Chapter 12: One Good Night

The crowd pushed against me, sometimes literally, as I walked up the main street toward uptown. The whole time I was thankful for my height. Why stumble through a crowd when you can see over it?

I had taken one look at the line (if you could call a dense packing of people a line) at the harbormaster’s office and decided to try again in the morning. I snagged some food from a street vendor on the way up. Some kind of fried fish glazed in a tangy sauce. I stopped by the next stall I saw and got three more similar meals. I probably needed the food anyway.

It wasn’t hard to follow the directions to the hotel Seyari mentioned. The place was set a little way back from the main road, but close enough to be a short walk from the high market. The terrain around it was steep, and a block beyond the hotel the dense cluster of the city strung out into small estates in front of a backdrop of farms. Further up the hill, the spires of a large Church of Dhias were visible. Those spires that had once been a familiar sight seemed cold and sharp in the evening light.

The hotel itself looked a bit older than the surrounding buildings, but still newer than much of the city I’d walked through. The wooden three-story building had plenty of large windows overlooking the city and the bay.

The lobby was plush and more than a little purple. A thin man with graying hair took my money and gave me a well-polished key with a number on it. I realized belatedly that I never asked if my currency had some sort of conversion compared to locally used ones. However, the silver pieces I paid in barely received a second glance.

My room was on the third floor facing the harbor. I asked for the view (mimed it more than asked, but oh well) so I could see how busy the harbor was before I risked asking after a ship to Ordia. Really though, I just wanted to treat myself. Today was the start of a new chapter in my life and the first real forward step on the road home.

I unlocked and opened the door to my room. Light streamed in from the windows. Outside, I had a full view of a gorgeous sunset over the waves. Something about seeing that view from a lush room with a comfortable-looking bed made me tear up.

I closed the door behind me and looked around at what I’d paid several silvers for. It was nicer than any room I’d ever slept in. Two wide windows were latched and could open completely. The room was on the top floor, so the ceiling was high and vaulted. The bed was made with thin sheets that looked delightfully soft without being too warm for the climate. There was an armoire, a desk, and even a full height mirror.

I also had an attached bathroom with indoor plumbing! The tub would be a squeeze and there was a note saying to ask for hot water, but there was no way I wasn’t going to try it. I might have been exhausted, but I wanted to be properly clean, and the place had soap! Scented soap even!

My reflection in the mirror made my heart do a flip. I looked exhausted, my clothes were far from the cleanest, and my hair was a mess, but I couldn’t deny I loved what I saw. It was missing some bits, but felt great just the same.

A bath, however, would feel even better. I made sure to lock the door and set down my potato sack by the bed before I entered the bathroom to pour a bath.

The water came out at room temperature, but I knew a great way to warm it later. In went the bath soap and soon I had a tub full of suds.

I took off my clothes. I really did need to get something that fit me. Perhaps I’d go to a tailor tomorrow? The thought of wearing something like a dress made me giddy. Although, I couldn’t deny the benefits of pants. Any dress I had made must have pockets.

Even though I was used to my form, human or otherwise, seeing it still confirmed its reality and put my mind at ease.

I slipped down into the tepid water. Focusing what little mana I had left; I heated my body and soon the water in the tub was steaming. That last expenditure seemed to be the tipping point and my glamour slipped away.

I was too tired and too comfortable to care. Tension left my body and for the first time in ages, I let go and simply relaxed. My tail drifted lazily around, stirring the foam and slashing lightly. I sank up to my chin. The tub nearly overflowed and I was slightly cramped, but I couldn’t care less.

I grabbed a brush from the counter with my tail and my hands started to work through my hair. Loosening knots and smoothing the strands. One pair held it almost taut while the others worked the brush through.

I used up almost half of the provided shampoo, but the results felt lovely. Not wanting to leave this bliss and having no reason to do so, I sank back down and closed my eyes. This was wonderful.

Around me, the water bubbled. I dimly realized it was boiling. To me, it was a nice, bone-soothing warmth. I erupted out of a volcano; boiling myself could be comfy if I damn well wanted it to be. The anger that swirled within my magic seemed to bend to my will completely now. And right now, whether that anger wanted it or not, my will manifested in a warm bath and soothed muscles.

I closed my eyes and rested a bit longer until I could feel my nice smooth skin wrinkling. With a sigh, I stood up and grabbed a towel. I chanced a look down at my symbol. I still didn’t know what it was, but I’ve certainly grown a fondness for it, whatever it is. The center of it now had a crimson gemstone embedded, same as the statue had.

