The next morning was much like the previous one, except that I did not sleep in. I woke up with Kalara snuggling against me in my cot and after slipping out of bed while doing my best not to wake her, I summoned my armor, took Neva’kul and my new bow and quiver in hand, and made my way outside to begin my morning training session with Shava. My cousin was a bit later than expected, though that was understandable since she arrived in her new armor, and it had probably taken her quite some time to get it on and properly adjusted since she had only gotten it the day before.

From the dour expression on her face and the way she was dragging her feet when she arrived, my cousin was not looking forward to training in the unfamiliar armor. Still, both Sharai and I had felt this was necessary. “How are you feeling this morning, Shava?” I asked as she trudged over to our training spot.

“Heavy,” she grumbled, “I can barely move in this. How am I supposed to train and spar like this?”

“You need to get used to the weight, and it will help to build up your strength and stamina. Besides, you do not want to be trying to get used to how it affects your mobility while in a life-or-death battle, trust me on this, cousin. I’m still trying to get used to wearing my armor, and I was wearing it for the first time while fighting Tainted in a dark zone. It is far better to get used to it while training,” I told her gently.

If either of us believed that Sharai would go easy on Shava while she was getting used to her new armor, we were quickly relieved of that notion. In fact, while she had use of my body to directly coach my cousin through the first and second dances, she seemed to be just as picky about positioning, fluidity of movement, and proper stance as usual, perhaps even more so. “Weight and weariness are no excuse for sloppiness,” she told her at one point. “There will be times when you will have to fight when you can barely stand or when you are injured. Sloppiness causes mistakes, and at times like those, mistakes will get you killed.”

My cousin’s only reply was to grit her teeth and redouble her efforts to get through the two dances as flawlessly as she could, armor or no. By the time we finished training, followed by sparring, and then training with our new bows as well, the poor girl looked ready to collapse. She gratefully did so as we picked a spot by the fire and joined the others who were awake for breakfast.

When I finished my meal, Master Nirlyn, Vesha, and Kalara were all still abed, so I returned to our wagon to check on my daughter, strip out of my armor, feed Zaiya, and get dressed properly for the day. Before I got dressed in my Voyager clothes though, I carefully put on my Tien’jin to wear underneath. The Fae ‘instrument’ was as tedious and complex to put on as Shava’s armor, and I was still getting used to the awkward weight and motion of the chains, jewelry, and crystals on practically every part of my body whenever I moved.

Still, I needed to get used to it if I was going to master the instrument, and Master Nirlyn seemed to be right about how learning to dance would help my swordsmanship. I had neglected wearing the Tien’jin since we encountered the menagerie, mostly because I had other things on my mind since then, but I was determined to get used to wearing the Tien’jin and to master them with the help of Selice’s dance lessons. With Sharai’s help and guidance, I was able to get into the complicated, interconnected jewelry by the time the others began to stir.

Kalara seemed fascinated by the baubles I was wearing all over my body as she sat up on the cot and watched as I got dressed in my moonskin, followed by my other clothes. She couldn’t take her eyes off the shifting metal and crystals until I added one of my long brightly colored skirts, sandals, and a backless bodice over top. The parts of the Tien’jin worn on my arms, hands, and neck were going to be visible, but hopefully would not draw too much attention when we went into the city to busk.

After saying my good mornings to my daughter, Vesha, and Master Nirlyn, I took Kalara to use the privy and then helped her to clean up and get dressed before following the others outside to get Kalara fed. After breakfast, and the cleanup that followed, we returned to the wagon with Korine and her father accompanying us for our morning lessons. While my fellow apprentices and I were learning, Selice took Kalara outside to get some playtime with the other children of the troupe and to let her play with her tambourine without disrupting our lessons.

I watched carefully as Dewblossom cast her illusions and bound them to the magical mark that she had created and placed on my daughter’s lower back. The Ilari said that the spells were simple enough, and she was an expert in illusion magic, but I still found myself breathing a sigh of relief as the spells took hold. Kalara’s sky blue hair appeared to turn black, her ears more like a those of a human, and her skin took on the dusky hue that all Voyagers seemed to have in common. Her eyes were even a deep brown in color now, similar to Shava’s.

“That looks perfect, Dewblossom, thank you,” I told the Ilari illusionist gratefully. Other than the illusory wings that she was wearing still, Kalara looked very much like the other children of the troupe.

“Aww… I didn’t do all that much, honestly, Lady Kaelyn. This should work well for her long-term though, and I’ve bound all of the effects together, so she only needs to use a single trigger to have them take effect,” Dewblossom replied as her cheeks flushed at the praise.

“Please, do not understate your skills, you did a wonderful job,” I countered as I placed the coins that I owed her on the counter beside my daughter, who was currently sitting there and squirming from being bored. “She looks like a Voyager now, especially in those clothes. Now she can blend in among the humans, should we need to for some reason.”

The Ilari gratefully scooped up the coins and then she turned her attention to my daughter. “Now it’s time for the real test. Kalara, what you look like now is an illusion, like the wings I made for you. You should be able to make yourself look like this or go back to your real self. Most kids your age might have trouble with it, but you are mana-touched, so magic of any sort should come naturally to you. I want you to think about the color of your hair, the color it usually is.”

Kalara looked at me and, once I nodded, her little face scrunched up in concentration. A moment later, the illusion dissipated, and I was once again looking at the blue-haired Elf girl that I had adopted last night. “Well done, Sweetie,” I told her with a smile and leaned down to tenderly kiss her forehead.

“Very good, Kalara,” Dewblossom agreed, ruffling the girl’s hair. “Now, when you want to use the illusion, you just need to think of your hair being black instead.”

