“Let’s go find the rest,” Tseka urged instead. This time—much to Esset’s obvious relief—Ruby and Orchid took charge of the other two women as they rounded up the last three women.
Tseka kept her mouth shut and her antics to herself so as not to scare the already traumatized harem. Even she wouldn’t test the measure of someone near their breaking point—she could only be grateful that her serpentine appearance didn’t seem to be perturbing them overmuch.
Tseka was eager to be out of the caves and back to the safety of the tunnel, so she led them back to the hall outside where Erizen and Toman held Semrus. To her relief, they were done whatever they’d done with Semrus—there was no sign of the mage, and she wasn’t the only one to notice.
“Where’s Semrus and his mages?” Esset asked immediately.
“They won’t be a problem again,” Erizen replied with a self-satisfied smile. “Semrus is geas-bound to serve me now.” His eyes ran over each member of his harem at a time, but he didn’t say or do anything else to acknowledge them. Ruby and Orchid spared a moment to curtsy to him, but they immediately went back to caring for the others, who were too distraught to do much of anything.
“Geas-bound.” Esset’s voice was flat as he looked at Toman. Tseka was surprised too; after being prisoner to a geas for two years, Toman was willing to inflict that experience on someone else?
“It could be useful to have someone inside the council,” Toman replied. His tone was perfectly neutral.
“Is that…safe?” Esset asked stiffly.
“I may not use geas spells as often as Moloch—I don’t think anyone does—but I can assure you the spell is sound and the parameters carefully crafted,” Erizen said. Tseka couldn’t help but notice that Esset was ignoring Erizen and looking at Toman, but the unspoken question went unanswered.
A tense silence ensued; finally Orchid broke it.
“Lord Erizen, can we go somewhere else, please?” she asked.
“Yes, we should all go to the castle,” Erizen said. “Toman, I trust your dog won’t eat my harem?”
“He won’t,” Toman said, tone and expression still carefully neutral. “There’s nowhere else you can take them?”
“No place safer,” Erizen said.
A short silence passed before Toman said, “Very well.”
“Thank you, Lord Erizen,” Orchid said, curtseying again. Then she turned to Toman. “We are grateful for your benevolence.”
Toman inclined his head at her, although he was looking sidelong at Erizen. Erizen ignored him in favor of gathering magic for the transportation spell.
Tseka didn’t much appreciate Erizen’s jarring teleportation spells, but at least they were faster than the long, uncomfortable rides aboard Esset’s summons. The stone tunnels disintegrated into Arxus’s stone walls.
“Arxus,” Toman said to the courtyard when they were fully “landed.”
“Yes, Master?” The stone mastiff was already behind them. One of the concubines shrieked in surprise—all of them whirled around to regard the stone creature.
Toman paid them no mind. “These women are our guests. Please assist them should they need anything and help them stay in the unrestricted areas of the castle.”
“Yes, Master.” As always, Arxus was perfectly obedient.
“I really need to get me one of those,” Erizen mused aloud.
“You really don’t need any more servants,” Esset muttered under his breath—Tseka wasn’t sure if anyone else had heard him.
“Tseka, why don’t you show the ladies to the guest rooms?” Toman suggested.
Tseka nodded and gestured for the women to follow her. She thought about smiling, but that would show off her fangs, so she just made sure she was moving slowly enough for them to easily follow.
The women of the harem peered around curiously as they entered the main doors into the great hall and then cut down a side passage to the guest rooms.
“Ew, gargoyles,” one of the concubines—a pink-clad one—said when she saw the small snarling figures on the wall sconces.
“Yes, the decorating is a little…lacking,” the one called Ruby said. “The castle’s owner should get some decorating tips from Erizen. Or us.” She giggled, and the others tittered along with her.
Tseka found the comment in poor taste—even if Toman couldn’t hear them, Tseka was right there. “I don’t know if Arxus is capable of taking offense, but so you know, the castle can hear you, and he reports to Animator Toman.”
“Oh!” The entire harem stopped dead and stared at her. The one in purple looked chagrined, but the others were simply surprised.
