Premonition

by Lisa M. James

  This was not an easy question. If Benjamin had come with a peace offering, instead of a spear and a sword, I could have made a case that he wished to plead for a slave’s life. There was no crime in that, although it was still a weak argument given the time that had passed. Yet, a case still could have been made. But Benjamin came clearly with an intention to fight for his friend’s life. He came armed. Again. After his people had been warned. There was only one thing I could do.

  “Summon Isaac.”

  Chapter 16

  “Can you believe it, Isaac? The girl is interested in me!”

  “I am happy for you, Andal.” I said with a smile to the 17-year-old young man as we walked together toward the stables. Andal had become a companion of mine starting with our trainings together five years ago. He and the other young men I trained with did not view me as simply Kiatra’s slave. They treated me as a man born and raised within the walls of the Fortress. Though it became difficult for me as these young men were moving forward in their lives while I in so many ways remained stagnant. Five years I had served Kiatra. If she willed it, in five more years I would be granted my freedom as her slave. If she willed it and if I wanted it.

  “What do you think I should do?” Andal said suddenly.

  “What do you mean? If you care for her and you are certain she feels the same, then ask her for her hand.”

  “Yes, but if I married Joanna, I cannot be in Lady Kiatra’s service.” I suppressed my smile at the young man’s distress, knowing how much he wished to be a part of Kiatra’s service.

  “Andal, I don’t believe she is looking for someone now—”

  “Not yet, but soon! Think of it Isaac. Her guards change every few years. Since you’ve been here, three different men have taken those places and I heard that Jonah is not so nimble—”

  “If you really want to be a part of her service, perhaps you should position yourself as a manservant instead of a guard? Her maidservants are changed the most quickly as those ladies tend to marry before they are eighteen and only come to her service around sixteen—”

  “Oh, don’t jest.” He said, shooting me a look and crossing his arms around himself. “You will never understand how fortunate you are. Kiatra favored you from the instant she saw you. You don’t have to work nearly as hard as the rest of us.”

  I raised my hands in exasperation. “Yes. Of course. What an easy life I live here. I can quickly forget that I was forced to start my life over without my family or a coin to my name. I hardly think on the fact that I am property and not a man and can live or die based on the favor of one woman. Forgive me, Andal. How terribly inconsiderate of me.”

  The young man sighed and uncrossed his arms. “Don’t get in a mood. We all know that there is nothing you can do which will truly take you out of Lady Kiatra’s favor. It’s clear she is not eager to rid herself of you. You are protected by her. As is everyone in her service! There’s nothing I want more than to be a part of it.” He turned around and placed his head against the outer wall of the stables, as we reached it.

  I sighed as the young man pouted. “I will speak to her again on your behalf.” I said in resolve as the man bounced up and widened his eyes like a child. I knew it would do no good. I had brought Andal up to Kiatra before and the woman was incapable of seeing him as anything other than a child.

  And you believe that Andal is the best man to have in my guard? You believe he can protect me? She had asked.

  I believe that you are capable of protecting yourself, but Andal is a loyal man to have by your side.

  I thought I already had a loyal man by my side? She had asked with her unnerving stare, which instantly flustered me. I didn’t wish to continue the conversation. Though, for Andal’s sake, I would ask her again.

  “Thank you Isaac—” I heard Andal start to say before his image blurred in front of me. I crouched to the ground and covered my face. Isaac? Isaac!

  Isaac? The older woman’s face came to my mind. A face I knew, though it had aged greatly since the last time I saw it. Can it be—

  It’s me, mother.

  How? How are you alive? After all this time—

  Isaac! “Isaac!” I lifted my head as Andal came clearly back into view. He crouched in front of me grabbing my shoulders. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes, I’m fine, I just—”

  “Had another headache?” Sabrina stood over us as her voice drawled into my ears. I had not heard her approach. As the years pressed on, my visions started to come more frequently and aggressively. Several times I would run out of trainings or get up suddenly from court making an excuse of nauseum or dizziness. Kiatra started worrying about my health while others started to think I was mad. Ironic, that at home I was considered mad for having my visions and here I was considered mad trying to hide them.

