by SL Figuhr
“I do not recall inviting her! Damn Chadrick! Disgusting the way she flaunts herself! I bet the scheming baggage did it on purpose. Look how she clings to him! And he allows it!” Lady Elizabeth hissed to her companion.
The other woman made a noise of contempt, whispering back, “I heard from my body slave she walked! I’m sure we all know how she ‘persuaded’ him to let her stay here. You had best send her off, with a warning to stay away from your husband, or you’ll complain to the king. Have both the sponsorship and her residency terminated.”
They stopped their cattiness before they got within normal human’s earshot. They curtsied, greeting the king. He spoke a few pleasantries as Aranthus stood behind us whispering tidbits in my ear.
Her eyes flicked contemptuously over me as she said, “Welcome to my home, Lady Illyria. I am happy you came, though it is clear we need to expand your lessons. I don’t recall inviting you.”
“She wishes you to the dungeons so her daughters will not have competition, and her husband won’t try seducing you,” Aranthus murmured in my ear, laughter barely suppressed.
Her mouth thinned further; the older woman was amused. “The lady to my left is Earl Sydney’s sister, wife to Viscount Tottenham, Lady Meanna.”
“Lady Caroline was married to one of the king’s knights, but he died a few years back. She is looking for a new husband and father to her children. Lady Sally is desperate for a title of her own. She is always trying for any bachelor nobleman, or the king,” softly in my ear.
We stayed chatting a bit, or to be more precise, I ignored the barbs both women tossed my way, until they realized they couldn’t ruffle my composure. The earl caught His Majesty’s eye. A tall man, patrician, sneering, blonde, was the first to greet us as the king and I approached our host’s group. “The Most Honorable, the Marquis of Jenabram.”
“He has been married three times; all of them died fairly young. Rumors say he has them poisoned when he becomes bored, or they don’t give him sons. The small, thin woman with mousy blond hair speaking to the baroness is his current wife, Lady Anne.”
“My apologies, Sire, I meant no offense.” Jenabram bowed. A dukedom! With land and favors owed, I’ll marry her myself. ’Twould not be so hard; she is gorgeous and rumored to be rich.
Another murmur: “Sycophant. His nose is so far up the king’s ass, he shits for His Majesty. Rumor also has it he and the advisor participate in degenerate practices.”
The second person in the group was on the shorter side, and very rotund with thinning blond hair and a full beard. He possessed merry brown eyes, a florid face, in his mid-thirties. “The Right Hon’ble Lord Rothsbury.”
The butler led us in to the dining room, with His Majesty and me right behind our hosts, much to her daughter’s displeasure. Countess Sydney was relegated to the opposite end of the table with her daughters and the earl’s sister.
“Your Majesty, there have been rumors of people going missing again,” Jenabram said, as the slave-footmen began serving mock turtle consommé.
“Lord Nicky has a difficult task,” the king snapped. “Not all the murderers of my family were brought to justice. They are still hiding, as are some of the individuals who tried murdering me. It is treason to say such words, may I remind you? Should I find out who said it, I will strip them of lands and title.”
Baroness Rothsbury broke the silence. “Where is Illthanthia? Was it a terribly long trip? I would love to travel, but the bandits hereabouts make it all but impossible. It was very brave of you to come overland.”
I faked eating while replying, “Its location has been lost to time. I have been living in Gemica. If I had known how bad the bandits were, I would have increased the size of my guard.”
“I have not been here long enough to form an opinion on the army, but if the talk around town, and size of the group who attacked me is any indication, the army is outnumbered,” I replied.
He snorted. “Amazons. Our women who are raised properly, you will find, let themselves be guided and guarded by their menfolk. Only those women who cannot get a man, or are too old for marriage, dabble in matters best left to men.”
The rest of the table avoided looking at the king. I stepped in, “Given the complexity of the mountain terrain, I doubt even a larger force would rid the area of bandits; there are so many unmapped ravines and gorges.”
