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Llew had to
admire that, now the girls would definitely think
they
’
d fallen out. He wished
he
’
d thought of that. He
sneaked a peak at them, a few had looked over at
Gos
’
shout but most were
mooning over the squires who were just finishing their practise,
some having taken off their shirts. Lantana stopped, they were
standing not far from the girls now, at the edge off a very muddy
flower bed. She pretended to glare at Gos, whispering to
Llew.
“
Nearly
there
…
Gos is aiming for that
big muddy puddle, good choice
…
that maid is kissing the
guard
…
ready
…
Go!
”

Llew grabbed
a double handful of mud and threw it at the girls. Three other
lumps sailed through the air. As they found their target shrieks
ripped apart the quiet. Llew savoured their shocked faces before
reaching for more mud. Soon the girls were under a steady rain,
running in circles, screaming and trying to hide behind one
another. The maid stood nearby, carefully out of range.
“
Stop that you naughty boys! Stop!
I said stop it, now! Girls, come away!
”

“
Ahiii,
Holver I
’
m going to get you
baahhh!
”

Llew could
hardly breathe he was laughing so hard, he looked over at Lantana
and could see she had a similar difficulties. Defiantly two girls
ran out of the huddle, braving muddy missiles. One, Violet, ran
straight at Llew and Lantana, ran straight into them. Llew agilely
jumped out of the way, but Lantana
wasn
’
t so quick. Violet
shoved her into the mud, face first. A loud splash and yell came
from the other side of the girls, and Llew could see Holver laying
in the puddle, his sister triumphantly standing on top of him.
Holly shouted to the other girls.
“
Come on! Don
’
t just
stand there, they
’
re only
stupid pages! Let
’
s get them
back!
”

The girls
hesitated, then seeing that two of the boys had already fallen, and
their clothes already ruined, their faces lit up with fierce grins.
They reached for handfuls of mud. Llew stared in horror at
them.
“
Gods,
we
’
re in for it
now.
”

Lantana
grabbed his arm and pulled him up, then looked at the girls. There
were seven of them. Gos and Holver edged their way over to Llew,
the girls steadily advancing. They all shared a look, knowing they
were out numbered.
“
Retreat!
”

They all
lobbed a last few handfuls of mud then turned tail and ran.
Outraged shrieks from the girls followed them, with shouts
of
‘
get
them!
’
the girls raced after
them. Their maid futilely called for them to stop and come back but
they paid no heed. The bass rumble of laughter from the soldiers
followed them.

They raced
across the yard, aiming for one of the doorways that cut through
the page
’
s wing into the
Palace Gardens. The corridor was mostly empty, it being lunch time,
just a few startled servants, whose shock turned to anger when the
boys left a trail of rain water and mud in their wake. Heedless,
the boys raced on, into the Gardens, down twisting paths. After a
while they came to an unspoken agreement and stopped, panting and
grinning at one another. Llew looked about himself, the path they
were on was a short stretch, tall rose bushes on either side, where
the foliage was thick and hid them from view. He strained to hear
anything, but all was still apart from their heavy
breathing.
“
We lost them!
Stupid girls are too slow, they can
’
t catch us!
”

“
Llew, Llew
that was such a good idea! Ha, did you see their faces, I landed a
right big handful of mud on Holly
’
s face!
”

“
Yes, and
then she shoved you into a puddle!
”

“
Shut up
Lantana, I saw Violet shove you in the
mud!
”

“
Yeah, face
first!
”

“
Yeah I know,
she
’
s pretty
strong!
”

They started
to walk back, teasing each other. Llew loved the fact that his idea
had gone so well, and they had all followed his lead, this just
proved how
…

“
Hello stinky
faces.
”

They had come
to the end of the rose bushes and Holly and Violet stood in front
of them, holding a large bucket between them. The smell reached
Llew
’
s nose, the dread stink
of the midden heaps. He pulled a face and edged back, the others
with him. The girls stalked them, their arms pulling back to chuck
the contents over them. The boys
didn
’
t wait for that but
turned and ran once more, the girls at their heals. As they reached
the other end of the bushes Holly shouted,
“
Now!
”

The rest of
the girls closed in from the other end, trapping them. Something
warm and thick poured over his face, into his mouth and eyes. When
he gasped it even went up his nose. Blinded he stumbled, tripping
over someone and falling, Holver
’s
bulk softening his landing. More midden slops were thrown
over him, he could hear the raucous cries of the girls laughing.
Wiping
…
.he
didn
’
t know what, from his
eyes he could see them still holding empty buckets, clinging to one
another in their mirth. Violet was sitting on the grass, mud
smeared across her cheek, laughing so hard she could barely
breathe. Llew and the others were all in a big heap, covered in the
foul smelling mess and Gos looked at him, blinking owlishly.
Lantana sat up, detangling her legs from Holver, she looked around
and started making a funny noise. Llew thought maybe the trauma had
driven her crazy, then he realized she was laughing. Llew gaped at
her, laughing? They
’
d just
been made fools of. Gos joined in, even Holver managed a chuckle,
his sister using the only clean part of her dress to wipe the foul
mess from his eyes. Llew looked over the group again, the pages in
a messy pile, the girls like wilted, mud splattered flowers and
felt a laugh bubbling up despite himself. Until a stern and furious
voice boomed over them.

