LAUNDRY DAY

“Drat!” Ellen said. This usually works.

Ellen flattened the coronation gown on her table, getting the twentieth fresh angle to attack the stain. She emptied the bottle of the magician’s potion on the stain. Her nostrils burned. She scrubbed the red velvet with a gritstone.

I need to figure something out before the Queen finds out or I am dead. I have already tried two—no, three concentrations of Sedulov’s Splatter Solution. Daphne said to scrub with pumice stone and Francesca said to use gritstone. I’ve also tried six—no seven different soapwort and lye tinctures.

Ellen did not hear footsteps behind her until Matron Ravenna emerged from the steam, breathing down her neck. “What are you working on back here?” Matron Ravenna asked.

“Queen Helena’s coronation gown.”

Ravenna cursed. “Coronation Day is tomorrow girl! What happened?”

“The King charmed a maid into the gown and spilled his chutney on it.”

“What kind of chutney?”

“You know,” Ellen said, blushing, “You know, his, his—the royal chutney.”

“Royal chutney?” Ravenna asked, holding her hand up to her chin.

“You know…” Ellen trailed off, her blush deepening.

“Spit it out girl!”
“His seed.”

“That loggerheaded rut!” Ravenna said, her face turning red, “Does he have any idea how long it took us to make that gown?”

“It is not my place to prevent the King from doing as he wishes.”

Ravenna frowned, then asked, “What have you used on that stain?”

“I’ve tried everything! I even asked Daphne and Francesca!”

What if the stain remains? The Queen will find out. She’ll have me killed!

Ravenna cursed. “Take this to Maud, she’ll know what to do.”

“Maud hates me!”

“She hates everyone,” Ravenna said, walking away into the steam clouds.

I suppose I don’t really have other options. Maud it is.

Ellen carried the gown with both arms as she rushed through the steam-filled laundry room. She weaved through the busy room, overwhelmed by a sweet citrus smell. She stepped carefully to avoid crashing into other laundry maids.

Ellen passed her friend Adelaide bucking sheets and linens. She nodded at Bertha, who beat cloaks. She smiled at Catherine, who scrubbed small clothes with sand and water.

After trudging to other end of the laundry room, Ellen arrived at Maud’s workstation. Maud’s plump hand massaged a urine scented potion into a blood-stained dress. She did not acknowledge Ellen.

“Maud,” Ellen said.

Maud ignored her.

“Maud, Ravenna told me you could help with this stain.”

Maud continued to scrub the dress.

“Maud, please I need your help!” Ellen said.

“Why?” Maud said, “You never ask for help.”

“I asked Daphne and Francesca first,” Ellen said.

Maud scowled. “They don’t know anything.”

“That’s why I am here asking for your help.”

“What do you need help with?”

“The King made a mess on the Queen’s coronation gown,” Ellen said.

“What kind of pottle-deep pignut would do that?”

“Can you help me?”

“I haven’t met a stain that could resist me!” Maud said, placing the cleaned dress it in a nearby tub, “Show me the dress.”

Ellen presented the gown. Maud grabbed it and rubbed the material together. She studied the crusty stain. She muttered under her breath.

Ellen shifted her feet.

“Have a seat dear, I have to study this stain.” Maud said. “Velvet is hard to work with, and red makes it even harder.” Maud poked, prodded and examined the stain. She cursed under her breath. “Does the Queen know?” she asked.

“No.”

Maud raised an eyebrow, scolding Ellen with her gaze. “Use cold water.” She draped the gown over her table as she grabbed another blood-stained dress.

Ellen stared at Maud.

Maud ignored her.

“Cold water?” Ellen asked.

“Yes, cold water,” Maud said.

“How do you know?”

Maud ignored her again.

That’s all I get! Use cold water! Some help she is.

Ellen picked the gown off the table and crossed the crowded room. Steam rose from various vats of laundry soaking. She rushed to the rinsing station. She pumped a bucket of cold water and returned to her worktable. She poured water on the dress and squeezed it dry.

The stain was still there.

She grabbed a rag and soaked it with cold water. She uncorked another bottle of Sedulov’s Splatter Solution and poured it on the stain. She scrubbed.

And scrubbed.

And scrubbed some more.

With each pass the stain became smaller. She poured more cold water on the gown and once the solution was rinsed away it revealed her success.

It worked! I’ve got to thank Maud. She helped me big time!

The stain was gone.

The Queen will never know I wore her dress.

Sebastien Sinclair Dalin studies Creative Writing at Full Sail University. When he is not writing he is organizing gaming events at his local game store in Des Moines, Iowa. Follow him on Instagram/X @HighChronicler.