Mom said. She gripped her teacup firmly. “You can understand our concern.”

  “Certainly. I can assure you that she is being paid very well for her services.”

  “Oh? What are you getting?” Dad asked.

  “Well, it is a surprise, she said that she wanted me to deliver it to Hatula as a gift. Is it not a joy for all children to see the look on the face of their parents after they first complete a job?”

  “I suppose that is right,” Dad said.

  “Just wait a moment here, Julia never intended to work outside of being a wife. Why are you talking for her? My daughter is not some shy mouse?”

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  “Pardon me,” Christopher said. “She simply asked me to convey the thoughts for her because she is a bit nervous about sleeping somewhere new for the first time. I am not trying to rob her of her words. You may ask her directly if you wish.”

  With that, he looked at me as he began sipping tea. Holy crap. I took a deep breath and looked at Mom.

  “It is true. I’m nervous. I didn’t think any of this would happen. I was afraid I would explain it badly.”

  “Explain what badly?” Mom asked. “I still don’t know what is going on? What of your ring?” Mom asked.

  Darn it Mom! Why did you have to be so good at this right now of all times?

  “I… uhm,” I paused and looked to Christopher. “Mom, he can explain it better.”

  She sighed and looked to him.

  “We can’t explain that either right now, but nothing is wrong, and we are working on it. It will take some time, and it is related to the work.”

  “And you can say nothing of this work? How long will it take her?” Mom asked.

  “I cannot say. As for how long. I do not have any exact time for you, but I speculate it will take a while, over a month, even at the fastest.”

  “Over a month!” Dad shouted. “That is ridiculous! Julia, why did you agree to this?”

  Christopher placed a hand in front of me. “Julia, do not answer that.”

  I looked down. “Sorry, Dad, but I promised.”

  “We are expected to simply sit on our hands and wonder if you are okay?” Dad asked.

  “Certainly not,” he said. “You can communicate through letters as often as you wish. I shall supply all the funds for them.”

  “Letters?” Mom asked.

  “Writing, you shall write notes, and Julia shall read them, and write letters replying. It shall be a change of pace, but I am certain you will adjust to it.”

  “We can’t read or write, neither can she,” Mom said.

  “Not a problem, chief?” Christopher said.

  The chief stood up. “Right! Of course! I shall write for them and read Julia’s replies.”

  Dad and Mom looked at each other. Mom was the one to speak up first. “How can we trust these letters to say what we mean?”

  The chief looked scared for a moment. “That is-”

  “Sit,” Christopher said, and the chief instantly stopped. “I am afraid I cannot give you any specific reassurances. If you ask for something, I can try to do that. What might put your mind at ease?”

  Dad looked at me. “Julia, is this truly what you want?”

  I took a deep breath. “Dad, right now, I want nothing more.” I had to sell this! Or he would die! In that sense, it wasn’t a lie.

  “That is enough for me,” Dad said.

  Mom hummed, a sign that she wasn’t entirely satisfied with this. “I would like to see her in one month, to compare our letters.”

  Christopher placed his hand on his chin. “I cannot promise that. But I can say, I shall try to make that happen with all my power. Is that sufficient?”

  “Why can’t you promise?” Mom asked.

  “Because I do not break promises. If I make a promise, I hold to it with all that I am. A promise to me is no different than swearing to the gods.”

  “Then shall you swear to the gods to try your hardest for me?” Mom asked.

  “Certainly,” he turned to the maid. She quickly fetched a Bible, and he placed his hand upon it. “I, Baron Christopher Edgar Malatise, humbly swear on this bible before the gods, I shall do everything in my power to allow Julia to see her parents in person in one month. Satisfied?”

  Mom sighed. I knew what that meant. She didn’t expect him to do that so quickly, but she also knew she could hardly ask for anything more. “Yes, thank you.”

  Christopher clapped. “Okay, so unfortunately, I am quite busy, and we are going to need to wrap up today. I need to speak with the chief and Julia for a moment; we shall discuss letter stuff. Can you two go to the kitchen? I would like to send you home with plenty of food, my way of saying sorry for all this.”

  “I would rather a moment alone with my daughter before I leave,” Mom said.

