Aera stood in her doorway, the young Paytin a few feet before her with a lost look in her face. "My Lady?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, Aera looked at her. "I'm sorry." she said simply, offering no excuse. She stepped forward and allowed Paytin to undress her from the gray-blue dress and grimaced at the sunny yellow silk one. "Must I?" she asked. Paytin took on that look of horror again and Aera shook her head, defeated. "Very well, then. I want to get to the library."

Dressed, she excused the little maid and made her way downstairs. Her ears caught the sound of something that intrigued her. She glanced up and was instantly confused by the sight of an elf being led by two of the palace guards. "Don't think you're welcome here, Dark Elf, just because you got a pretty trinket from our spymaster. You're still a filthy creature." Said one.
"Oh, come on. He wants to participate in the tournament! I say let him. Though it is dangerous; accidents can happen. Arrows go astray. If only the Elven Whore wa-"

"Excuse me." Aera interrupted. The three of them whirled around and dropped to their knee, the elf the only one not embarrassed by her sudden appearance. "I shouldn't have to warn you that speaking with such carelessness will eventually lose you your posts."
"We're sorry, my Lady." "Forgive us, my Lady." They said. 

Her violet eyes were dark with annoyance. "And you." She directed her attention to the elf between them. He wasn't any relation to her, which meant he wasn't an immediate threat. But it was known everywhere that elves were hated in this city. What was this fool doing here? "What's your business, my friend?"