I could kill all the bandits single-handedly—my powers let me find them easy enough—but that wasn’t something he needed to know. Besides, they were a very convenient food source. “I doubt there would be many who would consent to be led by me. How often do they raid?”
The men laughed. The king still stewed. “Since you seem to find my army inadequate to the task, you would not mind contributing more men and money, so the problem can be properly taken care of.”
“I need men, loyal only to me, not some noble trying to raise an army which could be used against me!” His face was going from red to purple with rage.
“Naturally, Sire, but why not let me try with some women? After all, the general opinion seems to be we are weak and easily defeated. An army as experienced as yours would have no problem subduing a unit of women.”
The king gurgled speechlessly. Jenabram couldn’t help himself. “I would take the bet, but you shall be gone in three months and even I could not train men that fast; unless His Majesty changes his mind?”
“A year to train. It takes the army at least that long to get the green off its new recruits. Not all of them handled weapons before joining,” I countered. “If it please the king.”
“And the prize?” the marquis recklessly continued, his eyes gleaming in unholy lust. “Your hand in marriage when you lose, with title to be duke."
“You would have to give something up in return. You have nothing but wealth and your life,” the marquis shot back, goaded into believing I was trying to get out of our bet.
The entire table gasped; behind us a slave dropped a platter. It clanged and echoed as it hit the floor in the sudden silence. All eyes upon us, the king sat staring at me for a heartbeat or two, weighing the benefits. I was hoping he wouldn’t think to ask what I would want in return if I won. I could tell he was about to agree when an all too familiar voice piped up.
“You have not the coin for it! You would lose what little land you hold and be reduced to selling your title within a fortnight. We play a high-stakes game.”
One of the earls spoke, “He may not, it is true, but I can. I can equip and train a squad for one year. At the end, they could fight the women in combat. Think of it, what better way to find out if their training is true?”
“If they are going to train and fight like men, they should be willing to die like men,” the marquis snapped, gulping his wine down before signaling for a refill.
All heads swiveled back to the king, waiting for his permission. He sat glaring, chewing while he thought. We waited in silence; he swallowed, belched, then waved a hand irritably.
“Very well. Anyone with funds may join the bet. One year to train a squad, after which time they will meet in a battle to the death. The squad with the most men standing shall be declared the winner. Or women,” he added. “In exchange, the winner will be made a duke, the losers will turn any remaining men over to my army, reequipping them to full standard for two years.”
Maceanas spewed out the mouthful of his drink that he’d managed to take. “You are insane!”
“Too much land?” I asked innocently, halving it.
“What better solution for you, Sire? I will be spending my coin, time, and effort to wrest it from their depredations. You will be free to send the army to other areas,” I pointed out.
“Madness, you had better hope you lose, ’twould be cheaper to support the army than to keep all that land free of those pests,” Earl Ramsbottom advised.
The king turned to Aranthus as the men gave a roar equal parts dismay and admiration. “Aranthus, have the royal copyist make a declaration. All those wishin
g to participate will sign consent. We will put the official start after the Royal Harvest Ball.”
“The ball is in less than a month’s time,” the baroness called down to me kindly. “We always host a weekend hunting party to start off the festivities. I do hope you will join us.”
“Perhaps you should host something, my dear,” the king suggested. “Most of the nobles do.” It was a gentle reminder I would be expected to adhere to duty, once granted citizenship.
“Of course; what would you suggest?” I asked the table at large. “A ball is always good.”
“We have a ball every night already.”
“Lunch, then!” Roars of laughter greeted the speaker.
“Another hunting party!”
“For what? Game or bandits?” a wag called to laughter.
The mood at the table lightened, anticipation for the harvest higher than usual. The rest of the dinner passed innocuously enough. After desert, we all adjourned to a room where the younger daughters took turns singing for us, or played primitive stringed instruments and woodwinds.
Chapter Sixteen
“It is not all bad; the bones are good. I can do much with it. Lady Anne, would you like to see what is left of the gardens? I am told they were quite grand at one time; a few of the statues are still present.”
