The Use

by D. L. Carter

Tribel screamed again and raised his chair. Before he could strike Cris and Nittel leapt to protect Halidan, dragging the chair from the old Elf's hands and throwing it from the room. The Elf writhed and struggled against his captors.

  “He bit me,” shouted Nittel, tightening his grip on the Elf's neck.

  “What shall we do with him?” Cris pushed until he had both Tribel and Nittel pinned against the wall.

  “You cannot change this,” shouted Tribel. “High Lord Renthi commands! I must keep everything as the High Lord wills!”

  Ignoring Tribel, Halidan raised her hands. “I don't know. Is there somewhere we can put him where he won't hurt anyone?”

  “The High Lord's commands must be kept. He trusted me. He commanded me!”

  “We have a room where the guards sleep off a drunk,” suggested one guard.

  Halidan hesitated. The idea had appeal, but Tribel's wide-eyed face and – Elements! – he was even foaming at the mouth – showed that he was as much a danger to himself as anyone else. A drunk's room was not the answer.

  “Take him to his own chamber, but someone – several someones must stay with him to keep him from harm. Tie him to the bed if need be until a healer arrives.”

  The guards moved forward to assist Cris and Nittel. Halidan summoned one of the maids to her side with a single wave of her hand.

  “Is there a healer nearby?” Before the girl could answer, Halidan continued. “Of course there is. Have him fetched as fast as may be. And send a messenger for Mitash! He is the High Lord's secretary. Someone outside of the House will know where he may be found.”

  Kicking, spitting, and snarling curses, Tribel was carried bodily from the room. In the silence that followed one of the smaller maids sidled up to Halidan.

  “When the room is cleared, what shall we put in its place?”

  The ordinary nature of the question left Halidan voiceless for several seconds. How quickly Tribel was dismissed from their minds. Glancing down, she saw her hands were shaking. Ordinary was something she needed after the horror of Tribel's attack.

  She did not know the High Lord's tastes, but she did know what he didn't like. The garish, clashing colors, the over-ornamented artifacts. And although she still hadn't decided how long she was going to stay angry with him for the magicking of her skin, she had a good idea what he would want in a bed.

  Besides her.

  To the maid, she said, “Find the largest, least ornamented bed in the building. Bring a soft mattress, and least decorated sheets. Anything more will be added later when the High Lord describes his preferences.”

  Ignoring the speculative look in the maid's eye, Halidan bowed herself out of the room to await the arrival of Mitash and the healer.

  * * *

  The healer from the local Sanctuary arrived first. Halidan barely made it down to the main hall before a tall Elf in the distinctive blue robes of the Waters Temple was escorted into the House. Spying Halidan, the maid who had been sent to fetch him began pointing and babbling. The healer rested his hand briefly on the maid's shoulder and the girl fell silent, walked to the nearest couch, and promptly fell asleep. Halidan regarded the sleeping girl solemnly, then inclined her head toward the healer.

  “I hope you will not be offended if I decline to stand too close to you,” she said.

  “I am Healer Lenneth,” he smiled briefly. “The poor child you sent made no sense. All I understood was that I was needed. Something had significantly disordered her mind and I thought she would benefit from the rest.”

  “I am Halidan tor Ephram,” she drew a deep breath and added for the first time. “By declaration of High Lord Eioth, Lady of this House. I suspect there is another person here with a significantly disordered mind. What the girl was trying to tell you was that Tribel, the High Lord's House manager, tried to attack me with a chair.”

  Lenneth raised both eyebrows. “Unusual. What was his justification?” At Halidan's scowl, he continued in mild tones. “I am not saying he was right to try to harm you, Halidan. I was trying to assess his mind and the stimulation of his spirit.”

  “We were engaged in removing the ugly decorations from High Lord Eioth's bedchamber when Tribel announced that High Lord Renthi’s commands superseded those of High Lord Eioth's. When he was reminded that High Lord Eioth rules here, he attacked me.” Halidan folded her arms across her chest. “I have only been in this House for a few days, but in that time it seemed to me that Tribel was struggling to keep the House for Renthi who is long since departed from life. He, in front of me, refused to obey a command given by the living High Lord. In fact, High Lord Eioth said he had tried to offer Tribel retirement and was refused since Renthi had ordered Tribel to remain. Apparently something odd to that effect is written in Tribel's personal papers.”

