Brand new morning

Anaisa continued to pet the soft creature as it pressed against her hand. Its yellow-brown eyes closed in clear enjoyment of the attention and the noise that Trace called 'purring' got louder.

"I've never seen a nice cat," She commented slowly.

"I haven't seen her take to anyone like that," Trace replied curiously. "Scruffles tends to avoid newcomers and neighbors when they came to help. She's a mostly solitary creature, but she can really pull your guard down when she wants."

A moo in the pasture caught the cat's attention and she scurried off to investigate, leaving the humans to themselves. Anaisa watched as the orange tail disappeared from sight. 

Trace rose and hitched two horses to the wagon while Anaisa watched with fascination.

Everything here was different than the way she had grown up. The wide open space. The lack of crowds. The animals peacefully grazing in fields. In her home, animals had been confined until needed. Trees and enjoyment of the outdoors was mostly done inside a walled garden where outsiders couldn't see the wealthy little girls. On the occasion that Katia and Anaisa had been allowed to go out riding, they had to be veiled and have an escort.

This was pleasant. Very pleasant. And quiet, but not in a solemn, fearful way, like when the entire home was trying not to disturb her father during a hangover.

The wagon was ready, and Trace led the horses out of the barn and into the sunshine. Anaisa admired the craft; it seemed sturdy and well constructed, if plain. Had Trace made this as well? He could make a fine living as a wood worker or wainwright in the city, she guessed.

Suddenly, Trace offered his hand to her. She stared at it strangely. A memory pulled at her.

Once, when she was little, she and Katia had snuck away to watch the grand parade of the king's wedding. Their father had said they were too young to attend, but the girls still found ways out when they wanted. The royal wedding certainly merited their curiosity.

The previous queen had died in childbirth one year before. As soon as the mourning period was over, the search for a replacement had begun, to produce more heirs for the kingdom. The new queen had been beautiful and slim, and supposedly magical, though whispers of her powers were all unsubstantiated rumor.

But of course, every royal seemed magical to the nobility and populace that craved their attention.

The girls, escaping the servant assigned to watch them, had pushed through the crowd to get a glimpse of the woman arriving at the palace in her grand carriage, and a footman had held out his hand just like Trace held his out now.

The queen had taken it as she stepped down, and then let it go to gracefully stride into the palace. As if she were so delicate that she required help to make those three steps down lest she fall and shatter like the fine crystal Anaisa saw in the glassblower's shop.

As the years passed, on the very rare occasion that Father took his daughters to some party or another out of social obligation, a servant would occasionally do the same for her and Katia. It had made them feel fancy, and precious. Valued. 

But why was Trace holding out his hand to her as if he were her servant?

The moment lingered, and before Anaisa could decide what to do, her husband lowered his hand and simply gestured that she could climb up on her own while he walked to the other side and raised himself to sit.

It seemed that in her confusion and hesitation, she'd missed her opportunity to be treated like nobility here. She didn't deserve it, anyway. Not until she got her title back. Maybe then. 

Scrambling up onto the bench, she sat, awkwardly silent. Had she offended him somehow? The lack of conversation was even more noticeable without the bustling and movement of the city streets.

There was just the steady, quiet bump of the wagon rolling along as the horses pulled it towards town. It was many minutes before Trace spoke again, and then it was merely firming up plans for the day.

"First, I figure we can stop at my family's farm. They may have extra things they're not using that will save us some trouble and time shopping. After that, we can buy the rest of what we need, and hopefully there will be plenty of time to go find Jin and your sister for a visit before we need to get home."

Anaisa's heart leapt. Katia! Once Anaisa knew whether her sister was well or not, she would know whether to plan to run away alone, or steal her sister away with her. It would mean more work to find a way to take care of Katia, but she wouldn't leave her sister in a poor situation.

If Katia seemed stable and well, Anaisa could leave her there until their restoration to nobility was complete. Revenge would be simpler without worry of her sister's safety. Even if the worst should happen, Katia might have a good life. Not the one that she deserved of course, but at least she wouldn't starve. 

"Thank you," Anaisa said to Trace, not trusting herself to say any more. Her mind whirred. He remembered his offer to take her for a visit without prompting! Anaisa had prepared herself to remind him, but it seemed Trace, at least so far, was a man of his word. 

On top of that, to work toward keeping his promise so quickly! Her father had often made outrageous promises while terribly drunk, and never kept a single one. Anaisa gulped and slid her gaze to this husband she had somehow been bound to.

Was he too good to be true?

A feeling of trepidation welled up in her belly, and experience told her she should not trust the good appearance of this man. He must be hiding some terrible secret.

She wondered whether or not she wanted to ever find out what it might be.