Bk 2: Chapter Five (31)

Dark carriages rolled to a stop in a forest. The grounds were covered in snow as dark trees sprouted from the thick white blanket, tall into the sky, thick with green lush leaves. Dark guards rushed off their carriages to secure the one in the centre. The doors opened and Shilla stepped out and glanced around only for a second, before helping Lucy off the carriage. Covered in a thick white coat, Lucy allowed Shilla help her to walk forward, behind them were two other maids. The dark guards followed them from a distance, making sure to look out. From one of the carriages, a large man rushed out and hurried towards them.

"My Lady, this is the white forest surrounding the white lands. It's too dangerous for you to go there," Mr Jodanham said. Behind him, a lean man followed carefully. One would think him calm till they saw the wild look in his eyes.

"You are really not a man from Juhntt, Mr Jodanham. You even know the white lands so well," Lucy said without looking back. Mr Jodanham hurried closer to her.

"I have read a lot that is why, my lady," he said and she chuckled.

"The famous white sands that cover the white forests are covered in thick snow, Mr Jodanham, how can you still see it?" Lucy asked and Mr Jodanham lowered his head. He had not thought his lies through.

"Keep your secrets, Mr Jodanham. That fiancé of mine, I assume you also know where he is," She said and Mr Jodanham shivered. He did not dare to respond to that comment.

"I hear there is a pond here that never dries, have you heard of it?" she asked and Mr Jodanham hurriedly nodded.

"Yes, I heard it streams from the spirit spring beneath the Jashal Mountain, my lady," Mr Jodanham answered.

"Yes, it is quite special. It is always warm. Even in the white lands, those of the high council do not know that it exists," She said and he froze. Wasn't she saying that he knew too much to be ordinary? He felt like crying? Didn't the lady say he should keep his secrets, why was she bringing it up again?

"When they arrived at a good spot hidden by a berry bush, the two maids behind Lucy placed down the stool they held by a tree and Lucy sat and rested her back.

"Mr Jodanham, my guards are going to the spring. You should lead the way," She said and he nodded dejectedly. He had already admitted to knowing the place, there was no turning back. A dark guard grabbed him and vanished the next second. Just then, another guard appeared and knelt before her.

"How is she?" Lucy asked.

"Lady Steinhouse is with the heir of Sorventii at the moment. She is pretending to be her," the masked guard answered.

"Oh? What a twist," Lucy said and the lanky old man scuffed.

"Professor Lorgh seems to know a lot about this situation," Lucy glanced his way and he lowered his head.

"This old man does not believe you don't have a hand in that girl's situation," Professor Lorgh muttered.

"I really did not," Lucy said carelessly, "Lady Steinhouse met her all on her own,"

"She does not know who she is, my lady. They entered and left the dark valley together," the guard said and Lucy nodded.

"No matter, I have given her a chance to get her husband back. It is up to her," Lucy said and Shilla smiled slightly. She too did not believe that the lady did not orchestrate their meeting one bit. The lady chose this girl to be Master Walter's wife, she must have thought of this moment.

"There is something else, my lady. The Si clan's eldest son is with them," the guard reported. Lucy looked away at this moment; one could not tell what was going on through her mind at that moment.

The guards retreated and another appeared with a shaken Mr Jodanham beside him. Lucy saw Shilla collect the bucket of water from him and return to her side.

"Return to the carriage. I will join you soon to continue our journey," Lucy said and the guards and maids vanished from sight. Professor Lorgh and Mr Jodanham turned and started to walk away when Mr Jodanham paused.

"My lady, the white lands will know the moment you enter. You may even be stopped at the gate to the white city. The white city had a law since the retreat of the first Thraine; no blonde can enter the city. This is to keep all Thraines out," Mr Jodanham said but only met her cold eyes, so he hurried away after Professor Lorgh.

"Begin" Lucy ordered Shilla when all had left, and Shilla nodded and placed the bucket down and pulled a small cloth and wet in the bucket with one dip. She took out a small flask from her coat and poured the content into the cloth, carefully bent Lucy's head back with one hand while she used the other to massage into Lucy's hair. Only after making sure the scalp was wet did she help Lucy back straight and deal with the rest of the hair. She repeated her action over and over again till the entire hair was wet. Only then did she massage in soft flower soap. Only after the entire hair was completely touched by the sop did she return with the wet cloth. Slowly, she dipped it into the water and used it to clean her hair revealing night-black hair. She continued till all the white dye had been cleaned out.

"Let us return to the carriage to dry by a stove so you do not catch a cold, my lady," Shilla said and poured away the now-white bucket of water. Lucy used the shawl on her shoulders to cover her wet hair before the two returned. They got unto the carriage before Lucy removed the shawl allowing Shilla to dry her hair by the charcoal stove.

"My lady, do we now enter the White Lands?" a guard asked from outside the carriage.

"We enter," Lucy said