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Trickster By Maskedscribe The way to the witch's hut was gloomy and foreboding. The further she followed the path, and the further the hour went from noon meant that the shadows would grow longer and more sinister. All of the trees that crowded around and blotted out the sky were barren of leaves dark and gnarled looking like scores of claws grasping at the sky. The path snaked though the swamp's pools of stagnant water and fallen logs and eventually delivered her to her destination: A small, lonely cottage with a thatched roof and several rows of exotic plants in terracotta plots. Something about the little house seemed off to her a fitting home for a witch. And a witch was exactly what she came to seek out, after all who else could help her? Holly was what many would consider a tomboy. Her youthful body was more toned than that of her peers and her skin was bronzed, rather than fair; both signs that she preferred manual labor and swordplay with her brothers rather than so-called 'ladylike pursuits.' Her auburn hair was cut in a short bob with squared bangs that helped to frame her pixie-like face with big, green eyes. She wore a green sleeveless tunic that reached just to her knees, tan leggings and well worn, calf-length boots, and a dagger hung from it's sheathe at her belt. Holly was headstrong, and daring too. While others of her village only spoke of the witch who lived in the swap with hushed whispers she marched right off to seek her aid the moment it was obvious that she wasn't going to get any help from anyone else she could turn to. But now that she was there, and it was more than just an idea and a goal, she was having the most severe case of second thoughts in her 16 years. She could very well recall the horror stories that she'd heard of how the witch had dealt with those that annoyed her in precisely the way that she was planning on. Suddenly, it occurred to Holly that it was not too late to turn back and appeal the local duke to act on her behalf one more time. It couldn't hurt, could it? The witch would never even know she was there if she went home now. But as she was trying to work up the courage to go forward and go though with what she came to do, the front door of the cottage opened on it's own volition.; Painted a fading red, and bearing in it's center an iron knocker that looked like a leering demon's face with an over sized nose ring piercing it's nose, it opened with what seemed to Holly to be the longest and loudest creak that she'd ever heard. Beyond it she could see flickering shadows. A woman's voice, silky, husky and heavily accented voice calls out. "Well, Holly Reynard? You've come all this way, are you coming or not?" It sounded inviting enough, but it did little to ease addle nerves. Before she could do something foolish like start to panic, the voice also brought her back to reality with her next statement. "You've come here because you wanted my help with something, no? Come in, come in!" That settled it for her, no turning back now. No screaming or startled demands to know how the witch would know her name despite they never met. Instead, she pressed on ahead, walking on legs that got a little less shaky with every step. Once she stepped inside, two things were obvious to Holly. .First was the warmth of the witch's home. She'd just assume that it would be just as cold and damp as the swamp outside but instead it felt like a fine summer's day to her. Secondly was the fragrance: Exotic, soft, sweet and absolutely resistant to any of her attempts to pin down their nature. Wildflowers one moment, then smoky incense, or was it myrrh after all? Other than the large bubbling black cauldron in the fireplace perched over a roaring fire, it looked like any other person's house. Noting exotic or bizarre stood out to her. Especially nothing nearly as eye- grabbing as its owner. What caught the eye first was her, well...eyes. They were large, expressive, slightly slanted and framed by long tick lashes. And above all, there were her irises: stark white and sharply framed by a narrow rim of dark. They seemed to gaze deeply into Holly with no effort at all. Her face was angular and beautiful, and her skin was a dusky tone unheard of in these climes. Her hair was a sharp red, and cascaded down well past her shoulders. Her body lead credibility to the nasty rumors that she'd made a deal with the devil. It seemed far more likely than such a tall voluptuous frame could occur naturally Her long dark shoulder-less dress showed it all off. Low cut in the front nearly to her navel it gave her buxom bust nice cleavage and gave a good view of the large sapphire amulet hanging from her neck by a narrow silver chain, it clenched about her sharply tapering waist and against hips that mirrored her chest in terms of alluring curves. The entire thing was long enough to obscure her feed completely and appeared made of material that she could almost see though, almost but not quite. It's flared, drooping sleeves ended just past her elbows, baring her forearms and wrists that were adorned with over a dozen silver bangles and narrow bracelets between them As she beckoned her to come in, Holly noticed that her fingers were likewise laden with silver rings. The ends of these fingers ended in very long, pointed black lacquered nails that shined with reflected light Holly wondered how she got anything done without breaking a nail. "Hmmm?" The woman had a strange but warm smile on her lips. "You were expecting something else? An old hag maybe? Green skin, warts and a dark pointy hat maybe?" "Yes well- no!" She shook her head quickly, this was a fine mess. She'd not been in her home for five minutes and she'd already managed to offended her. "I'm sorry! I just didn't know what to expect! That's what I meant to say! Please don't turn me into a toad or anything?!" The witch just chuckled and put her hands on her hips. "Goodness! Turn you into a toad? Is that what people are saying about me? That's a bit mean is it?" Her tone left it a little ambiguous weather she meant the accusation or the actual transmutation. "Besides, I hate toads, nasty little things! If I would turn a person into anything, it'd be a mouse- so cute!" Well, if Holly didn't think this was a bad idea before... "Oh, don't give me that look! I'm joking honey!" She seemed to effortlessly glide over the ground to approach, and reached out with her hand to offer it to Holly. "it's rude of me to know your name but not introduce myself, isn't it? You may call me Amithea, pleased to meet you." "Oh, um, likewise." Holly took her hand, mindful of then ails and gave it a meek shake. She was a bit stunned now, it was as if she'd stumbled into a dream. And judging by Amithea's body and dress, it was a dream of the perverted butcher from the village "Okay! Now that introductions are out of the way? I believe you need me to use my humble parlor tricks to help you with a matter of some import?" Holly blinked, obviously a little surprised. "Um, forgive me, Madam Amithea. I actually assumed that you'd know why I came here as easily as you knew my name." "Oh, don't be silly, hon! A little birdie told me your name. But how could I possibly know what you want? I don't know everything; no one does." She added with a smile. "And it's just Amithea, dearie. I don't run a brothel, so it'd be a bit much to call me 'madam'" "Oh! Yes! Very much!" she agreed nervously. "But, as to why I'm here?" Holly took a deep breath, collected her nerves and spoke. "It's about my brother, Louis. He works for the duke as a messenger. He also had the bad luck of giving some bad news to Baron Idwick?" "Ah, I see. He lives on the other side of the river. Not a very pleasant sort. And not the type to heed the advice to 'don't shoot the messenger, no?" "Well, he's not going to shoot him, he's going to behead him. To take out his bad mood on my brother? It's too cruel! He's scheduled the execution