12

It was the steadiness of her brushstrokes that gave her away.

One of the maids had made an attempt on the journey to brush Eirian's hair in the mornings, but she'd clearly had little to no experience with hair as long or fine as Eirian's and it had been a…painful experience.

The woman, the matron who'd worn black to her wedding, who was still wearing black and had shaken Eirian awake far too early, passed the brush over scalp with just enough pressure to clear the tangles and not rip Eirian hair out of her skull.

"You're from the capital." Eirian stated, watching her closely in the mirror for any reaction.

The older woman simply nodded, pulling the brush all the way through the ends of hair. "Yes. I was born and raised there."

"Which house?"

"Vermeer."

Eirian blinked. The House of Vermeer was one of the founding houses of Sorrow but had long fallen from its initial glory. Like all the rest.

But house Vermeer, while not a rich or large as it had once been, was still known for producing artists of incredibly high caliber. What they lacked in political clout they held in world of beauty and creativity.

"A branch house, Roxley." The woman continued. "You may call me Marian, if you wish, but Matron Colfax will also do."

"You are the Lady of the Camelia?" Eirian asked, skeptical.

"No, but I am the closest you will get. There are few that want that job." Marian finished brushing her hair, musing to herself that Ye Chenzhou had not been lying when it called the color of moonfire. It was a shade of pale blond that she'd never quite seen before, outside paintings of the current royal family.

It matched her oddly bright green eyes.

"Tell me about Chenzhou and the Camelia." Eirian demanded as Marian's fingers began to twist her hair into a crown braid. It was a slightly outdated style, but as it came together under Marian's fingers Eirian decided it didn't look too bad. It highlighted her neck and the curve of her shoulder and her jawline.

"Ye Chenzhou's parents were soldiers. His father was the only child of his generation of Ye's to survive to adulthood. He met his mother on the battlefield, and they married only a week later," Marian's lips tilted into a soft smile that quickly faded. "She died in childbirth only a year later. He followed not long after."

"So, you raised Ye Chenzhou?" Those sharp green eyes were assessing through the mirror.

"As much as anyone did. He was a quiet child. Ill more often than most children are."

Which was a neat way of skirting the issue, Eirian thought.

"He was always quiet. Friendly, but he only had one close friend. Rong Yuze's parents were servants in this house. He was the only child that didn't mind playing inside."

"Is he still around?"

"Yes. He serves as vital part of Chenzhou's command."

Which didn't tell her what he actually did, Eirian noted.

"The Camelia is home to approximately three hundred thousand people. One hundred thousand of those are the actual fighters, the rest fill various rolls of support. There are forty thousand horses in the stables, the largest in Sorrow. Along with various other animals used for scouting, tracking, and communication."

Eirian interrupts, "How about a wizard?"

Marian doesn't even pause as she finishes tucking the ends of the crown braids in place. "There had not been a wizard in residence in the Camelia since before the births of Chenzhou's parents."

"Why not? A military house of this size ought to have a few, don't you think?"

It's a test, Marian realizes. Those sharp eyes following her in the mirror as she selects one of the beautiful, jeweled combs from Eirian's collection.

Chenzhou had said his new wife had magic.

Powerful magic.

She selects a gold comb lined with pink sapphires and rubies to match the pale pink robes with red and gold accents Eirian told her to prepare for the day and sets in center of the braid as she considers her answer. "I am not fully aware of why, but the last wizard to serve the Camelia left after being accused of treason."

"Treason? And they left alive?"

Marian met her eyes in the mirror as she pulled a few strands of hair loose, softening Eirian's entire appearance. "The way it was stated to me, your grace, was that the Camelia did not allow them to leave willingly."

Eirian hums in understanding, tilting her head to admire her hair. That certainly explained something didn't it. "Well done. You haven't lost your touch."

"Thank you, your grace. I'll get your robes."

A wizard accused of treason, Eirian thought, standing and stretching until her muscles protested and her stomach grumbled. That could certainly explain the miasma.

She let Marian adjust the robes and didn't bother with more than a touch of color to her lips. This didn't seem like a place that cared much for ascetics. 

"I believe Lord Ye is holding breakfast for you in the east solarium." Marian fell into step behind, a pace behind her left shoulder.

She definitely hadn't forgotten anything about the capital, Eirian noted. Marian Colfax, nee Roxley. She'd have to write to some contacts to see what they could find out about the Matron of the Camelia.

"Fine. I want to speak to someone about cleaning and touching up my rooms." Eirian stated as they walked.

"I will tell the steward to bring the housemaster before lunch."

"What's after breakfast?"

"I thought perhaps you would like a tour. The Camelia is quite large, but I will be able to show you what you will need to know with time to meet the housemaster."

"Very well." She'd prefer to explore on her own, but a tour wouldn't hurt. Marian was clearly working hard to stay a step ahead and until she knew if the woman was friend or foe, it would be smart to keep her somewhat close.

The west solarium was in the opposite direction from their feast the night before, but Marian's quiet directions lead Eirian to a large room with a glass ceiling and plants lining the walls.

Ye Chenzhou was seated at the head of a long table set with fine bone china.

And next to him, was a young woman their age.

"Your grace, Lord Ye and the Lady Anna."

~ tbc