"Well, Re, should you ever need employment," he handed me a card.
"I will keep this," I said, putting it into a jacket pocket. I left shortly after, picking up the boxes and disposing of them on my way out.
* * *
"She's fine, father, stop fretting." Griffin folded into Wylend Arden's study only a little while later. "I had dinner with her earlier. As long as they don't know she's female and as long as she keeps them happy with her cooking skills, she'll be fine."
"Son, I realize the logic in your words, but the heart doesn't hear those things very well."
Chapter 5
"Master Arvil's contractor will be here shortly." Three men were inside the kitchen when I arrived after walking from the casino the following morning. The one I spoke with was short with dark, curly hair. He wasn't much taller than I and I learned he was Oldam the plumber. The other two were cabinet workers—I was getting new cabinets, in addition to the appliances. Oldam showed me that he'd replaced the water line to the dishwasher, installed water filters and softeners and had replaced the faucets, fixtures and the sink. A new stove and dishwasher were already there, too, I saw.
"Does the stove work?" I asked.
"Yes—we had it done last night," Oldam replied.
"I have a chip to buy new dishes and pots and pans," another man walked in, dangling a credit chip in his fingers. I stared, I couldn't help myself. Dark eyes studied me as I gaped. He was more than handsome, with a straight nose, a strong chin and a sensuous mouth. He looked to be in his late twenties, but I was hopeless at gauging anyone's actual age. He was taller than Ry but not as tall as Tory—but then very few were as tall as Tory.
"Some of the old things will still work," I muttered. I couldn't take my eyes off him, for some reason.
"Too late," he grinned, making me catch my breath. His smile would turn any woman's head, I think. "I dumped that junk yesterday," he said, continuing to smile at me. "If we leave now, you might get enough to do dinner tonight," he added.
"Call me Teeg," he said later as we wandered down aisles in an exclusive shop that sold high-end pots, pans and dishes. I watched him walk—he was unconsciously graceful, moving fluidly, like a jungle cat might while stalking prey. "And money is no object." He was grinning at me again. I almost forgot that I was to behave like a nineteen-year-old boy. His smile was melting something that was better left frozen.
"This," I stopped at the stainless-steel cookware. One of the brands available was manufactured on Tulgalan and considered one of the best. I was used to working with it. We pulled everything I needed off high shelves with help from the sales staff. We also got two cast-iron skillets in different sizes, cooking utensils, two sets of dishes and glassware, fine crystal wineglasses, drinks glasses and a multitude of aprons, kitchen towels and supplies. The total was staggering when we were done.
"Only the best for Master Arvil," Teeg grinned at me again. I couldn't help it—I smiled back at him. "That's better," he said. The store was delivering our purchases, so we went to find something to cook at a nearby grocery. I think I will always remember that day with Teeg—the top of my head came midway on his upper arm and he smiled at me often, his white teeth flashing in a grin at times as he asked me about this thing or that.
He was dressed nicely, too, in a charcoal knit shirt and black slacks with matching boots. The fingers on his hands were long, well-shaped and accustomed to hard work, I could tell. His dark hair curled slightly and was cut and styled very well. It made me worry about my own makeshift haircut that had left barely a finger's width of white hair on my head. Perhaps I'd find a barber, just as Delvin urged me to do.
"I'll come by to speak with Master Arvil about what else needs to be done," Teeg said after we dropped the food purchases in the kitchen. "You want a work island, don't you?"
"Of course I want an island," I muttered, lowering my eyes. No need to show him my disappointment that he was leaving.
"I found some natural stone that would go well on top of your island," he was smiling when I looked up at him again. "There's enough of it to do the countertops too." I nodded mutely at his suggestion. He walked with silent grace out of Arvil's kitchen. I think I stared at his back the entire time he walked away, disappearing through the kitchen door after a few ticks. The same thought kept racing through my brain as I watched him disappear from view. How was he here on such an outpost of criminal activity? How?
* * *
"Re can have what he wants within reason, including an assistant," Arvil was happy with his veal dish. He and his wizards ate with good appetite as Arvil spoke with Teeg. "Xiri has already asked to spend some time over here."
