"Come, come. Let's be off. All this excitement has made me terribly hungry."
Not bothering to see if they followed, Bavian spun on his heels and walked away. Three of his men walked over to pick Shayua up.
"I swear," Ezzy growled, "if you are anything but gentle with her, I will make it my life's goal to make sure each of you is left alone in a locked room with her when she wakes. Do I make myself clear?"
The men paused for a moment as her words sunk in, then each man grabbed one of Shayua's muscular arms and lifted her up. It took them a bit of time to get the woman leaning back in a chair, especially since the other men kept their distance. All the while Ezzy watched them, the knife from the table back in her hand. Once the woman was situated, Ezzy turned her attention to Nolan.
"Let's get this over with."
"Agreed." Nolan replied.
"Don't forget what I said..." Ezzy took the time to look at each man remaining in the inn before nodding to Nolan.
Leaving the unconscious Shayua behind, Ezzy and Nolan left to meet the Janpairs.
CHAPTER TWENTY
A Glimpse of an Old Life
"You're going to have a splendid time," Bavian said over his shoulder as they walked further into town. "The Janpair family spares no expense when it comes to spoiling their guests. Of course, that comes easy when you have such a vast amount of wealth. You know what that's like, Esmerelda, yes? Or I suppose youdid know what that was like. Must be strange to go from having everything to living in a shack with the rest of the poor wretches in Lurthalan. Is it strange?"
"How about you keep your mouth shut." It was all Ezzy could do not to lunge at the man. Which was good, since if Bavian could put Shayua down so easily, Ezzy wouldn't stand much of a chance. Instead she was forced to try and stare a hole of hatred through his ugly striped coat. And listen to him babble on.
"I am many things, Ms. Ciantar, but quiet is not one of them. If you ask my employers, I'm flamboyant, blunt, loyal, and possibly psychotic. Not sure what the first word means, but I believe the other words are compliments. Of course, they pay so well, they could call me whatever they wanted and I wouldn't mind. Plus, they let me entertain myself. It's doubtful I could have as much fun in Lurthalan or one of the smaller villages as I do here. People would complain too much. Do you like it here? I certainly do. The wall sings at night you know. Like a lullaby just for the villagers here."
He gestured to the Unyielding Wall towering over the village. Made of blocks larger than any house in Shade, it stretched high into the sky, lost in the clouds high above them. From this close, it almost felt like it was leaning towards them, on the verge of toppling over. Ezzy hadn't realized it when they first got to the village, but now it felt oppressive. She had to stop looking at it. As much as it pained her, Ezzy returned her attention to Bavian.
"I've heard that living this close to the wall changes people. Messes with their head. Is that why you wear such ugly clothing?"
"You don't like?" Bavian spun about, arms wide, while still moving forward. He didn't stumble in the slightest. "I had a famous tailor create it for me. Have you heard about the genius tailor of Shade?"
"No, I can't say I have."
"Sure you have. His name is Bavian Toll!"
The man let out a laugh and spun a few more times.
"Sorry, never heard of you."
Letting out a sigh, Bavian stopped spinning.
"Of course not. That's the problem with never being allowed out of the village. No one gets to see my creativity except for the few dozen families that live here."
"Such a shame you can't be out offending the eyes of more people," Nolan said. He had been quiet since they had left the inn. Ezzy had almost forgotten he was there.
"It is! So glad you understand my plight, Master Thaljori. Anyway, enough about me. Is this your first time here? I should be giving you the tour!"
"I can look around fine without your running commentary," Ezzy said. To her surprise, Bavian grew quiet, allowing her to take in her surroundings.
Besides the looming Wall, Shade looked no different from any other village or town in Ven Khalida. The road they followed circled around an open patch of grass. She spotted a smith's shop, healer's shop, and a general store that lined the circle. A few side streets branched off and seemed to lead towards more homes. Bavian took them left off the circle and down another street. They passed a few homes on either side and then cut down a side street that climbed a low hill. It led to a walled-in home with a massive and ornate metal gate.
