by H. A. Harvey
“So . . . you think I’m like her shadow?”
“Or something of tha sort.” Jonas nodded, “There are things about you that I think remind him of her; Your way of looking at things, how you carry yourself. He even has you training to use tha sword he offered to send with her. She liked heavy blades, but didn’t want unfair advantage on her walk, so left with a good steel blade.”
“I picked the sword.” Raven murmured, not sure why the distinction was important. “I should go get cleaned up. I smell like a stable of lathered horses.”
The old soldier chuckled and took the training blade from her, nodding as he turned to leave. “If that were true, you’d see me sleeping in tha stables. I will look forward to riding lessons in tha morning.”
Raven glared after Jonas in mock offense at his flirty compliment. The sergeant chuckled to himself as he sauntered toward the barracks without looking back. Raven smirked and made her way back to the keep, limping slightly from the stroke to her knees. He was just being gracious of course. She could smell herself over the horse hair and saddle oils.
As she wandered through the dimly lit stone corridors, Raven thought about Brenna. She wondered what the captain’s daughter looked like. She must be as large as her father, or bigger, if the clothes Raven borrowed were from her childhood. Raven wondered how much the girl looked like her father, or if scale color was like hair for Humans. She should have asked Jonas how old Brenna was, or how long she’d been gone. The old soldier definitely liked her, and was becoming like a trusted uncle. If he were even half his age, she imagined he might have tried to be more. She laughed to herself, imagining young Jonas making a daring attempt at rescuing her, despite her being Gerizim’s . . . what was she? A pet? Surrogate daughter?
Raven was still pondering her role when she opened the door to her chambers. Inside, Corina, one of the household slaves in the keep, was just finishing pouring a bath of steaming water near the balcony. Raven’s eyes drifted to the runic K-shaped scar in the silky grey fur of the Sattal woman’s neck. The brand was old, likely applied years ago when the feline woman was little more than a girl, perhaps younger. Raven shuddered a little.
Corina looked up and seemed to mistake the shudder for a shiver of cold. She smiled and nodded to Raven as she gestured to the tub.
“I was asked ta get this ready for ya, Miss. I wish they wouldn’t make ya wear those drafty Dracis clothes, but if ya hops right in, I’m sure ya’ll warm right up, shore ‘nough.” Corina bustled her plump self over to Raven’s side and started to unbuckle the armored bits of her garb. “I know they wallop on ya somethin’ fierce down there in th’ dust. So, I mixed a touch o’ blood thistle in th’ water. That should loosen up yer limbs an’ soothe any sore spots right quick, an’ there’s a healthy drop o’ rose oil ta compliment th’ smell. I can stay if ya please ta ‘elp warsh, or comb out yer lovely hair, Miss?”
“I can bathe myself, thank you.” Raven answered hastily as she clutched her garb to keep it from dropping away. As Corina nodded and turned to go, Raven had a thought, and paused the Sattal with a gentle touch to her arm. “You’ll have another task after this, won’t you?”
“Oh, ta be sure, Miss.” Corina nodded, “Always somethin’ ta do in a place this size, an’ a body wouldn’t want to feel useless nohow.”
“Would you mind keeping me company?” Raven asked as sweetly as she could manage. “You could sit on the bed while we chat, if you like.”
Corina eyed the bed’s down mattress almost suspiciously, “O’ course I’ll stay if ya wish, but if I were ta sit down on that, Miss, I might not get up again.”
Raven gave the Sattal’s hand a squeeze, noting the odd variance in texture between the short, silky fur along the back and her hard, callused palm and inside of her fingers. “Now I’ll feel horrible if you don’t have a sit, Corina. I won’t use my chamber for a while after my bath, as the captain’s expecting me for supper. So, I don’t see why you can’t lounge a little while until I get back. You can tell anyone who asks that I asked you to fix my bed.”
The Sattal gave a soft, timid laugh, “I s’pose it does appear there may be a lump or two I need t’ squish flat for ya.”
“Absolutely,” Raven giggled as she pulled a small screen over to the tub and stepped behind it to finish disrobing. “It could take hours to get it properly flat.”
