“We’re here. Let’s see it through,” Toman replied, almost by rote. They were already rattling through the city below the castle. Absolutely everything was grey, and the populace was as subdued as the color. That had been a common theme they’d witnessed on their way here; no large gatherings of people, no voices above a normal speaking voice, and even the children played more quietly than Esset could recall anywhere else.
The courier took them right through the city and up to a well-fortified castle on the hill above it. When the carriage stopped, a liveried footman came up to the carriage door and opened it before gesturing that they should disembark from the small vehicle. Esset was first out, with Toman close behind him. They both wanted to stretch and shake the stiffness from their cramped bodies, but they settled for just a few modest stretches so as not to make a show of it. They were led from the courtyard towards the main doors, which were open to admit them.
The exterior of the castle may have been austere and highly practical, but the inside was downright sumptuous. A fortune in elaborate tapestries adorned the walls, the scenes depicted ranging from great hunts to glorious battles to… Esset blushed, for the wall hangings also illustrated rather explicit bedroom scenes. The floor was even laid out with a ridiculously expensive red plush rug, a massive one that ran the length of the hall. Torches adorned the walls in the gaps between tapestries, and where their light did not reach, there were tall candlesticks on the ground. There were also chandeliers glittering brightly above them, hanging from high, vaulted ceilings.
In the face of such excessive luxury, Esset almost missed the blindingly obvious: nothing inside was grey. He thought back. Yes, the exterior of the castle had been grey, but the interior was awash with intense colors. Whatever was making the rest of the kingdom grey, it didn’t reach within these walls.
The liveried man leading them wasn’t affected either—that uniform of his had that same distinct shade of maroon in its trimmings as Erizen had worn when they’d met him at the Staggering Tankard. From that, Esset inferred that one would have to spend an extensive amount of time outside the castle for color to be drained from one’s clothing. Once again he found himself hoping that the color in their clothes would come back once they were out of the grey zone for long enough.
Esset brought his thoughts back to the immediate future and away from the decadence around them. They’d reached a second set of double doors. Ornately carved of a deep, rich brown wood, the doors were pulled open by two guards standing watch. Apparently they had been expected…if only they could have expected what laid within. Even Toman couldn’t hide his surprise when the doors opened to reveal the contents of the room beyond. The scene before them was too bizarre and too unexpected to be faced without at least a momentary betrayal of emotion.
It was difficult to say which side of the room drew more attention. The answer would probably change depending on who stood in the doorway. Along the left-hand wall were a row of bizarre creatures, all tethered to the wall on chains just short enough that they couldn’t reach anything. They reacted to the newcomers with varying degrees of placidity: some merely glanced towards the door, but others rose snarling and snapping to strain at their chains. The most active creatures were typically the most monstrous. None of the creatures looked like anything Toman and Esset had ever seen before, for none of them were natural. It was easy to tell that they were creatures shaped by magic. How else could one animal have three sets of jaws on one head? How could a panther-like creature have a pelt of those radiant, glowing colors? They were all of them a strange mix of multiple animals combined into one, parts of which the brothers could recognize, but not in the manner in which they were…assembled. One reptilian creature had too many bulbous, blinking eyes to possibly be born of nature. Some were beautiful, but most were ugly, and almost all of them looked intimidating. The implications of these chimeras horrified Esset.
