Untouched Concubine

by Lisa Rusczyk

  She sat on her side of the bed, unable to meet his green gaze.

  "Sleep now," he said, blowing out a candle.

  She sat still until his breathing was even. He had fallen asleep? Was he tricking her into some kind of nightmare?

  She was exhausted, sure, but could she really lie down next to this stranger with the daggers and the strong, naked chest and close her eyes?

  ~~~

  It was morning before Mandia knew what had happened. What had happened? Nothing at all. He was gone, and there was a note on the chair she had sat on the night before.

  It was in the language of Crona and it read, "Ginn is in the cabinet. Spend freely. Dress for yourself as you see fit. Pick up some apples, please."

  He signed it, "Jass."

  The door was unlocked. Mandia was still in her nightgown, and the only thing she had to wear was the red velvet dress. She couldn't inconspicuously make an escape in either dressing.

  She reluctantly put back on the red dress, found a bag of ginn in the cabinet, and left the grand, white-domed house.

  An older Farna woman greeted her outside. "I take you shopping," she said in broken Crona.

  So Mandia wasn't to be left alone, after all. "You speak Crona?"

  "Little bit, yes, little bit Crona. Assa Jass assign me for I speak little bit. Come, show you around."

  Mandia followed the little old woman out onto the street. Everyone stared at them, whispering.

  She spent almost all the ginn on clothes. The old Farnan woman said nothing else to her. As they walked back to Jass's home, Mandia asked her, "Who is he? Who is Jass?"

  The woman bowed her head. "He is high assassin, all job for king. He powerful man. And some say dangerous to, how do you say it? To be in bad place with."

  Mandia felt a chill. What did he want with her?

  The woman continued, "Assa Jass keep city safe, but danger coming. Assa Jass not been away for some time. He stay here to protect."

  "What else do you know about him?"

  "He pay well and say little. You are first he pick. Assa Jass never take concubine."

  Mandia realized that is why there had been silence at Jass's purchase during the showing of the future concubines. She was his first. But there wasn't anything particularly special about her. Why her, and why now?

  ~~~

  Jass returned an hour after Mandia had changed into a soft, blue cotton dress. It covered her well. She didn't want to tempt her new master with her charms.

  He entered and greeted her with a nod. "Did you get apples?"

  She produced an apple from a sachet. "I didn't know what kind you like. Are these goldens okay?"

  "Perfect," he said. He looked her over, eyes lingering on her high collar. "You will be warm in those clothes in the day."

  Mandia cast her eyes down from his penetrating and honest green eyes. He was a killer, she had to remind herself. He hadn't yet touched her, but he still might.

  "Let's sit. Meat and apples for dinner, then."

  They sat together in front of a fire Jass built. The night was chilly from damp air and the fire warmed Mandia. As Jass sliced his apple, Mandia noticed how smooth his hands were. How could such hands belong to an assassin? She had a strange thought then, that she might like to feel those hands touch her. The thought confused her. She was supposed to be afraid of him, but something was changing. Was it that he gave no indication he intended to use her like concubines were meant to be used? Or was it the way he looked up at her and handed her a slice of apple?

  The look in those green eyes said something, like he knew her and read her thoughts. A little smile curved his full lips, but he said nothing as she took the apple and nibbled on it. It was delicious.

  Her fear rose again. All these emotions washing her every few minutes were overwhelming her. Was she feeling some sort of emotional attachment to her captor? She’d heard of such things, prisoners feeling a bond with the ones who held them as slaves.

  Was she a slave? Jass didn’t treat her like one.

  He dropped the apple core into a waste bin. “What do you think of Farna?”

  It was the last thing she thought he’d ask. She stuttered, “Not what I expected.”

  “Crona spreads some lies about us, but there have been good reasons for this in the past. Things have changed since then. Crona has fallen to Lenn, and now Lenn encroaches upon Farna.”

