The streets of Terndowns were empty. The sounds of industry rang all around them as they walked, and the smell of vinegar was all-encompassing, but they passed no one on their way to the castle. Lissie stared at the polished white stones as she walked.
All of the workshops were sealed away behind fresh walls. The majority of the new walls were as beautifully made as the rest of the city, with a rushed quality. Some of the stones were dirty. The greenery lining the paths had been allowed to run wild at the edges. The distant hammering never stopped.
The fountains in the courtyard of the castle were still turning the light into rainbows, and Niko stared at everything in wonder.
“This is…” Niko paused for a long time before finishing. “I do not have words for this.”
“It was different before. It was better.” Cora’s voice trembled.
They walked up the stairs at the end of the courtyard alone. Lissie wondered where the horses had been taken. The soldiers that led them away had said they’d be stabled. She followed Cora.
Sprinting up the stairs two at a time, Cora yelled, “Mother!”
It was not the Lady Maribelle who greeted them. It was a man with curling black hair and an eyepatch.
“You must be Coretta, the Lady will be so pleased.” He stepped back from them as the rest of the group crested the stairs. “You travel with a colosse.”
“His name is Nikolai.” Lissie stood in front of Niko as she spoke.
“Where is my mother?” Cora insisted. “I will see her now.”
“The Lady is in the upper rooms. Please, you should not be down here without purpose and protection.” Lissie did not like the way the man said ‘purpose’.
They followed him up the long, straight staircase, and then down a hall that led to a winding staircase up a tower. Lissie remembered the staircase, it led to the Lady’s private tearoom. The man knocked on the door with two fingers.
“Jacque, I am not to be disturbed, is this another emergency?” Lady Maribelle’s voice sounded strained.
“Yes, Lady, it is your daughter returned.” The man was grinning, and Lissie could see gold in his smile.
There was a crash from the other side of the door. It flew open and banged against the wall. Lady Maribelle was wearing a simple rough dress, and her red hair was pulled back in a bun. She knocked Cora into the wall with a hug.
“I thought, well I didn’t think, I worried I lost you. All of you.” Lady Maribelle turned from the embrace to look at the others but did not let go of Cora. “Let me look at you. You look flushed are you alright? Are you injured? Did you get checked for rashes? Tell me you are not burdened with the rose.” She stepped away now, and stared at Cora’s face. “No tears. That’s something. Were you checked? Sometimes people miss the marks on their back and bottoms, can’t check yourself everywhere.”
“Mother, we did it.” Cora turned and proffered one of the huge sacks of mushrooms, Lissie thought it looked like she was using it to shield herself.
“What? Oh the Dust Women, yes. They had a cure then? We sent envoys, but they said you went north, and then there was no word at all. What are these?” She dug her fingers into the top of the sack and pulled it open. “Mushrooms?”
“Salvation.” Lissie whispered the word.