The other wall also sported a row of chained captives, but they were captives of an entirely different sort: women. Very scantily clad women. Although they weren’t clad in much, what they did wear was expensive—light silks and gossamers, all in a startling array of colors, from pink and purple to red and orange or greens and blues. Even the collars and chains that held them captive were elaborate, with some made of gold, and most with links in fancy patterns. Some smiled or gestured welcomingly, lasciviously, at the duo, their poses provocative. Others danced as far as their chains would allow, dances that typically made men think with organs other than their brains. Esset hated that he felt his color rising, and it didn’t help to be embarrassed about being embarrassed. But then he was angry, and that helped a very great deal with the embarrassment. How dare Erizen keep slaves like this? To keep slaves at all was bad enough, but to demean these women by making them display themselves like that…
That devil himself was reclined on a massive, red-upholstered chair at the end of the long hall, one leg thrown over an armrest to face mostly sideways. Erizen had two of his captives fawning over him, feeding him bits of fruit from a bowl on the stand beside his throne—for that’s what his chair was. The mage looked so much the part of a storybook villain. He made no secret that he looked at the bodies of the women serving him as much as their faces, and Esset had no idea how the women could pretend to be so happy. So much so that he wondered what happened if they weren’t.
Erizen ignored them in favor of his “ladies,” blithely enjoying their attentions instead of greeting his guests.
“Okay, Erizen, we did the job. Now where’s our pay?” Esset asked. Upon his words, the two ladies gave him instantaneous and identical glares, surprising him.
“That’s Lord Erizen,” one of them corrected acidly, a woman with luscious black hair that fell over her shoulders in thick waves. A sheer veil over her body hid nothing at all, leaving her modesty to three scraps of red cloth that left her minimally decent. Esset’s surprise at the correction from her—and, as far as he could tell, the genuine glare—left him silent for a moment.
Erizen watched him with amusement.
“Are you going to stand by our deal, Lord Erizen?” Toman challenged the mage to help Esset save face.
“Such doubting allies,” Erizen drawled lazily, exciting a titter from the second woman, who was clad in pale pink. “I have just welcomed you into my home. Does that not speak to my goodwill? Fear not, your reward is on its way. In the meantime, what do you think of my domain so far?”
“Do you really want me to answer that question?” Esset asked, his anger still simmering. Erizen hadn’t been very open to criticism so far.
“You’ve noticed the effects of the Greymaker, no doubt,” Erizen continued, blithely ignoring Esset’s question.
“It was difficult to miss,” Toman put in dryly.
“I will have you know that it is my own ingenious invention,” Erizen preened.
So far, Esset didn’t see what there was to be proud of. “So what does it do?” the summoner asked bluntly.
“I’m so glad you asked,” Erizen replied with a wolf’s grin, his voice suddenly unaccented. “Did you know that there is ambient power everywhere, a power that normally just floats around, completely untapped and wasted? Well, I have discovered a way to gather it and make it available for my use no matter where it is. The only side effect of the machine is what you have seen—and, of course, how it got its nickname. Over time, it saps the color from all inanimate things within its boundaries. I would say that it’s the secret to my success, but in actuality, I was successful even before I built it.”
Such modesty, Esset thought. He might have said something, but just then, one of the scantily-clad slave girls along the wall grasped the chain where it attached to her collar, unclipped it, and walked down the hall before exiting through a servants’ door. He blinked, surprised. Wasn’t she a slave? Chained against her will? He looked quickly back at Erizen, whose gaze was openly mocking.
“Admiring Orchid’s derrière? She does have a rather lovely behind. Per
ky.” Erizen knew perfectly well that wasn’t what Esset had been doing, just as he knew what he was thinking just then. He said it instead to laugh at the color that rose in Esset’s cheeks. Then again, there had been a rather suggestive swing to Orchid’s hips…
At the very least, Esset didn’t give Erizen the satisfaction of a response.
“If you’d like to stay the night, I could send her to your rooms,” Erizen offered with a sly smile. Esset bridled at the thought of the poor girl having no say in whom she slept with, and this time anger won out over embarrassment.
Toman spoke up before Esset could respond. “We weren’t planning on staying long. If this single job is to conclude our business, then we will take our payment and move on before nightfall,” Toman said.
“Surely you have never enjoyed such luxurious accommodations as I have to offer, and I insist you stay the night to enjoy them,” Erizen objected grandly. “It would be unforgivably rude to refuse.” Esset clenched his jaw, but Erizen continued.
