The whole of Tarchatel’s castle came into view as soon as they left the Whitepaw Forest. Kwen called out excitedly, finally seeing their destination. The carriage rattled for a moment as they left the packed dirt road for the well-maintained cobblestone road.
The entire city was built on a large hill bordered on the northern side by the swift flowing Blomrell River. Sturdy walls, topped with the flag of Graymane, surrounded the homes and markets. The stone of the walls was a light gray that shimmered slightly in the sun.
“Wow, look how high it is,” Kwen said.
The city grew larger and larger as they rode over the final three miles to the city. There was a short line of both carriages and people on foot at the gates as they approached. Three guards were speaking with the people seeking to gain entry to the city one at a time. Once they reached the front of the line, a young soldier in the green, white, and gray uniform of a King’s Guard came up to the side of the carriage.
“State your business.”
“We’re here to apply for a position as one of the Queen’s Handmaidens.” Shae showed her signet ring, a jeweled representation of her father’s crimson and gold seal.
The guard nodded. “Continue along this street to the inner wall gate. The guards there will inform you where to go.”
Shae nodded. “Drive on.”
The stone gates stretched high above them as the two ibex moved forward. There was talking and noise such as Shae had never heard before. Looking out of the carriage she saw multitudes of people. After only a few feet she felt they had passed more people than lived in the whole of Garwood Valley.
Kwen was jumping back and forth, looking out each window in turn. Shae could see her tail wagging happily under her dress as she took in all the sights and sounds.
They pulled up to the inner wall gate. As soon as they stopped the carriage shook and Merai jumped down. “I have some stuff to do. Thank you for the ride.”
Shae nodded as Kwen said good-bye and waved with a smile. The girl disappeared into the crowd back toward the outer city. A moment later a guard moved up, dressed in the same uniform as the previous guards.
“You’re here for the Queen’s summons?” the guard asked.
“Yes.”
“Pull into the field just to the right inside the gate. Someone will be by to test you in a few minutes.”
“Test?”
“Yes, Lady. I’m afraid they didn’t tell me more than that.”
“What do you think Father will do if we don’t pass this test?” Kwen was looking out the window as they carriage moved through the gate and onto a large expanse of grass. There were several other carriages with servants waiting beside them.
“I don’t know.” Shae thought for a moment about the prospect of returning home after having failed. It would disappoint Father.
The inner wall surrounded a much smaller area, and it seemed to be filled mostly with older style buildings, newly repaired, and large mansions surrounded by delicately tended gardens. There was no market here, and those that walked the streets wore clothing newly pressed and covered with expensive trinkets and lace.
Shae was about to return to her needlepoint when someone appeared at the side of the carriage. This man was wearing the same King’s Guard uniform though he had a shoulder pad over his right arm marked with three black lines.
“Greetings. My name is Elentesa Lewlyth and I am here to administer the first test of candidacy.”
“Here?” Kwen asked eagerly.
“It is a quick test.” His green hair was cut short about his face and his features were much softer and less weathered than the previous guards. “May I have your hand please?”
The younger sister, eager to have something happening, held out her hand immediately.
“Without the glove.” The man smiled.
Shae bristled. “You can not expect a noble lady to allow her hand to be touched by a man to which she has no understanding, especially one lesser born. I don’t care if this is a test, it is unacceptable.”
The guard raised an eyebrow at the outburst and then he chuckled. “I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding, My Lady, but I am a woman.”
“A woman wearing pants?” Now that Shae was looking closer she could see the curves that betrayed a woman instead of a man.
“This is the uniform of the King’s Guard, My Lady.”
Kwen was watching her sister, and at Shae’s nod she removed her glove and offered her hand again.
Elentesa simply nodded and took Kwen’s hand. She then traced a pattern in the young noble’s palm.
“That tickles.”
The guard released her hand with a nod and looked up at Shae. She removed her own glove and held out her hand. “I apol-”
“Don’t apologize.” The woman traced the symbol in Shae’s hand as well. “It shows weakness that is unbecoming of your rank.” Then she looked up, her eyes narrowed in confusion. The expression erased itself and she smiled. “You have both passed. If you will follow me, I will take you to the interview.”
Shae withdrew her hand, rubbing her thumb over her palm. What exactly had she done to pass them? Her hands were as soft as a noble’s should be. Kwen was already climbing down from the carriage, Elentesa offering her hand for balance. Did all women in the capitol act so like men?
“Will we be gone long?”
“There are other candidate hopefuls here ahead of you, so it may take an hour or so,” the woman replied.
Shae looked back at Dunlan, the more senior of the guards. “You may all walk the city for an hour if you wish.”
He nodded as she turned back to their escort. Elentesa led the two sisters over the grass to the cobblestone path, past several estates and toward an expansive garden that was grown up beside the castle’s wall. At the entrance to the garden there were two guards and a third man in a robe, holding a scroll of paper.
“Names?” he asked as they approached.
He jotted the names down and then motioned to the path beside him. “Please wait with the others until you are called.”
Kwen moved forward eagerly. The path deposited them in a large courtyard where a half-dozen other young women were already waiting. Most of them looked up as the sisters entered.
“More noblewomen.” One of the girls in a plain brown dress said loudly. “Not much hope at all for us common born.”