Raven heard an odd sound that was half moan, half purr. “Oh, Miss, this is like rockin’ in me mother’s arms. Ah . . . may I lie down miss?”
“Ah!” Raven gave a small shout as she dipped her toe in the water, then eased slowly in. “Of course you . . . oooh . . . you can. I’m not any higher than you, Corina. Especially while the door’s closed, do what you want. If this bath water were any hotter, I’d end up as a rose-scented stew.”
Corina laughed at that, and seemed to relax a bit. She launched into her own recipe for a turnip stew that actually sounded delicious. Raven was sure she’d foul it up though. She couldn’t cook salad without ruining something. The two women went on to chatter about Corina’s work in the keep, her family, and whether spring winds on the plain smelled better than mountain rain. The bath’s piping hot water had an almost magical effect on Raven’s sore muscles, and especially upon her bruised legs. Before the stew recipe had finished, the pain and tension were memories. By the time they got to discussing the scents of weather, the back of Raven’s mind was trying to push her out of the bath before she fell asleep and missed supper . . . but was definitely losing the fight. Then the chat was cut short by a knock at the door.
“Karen?” A soft voice drifted through the door. “Karen, it is Ourei. I hoped you would speak with me briefly?”
Raven sat up sharply in the tub. She’d almost forgotten about Ourei. She remembered that she’d been upset with the Falon’s high-mindedness . . . but she’d apologized. Raven had meant to accept her apology when they chatted next, but she hadn’t had a chance to go back and see her. Everything had been so busy since they last spoke. Raven’s thoughts were cut short when she heard Corina shuffle quickly to her feet.
“Oh goodness!” The Sattal’s buttery voice fluttered through the screen as she chastised herself, “I shouldn’t be just layin’ about, Miss. I should git movin’.”
“No, Corina, it’s fine.” Raven urged the tired slave to reconsider, pausing to catch a sharp breath as she stood into the chilly air to grasp a linen towel and wrap herself. “I said you could stay until I get back from dinner and I meant it. But could you do me the favor of letting her in, and maybe fetching me something less dusty from the wardrobe? Hopefully one of the ones without trousers, I need those for riding.”
After a short pause, Raven heard Corina politely let the young noble in. A moment later, a rustling of fabric and metal in the wardrobe was followed by the Sattal poking around the side of the screen with a strapless gown of lavender satin-weave silk with a brazier of etched silver and cascading lines of silver plates down either side of the dress to an under-belt similar to the first gown she’d worn. Below the belt, the gown was split down the right side of skirt and tiny silver plates ran along the hem. Raven couldn’t help but give Corina an incredulous look. She wasn’t the biggest fan of purple, but it must have been Brenna’s favorite color, now that she thought about it. More than half of the outfits in the massive wardrobe featured purple fabric and gems. Raven had made a sort of game out of avoiding them, especially the more immodest ones . . . like this gown in particular.
“Is something wrong? I can git something else for ya, Miss.” Corina gave a shrug and started to withdraw, “I thought it would look pretty on ya.”
Raven snatched the dress. “It’s fine, Corina, thank you.”
Corina nodded and disappeared around the screen again. “Oh, shoes! I sheer forgot. Miss, there’s matchin’ sandals, slippers, and heeled shoes . . . I suppose the boots an’ moccasins ‘re out with that dress.”
Of course Brenna had every type and shade of purple shoe.
“Slippers are fine. I don’t think I have time to bother with sandals and I’d tumble through the hallways with heeled shoes.” Raven called back, “Damned useless things, if you ask me. They had to have been invented by men who wanted their women stuck in place, or women who wanted an excuse not to go do anything.”
Raven struggled into the dress. The extensive use of metal still made several of the outfits daunting to get fastened, but at least it wasn’t over-tight. In fact, it was almost uncanny how similar Brenna must have been to her own build . . . when the Dracis girl was just starting puberty. Raven idly wondered if that meant Brenna was incredibly well-endowed, an early bloomer, or if her own gifts were somehow . . . sub-par. She’d always thought they were at least average, though they’d taken their time showing up at all. Of course, she was being silly, comparing herself to a completely different sort of mortal. She might as well compare her hair to the feathered ‘hair’ of a . . . Ourei! Raven had completely forgotten she was in the room.
