The roads ran red from blood. The people screamed for the murder of the aristocrats; they begged for my death. I pulled my hood forward. I silently thanked Mother for making me do chores. My hands were not cracked, but they weren't aristo soft either. I wore my plainest chore gown. Dirt was smudged on my face. I certainly didn't look aristo. I pushed my way through the crowd to the gate. The guard that stood by it was known to mess with us aristos. I let my shoulders bend forward. I left my aristo way of speech slip from my mind. I had done this many times. I was a regular at this gate. I held my breath this time. I was sneaking out more aristos than normal. Three little girls hid under my low hanging skirts. They walked when I walked. My hands were quaking, though I tried to hide them from the girls. An older aristo girl walked beside me. The guard nodded his head at me as we passed. We walked out into the country for a while until we met up with the carriage. "Ah, madame, you have made it right on time," the driver said. "Like always."

"Of course I made it on time,"I replied. I lifted my over skirt to reveal the three little girls. "Okay dears, let's get you on the carriage." They nodded as I lifted them into the carriage, hidden within the turnips. "Okay dear," I said turning to the older girl. "In you go." She nodded and jumped into carriage with her sisters.

"Oh, thank you so much," she said.

"It was nothing," I said.

"What do I call you?" she asked.

I grinned and said, "Call me the Red Swan."