by T. J. Quinn
“We have some similar to this one. Let me show you,” he said pointing at the hair brush, before he got up and went to his bedroom, coming back with something very similar to a comb, but with three rows of pins. “Allow me.”
Before she could understand his intentions, he stood behind her and started to comb her hair, gently. Incredibly, it wasn’t as tangled up as she thought and soon he had her hair smooth and shining.
“There. I believe it’s done.” He said, with a smile.
“Thank you, but I could have done that by myself.”
“I’m sure of that, but I wanted to do it for you.” He took a seat next to her. “Are you hungry? You missed dinner last night.”
“Yes, now that you mention it, I’m starving.” She admitted.
“Do you want me to order some food here, or would you rather go downstairs to the meals room?” he asked her, surprising her.
“I thought you were keeping me away from everybody.” She said, doubtful.
“I never said such a thing. You’re free to go wherever you want, inside the palace’s premises and if you want to go beyond the palace walls, all you have to do is ask, and I’ll take you,” he replied, in a serious tone.
“I thought that was the whole point of keeping me here.” She insisted.
“You misunderstood my attentions, I assure you.”
“Then, I would like to go downstairs.” She replied, happy she would be able to move around. With her improvised chair, she would be able to explore the whole place. “But I would appreciate some clothes.”
“Of course. I’ll take care of that; just give me a few minutes.”
Chapter Eleven
He got up and once more, disappeared into his room. She moved her chair to the window and opened it up, going out to the small terrace. A cool breeze welcomed her, and she shuddered a bit, but she didn’t go back inside. The view of the city was breathtaking, with the tall, shining building scattered all around and the huge, dark mountains in the background.
“Do you like it?” he asked her, joining her at the terrace. He had already changed clothes, into his usual suit, though this one was a deep burgundy color.
“It’s nothing like what I’m used to, I can assure you that, but it’s amazing.” She replied, tilting her head to a side to look at him.
“It makes me happy that you like it. It’s your new home.”
She didn’t reply his last comment, still not believing that to be possible.
“I brought you some clothes, do you want to see them?” he asked.
“Yes, please.” They returned to the room, and he handed her a dark green, two pieces suit. “We were told these were much more comfortable for you women.” He explained.
“Yes, it is, especially for me. Taking it all off each time I need to go to the bathroom is very cumbersome.”
“Do you need help to put it on?”
“No, thank you I can handle it by myself.” She maneuvered the slider to her room, making sure the door closed behind her.
She took the slider to the bed and slid out of it onto the bed, quickly removing the tunic she had been wearing. She put on the new suit, amazed that it fitted her perfectly and once she was ready, she left the room.
“Remember not to go out without a cape. The temperatures outside are very low, and the last thing I want is for you to get ill.” He warned her, handing her a black cape.
This cape looked smaller than the one Asgar had given her and more suitable for her.
“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind.” She assured him, as they left the room.
While they were walking down the hall, she noticed once more its bareness. “Is it part of your culture not to have any home decorations?” she asked him, bothered by the dull walls.
“No, of course, not. I guess I haven’t paid much attention to that.”
“Perhaps, you should.”
He chuckled and guided her to the meals room. Anya was already there.
“Eleanor, girl, I thought we had lost you.” the other woman shouted from across the room, running to meet them, leaning down to hug her.
“Asgar managed to get me at the last minute.” She explained hugging her back.
“I was so happy when Sasha mentioned it and so were all of the girls. Sasha was very upset when we were taken to the ship, leaving you behind.” She let out a sigh. “But it’s a relief seeing you here, with us.”
“Thank you. Sasha is like a sister to me, we’ve known each other since we were in kindergarten.” She explained.
“No wonder she was so worried. The girls will be thrilled to see you here, safe and sound.” She assured Eleanor.
“Perhaps we could continue this conversation at the table,” Brynjar suggested, with a smile.
“Of course, I was trying to order some food, but I have to say your letters are way too complicated for me,” Anya said, returning to her place at the table.
“What would you like to have?” he asked them.
“The breakfast we had yesterday was quite delicious, I wouldn’t mind having it today as well,” Anya replied with a smile.
“Of course, those were cakes with berries, ham, and bread.” He explained, looking for the words that would better describe the food.
“I would like to have that too,” Eleanor, told him.
“They have a beverage quite similar to coffee, just a million times better. It’s some sort of energizing drink that wakes you up and prepares you to face a new day.” Anya told Eleanor with a huge smiled. “To die for.” She added like an authentic coffee addict.
“There’s no need to die over mungát, believe me,” Brynjar replied, with a frown.
“It’s just a figure of speech, she is not being literal,” Eleanor explained to him.
“It seems you have a lot of those.” He grumbled.
“I’m sure you do too.”
The food arrived, and Anya poured a cup of mungát and handed it to Eleanor. “Taste it, I’m sure you’ll love it.”