for one week from tomorrow!" "The day after that big party that he's hosting at his castle?" "Why, yes, actually. But I don't have a lot of time, and no one else has been able to help me." Holly dropped to her knees and groveled before the witch." I'm truly desperate and I don't have much, but help me save Louis and everything I have is yours!" "Okay." "Oh? Truly?! I can't begin to thank you enough!" "Well, that's a good start! Now stand up, sweetie. I'm not sure what I can do but I'll do whatever I can- no charge." Amithea 'walked' further in the cottage and beckoned Holly to follow (more accurate to say, she effortlessly drifted there.) "Now, do you have a plan for saving your dear Louis?" "I- No, I'm afraid not, all I can think of is storming the place and that wouldn't end too well." "No, it wouldn't. Idwick's got quite a few well armed and violent men under his employ. Brute force is not something that will do anything other than have you in a grave right besides your brother, so it's right out." "Do you have a plan then?" She asked, hopefully. "Oh, yes! I do!" She flashed Holly a big smile over her shoulder and invited her to have a seat in a padded chair by the fire. Meanwhile, she went to a large trunk at one side of the room. "We'll simply use trickery, a specialty of mine, I might add." "Oh, I'm all ears, Lady Ami- er, I mean just Amithea." The witch gave an approving nod as she opened the lid of the trunk."That's better! So, it'd be relatively easy to smuggle your brother out. The hard part's going to be convincing the Baron to leave him alone after we do. Leave that part up to me, and I'll give you the tools that will help you get your brother back." She lifted up something long, rubbery and flesh colored a woman's face danged upside down behind it, her hollow cheeks, empty sockets and open lips starking back at Holly while long dark hair hang behind it and partially obscured a long slit. "WHAT IS THAT?!" Holly sprang from her seat, the panic returning in droves. "Oh, well, it's a skin." Amithea calmly said, as a matter of fact. "Not a real one, mind you. I didn't do anything bad to get this one, I made it myself- how's gonna have to be my little secret, but trust me on this, okay?" She winked and set the empty false skin of the young woman aside. "W-well then." She took a deep breath. She'd just have to trust the witch. She was the only person helping her after all, and magic was strange, and sometimes even frightening, right? "But, what am I supposed to do with that?" "Oh, you put it on, this one too." She pulls out a second skin. Very fair-skinned just like the first, but while her first one was obviously of a tall, shapely young woman this one was sqat, shorter, dotted with moles and even more wrinkled than was warranted for being empty and flattened out. Her hair was dark brown and much shorter than the first. She laid it out besides the disguise of the obviously high-born young woman. "This one is of Lady Ariel DeLammtu. Her family is very rich and very influential, so of course the Baron invited her." She pointed to the dark-haired false skin laying gracefully against the table. "The other one is of Erma, she's the Baron's most trusted maid, with unfettered access to the whole of his castle." "I see, so I use Lady DeLammtu to get in, and change into Erma to get around freely?" "That's the gist of it, yes." Amithea nods with a smile and carries both disguises like a large bundle of linens. "Go try them on, alright? And don't forget, you can stack one on top of the other, You can change in my room, and I'll get the other things we'll need ready by then. "Okay..." It was all she could murmur as they were thrust into her hand and a long-nailed finger pointed her to the bedroom. She was too stunned for anything else. First this seemed like a dream, then momentarily like a nightmare, but now once again it's on it's strange surreal track. Amithea's bedroom was as cozy as the rest of her home, a large, comfortable looking bed with another trunk at it's foot, a full length mirror besides a closest, a bookshelf most of the times were labeled in languages she couldn't even recognize. A writing desk and char even a few cloth dolls In one corner. Were it not for the charm dangling in the window, made of bones of birds and what looks like her hair it'd be just like any other woman's bedroom. She sat down the skins on the bed and took a deep breath, then gave herself some words of encouragement. "Okay!, you can do this! It's for Louis, after all!" Then she started to strip, and didn't want to think about doing it in a stranger's house. (And as nice and, she'll admit, beautiful as Amithea was? She knew no one who came even close to her in strangeness.) She unfastened her belt and set it down at the bed and pulled up her tunic over head and put it down too. Without a top, more of her well-conditioned young body could be seen, she was quite compact and by no means unfeminine but there was definite definition in her muscles, particularly in her arms and slim stomach. Her chest as snugly bound with bandages; not to obscure anything, but simply to spare her the pain of having them hang freely in her daily rough-and-tumble life. She unwound this too, and revealed a band of paler untanned skin over her modest breasts and under her arms. She sat on the bed, kicking off her boots and peeling down her leggings, shapely, toned legs were bared. She finished with her underwear and held up the second skin that should allow her to look just like the young noblewoman. Now that she had a good look on it's inside beyond the slit, it was nothing like real skin on that side. It was pale white and shiny. She puzzled out how she'd have to get inside without much trouble, spreading the slit wide and discovering was quite rubbery and elastic. One foot went in one empty leg, and she pulled it up and moved until her toes were in the respective spots on the suit. To her surprise, it was slick on the inside and pleasantly cool to the touch. She did the same thing with the other and looked in the mirror. The effect was not there. She looked like she was trying to wear her older brother's clothing. Undaunted, she kept going Pulling up the hips and using the sleeves of the suit like gloves. Now, her head stuck out of the top of the slit as Ariel's empty visage was against her saggy c- ups. It certainly felt nice, but it was painfully obvious that Ariel DeLammtu was at least a full head taller than Holly, and this disguise was meant for someone about her height. Sighing, she decided to at least finish putting it on before complaining to Amithea about it. She pulled the empty head over her own like a hood, the false Ariel's neck stretching out to easily accommodate her head and then clinking to her own neck when she popped though. She lined up her eyes, ears, nostrils and mouth and stared back at herself at the mirror. At least that was a good fit. But wait, there was more to it than that! When did her eyes become blue? "Ah!" The voice that came out of her mouth was higher than Holly's usual, and had a lyrical quality she's never had before. "Ah! What the hell?!" The surprises didn't stop there. Now that it was truly worn, the disguise fit like a second skin. Holly was taller, and with the kind of hourglass figure the sporty girl just never had before. It was like she were truly another person. She held onto Ariel's-now her- face. It was longer than her own, with a narrow nose, arched brow and high cheekbones, on one side of her plump lips was a little beauty mark. "Amazing!" For all intents and purposes, she was now a tall, curvaceous fair skinned girl with a generous bust, wide hips and long straight raven hair that went to the small of her back. The only evidence that she wasn't exactly who she appeared was a tiny, nearly imperceptible seam along her spine. "I know, right?" Amithea called out from the adjacent room. "Sounds like you put on Ariel, go ahead and put Erna on on top of that