  It became too difficult for me to hide them until finally I knew I had to give Kiatra some answer to my strange behaviors.

  I suffer from headaches. I lied entering into my third year in her service. They come often but are unpredictable.

  Headaches? This is what made you a defect in your village? Kiatra had asked suspiciously. This is what made your people so willing to give you up? This is what made you an unfit husband to those women? I nodded tentatively as the woman evaluated my words. She gripped the side of my face and looked intently into my eyes. It was a foolish thing to hide from me. I do not hold this illness against you. It does not make you unfit to serve me. Her words were said with so much tenderness and concern it riddled me with guilt.

  Though as word spread about my headaches, it seemed to garner suspicion around me for some, as was evident in the way Sabrina spoke to me now.

  “You poor thing and your headaches. How debilitating they must be for you.” Sabrina rose a thin eyebrow as her expression became bemused. “I have recommended several elixirs for your ailment and yet you are so unwilling—”

  “I don’t want anything from your hands.” I said tersely.

  She placed her hands on her hips as her eyes narrowed. “I will never know what I’ve done to foster such distrust from you. Perhaps, it's just my sister spreading her lies about me that has made you so suspicious?” She turned her face to Andal. “Will you give us a moment, dear one?” She asked as she began to raise her palms to his face.

  “Don’t touch him.” I said sternly.

  She looked at me in surprise. “Oh forgive me. Would you rather me touch you?”

  “Maybe I should just give you a moment.” Andal said nervously. “Be well, my lady.” He said quickly before departing.

  “What do you want?” I asked Sabrina sharply.

  “I’ve missed you. It seems that you are avoiding me.” The woman raised her porcelain hands to my face but I gripped her wrists. Sabrina was unnerving. Maddeningly so. I couldn’t deny she was beautiful although there was no warmth that radiated from her porcelain skin or raven eyes. As my years in the Fortress passed, I knew that Kiatra’s suspicions of her sister were warranted. The woman could not be trusted, though I could not understand what her particular interest was in me.

  “Don’t think I don’t know, Sabrina. Keep your hands away from me.” She looked at me in surprise before lifting her lips into a smile.

  “What is it that you think you know?”

  “Your shop is not just for healing, is it? You and your mother dabble in dark arts.” The bemused expression on her face tightened at my words. I knew how it made me sound. Like a madman. I always had my suspicions of Sabrina. I always thought there was something strange about her behavior. Only a few months ago, I had a vision of her grinding up gray flowers with specks of purple into ash. I had never seen such a flower before. In my few spare moments it became my obsession to search for it. I discovered a whole field of them just inside the southern wall of the Fortress. I brought it to the physician who knew little of it other than its name. The Ashen flower. She suggested if I was curious on this subject to ask Rose or Sabrina. They’ve devoted their live
s to natural medicines, she had said.

  I searched every account in the study for mention of the flower, though it gave me little proof against Sabrina. It was commonly used to ease pain which she could justify having in her shop. As I searched further on the flower, I discovered that when grinded into a powder it had properties that made those exposed to it prone to suggestion or direction against their will. If it was prepared just right.

  “What an interesting story. Well if that’s so then how come I can never seem to persuade my sister or my father to do as I wish? How come I can’t seem to persuade you to do what I wish?”

  “You have limitations.” I said simply, which was truly all I could guess on who she chose to persuade to do her will. “You are not as powerful as you wish you were.”

  “Is that so? And what has my sister said about all this? Surely you have brought this to her attention since you seem so certain?” I shifted uneasily. I had tried to bring up my suspicions to Kiatra but the woman was not keen on it.

  Isaac, my sister is many things but she is not a witch. Kiatra had told me.

  I am not saying that she is a witch, but the woman experiments with dark arts. This flower grinded into a powder can cause people to be unduly influenced by her.

  It is not enough to accuse her of anything, Isaac. She would just deny it and it would make both of us seem mad to even suggest such a thing. Let it go. No good will come from pursuing this. If my father hears of these accusations, it will put a target on your back.

