"Ah! There it is!", exclaimed Larentia two days later, rushing to the kitchen window and jerking it open. It creaked and tore a hole into the knotweed, making hundreds of startled insects fly up. Their wings glistened white in the harsh sun of the midday. Larentia blinked. She had lost sight of it for a moment.

"There you are, come in, come in! Hurry!", she commanded. Her body was small, but her authority was paramount. "Don't let yourself be seen here! A royal servant in my house... I don't want any curious people coming here, trying to peer at you."

With a sore croak a large crow landed on the perch, hopping inside gracefully, only to sit down on the back of the chair. It turned around, head held high, glancing down at the small being that had just dared yell at him.
"Larentia, you can't yell at the royal herald. It's King Nyx' personal crow." Iris was rather amused at the atmosphere that had suddenly filled the small room. "You offended him", she continued and walked towards the bird. Larentia watched with amazement how the conceited fowl instantly turned and bowed to her fosterling respectfully.
Iris caressed the crow's feathers. They were perfectly straight, large and as soft as silk. They felt cold under her fingers. "What a beautiful one you are. A worthy servant of our mighty King."
The crow croaked and bowed again. Its pride restored, it shot another glance at Larentia.

"It's sneering at me. Did you see that?"

Iris chuckled and took the letter the crow had brought from its leg. "Come," she then said, offering her wrist, on which the bird hopped obediently. " Fly back immediately. Tell them we are ready", she said calmly, taking it back to the window where the insects had settled down again. It embraced the air and was gone in a moment. Just like your master, Iris thought and pulled the window back into its frame.

"What does it say?" Iris had sat down on the nearest chair, suddenly trembling.
How long could the child hold out like this, Larentia wondered. She stared at the small piece of fine paper that was probably worth more than her entire dress. The girl had not been mistaken, after all. It still felt unreal to her. She could not even begin to imagine what Iris was feeling.

"It says they will be here shortly after night has fallen. We are to leave immediately, in absolute silence. We may not speak a word until in the castle. That's what it reads here."

"I see", mumbled Iris. Her mind felt clouded. "Forgive me, Larentia. If I had obeyed you from the start, it would not have come to this", her lips formed a bitter smile.
"Would not have come to what? This beautiful love story that I am witnessing from the best seat? No, my dear, we have lived here in silence for long enough. This was for me. What is about to happen now, is for you. I would never have thought that I would be able to even catch another glimpse of the royal family from afar, and now look at me: The queen's lady-in-waiting!" She puffed up her chest noisily and paraded up and down the kitchen. Iris smiled again.

"You love him, child, do you not?"

"Yes", said Iris without hesitation. "I do. But I also love our life here. I did not wish for it to change in any way."
"You're only 20, stop talking like a granny already! Life is made of changes. Enjoy them! I sure do", said her nurse wisely and started to pack up the last pieces she could not do without at her new home. How very intriguing.

The vassal and their entourage arrived with the night. Large clouds had just veiled the waning moon completely when Iris heard a faint knock on the door. She stood up straight, while Larentia opened. No one spoke a word. The vassal was a dignified man, looking old enough to have served two Kings already. He wore a heavy black cloak with a high collar that protected his face from every angle. All of his entourage were dressed in the same way, to hide their identities. The only thing that distinguished the vassal were his age and his demeanor.
He hardly made a sound stepping through the grass in front of the small house, as he guided Iris to the carriage. Larentia walked along, trying to process the situation.

When they had sat down, Iris, Larentia and the vassal to the opposite side, the carriage was elevated by a meter in a sudden move. Iris clenched the wooden seat. That had startled her.
She pricked her ears.
The carriage was clearly moving, yet there wasn't any sound at all. She had expected horses, but it seemed that the servants who had accompanied the vassal were carrying it. There were only four of them, yet they moved swiftly, carrying the massive construction with three people and their belongings inside.

The vassal's eyes were not letting go of her for one second, she sensed his gaze sharply.

He thinks I am not worthy of him, she thought.
She felt her legs shaking beneath her heavy skirt.
I have a lot to learn, Iris concluded. And quickly.

 All of them are so strong. And you are still so much greater?