The reply was softly indistinct as the speakers continued on. Before them lay the tumbledown mansion, slaves and builders swarming over the site. A small army of slaves unloaded and stacked construction materials, doggedly chipped away at the ground with pick axes, digging a new basement.
“I would not like to live so close to the bridge and the cliff edge, all the noise it shall entail. The wind will be freezing in winter.” Lady Elizabeth sniffed scornfully, looking about the grounds.
“I like to think of it as an excellent deterrent to any slave considering escaping,” I replied. “My household is growing fast and frankly, I am tired of staying at an inn. I rather fancy my own place, humble though it is.”
Indeed, after Aranthus’ jest about the king marrying me had made the rounds, in addition to news of Lord Nicky’s favor, my buying the tavern maid along with such a notorious mansion, a steady stream of merchants, builders, and slavers waited hours on end for me at the Silver Thorn, sent me gifts and invitations to dine with them. Paying my bills in full had all the warehouses open to me.
I turned to Lady Anne. “Are you sure you are not tired? I can have the slaves bring a chair for you, and victuals.” She was wan and looked faint.
“No, I am fine,” she murmured. “What about the ghosts? Of the murdered family who once owned this? Are you not afraid they will kill you as they have every other noble who’s lived here?” It was the only sentence Anne uttered to me.
I caught the glare the marquis gave her as she lowered her head to study the dirt, or the toes of her shoes, it was hard to say which. Resentfully, Lady Elizabeth opened her mouth to give me corrective instructions. Her hatred of me had grown since her supper party, especially as the king seemed to be teetering on the edge of reinstating my title. I knew the bulk of the ugly rumors and slurs against me came from her and Lady Meanna.
We continued outside, following a trampled grass path to the new construction. A large wooden structure rising, before it an area trampled into dirt. Eron had a group of women, dividing them into subgroups.
I gave a trill of laughter. “Why, my dear marquis, they are not training. My man is weeding out those who are unsuitable for our little bet.” I half-turned to him as I said, “Tell me you are not doing the same?”
He smirked, laying his hand upon my shoulder to lean close. “I would not tell any but you: yes. Why should I have to suffer with the dregs?” He straightened up, casting an arrogant eye over the women. “If this is what you consider the best, I shall easily win.”
“It is a disgrace!” Lady Elizabeth would not let the bet go. “No proper woman should dirty her hands with such things.” Her nostrils flared as she continued, “Proper women do not flaunt themselves or their wealth. Their financial affairs should be handled by their menfolk, and if they have none, by an elected elder.”
The marquis sneered at her, letting the backs of his fingers trail from my shoulder down my arm as his eyes greedily feasted on the tops of my breasts. “Proper women, it seems, do not catch our beloved king’s eyes, nor wrest thoughts of wedding from him.” He turned to the earl. “I have heard you choose not to take part. I would think you of all people have the funds for it; you are so unfree with your wealth.”
I moved subtly away from the marquis, so he had no choice but to let go, which put me closer to the earl. Lady Elizabeth’s mouth was puckered up as if she was sucking on a lemon. I knew she had seen how grabby Jenabram was, and was offended by it.
Sydney turned to me, his blue eyes piercing mine. “I do not see where it is being spent wisely. You will not be gaining any investments unless they can win. The risk far outweighs any reward.”
“What if the slave should incite the women to rise and slay you?” Lady Elizabeth continued. “You are alone, without male protection, with few guards.” Sydney cast a worried eye back over the man.
“I would be if he were not innocent of the crimes he has been accused of. His story intrigued me, so I made inquiries. It seems he has been telling the truth. It is the sheriff who is in the wrong.” He would be food.
Lady Elizabeth snorted derisively. “Jake always does a competent enough job. It is the riffraff flooding our town. The bandits keep honest folk away so only the bad sort come." She pointedly looked at me.
