I nodded as if understanding what any of this had to do with me.
“So?” The Chief said, leaning back. “What say you?” My mouth fell open. What did he expect me to say? Why would I have an opinion on this matter?
“Isaac.” Kiatra spoke with a sternness that was not unkind. “Since you have been copying our accounts, have you seen anything that has happened in our history that would provide insight into this event?” I felt my heart thump through my ears. This was a test. They did not need my insight. The Chief wished to see my usefulness in this new endeavor Kiatra had given me. It was a test for me, but she would carry the weight if I failed.
“Ummm—” I started numbly until Kiatra cleared her throat loudly. I silenced knowing my in articulation was an embarrassment to her. Sebastian and the members of Kiatra’s council looked at me with doubt expecting my failure. I racked my mind. I had only read a few volumes of cases thoroughly. Others I had just skimmed through, planning to do a more thorough reading at another time. Housekeepers asking for an orphaned child, I couldn’t think of any stories like that. Not with a housekeeper. But there was one that came to my mind. A non-blood relative pleading for a child.
I stepped forward and approached the Chief. “Forgive me, for my hesitation. There was an incident that happened about 60 years ago. Perhaps 50. There was a young girl whose neighbor suspected abuse from her parents. The neighbor made a plea to the Fortress and once investigated the claim proved true. The girl was taken away from her parents, whose nearest relative was in a distant village and had no knowledge of the girl. Yet there was those in the village that believed that it would be further abuse for the girl to be taken away from people she knew. The neighbor who discovered the abuse rallied with others and proved that they could provide a better home for the child and the Chief of that time, your uncle, agreed it would be best for the child to be in the protection of people who knew her.” I stopped. There was a cross reference to this story, from another case. One I hadn’t checked that might be helpful. If I mentioned it now, would I be criticized for not knowing it? Fortunately, in my pause, Kiatra took that moment to speak.
“Can you bring us the case? We will analyze the details of the decision.”
“Yes, mistress.” It would take me some time to find the case again, but I knew I wouldn’t get more than a day. “I will have it by day’s end—”
“You will have it in an hour.” She said evenly. I masked my surprise and growing anxiety, with a nod as she motioned for me to depart.
The second I was out of sight I ran to the study. There were stacks of books overflowing in the one large table that occupied the room. Others were opened on the floor. I exhaled sharply as Sir Jeffrey clearly was micromanaging my work and leaving the study in disarray. I took one moment to breathe deeply and fight myself from panicking. Was this case from one of the volumes that I read thoroughly or only skimmed? I went through about three volumes and took up most of the time before the feeling of failure started to close in on me. I threw the volume in my hand away from me in frustration and racked my hands through my hair. I looked to where the book fell by the single locked shelf in the study.
I had acquired of Kiatra what was contained in that shelf shortly after I had started studying the accounts. None of the shelves had doors or locks except for that one.
It’s nothing to concern yourself with. They were accounts connected to my mother.
Your mother? I had asked in confusion. You never speak of her.
But surely you have heard something about her? Kiatra had asked somewhat suspiciously. My people like to talk, although you shouldn’t believe everything you hear. My mother served as my father’s chief advisor for over a decade. She was so gifted yet, She had cut her words and shook her head. It doesn’t matter now. Everything she ever advised my father on came into question towards the end of her life after she fell ill.
Why?
My mother was known as a beautiful and intelligent woman, but she proved she was not strong. She allowed my father’s infidelity to destroy her. She lost the will to live. Her physical and mental capacity suffered for years afterward and people remember her for what she became. They forgot who she truly was. How did it seem when we had based judgement off of the counsel of a woman who was seemingly unsound? My father had to revisit every case. Put back into trial anyone who had been convicted and only try them based on concrete evidence, not my mother’s— She had paused, grieved. Guidance. The written records of her counsel are useless now. They cannot be used for future judgements, so I locked them away. I didn’t have the heart to dispose of them. It felt as if I was disposing of her memory and erasing her existence.
The woman had become agitated after this and I didn’t question her again. Kiatra never spoke of her mother to me after that and I was told not to bring the woman up in Kiatra’s presence by both Titus and Mara.
Her situation was tragic. It brings up much pain for your mistress. Titus had told me.
Sabrina in one unplanned encounter had hinted to me that Kiatra’s mother was filled with demons and delusions.
Never repeat that to your mistress! Mara had scolded me when I inquired of her. The woman was not filled with demons. She was a blessing to the Fortress. It was her heartache that destroyed her.
I pushed Kiatra’s mother out of my mind. I had no time for this. I needed to find the case and I had little time left to do so. I walked over to the locked shelf and bent to pick up the volume I had just thrown in a tantrum. It had opened up onto a page titled Those Accused of the Ancient Practices of Dark Arts. I placed my palm on the page in curiosity, reading the first line: These women stand accused of using practices of dark art to seduce--
The room started to spin, and my head started to pound. “Not now!” I moaned as the new vision came to my head.
