Easter Eggs!

[border_princess]

Helen is sitting in the kitchen She has changed her clothing to something a little more rich, but is, for all purposes, still a boy. The table is littered with tools, jars of dye, and piles of hollowed eggs. She picks one and begins to draw designs onto the shell. Every so often she stops, lets it soak in one of the dyes, removes it, makes more

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[dukes_daughter]

"At what dost thou so merrily work, good Vasil?"

[border_princess]

"Eggs for Pascha, or as they seem to call it, Easter."

[dukes_daughter]

"An' wherefore so mournful a shade?"

[border_princess]

Helen smiles. "Watch." She holds one of the eggs over a candle flame and gently rubs at it with a cloth. After a while the true colours are revealed.

[dukes_daughter]

He allows a rather girlish "Oh!", then laughs. "Thou hast no small skill."

[border_princess]

She laughs. "It is just women's work and no great feat!"

[dukes_daughter]

"I know not how. And," with an arched brow, "Be it not also men's work, if thou, good Vasil, doth engage?"

[border_princess]

This is as close a Helen can come to a sly smile. "There are no women here to do it so I suppose it must be."

[dukes_daughter]

"Never can women be found when needed, and always when wanted not. If thou shalt so lower thyself, friend, mayhaps I must do like. Canst thou teach 't?"

[border_princess]

"I would be glad to teach you, but please, do not get discouraged for it takes a long time to learn to make them well." She smiles again. "A cousin of mine has been learning since girlhood and some say my skill matches her's."

[dukes_daughter]

"An' I shall every effort make until mine eggs do match thine." She grins. "'tis no shame to be bested at the work of women."

[border_princess]

She gives a solemn nod. "True. I fear men such as us are not suited to it." She is barely stifling giggles now.

[dukes_daughter]

"Mayhaps thou wouldst prefer my untrained hands kept far away."

[border_princess]

"Oh no. Come and I will teach you. Everyone must have eggs."

[dukes_daughter]

She comes closer, peering somewhat dubiously at the eggs.

[border_princess]

"They are very important. They protect you, ward off illness, bring good fortune, and many other things."