True to his word Rorik had prepared the documents and Pettypiece had them with him on his morning patrol. I was glad to take the news to Jexa, who nearly cried of joy having something to do again other than search in vain for Grethan. Davery had always been the planner, Jexa just did what he was told. As much as I had argued with my brother that I could be a part of the plans, Jexa was older and wiser in many ways, including being satisfied with the role he knew he could play well. The new work would put a spring back in his step for sure.

I went around to Dirk, Grahm and Bricker that afternoon. Dirk would subtly find the families that could use the help most while the other three used the papers to get into the forest. They would be gone the entire week, hopefully deep in the forest catching, skinning, salting and gathering. I promised to meet them all at Jexa's, that would be the day after my meeting with Rorik.

Satisfying as it was to set it in motion, implementing the plan Rorik gave us was exhausting and I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering where my feet would take me. I decided to walk to the best market in town and treat myself to the mask for the ball. I'd have to find a dress somehow as well. I frowned when I realized I would probably have to do dancing lessons just in case it would help my cover.

I shook off that thought and focused on one thing. A mask. I would pick out my very own mask for the first time, and it wouldn't be paper. I would get a nice one, one I could wear for several years in a row, one that was mine.

The best craftsman were in Hammer district. The market was the largest in town and even the more expensive districts didn't have some of the amazing things you could find in Hammer. I wandered the stalls in awe, amazed at every turn by something new. I was looking at silver hair ornaments thinking about buying one for an end of the year gift for Orchid when something drew my eye. A mask merchant. I entered the little stall, captivated by the variety. There were silk masks, leather ones, some made with carved wood. Ribbon and colorful paint clutterred the little counter and worktable where a young woman sat, wearing a cat mask. She had her dark hair in a bun and long willowy limbs. Something about her enchanted, enthralled, and I found myself walking up to the counter.

"Did you make these?" I asked.

"No, but I can help you find the perfect one." The woman smiled and pulled a mask from under the counter. It was a stunning leather, reddish brown, with ornate tooling covering it. It had cat ears and covered from her forhead to her nose.

"Beautiful," I breathed.

"Here, let me help you try it on. There is a mirror in that corner."

I turned to the indicated space and the young woman tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, tickling the back of my neck. I made a surprised sound and my fingers rushed to the ticklish skin.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yeah." I forced my fingers out of the way, regaining my composure. "Just startled. I'm fine."

She finished adjusting it and stepped back so I could see how it fit. With the mask on, I admired it in the mirror for a moment before turning to where the girl had stood.

"Thank. . ."

The girl was gone. I spun a couple times looking all around the stall but I was alone. I was about to set the mask down and leave but an old man stepped through a curtain behind the counter.

"Can I help you young lady?"

My eyes fell to the mask in my hands. A chill ran down my back as I stared into the empty eyes of the mask. A cat . . .

"I'd like to buy this mask please." I handed it to the old man who looked at it puzzled.

"Don't remember this one. Well, I make so many for the month, who can remember them all eh? The leather ones are thirty copper." He wrapped it in a nice oiled cloth and took my coins.

"I hope it brings you the best kind of mischief." He winked.

I smiled as I walked back to Panther house. I bought something, with money I didn't have to steal, beg, or borrow. And it wasn't even practical like clothes or food. It was just something pretty. I walked home, humming a tune my mother used to sing. It was a good day, I thought as I walked. My only annoyance that afternoon was an itch on my neck that didn't seem to go away.

~

The days flew by. Bricker and Dirk might have been too busy to help with anything like practice, but River and Fae drilled me mercilssly in ballroom etiquite. Waltzes, curtsies, polite conversation, how to refuse a dance partner without offending their pride. Fae acted as my partner since she was at least a bit taller than me and my partners were likely to be men. Orchid promised to walk with me to a favorite dress shop later that week. Since the muses were busy, my evenings were spent alone in practice of throwing knives at a post in the back yard. The horses looked at me strangely but at least they didn't laugh at me when I missed like Dirk did.

A couple days before I had to meet Rorik again, word spread like fire that the Prince General and his portion of the army were returning. The streets filled up in much the same way they had before but this time merchants set up carts nearby selling food and other cheap baubles. I wasn't the only one to choose a seat on the roof today. More people, not just children, had climbed up for the view. I had brought an apple from the house to eat while I watched on, by the time I was at the core a trumpet called in the distance. The reply sounded on the walls above and most of the crowd settled in to watch the gates. Some like me watched the streets in the opposite direction for the royals to appear like last time. They were already in place, Braeton taking the front again flanked by Rorik and Queen Everith. Captain Pettypiece wasn't there this time but an armed escort of palace guards marched with them again.

"Miss Aylward," a voice spoke behind me, making me drop the apple core and sent my heart beat out of my chest.

"Captain," I hissed. "I nearly fell off the roof."

"Apologies," he said climbing up to sit by me. "That was not my intention. His majesty suggested I join you for the  view. It is most impressive, I must say."