  But there are records of accounts of women being accused of practicing dark arts to seduce men to do their bidding—

  Accused but not convicted. Those men were just trying to find a justification on why they were unfaithful to their wives. So, they accused their mistresses of putting spells on them. Do you realize how ridiculous it sounds? Let it go.

  Yet, I couldn’t let it go. Sabrina was a threat. I had seen it. I had seen Sabrina standing over Kiatra in a cell, accusing Kiatra of falling in love with someone who betrayed her. Perhaps, it was someone that Sabrina had influenced. I didn’t know for sure, but I stayed suspicious of Sabrina and any man that was brought before Kiatra as a suitor.

  My hesitation now gave Sabrina time to answer. “I see.” She said with raised eyebrows. My sister doesn’t believe you, does she? Well perhaps she has some favor for me in her heart after all. Or more likely, she doesn't trust you as much as you would think.” She closed the little distance between us, forcing my back against the stables. “I assure you I do not need to practice dark arts to get weak men to do my bidding.” She said in a whisper. “You must be careful. Spreading stories such as these will give you a reputation as a madman.” She looked at me, and smiled. “Mad Isaac. It does have a certain ring to it, doesn’t it?”

  “What did you say?”

  “Isaac!” Sabrina didn’t turn to see the owner of the voice as she held my gaze. “Isaac!” The voice called again. I pushed Sabrina away from me as Natalie stared at us inquisitively. “You are being summoned.” She said tersely. “By your mistress, or have you forgotten who that is?”

  “What’s happened?” I had just left Kiatra so the thought of her needing me so suddenly was alarming. My mind went to how the woman was failing in health the last few days. Sudden spouts of dizziness that she would dismiss though I knew something was wrong. I hadn’t seen a vision to support it, but I knew the woman well enough now to be certain something wasn’t right with her.

