Page 113 of Unrivaled
As I did, Amber said, “There’s nothingdirtyabout menstruation.It’s simply inconvenient and irritating.”
The correction stung.“Of course,” I agreed, feeling bad.“I didn’t mean—only that men are the ones with the coin and they’re already concerned with our purity.Anything insertable will upset them.We might be able to get ahead of that if we convince them they don’t need to know the details, it’s just Wife-approved, women’s business to help with cleanliness.”
Matilda eased the shirt over my head, so I didn’t get to see Amber’s expression or judge whether my explanation had been accepted.
“Another thing I’d like,” Amber said, not a hint of humor on her face, “is to make all of the plans publicly available for every studying Stitcher—or Crafter, as there’s a lot of overlap—much like the Clockwork Stitcher.”
Gratitude for her forward thinking made me feel lightheaded.
“I’d hoped with what you’ve done here, that you’d be agreeable to that,” she said.“I’ve other ideas for fine fashion, a creation that might change undergarments entirely.But I want anything to do with menstruation to be as accessible as possible.”
I was yanked forward lightly.Matilda murmured an apology.Paying for Amber’s conditions was fine.I’d already factored in similar costs, though.“If I need to hire an extra Stitcher, or a Crafter, at similar rates, I may need to put an end date on our contract,” I said.Panic flared in her expression at that, and I hated that I had to be so pragmatic.“I want to pay you what you’re worthandmake the work accessible,” I said.“I’ll do my best.But it’ll depend on what revenue I make in other places.”
Matilda shot Ivy a grim look over my shoulder.
“But whatever research I complete during the contract remains mine,” Amber said.
“Of course.And I’ll do everything I can to retain you.”
She drained her cup of cider.“Wait until I tell you about the flexfabric I’ve been experimenting with that bends like hot metal, holds liquid, is softer than that silk dress of yours, and has the potential to revolutionize medicine as we know it.”That sounded like a decades-long commitment if ever I heard one.“I know—I know, us mages,” she said, waving her hands.“With our big ideas.But I’ve made progress on this one.I really have.”
I held up a hand.Matilda dodged around it and slid the jacket over my arm with enough force that I suspected I’d upset her.“I wasn’t doubting you.I was wondering if I could afford such a thing.”
“Can you afford to ignore it?”Amber asked me, raising her brows.“Imagine, being able to put something over a sucking wound until a Healer Mage could arrive.If such a thing existed, how many more would be alive?”
A chill went up my spine.“Be careful who you offer medical advances to,” I said quietly.“There are plenty who’d keep them for themselves.”
She stared at me, her expression intent.“I am careful.That’s why I’m here.”She picked up the green dress, then a half-burned candle on my nightstand.Around the candle, she used her fingertips to loosen the large metal necklace she wore, shaking a little of the dark powder onto the fabric.
“Flame must flare, and wax be spare.”
Matilda’s hands stilled on the buttons at my chest.Ivy, lacing fabric at my ribs, did too.The smell of magic filled the room.
In a moment, Isolde was beside me, halfway between Amber and I, so I didn’t see everything the mage did.But I saw the candle come alive and heard the bellows of a forge.Amber’s lips moved.Her eyes, usually brown, glowed a soft golden color.
Unease coiled around my spine.Sweat gathered beneath my breasts and on my brow.
Holding my gaze, Amber flicked out the dress, running her hand quickly over it, from hem to hem.It smelled like hot fabric and snuffed wick.When she stood, she said,“The Wife, the One, and the Son see it done.”
The candle was snuffed out.The wax overflow was now part of its pillar.Aside from the charred wick, it looked unburned.She set it down and offered a handful of pins to Ivy.
“Your dress, my lady,” she said, giving it a flick.
My mouth was dry.All the alterations were done.The fabric was seamless, as if it had been created as one unbroken, breathtaking piece.I knew it would fit me like a glove.I’d never seen Stitcher magic, but I’d read about it.
I ran the fabric through my hands.“A fashion-forward woman would be impressed.”
“A woman who appreciates efficiency and concerns herself with costs and benefits should be, too,” Amber said.“These two, they…work well with me.Very well.”
I met Matilda’s suddenly guarded expression.Training mages outside of the academy was illegal.
I was gettingthreeStitchers—or, at the very least, one Stitcher and two apprentices.I didn’t know how the spells worked, but I suspected the pins they used weren’t just normal pins.
Isolde quietly slipped to the side.I wished she didn’t.I wanted to hide.
I didn’t know what to do with two illegally trained mages and one with a heart too big for this world.
“I need your contract to look like any other mage contract,” I said, slowly.“The Duke could return any day.You need to be careful because I might not be able to protect you.”
