Lara woke to the faint scent of herbs and firewood. The room was small but tidy, sunlight spilling through a narrow window onto the stone floor. For a moment, she wasn't sure where she was. They had arrived late at night and it had been raining.
Then the door creaked open.
"My lady, it's good to see you awake," Mira said, stepping inside with a tray in her hands.
Lara blinked in surprise. "Mira?" She frowned. "What are you doing here? This… this isn't the castle, is it?"
Mira set the tray down and smiled faintly. "No, my lady. But I'm to serve you wherever you are."
Lara gave a short laugh, shaking her head. "Well, I'm not a queen or anything. Why serve me here?"
Mira hesitated, then straightened. "The king's orders."
Lara's eyes widened. "The king?"
Realizing her mistake, Mira quickly covered her mouth. "I... I mean Prince Kael!" she stammered.
Lara stared at her for a long moment, then smiled softly. "Well, I'm happy to see you, Mira."