“It is quite alright, Karen.” Ourei’s thoughts drifted to her, “I did not mean to pry. I thought you might still be angry and so snooped. If it makes you feel better, you are . . . more generously endowed than myself.”
“Ourei! I am so sorry.” Raven had momentarily forgotten that Ourei could skim her thoughts. She briefly wondered if that came with images, then quickly thought very loudly that she didn’t want an answer to that. “I’m almost dressed, but I can’t stay very long. Captain Gerizim will be expecting me any moment, and I lost track of time in the bath.” Raven made a mental note that she wasn’t angry with Ourei.
“Of course,” Ourei answered understandingly. Raven had always been a bit jealous that the girl was easily four years her junior but so well-spoken and diplomatic. She supposed it was easier to be that way when you knew what most people were going to say before they did, or as they did. Growing up with private tutors in court probably didn’t hurt either. “I just wanted to see you briefly and ensure we were still friends. I regret upsetting you when we spoke last, and had not seen you for some time. I was wrong to judge your actions, Karen. I still do not agree with all of your choices, but it would be prideful and a lie to claim I know the will of even one Incarnate. I have faith you are here with purpose, and perhaps you are doing what must be done, even if I cannot see it. I just ask that you take care not to put yourself, or others, at risk in your efforts to free us. How is that going?”
“Y-yeah, we’re still friends, Ourei.” Karen finished clasping the gown onto her and stepped from behind the screen. She felt a moment of shame as she realized that she had been so taken up with the full days, and so tired and sore each night that she was no closer to finding a way out for all of them. She hadn’t even gone to find Kelly. Karen gave the Falon girl a long, firm hug, which Ourei returned, wrapping her arms and velvet wings around Karen’s shoulders. After a moment, Ourei released the embrace and stepped back, eyeing Karen’s dress with envy.
“That dress is radiant, Karen. You would not find many to surpass its beauty in a royal court.” Ourei seemed genuinely impressed. “It can be easier to forget yourself than most people would like to admit, Karen. Do not feel ashamed. You are in an altogether different world than you are used to. It is almost natural to find some role to fit into your surroundings. Just remember who you are at the core. If you would not mind, Karen, might you ask the captain if you could join me for an evening meal tomorrow? Alternatively, I would be happy to join the two of you, if it is permitted. However, if we were to dine at my quarters, I could insist that your new friend join us.”
“Oh! I feel horrible, of course!” Karen beckoned Corina over. “Ourei, this is Corina. Corina, this is Lady Ourei, daughter to the Earl of Deepwood.”
“Oh, no need ta intraduct a house slave like me, Miss.” Corina gave an accidentally comical, intentionally deferential bow-curtsey toward the Falon noble. “But tis a pleasurable honor ta be sure, yer Ladyship. Oh, dear me! Beggin’ yer pardons, but I nearly forgot, here you are, Miss.”
“It is wonderful to meet you, Corina.”
Ourei curtseyed back gracefully, though she let slip a genuine giggle at the animated greeting from the pudgy Sattal. Corina bustled over to kneel at Karen’s feet and produced a pair of slippers made from jet black satin with silver ribbons to tie about her ankles. Karen blinked.
“Black?”
“Yes, Miss.” Corina hesitated, already holding one of Karen’s feet off the ground. Karen was grateful both that she had been practicing a bit of balance in fighting practice, and that whatever medicine in her bath seemed to have returned some strength to her knee. “I thought they would match yer lovely hair an’ there was enough purple in th’ dress. There’s plenty o’ purple ones if you like.”
“No no!” Karen assured her hastily, “I like your pick just fine, but I can put on my own shoes.”
“Rubbish!” Corina puffed, “Bending will ruffle the dress, maybe even pinch or poke ya, what with all that metal. See? All done an’ simple as that. Least I can do fer lettin’ me rest my back fer a minute or three.”