Eleanor took a sip and nodded. It was delicious. Pure energy turned into a hot beverage. “It’s amazing.”
“I told you.” she smiled.
They started to eat, and Eleanor wasn’t able to hold back her curiosity much longer. “How have you girls been?”
Anya glanced at the king and smiled. “We are alright. It’s a bit hard to accept all we have been through, but I guess we could have had far worse luck with some of the guys that attended the auction.” She replied, clearly a bit uncomfortable with the king’s presence at the table.
“Yes, I’m sure you’re right.” She nodded.
At that moment, the rest of the girls entered the room, and they all came to greet Eleanor, happy to see her, safe and sound. The rest of the meal went by amongst their chit chat and chuckles.
At some point, Brynjar finished eating and excused himself from the table.
“Let me know if you need any kind of help.” He had told her before he left, handing her a device like the one she had seen at Asgar’s place. “Just say my name pressing this button, and it will let you communicate with me.” He explained.
“Thank you, but I’ll be alright.” She said, taking the device, knowing he wouldn’t leave if she didn’t accept it.
“Have a good day, everyone.” He nodded and left the room.
“How come you’re with the King? Has he mated you?” Miranda asked her, very curious.
“Of course not.” She dismissed the idea immediately. “I’m a rarity in this planet, so he decided to become my guardian, in case his people reacted badly to my presence.”
“Why a rarity?” Gil Ra asked, frowning.
“Their people have amazing healing capabilities. They don’t have crippled people because they can grow their limbs and any other part of their body if needed.” A woman Eleanor hadn’t met yet explained, as she entered the room.
“Eleanor, meet Erin, she’s one of the first two humans that arrived at Zuvrak.” Patricia made the introductions.
“She’s Eleanor, Sasha’s lost friend.”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Eleanor and to see you’re no longer lost.” The woman said with a friendly smile.
“Thank you, Erin. It’s good to be here.”
“Yes, I know what you mean. We could have done a lot worse with those lizards.” Erin said, shuddering at the memories.
“Eleanor knows that very well. Eskol hated her and didn’t waste a single opportunity to let her know it.” Anya commented.
“Yes… well, fortunately, we left all that behind us, and though we could be better back home, we could be a lot worse, that’s for sure.” Eleanor said, resting importance to her experience at the hands of the slave master.
“I have to admit I hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. I didn’t have any family back home, only a few friends and my job. Knowing I’m somehow destined to become a man’s whole world, warms me more than anything I’ve ever lived.” Patricia added, with a self-deprecating scowl.
“Yeah, girl, I know what you mean.” Miranda agreed. “These guys promise a dreamed life, and I can assure you, I’m more than ready to accept the challenge.”
“I have to admit I’m a bit skeptical. I have a hard time believing in fairy tales. I have never experienced anything even close to that.” Eleanor said, in a plane tone. “But, I truly hope that will come true for all of you.”
Anya covered her hand with the table. “It will happen to you too.”
Eleanor smiled but remained in silence.
The women talked a bit more about the activities they had been involved in, and Eleanor remembered the king’s promise to help her learn about their technology. He sure had made an effort to help the women find ways to fill their days.
When they finally finished eating, they all went their separate ways, and Eleanor decided to go explore the gardens. There wasn’t much to see inside the palace, so she figured she would have a better time outside.
She must have gone further than she thought, because she reached a building, probably two stories high, which looked out of place. She looked back, but the palace was nowhere to be seen, confirming she had gone too far.
Chapter Twelve
Afraid she might be trespassing, she turned her chair away to go back, when she noticed a small boy standing in front of her, with a deep frown.
“Who are you? Are you one of the humans?” he asked her, clearly curious. He looked like he was about ten or twelve years old, with long hair, as dark as the night and the same gray eyes all of the Drogons had.
“Hi, there. Yes, I am. Who are you?” she asked him, but by the look on his face, she realized he hadn’t understood a single word she had pronounced, what probably meant he didn’t have a translator.
So she nodded and waved goodbye, considering it would be better to leave.
“What’s that you’re on?” the boy had other plans, though.
She signaled the chair, unable to explain it without words.
“Why don’t you walk, like everyone else?” he insisted.
She could understand his curiosity, and she supposed she would feel the same in his position, but there wasn’t much she could to answer his questions.
So she shrugged and once more waved goodbye, heading back to what she hoped was the palace.
“Wait, don’t go away.” The kid asked me. “What’s your name?”
“Eleanor.” She replied, intrigued with the kid's insistence.
“You seem to understand what I’m telling you. Do you have a translator?” he asked her again.
She nodded and raised her hair to show him the small device implanted in her right ear.
“We only get one of those when we reach majority.” He explained.
She smiled, understanding. “Would you pay us a visit? I’m sure all of my friends would love to meet you too. Everybody is excited about the arrival of the human females.” The kid asked, excited, with a pleading smile.
She shook her head slowly and pointed the direction she had come from, trying to make him understand she had to go back.
