Edith put down the basket and started hanging the laundry on a rope strung between two trees. Selene went over to help her. Together they emptied the basket. When it was time to go back inside Selene got a look at her new home. It was a stone manor house. There were two stories and on this side of the building there were big windows on the second floor that overlooked the forest. Selene wondered if that was where the owner of the house stayed. Her master Tarin, too, must have been somewhere among all this murk and mystery.

Edith waited inside the doorway with the basket until Selene had stepped back in. Then she let the door close.

"The building’s impressive isn’t it," Edith said as she led the way again. "If we go change the bed sheets I can show you around a bit more."

"What about the rest of the laundry?" Selene asked. "Trisha will need the basket back."

"I’ll take it over. You can wait in this room," she said opening one of the red doors, "I’ll be back with clean sheets."

Selene wandered into the new room. It was like hers. It had the same standing wardrobe, the same sized bed, and a side table, but it clearly belonged to another girl. A glass of flowers and small bottles of coloured liquid were on the side table. A cute green dress with a pleated bodice and a flower pattern on the skirt was laid on the bed, and there was a crystal mobile hanging in the window. 

She wandered closer to inspect the scene the mobile created with the centrepiece of a jumping deer and an outside ring of trees. The piece gave the impression that no matter what way the deer turned in the circle it was running through the forest.

"Do you like it?" Edith’s voice came from behind.

Selene was surprised and turned. Edith had come in with an armful of clean linen.

"I didn’t mean—"

Edith dropped the folded pile of sheets onto the bed.

"Don’t bother," Edith said. "I wanted you to see my room."

She walked up beside Selene and gave the deer mobile a push to start it spinning. Edith smiled to herself. So all of these things were Edith’s, Selene thought, including the green dress.

"This is a charm for luck," Edith explained. "Have you heard of the white stag? They say it lives in this forest."

At the mention of such a marvel, Selene took a closer look outside at the dense brush between the tree trunks. Even so, she would never see anything through that.

"Why would it live here?" Selene asked. If she had to live in a forest she wouldn’t have picked this one.

"All the other places have been occupied. This is the only forest that still has hiding places. It’s also more dangerous of course. You never know what you’ll find, but we’re safe by the house."

"Sounds creepy," Selene said.

She wouldn't want to go outside alone.

"There are guards," Edith said absently, giving the mobile another push, "But if you don’t feel good, your room is close so you can visit."

"I can really visit?"

"Of course," Edith said turning to her. "Trisha has the room at the head of the hallway. There are some other people, but they keep to themselves. You don’t have to worry about them. This wing of the house is for women only."

Selene had to smile at the way Edith made everything sound so simple. Edith's gaze moved past her and she walked to the bed to pick up the dress she had left out.

"Is that for going somewhere?" Selene found herself asking.

She didn’t mean to ask, but she wanted to know. Ris was the only other person she had seen who didn’t have a work dress and Selene didn’t have any nice clothes in her own dresser.

"It’s just for a dance," Edith said handing it up." Nothing to worry about."

"Do they have dances?" Selene asked.

She thought a dance might be fun. She even thought that she would know what a dance here would be like. Edith closed the dresser door and set her back against it. Selene felt that the girl was suddenly wishful.

"A dance probably won’t happen," Edith said while gazing past her out the window. "Even if there were a dance, nobody would come. This place is too far from the town. I’m practically stuck here."

"Do they not let you leave?" Selene said startled.

"Oh no," Edith corrected. "I just can’t afford to go. I need to save up enough to live in town and as it is they won’t hire me there."

"But your great," Selene said. "Why wouldn’t they?"

"Because...I’m not pretty enough," Edith used as an excuse.

"But you’re beautiful," Selene said.

"Don’t say that," Edith said.

"But I think you’re beautiful."

"I’m not good enough for them. You’ll see it too when you’re in town. Anyway, we’ll be in trouble if we stand here all day."

Edith moved to occupy herself with changing the bed sheets and Selene helped her. She felt disappointed that she couldn’t do anything for her friend. She only hoped that tomorrow the sun would shine a little brighter. What this damp place needed was just a little more natural light.

They moved on to the next room and the room after. Selene wondered how many of the people working here were having a hard time. As she fluffed and folded the sheets her mind started to wander again. She caught herself staring too intently at small details. There was a chip in a ceramic dancer, a drawer not fully closed, a metal box under a bed, and other things. Eventually Selene's eyes wandered over a gilt framed mirror and she was looking at herself. Pink eyes. She didn’t remember her eyes being pink.

"What’s wrong?" Edith asked. She had noticed that Selene wasn’t paying any attention to her task. "Are you tired?"

"No. It’s nothing," Selene said looking away from the mirror. "How many rooms did you say there were?"

"Twelve. We’re almost done so hang in there. If you’re feeling that unwell you can go lie down in your room after I finish this. I’ll show you which one it is again."

"Thanks."

But Selene still felt uneasy. She looked out the window, but the queasy feeling intensified. As she watched she started to feel that the forest was watching her. Then the glass reflected back her pink eyes. She heard Edith call her name before the back of her head hit the floor.

***

Tarin stood by the doorway to Selene's room. He was waiting for Naruze to say everything was fine so he could leave, but nothing was being said. He finally had to say something himself.

"What did Edith say happened?"

"That she was tired and suddenly passed out. She wouldn’t have lied," Naruze replied.

"Who had her working?"

"Ris did."

"And why was she working the day after I brought her?"

"Close the door."

Tarin finally stepped inside the room and shut the door.

"Your answer."

"It would have been suspicious if she received special treatment. You said it would take a week for the familiar's consciousness to surface so why is she fainting."

"I don’t know. Maybe because she’s human and this is what you get from giving a familiar to humans."

"You’re of the same species Tarin."

"Maybe she’s in shock. Maybe her mind can’t comprehend another consciousness."

Naruze put a hand on Selene's head again. Her thoughts were disorganized like a person in a fever. He tried to pick out discernible thoughts to see what she knew, but he only got a bunch of confused first impressions.

"I don’t sense the familiar. I think she’s just tired. The good thing seems to be that she doesn’t remember. When Selene wakes up I want you to explain things properly. It’s a good thing you already told them your apprentice got fairy drunk."

"Is Selene her name?"

"Yes. You can thank Edith for that. She complained that you hadn’t given her one."

"I thought you would take better care of this."

"If you have so many complaints then maybe you can take care of her. You’re still her teacher."

"Alright. I’m sorry. I’ll think of something to explain to her."