Kwin

by Trudie Collins

  “Does that make you feel better?” she asked when Kwin finally stopped speaking.

  If he heard the amusement in her voice, he didn’t show it. “No. Right now nothing is going to make me feel better.”

  His abrupt manner made the smile fall from her face. “What’s happened?”

  When he told her what Gareth had done, and why, it was her turn to swear. She stuck to her own language as she could be more colourful. One of the things she said made Kwin choke.

  “I really hope I’m mistranslating that,” he said.

  “You aren’t.” Then she took a breath to calm herself down a little. “Is the man a complete idiot?”

  “No, just passionate and a little volatile. He doesn’t always think things through, though this time he did and went ahead with his actions anyway.”

  “I can’t say I’m sorry,” Luka said. “Raina deserves everything he got. It’s a pity Gareth didn’t kill him.”

  “After what he did to the slave girl, I agree, but I have no idea what’s going to happen now. Gareth might lose his life. Or worse.”

  Luka didn’t ask what he meant by that last sentence, just in case he told her.

  “Can you do anything?” Kwin asked.

  Luka shook her head. There was nothing anyone could do. What an owner did to their slave was their own business and nobody could interfere.

  “The only good news is that the girl Raina attacked doesn’t belong to him. Ofar tends to be possessive of her things, only letting others play with them when she wants to brag and make them jealous.”

  “So all we can do is wait until we hear from Gareth?”

  Luka nodded. Then she sighed. It was going to be a long and stressful day.

  ————————————-∞————————————-

  Gareth was beginning to get hungry. He was lying on the cold stone floor with his eyes closed; it was so dark there was no point in keeping them open.

  Kwin had been in almost constant contact with him, keeping him entertained by reminding him of stupid things they had done together in the past. Gareth knew he was trying to keep him from thinking about what might happen to him and he was grateful. Kwin let him know that he had been locked up for nearly eight hours. He took his word for it, though it felt like a lot longer.

  He had been forced to relieve himself in the corner, making the cell smell even worse.

  He was just starting to think that Ofar planned on letting him starve to death when his attention was caught by someone opening the door at the end of the corridor.

  “Someone’s coming,” he mentally said to Kwin.

  “Keep the link open. Let me hear what’s said.”

  Someone was approaching, carrying a torch, which sent shadows dancing over the damp walls. Gareth recognised the translator and smiled at him.

  “Come to see what I want for my last meal?” Gareth asked.

  The translator didn’t look amused by the comment. “Ofar sent me to let you know that she has decided not to kill you. The guards will release you shortly. You are to report straight to her suite.” He curled up his nose. “Though I suggest you bathe and change clothes first.”

  The translator turned to leave, but Gareth called out to him.

  “Wait. Do you know why Ofar is letting me live?”

  The man turned back to him. “All I can tell you is that she had me question both Wostle and Uko. Both told the same story. Ofar saw for herself the knife wounds on Uko’s body and the blood in Raina’s bed. She knows why you attacked him.”

  “Thank you,” Gareth said and the translator turned around and walked away, leaving Gareth in the dark once more.

  “Did you hear that?” he asked Kwin.

  “Yes. I’m going to grab some food. Let me know when you know more.”

  “I will.”

  “One more thing. You were lucky this time. You might not be next time. For Shona’s sake, you can’t risk your life like that again, even if it was justified.”

  “I know,” Gareth said. “But I’m making no promises.”

  Gareth was not alone for long before the guards released him. They seemed almost pleased to be doing so and didn’t escort him anywhere once he was out of his cell.

  Instead of going to his room, he went to Uko’s. He wanted to know how she was. She was asleep once more, but Wostle was sitting by her bed and let him know that she was healing well.

  Gareth then decided to follow the translator’s advice and bathed and changed into clean clothes before heading to the kitchen, where the cook was more than happy to feed him. He had heard what he had done to Raina, and why, and gave him some of the pie he had just finished making instead of the re-heated leftovers the slaves usually got.

  Once he had eaten his fill, Gareth braced himself and went to find Ofar. She was in her suite, waiting for him, the translator by her side. If she was displeased that he had taken so long to attend to her, she didn’t show it.

  “What you did was understandable, but it can never happen again. Do you understand?”

  Gareth waited until he had heard the words in his own language before nodding.

  “Stop pretending,” Ofar snapped. “Raina told me you can speak my language.”

  Gareth shrugged. It didn’t really matter that Ofar now knew the truth.

  “While I appreciate that you were defending my property,” Ofar said, “you will only do so again after receiving permission from me.”

  Gareth forced himself not to react to Ofar calling Uko her property, after all, that’s what she was. Gareth might not like it, but it was an undeniable fact.

  “You will be pleased to hear,” Ofar continued, “that Raina has gone away for a while. The doctor thought it best if he spend some time relaxing by the sea. He managed to heal most of his injuries, but not all. None were life threatening.”

  “Pity,” Gareth said. He didn’t need to state that he was referring to the fact that none of Raina’s injuries had been life threatening rather than that some of them had not been healed.