"What do you want, Re, besides an island and new countertops?" Teeg was grinning at me as I poured more wine for Arvil.
"An assistant to prepare breakfast would be nice," I said. "That way I won't be spending all day every day cooking."
"Then ask for a day off," Teeg suggested. That stopped me cold.
"You may have eight-day off—I have dinner with my casino managers on that night," Arvil said. "And only worry about dinner unless I ask for something else the day before. This veal is excellent. Is there any more?" Arvil got more veal. Teeg left after a while, leaving Arvil and his wizards to finish their dessert.
* * *
If I'd thought Arvil San Gerxon was a benign autocrat who liked his meals, I was shown something different the following day.
"You let it slip, didn't you?" Arvil's assistant was standing in the kitchen and cringing as Arvil shouted at him. The cruel-mouthed wizard and Delvin were also there as I worked out a menu for the following week. The cabinetmakers faded from the kitchen quickly. I started to leave but Arvil barked for me to stay. "You need to learn, boy, just how things are around here," he snarled. Arvil nodded to cruel-mouth, who lifted his hands.
Even I didn't expect the assistant to scream as he burned alive. I think I dropped to the floor in the corner where I stood while the poor man screamed out his last and died on the kitchen floor. "Clean up the mess," Arvil shouted at Delvin afterward. I stared at Delvin in shock. He'd willingly given himself to this, and dragged me along with him. He didn't even look at me as he and cruel-mouth dragged Arvil's charred, former assistant away. I hadn't even learned what it was the man supposedly did to earn a death such as this.
No, the wizard blasted him with flames and he burned to death, I sent to Lendill later when I could breathe normally again. I don't know what he did.
We raided Birimera yesterday and burned a hundred drakus seed fields, Lendill returned. That made me swallow uncomfortably. If Arvil remembered that he'd said that within my hearing, I could be next. Reah, that wizard can't harm you with his power, Lendill reminded me.
I don't have protection against a physical attack—you told me not to turn, I reminded him.
Reah, we said you could leave if they are about to harm you. Make sure it is real harm—you've given us good information so far. I wanted to ask what he meant by real harm. Had his and Director Keef's little escapade that caused my convulsions been classified as something other than real harm? I was too afraid to ask.
I have to go to work, I said instead, cutting off the mental communication.
* * *
"We can't salvage this," Teeg said later as he examined the cracked and burned tiles. "You don't have to tell me what happened," he muttered softly. I'd knelt beside him so he could show me the damage. My new assistant had cleaned what was left of the floor after the body had been carried away.
"I didn't even know his name. Will his family be notified?" I asked, focusing on Teeg's dark eyes.
"Re, people who work here generally don't have families," Teeg stood and lifted me by grasping my arm in his fingers. "Eight-day is tomorrow. Why don't you come by? I've been thinking about going up the mountain for some fresh air."
The mountain was an artificial ski slope north of Campiaa City. "Here's my address," Teeg flipped a card in his fingers before handing it to me. "Com
e early."
* * *
I was at Teeg's apartment shortly after breakfast. Thinking of him had kept me awake the night before, and that hadn't happened to me often. I considered sending mindspeech to Tory and Aurelius, but then Teeg thought I was a boy. He wasn't one to be attracted to young boys or men—I don't know how I knew that about him, but I did.
"Come on in—I'm almost ready." Teeg led me inside. A snowboard leaned against the wall just inside the door, and a bag that held clothing and equipment lay next to it. His apartment was nice too—it looked comfortable to me.
"You do this often?" I looked around me as he disappeared down a hall. The kitchen was small, but it would do for him. I got the idea he didn't do a lot of cooking for himself.
"Whenever I get the chance." He was back with three sets of dark glasses in his hands. "One of these should fit," he settled one pair over my nose. "No—too big." He tried the others before settling on the best pair. "Better." He grinned while I tucked the offered glasses inside my jacket pocket. I usually wore a jacket if I didn't have my cook's apron or coat on. My breasts were small, but my nipples did show occasionally. That might be a giveaway if anyone were looking.