suit, okay?" "Hmm? Oh, yes, sure!" She grinned widely, and was rewarded with a cute smile not her own. This would work! Of course it would work, it just had to! Her attention now turned to the other skin on the bed. Unlike Ariel, Erma was clearly no looker. Even as she held the head up to her chest the hollow toes of the empty skin failed to touch the ground. Just like the Ariel suit that she currently wore, there was a large slit along the back. Just like that one, her now long, graceful legs went in first, stretching out that of the suit to an almost comical degree. She paused with it over her hips and gasped, her blue eyes fluttering shut. While Ariel certainly looked better on her the sensation of the inside of the suit, paired with it's extreme tightness left her wanting for breath, her nipples rock hard and a warm, tingling sensation between her thighs. She had to stop every time her knees got a little weak, but despite that, she repeated the feat with the Ariel skin, pulling the face over her own. Just like before, the full body mask did as she was told. She watched in wonder in the mirror as in the span of a blink of an eye, she'd shrunk down to the point where the third skin was not stretched as tight as the top of a drum. Her eyes had changed colors again too, this time a dull gray. "And this?" She tested her voice, no longer the high, lilting voice. It was a bit deeper, almost gravelly in nature. Erma's hands were gnarled and rough from a lifetime of manual labor, and her short, plump body had all vestiges of beauty that were once present eroded away by time and gravity. Her face had many lines and wrinkles, and she even had a pair of droopy jowls. But despite that? She was smilig back at herself in the reflection She reached behind herself for the easily-overlooked seam and pried it open. She shuddered as once again she was tall and in a delightfully too small false skin suit. She peeled off Erma's face and Lady Ariel stared back at her. She repeated the feat again, and stared back at her reflection. Unsealed, she was back to her true body shape, with two floppy masks hanging from her chest and the Erma disguise still pleasantly tight. "Amithea? Are you about done out there?" She peeled off the two disguises and got dressed again. Peeking out from the bedroom. "I Sure have dearie. Just come and see." On the table where she placed the skins, there were now: A key that looked to be made of bronze, a tiny ivory box that could easily fit in the palm of one's hand, and a little white porcelain jar with a lid that was currently screwed off, inside the jar was a flesh-colored cream. "This box contains a special powder. She holds it up. "What you'll want to do is take some and blow it in the face of someone. They'll fall right into a deep and enchanted sleep for a few hours or so and recall nothing that happened before that moment for as long as they were asleep. There's enough to use on the real Lady DeLammtu and Erma to make replacing them easier when the time comes. If you're careful with it, there might be enough left over to help for an emergency getaway too." She moved along, setting the box down and pointing to the cream. "This is used to help hide the little seam on the back of the disguises. I'm sure you noticed right?" Holly nodded. She didn't quite understand why she'd need that, but she'd trust Amithea to tell her that in good time. "And the key?" "Ah, the key Needless to say, it's a magic key, it's also going to help you not have to worry about hiding two sleeping women. There's some restrictions on how this one is used, otherwise, you could rescue him with this! First? You have to draw the same symbol on the handle of the key as on the person you need moved." She points it out for Holly, it wasn't a terribly complicated glyph. "It can be drawn in ink, or charcoal, or anything else you'd like but it has to be somewhere on bare skin. Secondly? That person must be asleep, or it won't work." She adds. "Lastly? The one that would make it hard to just use this to save dear Louis: This will only work on women, that is the Gatekeeper's privilege so we can't do anything about that." Holly blinked. "What? Gatekeeper? What are you talking about?" Amithea just smiled and shook her head. "Nevermind hon, it's not something you need to worry yourself with." Her ghostly eyes seemed to light up as she suddenly realized she forgot something. "Ah! Right! So, if all those conditions are met? What you do is, well, first you need a door. Any door will do. After that? You put the person on the other side of it, close the door, turn the key, and when you open it? They will be bone! The gatekeeper will take them here." She points behind her, to a sturdy looking door with the same symbol as the key. "This is a locked room they will end up in, and I'll take care of the rest. As soon as you're safe, I'll arrange to have them sent back to where they were supposed to go." She glided over to the room, opening it and showing her that it was a windowless room lit by al lantern on a table in the center, which also had a bowl of fruit, and a pitcher of water with several wooden cups. There were several comfortable beds, and anything else one could want. Including a pantry. It would ensure that the real Lady DeLammtu and Erma would be as well- taken care of as out of the way for the duration of the plan. "Now, any questions, Holly?" Oh, so many she didn't even know where to begin. But she might as well ask about that cream before she forgets after Amithea shows her something else incredible. "Um, about that cream? Why would I need it?" "Ah, that has to do with the plan. I'm going to have you go to this party as Ariel, with the Erma disguise on beneath that. Once there, you should ask Erma to let you see the prisoners. Then, you use the powder, send her here, and go see our brother." Holly nods, so far so good. Amithea adds. "Then? You're to take off the Ariel skin, and have your brother put on Ariel and walk out the door. You7'll sneak out yourself at the first convenient time. To make that easier? Ariel should be wearing an absolutely backless dress to the party, but to avoid any problems with that? We'd have to make sure no one notices the seam, right?" She couldn't help bt smile. The plan was good! Much better than she could come up with on her own. "I'll make an appearance at this party myself. Making some dire prophecy that'd he'd do well to leave your brother alone if he's gone by dawn and that should be that!" "Oh! That'd totally work!" Still she had a bit more questions, a few things weren't adding up. "So um...how'd you get this ready so quickly? How long did you know I'd need your help?" "Oh, not long, just a day or so. I already had the cream and powder lying around, making the key was most of the work." "And the skins?" Amithea grinned. "Oh? The second skins? I made quite a few of those long ago. They all look alike before I get them ready to use. A little paint here a good wig...an incantation spell later and there you have it!" her smile twisted into a playful, almost predatory smirk as she gazed Holly over approvingly. "I know I said I'd do this no charge but... maybe I will take a payment after all? Maybe I'll have one of my second skins look like you and wear it about town sometimes? You are mighty cute, Holly!" Holly blushed, both at the compliment, and at the prospect of Amithea making a copy of her visage to wear whenever she wanted. The idea left her heart aflutter. She actually wasn't even offended by the idea that the witch might become her impostor. In fact? It was flattering, exciting, even a little sexy. But she couldn't articulate any of that, instead all that spilled past her lips was some incoherent stammering and a nervous giggle. "Anyways, these should be all the tools that you'll need. Lady Ariel DeLammtu should be on her way to the Baron's any day now, and I know for a fact that she'll be staying in a roadhouse halfway between here and Summersburg in