Resistance

The woman stared at Talia for a moment as she considered her request.

"We aren't open yet," she said slowly, but the way she stared at Talia suggested that she was waiting for her to say something further.

Talia crossed her arms and met her gaze confidently.

"You're Vezdan, aren't you?" she asked. "So am I."

The woman frowned and shrugged her shoulders.

"We're in the East River District. A lot of people here are Vezdan," the woman answered carefully. "You must not be from around these parts."

Talia nodded her head in agreement.

"No. I've recently come from Vezda. Your... business... it was recommended to me by a friend."

The woman nodded slowly again and opened the door a little wider, though she still watched Talia with suspicious eyes.

Talia smiled politely and entered the shop.

Once inside, she saw racks of fabrics, dresses made up on forms or cast across tables in various stages of creation.

This was a dressmaker's shop, she realized. Walking slowly around the shop, she pretended to study the fabric. The shop owner continued to watch her in silence. It was awkward, very awkward. They were both waiting for something, and neither wanted to show their hand to the other.

"Is there something specific you're looking for?" the woman asked with a hint of impatience in her voice.

"Uhh... no... I...you see a friend recommended your shop," Talia said, willing her to understand.

"So you said," the woman replied, raising an eyebrow.

"The owner of the Drail Tavern," Talia said.

"I don't know the owner of the Drail Tavern," the shopkeeper answered quickly. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave and come back when we're--"

"Wait! Wait just a minute, I... uhh..." Talia stalled, trying to think of something that might inspire the woman to trust her. She could not come out and say who she was, that would be far too dangerous, and there was no way to be completely certain the owner of the tavern had sent her to someone who was truly a friend. The woman had been a bit strange after all, and..."

She suddenly remembered her conversation with the tavern owner. Leaning toward the table, Talia rapped on it with her fist- three slow taps, two sharp taps, two slow taps, twos sharp taps-- just as the tavern owner had done.

The shopkeeper's tense posture loosened at once. Her suspicious expression was replaced by one of relief.

"You're supposed to knock that way when you first come to the door!" she said, shaking her head as grinned. "You really had me nervous there for a moment, did you know?"

"I didn't know! I wasn't told when to knock!" Talia explained as relief washed through he'd as well. The woman's entire demeanor toward her had changed. She was smiling and looking her up and down with an appraising eye.

"I wouldn't have even let you in at all, but- you've probably heard this a great deal- you look so much like the Princess! Well, paintings I've seen of the Princess, anyhow," she admitted.

"I... I am," Talia said.

"You are what?" the shopkeeper asked.

"The Princess of Vezda... Talia... of House Eosin," Talia introduced herself.

The woman gave a short hard laugh and looked again at Talia, who did not laugh, but clasped her hands politely in front of her.

Immediately, the woman fell to her knees and bowed her head.

"May the Alulians forgive me, my Princess. I did not... I... I apologize. I..." the woman cried out. Her face was very red.

"You didn't expect the Princess of Vezda at your door... who would? Don't bow, please. You must know that isn't done where we're from," Talia winced.

"Forgive me, I... I..." the woman stuttered

Talia motioned again for her to stand up.

"I understand your surprise, but I've come to you today because I was assured that I could find loyal Vezdans here, and I need help," Talia explained.

"Of course.. I... we... we would be honored, my princess. Whatever we can do..." the woman stuttered as she climbed to her feet.

"We?" Talia repeated, and then noticed that the shopkeeper was not looking at her, but rather past her.

She turned to see a second woman emerge from a shadowy stairway in the back of a shop. She held daggers in both hands which she immediately laid on the table before crossing her hands politely in front of her and quickly bowing her head in aknowledgement.

"My Princess," the second woman greeted her.

"This is my sister, Mahet," the shopkeeper introduced her, "and I am Judice."

"And I apologize for bearing arms before House Eosin, my Princess!" Mahet said, her face reddening as she spoke.

"You did not know who had entered the shop, I cannot blame you for that. A daughter of Vezda always has the right to defend herself," Talia reassured her, waving the offense off with an unconcerned flick of her fingers.

"But how did you escape, my Princess?" Judice asked.

"Escape? No... I haven't escaped. I've done my best to abide by the treaty for Vezda. I was traveling to the capitol when our party was attacked. My maid and I were separated from our group in the chaos, and when the Emperor's guards arrived, they mistook my maid for me. I made my way here to correct that mistake and answer the Emperor's summons," Talia explained quickly, leaving out several important parts. "But in all the time I've been here as a prisoner in Unaria, I've had no word for home. I know that something must have happened for the Emperor to summon me to renegotiate the treaty, and I am afraid to go to the table with him until I know what drives him. I've heard rumors that Unaria has found a strong ally?"

Judice and Mahet nodded their heads in unison, excited to share what they knew.