A shuttle ran every few ticks, hauling visitors up and down the mountain. Teeg ran his chip over the scanner for both of us. The ride was nice, lasting half a click. The tourists and locals on the shuttle were chatting away while Teeg and I rode in companionable silence. I was busy looking out the window—we'd taken seats so I could see the ocean. It sparkled below us as I peered over the edge of the cliff running alongside the road.
"Didn't get to see the ocean much?"
"No." I chewed my lower lip as I turned in my seat to look at Teeg. He seemed so familiar at times, but I knew that was silly—I'd never met him until a few days before. I worried that Arvil might be asking him to spy on me and was determined not to let anything slip. Arvil didn't need to learn anything about me. Delvin already knew too much and he could easily get me hurt or killed. That thought made me frown. He'd promised to protect me, but then he'd betrayed Bel and the others. How could I trust that?
"You had such a frightened look on your face just then, Re." Teeg leaned down to stare into my eyes. I wished I could have told him my worries and fears. He seemed such a good man, but he was on Campiaa. Was anyone on Campiaa good? Who intended to be there?
"It's nothing." I turned to stare out the window again. The ocean had lost some of its sparkle.
"It didn’t look like nothing," Teeg murmured, but he didn't push it.
I used my chip necklace to pay for ski rentals. This was something I'd never done or ever dreamt of doing. I watched Teeg slip his feet into the slots for his feet on the snowboard and go skimming down the artificial snow. He appeared so agile as he made sweeping arcs, snow spraying from the edge of his board.
The ones who'd rented the equipment to me had given me a brief lesson, but that information was deserting me now as I gazed down the side of the mountain. It looked steep from where I stood. Sighing, I hopped to the edge, turned my skis and let myself drop over the side.
My ankles were unprepared. That was the excuse I gave to Teeg, who was laughing when I reached the bottom of the slope. I'd fallen at least six times before reaching the bottom, too. "Come on, you'll get the hang of this." We took the lift back up the mountain and I watched with envy as Teeg went down again. He must have done this hundreds of times. I was about to give it my second try.
"Not too bad for a first timer," Teeg teased as I returned my rented equipment later. My legs felt as if they were made of rubber as we walked out of the rental hut. "Next time, we can go swimming." Those words almost had me stopped in my tracks.
"I don't swim," I made the excuse. I knew it was a lie. Teeg probably did too. "Well," I amended, "I don't like wearing the suit—I have knobby knees."
"Ninety-pound weakling?" Teeg grinned again. I didn't understand the phrase. "Never mind," he chuckled. "That joke is a lot older than you."
"Thanks for inviting me," I said when we climbed off the shuttle later.
"I'll walk you back to The San Gerxon," he offered. That was the name of Arvil's casino—The San Gerxon. I knew I should refuse—any young man would have done so. I didn't, and I hoped it wouldn't bring me harm later on.
"I'll see you tomorrow—we'll finish up those base cabinets. Then I'll get the stone cutters out to take measurements so we can fit the countertops," Teeg promised as I reached for the door to slip inside the casino. I thought I might stop by and see if Xiri was on duty before heading back to my room.
"I need to go grocery shopping again tomorrow," I said.
"That's fine; I'll be there before you leave." Teeg sounded so confident. I wished I had a fraction of his confidence. I felt as if I walked a knife's edge every moment I spent inside Arvil's palace. After I'd seen his assistant burn with nobody to even care that a man had died, well—I had truly seen why Campiaa had the reputation it did.
"Don't think about that," Teeg watched my face carefully. "That's why I invited you out today—to get it out of your mind. Don't fall into that pit, Re." Teeg turned away and jogged down the steps leading to the casino. I wished I could forget. The poor man's screams still echoed inside my head.
* * *
"Re!" Xiri was truly glad to see me, I think. Xiri was tall and thin, and with the tall hat he wore as night cook, he looked even taller and thinner. He had reddish-brown hair that curled around the edges of his hat, making him look somewhat comical. When he threw out his arms in greeting, he made me smile.
