"One of Us"

Winter sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, scattering colorful spots across the table.

Polena sat at the table with a freshly carved portion of Gazi Roast Meat in front of her. A woman set a freshly brewed ginger Happy Water before her.

The elementary school across the street was bustling. After their big cleanup that morning, the children would be starting winter break.

Polena took her time eating breakfast, holding a newspaper in one hand and carefully reading every word.

Pavel had once told her that the newspapers covered political developments in the Duchy of Weissen. She hadn't believed him.

Politics was something nobles discussed behind closed doors. Why would it be made public?

Then, one day, the Weissen Daily ran a front-page photo of the Grand Duke of Weissen and his wife. The pattern on Madame Weissen's dress resembled the one Polena had drawn in her anonymous letter. That had made her start to believe him.

Now Polena had gotten into the habit of coming downstairs every morning to eat breakfast and read the paper. Today, a story in the Stork Times caught her attention.

"Welcome, come in."

The woman spoke with a heavy accent and knew only a few simple words, but that was enough to get by.

She was from the Ghazi Empire and, supposedly, the same city as the new empress. Years ago, however, the slave market where her son worked had put the empress in a cage and sold her. The family had fled by ship in the middle of the night and come to seek refuge with distant relatives.

Pavel went over to the menu on the wall and pointed to a set meal. After paying, he came and sat opposite Polena.

"How is your father?" Polena asked.

Pavel's father wasn't in very good