"Yes, we've heard that as well," Judice agreed. "I can't say for certain who it is, but a delegation from the council of seven kingdoms is scheduled to arrive in the capitol soon. There is to be an inquiry into Unaria's handling of the Treaty, and that means-"

"It means that a complaint must have been raised by one of the seven kingdoms!" Mahet cut in, excited to share the good news. "Most people think it was the King of the Blackside Islands."

"It can't be," Talia shook her head. "Vezda offended the King of Blackside Islands many years ago. He is not the sort to let go of a grudge."

"Blackside has a new king," Mahet informed her. "A king who trained on the Holy Island with King Oleg!"

"Prince Dellan!" Talia realized. Her hand flew to her mouth in shock.

She remembered the boy well. Oleg and the Blackside prince had indeed trained together, and their exploits on the island had often tested the priests' patience. Whenever she was sent to fetch him, Prince Dellan would be there as well, grinning at her, teasing her that she hadn't grown any bigger.

After Oleg had broken her engagement with Dellan's father, they had never seen or heard from the Blackside royals again.

"They have the largest navy of the seven kingdoms," Judice reminded her.

"Yes," Talia nodded thoughtfully.

She knew the military might and the list of Blackside allies well. Her father had spoken of it often when he was alive. Alone, they were a formidable opponent, but with other allies from the seven kingdoms... not even the Emperor of Unaria would seek to oppose them.

"But why would Blackside choose to align themselves with us now? We are a defeated kingdom, a territory of the Empire. What do they hope to gain from us?" Talia wondered.

"Vezda was a protective buffer between Blackside and the Empire," Mahet suggested.

"So is the ocean," Talia replied, unconvinced.

"He has only become King recently, perhaps his friendship with King Oleg-"

"No. Dellan studied the old ways. As king, he would not risk the lives of his people for personal matters like friendship," Talia cut in quickly. "No matter, it is good news if true. How did you learn of this? Are you organized? Does Vezda have spies within the Empire?"

The two women exchanged a glance.

"There is... a resistance of sorts, but we are... less organized these days," Judice frowned.

"We are leaderless now!" Mahet interrupted. "Queen Ora said-"

"You knew my sister?" Talia interrupted.

A dull ache throbbed in her heart at the mention of Ora's name. Ora had managed to organize a resistance within the Empire over the short time she had resided there. Talia wasn't surprised. Her sister was a true queen of Vezda.

"No, not personally," Judice admitted.

"But it was Queen Ora who brought Vezdans into the palace and the homes of the nobles," Mahet continued. "When she came to court, she brought Vezdan hairstyles and fashion based on Vezdan fabrics and clothing. She even insisted that all her personal servants be Vezdan. When she walked into a room, followed by a trail of women with their hair braided up and all in white, it left quite the impression!"

The two sisters chuckled at the shared memory.

"All of a sudden, every Unarian lady wanted Vezdan maids, Vezdan hairstylists, Vezdan dressmakers," Judice added.

"And Ora made the recommendations when asked... all loyal Vezdan girls," Mahet nodded. "Gathering information, spreading rumors when needed-- all to serve Queen Ora's maneuverings here in Unaria. She was able to pass a law allowing slaves to buy their freedom, improve conditions for brothel girls, and even give slaves legal standing in court."

"And your resistance... your network... it fell apart when she died," Talia guessed.

"Not exactly," Mahet admitted.

The two sisters traded another glance. Talia frowned at the silent communication between the women. It seemed they were reluctant to tell her.

"Queen Ora knew that she would die," Judice said, her hands twisting nervously together as she spoke. "she chose a succesor-"

"And chose poorly!" Mahet added angrily. "Grieta only does what benefits Grieta! And I don't know why Queen Ora ever trusted her. That woman owns more slaves than anyone but the Emperor himself!"

"She uses her girls to get information for us," Judice interjected kindly, "and she has benefited-"

"And yet all the nights she's spent personally entertaining that demon Prince and never a word about him!" Mahet argued. "I don't trust her, I never have!"

"P-Prince Mikhail?" Talia asked. Mahet's words hit her like a slap to the face.

"Yes. Grieta owns several Imperial brothels. She was once the late Emperor's youngest concubine and the last one he took," Judice explained.

"And don't think that fact kept either of the late Emperor's sons from enjoying her company as well!" Mahet growled bitterly. "Especially the Prince!"

Talia kept her face expressionless. She had plenty of experience doing so in battle, but each word felt like a heated needle stabbing into her back.

"That man butchered more Vezdans than any other commander in the Unarian army!" Mahet continued. "I would spit in his face before he'd lay a hand on me!"

"I... I need to go to court, and quickly. Do you have something I can wear?" Talia changed the subject.

The two women looked at one another and shared a grin.

"We just might," Judice nodded.