Sly

It was still early morning when I reached out and rang the bell at the elegant gate in Green district. Green, being the most quality entertainment and eating house district in all of Unays. Despite its border with Swamp, it was a short travel from many of the higher districts like Jewel and Garden where only the wealthiest in Unays could afford to live.

The bell sounded and Sly stepped back, waiting and trying not to look so out of place in my worn tunic and mud-caked boots. Luckily, it wasn't in the nature of Green district to be awake before midday. Most of the activities of the area were meant for the evening and into the late hours of the night.

The door opened to a sleepy but intrigued Panther. The tall Muse let her sharp golden eyes roll over me, and I shivered under her gaze. Even for a Muse, Panther seemed to have one foot in the realms of the gods and one here in the mortal world with the rest of us. She must really be prized by Bliss. A girl forsakes her true name, and is given a new one upon entering a House of Bliss, goddess of grace, the arts, and women. Panther was named for her fierce eyes of the southern predators, and she was named correctly.

"Sly, have you decided to join our happy house?" Panther crooned, tucking a lock of my hair behind an ear. She leaned in closer and whispered. "Or are you here with news of our guest from the other night?"

Guest? Oh. Bricker.

"Actually, Panther, I was hoping to visit Orchid." I smiled. "But I can tell you that our guest is recovering well and his purpose in Unays was not malicious."

"I am pleased to hear it. And of course you may come see your friend." Panther stepped back, opening the door wider. "If Orchid does not wake easily, you have my full permission to wake her however you see fit. I am pleased our guest is well, send Davery my thanks. for the work he does. That you all do for Unays."

"I will." I ducked her head, blushing at the gleam in the Muse's eyes and headed for the stairs.

 Of the six Muses in Panther's house, their leader was the most cunning. The fact that she could see past the muddied exterior and pluck Orchid from Swamp for her house was proof enough of that. Not everyone would have done the same, no matter how suited Orhchid is to serve Bliss. 

Orchid joined as her father joined the army, but we all knew she would have ended up here eventually. It's not a wonder the patron goddess of grace and arts would take a liking to the little diamond from Swamp.

Here, Orchid thrived. Her natural grace, her beauty, trained and polished. Her skills in music, poetry, and dance honed to perfection. Even the art of company and conversation was a part of the Muses' arsenal of skills. And I know she loved the charity work that the Muses did each month. Under all the polish and shine, Orchid still reminded me of Davery. The same golden hearts.

I reached the top of the ornate stairs and knocked on Orchid's door. I smiled when I was met with a very un-muselike groan.

"Sly..." Orchid drew open her door, letting me inside. "What are you doing here?"

I walked in, taking in her appearance. Bags under her eyes, hair a mess. She must have just woken up if she wasn't polished to perfection yet.

I grinned, and she rolled her eyes.

Orchid took a seat on a red silk ottoman in the middle of her room, displaying the poise of an elegant statue. I flopped onto a cushion beside her. 

"How is our patient?" Orchid asked with a yawn. She ran her fingers through her dischevled hair and grimaced.

"Well enough. He's up and walking anyway." I yawned. "Davery did something stupid again though, and is paying for it with ointment and bedrest. His favorite things."

Orchid smiled slightly as she began to work on her hair with her fingers. "And how is he handling his tasks at the reins of the Black Daggers from a bed?"

"About as well as a mouse handles the depths of the lake." I chuckled.

Orchid looked at me pointedly.

"Directness is unbecoming of a young lady, Sly." Orchid's tone was proper and stern, an obvious imitation of something Panther must say often. Her wide smile afterwards ruined the effect.

I snorted. "Then it's a good thing I'm no lady."

"Well, that's good news about the boy I suppose. And Davery. You'd be more worried than this if it were serious."

I shrugged. She wasn't wrong. 

"What does bring you here then?" Orchid reached for a comb on her vanity, gently tugging it through the ends of her hair and working her way up.

"Yes, I too am fine after fighting a city guard, thank you very much for asking." 

Orchid raised an eyebrow at me. "Don't be tart."

I sighed and leaned back. "Actually, Orchid, we were hoping you would help us with a situation."

"Hm? I'm no hand at crawling about gutters or whatever it is you do to get your hair in that state." Orchid's comb glided through her own hair as she eyed the state of mine.

I rolled my eyes. "First of all, I knew you before you became a Muse and we've come home in much worse states than I'm in right now. Secondly, this is a personal request of Davery's. It's for the Daggers."

Her comb paused its journey down Orchid's long hair. "To do what exactly?"

