Aleksandra's heart leaped and she followed him, ignoring the stares and whispers as the servants and guards saw her for the first time, as they caught glimpses of the scars on her back when the fabric of her shirt shifted. She could think only of her mask, the solid weight of her staff at her back, her daggers at her hips. Her hunting outfit, custom made for her and made for fighting in her style. Her cloak, the mottled grays and blacks that helped her blend into the shadows.

She was practically tumbling with excitement, bouncing on her toes with a wide-eyed expression as the prince brought her into the storage room and to the chest containing her only belongings. She was already on her knees, reaching for it as Aulfr threw it open. And there it all lay. Her mask, the fiercely snarling face of a wolf. Her daggers, etched with the pictures of bloody battles, and her staff, her height and capped at each end with metal to crack the skulls of her enemies. Her tunic and riding trousers, jet black with hard leather and lightweight metal panels to turn an arrow or a light sword blow. Her knee-height hide boots. Her coin purse was gone, as was the signet ring of House Belikov. The slavers had probably taken both, which she was glad for. Aulfr knew enough about her already.

She was tearing off her new clothes, turning her back for privacy as she pulled on her familiar uniform. Her cloak still smelled like the sea air and her horse, and she breathed in the scents with a contented sigh. It took her a few minutes to settle into everything and attach her weapons. Finally, she tied her mask to her belt and turned to face Aulfr, giving a wolfish grin. The clothing fit her like a second skin, clinging to every curve. She stood at her full height as proudly as she could, finally comfortable with herself. She looked taller than her height of five and two, mostly because of the overwhelming sense of self-assurance she radiated.

She grabbed Aulfr's large hand in her two small ones, beaming. "Thank you, Aulfr. Saints, I never thought I'd be able to wear these again. I promise I won't disappoint you." She let go and moved back to the chest to retrieve her boots, which she tugged on. "Just wait until your court sees this. Not only will I be laughing at all the foolish clothing, I'll be laughing at the looks on their faces. Oh, I might just die tonight," she chuckled.