  The healer frowned at that, but asked no more questions. Halidan pulled open the heavy door guarding the access to the kitchen. Beyond they could hear Tribel's cries – and the shouts of the other servants. Halidan increased her pace, almost running toward the noise. In her weakened state, the healer easily overtook her.

  They arrived in a narrow corridor to find that Tribel, crouched in a doorway, was holding the House guards off with a long sword.

  Seeing Halidan arrive, Cris left the others to watch Tribel and came to report.

  “We tried to take him to his own room, but as soon as we opened the door he got free and grabbed that sword. Why he had it in his room, I have no understanding. We've tried to take him, disarm him, but he's guarding that room as if it has all the treasures of the world within and he fights like a fiend; Nittel has been bitten, again. Since you didn't want him harmed we left him as he is. He is annoying, but no one is in immediate danger if we keep our distance.”

  “We could take him out in a minute with a bow shot, at your command,” muttered Nittel who was clutching a hand to his chest wrapped in a bloodstained kerchief.

  “I shall return to deal with your injury in a moment,” said Lenneth, touching Nittel's shoulder.

  From Nittel's expression, it was clear the pain was gone. Halidan was impressed. She hadn't seen any healer effect such a change from so light a touch. She wished he'd been present to aid her father in his passing.

  Lenneth ignored the guards as if the corridor was empty and bowed to Tribel.

  “Friend Tribel. Bright the day. It has been too long since you honored the Sanctuary with your presence.”

  “Midsummer. The feast of Spring Turning,” muttered Tribel, his expression glazed. “I go as High Lord Renthi's representative. The offerings tendered exactly as ordered. Midwinter Hearth Fire Ritual, I stand guard over the House Hearth, as he ordered.” Tribel gazed at the healer through bloodshot eyes as tears trailed down his cheeks and his voice shook. “I have obeyed. I have. All the commands, just as I promised. The High Lord said he knew he could rely upon me. I have kept all the rules. All!”

  “And I am certain he honors you for it,” said Lenneth in soothing tones.

  “Not they,” snarled Tribel, waving his sword toward the watching guards. “Not that mortal. High Lord Renthi said how Eioth's room was to be kept. Methoril. His breakfast. Formal Welcome must be rendered. Summer Balcony for afternoon wine. No tea served before the fourth hour. Every day, I have kept them all.”

  Tribel's voice trailed away as he ran down the list of rules.

  “You look tired,” said Lenneth taking another step forward. “You should rest. Another can assume your responsibilities.”

  “No! No! I must make sure the rules are kept.”

  “Someone else can take up your burden . . .”

  “No. No!” Tribel leapt forward, but not fast enough.

  Lenneth stepped to one side and caught Tribel by the arm. The touch was enough. Between one breath and the next Tribel was asleep on the ground.

  “Thank you for waiting for me,” said a familiar voice at Halidan's side.

  She gasped in shock and clutched at her chest, then turned to scowl at Mitash who was gr
inning at the sight of the unconscious Tribel. Morae stood behind him, his arms filled with still steaming bread rolls and a flask decorated with a preserve spell. Halidan's breakfast had arrived.

  “I have waited for years to see him brought down. My deepest respect, tor Halidan,” Mitash bowed, both arms crossed over his chest.

  “Respect is all very well,” said Halidan. “You may now assist me dealing with the mess.”

  “My life for yours.” Mitash's grin widened. “For this gift, I am yours to command lifelong.”

  Halidan hit him.

  Lenneth mustered a few servants to fetch a litter and bear Tribel away to the Gentle Waters Sanctuary.

  “Inform the High Lord we shall tend to his servant,” said Lenneth. “Now that I see him, I am deeply troubled. I did not realize how very old he is. After he is treated and calmed, I shall send a messenger to the High Lord requesting his guidance.”

  “I shall so inform him,” said Halidan.