I did a double take. My human glamour certainly didn’t have a rock stuck into the skin. I felt the stone and it was no different from my body temperature, whatever that was at the moment. The gem was about the size of my fingernail in human form and a deep crimson that nearly matched my skin tone. Nothing about it felt wrong.

Lost in thought I almost walked out of the bathroom naked. Not like anyone was likely to see in, but the windows were open and I should be careful. I looked back to the sad clothes on the floor. No way I was wearing those.

A few minutes and some experimentation later, I had steamed and mostly dried the blouse and trousers. They were at least presentable, but I did entertain the idea of running out to try to find something else to wear even though it was sunset.

I still felt tired and using my recovering mana wasn’t helping. One look at my sad but clean clothes, however, made up my mind. The bed would have to wait just a little longer. I was going shopping.

The human glamour felt horribly constraining after a brief moment of freedom, but I toughed it out. Outside, most shops and businesses were closing for the evening. Setting a brisk pace toward the market district I had skirted earlier; I found a nice-looking tailor’s shop that was still open. I entered to find myself the only customer. A bell tinkled above the door.

A young man seated behind a counter at the rear glanced at me then shouted something to a back room. Moments later, a woman rushed out. She was an older woman with lightly pointed ears, a kind face, and black hair done up in a bun. She spoke at me in rapid Cavenish. When the woman walked up next to me, I noticed she was only a head or so shorter than me.

She took one look at me and moved to drag me deeper inside.

“I-I don’t suppose you speak Ordian?” I asked with only a faint hope.

To my surprise she nodded, although her accent was thick and I couldn’t place it. “So tall! These clothes you wear do not work at all. You need more space here, and here.” She poked my butt and chest. “Do you want trousers? A dress? Do you want to hide yourself or show off? You have much to show off and it would be a shame not to.”

I took a moment to process. “Um, I’d like a dress and probably also some trousers, but not men’s ones.” My mouth continued beyond my brain’s processing speed. “And I’d like to show off.”

“Wonderful!” The woman clapped her hands. “I am Elena by the way. May I know your name?”

“Renna.” My brain caught up. “A-and show off only a little okay. Nothing too revealing.”

Elena replied, “Darling, it’s what you don’t show that counts. Come, I’ll take your measurements. Your stature is inspiring! Can you stay late tonight?”

“I, uh, sure, I guess? Yeah, you know what, sure I can!”

“Excellent!” She flipped the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’ and locked the door.

Elena shouted something to the person I first saw when I entered, the rather pudgy young man with light hair. He nodded and moved to go do something I could hardly guess at. While I didn’t understand how it would be “criminal” for me to wear my old clothes a “moment longer”, I couldn’t help but hide my own enthusiasm.

Elena led me into a back room full of equipment and tools I vaguely recognized from what Abby had told me about her work years prior. Suddenly it dawned on me: I had to get naked to get measured, didn’t I? And any clothes I bought would only be usable in my glamour. The thought damped my excitement.

“If you are not comfortable, I can measure with your clothes on.” Elena seemed to sense my mood. “But it will be less accurate.”

“N-no, I’m fine.” My brain struggled with a way to ask about making the clothes actually fit.

Fit my arms and tail that is. Wait, there were plenty of beastfolk in town! And odder sorts besides. But I’m ‘clearly’ a human, so how could I phrase it?

“I saw a lot of beastfolk in town. Do you make clothes for them too?” The words left my mouth and I immediately regretted my phrasing.

Elena’s eyes narrowed, “As a matter of fact, we do make clothes for ‘beastfolk’.” She put extra emphasis on the word and her expression hardened. “If it is a problem that we serve more than ‘humanfolk’, you are free to leave.”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant at all” I put my hands up.

“Your accent is Ordian. Not all of us follow that bigoted Church.”

She spat the words with such venom that I was taken aback. I’d honestly never known the term I used could be offensive.

“I’m sorry,” I paused and chose my words carefully. “I didn’t know that term would be offensive. What’s proper?”

“If you didn’t know, why ask about it?”

“Well, I—”

“If you were friends with a Kazzel, a Lizzal, or someone from the Lupael, Mer, Corvit, or even the Cecaelia or Lamia peoples, you wouldn’t use that term,” Elena sighed. “It isn’t a slur per se but how would you like being called a ‘humanfolk’ by everyone you met?”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Right. And if your stupid Empire would be a bit more open, then…” The older woman trailed off. “Ugh, I shouldn’t get political like this in front of a customer. You’re naïve, that much is clear, but I don’t think you meant to cause offense. Just learn a bit if you’re going to travel so far from your home region, okay?”