Thank you for saving my life. Kiatra said gently, with eyes that were grieved. Her palms went to my neck, pulling me toward her as her lips pressed against mine.
I braced the shelves of books nearest to me, as the room steadied again, and the image left me.
A hand went to my shoulder. I jerked back. The training with Titus made my senses more alert and rarely were people surprising me anymore, but I had not heard her footsteps.
“Mistress!” I said hoarsely as I straightened to face Kiatra. Unthinkingly, my eyes traveled to her lips.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes!” I said, trying to regain my composure. “I know I only have a little more time, but I will find it—”
“I know which volume it is.” Kiatra shuffled through a few tombs before carrying one back to me.
“You remembered the case?”
“Yes. I have been studying these volumes since I was a little girl.”
“Then why—”
“I am not the one who needs to prove myself. I saw you reading this volume a few days ago. When this incident came to me, I hoped you would remember. You didn’t disappoint.” I took the book from her and flipped wildly, skimming each page until I reached the case I needed. I looked for the markers to the cross reference and grabbed another volume from a shelf.
“This.” I brought the second book over to Kiatra. “This case was almost 100 years prior to the other one I mentioned. A child was orphaned and a relative was sought out who knew nothing of the child before and the child knew nothing of them. They were willing to take the child, but the Fortress ruled that they would be unable to properly care for him as they had six children of their own and only the father worked. So the child was instead given to a young couple in the village, who were friends with the boy’s parents in whom the child had already developed an attachment with. They proved more fit and able to care for the boy.”
Kiatra nodded in thought. “We have sent men to bring the relative of this girl to us so we can see if they are even fit to provide for the child. If they are fit, it will be a tough case for the caretaker, unless the argument can be made that it would be a detriment to the girl to tak
e her out of the environment she has known and the care of a woman in whom she is already accustomed to.” She nodded again and focused her eyes on me. “Well done.” She said simply as she took both tombs from my hands and started to depart from the study.
“Mistress?” I called after her. “I—Tobias is cheating on his wife with her sister.” She looked at me in confusion as I continued. “And, I discovered this and used it to barter for a calf.” I admitted guiltily.
A slight smile emerged on her face before she suppressed it. “Return the calf. I do not need cattle tainted by adultery. I will deal with Tobias.” She looked at me a moment as if to say something else but thought better of it and departed.
My knees fell out from under me as I went to the floor and squeezed my eyes shut trying to will myself to breathe normally. Thank you for saving my life. She had said before she kissed me. It was madness. Perhaps it wasn’t a vision at all but a vivid daydream. A manifestation of my loneliness mingled with my physical desires that could never be met as a slave.
I tried to push the vision out of my mind and focus on what had just occurred in reality. The woman put me through a test in which I had just barely succeeded. Were there more to come? What if I was not successful next time? I placed my head into my hands and leaned back on the shelves of tombs. I never thought I could be put into a situation that would give me more anxiety than this.
That was until the day I was challenged.
Chapter 11
“Ezra told me he slipped on a rock at a stream while he was fishing and fell onto a jagged edge, Kiatra, but I don’t believe him. I think someone abused him, but he won’t give me a name.” I shook my head in frustration. Occasionally, Natalie reported suspected abuse on our slaves. Of course, they were too fearful to admit it, lest it subject them to further mistreatment. And rarely would witnesses speak up on a slave’s behalf.
“We need to enforce stronger punishments in such cases. Make the people fear to raise their hands unjustly to a slave. I will designate more guards to the areas where the slaves work.”
“Sometimes I fear it may be the guards themselves. I need to reconsider who I have chosen to watch over the lot.” We reached the clearing where Titus led trainings. Most of the boys were sparring and a few were huddled together watching a line of men shoot arrows at targets. I spotted Isaac, third in line, with his arms crossed around him. He shifted from one foot to the other. I smiled. He was nervous. It was good. Titus had informed me he was progressing well. It seemed if trained properly the man was quick to learn, but it was good he was still nervous and not growing arrogant.
“Isaac.” Titus said sharply, motioning him forward. I watched as Isaac swallowed hard and nodded. There were five targets lined up. He cocked his arrow and stretched the bow. One. Two. Three. Four. The fifth shot high and missed the target slightly. The boys around him groaned in dismay at the last shot but patted him supportively on the back.
“Not bad.” Natalie said softly. “He must have had experience with bows and arrows before?” I nodded as Titus spoke again.
“Again.” Titus said, looking unmoved, handing Isaac a dagger. None of the other boys had daggers, nor did many of our men train with them. Isaac said something we could not hear but Titus responded sternly. Isaac sighed heavily and took position again. The first dagger skimmed the target. The second hit it dead on. The third and fourth missed completely while the fifth bounced off the target and landed to the ground. Isaac raked his fingers through his hair as Titus spoke sharply and commanded him to sit to the side. He did so, putting his head to his knees.
“Chieftess!” One of the boys called out spotting me. The others turned around as I saw Isaac’s head shoot up before being covered by the young men running toward me. I extended my hands out as the boy who came nearest to me kissed both palms as he knelt.
