The Artist

Talia nodded her head slowly. Something about the way the woman watched her as she spoke made it seem as though she was trying to communicate something unspoken. As though she were suggesting that she might help with something beyond a change of clothing.

"Is our Princess injured in any way?" Krisna asked in her quiet voice.

Injured... Talia frowned. She was injured in many ways! Her fingers and toes were still healing from frostbite, her abdomen still bore the bruises she'd received during her abduction, and her head throbbed as though she'd been clubbed and shaken while she slept.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I..." Talia paused as she realized that the woman was referring specifically to what happened between her and Prince Mikhail.

The broken glass and dishes, the torn dress, the fact that the Prince had basically fled the scene immediately after... it did look as if she had been taken against her will.

"No... I'm... I am unharmed," she assured the woman.

Krisna frowned and nodded but continued to pat her knee. Talia glanced down at the woman's stained hand again. The constant patting motion on her knee had gone on her for so long now that it had become more than just a bit awkward, and it was an odd and unrhythmic type of tapping at that. Fast and then slow and fast again... like she was tapping in time with a song only she could hear.

"There are many loyal Vezdans within the Empire," Krisna whispered, "Many who are loyal still to House Eosin."

Was she hinting at something treasonous? What could she mean by it? Perhaps it was a trick, perhaps she was being tested.

"If you would help me," Talia said carefully. "What news is there of home? I am told nothing."

"Sir Aron has become the Govenor of Vezda with the approval of the Emperor. However, the Emperor's delegate resides in Castle Eosin and Sir Aron is required to submit his rulings for approval to the delgate..." Krisna answered quickly.

Talia nodded. She had expected the outcome to be something much like this. She had written Sir Aron's protection into the Treaty herself and had fully expected that he would lead Vezda upon her death. She had also anticipated that the Emperor intended to allow Vezda it's freedom in name only and would send someone to oversee Sir Aron the moment he took up the title.

Still, he was quick-witted. Sir Aron would do his best to protect their people, even while under the watchful eye of the Emperor's stooge.

"And the harvest this year?" she asked.

"Scant, and the provisions promised by the Emperor have been slow to arrive. The people are discontented. Many feel that the Emperor has broken the Treaty. The princess was assured a fast and noble death in exchange for food to feed her people and their freedom from the Emperor's rule. Yet you were taken as a living trophy by the Prince, and your people are still hungry," Krisna answered.

Yes... the woman was certainly hinting at treason. Yet if what she said was true, then it was little wonder that the Prince and Ilya did not allow her news or letters from Vezda. All the same, they were in no position to defy the Unarian Empire. Sir Aron might be able to rally the starving and tired army, but who would supply them? No, they would need several years of bountiful harvests and recovery before Vezda was ready to fight again, and if she escaped her captivity before then, it would give the Emperor a reason to renew the war immediately. It did not matter that he--

The woman's incessant tapping on her knee was quite annoying! She could barely focus on her own thoughts. Tap... tap... tap... tap,tap... tap... tap... as if the woman were playing a drum, as if she-- Talia drew a sharp breath. There was a pattern to it! Three slow taps, two sharp taps, two slow taps, twos sharp taps... over and over the woman repeated the pattern against her knee.

Talia rested her hand upon the sofa and gently began to repeat the pattern, in time with the woman's own tapping.

"Our Princess has always been clever," the woman smiled softly and nodded her head.

It was a message of some sort. She was probably not quite as clever as the woman thought because she had no idea what it meant, only that Krisna meant for her to understand that it was a message.

"Vezda has new allies," Krisna said, barely moving her lips, her voice only a whisper.

"Who?" Talia demanded, also lowering her voice.

Instead of answering, Krisna leaned forward and unwrapped the parcel she had placed on the sofa. The bundle contained Vezdan style underbindings and a long white sheath dress, also designed in the familiar Vezdan fashion, but with sleeves, and a lining of thick fabric sewn in.

Krisna picked up Talia's hand and ran it across the fabric of the dress. Confused, Talia glanced at her, but beneath her hand, she felt the crinkle of paper. She pressed down and heard it again. There was something sewn into the fabric of the dress, a letter or a piece of parchment.

"Shall I help you dress, Princess?" Krisna asked.

Talia nodded and stood quickly, holding up her arms for the woman to remove the tunic. She was patient as Krisna disrobed her, tied her underbindings and then slipped the clean dress over her head. As the woman tied the laces in the back, Tali nervously smoothed her hand over her stomach and again felt the crinkle of paper.

"That is for when you are alone and have a quick and certain means of disposal," Krisna breathed into her ear. Talia nodded that she understood.

"Do you like the gown?" Krisna asked in a louder voice as she finished and stepped away.

There was no mirror to see her reflection, but the cut and fit of it was more comfortable than anything she had worn in Unaria thus far. It was light but warm, without the layers of skirts and frilly underpants and the weight all the heavy fabric. It was much easier to move in.

"I do. It fits me well," Talia agreed.

"There is a Vezdan designer in the Capitol. Should you wish to have similar dresses made, I am sure she would be honored to receive the Princess as a client," Krisna said. "Her shop is just off the East Wind Road in the Yal District."

Talia nodded again just as a knock at the door startled them both.

"Princess!" Ilya called through the door, "May I enter?"

Talia glanced back at Krisna.

"You still haven't told me how you came to know Queen Ora," she hissed.

"Perhaps we shall meet again, and I shall tell you at that time," Krisna answered.

"Princess! I do hope you're decent, I am coming in!" Ilya called.

The door burst open and Talia turned to glare at the Prince's aide who grinned at her in response.

"The carriage is waiting, Princess," he greeted her. "Allow me to escort you."

"Thank you... for your help," Talia said in as casual a fashion as she could. "I am well pleased with the gown."

"I am truly pleased that the Princess finds so humble a dress acceptable," Krisna said and bowed.

"Perhaps some day, I might visit this establishment again. The food suits my tastes and the service is excellent. I must apologize, however, for the mess that we--"

"There is no need for an apology, Princess," Krisna interrupted her quickly. "We are honored by your patronage, and would be even more honored to see you again. Please travel safely."

Talia turned to leave but paused a moment in the doorway to the dining room.

"That painting..." she murmured, turning to face the woman. "The one of Queen Ora in the entry hall... it is a good likeness. It is very well done. Some day... if I live and should ever have my property and rights returned to me... I should like to buy that painting," she offered.

Krisna smiled sadly and gave her head a little shake.

"The painting of Queen Ora was done by the tavern owner-- it was her first piece completed as a free woman. She is very attached to it and is a great admirer of the late Queen. She counts it among one of her most prized possessions, as it would be impossible to replicate. The Queen herself agreed to sit for it. I think it likely she would never willingly part with it," the woman said almost apologetically.

"I understand. Please tell her that I greatly admire her talent and have never seen so skillful a copy of my sister's appearance and mannerisms. It soothed my heart for a moment," Talia said.

Krisna smiled and bowed her head.

Following Ilya through the tavern, Talia paused in the entry hall to gaze again at the likeness of her sister.

Ora gazed back with her calm and noble demeanor, her lip quirked in a slight smile as if she knew some secret that Talia didn't.

Her surroundings were unfamiliar. She stood at the foot of a staircase which ended in a pair of massive carved mermaids twisting around posts, holding up a pair of conch shells which were the finials of the posts. Her hand rested gently on one of those carved wooden shells, as if she had just descended the stairs and paused for a moment to smile knowingly at the viewer.

Talia wondered if it had been done in the Unarian palace. It was an interesting setting.

"Come Princess, we have a ways to travel before we can rest," Ilya urged.

Talia nodded and followed him back into the cold.