  “As punishment for your actions,” Ofar said, “I will not be allowing you to share my bed for a few days.”

  ‘Punishment?’ Gareth thought to himself. ‘That’s not the word I would use.’

  He glanced at the interpreter, who was struggling to keep the smile from his face, as though he was reading Gareth’s mind.

  “When is he coming back?” Gareth asked.

  He noticed that Ofar paused before answering. “I don’t know.”

  What did the hesitation mean? Did she really not know or did she not want her brother to return? Gareth put it from his mind. It made no difference to him. He just hoped that Kwin could find a way to get him free before he saw Raina again as he really wasn’t sure he would be able to stop himself killing him.

  Ofar dismissed him and he waited until he was out of earshot before starting to whistle. He was going to enjoy the next few days.

  Chapter 23

  Luka was not happy when she left her bedroom. Kwin was waiting outside for her. They had been in the middle of a language lesson when a sound rang through the house, letting her know that someone was trying to contact her on her communication device. She wished she had ignored it, but it might have been something important.

  “What’s wrong?” Kwin asked the moment he saw her.

  “That was my mother.” She didn’t even attempt to keep her dislike for the woman out of her reply. “I have been summoned. It’s her birthday soon so she is having a party.”

  “If you don’t want to go, don’t.”

  Luka shook her head. “No. There’s no point in antagonising her over something so small. I’m sure I can cope with spending a few days with her. And I do miss my sister.”

  A grin crossed Kwin’s face. “I wonder if she’s worn Nonah out yet.”

  It took Luka a moment to realise who Kwin was talking about. Then she remembered he was the slave she had purchased for her sister. His comment lightened her mood and s
he returned his smile.

  “Moda’s probably already claimed him.” Kwin frowned. “My mother,” Luka explained.

  “If you don’t mind me saying, you and your sister don’t look very much alike.”

  Luka walked from the room as she replied, Kwin following after her. “We are only half-sisters. My father severed his relationship with my mother when I was very young.”

  ‘As soon as he saw I had magic,’ she mentally added to herself.

  “May I ask why?”

  “He found out what a horrible, manipulative woman she really is. She puts on a good act, which is how she got my father to marry her, but all she was really interested in was how the marriage would improve her standing in society.”

  Her answer was only partially true. Her father knew how her mother would react if she ever suspected her daughter’s abilities and distancing himself from her had been the only way he could think of to train Luka without anyone finding out.

  “So what happened to your step-father? I’m assuming your mother remarried before having Fain.”

  Luka walked into the kitchen, where mouth-watering aromas hit her. “Is there any coffee?” she asked Koal, who was checking something in the oven.

  He turned around to smile at her. She had spoken in his language and, other than a slight accent, got the words right.

  “In the pot. Help yourselves.”

  “I got the first bit,” Luka whispered to Kwin, “but not the last.”

  Kwin translated for her. Luka noticed that Koal had to bend down and check whatever he had roasting in the oven again to hide the fact he was trying not to laugh. She didn’t take offence. Since she had been attempting to learn her servants’ language, they had started to treat her differently. She had never made them treat her as a Lady, but now they were beginning to act as though she was one of them. Letting her eat in the kitchen was just one example.

  Kwin grabbed three mugs and poured coffee into them, handing one to Koal before adding a spoonful of sugar to Luka’s.

  They both took seats at the table then Luka answered Kwin’s question. “She remarried quite quickly. He was the son of one of the leaders of our nation. Unfortunately he died in a riding accident. He was a nice man, much too good for my mother. She is still close with his family, which is why so many people do whatever she demands.”

  “Except for you.”

  Luka shrugged. “I don’t need her to do anything for me and she has learnt not to go against me.”

  “So when do you have to go and see her?” Kwin was smiling at her again and she knew just how to stop him.

  “We are going in a couple of days.” She emphasised the ‘we’.

  She took a sip of her coffee to hide her amusement at Kwin’s reaction.

  “What do you mean ‘we’?”

  “You don’t think I’m going to suffer that torture alone do you? Why do you think I purchased you?”

  Kwin held up his arm, displaying his bracelet. “You freed me, remember. I don’t have to do this.”

  Luka was still smiling when she said, “But you will anyway.”

  Kwin sighed. “I know. Won’t she get a little suspicious that we aren’t sleeping together, seeing as I’m supposed to be a sex slave?”

  “Pleasure slave,” Luka corrected. “And no, she won’t, seeing as we will be sharing a room.”

  Kwin raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Don’t get any ideas,” Luka said. “I’m sure you are perfectly capable of sharing a bed with a woman without anything happening. Or do I need to bring Canis along to keep you in line?”

  “I don’t think that will be necessary. There’s barely enough room for me in my bed when he decides to join me, let alone two of us. I think he needs to go on a diet.”

  “I heard that,” the dog’s voice sounded in Luka’s head and she assumed he had also sent his comment to Kwin, judging by the huge grin on his face.

  All too soon the day of the party arrived. Luka decided to take the larger of her two carriages, despite the fact that only she and Kwin would be travelling in it. Kwin didn’t ask why, for which she was grateful. She wouldn’t have been able to explain. Her instincts told her that it would be needed, and she always trusted her instincts.