Sydney cleared his throat. “I have heard some of the wilder rumors about the man, but I would not credit them. If there were evidence, it would be another matter entirely.”
The blue of Sydney’s eyes darkened with worry; he made as if to speak, but it was his wife who replied, “I would keep such opinions to myself if I were you. You have not resided here for long, and are ignorant of our methods and laws. We do not coddle our lawbreakers, but treat them as the vermin they are. I see we should be extending your lessons.”
“I have not said I believe criminals should be coddled. We should be careful innocents are not stripped of their rights by the overzealous, or those with a personal vendetta.”
“I should hope I do not descend to such a level. Let us speak of more pleasant topics instead: the Harvest Ball, for one.” I had plans for Jake, and being investigated for them was not part of it.
She ignored him, jerking her whole body away to gather up her skirts. She walked over to the marchioness, making quite a show of fussing over the fragile young woman. I alone heard the small sigh of frustration he gave as he moved aside to allow me to lead the way. I felt the marquis brush against my back as he came up to my other side.
He bent his head as he offered his arm, breathing in my ear, “Rumor has it you bought him and forced his pardon through after you fell on top of him." I waited for him to get to his point. “If you seek a man to satisfy your lusts, you need not buy an animal such as he; there are others of better birth.”
“I do not know who started such a silly rumor or why it persists. Everyone’s personal lives must be terribly dull for them to be so concerned with what goes on in my bedroom. If you will pardon me, Lord Jenabram, your wife does not look well.”
His smirk crumpled. “You dare to sneer at my offer? Don’t make the mistake of thinking the king’s infatuation will lead to you becoming queen. He has whores, to be discarded the moment his lusts have been sated. I, on the other hand, would make you a cherished lover.”
My pet, begging me to take you, calling me Master. Doing whatever I desire and thanking me for it. Always wanting more.His thoughts marked him a closet sadist, the feeling behind them tipping toward the psychopath side. One night, he would meet my inner monster.
Jenabram saw my faint amusement as I replied, “Your lover, or your pet? We are not what we appear to others, so be careful where and how you tread, Marquis. Now, if you will excus
e me, your wife seems to have fainted.” I went to Lady Anne, crumpled upon the ground.
Lady Elizabeth crouched, patting the marchioness’ hand and fanning her with a square of linen. Rolf was hopping anxiously from foot to foot. Lord Sydney knelt by the girl, turning her onto her side for the countess’s and marchioness’s slaves to loosen the laces of her gown.
“It is still no reason for her to lie in the grass while she comes round,” I chided him. “If you will, Lord Sydney, my slaves will have a spot ready for her inside.”
The earl gathered the marchioness up as we started back to the building I used for temporary housing. At one time, it provided shelter for ground slaves. Susafan and Mary Elana met us at the door, but the earl insisted on carrying Lady Anne to what passed for seating. I had only the basics of my newly purchased furniture delivered for the small space.
My slaves bathed her brow and hands in lavender water, managing to loosen her stays as the men stood outside the room. “Mary Elana, she should have some wine to drink when she comes round, if we have any, and a bite to eat. She is too thin by far.”
“Half-starved is more truthful. The marquis was ever a cruel boy; he has grown into an even crueler man. His slaves whisper he starves and beats her when she displeases him,” Susafan furiously informed me.
Mary Elana silently fetched some wine and food. I left the two women caring for Lady Anne, and stepped into the room where the men waited.
Jenabram stared at me, lust and anger warring in his eyes as I sent Rolf for food and drink. My guests sat enjoying a light repast as we chatted.
“I do hope our seamstress will have time to make you a decent dress for the ball,” Lady Elizabeth began. "We must go see her soon, so I may instruct you on what is proper for our balls.”
The older woman’s face thinned a moment as she frowned. “You may think you are being creative with your clothes, but you are only disgracing yourself and insuring you will remain without respect or social standing.” Attention whore! She turned to the marquis. “Tell me, what delights have you planned for us?” The faintest hint of sarcasm in her tone.