  He spoke to her casually, as though she were just another soldier friend. His eyes didn’t linger on her body or face. In fact, there was nothing lustful about the assassin at all.

  Mandia felt herself relax the tiniest bit. Enough so that she ventured to ask, “Isn’t Farna the most powerful state in the country? How can Lenn be a threat?”

  He paused and sipped wine. “Lenn forces those they overcome to fight for them. They hold families prisoner, threatening their new soldiers to wield weapons against the lands they want to conquer with torturing the captives. Their armies have grown so that even Farna has little chance of escaping their reign.”

  Mandia spoke freely without thinking about it. “Why? Why do they want to take over the world?”

  He looked at her with humor in his green eyes. “Kings are mad. Even the daughter of a king should know that.”

  Her face burned and her chest flared up under her dress. How could he know she was a princess? Or was he making an off-hand comment?

  “There was once a young Farnan boy,” Jass said. “He was captured by Crona, condemned to be hung by the king. But something happened. The king’s daughter begged her father not to kill the boy.

  “The king never told his daughter, but that night he freed to boy and made him a servant under the king’s personal assassin’s care. The boy learned much from the king and his master. The king didn’t want this Farnan to become a threat; he trained him, saw in him something. One time, the boy, when he was fourteen, asked, ‘Why did you not kill me?’

  “The king answered that his daughter did not want him to die, her pleading affected his heart. Then the king said something odd, something the boy didn’t understand at the time. He said, ‘You will save her someday, too. It is the way of Goddess Kila, and she is my highest spirit who guides me as king. You must promise to do this.’”

  Mandia hadn’t breathed the whole time Jass spoke.

  He continued, “The boy agreed. Then the king released him from the training and from Crona altogether. The boy went back to Farna and showed his skills with weaponry and stealth to the military. Farna’s king took to him, admiring his abilities to be as a cat. The boy is now a man, an assassin to the king, and he has rescued the princess.”

  Mandia sat, stunned.

  Jass grinned at her.

  “You’re the little boy? I—I thought for sure, I mean, what—Father never told me anything!” Her voice rose in pitch as shock hit her.

  “I will take care of you.” He looked down over her then, and it wasn’t unkind, but rather he was seeing her for the first time. “But I must tell you. In three days, Lenn will be here and there will be fighting. We will have to decide what to do about this soon.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Jass leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “Until now, my greatest responsibility was to my king. But now, it is you.” He watched for her reaction.

  Mandia blushed, not knowing why. “I don’t get it.”

  “You saved my life, my debt must be paid to your father. Tomorrow, I’ll explain more. But now, we sleep.”

  He left the room and she slipped into the satin gown again, wondering if he was going to use her as a concubine was supposed to be used, even though he said he was protecting her.

  This time, she settled under the furs with him, edged all the way to the side of the bed away from him. Her breathing was shallow. She turned her back to him and he blew out a candle.

  “Goodnight, Mandia,” he said.

  She didn’t answer, fear filling her. But, like the night before, he was soon fast asleep and she
began to relax. As her eyelids drooped and little images from Crona played in her mind, she wondered how Jass could be such a deadly killer. He was being so kind to her. Was he really just fulfilling a responsibility? What would he do with her when he felt he’d done his job? And would she ever find her mother?