"Welcome to the Janpair estate," Bavian said with open arms. "You won't find a more comfortable home."
As Bavian lead them through the open gates, Ezzy felt a twinge of sadness. Although not exactly the same, the homestead held many characteristics similar to her former home. They walked onto an open courtyard, with a fountain and intricately painted tiles that made a pathway to the main house. To her left sat a small building and a stable, with a garden sitting behind it in the northwest corner. The main house itself took up a good portion of the right side, a three-story brick building with a multitude of windows and a red tiled roof. Small potted plants hung from each window and a small patio extended out from the second floor. Despite what Ezzy might think about their choice of employees, the Janpairs had a beautiful home.
Bavian lead them straight to the front door and pulled on a rope hanging from the wall. A loud gong sounded once before the front door opened. Their guide stepped to the side, extending a hand for them to enter. Ezzy pushed past the man and stepped into the home. She just wanted to get this over with and return to check on Shay.
The extravagance of the inside matched its outside appearance. The main entranceway was a large, open room with a double staircase in the middle that curved upstairs. A chandelier with crystals that made the room sparkle hung from the center of the ceiling. Various works of art hung on the walls and sat atop pedestals around the room. Ezzy didn't know a single thing about art or who created it. To her it was all just the work of those that couldn't handle having a real job. She would never understand why people would pay so much more just for the name behind it.
What she did find interesting, however, was the man that opened the door for them. Or the woman. Ezzy could never tell when it came to the Taruun race.
Whatever it was, the Taruun towered over them. Ezzy's eyes were only as high as the man's waist, which was thinner than hers. That didn't tell her much, though. All Taruuns were thin and gangly, which made their incredible strength all the more surprising. Tilting her head back to get a look at its head, she found a face like so many others she had seen before. Pale, almost marble-colored skin seemed chiseled from stone, with harsh lines and edges where on a human you would find gentle curves. His jet black eyes sat deep in that face, almost hidden in shadow. What Ezzy found most interesting was that he/she was dressed in a normal servant's white vest and black coat and pants that clung to his body. It was a sharp contrast to a Taruun's usual attire of baggy, bland colored clothes.
"Hello, Butler," Bavian said as he patted the Taruun on the arm. "So kind of you to let us in. Be a good chap and let our masters know we are here."
Without a word, Butler closed the door and ascended the stairs. As the towering--Ezzy assumed now it was a man--shuffled up the steps, Bavian returned his attention to her and Nolan.
"A pleasant enough fellow. Not much for conversation, but he knows a few dozen human words at least."
As much as Ezzy had no desire to talk to the man, her curiosity won her over.
"The Janpairs have a Taruun for a servant? From what I've been taught, the Taruun have never been known to take servant positions. As a matter of fact, I've never heard of one working on anything that didn't involve a tree. How did the Janpairs even get one to leave the forest for a long period of time?"
"Simple. They bought him."
"What?" It took Ezzy a little bit to realize the man was being serious. "The temples outlawed slavery decades ago. He can't
be a slave."
"And yet he is! Been one for years. They bought him as a child, or so I've been told."
"That's horrible! How do they get away with keeping the Taruun against his will?"
"Is that a real question? They are a Hawkpurse family. They do as they please, especially in a village they control. Grow up, little girl. You of all people should know what kind of power the Hawkpurse families wield."
"My family never--"
"Shhh." Bavian stuck a finger out as if to touch Ezzy's lips. When she made a move to bite him, the man retracted his finger. "You can talk all about your family to my employers. Ah, and it seems that they are ready to receive you."
Butler was standing at the top of the stairs and waving them up. Bavian began to move, forcing Ezzy and Nolan to follow or be left standing in the entrance hall. Climbing the stairs, they came to a landing that split to the left and right, with a large set of double doors in front of them. The doors were made of a dark wood, with intricate designs depicting the god, Drenks, drinking and carrying on. The only thing Ezzy had been happy about when her family home burned down was that all of the effigies and pictures of Drenks had been reduced to ash. She hoped that burnt and broken statues still sat in the rubble of her home.
