Conciousness returned to her as slowly as it had left her. Esme's head lolled sharply to the side and the sharp break in head fall her neck caused awakened her brain. The last conscious thought of panic returned overwhelmingly and her fingers itched to snatch the dagger between her breasts.
Except her body could barely move. Her eyelids wouldn't even open. She struggled with her body for a second and relaxed a little when she felt her toe move in response to her brains command. She wasn't paralyzed just heavily drugged and her body was only taking its needed time to wake up.
She worked calculations in her mind to help keep her alert as her body took its time waking but she didn't need it.
In another minute a shrill whistle pierced the air startling her heart and causing it to beat frantically. She soon discovered that the shakiness she was experiencing wasn't only the jumping of her startled heart. There were hands on her shoulder physically shaking her and there was a voice in her ear accompanying the sound of the shrill whistle that was still disturbing the once peaceful air. Someone was trying to wake her up.
With the help of the external force, Esme barreled through her minds obstruction finally mansging to seize complete command of her body.
She opened her eyes as physical awareness spread from her toes to her head.
'Thank Jiv, you're awake', a feminine voice sighed.
Esme turned her unfocused eyes to a blurry image to her right. She blinked several times and was finally able to make out a small oval shaped face with brown skin, small eyes, a round nose and small but full lips.
'You need to get up', the lips were saying.
Esme groaned and raised her head to look at her surrounding.
There was still a burning aftermath of the knockout powder in her throat when she crooked 'Where am I'?
The girl grunted clearly impatient
'The palace. Didn't you pay all that money to be here'? she whispered.
At her statement every weariness in Esme's body seemed to disappear and she sat up rubbing her eyes clear.
Looking around she realised she was in a barn. An empty barn that was clearly used for storage. Around her were broken furniture, old pots and pans and even broken parts of carriages. She was tucked into a corner behind a large dusty broken carriage and was seated on a pile of itchy hay.
'Leave the sightseeing for a better time we have got to hurry', said the girl. She stood from kneeling by Esme's side and offered her hand to help Esme up.
Esme felt like her head would sway if she attempted to stand up but she let the girl help her up anyway beacuse she could feel her sense of urgency.
Her eyes quickly scanned the girl who was already pulling her towards the exit. She was dressed in a pattern and style that let Esme know she was wearing a uniform. A maids uniform.
Outside the air was cool and the morning sun was only just beginning to chase away the darkness of the night. Birds chirped and frogs crooked and the distant shrill noise which had been their companion ceased.
Esme planted her feet in the ground stopping her companion mid march.
The girl turned around to face her, impatience stamped on her face.
'What are you doing'? she scolded.
'Who are you'? Esme asked.
The girl huffed 'My name is Delphi. You are aware that you are illegally present in this palace right? If you don't follow me now you and I would be in much trouble'.
With that she snatched Esme's hand and resumed pulling her through what seemed to be and abandoned part.
Esme followed her with her eyes closed because the hurried movements were making her nauseous. Usually she was always very alert when in new surroundings but she had seen the high walls and confirmed that she was indeed somewhere in the palace so she trusted the accomplice to lead her.
They walked a while, it didn't seem too long but soon they came to a place where the buzz of a hustle and bustle could be heard in the near distance.
Esme stumbled and almost fell but managed to remain on her feet due to Delphi's quick reflex.
'Your eyes have been closed this whole time'? she asked in surprise.
Esme opened her eyes 'It keeps the nausea at bay'.
'Ah goodness', Delphi sighed 'Please keep your eyes open now'.
Upon observing her new surroundings Esme saw that they were in front of a building- no they seemed to be at the backyard of a two storey building.
'This is the main servant quarters', Delphi explained as she pushed open the door and led Esme inside.
The quarters was empty. There was nothing distinct or detailed about the servant quarters. It was just a large hall occupied by several beds arranged on both sides of the hall to form a walkway in the middle. There was a tiny space left between each bed. Above the bed there were wardropes built into the wall to accomodate the servants belongings. There was a staircase that led up to the next floor where Esme guessed there was another long row of servants beds and wardrobes. The hall had six doors. Three that led to the front of the building and three that led to the backyard one of which they had just stepped in from. At the two far ends of the hall were barrels of water and small bowls for fetching them.
'Come' Delphi said as she maneuvered her way into the walkway and continued almost till the end of the hall that was on her right side. She stopped only three beds short till the end of the wall and pointed to the bed arranged there.
'This is your space'. She opened the wardrobe ahead and took out a uniform identical to hers.
'Wash your face and put this on quickly or we will miss breakfast'.
Esme approached the bed slowly and took the uniform from Delphi. She glanced into the wardrobe and found that her belongings were already there.
'What's your name'? Delphi suddenly asked.
'I'm Ria', Esme said.
'Alright Ria you will soon find that breakfast is the most important meal for a palace maid. Every other meal after that would be somebody's leftover. If we miss it you'll be very very sorry'.
It wasn't a threat just a fact so Esme quickly washed her face and put on the uniform as best she could. The uniform fit well enough. The dagger between her breasts was still well strapped and concealed beneath her chest wrap.
'Here', Delphi said passing her a pitcher 'this would help with the burn'.
Esme hadn't told her that her throat and chest were burning something fierce from the effect of the knockout powder.
She took a swing eager to feel more like herself now that she was within the palace walls.
The liquid had a questionable taste.
'What's this' ? Esme asked
'Diluted vinegar and hibiscus flower extract. Make sure you keep that on you and don't drink any water yet'.
Esme wanted to know what knockout powder was used on her to cause such painful afternath but she thought asking would disclose that she wasn't Chediian.
'If you're ready let's go to eat quickly. Your working batch isn't ready yet'. Delphi said flashing a working batch with her own name on it. 'So stick close to me and don't look suspicious or we'll both be in trouble. Got it'?
Esme nodded.
'Great'. Delphi remarked 'Now follow me'.
Though the burn in the back of her throat and chest had reasonably decreased, Esme still felt like shit. However there was a smile on her face.
She was in the imperial palace of North Chedii.