"He wants me in the palace to uncover what I can about that five crown reward, and the curfew in Swamp." I shrugged. "And something about who's running things while the king is away."

Orchid took a thoughtful pose for a moment before replying. "Someone running things besides the rest of the royal family?"

I shrugged, having no other answers for her. She hummed to herself as she thought.

"Yes, that is very concerning. If Davery suspects it, there may be some weight behind it." Her eyes met mine. "And what would you have me do?"

"Davery was hoping I could escort you to the upcoming Hunts Festival as a way in. I'm assuming you've been invited to a noble's festivities?  He seemed to know something I don't, but he does like his games." I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "That, or I think he just likes to hear himself talk."

Orchid hid a giggle behind her hand. 

"You know it's true," I said. "If I can get in and familiarize myself with the servants, Davery thinks I can find work close enough at hand that I could come and go."

"So palace work?" Orchid asked. "That will either be very hard work or very scruitinized work."

I snorted a laugh. "I have no business as a lady's maid, if that's what you're thinking. I'll take the hard labor."

Orchid nodded, thinking to herself a moment.

"Alright, and why am I bringing you to the festival? Can you upkeep my hair?" she teased. Her old mischief crept into her eyes. "We need to make it beleiveable."

"Very funny, I'm sure Bliss enjoys your whit. Are you invited somewhere for the festival or not?" I asked.

"That, dear Sly, I am." A wicked grin spread across her face. "I'm surprised you haven't heard. Panther's house is joining the high table for all three nights."

My eyes widened.

"The... the high table?" I choked. "At the palace?"

"It would seem the Crown Prince's wife requested us specifically. She is Lolathian, just as Panther is you know. Panther was a famous Muse even there, and Princess Nadia remembers her fondly. She must have heard Panther was in Unays now."

"Orchid, that's wonderful!" I breathed. "I knew you would someday play for royalty. Bliss was wise to choose you. Would it be alright if I attended you? I don't' want to interfere with your opportunity."

"Of course!" Orchid glanced to her harp in the corner. "You think this plush house can erase my life in Swamp? I pay back my good luck when I can."

"Ahh, Orchid." I sighed content, laying back on my cushion. "This is so great for you. I just wish I could see you perform for the royals themselves."

"Oh you can, Sly, that's the fun part." Panther leaned in the doorway and I jumped at her sudden presence. "You think all of us will carry our own things to the festival each night? We will need you with us."

"Us, as in the whole house?" I asked dubiously.

"Eavesdropping is a terrible habit for a young lady." Orchid quipped at Panther with a smile.

Panther waved a hand at Orchid with a dismissive laugh.

"Ah, but I am not a young lady, now am I? And I think eavesdropping is perfectly acceptable in my own house." Panther stalked into the room, her eyes meeting mine. "I know your brother's doings and I would like to help. Bliss wants her ladies in Swamp looked after just as much as her ladies in velvets and pearls. Your brother does just that. It's true we will be at the palace for three days, we even received quarters so we may stay close at hand."

I sucked in a breath. "Thank you Panther. It would seem the Black Daggers owe you another favor."

"Nonsense, my dear. This is me calling in the favor promised to me already. Do not assume that simply because I'm helping you into the palace I will not have you earn your keep." Panther's golden eyes shone with her fierce light. A cunning smile to rival Shadow's own was set on her lips.

And suddenly a worry crept into my chest.

Orchid patted my arm sympathetically.

"I'd be happy to help your house, Panther," I said cautiously. "What would you have me do?"

Her smile widened. "I am so glad you asked. First, we will be fixing up your own appearance. You cannot serve Bliss and not be one of her works of art."

I paled. 

"You will carry our things and assist with keeping up our gowns, but I will of course leave you with plenty of free time to do your business for your brother. You will have to attend to us for appearances though, so you may be sent to fetch meals or do small tasks. They can double as excuses for you to slip about the palace as Shadow's own little devil of mischief that you are."

I shook my head. "Shadow doesn't take priestesses, Panther. You should know that."

She waved a hand. "It's an old saying. I guess it doesn't translate from Lolathian as well as I thought. Anyway, there will be practices in the palace gardens, you'll need to attend there to keep up appearances. Then the actual hunts festival which begins in the afternoons and goes well into the middle of the night. Longer, if the royal family requests more. And on the second day..."

Panther went on like that for a while. The longer her list grew, the lower my shoulders sank.

I couldn't help but wonder if Davery hadn't seen this coming all along. 

"I'm going to kill him," I muttered, and the muses laughed.

But at least I would be in the palace for the Festival of the Hunt.

Shadow help me.