Red Skies: Fiona Meets Her Peers

Fiona sat up in bed as the morning bell rang somewhere outside. The door opened and River, her Leurna handmaiden, entered the room and walked over to lamp by the bed and lit it. “Good morning, my lady, she said as she bowed slightly. “Morning exercises will begin soon. You have time for a bath if you hurry. The other young ladies are already in the pools.” 

Fiona paused as her feet hit the floor. Her heart seemed to both race and stop at the same time. She was going to meet the other girls! But what if one of them recognized her? She hadn’t been seen too often by visitors to the palace and rarely did she accompany her parents when they went around the country visiting towns. River saw the hesitation on the young girl’s face. “We could wash you off slightly here. You had your bath last night and you could bathe tonight once the pools are empty.” Shaking her head in determination, Fiona tried to push her fear away with a smile. She stood tall and walked to where River was standing holding fresh towels and a new white tunic. “That is not necessary. I can bathe with the other girls. Please lead the way.”

They walked down the hall toward the sound of light laughter, a soft sound as if the other girls were enjoying themselves in the pools. Putting on the bravest face she could muster, she followed River into the room. All eyes turned in their direction and the giggles stopped. River cleared her throat and said, “Everyone, this is our newest student Fiona. Please accept her with kindness.” Not waiting for anyone to say anything, River helped Fiona undress and slip into the pool of cool water. Fiona gasped under her breath, as the water felt crisp and clean on her warm skin. Slowly she sank down near another girl about her age who seemed to be enjoying herself as another Leurna brushed her hair.

No one seemed to recognize her, so for the moment Fiona’s secret was safe from the other students. The girls in the other pools went back to their laughing and such as River stepped back to the front of the room and clapped her hands, the sound muffled by the scales on her skin. “Morning exercises will begin in 10 minutes. Please finish up and make your way to the main hall.”

Some splashing started happening in the other pools as the girls giggled their way out of the water. Fiona and her companion in the cold pool stayed still, softly splashing water on themselves to revive their sleepiness. Her courage worked up as high as it would go, Fiona finally spoke: “Hello. I’m Fiona. What is your name?”