“What?” Tseka asked, her tailtip twitching. It was a little unnerving knowing the castle itself was alive, but the comment hadn’t warranted this response.
“You can talk!” Ruby exclaimed.
“Yes…” Tseka wasn’t sure why that was so surprising.
“We thought you were…one of Lord Erizen’s chimaeras,” Ruby said.
“She still could be,” the one in pink protested. “Just because he hasn’t made talking ones in the past doesn’t mean he couldn’t.”
Tseka stiffened.
“Or she could be Animator Toman’s. He has a talking dog,” one in green said.
“I am not a creation,” Tseka hissed. “I am Nadran. And I do not belong to anyone, least of all Erizen.” She was angrier than she could ever remember being—and more insulted. Were these humans really that arrogant?
Ruby had the gall to look even more surprised. “Really? You’re not a chimaera? You look like one. You like something he would make…and enjoy.”
You are a child of peace. You are a child of peace, Tseka repeated inside her head. She was frozen in place, wanting to correct these arrogant humans so they would never make such an insulting mistake again. But even if she knew how to do that, it would probably be futile, and besides, she believed in peace. Even with Erizen, for all that she’d come within a hairsbreadth of slamming a door in his face in the past, she’d never been this angry.
You are a child of peace. Once more, just for good measure. The concubines were starting to look nervous now—good—and startled away from Tseka when she finally moved.
The scarlet Nadra turned away from the group. “Arxus, please give them directions to the guest rooms.”
“Yes, Warrior Tseka.” Arxus’s voice issued from a wall sconce, making the harem startle again.
Tseka slithered away, her grip tight on her spear. She needed to go find a sparring dummy to let off some steam on.
Tseka felt a little better after bashing the pells for a while. She breathed heavily and leaned on her spear as she debated going up to the kitchen for a snack. Or better yet, an early meal, so she wouldn’t run into Erizen or his harem later.
She had just turned around to head for the kitchen when she saw two heat signatures approaching. She knew immediately that she wasn’t lucky enough for them to belong to Toman and Esset.
Erizen and Orchid rounded the corner a moment later. Erizen wore his usual smirk, and the concubine gave Tseka a shy smile. Tseka reminded herself to give the woman the benefit of doubt and forced a smile back.
“Tseka, you are as lovely as always,” Erizen said by way of greeting. Tseka couldn’t prevent her lip curling in something akin to a distasteful sneer.
“Oh yes, always a pleasure, I’m sure.” Tseka’s sarcasm was difficult to miss but possible to ignore, which they did. “What brings you here?”
“My ladies told me about your little misunderstanding earlier, and Orchid here wanted to apologize on everyone’s behalf,” Erizen said. Tseka was glad she’d had time to cool her temper.
Erizen nudged Orchid forward. “Go ahead, my dear.”
Orchid curtseyed to Tseka. “Warrior Lady Tseka, please forgive us our assumption. I hope you understand that we meant no offense. We spoke without truly thinking.”
Tseka found herself caving a little, although she still felt a small simmering anger in h
er core. “I forgive you,” she said, and found that she meant it—for Orchid, at least, since the apology seemed genuine. She wasn’t sure about the others. Maybe time would tell.
“Yes, though it was all quite understandable,” Erizen cut in. “I’ve made a number of fascinating creatures in the past with the help of magic.” He looked at his concubine. “And she would be a particularly fine creation, wouldn’t she? But don’t worry, my flower, no creation could ever replace you.”
Tseka’s grip on her spear—still in her hand from practice—tightened as Erizen smirked. Orchid shot her an apologetic smile. Tseka wondered how Erizen always knew just what to do to get under her scales; she was so careful to keep her reactions under wraps.
“Well, Lord Erizen, maybe if they were free to explore the areas outside your bedroom, they could learn that many species wander this world.” Tseka didn’t wait for him to respond. She slithered towards him boldly, forcing him to step aside or be shoved aside. Wisely, he chose to move.
