Mayla had just finished carrying the basket of freshly washed clothes into the sitting room when someone knocked at her door.
She wiped her hands lightly on her skirt and crossed the room with the quiet rhythm that had never really left her, even after no longer serving inside House Morgain. The moment she opened the door, surprise gave way to warmth.
Aubrelle stood there with Pipin perched on her shoulder.
She was not wearing the blindfold today. The old scar still marked her face, pale and cruel where the past had carved into her, but it no longer looked like something she wished to hide. Her red eyes remained slightly unfocused, fixed nowhere in particular, while Pipin did what he always did, small crimson eyes alert, taking in the room before she ever entered it.
A soft smile appeared on Mayla's face at once.
"Hello, Aubrelle. I wasn't expecting you. You could have sent word first. I would have prepared something."
Aubrelle's lips curved faintly.
"Can I come in?"