  On the journey, Luka told Kwin everything he wanted to know about her family and her mother’s household.

  “How do you want me to act in front of Jona?” Kwin asked. “The man basically cheated on you. Do you want me to lavish my attention on you to make him jealous?”

  “No. I stopped caring a long time ago. Just be yourself. But please remember that I’m supposed to still be your owner so do everything I say.”

  “Don’t I always?”

  “No, you don’t.” Luka smiled as she spoke, letting Kwin know that she wasn’t reprimanding him.

  “Based on the fact that Drake isn’t with us,” Kwin said, “I presume that you don’t want me to pretend I don’t understand your language.”

  “Good point. I didn’t think of that. It would have been nice to have you listen in on conversations without others knowing that you can understand them, but it’s too late now. I will, however, keep it secret that I am learning your language.”

  The conversation flowed as the journey progressed. It suddenly struck Luka how relaxed she was with Kwin. It usually took her a long time to feel so at ease with someone.

  All too soon they arrived at her mother’s estate and Luka had to suppress a grimace. She had never felt comfortable in the house, not even when she lived there. It held an atmosphere that she found unpleasant, but she had never managed to find the cause of it.

  Stewerd was standing in the courtyard when the carriage drew to a halt and he opened the door for her. “It is so good to see you again Lady Luka,” he said as he bowed formally.

  Luka ignored him and turned her attention to Fain, who was running out of the house toward her; Nonah followed at a more sedate pace.

  “I have missed you so much,” Fain said, hugging Luka tightly.

  “I keep telling you to move in with me, but you keep refusing. I have no idea why.”

  Fain pouted at her. “You know why. It isn’t right, a woman living on her own.”

  “But I wouldn’t be on my own if you moved in.”

  Fain took Luka by the arm and led her into the house, leaving Kwin, Nonah and Stewerd behind.

  “So how’s Nonah?” Luka asked, making her sister blush.

  “Fun,” she said. “Not that I get to have him that often. Mother claims him whenever she feels like it. She’s even taken dual control of him, just like she did my other slaves.”

  Luka said nothing. She wasn’t surprised. Nonah was an attractive man and Moda liked attractive men. She felt like saying Fain could have him all to herself if she moved to her estate, but it would be pointless.

  “How’s your pleasure slave?” Fain asked. “I forget his name.”

  “Kwin,” Luka said. “And he has his moments.”

  Fain didn’t ask for details. Luka wasn’t sure what she would have said to her if she did. She had never owned a pleasure slave before so wasn’t sure what stories she would have to make up or how much detail she would be expected to go into.

  By the time they reached the drawing room, the two pleasure slaves had caught up with them. Luka could make out some of the conversation going on between them and it seemed like Nonah was complaining about her mother. It looked like Kwin was struggling not to laugh.

  Light refreshments were delivered and the four of them relaxed for the next few hours.

  The day was going well and Luka was enjoying herself. She missed her sister and felt they didn’t see each other often enough. Then their mother arrived and the atmosphere soured.

  The first thing Moda did was look Kwin up and down, assessing him. “Well he seems to have a decent body but he’s not much to look at. When I heard you had finally purchased a pleasure slave I was picturing someone much more attractive.”

  “He suits my needs,”
Luka said coldly.

  “Speaking of which, what’s he like in bed?”

  Much to Luka’s amusement, Kwin choked on his drink. It wasn’t the sort of question a woman should be asking her daughter.

  “None of your business,” Luka replied.

  “I’ll have to find out for myself then,” Moda said haughtily. She turned to her translator, who was a small, frail, elderly man who Luka had never seen smile. “Tell him he will spending tonight in my bed.”

  Kwin glanced at Luka, who gave a small nod, indicating that he could speak before he received the translation.

  “I am afraid I must decline your invitation, my Lady.”

  Moda stared at Kwin, her face showing how shocked she was that, not only had he understood her, but that he could speak her language perfectly.

  “It was not an invitation,” she said when she had recovered her composure.

  “I must still regretfully decline.” Kwin bowed slightly to Moda, showing respect that Luka knew he didn’t feel for her mother.

  “You don’t get to decline,” Moda said.

  “Actually I do. Luka is my owner and she doesn’t want me sleeping with anyone else, therefore I have no choice but to say no.”

  Moda flared her nostrils in anger and turned to face her daughter. “You have him well trained I see. Tell him he has to obey me.”

  “No.” Luka kept her reply short on purpose. Her mother didn’t deserve a longer response.

  Moda glared at her and looked like she was going to shout at her daughter. Luka met her glare, her own eyes full of challenge. For a moment Luka thought Moda was going to argue, but instead she just turned and walked away.

  “Well that went well,” Kwin said once the sound of the door slamming had stopped echoing around the room.

  “You really shouldn’t antagonise her,” Fain said. “Why not just give her what she wants?”

  “Why should I? What right does she have to demand what is mine?”

  “You are in her house.”

  “Not through choice.”