Tseka heard Erizen murmur something to Orchid, but she couldn’t tell what, or if the concubine responded. Telling herself she didn’t care but wishing she had a fellow Nadra to lean on, she headed back to her quarters.
She found Esset reading his tome in her room. He looked up and smiled at her—a real, genuine smile upon seeing a friend, not one loaded with additional meaning or insults.
Tseka relaxed a little and smiled back. “Esset, is something wrong?”
“Er, no. Not really. I was looking for you earlier, then decided to wait here,” he said. Now he looked a little sheepish, and Tseka resisted the urge to sigh. What was with humans and ulterior motives? Maybe this was payback for all the times she’d created mischief among her own people.
“What did you need?” Tseka asked. She was at least amused because he seemed to be embarrassed by something.
“Do you mind if I hide in here with you for a while?” Esset asked. There was even a hint of desperation in his voice.
“Hiding from what?” Tseka asked with a little hiss of amusement.
“Erizen’s harem. They are, uh, exceedingly grateful for being rescued. Their attention is a little, uh, disconcerting.” Esset rubbed the back of his neck.
“Oh?” Tseka arched an eyebrow.
“I wouldn’t normally mind attention from women, but, uh… Well, they keep offering me, ah, ‘favors.’ I’m fairly sure Erizen is putting them up to it, knowing it’ll embarrass me,” Esset said. Tseka was finding this as amusing as Erizen probably did, much as she hated sharing anything with that man, but she kept her mouth shut.
Esset continued. “Since they don’t seem to be leaving anytime soon and I caught wind that they were afraid of you…”
“Hide away,” Tseka said dryly.
“Why are they afraid of you?” Esset asked.
Tseka did sigh now and explained as briefly as she could.
Esset pulled a face. “Sorry.”
Tseka knew he meant it and appreciated it. “I was always the one who caused mischief among my people. It always seemed like things needed stirring up. Now…everything is always stirred up, and it would be nice to have a little more peace, but I am getting my just desserts.”
“I don’t think you deserved that,” Esset said. “At least your heart is always in the right place, and you never let anyone get hurt. I cannot say the same for Erizen. Or his harem, necessarily, though I don’t know most of them.”
“You knew Orchid, though.” Tseka couldn’t help herself. Maybe it really was her just desserts, since she couldn’t help teasing.
Esset shifted. “Er, yes, Toman and I met her when we stayed in Erizen’s kingdom. Nothing, uh, happened.”
This time, Tseka let it drop there. “So what now? Are we back to waiting again?”
“When we vowed to hunt down Moloch, I never thought there’d be so much time where there’d be nothing we could do,” Esset confessed. “I know Toman and Erizen will be busy searching for the next focus, but…”
“With patience, all things are possible,” Tseka said. It was a quote, and from Esset’s baffled expression, not one he’d ever thought he’d hear her say. He raised an eyebrow.
Tseka grinned. “Or so I’ve been told. I’ve not had much experience with the matter.”
Esset grinned back and shook his head. “Alright, well let’s help each other be patient then. I’m sure time will pass faster in company.”
“Likely. Although if you don’t mind, I’m going to quickly sneak to the kitchen before Erizen and his harem go for their meal,” Tseka said.
“Oh, you missed them already, actually. Shortly after they were shown their room they all went wandering, looking for food. It was after that I came to find you,” Esset said.
Tseka smiled. “Good, then there’s likely to be no one there. I’ll be back shortly.” She leaned her spear against the wall—no need to bring it.
“Alright, I’m going to sneak back to my room to grab a book and then meet you back here,” Esset said. He joined her by the door and peered nervously into the hall.
“Aw, come on, Esset.” Tseka slapped him on the shoulder. “Afraid of some little women?”
“Afraid isn’t the right word,” Esset objected.
Tseka’s grin widened.
“Nevermind,” Esset muttered before taking off down the hall—quick but light-footed, she noticed. Tseka mapped her own course to the kitchen.
Esset snuck back to Tseka’s room without his book.
“Where’s your book?” Tseka asked immediately upon seeing him.
