Volanta

"Why are you so small?"

"Most women where I come from are small," Pippa replied, trying not to be insulted. The queen's handmaidens had ushered her into a luxurious bath of silvery water that smelled like fresh rose petals. They hadn't stopped peppering her with questions since she had left the throne room. The one who didn't speak English would fire questions at the other one so she could translate, and Pippa barely had time to answer any of them before they asked something else.

"How do you hold spears and fight, then?" the handmaiden asked, reaching a hand down to help Pippa out of the bath. She started to dry her off but Pippa intervened, her face flushing.

"I can dry myself, it's all right," she murmured. Rena shrugged and relinquished the towel. "Women don't fight," she added as she dried her arms and legs. "They certainly don't hold spears."

"What do you do then?" Rena's face was scrunched up in confusion as she helped Pippa into a silken robe.

"We're meant to be polite, and charming. We try to obtain a husband and then oversee the housework and have children. At least, that's what women are supposed to do."

"The men choose their wives?"

"Yes. Our culture is not like this one. Women aren't valued for much besides their manners and pretty faces," Pippa explained. Rena translated this to Tiya and they both looked affronted. Tiya sat down behind Pippa and started to brush her hair, saying something to Rena.

"She likes your hair," Rena said. "It's like fire."

"Thank you," Pippa smiled. Rena studied Pippa's face as she rubbed a sweet smelling lotion into her cheeks.

"You're very pretty," Rena added. "Your skin is like milk, or the moon. Your limbs are so slender, though. How did you make your waist look like this?" She poked at Pippa's sides and Pippa squirmed, giggling.

"That tickles," she said. "Where I come from, women wear these things called corsets. They cinch your waist in to conform your body to an hourglass shape. It's considered attractive."

Rena looked skeptical, trying out the word. "Corset. It sounds dreadful."

"It makes it difficult to walk much or to climb stairs," Pippa admitted, and Rena looked truly horrified.

"It limits your movement? And your ability to breathe? Why would they make you wear such a thing?"

"Women aren't warriors where I live," Pippa said.

"Then we will have to make you a warrior, Pippa of the Fiery Hair, yes? Women should be fierce and strong. Not wearing these corset monsters you speak of."

Pippa smiled again. "Is Oliver all right?" she asked as they helped her into a dress made of deep blue and silver fabric.

"The man you came with? With the freckle spots? He is your husband?" Rena asked.

"No," Pippa replied, flushing again. "He's...my friend. I've known him since we were children."

"He's fine. Fenro probably won't kill him. Hold still!"

Pippa started to turn in alarm. It didn't put her mind at ease to hear that this Fenro "probably" wouldn't kill Oliver. Rena made her turn back around while she tied two strips of fabrics together behind Pippa's neck. It was then that Pippa realized the dress left her back, shoulders and arms almost completely bare, and it didn't do much to conceal her legs either.

"I can't wear this!" she gasped. "My under garments back home show less skin than this!"

"But your skin is so pretty," Rena insisted. "Why would you want to hide it under all these clothes? Look, you're glowing from the bath, see? You are like art, Pippa. Strange, little art, but still art. I don't like this name, though. Pippa. It sounds silly. Instead I'll call you Jahasha. It can be your warrior name."

"What does it mean?" Pippa asked, still trying to get the fine silk of her gown to cover more of her.

"It has no direct translation in your tongue, but loosely it means little flame. It suits you, don't you think?"

Pippa sounded out the foreign word a few times, Rena smacking her hands away so she'd stop fussing with the dress. She and Tiya put some glittering silver powder on her eyelids and through her hair, which they left mostly down. Pippa tried pulling the curls forward to cover her chest and shoulders but Rena wasn't having it and tossed it all back over her shoulder to cascade down down her back.

"Never be ashamed of yourself," she said sternly. "People can clearly see that you are a woman, why must you try and hide the fact?"

"I just...I've never worn anything like this before," Pippa said, toying nervously with her locket. Tiya said something in the Volantian language, pointing to the locket with a curious look on her face.

"It was my mother's," Pippa said. She opened it to show them the picture of Helena.

"She was small and pale and fiery haired too!" Rena exclaimed, seeming fascinated. "You are just like her."

"She died when I was a little girl. I never take this off because with it I feel closer to her."

Rena nodded. "This then is something we share. Mothers are very important to us. Now come along. You and the spotted man are supposed to have dinner with the queen and we don't want to keep her waiting."

Jasper had been sprawled on a pillow, napping in the sun, but he came awake as they headed for the door. He hopped down and trotted along beside Pippa, his little head held up proudly. Pippa tried not to flinch as they entered the grand dining hall and everyone turned to look at her. She felt horribly exposed in the blue dress and wanted to yank one of the silk curtains down to wrap around herself. But she forced her arms to stay at her sides as Rena led her to a seat next to Oliver. He had changed clothes too, though he looked a bit pale and drawn. Pippa supposed the queen's gargantuan husband hadn't drawn him a flowery bath and rubbed lotion on his face.

Oliver seemed relieved to see Pippa, though he seemed just as caught off guard by her state of dress as she had been. She sat down on the cushioned seat next to him, Jasper sitting on her other side and peeking over the edge of the table at the food.

"Are you all right?" Pippa whispered to Oliver, eyes scanning him for injuries.

"I think so," he whispered back. "Are you?"

"The handmaidens are very nice. They gave me a nickname."

"I'm pretty sure if Fenro gave me a nickname it would be White Worm or something," Oliver smirked.

"Rena calls you the spotted man," Pippa said, trying not to laugh. Oliver made a face. Queen Nthuri entered the hall then, and everyone bowed their heads respectfully.

"Fenro tells me that you are apparently no major threat to us," she said, sitting at the head of the table. She still regarded Oliver with narrowed eyes. Her gaze softened only the slightest bit when she looked at Pippa.

"Rena and Tiya like you," she said finally. After that everyone started filling their plates with fish and fruit. Pippa and Oliver ate mostly in silence, and other than Rena none of the Volantians really tried to engage them in any conversation. Pippa still felt like the Volantians were still learning plenty about them even if they didn't seem to be paying any attention, and it unnerved her a little. But once she started eating she realized she was famished, and she pushed all her nerves and concerns aside for a while. All the food was strange to her, but still delicious.

"Rena will be available to escort you around the city," Queen Nthuri said when the plates were cleared. "If she feels you do anything out of line, you will be confined here. And you are not to leave without her."

"What will happen to the rest of the crew?" Pippa asked.

"I will send scouts to find them." The queen stood and left the room with a dismissive wave of her hand. Rena gave Pippa a reassuring smile.

"You may explore the other levels if you like," she said. "There's a beautiful view of the city from higher up. Just not the top floor; that's where the queen's chambers are. If you go to the lower levels, you can see the waterfalls falling right past the windows. I'll show you more of the city tomorrow."

She kissed the top of Pippa's head and followed after the queen, leaving Pippa, Oliver and Jasper alone. Now that she was no longer starving, Pippa realized she was sitting very close to Oliver and felt her cheeks get warm as she tried to adjust herself so she was facing him and simultaneously trying to cover her legs with what bit of skirt she had. She cleared her throat nervously.

"Well, then," she said. "Shall we go do some exploring?"