by Deirdra Eden
Lady Hannah lowered the magnifying glass and said, “My sons informed me you were severely damaged, but you appear in good health.”
“Yes, m’lady.” I automatically curtsied. “Your staff has cared for me, and I want to repay you for the kindness.”
Lady Hannah reached for her water goblet on the table next to the bed. “I assure you, that will not be necessary. But, we need to return you to where you belong. Someone must be worried about you. Are you from Oswestry?”
“No. I’m not from anywhere.”
“Come now, that is not possible. Young women don’t just fall out of the sky.” Lady Hannah set the glass on the table and laced her hands together. “Have you a mother, a father, or any relatives?”
“No, I was orphaned years ago, and I now live on my own,” I said. I felt a stinging in my eyes. I didn’t want to cry about my past, especially not in front of the duchess. I had to quickly change the subject. I stammered, “But I have two friends. A dwarf named Ruburt and ….” I stopped, remembering that Ruburt had told Cassi to stay hidden. People weren’t supposed to know about her because they might try to take her magic dust. “Just Ruburt,” I corrected.
“I have already met Ruburt. He is a talented and hardworking man.” She smiled softly and thought for a minute before turning her regal face to look at me again. “Would you like to live here, Auriella? If you are willing to work hard, I will make arrangements for your employment and housing.”
“Oh! I would like that!” I restrained myself from bouncing around the room. I would have a real home. Hazella would never think to look for me in the manor.
“Well, that settles it.” Lady Hannah clapped her hands three times, and three tall young men entered the room. I stepped against the wall. The boys stood like stately soldiers next to Lady Hannah’s bed. She pointed to one of them. “This is Alwaien, Lord of Oswestry. He is my eldest son and master of the guards and manor affairs.” She pointed toward the second young man. "This is Fredrick, my second son. He is the master of the farms and business affairs." She turned toward the third young man and continued, “And this is Lucas, my third son, master of the stables and livestock. My three sons manage the estate. You are to follow their instructions.”
I swallowed hard and prayed they wouldn’t be harsh taskmasters like Hazella. I met the eyes of the youngest master. The sandy-haired boy regally composed himself and looked away. I tightened my jaw and looked to his mother.
The elegant woman smiled at me, and I felt a strange sensation in my chest. It was warm and comforting, like somehow, I just knew everything would be all right. Lady Hannah continued, “You will be assigned to work with each of my sons. In the morning, you will work with Lucas at the stables. In the afternoon, you will work with Fredrick in the fields. In the evening, you will help Lord Alwaien’s people in the kitchen. Come see me on Saturday and Sunday to learn the skills of a lady-in-waiting.”
Lady-in-waiting? I thought. Hazella always told me to hurry, but Lady Hannah was going to make me wait?
With their mother’s closing statement, the gentlemen each bowed, presenting themselves to me and kissed the top of my hand. Lucas pecked my hand and dashed out the door like he had been shocked by my touch.
Fear and confusion surged through me. Did he know something was wrong with me? Why was I suddenly terrified of him, but at the same time, drawn to him?
Lady Hannah excused me from the room. I couldn’t stop thinking about Master Lucas. I clasped my hands together and walked lithely to Ruburt’s room and knocked on the door.
Ruburt opened the door a crack and peered out. He smiled when he saw me and opened the door wide. Several bags of supplies lay on his bed.
I scrunched my eyebrows together. “Are you going somewhere?”
“We both are.” Ruburt said quickly. “Those Shadow Wolves know we are in Oswestry. We have to leave before they demolish the town.”
My heart dropped. “Leave?” I couldn’t leave now. For the first time in years, I actually had a chance to be a part of a family. It might be my only chance to have a normal life. I stood firmly in place. “I’m not leaving.”
“But the Shadow Legion has seen you here.” Ruburt stuffed a pair of socks in his bag.
“Yes, but look at me.” I turned around and ran my fingers through my short hair. “I look different since they saw me.”
Ruburt pressed his lips into a line and stopped packing.
I crossed my arms. “I am going to work for Lady Hannah.”
Ruburt leaned against the bed. “Lady Hannah offered you a job too?”
I nodded and asked, “She offered you a job?”
“She asked me to be the manor blacksmith.” He stroked his long beard like he was considering the idea of staying. “It would be good work, and Hazella would never think to look for me outside a dwarf village.”
“Please.” I clasped my hands in a pleading manner.
“It’ll be dangerous,” Ruburt cautioned. “Cassi will have to keep a look out and search the woods for any sign of the Shadow Legion. If she sees anything, we hide in the fairy forest.” He pointed to my hand. “Do you still have the rainbow ring?”
I lifted my hand and shifted my fingers to make the gems glitter.
“Good,” Ruburt said. “Keep it on you always. It’s only a matter of time before the Rebellion finds us.”