“One of them was waiting for me in my room. She was sitting in my chair, looking out the window. She didn’t see me, but…” Esset was more upset about it than he perhaps should have been, but it had been a very interesting book. Ominecan philosophy was fascinating.
Tseka grinned and shook her head. “They may not all be bad. Orchid seemed nice.”
“She’s nice enough.” Esset spoke in a way that didn’t encourage elaboration.
“Mhm. But you’re not going to seek her companionship?” Tseka asked.
“She’s nice, but she still belongs to Erizen. I’m not keen on spending time with someone who’s under orders to sleep with me if she can,” Esset said. To his surprise—although he really shouldn’t have been surprised—Tseka’s next words articulated his own feelings.
Her good humor had trickled away. “I don’t understand that at all. The harem, that is. I understand their position is poor, but they could be free now, if they chose. But I don’t get the impression they have any desire to leave him.”
Esset shook his head. “I don’t have any better understanding.” For all his book smarts, sometimes people were still a total mystery to him. Women especially.
“Do you think it’s the companionship?” Tseka asked.
Esset tilted his head at her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that they have each other, not just Erizen. Perhaps it would be difficult to maintain that relationship outside his…ownership.” Tseka still had a perplexed expression on her face, but she seemed determined to figure this out.
“Maybe. Would that really be worth it? They could always meet other people, maybe find husbands or other benefactors if they struggled without each other,” Esset said. He wondered if the Ashiier, with all their magical prowess and extensive studies, truly understood people, or if it were a lost cause entirely.
Tseka lifted an eyebrow at him. “I’m surprised you take such bonds so lightly. I saw how you were without Toman, and it wasn’t all because you were worried about him. You struggled without him. Would he really be so easy to replace?”
“Er, no, I guess not,” Esset replied.
“I may not have appreciated it before leaving my people either,” Tseka added.
It suddenly occurred to Esset that maybe that was a problem for her. Idiot, of course it’s a problem. Tseka was used to sharing a bed and always being in physical contact with others. Here, Esset was usually sitting somewhere r
eading, and Toman had been working non-stop. Toman even had an animation that chased people away when they tried to bother him. Even someone less used to social contact could become lonely in those conditions, and Esset kicked himself internally for missing that.
“Are you okay?” Tseka suddenly asked, eyeing him, and Esset realized he’d been silent for a minute or two.
“Yeah, fine,” Esset said lightly. Better not to get into it. He could help.
“Okay…” Tseka eyed him for a moment longer. “I’ve been meaning to ask, did Toman and Erizen get anything out of Semrus?”
“Not really. I mean, we learned about another of Moloch’s castles, which is nice, but nothing big. He knew a couple things we already knew, but his greatest value will be as our spy.” Esset’s gut churned thinking about the geas and about Toman’s reaction—or lack thereof—to the very principle of it. Tseka was unusually silent about it; Esset couldn’t tell what she was thinking, and a strong part of him didn’t want to know what she thought in case she agreed with them too.
Since Tseka didn’t say anything else, Esset sighed and changed the subject again. “Feel like playing cards? I’m sure we could waste an evening that way.”
“I thought you were going to read your tome?” Tseka asked.
Esset shrugged. “I was. But I’ve been reading it to death. I could use a change of pace.”
Tseka grinned. “I’ll get the cards.”
Esset woke in Tseka’s bed the next morning. He’d “accidentally” stayed too late and become drowsy. Then he’d let Tseka persuade him that the concubine was probably still in his room and that he should stay put to avoid her. Tseka’s giant mound of pillows and blankets certainly made a comfortable enough bed.
Tseka’s tail was wrapped around his right leg four times, and her arm was flung across his chest, but her head was completely buried in blankets and pillows. A thicker portion of her coils was under his other leg.
Now that he was awake, Esset was acutely aware of how his shirt was twisted around his torso, leaving a rather uncomfortable knot wedged in his armpit. Esset tried to delicately fix the wardrobe malfunction without waking Tseka, but she shifted the moment he moved.
Fire Within: Book Two of Fire and Stone (Stories of Fire and Stone 2) Page 24