"We have an order for dessert for guest Wilffin," one of the assistants informed Xiri, interrupting our hug.
Xiri cursed softly and let me go.
"He is very difficult to please," the assistant explained as Xiri turned toward the pastry prep area.
"Then let's give him an assortment," I said. We ended up sending six smaller desserts on a single plate, including a generous portion of the oxberry puff tart with sweet cream.
"Now we sit back and wait for the complaints," Xiri fanned himself and sat down on a stool.
"Well, I need to go back—I went up the mountain today and my ankles are angry now," I smiled at Xiri. "Some people are impossible to please. Just remember that what makes them happiest is seeing the misery of others. Don't let them win." I patted Xiri's arm and left the kitchen. It was advice I should take for myself, but it was so hard at times. So very hard.
"There's my cook." Arvil was raiding the keeper when I trudged down the hall toward my small bedroom. It did have a decent bed, its own bath attached and a tiny closet. There wasn't much space for anything else.
"Can I get you anything, Lord Arvil?" I asked politely.
"Can you make a simple sandwich?"
"Of course." We walked back to the kitchen. Arvil was served an ox-roast sandwich with all the trimmings. Delvin and two other wizards who were with Arvil received the same. It made me wonder where the other five were. I knew better than to ask.
"You know, that seed is coming right along on Kliiver," Arvil said casually as I put clean dishes away. I didn't even look up at his comment—his words were a lie. He was attempting to trap me, somehow. I wasn't about to take that bait.
"Goodnight Lord Arvil," I said and walked toward my bedroom. Oh, they'd been careful, going through all my things, but I had a good memory and my only other pair of shoes weren't quite in the same spot inside my closet. They did suspect me. I wondered if I should send mindspeech to Lendill, and then decided against it. He'd just tell me to keep doing what I was doing unless they tried to kill me. I wanted to skip away from Campiaa so badly right then it made my head hurt.
* * *
"Would you like breakfast? Have you eaten yet?" I asked Teeg when he showed up the next morning.
"I wouldn't mind," he said. He had a plate of food sitting in front of him quickly. I'd poached eggs and served them over toast points with sauce and shaved ham. Fresh fruit went with the rest, and Teeg ate everything.
"That was perfect," he sighed, handing the empty plate back to me. The cabinetmakers had finished their job, so we were the only ones in the kitchen right then. I wanted to tell him what had happened the night before so badly, and knew I couldn't. Teeg was loyal to Arvil, who was paying him for his services. I was nothing to Teeg.
The dishwasher worked perfectly, I thanked Teeg for that fact, wrote out my list and headed for the market, my new assistant right behind me. He was only a few months older than I was—nearly twenty he'd said, and his name was Neele. Neele told me about how he lifted weights in his spare time as we rode the pub-trans to the market. Neele was two hands taller than I was, broad across the shoulders and narrow at the waist and hips. I believed him when he said he worked out. He had a scar over his right eye that I was determined not to ask about. He turned many a female head as we shopped for our needs and stopped to talk with two who seemed quite forward. Neele had a date before we ever left the store.
"That turned out well—maybe I'll ask her if she has a friend to bring for you, Re." Neele was grinning at me. "When's the last time you had sex?"
"Not that long ago," I muttered, hauling bags up the steps of the pub-trans. "And I prefer to make my own dates. Thank you for thinking of me, but I'll find my own. Woman." Neele snickered at my stumble. He thought I was embarrassed to admit I'd have a hard time finding a date. I let him continue thinking that.
* * *
"This soup is exceptional." Arvil was asking for more and we hadn't even gotten to the main course yet. The market had gotten fresh shrimp so I'd bought some, although they were small. These were perfect for soup or salads. The main course was redfish that I'd only seen imported from three Alliance worlds. It made me wonder if Campiaa was doing business on the black market with some of those worlds. I knew which ones supplied the redfish, so I resolved to send that information to Lendill. He might yell that it was unimportant. I knew where that opinion had gotten us before.
"We have a little errand to run after dinner," Arvil was dipping up the last of his second helping of soup. "Delvin here tells me you're a pretty good shot, Re."
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