I arose early, got dressed, and bounded for the stables, ready for my new employment. I would train with each of the dukes and learn everything there was to know about the manor. I pressed open the stable door. Master Lucas was nowhere in sight.
Large, majestic horses stared at me with big, dark eyes. They seemed just as curious about me as I was about them. I reached out to touch a horse’s soft nose. The doors flew open and slammed against the walls. The whole stable quivered. The startled horses whinnied. I dove for a pile of straw in the corner.
Lucas jumped through the doors and swung a sword through the air. “Come on! Is that all you’ve got?” he asked in a taunting tone. The tall young man danced around the stables and waved his sword. Stray strands of sandy hair escaped his ponytail and curled around his face, which sported a scruff of facial hair on his chin and upper lip. His arms were thin, but toned from years of hard work in the stables.
He spun, gave a dramatic final jab with his sword and called in triumph, “Gotcha! You will think twice before challenging Sir Lucas again!” I clapped my hands, applauding Lucas’s victory over his imaginary foe. Lucas faced me, his eyes wide. The momentary look of surprise melted and a curious grin spread across his face. He graciously bowed to me, his one-woman audience. The show energized me, and I desperately wanted to learn to do what Lucas had just done.
“I’m impressed.” I straightened out my skirt and giggled.
“Well,” Lucas lowered his voice, smiled warmly, and stroked his chin. “It was nothing, really.” He tucked his sword into his belt and held out his hand to help me rise. “Let us get on with the chores. There’s a lot of work to do.” His light blue eyes twinkled at me genuinely as he winked. Working with Lucas was going to be fun.
Lucas and I fed and watered the horses before cleaning their stalls. The horses ate, and he taught me how to groom them and check their hooves for rocks. I watched Lucas brush the horses’ manes with a thick comb.
“Now you try.” He handed me the comb, and I ran it through the dark hair of a midnight black horse. The horse nuzzled against me. “You’re a natural with horses,” Lucas encouraged. I ducked my head as heat rose to my face.
“That’s a beautiful ring.” Lucas nodded toward my hand.
“Oh,” I said, fidgeting with my ring. “A friend gave it to me.” I hoped that was enough explanation and he wouldn’t ask questions.
Lucas looked at the sky. “I wish you could stay here in the stables a little longer.”
“Me, too,” I said. “I need to go to the fields now, but I will be back tomorrow morning.”
Lucas bowed and kissed the top of my sparklin
g opal hand. This time he didn’t shyly pull away.
My face flamed with heat and I turned. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I waved goodbye and raced toward the fields. I didn’t want to be late on my first day.
A dozen people were already working in the field, including Master Fredrick. He was dressed like a commoner, in brown wool pants and a simple linen shirt. He and the other men rhythmically swung sickles back and forth, while the women gathered the wheat and tied it into bundles.
Fredrick walked toward me with a bright smile. Sweat stained the front of his shirt and glistened from his brow. “Hello, Auriella. Have you ever done this before?”
I shook my head. It didn’t look any harder than swinging an axe to chop wood. I reached for the sickle in his hand. Fredrick recoiled it. “No, I would dream of making a lady…” He trailed off then pointed to the women. “You will gather the wheat. If you see farm animals or birds in the crops, just chase them out. Any questions?”
I could tell he was sincere, so I felt brave enough to ask, “Why are you dressed like a commoner? And Lucas,” I pointed back at the stalls. “He was dressed like a peasant too.”
“Working the land was father’s idea. We’ve kept the tradition since he died. It’s something we do to honor our father.”
Fredrick tossed me a bundle of string to tie the wheat with, then walked away, whistling a cheery tune.
Tying wheat wasn’t hard, but it was tedious, and every plant seemed to scratch into my skin. I did my best, but tied fewer bundles than the rest of the women. I tried not to be discouraged, but I really wanted to impress everyone on my first day.
Evening came and I went into the manor. I ate dinner in the kitchen with the cooks then helped scrub the dishes and floors before retiring to my room for the night.
I didn’t know when I would be able to go to the Neviahan Circle and meet with Woldor the Wise. But it didn’t matter anymore. I was human and I had a new normal life, just as I always wanted.
The warm months passed, and the harsh winter made farming impossible, which allowed me to spend more time with Lucas and the animals.
Lucas and I trudged along the frozen ground toward the stables. Our breath puffed above us like clouds, but somehow it seemed warmer when he was around. Long, amber grass protruded from the hard earth and crunched under our boots. I wrapped my wool scarf tighter around my face.
Lucas’s smiling eyes peered at me between his scarf and hat. “So, you think you can best me this time?”
“I’m a better rider now. I practice when you’re not watching,” I said playfully.