“It wouldn’t take long. Our recess only lasts a few more minutes.” He insisted. “Our tutor has a translator; he would be able to translate for us.”
His words made her assume the building behind them was some sort of school, and she rubbed her forehead unsure of what to do.
Perhaps, she should call Brynjar and have him explain to the kid why it was better if she didn’t go to his school, but the truth was she didn’t feel like listening to a lecture just because she had gone too far.
She finally nodded to the kid, and he hopped excitedly.
“Come, I’ll take you to the school’s yard.”
He walked ahead of her, through the bushes, turning every few steps to make sure she was still following him until they reached a small opened door on a high wall. He walked in and motioned her to follow him.
“Hey, guys, you won’t believe who I found out there.” He yelled at his friends, and suddenly a bunch of kids surrounded her.
“What’s going on here? Why all the fuss?” a man’s voice sounded over the garble, and the kids went silent immediately.
“I believe I’m the reason.” She said, moving forward and stopping in front of a middle-aged man.
The man was quite surprised to see her there, but it was obvious he had an idea who she was. “Your pupil found me outside and invited me in. I tried to reject his invitation because I didn’t want to intrude, but I wasn’t able to make him understand that.” She explained, feeling a bit unsure about the man’s reaction to her.
“Her name is Eleanor, tutor Arvid.” The kid that had brought me there said. “She’s one of the human females.”
“I can see that, Cuyler.” The man finale seemed to snap out of his state of amazement by her presence there. “You’re welcome here, Víf Eleanor. Our people are very curious about you, as I’m sure you must understand.”
“Yes, of course. The curiosity is mutual, believe me. I just didn’t want to cause any trouble.” She assured him.
“You couldn’t.”
“Can you answer me now, why are you wearing that strange slider?” Cuyler asked, with a naughty smile.
“Unlike your kind, we humans don’t heal easily. I had an accident a few years ago, and that prevents me from walking on my own.” She explained, with a faint smile.
The tutor translated her words, ripping a lot of exclamations from the kids.
“I guess you never get tired.” One of the other kids said.
“Not much.” She nodded.
“Is your planet too different from ours?” another one asked.
“Yes, for instance, it’s warmer, the water has no color, though the lakes and the seas look blue, because they reflect the color of the skies, and the trees and bushes are greener.” She explained and loved to see the amazement on the kids’ face.
“You and the women are all different. Why is that?” one of the smaller kids asked her.
“We are basically the same inside, but our bodies changed according to where we lived. This happened thousands of years ago, that’s why there are several races. That means we have different skin colors and some distinctive features, like the almond-shaped eyes of Gil Ra, one of the other girls.”
“We must look pretty boring to you.” the tutor said, with a faint grin.
“Believe me, there’s nothing boring about your people.” She assured him.
Suddenly, a buzzing sound interrupted them, and they all looked around looking for the source.
“I believe it’s your communication device.” The tutor told her, and she looked confused at him, not knowing for a minute what he was talking about.
Then she remembered the device Brynjar had given her, and she pulled it out of her cape. “Can you tell me how to use this?” she asked the man, with a faint smile.
He nodded and showed her how to answer the call.
It was Brynjar, of course. “Where are you?” the question was made in a low tone,
but she could tell he was furious.
She had stayed out too long.
“I’m not sure. But, I’m on my way back to the palace.” She assured him.
“Stay where you are, I’ll come get you.” he ordered, ending the call.
She looked at the device, frustrated. “How will he know where I am?” she muttered.
“The device has a tracker.” The tutor explained.
“Oh, I see.”
“It was a pleasure to have you here, Víf Eleanor. Perhaps, you could come some other time to talk a bit more about your planet to the kids.” The tutor asked as a bell echoed in the school’s yard.
“I would be honored. Just let me know when I can come.”
Immediately, the kids formed three lines, and for the first time, Eleanor realized there were no girls amongst them.
Of course, she had known there were few births of girls, but she hadn’t expected to confirm it firsthand.
The man nodded and guided the kids inside, and Eleanor turned to walk to the door she had come in from when a vehicle stopped outside the building’s main gate.
Brynjar hopped out of the vehicle and headed straight to where she was.
“May I know what you are doing here?” he asked, through gritted teeth as he looked around, as if looking for someone, but the school’s yard was already empty, the kids had returned inside.
Eleanor let out a sigh. “One of the kids saw me outside and invited me to meet his tutor and friends. Seeing no harm in that, I came. They were very kind and welcoming.”
“I would prefer if you didn’t have any interactions with people outside the palace, at least, not while alone.” He said in an icy tone.
She frowned. “I thought I was free to wander around freely.” She protested.
“Yes, you are, amongst the palace walls. The last thing I want is for you to get yourself in trouble.” He replied, trying to explain his posture.
“What kind of problems do you think I’ll have?” she asked, mimicking his cold tone. “You expect people to reject me, right? That’s why you don’t want me out there.”