  Tribel, asleep and bound to the stretcher with blankets, was carried past them.

  “I shall require his papers, once you have found them,” added Lenneth who bowed and departed.

  In the wake of his departure, the Household staff could not settle to any work. Halidan could not blame them truly. From her observations of the last two days, she knew that Tribel did everyone's thinking for them and they were lost without him.

  She tried twice to dismiss them back to their normal duties, but they would not go. Instead they stood in clusters in the corridor, heads together whispering.

  Halidan seized Mitash's sleeve.

  “What do we do?” she asked. “What are their duties?”

  “You ask me?” replied Mitash. “I have no idea. This is the first time I've crossed the threshold. Tribel could not endure my presence. Something about being able to tell from my eyes that my bloodline was insufficiently pure. He'd heard that my mother had been attended by a part-mortal midwife at my birthing and considered me contaminated.”

  “He is insane.”

  Mitash laughed. “Oh, of a certainty.”

  “But, he did manage the House. What are we to do? It is all very well for Lord Eioth to want him gone, but I guarantee you, Tribel has not trained a replacement.”

  Mitash's smile faded a degree. “And you have other duties. I shall endeavor to engage a new House manager as soon as may be. Do you have any preferences?”

  “Me?” said Halidan, before remembering that she was entitled to an opinion. “Someone half blood at the very least, if you'd be so kind, and strong willed. It will take a lot of work to retrain the staff.” She sighed and shook her head. “This was not how I wanted to be rid of Tribel. Not really. I thought I could convince him to retire. And now I must gain the respect of servants who have been trained to disdain mortals. How am I to . . . ?”

  Her voice trailed away. Turning to the nearest group of servants, Halidan had to shout to get their attention, but her question stopped all the chattering.

  “Where are the chairs stored? The ones that are supposed to be in the servants’ hall.”

  “Chairs?” repeated Mitash.

  “Yes.” Halidan tried to raise her eyebrows and failed, again. “It was one of Tribel's ridiculous orders. No servant was to sit down. He even had the chairs removed from their dining hall.”

  “I know where they are,” ventured one of the smaller maids. “It is my duty to dust them.”

  “Well, go, fetch them and put them back where they belong.”

  The servants stared at her, blank faced.

  “What?” demanded Halidan. “You think that Tribel is coming back? After assaulting another member of the High Lord's household with a chair, threatening you all with a sword, you think he'll return? Never! Even if he recovers, he'll be pensioned off. This I promise you!”

  That apparently, was enough to get them moving. The servants flowed around Mitash and Halidan off in search of the forbidden chairs. One or two inclined their heads to Halidan as they passed.

  “A beginning,” murmured Mitash, taking note of the ones who'd averted their eyes.

  “I hope so,” said Halidan. “I had to threaten them with you to get them to move earlier. Threats aren't the best way to manage a House.”

  Halidan dismissed them from her mind as soon as they were gone. Her attention focused tight upon the door to Tribel's room.

  “What is inside there that he would guard it with a sword?”

  “Who knows?”

  They exchanged a glance.

  “I have duties,” continued Mitash. “And you have a Household to bring under your command. We should go about the High Lord's service.”

  They stared at each other for a few heartbeats, then as one they turned and headed for the room Tribel guarded.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “As long as there are love affairs there will be those wrapped in joyous union and those who ache with loss.”

  The Adventures of Norfarland the Bastard ~ Book 19

  Eioth could not remember a single task he had failed at in his entire life the way he had failed with Halidan’s seduction.

  If he was honest with himself, and he endeavored to be so daily, it was no seduction at all. Poor Halidan, afflicted with a distracted lover. All of Eioth’s attention was caught up in his ambition and his hatred of Chandri. Not for a moment did he consider Halidan’s inexperience.

  Well, yes, he had. He was as gentle as passion and ambition would permit. No. Eioth sighed and sank down onto a stone bench positioned decoratively under a tree. No. Eioth’s sin was worse.