“What are you doing here?” Titus asked with uncommon bluntness.
I looked at him for a moment before addressing the boys. “I wanted to see how our young warriors fared. And how my slave was faring.” Isaac hadn’t gotten up from his spot. He kept his eyes toward the ground as I spoke.
“He is doing quite well, my lady!” Andal responded with usual cheer. “As well as can be expected with his limited skill.” He turned toward Isaac before turning back to me and speaking in a whisper. “He was challenged today— “
“Enough.” Titus said sternly. “Take the midday meal.” He turned to Isaac. “You. Go to your mistress’s chambers and wait for us.”
Isaac turned toward me, awaiting confirmation. “Do as he says, Isaac.” His jaw set before he bowed curtly and departed.
“What did Andal mean Isaac was challenged? Challenged for what?”
“I told you granting him so much favor will subject him to ridicule, did I not? Eliazer, a man who trained under Dante, has challenged Isaac for his position in your service.”
It was not so uncommon for villagers to compete for a position in the service of the leaders. With Isaac, I now had six with me including two guards, two handmaidens and a chief steward. On occasion someone would come and ask to be a part of the service or challenge someone already in the position. A challenge could be in different arts but hand to hand combat was the most affirmative. There was no subjectivity to the victor. It was public and everyone would know the result. There was no way getting around it. The outcome would have to be honored. Yet, I never concerned myself over it because I never entertained a challenge against someone in my service. I chose who I wanted and would keep who I wanted.
“That’s ridiculous. We have no obligation to entertain a challenge. I can choose who I want under my service.”
“That may be so Kiatra, but everyone you have chosen has a history of proving to be fit for their position—"
“Isaac has proven capable enough to tend to my cattle and mind my books.”
“So have dozens of other men who have known you their whole lives!” Titus sighed and his demeanor softened. “We will accept the challenge.”
“We can’t—”
“You must, Kiatra.” Eliazer challenging Isaac on a training field meant he wished for a battle. The winner would have a place in my service and if I agreed to the challenge, I would have to accept the result. Isaac stood no chance. Eliazer was a skilled fighter. He would knock Isaac down easily and claim victory. “Kiatra, listen to me. I will make sure the rules are fair according to Isaac’s skill. Or lack thereof. I will ensure he stands a chance. It will be good for him to prove himself so publicly.”
“He has proven himself. I told you about how he suspected we were being cheated by our tax collectors, and it proved right— “
“Yes. He has proven he has good instincts. Let him prove it on the field. That he has both wit and strength.”
“Kiatra, perhaps it is for the best.” Natalie said gently. “His worth needs to be publicly proven. You will do him no favors by refusing this. You know that.”
I knew their words were right, but what chance did Isaac have? It was unfair to set him up for certain failure. Titus wrapped his arms around me in brotherly affection.
“I promise you the terms will be fair and if he is not the victor, I will take him under my own service. I will not leave him unprotected.”
“I see. So that is your real plan? You wish to poach a perfectly good slave from me?”
He dropped his hands from around me and laughed. “It is in the boy’s best interest. I assure you. So do you accept?”
I did not want to accept. Isaac would not win. He may gain respect just for his courage in accepting the battle, but I would lose him. “Is this why you were treating him so harshly? You were angry he was challenged?” Titus’ eyes departed from mine for a moment.
“I suppose I do not want to see him harmed any more than you do.”
“There is no other choice?”
He shook his head. “Refusal will be no benefit to either of you. You must accept, Kiatra. You must.”
I breathed deeply, feel
ing the pain of defeat already. “If we must. Then I accept.”
Chapter 12
Eliazer was a man I recognized when he approached me in training at sunset. He had been a part of the men that were with me when I trained under Dante. He ignored Titus and had shoved me hard. I kept my balance as Titus put his staff between us.
What do you want? Titus demanded.
Him. Eliazer said with a smile as he sneered at me. Tell your Mistress, you have been challenged.
Titus had spat at his feet. You, wish to do the work of a slave?
I wish to take a place at Lady Kiatra’s side. He deserves no such position of honor. We both know this. I will prove it and take what belongs to one of our own people. Lest he be a coward? Titus said something I didn’t understand to this as Eliazer smirked and walked away from the field. I tried to understand what his words meant but Titus’ mood suddenly turned sour. He treated me with a harshness I was unaccustomed to from him, criticizing my every single step the rest of the morning. Publicly shaming me by having me practice daggers in front of the young men, knowing I struggled with this skill.
I stood in the chamber like an obedient animal waiting for further instruction when Kiatra and Titus approached me with determination. Titus’ mood seemed to have softened as he explained plainly to me what Eliazer’s words meant. I would battle Eliazer to keep my position as Kiatra’s slave. If I lost, I would be removed from Kiatra’s service.
“I will set terms that are fair, Isaac. We will come to an agreement with Eliazer. The battle will take place in 10 days.”
Premonition Page 11