“There is also a matter I wish to discuss, and I’m afraid I’m quite tied up tonight… First thing in the morning, we can convene, and then you can be on your way,” Erizen said, never once taking his eyes away from the women fawning over him. “There are guest rooms prepared for you, if you are amicable.” Just then, the woman who’d unchained herself and left returned. She waved a little finger-waggling wave at them as she returned to her post, clipping the chain back onto her collar.
“We look forward to it,” Toman replied blandly. “But our foremost concern is our payment for the last job.”
“But of course,” Erizen replied easily. He gestured to someone behind them. “Here is Julliard with your reward now.” Sure enough, the liveried servant from before walked up behind them and then drew even, a small chest in his arms.
“Julliard can show you to the dining hall—you must be hungry after your long ride. He will take your payment to your rooms and be back by the time you are done eating to show you to them as well,” Erizen said, obviously growing increasingly bored with the proceedings. The woman in red had begun to demand more of his attentions, and he obliged her, making a somewhat sickening show of it.
“Thank you, Lord Erizen,” Toman replied neutrally, and the two brothers followed as the servant Julliard led the way.
Julliard led them to a table laid with a fantastically delicious meal. It was probably wasteful and excessively decadent, but neither brother had ever eaten anything like it before, and they couldn’t help but be impressed. They practically had to waddle back to their rooms.
“I might not like our new ‘friend’ very much, but I have to admit, he serves good food,” Esset confessed happily as Julliard led them to their rooms.
Toman chuckled. “I agree, that was great. Although I also have to admit, I’m looking forward to bed even more. We spent too many nights in that cramped carriage—it’ll be nice to stretch out on a soft surface again.”
Esset agreed vehemently with that as well. Then the liveried servant leading them spoke up.
“Here you are, sir,” Julliard said, stopping at a guestroom door and turning to face them. “These are your quarters for the night. Yours, sir, are the next door.” He gestured to his right.
“Thank you very much,” Esset responded with a smile.
Toman settled for a briefer, “Thanks.”
The servant inclined his head to them. “If you should need anything, someone will be nearby. Have a good evening, sirs.” With that, the man departed.
“Well, g’night,” Toman said to Esset, turning away to head to his room. He waved over his shoulder.
“G’night, Toman, see you tomorrow,” Esset replied as he opened the door to his own room. Looking over his shoulder to bid his brother goodnight, Esset was a full five steps into the room before he saw her. The woman from before, the one who’d unhooked her chain, left, and returned to the great hall, was here in his room, sitting on his bed, waiting for him. She had beautiful blonde hair, long silken strands that flowed down to her waist. In fact, her hair did more to cover her body than the purple “garment” that she wore.
“Oh—I’m sorry, I thought…” Esset looked around nervously as he began to back out of the room.
“This is your room,” the blonde said. Esset’s mind raced. Orchid? Yes, her name had been Orchid.
The beautiful woman smirked wryly at him and rose fluidly. Her hips swung as she stepped softly towards him, beckoning. “Won’t you come in? Relax, make yourself comfortable.”
Esset had stopped his retreat when she’d said he hadn’t mistaken the room, and that mistake had allowed her to trap him. She was almost upon him when it occurred to him to start backing up again. “Um, no really, that’s fine. Uh, shouldn’t you…?”
Orchid slid right up to Esset as he stammered. Reaching past him, Orchid’s slender hand pushed the door shut to hinder his escape. Esset tried to turn to catch it, but Orchid crowded him until he was pinned against the closed door. Esset tried to raise his hands defensively in front of his chest, only to have her press up against him, planting her breasts firmly into his palms. Esset turned beet red. She smelled amazing, like the sweet breath of blossoms on a spring day.
“My, but you are adorable,” Orchid breathed softly into his face. Her smile was teasing as she drew away again, but with her hands on his upper arms to bid him to follow. He tugged against her a little bit, but without rudely yanking away, he was unable to extract himself.