“
By the
Mother
’
s ever illuming
grace, what do you think you are doing?
”

Mera shut the
door behind her, and leaned against it, sighing heavily. She had
met Cerid Wren at the crack of dawn and was exhausted. She opened
her eyes and looked blearily into her rooms. She still
couldn
’
t believe they were
hers. The door led to a small corridor, with cupboards on either
side. She opened one now, hanging up her coat and taking off her
muddy boots. Tansy wouldn
’
t
be happy when she saw them. Tansy had been assigned as her
permanent maid now, it meant her only chores were looking after
Mera. She thought that had meant Tansy would have less work and
more pay and privileges, but Tansy had assured her that she was
busier than ever. Mera didn
’
t understand how, but didn
’
t want to make her angry. She passed the door that led to
Tansy
’
s room, stopping a
moment and listening. She couldn
’
t hear anything, and when she was in she usually left it
open and was busy bustling around. Mera was glad, she needed a
little peace.

The main room
was a large parlour, the centre of which a large hollow, four
shallow stairs leading down into a seating area. She tossed her
satchel on one of the three sofas that were arrayed facing the
hearth, little tables and puffs scattered about. Her fingers
luxuriated in the deep velvet as she took a moment to roll out her
shoulders. Around the depression were more cabinets and mirrors
than Meredith knew what to do with. There were two bay windows with
balconies. In front of one sat a four seated table, of finely
carved wood, delicate looking. At the moment her notes lay
scattered all over it, Tansy
’
s cheaply printed adventure stories and political pamphlets
from Merida, and some books she had snuck out of the
library.

By the other
window had sat a loom when she first moved in. She
didn
’
t know why. She had
never even sewn, and certainly didn
’
t plan on taking up weaving. She had Tansy get some
servants to take it away, but not only had she done that, she had
managed to dig up a dusty and rather bizarre table. It had been
circular, a circle within a circle, the inner circle much lower
that the outer, connected by lots of little round, square and
triangular shelves. It
’
s
legs had been odd, and in the process of cleaning it they had
discovered that it separated into two semi circles. Neither girl,
nor any other servant who helped carry it, knew what it was for it
had been so long buried.

Now it sat
with each semicircle curving to the light of the window. Mera
already had some cuttings and bulbs growing in pots set on them.
The two tier was perfect for allowing the best amount of light for
the most plants. She had brought six long lengths of ribbon, all in
different colours as a thank you. She was getting an allowance now,
and she knew Tansy would love them. What she
hadn
’
t expected was for
Tansy to burst into tears.

Other doors led to a large bedroom for her,
complete with fainting couch and beauty desk. Everywhere was open
spaces and light. Her room was done in soothing green, the night
sky painted on the ceiling. The parlour marble, the walls
punctuated by frescoed trees, the upper branches supporting the
ceiling which in turn was painted like a spring sky, complete with
fluffy clouds. Polished wooden floors, the seating area softly
carpeted. It was beautiful, but a little overwhelming.

Mera sniffed
the air, drawn to the table on which lay a tray of covered dishes.
Her belly gave a loud growl reminding her that she
hadn
’
t eaten yet. Smiling,
she thought Tansy knew her well. She pulled out a chair and sat,
not bothering to wash her hands. It was only a bit of earth beneath
her nails. She uncovered each dish to find a herbal salad with
dressing, a cooling soup thick with onion and carrot and lamb and
spices. Her mouth started to water, there was a roll still holding
warmth from the oven and freshly churned butter. She uncovered the
last bowl finding apples poached in liqueur with honey and cinnamon
and a bowl of clotted cream. She covered the last back up,
buttering her roll then ripping pieces off into the
soup.

Mera thought on her time with Cerid as she
ate; she had awoken one morning and found frost laying like an icy
haze over everything, and had gone back to the rowan copse as soon
as she was able to slip away. Cerid had been awaiting her, sitting
still against a bowl of a tree, with her large brownish black cloak
and white hair she had been almost unnoticeable until she moved.
Since then they had met many times, on occasion Mera had been
unable to make it but the crone was never disgruntled or
surprised.

Cerid began by walking with her, naming the
plants that flourished in winter and their properties, questioning
Mera to find the extent of her knowledge. That first night Mera had
sought to write down all she had learned. The next time they met
she had brought writing tools, and bound paper. She had studiously
written everything the crone said. Until the crone rather sharply
told her to stop scribbling and pay attention, Mera needed to
listen and to question if she was to learn. After a few more
meetings they had come to the comfortable pattern of spending some
time for Mera to ask questions of the last lesson, correcting her
notes. Then she would put them aside and the crone would teach her
some more lore, then they would usually walk once more. Perhaps
finding a plant or fungi and going through its structure and
properties in detail; what it could be used for, which parts could
be used, when and how to gather it, what it was beneficial to mix
it with, what could counteract it, what never to put it with. Not
everything the crone taught her was beneficial, there were many
poisons to be learnt too. When Mera questioned why Cerid was
teaching her this when she wanted to learn how to heal, not kill,
Cerid replied;

“
Whether ye
use it or na
’
is your
choice, child. Ye need to know either way, ye
wouldn
’
t want to mix up a
poison by mistake now, would ye? And ye never know when such lore
may be of use to ye, the path of fate is a twisted one,
child.
”