In the manor everyone could come and go as they pleased since everyone was helping noone was controlling the entrances or exist. After they knew everyone in town, everyone got along, they even like the new Lady.
Although Alana just a arrived a few months ago she was already feeling like she was one of them, she had never felt like she belong anywhere, since she never met her mother or her father, her only family was her uncle who would avoid her.
In her uncle town everyone called a monster and threw things at her, so she never went willingly to town, because people always looked disgusted whenever she was around.
So she was always closed in the library she only would go out , sometimes when Luria would call upon her to join her at garden.
In this town however was different she was starting to feel very familiar and welcome, people would come to talk to her, to greet her, they would often smile at her. She really like it to be there.
" My lady, in town the youngsters are training with Rahul, I even heard the little Thomas, whose sisters was always sick joined him as well." Said one girl.
"What ?? But isn't Thomas only 6 years old." Asked Malaica surprised while cleaning Mimi.
"Well he made 6 this year. His mother is no longer here, and also his father left with the Master, so the young boy was left all alone with his sick sister, but now he wants to train as well."
Alana was listening, not saying a word, she would refrain from saying anything whenever they brought up the master campaign, by taking everyone's husband's and father, leaving the town unprotected. No matter what she said these people would still defend him as if their life's depended on it.
"I heard Rahul has been training them very roughly."
"Well at that, those kids are going to give up if they think fighting is like playing around."
" Indeed, but he is not even going easy with little one's or even Lock who was just a few days ago injuried by the white wolf's."
"Have you guys been to town lately?" Asked Alana coldly.
Malaica was used to the Lady tone so she just answered scoffing. " Like I have time to play around in town." The girl next to her just elbowed Malaica for her answered, she quickly corrected herself. " Not that I have too much work, or think caring for Mimi is work,I do enjoy it, really, my Lady." Said Malaica bumbling her words.
Alana smiled and explained. " I haven't been into town before, since I arrived and..."
"Ohh my Lady .... That won't do, you must go into town." Malaica grabbed the Lady hand, forgetting her awkwardness from before. " We must go into town, my Lady can't just be closed permanently here in the manor, my lady should visit the town from time to time."
Malaica was a very energetic girl full of brightness, she sometimes just did things out of instinct and say things that some wouldn't dare to say, which brought always a smile to Alana.
"You should dressed up, no good going like this my lady. I will also wash up, I will come to pick you up and will have a day off in town. " As she said that grabbed the lady by the hand taking her to the main house, giving instructions to Mrs. Clair who agreed that the lady should go the town as well. She quickly left so she could also dress up for a town walk.
"My lady you are in a dress... Wow. Tâmiah, really did an amazing job." Malaica gasped seing Alana in dress for a first time, the dress was turquise with golden sides and a golden corset belt. Her white hair was braided from the front and meet at the back into a larger braid that fell to the side.
Alana was blushing but her mohagony color prevented it to be visible, she maintained her serious face while she thanked.
" Let's go my Lady, the people in town have to see how you beautiful you look today... " Malaica paused. ."...I mean you look beautiful everyday... But today specially beautiful." She said once again bumbling in her words. Alana giggled, which made Malaica grin.
In town the people were busy, but some just sat looking at young ones training, they kept watching like they were watching some entertainment, while the youngesters trained.
The swords were indeed heavy you could see that some had difficulty swinging it around, while others would almost fall forward with its weight, those who could lift it properly were a little slow, either from lack of train, or because of their injuries.
The little ones were faster in moves but couldn't actually pick up the weapon they choose correctly and use it effectively.
Everyone was watching and seeing how ridiculous they looked, but noone was laughing at their efforts, they were actually evaluating in all seriousness. Alana could see that everyone was very invested in the training sessions, they were focus on the kids, and the kids were focused on the training.
Rahul yelled that was enough for the day. As everyone was still catching their breath, Rahul was talking to the blacksmith pointing,making gestures. Alana from her standing position couldn't hear or understand what they were talking about. Rahul back was turned so he couldn't see that the Lady was present, as the blacksmith looked in her direction he blushed and bowed his head a little bit. Rahul looked back and saw the Lady standing there watching. He also bowed as she smiled.
"Let's walk over to them..." Said Alana stepping forward, Malaica didn't move she had her head down almost like she was timid. Alana tilted her head to the side. "What's wrong Malaica, you're not feeling well?"
"I am fine... Just fine" she brushed it off embarrassed and walked one step behind the Lady with her head low.
" Greetings Rahul" said Alana to Rahul that was now alone waiting for her.
"My Lady you look...." He paused bitting his lip. " More lady like ." He couldn't find any other words to express what he wanted to say. It was the first time he had seen her wearing a dress.
Alana laugh awkwardly. "I'm no longer used to this, but Tâmiah, has been working very hard, she kept bringing dresses, would be a shame not wear them."
They kept talking and Alana kept feeling that something was off. The lively character that was always talking was suddenly mute, she was just silent, that was a first, since she met Malaica she was always talking and being chirpy non stop.
'Is Malaica hungry? Is that why she is so silent?'
"What did my Lady think about the trainees?" The question too Alana out of her thoughts.
" It looked painful to watch." The lady said seriously. Rahul was stuned that the Lady was so brutally honest that a loud laugh burst out of his lips.
" Indeed it was .." she interromped him.
"...But there's a spirit around them that was certainly delightful at same time. I suppose is a question some of them choosing the right weapon for their..." Alana stopped talking as she noticed how Rahul grinned.
" My lady, my I ask a favour of you? Would you come tomorrow and please could you bring your bow with you. There's something I want to do." Alana agreed even though she didn't know what he would want from her.
*
"My lady you are back." Said Mrs. Clair happily. " I have something to show you." As Alana walked in to the house a delicious smell filled her nose.
"My lady I baked some potato bread." Now that they had more kinds of ingredients available Mrs. Clair has been daring in trying alot of new recipes.
The bread was soft and warm with butter, made from the milk, melted in the bread it was delicious, Alana body couldn't stop moving from side to side while tasting the bread, just like a child.
Alana came out of the delicious transe and asked Mrs. Clair if they still had more potatoes.
" My lady we have so many potatoes I had to give some away fearing that it would go bad."
" I see... Would be okay if I ask you to bake more of this delicious bread?" Alana wanted to bring some tomorrow when she'd go into town, for the new trainees.
Mrs. Clair exicited replyed yes and started right away preparing the dough.
In the morning Malaica was already in the entrance when Alana came back from the wintergarden, she greeted Alana , and walking in the house together. Alana suddenly stopped and turn to Malaica.
"Have you been eating well? " Malaica looked confused by the question but still nodded her head.
"Have you been feeling sick?" Malaica tilted her head. " I am fine my lady, I am more energetic than ever, I was helping Mrs Clair finish the potato bread, she made a lot of them." Alana smiled in relief seing that Malaica was being her chatty self again.
In town Rahul was already with trainees when Alana arrived with Malaica and Mr. Theodor carrying the baskets of bread, they were freshly made so the aroma envolved around everyone nearby.
The trainees where already drooling, they wanted to go meet the Lady but they haven't been dismissed, even the little ones were showing alot of restraint.
Rahul noticed and yelled very loud "...the first one to hit me will be dismissed to go meet our lady "
They all looked around at eachother and looked back to Rahul fiercely, they were training with wooden sticks today so their movents and speed were much better than the day before.
For a moment Rahul regreted those words.