“Are you expecting one, Ari?” He asked looking at her in a new light. She has been dealing with all of these issues since her parents died, and Thorel had no understanding of the true magnitude of the danger before now.
“Always. An attack could come at any moment. It is always a good strategy to strike in the dead of night: but that is precisely why I struck during full light against Quarrel. Any time is a good time to attack, depending on your strength, goals, and means,” she said while refilling her cup.
He nodded thoughtfully. He looked at the clock, it was nearly the tenth hour. “Ari, I need to get to bed. I didn't sleep much last night, and we have school in the morning.”
“You did sleep for an hour with me,” her eyes softened looking at him.
“I know, but I need to go to bed,” he said standing up.
“Well, you don't have far to go,” she said with a smile.
That stopped him. “What?”
“I had your things moved to my chambers,” her blue eyes penetrated him.
“When? Why?” He wasn't sure what to think of this. She wants me to sleep with her? He thought with surprise.
“I contacted household staff while you were sleeping. And why should be obvious. I love you, and you love me. We should be together,” she stood there looking at him in a way he had never seen her look at him. It was almost... predatory.
She refilled her cup and said: “I will show you to our bedroom so you can settle in. I always take a bath before bed so I will do that before I join you,” she took his hand in hers and led him out.
He wasn't against the idea, but he wasn't sure he could sleep with someone else and still rest. It just seemed like this was all happening too fast for him. Like the whole world was conspiring to move him where it wanted him for some reason.
Or maybe it was just Ari. She seemed to be able to exert that much force all by herself.
* * *
Thorel went to the bathroom to get himself clean, at Ari's request. He did this after he'd located his belongings and organized them to his liking. When he'd looked in her closet, while trying to find his things, he'd seen that every outfit she owned was black, white or red. Or some combination of those three colors. And that there were enough outfits to clothe half the students in the Academy.
He wasn't comfortable with the situation, but he would manage somehow.
The bathroom was huge: there were four polished stone basins he could have stood in with water that would come to his chest. There were four pretty, sheer clad slave girls. The sleeveless, short skirts of the outfits they wore were nearly transparent, leaving nothing to his imagination.
Ari was in her basin with soapy bubbles across the top of the water concealing her from the neck down, and Siri was in the neighboring basin completely sky clad. She pushed forward in the water when he entered and placed her elbows on the polished floor outside the basin concealing her breasts.
“Hello Mr. Tangarth,” Siri greeted him without embarrassment.
Ari had not warned him there would be other women in here, naked or close enough to make no difference. He was certain his face reached a very bright red as he turned himself quickly with an abashed murmur of, “Excuse me Mistress, I didn't know you had company.” He opened the door to leave.
“Thorel, it is fine. Come in and get clean. There is a screen if you are shy,” she said with a smile while a slave brushed her hair.
While Thorel could almost imagine Nigel doing a running leap into one of the basins in this situation, he wasn't Nigel. He had come in clad only in his undershorts, and while there was only one woman in the room he cared for, all of them were attractive. He found to his chagrin his manhood did not make these distinctions.
“No, I will find another bath. Thank you,” he said, taking a step out.
“Thorel,” Ari's voice snapped hard. “You are tired. I do not wish for you to waste time going elsewhere.”
“The Mistress is wise, Mr. Tangarth. It will only take a few moments, you simply need to find your courage,” Siri said lightly.
Thorel stopped. That was low. He thought. It's not that I lack courage, I just don't wish to be in a bath with four nearly naked women I do not know!
He took a deep breath and thought, Damn you etiquette! If it was just Ari, because of the relationship they had developed he could go his own way respectfully. But in front of others, he could not disrespect the Great Lady's desires. That would be folly, even though he did not believe she would punish him; undermining her would still be the wrong thing to do.
“Thorel?” He heard Ari's voice in his mind. “Are you alright, love?”
“Yes,” he thought back irritably.
He pulled his towel from over his shoulder and put it in his clasped hands. That should conceal his condition well enough. He stepped back and pushed the door closed harder than he'd intended with his elbow. One of the slave girls squeaked at the door's slam.
He turned around and asked, “Where is this screen, Mistress?” gruffly.
Siri raised her eyebrow at him, but Ari looked concerned. “One of the slaves can place it where you wish,” she said.
“Are you sure?” He heard in his mind.
“Respectfully, I do not wish to discuss this right now,” he thought to her firmly.
“....as you wish,” he heard her think with concern.
He looked around the room. His irritation at this entire situation calmed his body’s reaction. He saw the folding screen and threw his towel over one shoulder. He folded the wooden framed silk screen and wrapped his hand around the wood on the side to hold it closed and carry it easily.
“You are a very fit man, Mr. Tangarth,” Siri said.
“I'm getting soft without chores to do ma'am. I can feel it,” he replied to her while looking about the alien room. With his irritation, the wonder of this room had been completely replaced by the desire to find his goal.
“Where do I wash?” He asked the nearest slave girl, without looking directly at her.
