Open by Ashley Fox

Samphire, deep green black, the sigil of her
mother ’ s House. In her hair
twined the pink and red ribbons. Tansy caught sight of Mera, her
pretty lips pinched and her hands rose to rest on her hips. Her
eyes swept everything; the room, the fuller workbench, the basket
and content, and her. Mera felt a blush rise, that look never boded
well. Lip caught between her teeth she noticed that
Tansy ’ s soft boots were
muddy.
    “ Where are
you going? Oh, and did you enjoy your outing this morning? You woke
me as you snuck out of the door, you knew you were supposed to be
seeing the seamstress today! You need a dress for the Midwinter
solstice, and your others need letting out. I followed you, you
know? Yes! Don ’ t look so
shocked. How am I supposed to do my job if you keep
disappearing? ”
    “ Tansy,
I …”
    “ No! No more
excuses or vague reasons. I know you go to the woods. Why?
It ’ s dangerous! Do you know
how much trouble we ’ ll get
in? Do you really trust me that little? ”
    Mera was
surprised to see Tansy ’ s
bluff exterior melting, to reveal hurt. What was she supposed to
do? She was supposed to keep her meetings secret, but she
couldn ’ t let Tansy get
upset, or get them both into trouble. She had forgotten about the
fitting. She was so sure she had been careful to make sure she
didn ’ t miss too
much.
    “ And
don ’ t say
you ’ ve been running in the
town with the children because I asked and they
haven ’ t seen you for
months! ”
    Mera turned
away, putting down her basket and trying to think of what to say.
It was true she hadn ’ t
played with the children in awhile. Before she had met Cerid there
had been difficulties because of her stature, then after she had
been so busy with her studies. She had seen them when she went to
market once or twice. They had seen her and her full purse and
ignored all her greetings. She hadn ’ t had the courage to seek them out after that. “ I
don ’ t think they like me
anymore, Tansy. And I ’ ve
been so busy with lessons. You know I have to study with Tomas.
And … and … oh, Tansy.
I ’ m sorry. But I want to be
a healer! ”
    There, that
was truth without mentioning Cerid Wren.
Tansy ’ s face expressed
surprise. “ But you
can ’ t,
you ’ re a lady, a Princess!
Their Highness ’ will never
allow you to become a healer. You have to study to serve your
country, to marry well and live in luxury. ”
    “ Be pampered
and do nothing, just have lots of babies. Lots of strong sons to do
all the things I want to do, you mean! While I learn how to sew and
simper! ”
    “ But you
don ’ t have to worry for
anything! You ’ ll never go
hungry, you have everything you could want. Why would you want to
be a healer? Surrounded by illness all the time,
that ’ s no life for one such
as you. ”
    “ It
wasn ’ t always like that! I
know, I ’ ve read the books
Tomas assigned. Once all nobles had skills, you know each House has
its province, but once they too worked within that. Nobles
weren ’ t always just symbols
of wealth to be traded, and women received more respect as well. We
have had Queens! ”
    “ Oh Mera, not
for a long time. Things have changed, I know the old tales too.
Queen Rosalind with her Knights of Ivy, and a voice that was magic
itself. But if the world was ever like that, it
isn ’ t anymore. You are
becoming a woman now, you must set aside childish dreams. You will
grow up, you will fall in love and marry, and when your children
come you will love them and run your household. You are lucky, you
will never have to worry that your children will starve. You will
always have wealth, have security. I wish my
life ’ s path was so
secure. ”
    Mera ’ s shoulders
slumped, how could she explain it without seeming ungrateful? It
was true what Tansy said. She had seen how hard Tansy worked, how
hard all the poorer folk worked. She could understand why they
looked upon her position as wondrous. To Mera that seemed more a
childish