“Have the contents of this elixir tested and you will see the truth in my words! Search the woman’s shop and you will see a varying amount of poisons! This is no healing potion! Who knows who else she has fed this too?”
“Enough!” The Chief stood silencing our words. He looked down at Kiatra. I couldn’t bring myself to do the same. I didn’t want to see her fighting for her life. “Isaac, this is a serious accusation.”
“And every accusation when it comes to the safety of your daughter should be taken seriously, should it not?” It was bolder words than I should have dared to speak to him. He took his eyes off of Kiatra to raise one gray eyebrow at me.
“Careful.”
“My lord,” Sebastian interjected in the silence as the Chief studied me. “If you wish it, I will have this elixir tested—”
“No. Not by you.” I stepped back as the man extended his hand toward me. My frustration that Sebastian would be allowed in Kiatra’s chambers when I was not, mixed with my distrust for the man fueled my words.
“You are on dangerous grounds—” Sebastian started before the Chief raised his hand.
“Have the elixir tested, Titus. Sebastian, go with him.”
Titus stepped forward surprising me. I had not realized the man was also in the chamber with us. “Yes, my lord.”
“What of her place?” I dared to press on.
“You will not invade my privacy!” Rose stood with indignation. “This is preposterous! How can you trust the word of a criminal over me? Your daughter is the real poison! She’s poisoned everyone’s minds against me! Isn’t it clear she has filled this man’s head with her lies and now he dares—”
“I have heard enough! There will be no need to search your belongings if the substance in his hand has no traces of poison, but if this accusation is false boy.” He looked back at me, leveling me with his eyes. “That will be it for you.”
“But my love—” Rose started to weep as she crumpled by the Chief’s feet.
“Leave from here. All of you.” He sat back on his chair unmoved by Rose’s tears and looked back toward Kiatra. “I wish to be alone with my daughter.”
Rose’s weeping increased as Sebastian took her by the hand and led her out of the chambers. I dared to look down upon Kiatra then. Her body was sunken into her bed, a large woven blanket covering her. The cover only curved upward so slightly. It was impossible for me to believe that her dominant curves hid somewhere underneath. Her hair was in a single braid, falling above the covering and leading down to where her waist hid. So much color had drained out of her brown skin it reflected a yellow tinge on her face. She was so still it was hard to believe she was even breathing.
“Mistress.” I said softly before Titus grabbed me under the arm and yanked me out of the chamber.
“Do you understand what you have just done?” He hissed. “If you are wrong on this account there is no one that can save you.”
“I am not wrong, Titus. Test the elixir. Ensure it is someone trustworthy who does it. Not someone who has communion with Rose or Sabrina.” He stared at me hard in the eyes and nodded as he took the elixir from my hand. I spoke with more confidence than I felt. In truth I hadn’t seen that this exact elixir was what was poisoned. What I had seen was the woman’s shop of healing. On the shelves were different berries and plants and an elixir the color of the contents she was about to offer Kiatra. In my discovery of the Ashen flower I had uncovered and read accounts on different deadly herbs and plants that were popular in the Fortress. I was fairly certain the ones I had seen in my vision were poisonous. If there was a chance that this woman was poisoning Kiatra, it needed to be revealed. How could I keep silent? Yet, if I was wrong, I knew the consequence. Everything my father had warned me about, that my visions would lead to my death, would come to fruition. I knew that but I still spoke.
But fortunately for me, I was right.
Chapter 21
“Why am I here?” I looked around at the two-level villa that Titus brought me too. I had never been to this place before though I had seen ones like it throughout the Fortress. Villas such as these hosted families that were in the good graces of the Chief as well as wealthy merchants. Though this one was modestly decorated as if it was not currently inhabited.
“Your mistress sent word to bring you here.” Titus said. “I am not one to question her.” He smirked as we both knew he was prone to question her. Several times over the years when I questioned Kiatra on a decision she would say, You spend too much time with Titus.
“How is she?” Titus had shared with me little on what had happened after the accusation I put against Sabrina’s mother, Rose. You were right. He had simply said and told me to remain in the slave house under Natalie’s guard until further notice. Three weeks had passed.
Natalie approached me once within that time with a rare smile and wrapped her arms tightly around my body, surprising me. She is recovering. She knew nothing more than that and I had heard nothing more until this morning when Titus came to me and told me to come with him.
The way he was looking at me now I could not tell what he was thinking. “You will see soon enough how your mistress fares. Things will be different for you starting today.” He stated with a broad smile.
“Different how—” I began before the door to the villa opened.
“Kiatra!” Titus blocked my view as he gripped her tightly in his arms.
“Careful or you’ll break me in half.” It had been some time since I had heard her voice and the hairs on my arms rose at the sound of it after such an absence. It was different than I remembered. It sounded low and hoarse as if her recovery was not complete.
“There were some who have been in fast since the day you fell ill.”