“This way Milord,” she said leading him to the wall where hoses were hanging with odd metal heads on them.
Thorel had seen this kind of thing in the academy dorm. Nigel had shown him how to use it there. But he hadn't seen a hose with a metal head on it like this. The Academy's shower had only had one knob for the water as well. This one had two for some reason.
He unfolded the screen and set it up to conceal him from the other denizens. He still avoided looking at the slave and asked, “Why are there two knobs? What do they do?”
Pointing to the left knob, she said: “This one is for hot water. Be careful Milord, if this is on with no cold water it will burn you,” pointing to the right knob she said, “This is for cold water Milord. When I mix waters, I find it best to begin with cold, then add hot until it is pleasing, Milord.”
“Thank you,” he said, noting the soaps were on small shelves on the wall between each of the hoses. Normally he would have been amazed at the idea of hot water running from a hose. His mood completely spoiled it though.
“I can help you wash Milord,” the pretty slave girl offered.
“No. Thank you,” he said firmly.
The girl did a quick, but proper curtsy and went away, just as he wanted.
He knew slaves were beneath all, but he still didn't feel right hearing her call him 'Milord.' It irritated him, probably more because he felt like Ari had pushed him into what she wanted this entire night. He was an easygoing and accommodating man, but this, “Come to my bath and expose yourself in front of my friend and slaves, then let me bully you into doing it even though you don't want to,” idea had found his limit.
He could hear her and Siri talking quietly, but he could not make out what they said. He was sure if it was his business they would speak up though. He turned on the cold water and began experimenting with adding hot.
* * *
Thorel woke up when Ari climbed into the huge bed. The bed was big enough that everyone who lived in Kori
n's house could have slept in it comfortably. It was covered in enough silk to make him ten outfits, easily.
And he didn't give a damn. All he wanted to do was get some sleep. He turned over, away from Ari as she pulled the sheets over her.
“Thorel, are you awake?” She asked quietly.
He considered staying quiet for a moment. He could lie, but lying to obey a promise or to protect someone was as far as he would go with that. He wasn't going to lie to Ari just because he wanted to sleep more than he wanted to talk to her right now.
“Yes,” he said muzzily, trying not to let his irritation show through.
“I'm sorry if I embarrassed you,” she said.
“That isn't what irritated me,” he said, rolling onto his back.
“What was it then?” Ari asked, rolling onto her side to look at him in the darkness. Her features were lit only by the moonlight.
“You and Siri ganged up on me in there to make sure I couldn't refuse what you wanted. Siri, I can excuse, but you said you loved me,” he replied, completely awake now.
“I do love you,” she said, putting her arm around him and snuggling up to his side. The thin silk she wore felt cool on his skin.
Thorel took a deep breath and asked the hardest question he'd ever asked. He'd decided he had to while waiting for sleep to come. “Do you really love me, or do you just want me to marry you so you can secure your position as Great Lady?” He turned his head to look into her beautiful eyes in the moonlight.
Her lips pursed, and she was silent for a moment. But she didn't look away or shift her eyes. Thorel was watching, waiting for those signs, but she didn't do it. It would have hurt, but if she had he would have renounced his service and left right then.
“Both,” she said quietly.
He looked back up at the ceiling, closed his eyes and said. “Alright then.”
He finally understood Korin's decision not to strap him when he'd lied to him in the carriage. Korin knew, he was sure of it now, that when he told him he saw the towers glow he was describing Magik as seen by one with the sight. And Korin knew that he'd lied to obey his mother.
Ari had just done the same thing in a way. She wanted to use him as Eliel said, but she also did love him. He could forgive her for not wanting to lose her House. He was just going to have to teach her how to do it right for him then. They were from different worlds.
“Are you still angry?” She asked.
“No. But if you do love me, you will never make me do something for a selfish reason again. I would never disrespect you that way, and I won't tolerate you doing it to me,” he told her firmly.
“Alright. I'm sorry, I do love you Thorel,” she said quietly.
He put his arm around her and pulled her to him. They embraced, and she kissed his chest gently, resting her head there.
“Good,” he said, and closed his eyes.
Monday May 20th 1624th year of the First Great City
Discoveries
Today had been eventful for Thorel. It was eventful even before it had actually begun really. It had started with Ari telling him she had spoken to Captain Trein about having guards assigned to him over breakfast. That had been a shock, but the conversation was short.
“Why?” He'd asked.
“Because we have already intercepted orders given to a House Quarrel spy. They are trying to learn more about you. I want to make certain you are protected at all times,” she said.
“Why do they care who I am?” He asked with concern.
“They simply wish to be able to use you against me; that is all. If they have any spies in the Manor, which is not unlikely, they would have already heard the rumor that we are lovers. That began circulating through household staff about a week ago,” she had put her hand on his and squeezed it.
“You think they would try to hurt me to hurt you?”
Ari nodded. “I know they would. Or kidnap and ransom you, torture you for information; that sort of thing,” she said as if she spoke of the weather, and continued eating her breakfast.
Thorel had just lost his appetite though.