Kwen quickly chose a seat next to two other ladies in bright, fashionable dresses. Shae kept her feet, though moved into the shade of a large tree swathed in soft pink blossoms. Most of the dresses in the courtyard were colorful. The few browns and tans were off to the side, their wearers keeping to themselves when not throwing jealous glances at those noble born.
However, the girl in the plain brown dress exuded a sense of confidence she did not see in any of the other common born. Her face was well tanned and pink hair fell down her back in a loose braid. When she noticed Shae looking, she caught the other girl’s eyes in a glare.
The man with the scroll came into the courtyard. “Linnath Iilaye,” he announced.
The girl she had been watching walked over to the man to follow him out. Kwen was already talking adamantly with some of the other young women. Every ten minutes or so the man would come back out and call out another name and another of the courtyard’s current inhabitants would go with him.
Shae was more than ready by the time he called her name. She followed after him, keeping her gait slow and unhurried. Kwen waved as she left. At the exit to the garden a young servant boy waited to lead her to a building down another path in the garden. He opened the door for her and motioned her inside.
The building consisted of one large room. At the far end was a table behind which three people sat. The woman in the middle drew her attention immediately. Something about the way she sat, or perhaps not something so obvious. Either way it was like a physical force drawing attention to her sharply curved cheekbones and pointed ears. Dark green hair was swept up into a tight bun behind her head. She wore a dress that appeared simple if one missed the fine details. A badge was pinned above her right breast, its meaning unknown.
Shaewynn curtseyed.
“Please have a seat, Miss Shaewynn,” the woman said with a smile. “Feel free to have a drink or something to eat before we start.”
Only then did Shae notice a chair facing the table. She sat down; taking a piece of fruit from the small bowl on a table beside the chair, hoping it would help calm her.
“My name is Lady Gwethenn Ulfmoor, and this is Master Kithnath Vulaye and Miss Aravalia Sirelia.”
Lord Kithnath was an angic, clearly shorter than the others with bright red hair and equally stunning wings on his back. His face was wrinkled in places, but his eyes still sparkled with life. Lady Aravalia was a human with golden brown hair that was swept up into a braid twisted at the back of her neck. Both wore robes in the colors of the king, each with a badge bearing a different symbol.
“Are you ready to begin?” Lady Gwethenn asked after a moment.
“Yes.”
“Please state your full name for the record.”
“Shaewyn Welcen of Garwood Valley, daughter of Lord Athun Welcen.”
“Miss Shaewynn, what is your reason for wanting to become a candidate for the position of Queen’s Handmaiden?”
What did these people want to see? Failing an interview could not possibly be her fault if she just did not answer the way these people wanted her to. What would Father say to failure? If she could somehow figure out what they wanted her to say…
“If you ever feel the need to lie, always think about why. Your good name, once lost is hard to recover.” Mother grinned. “Plus, remembering too many lies is tedious.”
“It seems a fine way to serve my country as well as raise my own station.”
The elf nodded. “What is it that you believe a Handmaiden does?”
“She serves the Queen in whatever way is necessary.”
“Such as?”
“Keeping her quarters, helping her dress, accompanying her, and perhaps providing council.”
The questions continued. Some were about her upbringing and the lessons provided to her. There were also questions about her hobbies, talents, and aspirations. After every answer, the two interviewers wrote swiftly on the paper in front of them.
Shae tried to answer as truthfully as she could, though it was sometimes clear she had not answered as thoroughly as Lady Gwethenn believed she should.
Once the questions had finished the three interviewers convened. Their voices did not carry to her, and when she tried to read the expressions on their faces, they seemed to go out of focus. Shae rubbed her eyes and tried again with the same result.
“There is one last thing, not so much a question as a request,” Lady Gwethenn’s face snapped back into focus. “Would you remove your bonnet?”
Shae felt her blood run cold and she knew her face showed it. She tried to quickly pull a neutral expression on. It would be better to be turned away now than later. She untied the knot beneath her chin and lifted the head cover away.
Lady Aravalia gasped audibly as her ears pricked forward, now free of their cloth prison.
“Your father’s marriage was so bright with rumors, even I was unsure which were true,” the lady elf admitted. “So your mother was indeed a shisa?”
“My mothers name was Evin Welcen, daughter of Firespark of Nettlewood,” Shae said, daring any of the three with a hardened expression against insulting her mother in any way.
“That is all then, Miss Shaewynn.”
The half-shisa hastily replaced her bonnet. Shae wondered if she would have passed had they not found out about her shisa blood. She needed to find Kwen to save her the embarrassment.
“The interviews will be closed as of noon tomorrow. You will receive a response by messenger as to whether you have passed or not within a day after.” Lady Gwethenn said.
“You…” A refined lady was never without something to say. “So I have not failed?”
“That is not something I am free to confirm or deny at this time as we have not seen all of the possible candidates yet.”
“But I am a shisa…”
“I’m afraid that does not give you any sort of advantage over the other young ladies.”
Advantage? How could being a shisa ever be an advantage in this country?
“Do you have any questions, Miss Shaewynn?”
Many. “No, My Lady,” she responded as she stood.
“Then I wish you luck and hope to see you again soon.”
Shae curtseyed. The door opened as she approached and the young servant bowed, ready to lead her back.