  Neither distraction nor ambition was entirely to blame. It was his damnable thirst for knowledge. From the moment he’d read the title page Eioth had been driven to experience Sex Magic. Not merely sex for its own sake and pleasure, but sex magic. He had not paused for a moment to consider the repercussions of the act. The potential harm to the practitioners. To poor Halidan whose only sin in this was appearing before him on the day when he was already primed to seek out a sex partner for the purpose of magic.

  Eioth covered his face and winced at the memory. He could not consider the time on the processional a courtship. More stalking by a predator. Inexperienced as she was, Halidan did not have the knowledge or resources to escape him!

  Even now, he would not permit her to escape.

  His relief this morning when she’d turned her attention to claiming control of the House left him breathless.

  That she spoke to him at all was a reflection of her gentle spirit rather than him deserving such generosity.

  Had she woken this morning and demanded he set her free, release her, he would have. . . Here his thoughts faltered and his heart seized.

  No. He would not have let her go. Justice or not, he would have held tight and kept her as near as she would tolerate until he found some means, some way to gain her forgiveness.

  He acknowledged his wrongs, his failings. His criminal mistreatment of her, body, soul and spirit, but still he would not let her go.

  He raised his face to the sunlight and eased his breathing to a slow, meditative rhythm.

  Weak as she’d been that morning, she still had it in her soul to care a little for Tribel. To consider what was best for Eioth’s house. To think.

  Of all the women of Eioth’s acquaintance, he could not remember one who’d embodied so many of the attributes and virtues that he admired.

  Eioth was not lacking in intelligence, either. He wanted, desired Halidan to remain in his House. He would apologize as many times as required. Turn his mind to the task of freeing her from the Sex Magic baths. Research and pursue her desired legal protection for mortals. Eventually she could be persuaded to forgive him and then Eioth would be . . . happy.

  He considered the thought with some surprise.

  Happiness had never been an ambition of his. Where came now this preoccupation with the happiness of two people, Halidan and Eioth?

  And why did Eioth’s happiness require Halidan?

&
nbsp; * * *

  Halidan halted just inside the door and her mouth gaped. Mitash ventured a few steps further before stopping. “Elements bless us,” murmured Mitash.

  The room had once been where a servant would wait to receive the summons from the signal crystals placed throughout the house, but Tribel had long ago converted it into his own chamber. No summons, no message had been transmitted within the House without him being aware of it. No wonder no one had come in answer to a summons from Halidan’s room.

  The ranks of crystals were no longer the central focus of the chamber. Along the length and breadth of one wall was a portrait, Halidan assumed, of Eioth's father, a tall unsmiling Elf dressed in robes of imperial splendor. Beneath the painting, was a table arranged as one would see at a shrine on Holy Day. Water, Earth, Air, and Fire offerings were there, along with blessed candles and sigils crafted from gold and silver. Halidan's attention was caught by two plain books that looked out of place amidst the splendor. One, Halidan recognized, as the book of rules Tribel carried with him every day. The other was weighted open with a brilliant gold lattice-work book brace.

  Step by hesitant step, Halidan and Mitash searched the small room. They found Tribel's bed, a roll of blankets folded up under a table, and his store of personal items tucked away in a box. A small bookcase carried a dozen or so journals. Halidan lifted one out and compared the formal Elvish handwriting to the two books on the altar then read a line or two.

  “The same hand,” she observed. “But, no name in them. Do you think these might be Lord Renthi's personal diaries?”

  “It could be so.” Mitash took it from her. “What is Tribel doing with the late High Lord's personal property?”

  “And who gave him this painting?” responded Halidan, taking up the book of rules. “Listen to this. It is at the top of every page. Eioth must use magic every day. Even if you must attack him and force him to defend himself, Eioth must use magic!”

  “What?” cried Mitash, coming to stand beside her and read over her shoulder.

  “It's here in this book. One of the rules of the House. Didn't you know?” asked Halidan. “The High Lord told me himself. When he is here he examines his clothing and food each day to be certain that Tribel hasn't tainted them with poison. Everything Tribel told the healer he was ordered to do is here.” She flipped through the pages. “Menus, foods that are forbidden. The order in which servants are to enter and leave a room. The Ritual of Welcome and Departure to be conducted whenever Eioth enters and leaves the House. Songs. Chants.”