It seemed that the whole town had fallen under the red suns spell. The guards were no longer imprisoning me so much as protecting me from sudden fame.
The local weaver was put to work on making a suitable dress for me and uniform for Ny-An. It turned out those children were hers, and I even heard Ti-Ar quietly apologize to them.
They didn't make us sleep in the tent for prisoners. Instead they set me up in their barracks. The rooms were sparse and not much more lived in then the prison. A pair of sleeping mats were laid out, but unlike the prison we had warm blankets and a deck of cards.
"What do you think the palace will be like," Ny-An had nuzzled her way between my arm and body, "I mean..."
"Based on what I've seen so far, I think we can expect it to be grand," I tried to cover the grave notes in my voice.
Ny-An had been happier ever since she'd been told her family had been given food and supplies in exchange for their daughter serving Lit-An.
"I wonder if they will have desserts," Ny-An spoke with a dreamy tone, "And silk."
I smiled and tussled her hair, "I am sure they will have both."
"I'm going to have to learn how to be a hand maiden," She said, she tried for a serious face, "Can I help you, my lady?"
I suppressed a giggle, "Not bad."
When the weaver was finished they took us both to the shop. The children smiled when they saw us.
"They're not perfect with such a sort timeline," I heard a voice from the back.
The woman sitting at her loom had a lined face. She smiled and her eyes twinkled like Grandmothers. Her own clothes were clean enough but clearly well worn.
"You are every bit as beautiful as they said you were," She clucked, "Stand over there."
I stepped onto a low table as she began to drape red fabric on me.
"Hold your arms out," The woman instructed.
She wrapped my arms and I marvelled at the softness of the silk. She moved onto my waist, she took a cord out of a drawer and tied it around me. Finally she started on the skirt. I felt her fingers folding and tugging.
Hours later I felt exhausted from standing. She let me sit down while she finished the final parts of my outfit.
I watched as she opened a dusty drawer, I heard the clinking of something hitting wood. Then I felt my face drain of colour.
"Are those..." I didn't want to finish the sentence. I stood up abruptly and peered into the drawer.
The gems were small and in a few colours. I recognized them though.
"No," I shook my head, "I don't want those."
"Dear?" The woman said her eyes alit with concern, "You should sit down."
"Those- those came from a living person," I shuddered.
The woman's eyes filled with understanding, "They don't kill them to get them, they are part of the style... If I don't put them on the clothes."
"I will explain myself," I countered. I didn't want to think of Kit and the pain those stones must have caused when they were ripped away.
The woman hesitated a moment longer but finally bowed her head, "Very well."
When we were finished she showed me my reflection in a tiny mirror. The dress's neckline dipped low, but not so low I felt exposed. The sleeves were long and loose up to the cuff. The skirt almost touched the floor and I noticed the tiny embroidered flowers on the hemline. I spun a few times getting a feel for the clothing.
"It's beautiful," I clutched the woman's hand, "Thank you."
She smiled again, "You will make a gracious queen." She gave my back a gentle pat, "Make us proud."
"Is it my turn?" Ny-An called out.
I found her with the other children, they were perched at a table playing cards, their legs swung and their faces creased with concentration.
"Go on in," I said with a tiny laugh.
The children all turned and their mouths fell open.
"That's Mother's special fabric," One of them muttered.
"Can I touch it?" A little girl asked.
I held out the sleeve for her and she stroked it like I would have a cat.
"It's so soft," Her eyes seemed to grew wider, "It's beautiful!"
I patted her head.
"Can I join your game," I asked.
"The queen playing cards with us?" One of the other children looked faint.
"I'm not anyone's queen yet," I choked out a laugh, "All I did was find a flower. Go on."
I took my cards and tried to feel normal again. I had never had any fame, or real popularity, I wondered how people who did got anything done. Everyone kept sneaking peeks at me and even showing their hands of cards.
We waited for what felt like only a few minutes then Ny-An came out.
Her whole demeanour had changed, she walked with measured steps and bowed to me when she was in front of me.
I took in her new red shirt and pants combo. They were larger then her and draped off her arms and pooled at her belly.
"I made them big so she has room to grow," The woman explained.
I noticed that the outfit also had a hood on it. I wished I had had one too.
"You look pretty," The little girl said, she ran a hand down Ny-An's arm.
Ny-An lifted her arm, then her leg uncertainly.
"You look spectacular," I assured her.
"Lit-An," A voice cut through the atmosphere and my stomach clenched.
Ti-Ar stood in the doorway with another almost unrecognizable figure at his side.
"You're mother comes with news," He bowed his head and let the figure come into the light.
Mother looked eons older, her hair was chopped awkwardly at her chin. I rushed to hug her.
"What's wrong, are you okay?" I asked.
"It's Grandmother," She sobbed, "She's- She's gone."