A RISKY DEAL

Heidi walked stealthily down one of the long corridors of the grand castle. She walked quietly to avoid disturbing the guests or attracting any form of attention. Heidi's footsteps came to a halt at the sound of hushed voices. She turned as the voices were coming from one of the passages. Heidi shook her head and decided to return quickly to the slave quarters.

"Mind your business, Heidi," she whispered to herself. "The last thing you need is trouble. Go back to your quarters." But her curiosity got the better of her. "Just a peek won't hurt right?" She thought, biting her lip.

Her inner voice scolded her, "curiosity killed the cat, Heidi! Go back!" But she smirked, "the cat was careless, I'll take a peek and return to my quarters. I can handle it."

With that, she smiled triumphantly and walked deeper into the dark passage, the air thickening with the scent of old dust and forgotten memories. She placed one foot after another, trying not to creak the wooden floorboards beneath her feet.

As she entered another corridor, the muffled voices grew clearer, like whispers in her ear. "It was probably a lady and..." Heidi stopped at the second voice in the room, "sir Gideon?..." She finally got to the door where she then heard the voices clearly.

"I believe it was delivered safely?" The female voice asked, her tone low and authoritative, like a gentle breeze on a summer day.

"Yes milady" sir Gideon replied, his deep voice resonating through the room.

Heidi wondered who the female voice was as she peeped through the keyhole, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. Her gaze caught sight of the rare silk and fabric the owner of the voice wore, shimmering like moonlight in the darkness. It was probably a high figure. She peeped further, her heart racing, and her eyes widened when she caught sight of lady Genevieve. She took something in a blue bottle from sir Gideon. It was some kind of flower with blue petals, its delicate beauty captivating Heidi's attention. Lady Genevieve smiled as she took the bottle from sir Gideon, her lips curling upward in mischief.

"The Pisali flower. We all believed it had been lost, but here it is in Bloodstone, in my possession" Lady Genevieve's voice dripped with satisfaction. "No one else knows about this flower, right?" She asked sir Gideon, who replied in the affirmative, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lady Genevieve nodded, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You must be curious, Gideon, as to what this flower is. I'll let you in on the secret since you went through the trouble to bring it here." Lady Genevieve opened the jar, releasing the sweet fragrance of the flower into the air. She took out the flower, its petals unfolding beautifully. "During the great war that formed the bloodstone, the priests and guardians all died to save this land, but out of the ruins and bloodshed, this blue-petaled flower bloomed on the very bones of the guardians."

Lady Genevieve paused, inhaling the scent of the flower, her eyes closed in rapture. "The Pisali flower had grown with the help of the powerful blood of the guardians, and its magical properties know no bounds. It is especially known to cure any type of disease or disability."

Sir Gideon bowed, his voice filled with reverence, "Then it is wonderful to know that it is in the hands of milady."

Genevieve smiled slyly, her lips curling upward like a cat's. "I plan to offer it as a gift, though, to our lovely Queen mother." She put the flower back in the bottle, the glass glinting in the dim light. "What do you think, Gideon?"

Sir Gideon bowed once again, his voice low, "I believe that is most gracious of you, milady." Genevieve smiled, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Great! Wrap it up among the gifts and put them in the attic for the celebration tomorrow. I'll take my leave now."

Gideon bowed deeply, his voice barely above a whisper, "As you wish, milady."

Heidi quickly withdrew from the door, her heart racing with excitement, and quietly walked out of there. As soon as she had gone a long way, she ran along to the slave quarters, her feet pounding the stone floor like a drumbeat.

Heidi went straight to the little room she shared with Mrs Doris. Her mind ran to and fro as she thought of what she had just witnessed. Lady Genevieve's words ringed continuously in her head.

"The Pisali flower had grown with the help of the powerful blood of the guardians, and its magical properties know no bounds. It is especially known to cure any type of disease or disability."

Her gaze fell on Mrs Doris, who lay asleep on the torn mattress, her fragile frame barely visible beneath the thin blanket. The scent of stale air and worn fabric hung heavy in the room. Heidi's eyes took in the sight of Mrs Doris's sunken eyes, her pale skin, and her lips, tinged with a faint purple hue. The dim light of the room cast eerie shadows on the walls.

She recalled a few occasions where she had gone to Sir Gideon in worry, but his reply always remained the same.

"The royal family cannot waste such expensive medicine on a mere slave and an old one at that"

His dismissive tone still echoed in her mind. She only got pain relief medicines, and most of the time, they were expired already. Heidi's mind raced with different possibilities. If only she could get her hands on that flower, then Mrs Doris wouldn't have to suffer anymore.

One thing remained an obstacle: how could she go to the celebration? She would be limited if she went as a slave, and she might not even get the chance to be there. Heidi bit her lips unconsciously, a habit she had formed over the years. The familiar pain grounded her, focusing her thoughts.

She had to act fast, or Mrs Doris would die. Heidi was about to give up when a few words from a note she had read before bumped into her head.

"Magical in all ways yet enchanted in no way. Four times and once shall it be used until it should be cleaned. A little spice and fountain water, and it is good as new. I trust the gown to help you as it helped me"

"This was it" Heidi thought. With the help of this gown, she could disguise as a noble lady and join the celebration. All she had to do was to be careful not to attract any attention and find an opportunity to take the flower.

Besides, she thought, who would notice one noble lady in the midst of hundreds of noble men and women?

Heidi brought out the gown, her hands tracing the soft, silky fabric as her gaze remained fixed on Mrs Doris. "I'll save you no matter what, I promise" she swore to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. She placed the gown back in her basket under her bed, the wooden floorboards creaking softly beneath her feet. She lay down, closing her eyes to get a little sleep, the weight of tomorrow's escapades settling heavy on her heart. She knew she couldn't afford to make any mistake.