“Then we must have a feast to celebrate my recovery.” She raised her hand to Titus’ face before stepping out from behind him to face me. It had been nearly two months since I’d seen her standing. She was noticeably thinner. Her hair hung loosely and was swept over one shoulder, as not to completely engulf her frame. Her cheeks were hallowed though it seemed that her handmaidens made significant effort to cover her gauntness. She gripped Titus’ arm almost as a crutch, her strength clearly had not fully returned. “Tell me, Titus. How did my slave fare without me?”
“He has made quite a stir. I am afraid he may have made some powerful enemies in your absence, but surely more powerful allies.”
She looked at me steadily and only nodded at Titus’ words. “Will you leave us for a moment?”
“Of course.” He kissed the top of her head before bowing and departing. Kiatra kept her eyes on me as she sat on the single gilded couch in the villa.
“Mistress, you look well—”
“Don’t lie to me, Isaac. I look wretched.”
“I wouldn't say wretched but once you get your weight back and some natural color returns to your face, I think you will look...well again.”
“It seems I owe you a debt.” She raised her hands out to me and I took them and knelt in front of her. “In a single moment you saved my life and took out one of my adversaries. How were you so certain Rose was poisoning me?”
“What benefit would she find in your recovery? She sees you as the reason your father won’t take her as his bride. With you gone she surely would have thought that he would reconsider a marriage to her and legitimize Sabrina as his heir.”
“That all may be true Isaac but that is a dangerous claim to make off of a suspicion. If you were wrong—”
“I know.”
“Then why would you risk it? Why would you risk it without some certainty?”
“What choice did I have? It was a matter of your life.” She released my hands and said nothing for a moment, studying me. Scrutinizing me.
I broke my eyes from hers. “What will happen to her? Rose?”
“It is already done.”
“What?”
“My father had her executed yesterday. There was nothing she could say in her defens
e and my father could not spare her. She had tried to kill me and if it wasn’t for you, she would have been successful.”
Executed. It shouldn’t have surprised me. I knew the law. There were pages of records on attempts on the leaders lives over the centuries and the outcome was always the same. Execution. But the fact that my vision had gotten the woman executed sat uneasily with me.
“I should have passed the sentence myself, but I didn’t have the strength.” Kiatra continued. “Titus did it on my behalf, but I swear the next person who is guilty of treason, their life will be taken by my hands.”
“What of Sabrina?”
“When her mother’s chambers and shop were ransacked and various poisons were found, Sabrina was questioned. She wept heavily and pleaded ignorance to her mother’s deceptive ways. My father foolishly took pity on her.”
It was foolish. It was unlikely the daughter was ignorant to her mother’s ways or that she would not seek retribution for her mother’s death.
“I shouldn’t have doubted you, Isaac. You suspected that they were dabbling in dark arts. I should have believed you. Though, my father will still not believe anything against his beloved Sabrina.” She smiled as if the conversation was light. “What do you think of this place?” Kiatra asked me suddenly.
“What?”
“This villa? What do you think of it? If it is not to your liking, I can find something else, but I thought that this was only a short distance to the main hall and to the stables. The large windows give generous sunlight and it is lifted from the ground. It would not be easy for an intruder to try to penetrate it, undetected.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I will have it furnished, of course. Whatever you wish I will acquire for you. I will assign some maids to tend to it and I will give you a man to watch the doors. Rose was liked by many. Many empathized with her pleas to be my father’s wife and I know my sister will find a way to spin this situation, so she is the victim. You have learned to protect yourself well enough, but you will need some aid—”
The realization of her words hit me suddenly. She meant to gift this villa to me. Her slave.
“Mistress! I can’t accept this! Have you lost your mind?”
“You’re right. It is not enough. There is no precedence for this. A slave saving a leader’s life. You’ve read the accounts. You know it. How I decide today to reward you will set the standard for generations.”
“I didn’t do this for a reward.”
“I am aware of that, but you will still be rewarded—”
“And it is not true. There have been two incidents of slaves saving their masters, that have been recorded. One gave her slave a prized goat—” I stopped abruptly remembering the second story fully.
“And the other?” Kiatra pressed on.
“The other—the other married his slave.”
“Truly?” She looked at me amused.
“I can find the accounts if you wish to read them more thoroughly.” I averted my eyes from her, wishing that she would let it go. I did not speak up on her behalf to receive a reward.
“So, which is it? Do you wish for a goat or a bride?”
“Mistress, this is ridiculous.”
“You’re right. Neither seem to suffice. You will accept the villa.” She framed my face with both of her hands, turning me toward her again. “You will accept your own servants and your own guard. You will accept it with gratitude. I will even give you a portion of coins to spend each day and turn a blind eye if you wish to piss it away. If there is anything you desire, this is your time to ask it of me. I may just be willing to grant it to you. Outside of your freedom of course. Unfortunately, you are serving the sentence for 18 men and I cannot negate that punishment so easily. Though I can certainly make your burdens less.”
“Mistress, I—” I was prepared to deny that I needed anything or wished for anything, but her words sparked my memory. “What about Benjamin?” I had not seen the man since I had my vision. Now that Kiatra was well, would she hold true to her sentence for him?
“Benjamin.” She sighed. “I’ve already taken care of it.”