When they had all reached the top of the stairs, Butler opened the doors and led them through.
The room they entered was even more extravagant than the entranceway. Black banners with silver trim hung everywhere, a green snake coiled around a bag of money adorning every one. Among the banners, portraits of men and women took up the rest of the wall space. Golden candelabras lit up the room. Swampsilk rugs of dark reds and light blues adorned the dark hardwood floor, the material sparkling from all of the candle light. In the middle of the room sat a long table, covered by a dark crimson tablecloth. Plates of every type of food imaginable sat spread out along the top. Roasted pigs, a huge slab of beef, fruit, vegetables, various bowls of soups, cakes, and other deserts, and a dozen or so other foods that Ezzy couldn't even think of their names. Even though she had just had something to eat at the inn, the sight and smell of all of that food made her stomach rumble. Seated at the head of the table were their hosts, Shane and Leya Janpair.
Ezzy had only seen the pair once before, and that had been when she was still playing with dolls. From what she remembered and how they looked now, the years had been kind to Shane and Leya. Shane sat on the left, a man not late in his years, but with a touch of grey spotting his short black hair. Green eyes examined her behind a long pointed nose. He wore a black silk shirt, the sleeves cuffed at his elbows, and a gold medallion hung around his neck. His body was rigid as he sat straight up in his chair, as if he were trying very hard to look formal.
Leya had made quite an impression on Ezzy during their one encounter, and the woman was as beautiful as Ezzy remembered her. Her golden hair sat up in a bun, the sparkle of meticulously placed jewels reflecting the candle light. Her petite nose and mouth accentuated her slightly larger dark blue eyes. She wore an elegant blue dress covered in tiny jewels that hugged her body in all the right places. Ezzy wasn't one to get jealous of the looks of other women, but Leya certainly tested her self-confidence. Many of her father's servants had also noticed the woman's stunning looks and had talked about her for days after the Janpairs had visited.
"Ah, our honored guests!" Shane said, rising to his feet. "So happy that you could accept our invitation. It is so rare that we get visitors of your caliber to our quaint little village, Ms. Ciantar. As you can see, we spared no expense to make this quite the enjoyable meal. So little is known about you or your tastes that I had my cooks make as wide a variety as possible. Come, sit. Let us talk of the finer things."
He paused for a moment, his gaze wandering off to the side.
"Yes, I know," he said as if to thin air. "I'll ask her later. Now isn't the time."
His attention snapped back to Ezzy and Nolan and he waved at them to sit. They moved to opposite sides of the table, with Ezzy using the time to try and figure out what Shane had meant. Bavian, meanwhile, walked over to the Janpair family and stood a few paces behind them. Once they were all seated, Leya picked up her glass and raised it.
"To the Janpair and Ciantar families. May our two great families find fortune and favor in the eyes of the gods."
Ezzy couldn't tell if the woman was being sincere or sarcastic. Certainly they had heard of her family's downfall. Was she trying to rub that fact in her face or just being polite? Not quite sure what to make of the toast, Ezzy's years of training in manners kicked in and she raised her glass as well, giving her host a nod of thanks. Nolan might think she was brash and quick to anger, but she knew how to handle herself in social situations such as these. Until Shane took a moment to pour a little of what was in his glass onto the floor. That was certainly not a custom she was familiar with. The day was getting more confusing with every moment.
When the silence of the moment dragged on and Ezzy realized the Janpairs were staring at her, the thought occurred to her that they might be expecting her to say something.
"I...want to thank you for your gracious invitation and the meal you have prepared for Nolan and myself. This array of food is as extravagant as your home." That sounded proper.
"So nice of you to notice," Shane said. "We have a quaint home out here so far away from Lurthalan, but we try to have it live up to the expectations placed on us as Hawkpurses. What? No, later. I'll ask later."