  “My my. Such a proud mother bear you are—a good quality. I have no intention of trying to rush you away like that. I promise you shall have your moment for hugs, goodbyes, and all that. But please, if you leave early enough, you might be able to make it home by sundown. Would that not be preferable? We hardly want Julia worrying about you sleeping in the grass again.”

  The maids and my parents walked away, even if Mom was clearly a bit reluctant.

  Once the door was closed, the tone instantly changed. I felt my stomach drop like when one spots a viper nearby. My instincts told me I was in danger. I tensed up.

  “Chief of Hatula village. Do you care to explain yourself?” Christopher asked. The tone was almost cruel; it had a sharpness that felt like it would cut me, and he wasn’t even looking in my direction.

  “I… I do apologize.”

  “Pitiful. Did I ask for an apology?” Christopher spat.

  “I informed them before they arrived that they should agree with you. I swear I did. Julia can confirm.”

  He looked at me, and I almost yelped in response. “It is true, but please don’t hurt my parents.”

  He sighed. “Julia, if you had a child, would you wait until the day you are going into the forest to warn them against touching strange things?”

  “Of course not,” I said.

  “Hmm, so even a sixteen-year-old girl understands this. The fault lies partly with me. I apparently had not been stern enough on you.”

  “I am sorry,” he said as he squeezed his hands together.

  “Julia, I am not upset with your parents. I am upset because that should have been much easier. And I had thought, misguidedly apparently, that the Chief of Hatula Village was doing a good job. Julia, given what almost happened today. What do you think the Chief’s punishment should be? I could have him killed. What do you think?”

  Killed? But…

  “Please no,” the chief pleaded.

  Christopher paid it no mind. The look in his eyes told me a lot, as the king had said. If my parents didn’t leave satisfied, thinking everything was fine, he was to kill all three of us. The village chief was supposed to be the man we could trust. My parents almost died because of him. I squeezed my fists, thinking about it.

  “His parents. They are still alive in the village,” I said.

  Christopher’s bloody aura vanished like it had never been there as he laughed. “So that is how it is. Okay. Chief of Hatula Village. These are my orders for you. You are to maintain the safety and mood of Hatula Village. Killing you right now would be awkward. In addition, you shall convince the citizens to consider Julia fortunate and to minimize talk of her ring. Lastly, you shall plant the idea that you are getting weary of your job as village chief. Do this slowly. Convince them that it will not be strange for you to retire at the start of next summer. Convince them that you shall bring in someone you trust from another village. Pass this, and I shall forgive you. Fail, and I will execute your parents.”

  “Yes, my lord! I will not fail. I promise you!”

  Christopher just waved his hand. He clearly no longer wanted to continue this. Once we were alone. He looked at me.

  “Perhaps that was not the best time to expose you to that. But I like how you handled it. I shall wait here. Say goodbye to your parents. This hurdle you must do alone. Don’t give in now. Okay?”

  I nodded. I felt an odd mixture of feelings. First genuine concern. He was angry at the chief, not for himself. I think he was furious on my behalf. After what he said, I was angry too. But it was tinged with fear. I may have believed it before. But there could be no pretending otherwise now. If I fail, we all die. It set me on edge, but it also made me feel hyperaware of what I needed to do.

  My parents were in the kitchen. We walked outside where they kept firewood. She hugged me. “Honey. You okay? Was he forcing you?”

  “No, Mom. Seriously. I am okay. I am just… I mean, look at this place. I would be crazy not to be nervous.”

  “It is a bit ridiculous, isn’t it?” Dad added.

  I nodded. “I love you both so much, but seriously. I got a job to do; I never imagined life would turn out this way. But I am gonna do it. So go home with a smile! And wait for me to surprise you with my payment.”

  They both smiled. And Dad joined in on the hug. I felt like I was going to cry. No. Don’t cry now! I thought I would fail, but the tears didn’t come. Oh right. I had cried them all out less than an hour ago.

  We walked back inside, and my parents picked out some food. It was packaged up in some nice containers. They said Christopher already said they could have some of his plates and bowls. With that, we walked to the front, and the four of them got ready to leave. The chief looked tired, but he had mainly stabilized his mood.

  My parents left. I left them with a lie; I couldn’t be sure of anything I said. The thought stung my heart, but I had no choice. As the wagon left my eyesight, Christopher tapped my shoulder.

  “We should get to work, ” he said.

  I took one last glance in the direction my parents had gone. I was now all alone.