The carriage was waiting outside by the time Mira and Zander finished eating. It was a sleek and simple affair, made of dark wood and black iron, with no external markings to identify its occupants. The four sable horses were majestic creatures that had been hand-chosen for the job of transporting someone of utmost importance.
Behind the carriage was another, smaller and of lesser quality, drawn by two sturdy mules. The four maids who had cared for Mira beelined to the second carriage and settled themselves inside. They saw her and waved excitedly.
Mira tapped on Zander's arm. "Why are they coming with us?"
He smiled. "They are your entourage. Where you go, they follow."
"Wait. Aren't they the inn staff?"
He reached out to stroke her hair. "When have inn staff members ever bathed and dressed you?"
Mira scratched her head. "I'm not familiar with your world. On Earth, you're lucky if someone comes to your door with towels and soap."
"Here in Ashryan, you're lucky if you get a bathtub brought into your private quarters. Most people just go to the bathing room on the first floor, where they bathe with a group of others of the same gender."
Holy guacamole! Mira could not even imagine having someone wait on her hand and foot, let alone four women.
"Did you hire them?"
"No." He nodded at the driver of their carriage, and someone came to open the carriage door. "Your carriage awaits, my princess." He took her by the hand and led her to the carriage, where someone had conveniently placed a footstool for her to ascend.
This was something that Mira had only seen in the movies. She laughed with glee and stepped into the carriage, as if she was a real life Cinderella, going to her first ball.
The inside of the carriage was something that looked like the boudoir of a noblewoman. The plush benches against the carriage walls were covered with blue velvet, and the thick indigo brocade drapes on the windows kept the noise out, and the warmth in.
On the ornately carved table was a platter of fruit and pastries, and a silver teapot, still steaming with fresh hot black tea. It was truly luxurious.
Once Mira was seated properly, with Sofie lying beside her, Zander took the seat opposite from her, and the carriage began rolling.
"So," Mira plucked a berry from the fruit platter. "You never got around to telling me where you found the four women who were helping me."
"They are not 'found' women," Zander picked out a fat burgundy grape and began peeling it. "They are ladies-in-waiting--noble women of lower ranking, who are here to assist you." He popped the peeled grape into her mouth, which had the effect of shushing her in the sweetest of ways.
Mira frowned as she chewed on the grape. Why would noble women wait on someone like her, with NO RANKING AT ALL???
Zander laughed, fully understanding her confusion. "You are a princess. Of course you must have a full entourage when traveling."
"Wait. Who said I was a princess?"
"I did."
Mira's jaw dropped. "And they believed you???"
"Why would they not? Do I look like someone who would lie about things of such importance?"
Mira shook her head, but it wasn't because she was agreeing with him. "Don't I have to have a--a stamped certificate, or an official badge, or a tiara--or SOMETHING that will make it look official? I mean, who goes around announcing that they're royalty, and who would believe you if you said that?"
Zander laughed long and hard at her stuttered confusion, and then he pushed another peeled grape into her mouth.
🌺🌺🌺
To entertain Mira, and to keep her from asking more of the uncomfortable questions, Zander began talking to her about Ashryan.
Jade, the kingdom's capital, was directly south of Tourmaline City. It was centrally-located, within a region that was roughly octagonal-shaped, and was the seat of power for the Ashryan Empire.
To reach Jade by carriage was a three-hour journey, but a fast horseman could get there in under an hour.
Tourmaline was not technically an Ashryan city, since it was under dwarven control, but it was an important rest stop between several cities, with Jade to the south, Sapphire to the north, and Peridot to the east.
It was, in fact, one of the largest dwarven cities in the kingdom. The reason it looked like a tiny village was because 90% of the city was underground. The remaining 10% was mostly open for tourists and travelers. The inn that they stayed at was one of the largest above-ground inns of Tourmaline.
There was also a tiny fishing village controlled by the merfolk, called Turtle Cove at the farthest western point. Beyond Turtle Cove was the deep blue ocean.
Mira had no idea why they were rushing to Jade, but she knew that she was simply an accidental traveler, drawn into Zander's plans. Without knowing what was going on, her best course of action was to play along with whatever Zander schemed, and help him as much as she possibly could.
The sooner he was able to do what he needed in Ashrya, the sooner she could get back home, to Earth.
Winter was fast approaching Ashrya. Along the route, Mira pulled back the drapes and stared for long periods of time, into the distance. Most of the trees that dotted the countryside were barren limbs, groping upwards into a cloudless cerulean sky.
They passed by flocks of sheep and goats, and herds of deer that had tagged collars. There was even a gaggle of geese, dotting the sky and making a racket, as they migrated to southern shores.
By midday, the temperature began to drop precipitously. Zander pulled from one of the storage bins under the seats, a thick white down blanket, which he placed over Mira's lap.
"Clouds are gathering. It looks like it might snow."
"No wonder it's so cold." She clutched onto a warm and sleeping Sofie. "Will we have a place to stay when we get to Jade, or are we sleeping in the carriage?"
Zander smiled. "We will be staying in the Palace."
"Are we going to just waltz into the palace without summons or invitations?"
"We can if we live there."
Mira gasped. "You actually live in Jade Palace?"
"I do have quarters there, yes."
"Ummm. Please don't drop me off somewhere strange. Can I just stay with you?"
"You will be by my side, always." His silver-blue eyes glittered possessively.
"How are we going to explain my presence? Maybe I can be a far-flung cousin or something." Mira bit her lip, in thought.
"You are my wife."
"What?"
"You are the Princess Mira Lee of Tamein, my wife."