  She decided as she drifted off she would ask Jass about her mother tomorrow. There must be some way he could help Mandia save her. Maybe he could request Mandia’s mother become his slave. Then he could set them both free…

  ~~~

  Again, when she awoke the next morning, he was gone. The note he left said he was getting them some breakfast and would return shortly.

  What would she do with herself? She tried the door. It was locked.

  In the bedroom, she looked over the books on Jass’s bookshelf. They were all in Farnan, not one in the language of Crona. She picked one out anyway and flipped through the pages. The written language was beautiful, but, of course, she couldn’t understand a word.

  She clothed herself in a white cotton dress she’d gotten the day before and combed her hair with Jass’s brush, careful not to disturb the red ribbon braided into it. She felt, not knowing why, the ribbon had to stay.

  Her hair was still so shiny from the day the women bathed her. Why hadn’t she thought to pick up a brush of her own while she was out yesterday? As she was pulling her blonde strands out of the brush, she heard a voice behind her.

  “Hello.”

  She gasped and dropped the brush, turning quickly. Jass stood in the bedroom doorway, eying her in a peculiar way.

  “You…I didn’t hear you come in. I used your brush,” she finished.

  “I have breakfast. Come, eat. We have things to do today and you’ll need your strength.”

  She left the brush on the floor and followed him to the living area.

  The food was incredible! Jass had outdone himself. How rich was he, and was it all because he was a deadly assassin, earning high income from slaughtering people in their sleep?

  Mandia went through the strawberries as though she hadn’t eaten in weeks. And the ham, oh, the ham was the best. Salty, but honey-touched. Jass had even picked up some juice he called Bel Juice, said it came from a fruit grown locally. It tasted like candy, but tart and delicious.

  Suddenly, Mandia was enjoying herself, and sat back, stuffed and happy. “Thank you for the wonderful food,” she said quietly, and couldn’t help but give him a little grin of gratitude.

  “You have a nice smile,” he said softly.

  She looked down at her hands, feeling warm. Then she remembered what he had said earlier. She looked back up at him. “What is it we have to do today that’s so important?”

  Jass stood and turned his back to her. He said nothing for a moment and she felt nervous, could sense the tension in him. It seemed he was struggling with something, but what?

  Finally, he turned to her. His green eyes glowed more than usual with a sensitive, yet hard seriousness. “We have to leave the city. Together. Alone.”

  “What? Why?”

  He ran fingers through his curly brown hair. “Lenn is here in a day. I thought we had more time. While you slept, I went to their camp. I had business.”

  The killing, she thought.

  “They would have been here today had I not gone last night. I held them back for a heartbeat, but you must be kept safe. I have a place in the mountains, but we need to go now.”

  Mandia felt panic rise in her chest. “My mother,” she said. “I can’t go without her!”

  Jass shook his head. “I don’t know what happened to her. I heard she was sold as a slave, but that’s all.”

  “If Lenn attacks the city, they’ll kill everyone, including my mother!” Mandia stood, arms out, eyes wide. Jass looked at her with his own wide-eyed expression.

  “We have no choice.”

  “Please, I’ll beg, do anything you want. I can’t leave my mother behind.” Mandia paused, thinking. Then she pulled the neckline of her dress over her shoulder, showing the top curve of her breast. “I mean anything, not that you don’t have the right to just take it.” She could feel the fury burning in her eyes at her own bitter words.

  Jass’s gaze passed down over her and to her surprise, he looked sad. Like she’d revealed a terrible secret.

  “What?” she said. “Please. My mother. I can be anything you want.”

  “No,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “I have already packed a few things and you need to change into pants. We have climbing to do, lots of walking. And wear comfortable shoes.”

  Mandia’s rage was full-on now. What did he want with her? “My mother!” she screamed. “Don’t you get it? What? Why are you doing this? Why don’t you leave me behind? You rescued me, now let me go to find my mother and she and I can escape the city!”

  Without looking at her, he said, “Stay here and change. I’ll be back to get you in one hour. You will do as I say.” The control in his voice threatened her and her anger turned to fear. She felt tears fill her eyes.

  He left, locking the door behind him.

  ~~~

  Mandia sunk to the floor, shaking in fear, anger, frustration. What was this man all about? He said he wanted to save her, that he had some mission because she saved his life. If he was really so dedicated to her cause, then he should let her go, or find her mother, free them both and send them to a safe place. Not this! Was he mad?

  And why did he give her that sad look when she offered herself to him? Sure, she wasn’t seducing him as she could have. In fact, she was more challenging him, all but screaming, “Have your way with me! Just get it over with!”

