"My Lady, I went to the marketplace to fetch some honeyed wine for you and to bring you a guest." The maid reported it aloud.
The great hall of the castle in Greenfields was filled with afternoon sunlight, and the green marble floor was like the surface of a deep, sparkling river, on which one could see one's own reflection so that one could compose one's attire before facing the Lord of the Castle. Dill saw a goose down in her hair, but she could not put down the white goose in her arms, so she could only go forward.
It was the first time Dill had ever set foot in a nobleman's domain and the first time she had ever been honored as a guest of a witch.
She passed columns of heavily armed knights and even holy priests gathered in twos and threes, the House of Lester's banner fluttering distinctly on the knights' cloaks and priests' cloaks and extending to the velvet tapestries and curtains of the Great Hall, the turquoise background symbolizing the bountiful upper river with its three red oak barrels.
Of course, with the ubiquitous wine barrels, Dill's heart was like a barrel floating and sinking in the middle of the Green Valley River, threatening to explode at any moment.
A hand touched her gently, and the other reflection on the floor smiled reassuringly at herself, and Dill smiled back, her nerves sucked out of her as if by that momentary touch, giving her courage.
This time, she was not alone.
Mrs. Lester stepped out from behind the main seat in the Great Hall to greet her. The woman was still graceful and relaxed, and only the lightness of her step gave away her joy.
"I am glad I may see you again. What shall I call you?"
Mrs. Lester was silenced just in time, as a holy cleric was walking down the court corridor with a book of scripture, the silver chain of his gavel clasped in the book as a bookmark, which looked like a glittering dagger in the sunlight.
The young witch was in no hurry, her voice echoing through the Great Hall, "Just call me Dill. I can't wait to meet Miss Rosalie and teach her the manners and knowledge of a bride."
Mrs. Lester's blue eyes flashed with intelligent light: "Yes, I have received a letter of recommendation from the Lady Trade Officer of Terranjova; you are her most loyal maid; your parents have east coast blood; I think you are also well versed in the etiquette and culture of different places; Rosalie can't wait to learn with you."
A sentence or two simply solved Dill's identity and origin; even if she had to go to seek confirmation, Telan Ruova City is far away from the Cape of Southwatch; a month and a half of correspondence can't be avoided; coupled with the Duchess's personal guarantee, even if it is the Holy Taoist in charge of an entire sanctuary, she wouldn't dare act rashly.
Mrs. Lester turned to the maid who had brought Dill in and commanded, "Tina, you have done well, take our guest down to rest first."
The young maid bowed low in response, dressed in an untrimmed brown dress and with her hair wrapped in a plain cloth scarf, she looked both humble and loyal.
Mrs. Lester glanced at her sweat-dampened turban, her gaze softening as she said, "That bottle of honey fruit wine will be used as a treat; you can have some as well; the sun isn't light out there; it's been hard on you."
"My lady, you are too kind."
Dill quietly followed the maid of honor to leave. The general lord castle has a special maiden tower for unmarried girls to live in, but the maid of honor took Dill to avoid the tower and the platform.
They burrowed into the deserted garden path, a few young leaves falling to the gray stone floor, and it took no time at all for one hand to pull up a metal pull ring hidden under a mound of yellow gardens and sage, and fumble their way to the trapdoor of a hidden cellar.
As soon as she entered the cellar, all light was cut off, and the maid didn't hold back, lifting the cloth scarf directly from her head, and a head of dark brown hair hung down to her waist.
"Geez! It's smothering me."
In the blink of an eye, the silent and plain maid turned into a beautiful girl.
Watching Dill not move a muscle, the other shrugged, "Don't worry, it's an abandoned wine cellar with empty barrels and cobwebs underneath, no one knows about this place."
"Kristina."
There were only two of them, and Dill couldn't resist the urge to rush forward and hug her long-lost acquaintance.
She buried her head in the other woman's shoulder, sniffing indulgently at the bright, fresh scent of the young girl, the scent of wild roses from Miller's Hollow, one of Kristina's favorite herbs, or the smell of home.
Although she couldn't see her face, Kristina's voice was clearly rising, "It's been a long time, Dill, you've given me a big surprise, the guest that kept me busy all morning turned out to be you."
The great white goose recognized Kristina as well, and it flapped its wings at her feet, Kristina immediately thought of something, and then pulled a small ball of something out of her pocket.
"Oslo, go say hello to Turnip."
The colorful-feathered parrot quickly jumped on her master's shoulder, tidying up her messy feathers while shouting gruffly, "Rude! Rude!"
Kristina shot back in disbelief, "I'm sorry, but there's a whole sanctuary full of Holy Dawgs out there, and if I were one of them, a girl with a talking parrot would look suspicious, and I'd make a roasted witch and roasted birdie out of them together."
"Roast Tina! Roast Tina!"
"Whoa, shut up you, I'm cooking the squab stew tonight, I can switch to parrot stew anytime."
Dill and Goose just watched as the other group of people and birds began to argue, one with the other.
As Kristina grabbed Oslo in one hand and was about to pluck the colorful feathers from his buttocks, Dill spoke up to stop the tragedy before it could happen, "There, Kristina, I didn't recognize you at all, you're hiding it well."
The parrot took the opportunity to break free, snapping and jumping several times onto the wooden beams of the cellar with an expletive on its lips.
Before Dill had a chance to say more, she was caught and pinned against the wall by Kristina with a stern look on her face.
"Before I get to you, my goodness! How did you do that? To waltz in here and have the lady make you her guest of honor!"
"It's a long story."
"Take your time then."