That had been the beginning of his day. Ari had been amenable to having Nigel ride with them in her carriage to the Academy.
He'd hoped to be able to chat to Nigel privately today during lunch, but when he saw him he was sitting with the tall girl he called Nina. Thorel wasn't pleased to see the woman. Even though her part had been minor according to Ari, she had still attacked Eliel by her own admission. He might forgive her later, but he wasn't prepared to today.
His academic day was fairly ordinary, even with his new guards tailing him everywhere, except the Wizard's tower. They were told to wait outside by Master Hermor when they attempted to follow him in for his spirituality class.
The odd thing was, they didn't argue. At least it seemed odd until Thorel looked at Master Hermor holding his staff and wearing his Master's robe with the glowing red and blue runes embroidered on it. That would stop most people with sense, Thorel realized with grim humor.
So school ended for the day, fairly uneventful. He went to the house here at the Academy and collected the rest of his things. After Ari had told him of the danger this morning, she said it was a better idea to stay at the Manor with her. Thorel knew she wasn't wrong.
There was one thing he had to do in Dothranan Hold today, regardless. That was to see justice done for Eliel's killer.
Ari had told him and Nigel about the scheduled execution on their way to the Academy. While he had hated seeing the saboteur die, this was different. This woman had killed someone he cared for. Eliel had been more than a friend. If he had met only her, and not Ari as well, he would have definitely been with her.
His tears rolled anew when he reminded himself of this and recalled his first kiss.
He vowed he would hold his stomach today, and he would not look away. He would not enjoy the woman's death, but he had to see justice done, for Eliel.
The rows of guards were in place today as they were before the last execution. The front row with their shields held the crowd of angry shouting onlookers at bay. Men and woman with staffs pushed anyone who was too enthusiastic back. It was much like it was before.
That made no sense at all to Thorel. How many of these people actually knew Eliel? It made sense before, with so many Dothranan Holders having been killed. The crowd was smaller this time, but there were still scores of people screaming for her killer's death, and pressing against the Dothranan guards to try to give some justice themselves.
He saw Nigel, he was still with Nina. He approached them and nodded. He wasn't sure what to say: there were no cheerful greetings that could come to his lips right now. He saw Nina's cheek had a bloody bandage on it. She was red-eyed and crying, but Nigel held her hand.
“Hey man,” Nigel yelled over the noise and put his arm around Thorel in a half hug.
“Hey,” Thorel said and embraced him.
“Hello ma'am,” he said when they parted.
She sniffled and said, “Hello sir,”
Thorel understood what Nigel was doing with this girl now. She had come to see her friend alive for the last time. Both of them together had seen Eliel in her last moments of life. Thorel was in terrible pain for her death, but he had been spared that. Nigel hadn't.
And now this woman had to stand here and watch her friend die while hundreds of spectators cheered her death. Thorel's fortitude almost buckled, but he pushed his lunch back down.
Nigel had just shown him the true meaning of compassion. Even though he had every right to hate this woman, he held her hand instead. Thorel felt ashamed of himself for not seeing such an obvious truth and gained a lot of respect for Nigel in that realization.
The crowd quieted, and he saw Ari walk up onto the gallows wearing her pure black dress.
She was shielding herself, and another shield was coming up the stairs of the gallows behind her. It looked like the same Wizard he'd overbid at the slave market; Thorel couldn't recall his
name though.
The crowd quieted as Ari's voice came through the large stone on the prison. “Holders, I am here today to stand in judgment of Tara Macal,” Ari extended her shield to the prisoner when the guards holding the steel tower shields moved away.
The small woman Eliel had stoned was in the cage wearing a metal cage around her head and face. Thorel wondered why she was wearing such a thing. Had she tried to bite the guards? He could see her shaking, and her tears from where he was.
“Under questioning, she admitted to the murder of Eliel Kwinn. I confirmed she spoke truthfully with my Magik. Wizard Feran arrived today to confirm my findings,” her voice carried through the stone.
“I am Wizard Ronat Feran. I have come to assist the Great Lady Dothranan in judging this crime. I have confirmed her findings. This woman has murdered a citizen of our Great City. I will stand witness to the Great Lady's judgment,” his deep voice boomed from the large stone.
“All citizens in our Great City have the right to live their lives, without the threat of murder. There is no place for those who commit such a crime in our city, or in my Hold. The judgment is death by hanging.”
Tara was pulled out of her cage. She looked like a child compared to the guards, because she was so small. Thorel knew she was not, but it still disturbed him.
She was marched to the noose, and it was placed around her neck with a bit of difficulty due to the cage she wore.
“Tara!” Nina shouted with tears in her eyes. “TARA!!!!” She screamed again.
Ari nodded.
* * *
Thorel could understand when Nigel told him he was going to stay with Nina tonight. The woman was inconsolable and held herself responsible for her friend’s death. Nigel was worried she might do something irreversible if left to herself. So was Thorel.
Spirit of Magik (The Dothranan Chronicles Book 1) Page 35