“What?” The words caused me to jump up as my voice coated with panic. “No, mistress! You couldn’t have—”
“No, no, no. I misspoke, Isaac.” Surprise and worry mixed through her face as she rose and gripped my rigid arms. “Your friend is alive and well. I asked for him to be taken out of his cell and he will be settled into the slave house today. My illness fortunately overshadowed his arrival. I spared his life and sentenced him to hard labor. He will till the fields until his hands bleed. You can be certain of that, but he will be kept alive. He will be kept under Natalie’s care. The woman seems to have grown fond of him so it's not such an awful fate. If he is an honorable man as you say, he will be able to build himself up quickly here. Perhaps one of the wealthier amongst us will take him as a personal laborer to watch over cattle or their own crops.”
“There is no chance you will allow him to return home?”
“I believe the proper response is, Thank You, mistress. I told you it was impossible to send him home. The man deserves to be executed but because of what you have done for me, I passed the lighter sentence—”
“I do not mean to seem ungrateful, but what will become of his family?”
Kiatra thought for a moment. “You say his mother is widowed and he has young sisters?”
“Yes. With no men working the fields it will be difficult for them to provide for their needs, even with the generosity of our neighbors. I fear what will happen to the girls—” Kiatra raised a hand to silence me.
“If your friend learns to be docile, I will send to his family half of what we earn from the harvest he tills each year.”
“Half?” I said in surprise. I knew that by year’s end if the grounds were opulent, that could be a large sum. I couldn’t imagine Kiatra would be willing to give up that much.
“Yes. Half. As long as he is obedient.” She smiled. I couldn't remember the last time I saw her smile and I was unprepared for the effect it had on me. “What else?”
“What else?” I asked in confusion.
“What else do you wish for?” She lifted her hands to the back of my neck, keeping me close to her. A gesture of intimacy that I knew held little true affection. She was elated that I had saved her life, but it would pass, and I would soon go back to being just her slave. Yet, it was too much for me at that moment. Being so close to her now when just a few weeks ago I feared I would never look into her eyes again or hear her voice. I couldn’t resist being consumed by her.
Unthinkingly, my eyes traveled to her lips. She pulled me slightly closer to her, pressing her forehead against mine as I lowered my mouth over hers. I felt her body stiffen in hesitation. I started to pull away from her, embarrassed by my foolish boldness, but she tightened her grasp of my neck and drew me toward her again. It wasn’t as I saw in my vision. In my vision I saw her pulling me toward her after thanking me for saving her life, but now my arms were the ones wrapping around her waist, keeping her against me.
Again, I had allowed myself to fall in love with a woman who would never love me in return I was no true candidate for her husband, nor would I ever be. She was my master and ruler of the Fortress. The outcome of this was inevitable. She was caught up in a moment of madness, grateful that I had uncovered a plot against her life. She would have her wits about her soon enough and not give me another thought. Yet I indulged in her at this moment. My gratefulness for her recovery mingled with my loneliness, overshadowed any reason as I kept my lips on hers.
Her hands traveled to my back, her fingers connecting with my scars. Suddenly, she pushed away from me. She searched my eyes as I wondered what she was thinking. What was I thinking? She had asked me what I wished for and I took her into my arms as if she was a prize I could claim. In an instant she was reminded of what I was to her and how I was capable of breaking her trust. “I’m sorry.” I said hoarsely,
not thinking of anything better to say in response to her wide eyes.
She only shook her head. She drew closer to me again, grazing her fingers into my hair, overwhelming me with her touch. She looked at me with uncertainty. “There’s something I need for you to know.” She said quietly. “I had no courage to tell you before, but now—”
The room around me began to spin. No! Not now! I tried to pull away from her grip, but she wouldn’t let go of me.
Isaac, what’s wrong? I heard her say from a distance as the vivid images came to my mind. A vision that was not foreign to me. I had seen it before, though it had escaped my memory since that first year when I started to receive visions. I saw a man on his knees, his arms bound behind him, facing out amongst a crowd. I didn’t recognize the man when I was young, but I recognized him now. It was me. Older than I was now as a short beard graced my face. I was kneeling in front of someone who I didn’t know then, but I knew her now. It was Kiatra. Strong and beautiful though her face was stoic. The alarming part of the vision which caused me fear as a child was what the woman held in her hand as she stood over me. By my neck she held a dagger as she spoke words with no emotion.
You will receive no more pardon. You deserve to pay for your crimes against me.
The room stopped spinning around me. I was back in the villa, facing Kiatra. Her hands had shifted from my head to my arms. Her fingers dug into my skin. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me.
“Forgive me, mistress.” I stammered. “I—I was feeling unwell—”
“Isaac. How did you know Rose was poisoning me?” Kiatra asked in a tone she used to speak with those on trial when she wished for them to admit to a crime or give an answer that she already knew.
“I told you—”
“Now tell me the truth.”
“I’ve told you the truth—”
“Why is it that after five years together and after you risking your life to save mine, I still question whether you are a man I can trust? Whether you are truly for me? Why is it that you still don’t trust me enough to be honest with me?”
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