two days. If you hurry, you can make it there with plenty of time to spare." Amithea effortlessly floated along the ground towards her, put her hands on either of Holly's cheeks and planted a quick kiss on the girl's lips. "So, be off with you then! I'll take care of things on my end, and your brother will be home safe and sound before you know it!" --- At the same time as Holly was seeking out help for her rescue, across the river and many miles away, Baron Chauncey Idwick was in a bad mood. Well, Baron Chauncey Idwick was usually in a bad mood, but the latest developments had aggravated that into a disposition even more vitriolic and spiteful than normal. And when he was in this mood, everyone at Castle Idwick new it; Though it's stone walls and against it's vaunted ceilings echoed either by the Baron himself shouting himself horse, or more likely, by the screams of the luckless soul who'd displeased him. What roused his ire so this day was a single fork. He'd specified to everyone that no matter how many times he would have them practice for the formal dinner party in a week, they must treat each and every time as though it were the real thing. With real guests present and every little error would reflect badly upon him. It had gone flawlessly dozens, if not scores of times before; Each time it did, it only encouraged him to reorganize it to be flashier, fancier, more elaborate. This time however, amongst the rows of perfectly choreographed serving girls wh set the plates in time to the musicians there was a speck on a fork. It was so tiny that the short, balding man had to set a beady dark eye on a rather powerful magnifying glass to see it, but once the Baron had saw it, it was all he could think about. The well-dressed, pot-bellied little troll of a man set down the lens and held the fork above his head. "Who is responsible for cleaning the silverware?" He spoke with a calmness that those that knew him understood quite well was as ominous as the calm before the storm. The response he got was typical: A cowed silence from his servants, most of which were either frozen like deer in headlights, or mildly trembling. From his increasingly indolent henchman, Orson, an irritated sigh. The music came to a sudden and abrupt stop at his question and one could hear a pin drop in the dining hall at that moment. "I ASKED WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!?" He thrust the offending piece of flatware into the air as he roared his demand. This time, Chauncey got a more proper response. Erma,, his head maid clad in a simple red and blue dress stepped forward and gave a curtsy before speaking. "M'lord, doesn't matter who washed it, 'tis my responsibility as the senior to look out for these things. I'm ready for my punishment, but do be more merciful on the girls, please? I beg you! They're good workers just tired." The Baron, as unpleasant and nasty as he looked with his face flushed red with anger, seemed positively repulsive when he pulled his lips up into a smile. His smile had been compared to a river pike's once, so he had that joker cut up and used as bait. Still, he looked almost benevolent at the moment. Maybe, perhaps. Well...not really but it was as close as Baron Idwick was going to get. "Erma, you're too good to these girls, you know? That's admirable, it really is, but...that said, they also have to learn to take responsibility for their own mistakes!" he snapped his fingers. "Orson? Which servant was responsible for this?" Orson was a tall, bearded man, his employer's contrast in nearly all ways: Tall, handsome, solidly built with a head full of long, dark hair he wore in a ponytail. That only made the feature they shared, dark, sharp eyes which would look just as appropriate on some predatory beast as on a man, stand out all the more. When the chain-mail clad man was standing at rest, his right hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his side with the thumb of his left was tucked under his belt. He rolled his eyes and gave another irritated sigh and argued. "With all due respect, Sir, what does it matter? It's one little dot on one little fork amongst a hundred? No one's gonna mind it, hell no one that's not as bent on finding every little flaw isn't even going to notice." The Baron hissed back. "Orson, I didn't ask you for your opinion of this situation. I asked you which servant was responsible." Orson glanced to the maids, many were on the verge of tears now, which made it no easier for him. He couldn't even bear to look Erma in the eyes, even though he could practically feel her pleading gaze burning a hole in his temple. She'd probably want him to say he didn't recall which girl was on washing duty that day. In his opinion, for all the good that would do (Which was none), it would just get everyone punished and that included him. So as he glanced a way, he reluctantly he fingered out the girl, a dark-haired girl of nineteen years of age named Celeste. She stepped up rather calmly, her hands in front of her that she tried to get to stop shaking. She gave a quick bow, and confessed. "Yes sir. T'was me, sir. Please don't take anythin' out on Auntie Erma, sir." "Oh, not to worry my dear!" There was that pike-smile of his again. "I had no intention of taking anything out on her!" He sounded almost jovial as he took her hand. "But, I take it that you didn't see this imperfection?" The Baron showed her the fork closely. Celeste squinted, she gave the fork a scrutinizing gaze, then slowly shook her head. "No, M'lord. I fear I see nothing amiss." "Ah, so I see!" Chauncey slowly nodded, then quickly his mood changed like whiplash, snatching the girl's hand flush against the table and restraining her at the wrest. "Here! Let me give you a closer look!" The fork in his free hand was brought down fast and hard. It plunged into the wooden table below, and only avoided skewering the tender flesh of the girl's hand by the quick intervention of Orson. He snatched her hand away at the last moment, momentarily overpowering the Baron's grip on her hand. "That's quite enough, sir! You already have trouble getting servants to work here, do you not? You want to make it impossible?!" Baron Idwick snatched back the girls hand and roughly shoved her aside, for the moment forgotten. "Such insolence! Do not forget it is I who pays you!" "Sorry, Sir, but you do pay me to protect you." The taller man took a deep breath and explained. "So, I'm gonna protect you from your own excesses, yeah? You're the one insists everyone treats these endless rehearsals like the real thing. You really gonna throw a tantrum like that in front of guests? In front of Lady DeLammtu?" The Baron's beady little eyes were momentarily wide as saucers, and he stammered out. "Yes, yes you're quite right! I mustn't behave without thinking. At least not in front of her, at least for now." He turned to his serving staff and addressed them all. "Alright! Very good, very good! No more rehearsals for today, as you were!" It only took moments for the staff to put everything away and file out of sight and out of mind for their usual duties. Chauncey left for his chambers, with a motion of his hand, soon Orson strode after him. "While the subject is fresh," The warrior started, "I think you should avoid any further outbursts if you can help it, at least around the musicians Sir. They're getting' quite nervous that one sour note could put them on the chopping block just like that Reynard boy who delivered Dutches Milqen's rejection letter in regards to your advances. The harpsichord player in particular only seems to linger 'cause you promised him that you'd pay for the medicine his ailing mother needs." "Ah, yes, that..." The Baron waved his hand. "How much would that medicine cost, again?" "From the man I sent to look into it? Seems it goes for 50 gold pieces a bottle, Sir. Pretty rare stuff, apparently." "F-FIFTY PEI- Outrageous! I refuse to spend so much for just a harpsichord