Terri was already awake, in the courtyard behind the house that was at least somewhat buffeted from the winds that whipped around the castle.  She was hanging the garments of the day's laundry out to dry, carefully pinning each one to the clotheslines strung up a short distance from the castle.  The clothes and sheets billowed softly in the wind, but thanks to the castle blocking much of the gusts, none escaped from the line.  After the last piece was hung, she moved back to the rear entrance, sitting upon the entry steps and double-checking the work.  A soft sigh had escaped her lips, it had been a year since she had first come to the castle and she reminded herself just how much better things were for her now.  It was a bit crowded for her tastes, but that was the Mistress' will, and she had little room to argue.<br/><br/>She was an average woman, average height, average bust, and average hips.  She felt some jealousy toward the beauty of the other maids that had filtered into the castle, but also held a secret admiring for them.  The only thing that stood out about Terri was her brilliant red hair, now bundled into a ponytail that reached just between her shoulders.  She wore a maid's uniform that was pristine white, with ruffled sleeves and a knee-length skirt that was impeccably kept.  Her legs were covered by nearly opaque white stockings, held up on her thighs with white garters, the small red ribbons on them a flash of color in a sea of white.  She was very serious about her uniform and always made sure it was in top condition, the only anomaly was the tightly wound bandage around her right forearm.  It hid an old scar from her training days that seemed so long ago, she figured it was better that she should hide it than to disturb the others in the mansion with such grisly sights.  Her features were at least quite attractive, her girlish face working well with her hair and her eyes, if a bit emotionless at times.<br/><br/>Content that the laundry was proceeding well, she rose from her seat and reclaimed her sword from where it leaned against the stairs.  It was a relic of her training, a very simple curved blade with a hilt and scabbard of polished wood.  The scabbard had no end of chips in it from evident parries, and the blade itself was quite dulled.  She returned it to the holster at her side, one could never be too careful, given the mistress' condition.  She might need to fend off more invaders today.<br/><br/>She returned into the castle, a clean home was always a bit settling for her, though it seemed more empty than usual.  She had only witnessed Miss Leyana briefly on her way out to the shed.  Were the other maids still sleeping?  She frowned a bit, the mistress might be displeased.  She made her way up the stairs toward the servant's hall, knocking on the doors one by one.  "It's time to begin our duties, let's care for the mistress properly!"  She would speak as she knocked, though the tone was just barely above inaudible through the heavy doors.<br/>