  “Just come.” Natalie commanded, glaring at Sabrina as we departed. Mad Isaac. Sabrina had said a name I had not heard in five years. It was just a coincidence. There was no way this woman could know my reputation in my village. I resisted looking back in her direction, knowing she would just have a smile on her face, feeling that she had bested me. I forced her out of my mind as I went toward Kiatra’s chambers. My mistress needed me.

  ~~~~~~~

  I stood a distance from the entrance of my chambers as I watched for Isaac. I felt a mixture of compassion and hate for Benjamin. He was the only one who shed any tears or spoke a single word against Isaac being taken. Yet, he waited five full years before acting. Natalie was right. It was useless now, but I could not keep the fact that he was here from Isaac. The man deserved to know and more so I was curious how he would react. What would Isaac think when he saw him? Would his heart be stirred by him? To his home? To the people he left behind? Would he try to run again after four years of good faith?

  Isaac appeared before me then, concern creasing his face. A feeling I couldn’t explain moved in the pit of my stomach. I feared after the beating the man would become hard inside. That he would lose his innocence and compassion and become bitter toward me. Yet it was not lost to him as was evident now as he came close to me and grabbed my hands in a way that was too familiar.

  “What is it, mistress? What’s happened? Are you not feeling well?”

  “Your loyalty is mine. Is it not?”

  He looked at me in confusion. “Yes. Always.”

  “Remember that.” I said simply as I pulled the curtain from my chamber and gestured for him to enter.

  Chapter 17

  I entered her chambers not understanding Kiatra’s words or the fear that was evident in her eyes. I saw a man crumpled to the floor with his face in his hands. I turned to where Kiatra was, but she had let the curtain drop between us. The man’s head went up slowly, hearing the movement near him.

  “Benjamin?”

  Benjamin stared at me not connecting who I was at first. “Isaac?” He said as he darted to his feet and looked at me in disbelief, before embracing me tightly. “I thought you were dead. They made me believe you were dead!” I stayed very still, my arms still hanging loosely at my sides as Benjamin’s grip only became firmer. I hoped I was dreaming. I had hoped it was a dream when I had a vision of Benjamin outside the Fortress walls, four years ago. I thought for once it was just a moment of madness and not something that would come true. I should have known better.

  “What are you doing here?” I said in a whisper as I pushed Benjamin off of me. It was odd how the man looked almost exactly the same in five years. As if nothing had changed though everything had changed between us. The only difference I noticed was a few early specks of gray in his dark hair. “Why would you come back here? Why now? What were you thinking—”

  “We were foolish Isaac! We were so foolish. You didn’t even want to come here! You warned us and we didn’t listen—”

  “What are you doing here?” I asked firmer. “Have you lost your mind? What good did you think would come of this? Five years later? How could you be so stupid?”

  I surprised myself at the harshness of my words. After five years a part of my home had returned to me. Yet, I found no joy in this reunion. I didn’t want to think of home anymore.

  “I’ve wanted to come for years.” Benjamin said quietly. “When we returned with the grain everyone thought it was a successful mission until they noticed you were not with us. Your father explained what happened. Your mother—” He averted his eyes from mine. “Well obviously she was grief stricken. She still is. She and your brother petitioned to go back and appeal to the leaders of the Fortress. After a few days your father feared that they would go on their own, so he said that,” He exhaled heavily. “He told them you were executed.”

  The words didn’t surprise me. In fact, I felt little from the statement. It was better for my brother and mother to think this. My mother would be able to move on after some time and my brother wouldn’t act foolishly and risk his life knowing he was our parents’ sole heir. “But those of us who knew the truth,” Benjamin continued. “I told the other men we couldn’t just leave you. They refused to listen—"

  “Is my father dead?”

  “What?”

  “I had seen it years ago, but now it seems the time would be right. Did he pass? That’s why you are here, isn’t it?”

  “You still see things?”

  I glanced at the curtained door befo
re nodding.

  “They do not know—”

  “I am alive, aren’t I?” I gave a gruff laugh. “My father warned me well enough of the consequences if I let my abilities be known to our leaders. Amusing, as he didn’t hesitate to leave me here knowing I was at risk of exposure.”

  Benjamin went silent for a moment. “Yes. Your father’s dead.”

  The confirmation didn’t move me. I had five years to reconcile my father’s death. I felt more bitterness than grief. “How did it happen?” My father was not yet 50 years of age. I knew the cause could not have been natural.

  “He was found in the river.”

  “What?” I couldn’t suppress the shock in my voice at the strange way my father had lost his life. “He drowned?”

  “It is believed he drank too much the night before and lost his way back to your home and ended up stumbling into the water.” There was something about the way Benjamin said the words that I knew he wasn’t convinced by them.

  “But what? You think he was pushed? Murdered?”

  “What? Heavens no! By God, there is not a murderous man in our village—”

  “Then what? You don’t believe he fell?”

  “Isaac,” Benjamin started tentatively. “Your father never said as much, but I knew he couldn’t live with the guilt of abandoning you. It was destroying him. I tried to convince him that we should go back for you, but he already believed you were dead. So,” He hesitated. “I do believe he was inebriated the day he died but I also believe it was no mistake that he fell into the water. He wished to drown.”

  “No.” I said firmly. “He wouldn’t take his life and leave my mother and brother with the full burden of—” I stopped and thought. But my father was a coward. He had left his son here to die. Why wouldn’t he leave his wife and youngest son to fend for themselves? “My mother? Timothy? What’s happened to them?”

  “They are as well as can be expected after such tragedies. Isaac you would be so proud of your brother. He is a young man now. He has been strong for your mother.” But who is being strong for him, I wondered? It was too much responsibility for such young shoulders to bear, though I knew my brother would try to bear it without complaint. I remembered then the vision I had by the stables. I had almost forgotten about it after my words with Sabrina but now it came clearly back to my mind. I could not see my face as I was looking down at my mother. Her hair was almost fully gray. Her eyes were rimmed with dark circles. It didn’t seem as if she recognized me as I spoke to her. How did I get back home? How much time had passed?