player!" "Shall I inform him that we won't be needing his services any more then." "No, don't do that." One could almost see the gears turning in Idwock's head. "I have exhausted my good graces in their circles, as you have pointed out. If I toss him out now, the word could get out and well...we simply must have music at this even, yes?" "Of course, sir." Orson agreed more on reflex than actively listening, his attention for the moment was drawn to Celeste, who he saw sweeping the hall. He gave the girl a quiet nod as a meager appology for before. "Right then! So, here's what will be done: Agree to whatever they want, but defer all payments until after the party. Then? I want you to pay them the standard musician's pay of 3 silver pieces each and toss the lot of them out!" He muttered again. "Fifty gold paces...he must be out of his mind!" Orson's disgust was clear on his face, but Idwick barely paid him any mind. "Seriously? Well, as sir commands." At the moment, he probably would've physically struck him if that didn't mean going hungry, or worse. Instead, he chose to change the subject before it's he who gets so angry he does something regretful. "Why are you so intent to court DeLammtu? Sure, she's beautiful, but she's as dumb as a sac of dull stones and the lands the king granted her family are by all accounts? monster infested and god-forsaken. I could at least see with the Dutches, she's first cousin to the king." "Bah! Who cares how dumb she is?" Chauncey waves it off dismissively with a meaty paw. "For that matter? Who cares how beautiful she is? As a matter of fact? It's better for me that she is a half-wit! Her family's outrageously wealthy! The dowry alone makes it worth it, but as rich as her linage is, it soon stands to become even richer." "how do you figure, sir?" Chauncey gave his nasty little grin again and explained. "I have it on good authority that there's been gold found in the hills amongst the wilderness of the DeLammtu lands. Sadly, the prospector suffered a sudden and tragic accident before he could inform the DeLammtu's of their windfall, and there's been an unusually high amount of bandits bedeviling that area that deter too much curiosity. Though I have promised her that if I am made her groom? I'll make the bandits vanish with a single order! Just...not in the way she was expecting." He couldn't help but give a self-satisfied chortle at this. "I see, so that's how it is, Sir." "Mmm, quite not only would almost tripple my territory and therefore the revenue I can make though taxes, and not to mention the gold mines and the familial coffers of dear, simple Ariel, but it gets even better! To hell with that sodden Milquen! I don't even need her to marry into the royal family! Just three days ago I uncovered a secret the royals were keeping close to themselves: Ariel DeLammtu's is also a first cousin of the king!" With thoughts of even greater wealth and influence swimming though his mind, it was mildly surprising that Baron Chauncey Idwick didn't just throw his head back and roar with maniacal laughter. But he knew better: It was wiser to wait until he was in his relatively soundproofed chambers for that. "Joanna?" She asked, in a lyrical voice. "What is the name of that place?" She pointed to a town, in the distance, still visible thanks to being on a plane much lower than where they currently were. "Summersburg, M'Lady Ariel." She got her answer from the woman besides her, middle aged, slender, and long-faced, with red hair done up in a pair of braided buns and wearing a long green dress that covered her from the nexck down, and only bared her hands. She had stepped out of the carriage and helped her charge to do the same. "Oh? Why do they call it that?" The true Ariel DeLammtu blinked her blue, doe-like eyes innocently and frowned. "It's springtime, Joanna!" "I...don't know? Is but a name, M'lady." "Oh, well, they should call it 'Sprinsburg, or something then!" The nubile young noblewoman wore a dark blue velvet dress with long sleeves and an elaborate, frilled hemline. Her hands that she currently held akimbo of her slender waist were adorn with the elaborate ends of her long sleeves that ended with a loop about her middle fingers not unlike bridal gloves. Their bodyguard didn't even blink at the Lady's statement, so used to her ways were the men at arms. "Right then, we should get you to a room, and then, how's a nice warm bath and a good meal sound, M'lady?" "Oh! Absolutely heavenly, Joanna! Please, let us!" She brightened up with a smile, and clapped her hands as she followed her into the roadhouse, called the 'Slaying Vagrant3 Despite it's sinister name, the tavern enjoyed such a reputable reputation far and wide that not even Ariel would know better than to raise a brow in regards to it's name.' As Joana and Ariel went inside, their senses were treated to a feast of all kinds: The savory, sweet and otherwise delicious aromas of food, the sound of laughter, friendly banter and a lute being played in a corner by a minstrel by the fireplace, and the sights of people from all over the kingdom and even from well beyond were there. All colors and types of people wearing all manner of interesting, exotic, colorful or otherwise eye-catching clothing. With a scene like that, it would be quite easy indeed to overlook the figure in the green cloak sitting alone. "I'll make the arrangements for us, M'lady? Stay with the bodyguard, would you?" Obediently, she stood besides the armored men with their pole arms at their sides to defend her. As Joanna left to speak with the tavern keeper, negotiate payments and get them a room. All the while, beneath the hood of the cloak that she'd pulled up, Holly watched this all, paying specially close attention to Ariel, how she moved and spoke, reacted to things and straining her ears in hopes of overhearing which room was theres. As the traveling party had a meal, she nursed an ale she bought in hopes of getting some aid from liquid courage. When they moved onto the rooms, Holly followed too. Not too closely, as she didn't dare to attract undue attention to herself. Just to see which room Lady Delammtu was staying in was good enough then and there. She also noticed the guards they kept posted outside of that room. No getting in that way. But, she wasn't going to give up that easily! Especially with all of the help that Amithea gave her that would simply go to waste if she didn't at least try. As it happens, Holly was a rather skilled climber and confident acrobat. If she couldn't get to Ariel from the door to her room, maybe, just maybe she could climb into a window from the outside! That was risky as hell, and in any other situation, she'd laugh out loud at herself for coming up with such a silly plan. But if it was the only way? It looked a lot more attractive sans alternatives. She'd just have to wait until the cover of night if she'd to have any hope of actually pulling it off. While Holly was biding her time, waiting for the right opportunity to come her way, arrangements were being made to have a hot bath drawn for Ariel. As workers filled the brass washtub with buckets of warmed water, rose petals and sweet-smelling oils, Joana helped Ariel strip. First was removing her jewelry, consisting of a gold circlet, a gem encrusted necklace and a few rings. Then she helped her out of the dress, unlacing it's back and letting it fall from her slim shoulders. When the expensive garment was removed and properly taken care of she took out the pins that held Ariel's hair up, letting it cascade down her back. As they worked, the two women had a bit of small talk, mainly about the nature of why they were traveling. "Ugh, I can't believe that you actually accepted Idwick's invitation, m'lady! He's a beast!" "Eyaah! Joanna! I don't want to see him if he's a beast! They smell awful, and what if he attacks me?!" Her cute face clearly showed more than a little concern. "Oh! M'lady! He's not truly a beast, it's just a figure