Lucas laughed. His warm breath danced like fog above his head. He opened the stable doors and threw a saddle onto my favorite horse before tossing one onto his own. I buckled the straps. Lucas helped me onto my saddle before mounting his horse. I leaned forward and patted my mare’s shimmering black coat.
Lucas grinned. “I will never forget how you screamed the first time you sat on a horse.”
I thought back to the beginning of autumn. I had begged Lucas for weeks to teach me how to ride. When the chance finally came, I almost changed my mind.
Now, riding was second nature to me. We trotted to the edge of the cow pasture at a calm pace. I gripped the reins with gloved hands.
“On your mark,” Lucas started. “Get set. Go!” Lucas and I raced into the cow pasture to gather the cows before the storm set in. The last time we had played this game, I managed to get only one cow while Lucas gathered the rest of the herd.
I collected three cows and herded them toward the barn. I glanced over to see Lucas with seven. I veered toward another group of cows. The more cows I tried to gather, the harder it was to keep the herd under control. Lucas picked up a few of my strays and drove them into the barn. Again, I managed to bring in only one cow.
Lucas and I dismounted from our horses. He pushed his scarf under his chin and flashed a smile, as if hoping for my approval.
I unraveled my scarf from my face. “How do you get so many?” I was out of breath from the rush, but Lucas seemed invigorated by his victory.
“You have to use your voice and yell out, ‘Yahh! Yahh!’”
I threw him a teasing smirk. “Now that I know your secret, I will beat you.”
“Ah.” Lucas smiled mischievously. “You are already faster when it comes to milking the cows. I can’t have you best me with your herding skills as well.”
He tossed me a wooden practice sword. I fumbled it before gaining control. “Let’s see how much you’ve learned since our last lesson.” Lucas flung his cloak aside, gripped his practice sword, and faced me in a stance.
I positioned my practice sword between us and returned his intense gaze. Our eyes locked and he growled. I laughed. If he was trying to intimidate me, that meant he was worried I could beat him.
He jabbed at me, and I hit his sword. He retaliated and swung at my legs. I stepped to the side and knocked the sword from his extended reach. It was a lucky shot, but I smiled, pretending I did it on purpose.
Lucas gave me a mock scowl. “I have been disarmed. It seems my pupil has learned as much as I." He raised his practice sword and attacked me afresh. We fought until the air grew colder and the dim winter light no longer shown between the cracks in the stable doors.
“It’s getting late,” I reluctantly said. We could practice all day during the winter, but the cooks expected me in the kitchen to clean up after dinner. Lucas’s shoulders slumped.
“Don’t worry. We can practice sword fighting tomorrow,” I said.
Lucas sighed. “Tomorrow is Saturday.”
“Oh, that’s right.” I bit my lip. I would be with Lady Hannah tomorrow and wouldn’t see Lucas until Monday.
Like a gentleman, he placed my cloak over my shoulders. I wrapped the scarf around my face and pulled the hood over my head. Lucas pushed open the door.
“It’s snowing,” I said, taking in the magic of the moment.
Big flakes of snow floated from the sky and stuck to his beautiful eyelashes. “Wouldn’t it be great if we got snowed in?” he asked. “Then we would get to spend the whole weekend together.”
I laughed. “Like it’s going to snow that much.”
Lucas walked with me to the manor and escorted me to the kitchen. I took off my winter coat, scarf, and gloves, and tied an apron around my waist. Lucas lingered in the doorway, watching me as I piled the dishes next to the wash bucket.
“Oh, not you again, Master Lucas.” The head cook scurried to the door and shooed him away. “How’s the lady supposed to get any work done with you distracting her. It’s a wonder you haven’t gained weight with how often you come looking for food when Auriella’s on duty.”
Lucas peered around the large woman and waved goodbye to me before she forced him out of the kitchen.
Winter passed too quickly and spring came along with the duties of sowing a crop. The orchards blossomed with pink and white fragrant flowers as the sun thawed the rich soil.
Lucas pulled me into the tree branches with him. It was our favorite place to have lunch before I headed to the farm to plant seeds. Lucas opened a sack of food and handed me a sandwich. “I’m glad you’re not like other girls,” Lucas said. “You’re actually fun to be with.”
I ate slowly. Next week I would turn fifteen. In a year, I would be eligible for courting. Did Lucas know this? Would he, the son of a lady, be interested in courting me, a handmaid? Would he wait for me to come of age? In town, I had seen the noble ladies dressed in fine, layered gowns with jewels in their hair. How could I compete with that? I wasn’t literate or properly trained in etiquette. It was selfish for me to hope Lucas would choose me over the wealthy, educated, and beautiful noble maidens. The son of noble parents should court someone better than me.
At least, I thought both his parents were nobility. I knew who is mother was, but did know anything about his father.
