01: Linens & Knives

It was one of those days.

A meaningfully boring one.

Eira had been awake for nearly an hour already.

Interestingly enough, she hadn't done anything.

Her day was just starting unlike the others who had been running around. She had been awake because she couldn't find sleep. Her mind wasn't at rest. At this point, it was normal since she wasn't next to him.

The corridor outside the upper chambers still chilled from the cold of the night. The brick walls were ice against skin and the only warmth came from the lanterns that had died a while ago.

Her bare feet made almost no sound on the dark wooden floor as she carried the folded linens down the hall. The bundles were warm from the laundry room below, steam still clinging faintly to the cloth.

She nudged one of the doors open with her shoulder.

Inside, the guest chamber smelled faintly of pine smoke and expensive soap. Someone had stayed here last night. The bed had been left half ruined, sheets twisted and pulled loose in the way mannerless people did when they slept deeply and expected someone else to fix it.

Eira set the clean linens on the chair and began stripping the bed.

The work was simple. Quick hands, practiced movements. She had been doing this long enough that she'd gained muscle memory for every single step.

Pillows shaken while being stripped.

Sheets unfolded and folded.

Blankets straightened and well placed.

Rooms swept cleaned leaving not even a grain of sand.

She worked fast because she liked finishing the upper rooms before the rest of the house filled with noise.

The quiet part of the morning belonged to the servants.

Downstairs a door slammed.

Someone cursed.

Eira paused for a second, listening.

Probably the kitchen boys fighting again. They always fought when they thought no one important was awake yet.

She finished remaking the bed and stepped back to inspect it. Smooth corners, no wrinkles. Perfect enough that no one could complain about it later.

As if they could complain about her.

The authority her mate held was enough to stop them and reduce all complaints to whispers.

Just like now.

She had stepped out of the room into the kitchen when some servants looked up at her before going back to work.

Eira quickly fit herself in washing her hands before rolling her sleeves and starting to knead dough.

Across from her, someone threw a snide remark that was very much meant for Eira.

"C'mon Anna, it needs to come out perfectly. Not all of us have the privilege to sleep with a commander and bypass rules."

Eira only smirked in controlled aggression. But of course it didn't stop.

"Don't say that Steph, it takes a lot to be able to seduce a high ranking commander—"

"It doesn't matter," Steph snorted. "A low born Omega sleeping with a high ranking commander is nothing but a whor—"

plat!

Steph didn't get to finish her statement before a dough hit her square in the face.

Then Eira picked up the knife that was beside her and swirled it in her hand before throwing it at Steph.

The knife flew past her head and embedded itself in the wall beside.

"Fun fact—" Eira pointed. "The commander I've been sleeping with also taught me how to defend myself against physical and verbal fights."

She walked away with Steph fuming and someone screaming Eira!

Eira ignored them as she went to gather the dirty sheets and stepped back into the corridor.

The windows along the hall were tall and narrow. Pale morning light had begun sliding through the glass, turning the polished floor a soft grey.

She liked this part of the house.

Most servants never came up here. The upper levels belonged to the higher ranks and their guests. Only a few trusted maids were allowed to work these rooms without supervision.

Eira had earned that trust years ago.

Or maybe her commander lover had made it so.

Voices drifted up the staircase ahead.

Two men, arguing in low tones.

Eira slowed without meaning to. Not enough to look suspicious. Just enough to hear.

“…shouldn’t be invited,” one of them muttered.

“He’s the Alpha’s guest.”

“That doesn’t mean we should trust him.”

Their voices faded as they moved deeper into the lower hall.

Eira adjusted the bundle of sheets in her arms and continued walking.

She reached the staircase and started down.

The warmth from the other kitchen drifted through the lower floor, carrying the smell of baking bread and strong tea.

One of the younger maids rushed past her, nearly knocking the linens from her arms.

“Sorry,” the girl gasped without slowing.

Eira shifted the bundle and kept walking.

The laundry room sat behind the kitchen, warm and thick with steam. Two older women were already inside, arguing quietly while they sorted through the piles of clothing.

“Morning,” Eira said.

One of them glanced up.

“Already finished upstairs?”

“Yes ma'am.”

The woman nodded approvingly.

“Good.”

Eira dropped the dirty sheets into the basin and began separating the fabrics the way she had been taught. Thick blankets first. Guest linens second. The more delicate fabrics last.

The kitchen door creaked open behind her.

“Eira.”

She turned.

The head maid stood there, arms folded neatly into the sleeves of her dark uniform.

“Yes?”

“Come with me.”

Eira wiped her hands quickly and followed her back into the hallway.

They walked in silence.

They stopped outside one of the larger doors along the corridor.

Guest quarters.

Important ones.

The head maid turned to her now.

“You’ll be attending this room for the next few days.”

Eira glanced at the door, then back at her.

“Is someone staying here?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

Tina studied her for a moment.

Then she said quietly, “Someone important from the Embermoon pack.”

Eira nodded.

That meant two things.

The guest was powerful.

And the guest was trouble.

The head maid pushed the door open and stepped aside.

“Be careful,” she said.

Eira walked into the room.

She crossed the room slowly, setting the fresh linens down near the bed.

Outside the tall window the forest stretched quiet and endless.

The world beyond their small pack.

Eira stood there for a moment, staring out at the trees.