We had Kalara test it by switching back to the illusion and then returning to her usual appearance. I was glad that Dewblossom had thought to make the trigger for the spell something simple as I picked Kalara back up in my arms and thanked the Ilari once again for her services. Kalara even followed suit with a “Tankoo, Dewblummem,” of her own. She had butchered the poor Enchanter’s name, and her mouth and tongue were still trying to catch up to the new languages in her head, but at least she tried.

Once we said our farewells, I left Dewblossom’s shop with Kalara still held in my arms and then took to the skies to return to our camp outside the city now that our business for the day was done. I had already taken her to a cobbler to get her some sandals and shoes made since she was barefoot at the moment and had taken her for lunch and some sweets from the street vendors before going to see Dewblossom. Now I needed to return her to camp so I could join my fellow Bards and Selice for some afternoon busking.

Thanks to Selice once again being my twin, we had another very profitable afternoon of busking. We also received a proposition. It had been my turn to sing today, so I was doing that and playing the lap harp when the well-dressed servant of some noble or another took notice of Selice and me while running errands for his master. He had listened and watched for a while before tossing a silver piece into the growing pile of coppers in the lute case at my feet. None of us had thought much of it until he returned to us with company.

We had packed up and were on our way to return to camp when a voice called out behind us, “Ladies of the Fae! Please, a moment, if you would!” The man was hurrying to catch up with us and I turned to Selice and Master Niryln, who both nodded after seeing who was following him. He was a handsome man in his late twenties or early thirties with dark hair, and a neatly trimmed beard, and was dressed in the latest fashion for nobles, immaculately made crimson and black clothes of silk and velvet that likely cost more money than I had seen in my life.

The pair approached, and the servant huffed tiredly as if he had run for quite some distance, before catching his breath and bowing extravagantly. “M-my Ladies, may I introduce His Grace, Duke Farun Sal-Grethan of Grethan Reach.”

Selice performed a quick curtsy, and I swiftly did my best to imitate the gesture as my fellow Bards watched warily from several paces away. “Your Grace,” Selice replied smoothly, “I am Selice, and this is my sister, Kaelyn.”

To my surprise, the duke smiled and bowed ever so slightly, the type of acknowledgment given to a near equal in status. They really thought highly of the Fae in this city. “Lady Selice, Lady Kaelyn, if I might have a moment of your time. You see, I am in the capital for court, and I am having a garden party in two nights’ time, but I find myself in need of someone to provide the evening’s entertainment. Arvus here says that you are a talented pair, and I would like to procure your services for the evening. Three gold pieces, for each of you.”

Selice narrowed her eyes but calmly retorted, “That would depend on the services that you are requesting, Your Grace. We make our living by music and dance, nothing more. Would you have us believe that us being a pair of identical Faerie girls has nothing to do with this request?”

“O-on my honor, I ask only that you provide some music and dancing to entertain my guests,” he quickly replied, his face somewhat ashen. “I have no desire to cross the Fae. Yes, it is that which drew me to you, but with such a duo performing for me, my party will be the talk of the capital for the entire court season. Arvus has already vouched for your talents. Five gold pieces each.”

“Hmmm,” Selice hummed thoughtfully. “Yes, I can see how you would benefit from this, but I fail to see the benefit for us. What do you think, dear sister?”

I could only watch for a moment, uncertain of what to say. The money was tempting though. Ten gold pieces for one night of music and dancing even had Master Nirlyn looking the nobleman over in new interest, but she seemed content to let Selice handle this since we were the pair that he was so interested in. I almost missed my cue as I considered it, but that probably just sold the whole deception all the more when I finally sighed, “We have nothing to wear to such a grand occasion on such short notice, sister dear, and I do not wish to drown in petticoats or be crushed by a corset like those human noblewomen. How would I sing if I cannot breathe?”

“Aye,” Selice agreed. “I could not dance in such finery either. Perhaps if we wore our dancing finery, dear sister? A rare sight to be seen by humans to be sure but seeing the two of us dressed in that would surely make this occasion even more memorable.”

I almost lost my composure as I realized what she was talking about. Just the thought of wearing those scandalous, practically non-existent outfits in front of so many people had me cringing inside, but oh the reactions of the nobles at this party would be glorious. Sharai realized it as well and was laughing madly in my head as I tried to formulate a response. “Good thinking, sister dear, I might be willing to do this if we can dress comfortably, though for something so memorable…”

As I trailed off, Selice countered the noble’s last offer with an inscrutable expression. “Seven gold pieces each would be fair, I think. Half up front.”

The duke looked torn for a very long moment before finally nodding. “Agreed, seven gold apiece, but I ask that you spend some time mingling with my guests, as honored ambassadors of the Fae.”

-Meaning that he wishes for you to elevate his status by claiming to be representatives of Tarin’dol. Human politics, bah. It would not be entirely a fiction on your part though,- Sharai commented in my mind.

Meanwhile, Selice had reached out to take the duke’s hand and seal the deal. “A bargain has been struck, your Grace. We are staying with friends in the Voyager camp outside of the city. Please send a messenger with all the important details and the first half of the payment tomorrow, and my sister and I shall see you at the party.”

After flowery farewells were exchanged, we once again began making our way back to camp with the others. A sideways glance at Selice showed a mirthful expression on her face and merry mischief dancing in her eyes. I could not blame her, to be honest. Not only were the two of us set to make a small fortune for a single night of work, but this whole ‘sisters’ deception was going to be wonderfully entertaining. Perhaps Sharai and my Voyager kin were a bad influence on me.