"The view." I blinked. "You don't need to, I don't know, guard the family?"

"I watch them constantly miss Aylward, but his majesty wanted me to assess the roof view today as he saw you do last time we were here."

"Is he concerned of a threat from the roof level? It's mostly children that climb up here." I said.

"I don't believe it's for today, but rather next month." He moved his gaze down at the scene below. I absorbed the implications as we watched the royals greet Prince Mason and lead the way back to the castle. Next time anyone would gather here it would be for the king. Was Rorik concerned someone in his own city would attack the king? Looking out the gate I saw the size of the army and gasped.

"That has to be more than a third of the army! Where are they all going to fit in Unays?" If another group this size came in just a few weeks you wouldn't be able to walk out your door without bumping into people.

"It is indeed. But they are camping outside the walls tonight while they receive their final papers and pay. Most of them aren't from Unays but the surrounding holdings." The captain had no malice in his voice but I felt stupid for speaking before I thought it out. Of course they all weren't from the city, the Unaian army was made of people from all over Unays. It was a mistake Davery wouldn't have made, and the thought of that was sharp in my chest. I was a poor substitute.

I saw more people last time than stayed in the city too, but I had been distracted by Rorik spotting me and the following days were busy. I hadn't really given it any thought since then. The swarm of people began roaming around and I stood to stretch.

"It's nearly the first of the month." I looked to Pettypiece.

"That it is," he replied, not taking his eyes from the royals in the distance.

"Do you think the Prince General will be able to help?" I asked softly. The breeze curled around them up on the roof and the captain barely heard me.

"Yes, at least for the soldiers. I have never met a man with so much presence before, nor do I expect to. He will not tolerate the condition his men are in," the Captain said calmly.

"I suppose we will find out soon enough."

We climbed to the streets below and said our goodbyes. Rorik would tell us how it went from the ground level soon enough.

~

Panther House was an eruption of music and tears. The morning following Prince General Mason's return Orchid's father came home. He was released that morning along with the other soldiers who marched to Unays yesterday, much the same as he left but he had a few more scars. Panther had Orchid's mother, father, and siblings come over for a good meal and celebration. Again Panther didn't take any work in celebration of the returning soldiers. River's cousin also returned and she traveled to her family's home outside the city to see him. Through the excitement of the day Orchid's father hugged me. He told me how sorry he was that he lost track of my father, and to call on him if I ever needed. He asked about Davery which started a whole new wave of tears.

"Hold still, Salysta," Orchid demanded. She had taken me to a little boutique at the edge of Lights district. The muses were regular customers and the tiny woman who ran the shop greeted Orchid warmly. At least that's how the afternoon started off. I was measured and squeezed and poked, dressed and stripped of so much fabric I lost count. The tailor and Orchid finally decided on a dark rose dress with silver-gray accents and I had been pricked and fussed at with needles ever since.

"I'm trying. How do you stand this all the time with all those dresses of yours?" I grumbled.

"It's not 'all the time'; I don't have that many dresses. And I know this is the first fitted item you've ever had but even children can sit through this without squirming as much as you do," Orchid snapped back.

"If I have it my way this will be my last," I grumbled.

"You just wait 'til I have you all fixed up. You'll see, the lads won't keep their hand off you and you'll be back. They always come back." The little woman winked up from where she was pinning the hemline. I was not amused.

"I'd like to see that actually." Orchid smiled.

"I bet you would."

"There! Done." The tailor stood and helped release me from the dress without sticking me with pins. She handed it to an assistant who whisked it away to be sewn.

"Thank you," Orchid said sweetly.

"Give us at least four days; you'll have it by Shadow's night, but we're busy because of it. Should I send a runner when we're done?" The woman asked.

"Yes please, to Panther House." Orchid replied. They said another round of thanks and Orchid and I left for home.

"So, you still won't tell me what you've been up to?" Orchid asked as we walked.

"No," I answered. I didn't like keeping things from Orchid, espeially considering I was staying in her room. But Rorik told me not to speak of it, so I wouldn't.

"Just promise nothing dangerous. If you're tracking down Grethan. . ." Orchid said concerned.

"No, it isn't that. I promise, and I will tell you as soon as I can," I said.

"Fine," Orchid replied. "I know the end of a conversation when I hear it. Would you like to practice dancing tomorrow afternoon? I thought I could help you since River is still out visiting her cousin and Fae could use a break for her back."

"No, tomorrow I have plans."

"Mysterious plans you don't tell your friends about? Or the normal sort of plans like learning to fight?" Orchid asked frustrated.

"Sorry." I didn't bother to answer, as either one would annoy Orchid.

"Be careful, whatever you're doing. He . . . he wouldn't want to see you put yourself in any troublesome situations," Orchid said softly.

"I know," I answered. Tomorrow wasn't any trouble, just meeting a Prince in a secret room to discuss overthrowing a centuries old council. That's all.