Aslana was yet to return from wherever she had gone since afternoon, leaving Torva and Susrette to prepare Aseära for the night.
As Susrette fluffed up her pillows for about the hundredth time and Torva began braiding her dark long hair in a single plait down her back, after brushing it for exactly fifty times from root to tip, Aseära realized that she could not carry her handmaidens along and she would probably miss them as she has become fond of them.
She already left her friends back in Birek bidge, now she was going to leave her three wonderful handmaidens that though she would not refer to them as friends, they were dear to her. If her plan worked out well as she planned it, she would escape tonight and be completely on her own in the harsh world outside this castle. She would not be returning back to Birek bidge, for that would be the first place the Darklord would go to look for her, rather she would find her way to the nearest town.
She is not familiar with the north kingdoms, but from her seemingly carefree questions she had asked Torva, she discovered that the next town is just about half a day away on a fast horse, and about two on foot. Aseära has not a horse and had no idea where the stable is located in this castle even if she wanted to steal one.
From the stories they heard back at Birek bidge, which her maids seem to have corroborated with their own stories, the north is a dangerous place to roam alone, especially for one who is not familiar with the terrains, and even more dangerous for one who is a woman. Aseära is both unfamiliar with the terrain and a woman, with no fighting skills or magical powers, what chances do I really stand of making it out there alone if my plan works out tonight?
Before her brain could honestly answer that question, she drew herself back to her present where Torva and Susrette were about leaving her chambers. Her plan was to kick in once they leave, but with her current state of mind she wasn't sure she could do it anymore, to prevent herself from chickening out, she decided to stall them instead and give herself more time to mentally prepare for the task ahead of her.
"Where did you say Aslana went again?" she asked them, causing them to turn back to face her.
"We never did mention where my lady" Torva said, looking a bit confused or suspicious, Aseära wasn't sure which, at the moment.
"Oh that's right, I remember you didn't" Aseära hastily covered up, "So where did she go, then?" she asked not really caring for she already guessed the woman may have been called quickly home due to an emergency, as is usual with the maids back at her family home, or it could also simply be that she was reassigned today covering for another who went on family leave.
Torva's answer was far from what she thought however, "We are not really supposed to say, my lady" Torva said, failing to meet Aseära's eye, Susrette as well looked guilty as she looked at her shoe. Now her interest was really piqued, they were obviously hiding something.
"Oh my" she said, a lot more interest as she leaned forward in her chair, "Did Aslana go somewhere she should not?" she asked, her eyes mischievously gleaming as she expected to be let in on some very juicy gist about the very proper Aslana doing something less than proper. Her previous fears regarding her escape, temporarily shoved to the back of her mind, to be revived later.
"Oh come on, Torva, spill" she urged the more talkative of the two before her when no answer came forth.
"Well…" Torva started but was nudged by Susrette to keep quiet
"Oh stop it Susrette, do go on Torva" Aseära said wanting nothing more than to know the secret now, not even her escape from her husband was as important at the moment. No, scratch that, no juicy secret could ever be as important as her escape and independence.
"Aslana took an excuse from Marg to go see her family for a few days, when really she is just hiding away so her beau who would be coming to the castle tomorrow would not see her as a maid" Torva rushed out in a breath, that Aseära almost didn't get what she said, while Susrette groaned by Torva's side as she shook her head, disappointed with Torva.
Aseära learned to never let any of her secrets get to Torva, they would no longer be safe.