Again, Shane spoke to his side, although no one was there. Ezzy glanced at Nolan, who shrugged, and then looked at her other host. Leya was smiling, but it held no warmth. Her gaze was locked on Ezzy, looking at her like Shayua looked at a rabbit she had just pulled from a snare. Ezzy shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Anyway, before I was interrupted," Shane continued, frowning off to his side, "it's so rare we get to show off our home to anyone. The other Hawkpurse families don't visit, and no one in the village warrants an audience to dine with us. It's nice to be able to sit and enjoy a meal with such well-respected members of the realm."
Well-respected? Everyone in Lurthalan knew her family now lived in the slums and treated her family as such. The man must be trying to insult her in a backhanded sort of way. Well, under normal circumstances that might be how the high and mighty spoke to each other, but no matter how much of a show Shane and Leya were putting on, Ezzy and Nolan had been forced here. Ezzy had had enough of being proper.
"Why are we really here?" Nolan gave a loud cough, but Ezzy ignored him. "You send your man to bring us here by force if needs be, flaunt your wealth and Taruun slave, and then continue to offer me backhanded compliments when you know how far my family has fallen. If you want a 'pleasant meal,' then I want some answers."
Shane stared at her, confusion painting his face. Leya, on the other hand, let out a laugh before speaking.
"I was told you were a straight forward woman, and I'm happy that the reports weren't exaggerated. I would have been disappointed if this meal had been a boring display of all of us trying to appear like we were best of friends while cutting into each other with our words. A meal with all of us tossing aside all of the formalities will be much more enjoyable. At least for me."
"You haven't answered my question."
"Fair enough, Esmerelda. Since you want to toss decorum and civility aside, I will give you a straight answer to your question. I had you brought here like a common prisoner for the simple fact that I wanted to meet you in person before I decided whether or not to have Bavian take you outside and kill you."
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Dinner Conversations
"Well," Ezzy replied, "that certainly is not what I expected to hear."
"Of course not," Shane said with a laugh. "Whoever expects to be told they might be killed? Other than those put to death ...and maybe soldiers or guards... I suppose...."
Leya put a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder, which quieted him as soon as he felt her touch. Their eyes met,
and some warmth appeared in the woman's face. When she returned her gaze to Ezzy, however, that warmth was gone.
"You are a riddle. With as much as I know about the Hawkpurse families, which spans both before and after the Plague, I have never seen any mention of a family losing its status as a Hawkpurse. And for the Ciantar family to be the first to fall? When your family dissolved, I assumed the Ciantar name would disappear into obscurity. I believed that Drenks himself would have wiped your family from the land. This does not seem to be the case."
"What can I say, we Ciantar are hardy people."
"Something I already knew. To be given the duty of trading with those in the Deadlands speaks to your family's survivability. Even if that is where your father died."
Ezzy moved her hands underneath the table and clenched them into fists. "My father died because of the actions of one man. He turned those in the north against my father and his caravan."
"And now the one village in the Deadlands that traded with our realm has been reduced to ash. By some powerful creature, if you are to believe the reports. Is your mystery man responsible for this as well?"
"All I know for certain is the name of the man behind my father's death--Ean Sangrave--and I'm going to bring him in to face the justice of the temples."
"If you leave here alive."
"Yes."
"Interesting..."
"If I may say something..." Nolan tried to join the conversation but Leya's raised hand silenced him.
"You may not. Either Esmerelda will leave and I assume you with her, or she will be killed and you will be unemployed. At which point we will offer you the chance to work for us. Until then, you may sit, enjoy the food and drink, but otherwise you will remain silent unless asked a question. Don't try to interject your opinion again. Understood?"
Nolan's face went pale. Ezzy's immediate impulse was to defend her friend, but for once she decided to take Nolan's advice and keep her temper in check. A silence hung over the room for a moment, then Shane broke it with a giggle.
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