“Ah, this is all, uh, entirely unnecessary, really,” Esset said awkwardly. “I was just going to, uh, get some sleep, y’know. Big day tomorrow and all that.”
“Mmm?” The sound she made sounded almost like a cat’s purr. “Nothing else you want?” She lifted one hand from his arm to brush his cheek.
“No, thank you,” the summoner said.
“Really?” she asked. There was a trace of genuine surprise. Her grip loosened, and Esset took the opportunity to step away.
“Really,” Esset responded; his tone almost sounded placating.
“Huh. He was right about you,” Orchid said curiously, tilting her head a bit. The gesture made her hair ripple as it readjusted over one breast. Esset quickly looked away.
“Uh, who was right about what?” he asked in a rush. Anything to change the subject.
“My lord said you wouldn’t take me,” she replied bluntly.
“Wait, what?”
“I thought for sure he was joking. All of Lord Erizen’s guests like company in their beds at night.” The way she looked at him made Esset uncomfortably certain that she was wondering if there was anything wrong with him. Only after an uncomfortable silence had passed did she speak again. “He gave me the usual orders, but I’m not sure what he meant by them this time,” she finally admitted.
“Orders?” That reminded Esset that he should be mad about this, mad at Erizen. “I think it’s deplorable, how that man treats you.”
Orchid looked surprised at his vehement assertion, but then there was a look of dawning comprehension. “Ah, I get it now,” she said. Stepping back, she sat down on the bed so she could be more comfortable.
“Get what?” Esset was confused again.
Orchid smiled again, her confidence restored. “I will explain, but you have to promise to listen, okay? You really have no idea how things work around here.” Esset looked at her, not entirely sure what he would be promising to listen to, but not objecting, either.
She decided to continue. “We love him, our Lord Erizen. All of us, his women, do. He wouldn’t keep us around if we didn’t, and those who don’t fit in find a place elsewhere—they’re cared for, believe me. Lord Erizen is arrogant, yes, but doesn’t he have a right to be? He’s rich, powerful, and amazingly clever. Yet he changes our names and color codes us so he can remember them.” She laughed gaily. “It’s more than that, though. We’re lucky to be his people—every person in this kingdom is.”
Esset looked like he wanted to object, but she lifted a finger
and shot him a warning look to silence him. He subsided.
“Contrary to the great show he puts on, Erizen takes care of us. Know that this territory and all the ones surrounding it have been under the control of dark mage lords for…well, I don’t actually know how long, but generations, at least. The lord before Erizen was…not so kind. These lords, they show their power through cruelty. Life was horrible under them—is horrible under the others. So…we put on a show. Here, in this kingdom, life is pretty good. But we can’t let any of the other mage lords know, or they would think Lord Erizen soft and destroy him. Everything must seem just as it is in other kingdoms. Thus, the gloom of the Greymaker. Even a healthy peasant looks put-upon under its pall. And thus the chains in the hall.” She smirked. “Although I think my lord likes them anyways.”
A bit of red colored Esset’s ears. “I dunno. This doesn’t at all match with what I’ve seen of Erizen.” Esset wasn’t quite ready to be convinced yet.
“Then you aren’t listening,” Orchid said bluntly. “Lord Erizen is practical—he likes power and pleasure. How does he get that? Seizing this territory gets him power. The Greymaker makes him power. Gaining the loyalty of the people keeps him that power and increases the pleasure he can receive from us. We will give him more in return than any other mage lord could possibly get from his people. Are those narcissistic enough reasons for you to accept?”
Orchid laughed at Esset’s expression, and then continued. “You think me unaware of how self-centered he is? You think I think he does good because he has morals?” She laughed. “I know the truth, as do you now. The difference is, I love him anyway.”
Esset didn’t know what to make of this extraordinary woman whom he’d found in his bedroom. He’d met women who were scholars, warriors, or simply wives, but he’d never met anyone like this. “That… I guess that does make sense,” he finally acknowledged.
Calling On Fire (Book 1) Page 9