She stopped just short of bopping me on the head and turned to grab a neatly coiled measuring tape, mumbling.

“So, naked or clothed?” She held the tape out; excitement having replaced exasperation.

“Naked,” I replied as confidently as I could.

“You sound like you’ve never had to visit a chirurgeon for an examination before!” Elena laughed.

I stripped as clinically as possible and soon the thin woman was measuring me up and down. She remained steadfastly professional. I expected as much, but it was a relief nonetheless. Her eyes glanced at my symbol, but if she recognized it, she didn’t say anything.

“Why did you ask, if I may ask?”

Shit. How much should I tell her? I can’t excuse it as having a friend with a tail the same size or anything anymore. Curiosity? Yeah, okay, why? It’s not like I’m going to want multiple outfits for a masquerade or anything either.

“Well, I just saw a couple designs in the front and wondered what they were.”

“You’d be surprised how difficult it can be for someone with a tail to find pants,” Elena replied.

Yeah, I’m starting to see that. After a somewhat tense few minutes, Elena finished her work and I hurriedly made myself modest again.

“A dress for special occasions and a traveling outfit with pants, yes,” she asked, re-coiling the tape.

I nodded.

“Great! I have just the inspiration for the dress! Are you okay with something backless?”

“Maybe not all the way down?” I thought about my arms. “Oh, but maybe more open at the sides?”

“Hmm, interesting. I hadn’t thought you bold enough for that.”

“Oh! I, uh, don’t want to show too much. Just have some open space below the arms.”

“Scandalous! I love it! It would need to pull in tighter around the waist. Is that alright?”

“As long as I can move in it.” Abby showed me a rigid corset once and, while I knew not all of them were like that, I was probably going to need a good amount of flexibility. Call me vain, but I didn’t think my midsection needed any compression anyway.

“Oh of course! I have something quite fit for your stature in mind. A too-thin waist would ruin your aesthetic, darling!”

“How long will it be?”

“Hmm, oh probably around ankle length.”

“Would I be able to run in it?”

“Oh? I can make something to that effect. Perhaps raise the hem a bit. Any other requests?”

“Not too tight in the rear?” I hoped my tail would fit under it.

“A shame, but certainly. I’m off to work then! Constance will bring you some tea. You are free to wait here. I’ll be by shortly with some quickly altered undergarments so you can replace that utter nonsense you’re currently wearing. Lucky for you, I have an old project of mine I think I can turn into a perfect dress for you with only a little alteration.”

The tea was delightful. Floral and bright with just a hint of natural sweetness. I may have to ask the recipe, but doubted I’d want to spend the money after this massive investment. I’d managed to remember to ask about costs and showed what I had to offer. I hoped passage back to Ordia wouldn’t cost more than the dress. With the other clothing, the cost was probably fifty times the cost of the hotel room for two nights, and about half of my money overall.

I was given underwear to try on and was now proudly wearing a comfortable off-white cloth brassiere that thankfully didn’t have any underwire with a pair of matching pantalettes. Beside me were a second set of undergarments, in black. I’d chosen the top piece because I was fairly certain I could wear it with my second set of shoulders. I’d hopefully be able to wear the pantalettes under my tail. I was itching to find out and so very mana fatigued, but I held on for that dress.

And what a dress it was. Elena entered the room holding the garment and I was visibly giddy with excitement. She helped me into it, which I was very thankful for and I soon stood before a full-length mirror. The dress was dark purple with black accents and frills. A pattern of thorned roses was embroidered into the bodice with an ice blue thread that matched my eyes.

The backline plunged to my waist where a ribbon overlaid the back of the bodice, seemingly holding the garment in place. The sleeves were almost detached and it was looped straps hidden at the shoulders which held the top of the dress up. The front supported my chest nicely and was cut to show off my symbol and the barest hint of cleavage. I was both nervous and excited about the look.

I felt the familiar glyph with my hand.

“Your tattoo seemed important to you, so I wanted to be sure to show it off.” Elena’s voice was proud.

I could only nod numbly.

Below the bodice, the dress was closer to a chemise. A line of black frills at the hip helped give it flair without adding rigid structure. True to Elena’s word, it was loose in the rear. From there, it flowed down, patterned in the front with a strip of black fabric holding more blue lines of thorns and leaves between ruffles. The whole ensemble ended just above the ankles, although anyone scandalized by that outdated standard would faint looking at the top of the dress.

The sleeves were a rather simple smooth purple, ending in a modest poof of black frills at the wrists which stayed well clear of my hands.