Karen laughed a little as she helped Corina up and gave the adorable woman a hug. “More than a minute or two. I still want you to stay at least until I’m back from supper. I have to go now, but maybe I can bring you something back.”
Corina only resisted a little as Karen gently pushed her back to sit on the bed. Karen gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before turning and beckoning Ourei to follow her out into the hallway. Once she saw the two ladies were taking their leave, Corina flopped back onto the soft bed and splayed her arms as wide as they could reach. The Sattal woman was purring contentedly and kneading the silky sheets as Karen pulled the door closed behind Ourei.
“I should not keep you much longer either. I saw you coming in from the practice field, so hoped I could find you in your room. I am glad that we are still friends, so we can speak more tomorrow at dinner.” Ourei smiled at Karen as they walked along the stone hallway. “For now I will wish you a good evening. And I have been gathering what knowledge I can since we spoke. We will have much to discuss, especially about the rear wing of the keep.”
“Perhaps I could linger a little while.” Karen thought any news on the forbidden section of the keep would be important to hear right away.
“I have missed you as well, Karen, but we aren’t likely to gain the captain’s permission for your absence tomorrow if you are tardy tonight.” Ourei clasped Karen’s hand gently before opening a door out onto the parapets. For a moment, Karen wondered where she was going, then remembered that with her wing healed, it was probably simpler for her to fly back to her tower than to climb the winding stair. “It is important to maintain any routine you have developed. Otherwise, you will draw attention to yourself. Besides, there is more to discuss than we can do briefly.”
Karen watched Ourei launch agilely into the air and make her way toward her tower. Reminding herself not to be late, Karen finally pulled the door closed and hurried on down the corridors to the captain’s chambers. When she knocked on the steel door, there was no answer.
“It’s Raven, sir.” Karen called through the door.
When there was still no reply, Karen lifted the latch and tugged the door open. Before she even stepped through the door, the sickening, coppery odor of fresh blood assaulted her nostrils. She hurried into the room to find little out of place. The table was set, but with three places, rather than the customary two. Two of the settings, the one toward the training area and one closest to her and the door, had trays heaped with a large flank of seared meat and several smaller cuts that looked like roasted organs. The third setting looked to be the source of the reeking odor. Its platter also held a large flank of meat, as well as several sections of large rib and a heart almost as large as Karen’s head. Only the contents of the third platter were entirely raw, with thic
kening ichor still draining from them to pool in the base of the platter.
Karen felt bile churn in her stomach at the grisly sight. She tried to breathe through her mouth to avoid the odor, but it only served to add flavor to the air. She started toward the balcony to get some air, which was when she noticed not just the captain, but two Dracis men looking at her intently. The captain’s companion was slightly larger than himself, or perhaps only seemed so because of the heavy plate armor and thick travel cloak he wore. The newcomer’s scales were all black as night, with dark grey flesh where it was visible beneath.
“Your new pet should learn to wait until summoned.” The black Dracis growled, “And she seems to be turning color. I say dispose of tha whelp before she makes a mess.”
Karen didn’t like being called names or talk about disposing of her enough that she fought back the urge to vomit. “The captain was expecting me, when he didn’t answer, I tried the door. With the smell of blood, I thought he might be hurt. If he doesn’t want to be bothered, he locks the door.”
“This bitch is mouthy. I’ll fix that for you.” The Dracis stormed up to Karen and hauled back to dash the back of his gauntlet against her face. The blow descended, but didn’t land. Gerizim’s clawed hand caught it just short of crushing her cheek.
“I prefer she remain unbroken, Ebal.” The captain growled.
Ebal glowered at Gerizim for a moment before roughly shaking his arm free of the captain’s grip. “Unbroken and unbranded, this bitch is how slave rebellions start.” Ebal looked at the captain and chuckled, “Still, she seems to have done something for your softening backbone, brother. I’ll give you until I march out to have her branded and collared, or I take her along and break her myself. For now, let’s eat before things start to clot, if I can stomach much with trash sitting at tha table.”