of speech." For a moment, she'd forgotten that Ariel could take everything all too literal. "Calm down, he's very much a man, just a very unpleasant one. Ugly too, from what I've heard." "Oh, Joanna! You gave me such a fright!" Her demeanor returned to it's cheerful state and she added. "You know you can call me just Ariel, and I insist when it's just the two of us! Why don't you get some well- needed rest? I do know I can be ever so difficult sometimes." "Well, as you wish, Ariel." She nods. "Actually? I think I will take you up on that offer. I won't be far, so just call me if you need me, okay?" "Thanks, Joanna, for everything." She said with a smile as she gave Joanna a hug. The woman gave her a curtsy and left the room, while Joanna removed her undergarments and stepped gingerly into the bathtub. As she lowered herself into the gently warm, steamy water, she gave a contented sigh. And her eyes fluttered closed. She would've been contented to just lay there in the tub for hours, even. But eventually she did reach for a sponge and started to scrub lathery arms and a soapy chest moving on in time to every inch of her body. The time was right for Holly, so she wasted no time. As soon as the coast was clear, she started free-scaling the wall with the window to where Lady DeLammtu currently was. It was only two stories high, and the stone and mortar wall was solid, but the grouting was well-worn. This provided her with more than enough hand and toe holds to scramble up the wall quickly and without difficulty. Once she'd got up, that was the easy part. Now she had to traverse past a ledge just barely wide enough for her to go by flush with the wall. Ariel's room was five away, and at least three of those rooms looked occupied, judging by the lamplight spilling from them. Well, definitely no turning back now! It'd be best to simply move as quickly and quietly as her footing would allow her without falling. The first two windows were easy, one was darkened and empty, and the second had an old man writing at a desk with his back facing her. The next window however, had her face to face with a young boy. There was no doubt he saw her, his brown eyes looked like they'd pop out of his head and his jaw dropped as he made a little sound of exclamation. What's worse, the surprise caused Holly to momentary freeze as she stared back at him. After what was happening fully registered to both of them, they both respectively sprung into action, The boy turned and called out. "Mommy! MOMMY! There's a person outside the window! Mommy! Come see!" As his mother came, he pointed excitedly to the window and turned his head for a moment. Holly resumed moving, quickly and quietly. By the time the child's mother came? He was pointing at air. "Oh, Byron, what are you getting on now? It's impossible for anyone to be there! We're too high! Now come on and behave yourself at dinner or no desert for you!" "But...but I saw it..." The boy slumped his shoulders and went with his mother as he was told. As for Holly, she had another close call as she was hurrying past the next window just as the door opened. She just barely narrowly avoided being spotted again. It was relatively smooth sailing until she finally made it to her destination. It was then that two discoveries were made that left her cursing to herself. Firstly: The window was locked, from the inside of course. Worse than that however, was that as she was perched on a ledge exposed to risk of falling or being spotted at any moment, she had no idea how she was going to get past this. Dammit, dammit, dammit! Running out of options and time, she took another dumb risk out of necessity. She lightly tapped on the glass. From the rumors that were buzzing around, Lady DeLammtu's two frogs shy of a pond. What she saw of here merely confirmed that. Maybe she'll be able to outwit her before she decides to alert her guards? "Oh? What's this?" Ariel got out of the tub when she found the souce of the strange tapping sound. She slipped on a white linen bathrobe and clenched it about heir waist with a quick twist of it's sash. "Oh! Are you a visitor?" Holly had expected her to be a bit dull, but that she'd seriously and without irony said that left her nonplussed. But only for an instant. "Er, yes! I am! Do you mind opening the window so I can come inside?" "Oh! I do so love entertaining guests!" She unlatched the window and opened it, helping Holly inside. "But I wonder, why didn't you just use the door?" "Well, I tried!" She quickly lied. "It's just that well, it's stuck!" "Oh! I see!" Ariel beamed, quite satisfied with that response. "Oh, I don't believe we've formally met, my name is Lady Ariel DeLammtu!" She introduced herself with a graceful florish of her hand as she lowered her head slightly. "Oh, pleased to meet you, Lady DeLammtu, my names Holly Reynard!" She sat down the pack she had strapped to her back beneath her cloak, she fished around one of the side pockets and took out the tiny ebony box, sprinkling a bit of the bright pink powder in one palm. "And I'm very, very sorry about this!" "Sorry about what? Whatever do you mean?" Ariel watched this all with a curious gaze and a gentle, friendly smile. "For this." Holly blew at her palm directly in Ariel's, and the powder became a cloud of pink containing dozens of glittering gold specks, As suddenly as the cloud had formed, it vanished just as quickly. Though only there for an instant, it had it's intended effect. Her lids drooped and and she swayed on her feet. "Mmmm? Holly, what was that abo-" She was unable to finish the statement, before she could, she fell unconscious where she stood. Holly quickly caught her before she could fall noisily and potentially hurt herself. As she leaned the woman against her, she was softly snoring. Holly went to work at once, setting her gently to the floor and stripping her of the long bathrobe. Out of the pack, she took out the false skins. One was a copy of Erma, the other was a hollow duplicate of the woman peacefully slumbering on the floor. She then stripped herself down and placed her discarded garments in the pack. She lifted up the Erma skin and ignored the warm tingling of her loins at just the prospect of putting on the wonderfully tight disguise. No motion was wasted when she put it on, and after slipping on the false face and adjusting everything into place, the much shorter, older woman she had become had repeated the process with the Ariel skin. Not before she quickly immersed the entire thing in the bathwater, an afterthought to help her ally any suspicions in case one wonders why she'd be bone dry after just getting out of the bath. She then placed the stolen bathrobe onto her body and had a look in the mirror. From the damp, slicked down hair to the way the long white bathrobe clung to her frame? It was a perfect match! All that was left was what to do with the real Ariel DeLammtu. Lucky for her, she still had a few tricks up her sleeve. She took out the strange brass key a small vial of ink with a stopper and an ink quill. She drew the design on the end of the key on Ariel's chest, on the collar bone just above her softly rising and falling perky breasts. Rather than scratching the ink into her body, she merely let it drip from the end of the nub into the shape of the sigil. "Now..." Holly said with Ariel's voice. "If I remember right, she said I put her behind a door." She dragged the real Ariel into a closet and shut the door behind her. "Put in the key and turn it," She did so and as she did, there was a click and a flash of sepia light behind the door. "And when I open it? She'll be gone?" When she opened the door, there was only clean linens and towels, and no sign of Ariel. This was enough to satisfy her that she was now under the custody of Amithea. "M'lady? I mean, Ariel?" Joanna's voice carried though the door as she softly knocked on the other side. "Is everything alright in there? You've been in there for quite a while