  She heaved deep breaths, trying to calm down. After some time, she climbed from the floor and changed into a pair of black pants and a black shirt. What else could she do? She had no choice but to do as he said, but that didn’t mean she had to be pleasant about it.

  Jass came back in an hour, as he said he would. He wouldn’t meet her hurt eyes, instead keeping his gaze on the floor. “I was too late,” he whispered.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I did my duties last night, but it was all for naught. Lenn is here and we have to go, right now.” Then he did look at her, and she saw in him such torn pain. And then she understood something.

  Jass felt guilty leaving his people to save her. He knew he could fight with the rest of Farna’s army and maybe make a difference. But most likely, he’d die. Lenn was too powerful. And now, his feeling of responsibility to save her life was tearing him away from the fight, and he felt he was abandoning his people and king.

  “Oh,” she said softly, taking a step toward him. Tentatively, she reached out and touched his arm. “We can stay,” she whispered.

  He glanced at her hand, then said, “No. We go.” His eyes were hard again and he moved away from her, picking up a brown satchel from the corner of the room. Mandia hadn’t even noticed it this morning.

  “Come,” he said in a low voice. He didn’t bother locking the door behind them, and Mandia followed, silently crying out in her mind her frustration of leaving her mother behind.

  ~~~

  Mandia’s feet ached. She was trying to forget the sounds she had heard and the things she had seen as they left the city. Jass had a secret way out, under a wall, beyond the Lenn soldiers’ reach and knowledge. But he was right; they were in Farna, killing, taking everything. Fires burned out of control and Farnan men and women alike took up arms against the enemy.

  They’d been walking for hours through the jungle, the sounds of the battle long gone, only echoes in Mandia’s mind. It haunted her of when she escaped Crona with her mother. Was that only a month ago? How was Lenn everywhere and so relentless?

  As night fell, they came out of the thick brush and the mountains before them startled her. Because the jungle had been so dense, she hadn’t seen them until now.

  She and Jass didn’t speak at all the entire walk. Her anger had dissipated, and she simply felt despair
, knowing her mother was dead. Or if not, would be soon. And she’d made a promise to find her, and now she had failed.

  Jass stopped walking and turned to her. His green eyes were dark and emotionless. “Do you have the strength to climb? It will be dark, but if you follow closely behind me, I know the way perfectly.”

  Mandia nodded, saying nothing. The idea of stopping made her crazy. She’d have to think about all these things she couldn’t handle right now and if she just kept moving…

  The path at the base of the mountain they were to climb seemed easy enough. Jass looked back at her and she saw a touch of what looked like compassion in his eyes. “You okay?”

  “Yes. I’m fine.” She wasn’t. She was turning numb.

  “It gets cold fast the higher we get. We should reach my hideaway in about four hours of hiking up this mountain. I have stores there, food, water and furs.”

  “Okay.”

  He turned, paused, then looked at her again. “I hate that you had to see the fighting.”

  Her numbness sharpened into anger yet again. “Why? What do you care?”

  He sighed and started walking upward. She followed, fury making her strong and taking away her exhaustion. She wanted to scream at him, pound on his chest and demand he take her back to…where? There was nowhere to go but up this mountain in the twilight.

  ~~~

  Mandia ached all over and was freezing. But still something kept her going, and she lost all sense of time and space in the darkness, with only the half-moon reflecting on Jass’s daggers gleaming at his hips as her guide on the difficult climb.

  “We’re here,” he said suddenly. She couldn’t see anything. “This way.” He took her hand. It was frigid with cold, as was hers.

  She made out the shape of a hut set back on a cliff. She guessed they were about halfway up the mountain. Jass led her inside and lit a candle.

  “We cannot light a fire, although we need warmth. Lenn assassins are looking for me. I don’t think anyone knows about this place, but I don’t want to draw attention with a fire, just in case.”