“It’s gorgeous,” I said softly.

“You’re gorgeous in it, Renna!” Elena said much louder. “Oh, and there’s two blouses matching your undergarments and a pair of sturdy trousers as well. Constance!”

The apprentice entered with the rest of my new clothes. When he saw me in the dress he stopped and stared for just a moment before his professionalism bade him move past me to set the clothes by my undergarments. He retreated from the room after a second glance.

“You’ll need to do something about your boots. I can suggest a place in town. Oh, and don’t worry, I made sure there are plenty of pockets in the dress.”

Elena showed me several places where small items and some surprisingly large items could be stored in my new favorite garment. I paid for the goods and left with my clothes in an old suitcase. The tailor had a spare one apparently and would rather I have at least something when I mentioned my lack of proper storage.

I walked back into the hotel in a warm fugue. I was mentally exhausted, but my body had plenty of energy and couldn’t stop being excited at the sensations of my new outfit, much to the chagrin of my overworked brain.

Wearing what I was got looks from most of the people still out on the street. Most of them were unwanted. However, I caught a few hushed whispers about the beauty of the dress that were far more welcome than the other, much louder remarks. I’d even been approached by a human man who really didn’t like being ignored, but when he got close enough to notice our height difference, he backed off with a glare.

The experience shook me, even though he realistically posed zero danger to me. What would have happened if he was someone who thought I wouldn’t be able to overpower him? I tried my hardest to get my good mood back and I suppose I only succeeded because my tired brain forced nice thoughts of soft sheets through my head.

When I got back to my room, moonlight was streaming into the space from the windows whose shutters I now closed fast. I knew I wanted to, had to, sleep without my glamour tonight. Tired as I was, I wasn’t going to take any chances.

I went to push a dresser in front of the locked door just in case but quickly found it to leave scuff marks after the first light shove. I picked the whole thing up and moved it, light as a feather, to the door, careful of my new dress but too tired and too euphoric to dare change out of it first.

I’d already seen myself at Elena’s, but I couldn’t help but run to the bathroom after I secured the bedroom. I looked like a villain from a romance novel and I loved it. The aesthetic, not villainy. Why would such a design have to belong to a villain? The dress and me in it were equal parts imposing and eye-catching. Although the large bags under my eyes, the slump of my shoulders, and my slightly (okay, very) messy hair ruined the image a bit.

Carefully, I stepped out of the dress and undid my glamour. Instantly, I felt more comfortable, though no less tired. Careful of my claws but glad for my additional hands, I put the dress back on. To my absolute delight, it still fit. My tail felt somewhat cramped in the back, but it was a small price to pay to look this good. My second pair of arms fit neatly below the sleeves and the asymmetry looked almost intentional. Perhaps a cuff or a ribbon on my lower pair of arms would tie it all together?

To my delight, the light blue accents were not enough to clash with my crimson skin and the dark purple complimented it beautifully. Before I was a romance novel villain, but now I was a queen of demons. Not evil, of course. Looking rather evil, but without any explicitly sinister designs beyond maybe the roses and my gem-studded symbol. Yeah, okay super evil looking. But looks could be deceiving.

A flash and I remembered Lord Carvalon’s face. I couldn’t imagine he didn’t know of the fire in our neighborhood in Linthel. Did he really sit back in his castle and do nothing? I couldn’t remember if I saw any castle guards in uniform at the fire.

“Hey Abby, look at me now,” I said to my reflection. “I’ll play the evil queen and you can be the hero who seduces her.”

I smiled, but it faded to be quickly replaced by tears. I knew she’d want me to be strong. She literally told me to be. But damnit, this wasn’t easy! Why didn’t you come back too?

Even if I didn’t want to admit it, I knew the answer. The nature of the symbol was different than it ought to be. I could feel it in that flash when I touched the red gem. Close enough to be accepted by whatever power that was, but different. I didn’t quite know the gift Abby gave me, but my intuition told me she gave everything for it.

I didn’t punch the mirror. I just collapsed against the sink and cried. This time, I mourned for the friend I lost, but kept my thoughts on her parting words. I laid my hand over my glyph. One day I’d find its name and reject it for my own better one.

Fatigue dragged me from the bathroom to the bed. Sleepily, I managed to take off my dress, fold it and put it in the suitcase next to my other belongings. Wearing a comfy bra that I somehow managed to fit around my lower arms, and still in pantalettes pushed dangerously low by my tail, I snuggled into the thin sheets and fell asleep with a smile on my face.