now!" "Oh? Yes." She heard her call that woman's voice, was it Jolene, Joy? Germaine? "...Joanna." She paused, and when she didn't correct her she breathed a sigh of relief as she stowed away her pack to retrieve later in the evening. "Do come in, won't you?" She did as she was asked, took one look at 'Ariel' and gave a little yelp. It was enough to get Holly's heart to skip a beat. Had she somehow ruined the second skin by dipping it in water? Amithea did mention she used paint. Before she could panic at the prospect of the woman watching in horror as her features slid off onto the floor, Joanna added. "Ariel! Let's get you dried off! You'll catch your death of cold like that and with a window open!" She quickly strode over and shut the window. "Now, let's get you dried off and ready for bed, no? We still have a lot of travel ahead of us tomorrow, and you'll need to rest up!" "Oh! I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking! And yes, please do!" As she was helped to dry off, and helped into a nightgown, she couldn't help but smile. This was possibly the woman who knew Ariel better than anyone else around and she couldn't tell a difference. This was going to work! Nothing could stop her from saving Louis now! She had her own room, large and luxurious with a trunk, armoire, a table a desk, several chairs, an Oriental rug and a canopy bed she was currently resting on. It was just her now, Ariel DeLammtu as far as the world knew, and her thoughts (Something most of the world wondered weather the true Ariel DeLammtu actually had or not.) She was excited, the prospect of borrowing another's identity and life for a while was absolutely thrilling. She was also still quite aroused, as the clinging tightness of the Erma skin that was sandwiched between Holly and her current outer facade. She started to pull up the front hem of her skirt, admiring the smooth, slender shapeliness her legs now enjoyed. She ran another woman's hands up them, cooing a bit at the silky smooth sensation. She pulled the frilled him of the nightgown further up, to about her flat stomach. She had a neatly trimmed patch of short dark hair above a pink nub of a clitoris and a moist slit Without even a concious thought, her right hand went down between her legs and flicking her clit before she deftly moved aside the hood and started pleasuring herself. Her other hand pulled the nightgown further up and she fondled one of her now considerably more bountiful breasts. She let out a gasp when she tightly pinched her own nipple as her hand moved on from playing with her clit to plunging two fingers past her swollen, dripping labial lips She brushed the tips against her inner walls until she found her g-spot. She gave a low, sultry sigh as she fingered herself. She'd done this when she was alone, many times before, but this was different! Her fingertips were electric and her touch wonderfully unfamiliar both her hands and body. She was close, and she had to be careful with her moans lest she gain some unwanted attention. Her free hand was employed to feel at her face. The features were that of course of Ariel, but at the moment that's was all it took. She was a totally different person, two even! And in doing that, she'd fooled everyone. She climaxed. Her legs and hips were trembling madly on their own and the start of a a powerful cry quickly silenced when she bit into her pillow. She felt flush and wonderfully warm all over as tingling powerful waves of pleasure had their way with her body for a few brief blissful moments, she flailed about the bed narrowly avoiding falling off. When it was over, she found herself found herself catching her breath for several minutes after. Her companion to sleep that night would be the afterglow. The next morning she'd put the next part of the plan into effect. "Joanna? I think I changed my mind about this dress." the counterfeit Ariel said with a frown. There was nothing wrong with the dress, which was a lovely vision of green and gold with long, flared sleeves, a very flattering bodice and a long train. That would trail behind. It was made of the finest materials and custom made to fit the perfect shape of the body she wore now. The only thing that was wrong with it would be it would prove quite difficult to take off and put on in the circumstances of the plan. As pretty as it was, her purpose for even being there instead of the real Ariel DeLammtu easily trumped it. "Are you sure, M'Lady? Are you certain? This dress costs more than most people make in ten years! Why, it'd practically be a sin to just let it go to waste!" "Oh! You're right, Joanna!" She laced her straightened fingers together in a playful way and smiled. "That's why when we go to the seamstress to make my new dress, we'll also have this one altered for you, so that you might wear it!" "What?! You can't be serious Ariel, I mean my lady! It's far too nice for me!" She motions to it it, glancing from the dress hanging on the wall and back to her, wanting for words to articulate what she's feeling. But still,Ariel stood firm. "Ah! I'll hear no more of it! I insist!" She takes Joanna's hands and looks in her eyes with a benevolent smile. "As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing that's too good for you. You deserve no less for taking such fine care of such a flighty, foolish girl like me!" Like a child wanting to get her way from her parents, she gave a little pout and gave her a look Holly's father always called 'puppy-dog eyes' before giving her whatever she wanted. "I...have never been able to say no to you, Lady Ariel." She said with a smile. "Thank you for such a gracious gift. Even if it won't look nearly as good on me as it would on you, Ariel." "I'll be the judge of that when I see it with my own eyes! Now, let's be off to town! I have a very specific dress in mind and we don't have a lot of time to have it made!" They arrived at Summersburg in no time at all. Luckily for this Ariel, it was totally in character for the scatter-brained noblewoman to have forgotten things she herself said only yesterday. That meant when Joanna had playfully teased her about her 'Springsburg' comment, it roused no suspicion at all when she apparently had no recollection of that. Ariel thinks she hears a familiar voice, but not quite. "Welcome to my shop!" The shop for the seamstress wasn't unusual at all. What is noteworthy is when the previously unseen clothes maker steps out from behind a shelf of fabrics and spools of thread with a large swath of silk in her hands. Ariel gasped. Her hair was much shorter and now brown, her eyes had irises with a much more mundane brown, her skin was much lighter, her nails were shorter and unadorned with rings or colors, and she actually seemed to walk. Still though all those changes to her look, anyone who's actually seen her before would never forget Amithea, no matter ow many superficial changes she made. "Ah! A noblewoman! In my humble shop!" Amithea's exotic accent was mostly suppressed, but the faintest hint of it still lingered with her words. She showed Ariel all the due respect that an aristocrat expected and smiled. "So, how may this humble seamstress help you today, M'lady?" Her smile was friendly and sweet, but, a little crooked. Ariel couldn't help but smile back as she spoke. "I have two tasks for you! I want you to alter this dress to fit my friend." She motions to the garment carefully folded in Joanna's hand. "For the other task? I want you to make a dress for me. A very special one I want to stand out! Maybe even try to start a new fashion trend! That would be wonderful!" "Oh, I will get right on the alterations!" She takes the dress and beams. "Actually? I might have something you may like. As it happens I end up with some spare fabric now and then. I like to experiment around with it when I have the free time. Do come with me, M'lady?" She lead them back in te shop, and resting on a felt-covered wooden torso? It was everything that Ariel had hoped for and more. It was a long silk ball gown with no sleeves and no back. Instead it had a sling-type design that held up the front only with a strap of silk around the back of it's neck held together with a silver clasp. It was blue fabric, light and airy. There was also around the shoulders a long silken stole of the same color, meant to be worn around the back and draped over her arms. "That's highly unusual." Joanna said, but couldn't quite sound like she disproved of the thing. "What do you think, M'lady?" "I think...I think it's...PERFECT!" She clapped her hands and squealed in delight. Something Holly would not be caught dead doing, but luckily she wasn't Holly at the moment. "I'll take it! How long would it take for the alterations?" "Mmmmm, a few hours, but I could rush it without a loss in quality of work," The disguised Amithea added. "Of course, you take priority over my typical work today!" Ariel had made sure to use the cream to hide the tiny seam her back shouldn't have that morning. 'Luckily' as they found out, the blue dress was a perfect fit for Ariel's long and shapely body type. "The real one is back at the cottage, quite safe and sound." The witch playing seamstress whispered in her ear as she helped her into the dress. "I will be ready to cover your exit as well." Altering the dress meant for Ariel so that it'd be a proper fit for Joanna took more time, but in a mere hour, it was done. "What do we owe you, Master Seamstress?" Joanna offered as she went for the coin purse. "Oh? To have one of my hobby dresses worn by such a lovely woman like the Lady DeLammtu at a high-profile affair? I feel I should be paying you for that! Just give me whatever you feel is appropriate." Just the same, she was paid quite handsomely for services rendered. She also asked Joanna to go on ahead and get someone to pack away the clothes in the luggage of the carriage. It was just the two conspiring disguised women now. "Amithea! You're amazing!" She gave her a hug and smiled. "The dress was exactly what I needed to pull this off! But you already knew that, didn't you? I can't belive how smoothly things are going!" "Well yes, window entries aside." "Oh? How did you know that?" She smirked and reached behind her neck, soon her face stretched, distorted and slacked as she peeled it down to reveal her true, red- haired, dusky skinned ghostly eyed self with a wink. "Oh, I have my ways, sweetie. Don't you worry." She replaced the disguise in place, peeling the mask over her head to make her look mostly the same, but all too different as well. "Better get going hon, Joanna's not gonna wait forever." They parted ways with another hug and Amithea stole yet another kiss. Ariel's heart was aflutter as she left to ride off with Joanna and the rest of her traveling party of servants and guards. The plan was almost to come into fruition. As they left, there was still a few days before the party, and some travel. Ariel took advantage of this by confiding in Joanna that her socializing skills were not what they could be. (Especially true for Holly) The crash course in high society and etiquette was her final step of preparations. Hours before the party, she got ready, her hair was washed, combed, styled and adorned with elaborate ribbons and a golden comb. She was perfumed and Joanna did her makeup. She helped her into the dress, and while Joanna was busy with her own dress, Ariel slipped on garter on her right leg so that she could smuggle in Amiithea's magical tools against her inner thigh Also, just in case the absolute worst happened, she'd also tucked a tiny dirk which she hoped would not have to be used. Ariel already had a pair of slightly heeled, blue leather shoes with silver buckles to match the dress, but she was sure the mysterious witch had that in mind when she prepared the dress for her. Joanna looked simply amazing in her own dress. Her red hair was down in a pair of braids at her shoulders, tied back with green ribbons. "How do I look, Ariel?" "Oh, you look enchanting! I rather think it does look better on you that it ever would on me! Much, much better!" "Thank you." Joanna smiled and blushed, but then looked Ariel in the eyes with a concerned frown. "You look nervous." "I am. I can't help it!" "Well, don't be." Joanna took her hand. "I'll be with you the whole time, who knows? You might even have fun!" Somehow, she had doubts about that, but she perked up just the same. "Yeah, you're right." She lied, "Let's get going then!" Te final leg of Ariel's journey had her impostor and Joanna riding in the carriage though a dirt road on hilly plains until they reached a mid-sized town dominated by a large and imposing castle constructed of dark gray stone. On closer inspection the town wasn't anything remarkable but there was something she couldn't quite put her finger on about the castle that just made her at once think of the homes of all the villains in the stories her mother told her as a child. "Look, there's already some other guests arriving." Joanna pointed out to her, the other groups of people congregating together before being ushered on by servants. "Look! See the lady who's traveling cloak bears the coat of arms with the greymalkin? That's the Baroness of Mayer." She only got a glimpse of the fair, blond haired woman, just enough to see she was a real beauty. Joanna moved onto a young woman with very short, dark hair. "That's Lady Hoyt." There were dozens of others like the two lovely noblewomen. Men and women of the aristocracy, who'd also brought their own attendants, servants and friends. Ariel nodded, taking it all in, but a bit distracted. She had to concentrate for quite a feat of deception: She was to pretend to be a dense, flaky woman who in turn was attempting to pass herself off as neither. Ariel thought of herself as a good actress, but this was not the ideal venue for her to put that to the test. As she joined the others, her unusual attire had turned heads and left tongues wagging. She suddenly felt quite self-conscious indeed. She said to herself that she didn't care what she wore, but now that all eyes were on her, she covered her face partially with a fluttering silk fan to obscure a sudden blush. At least her fashion choice seemed to be well received enough that she wouldn't be chased out before she could even try for what she truly came here for. What's worse, she was the guest of honor. It was obvious to everyone this entire gathering was put together for Idwick's attempts to woo Ariel DeLammtu, at the moment, that would be her. And that meant that a tall, powerfully built and well dressed man with his dark hair in a ponytail and with a sword at his side approached. His garb obviously identified him as one of Idwick's men. "Lady DeLammtu, I presume?" He glanced her over with a mix of desire and awe that left her retreating behind her fan again. "Put your tongue back in your mouth!" Joanna chided him. "Have you come on behalf of the Baron?" "Hmm? Oh, yes, right! " He gives Ariel a deep bow. "Where are my manners? I must've been stunned by such beauty. The Baron wishes to see you personally, I'm to escort you too him, M'lady. And might I be the first to compliment you to your attire? It suits you well indeed, and I think some of our female guests may burst into flames with envy at any moment." She saw an opening and took it. "Oh? Really?" She gasped, and rested her hand against her cheek as she pouted with concern. "We must do something! We can't let that happen! The might die, you know?!" She'd hoped that this would end the conversation, and fit with the reputation of the woman who's life she was stealing for at least one more night. Judging by Orson's blank, jaws slightly agape expression? She succeed. "Um, right then. Anyways, my name is Orson, and er, right this way?" She'd heard rumors about the Baron Chauncey Idwick. She'd heard that he was a mean, brutish vile and petty man. She had no trouble believing any of that. She'd als