“I am from Vylari,” Mariyah reasserted.
Lady Camdon sighed. “I have not asked you a question yet. Until I do, be silent.” She pressed her finger to her bottom lip. “Let me see, now … how do you feel about Ralmarstad?”
Mariyah spoke before she could think about the words. “I hate it. Nothing but cruelty and corruption.”
“And me? How do you feel about me?”
“I think you are a cold woman who enjoys belittling others. I understand why Trysilia chose to leave.”
“Perhaps a bit too honest. Next question: Where are you from?”
“Vylari. I grew up on my parents’ vineyard.”
Lady Camdon raised an eyebrow. “Well, then. That is special. Though whether you are remains to be seen. Still, I would like to hear about your home. But there will be time for that later. For now, tell me, why did you leave Vylari?”
“To find Lem.”
“And who is Lem?”
“He is my betrothed.”
“I see. And did you succeed?”
“No. We were captured shortly after crossing the border.”
“We? Who else was with you?”
“Shemi, Lem’s uncle.” Mariyah could not stop herself from answering plainly and truthfully.
For nearly an hour the questioning continued, right up until Mariyah began her account of being sentenced to life in prison. At this point Lady Camdon removed the gem from her hand and returned it to the drawer.
“That you can tell me about Vylari is enough for me to keep you here, though I am not yet certain you’re right for the position I have in mind. You will have to prove to me you can handle the responsibility. Judging from the look of you, that will be quite a challenge.”
As if he had been silently summoned, the door opened and Marison entered, bowing low before approaching Lady Camdon. He passed over the orb that controlled the anklet and then, nodding curtly to Mariyah, quickly exited.
“Hold out your left hand,” she ordered.
This time she did so at once.
Without a word of explanation, Lady Camdon removed a thin silver ring from her own little finger and placed it on Mariyah’s. It was slightly too big, but a moment later contracted to make a tight fit. Lady Camdon then grasped the orb in her palm and closed her eyes. A scent arose that reminded Mariyah of burned timbers. When Lady Camdon opened her hand, the orb was nothing but a tiny portion of black dust.
“You may remove the anklet now,” she said, wiping her hand so that the dust fell onto the floor. It sparkled for an instant as it struck the tiles, then vanished without a trace.
Mariyah’s jaw went slack. She could feel that the magic was gone. She was … free. As if afraid Lady Camdon might change her mind, she quickly ripped the anklet away and tossed it across the room.
“You will pick that up on your way out,” said Camdon. “And you must keep it with you at all times.”
Mariyah was utterly confused. But knowing that she was no longer under the control of the despised anklet caused her to let out a stifled sob. “Thank you. I’m sorry about what I said.”
“I asked for the truth. I do not fault you for rudeness when you had no choice. However, if you speak that way to me again, I will send you away.”
“Why … why did you destroy the anklet?” was all she could choke out.
“I cannot abide injustice. And I will not abet it. However, I hold a certain position in Ubania that forces me to make others believe I do. The truth is, you are free to leave at any time. The ring only prevents you from trying to harm me, nothing more. I bear you no ill will, but at the same time I am not foolish enough to leave myself vulnerable.”
“So I can leave?”
“Of course. Now, if you want; though you should be aware that it is unlikely you would make it very far from my estate. I am forced to register you as indentured to me. The Archbishop has all noble houses closely watched, more so here than in Ralmarstad proper even, as he rightly suspects we’re more likely to cause him trouble. Step beyond my lands and they will catch and imprison you as a runaway.”
“So I am little more than your property. Even without the anklet.”
“No. You’re a prisoner at worst. I will not force you to work. My lands are extensive. I might expel you from my home, but I would never turn anyone who has fallen prey to Ralmarstad treachery over to the authorities. You are free to hunt and forage within my borders. I will not deny you that right. Just be aware that you will need to dwell there for the rest of your life, with no aid or kindness from me.” She flicked her wrist. “Perhaps you might find such a life preferable.”
“It depends on the alternative … my lady.”
“Fair enough. I spent a substantial amount of gold to bring you here. Serve me for six years and I will see you are brought safely to wherever you want to go, no matter where it is or how far away. In that time, you will have repaid the cost and I will be satisfied. Given the conditions of the prisons, I think it a suitable alternative.”
“Is that why you free the condemned?”
“My reasons are my own.” Her tone had sharpened. “You will not question me or anything I do. Just because I would see an end to injustice, do not think me soft-hearted or sentimental. Trysilia served me four years beyond the time she could have left. In spite of that, I promise you that I do not miss her company in the least. If I found that she ran afoul of Kylorian law again, I would not lift a finger to save her. You, child, are even less important to me. As of now, your only value is in the stories you can tell me about Vylari. Now leave me. Gertrude will show you to your quarters.”
As if on cue, the door opened and Gertrude entered, bowing low.
“What about my duties?” asked Mariyah. “When should I—”
“Another word and you can leave my house this instant,” she snapped.
Mariyah bowed her head and turned to leave. Gertrude, looking flushed, waved for her to hurry.
“The anklet,” Lady Camdon’s stern voice reminded. “I thought I was clear that you are to keep it with you at all times.”
Not daring to speak, Mariyah searched the floor in what she thought was the right area, eventually finding it beneath one of the chairs near the hearth. To her dismay, the metal was twisted and half melted, as if someone had placed the anklet in a fire. She held it up.
At the sight of this, Lady Camdon shot up from her chair, spanning the room with long, deliberate strides, and snatched the anklet from her grasp. “What did you do?” she demanded. “You may speak.”
“I don’t know,” Mariyah replied, a tremor in her voice. “I just threw it. I don’t know how this happened.”
After examining the anklet for a moment, Lady Camdon leaned in close so that she was almost nose to nose with Mariyah, peering into her eyes. With a rapid jerk, she then stepped back and shoved the anklet into her pocket. “Gertrude, remove this girl from my sight. Then find a suitable replacement.”
“Yes, my lady. Right away.”
Lady Camdon returned to her chair and took a sip from a glass of wine, her eyes directed downward as if in deep thought.
Mariyah’s mind was a whirl. A suitable replacement? Was she to be cast aside so quickly? She noticed Gertrude again waving for her to hurry. Once back in the corridor, she leaned against the wall and slid down.
Gertrude knelt beside her. “Are you all right, dear?”
She didn’t know what to feel. She was free. And yet still trapped. To live on the estate grounds would certainly be preferable to a life of harsh confinement. But to be completely alone for the rest of her life was a daunting prospect, to say the least.
“How long do I have?” she asked.
“I don’t understand. How long for what?”
“She said you need to find a replacement. How long until I have to leave the manor?”
Gertrude reached out and lifted her chin, smiling. “Not for you, silly. For the anklet. You’ll have to wear a fake one to avoid any unwanted questions.” She stood
, hand extended. “Come. Let’s find your room. There’s hot water and a meal waiting.”
Mariyah allowed herself to be helped up. “Thank you. I thought that…”
“What? That I was about to get on another bloody ship and go back to that rathole of a city? I’d resign first. Actually, she was quite taken with you, I think.”
Mariyah cocked her head. “Taken? She threatened to throw me out.”
“She does that to every new arrival. So don’t take it to heart. The Lady is a hard woman, but she’s fair.”
“She said I could live on the estate if I wanted. Was she telling the truth?”
Gertrude’s face twisted, as if she’d tasted something foul. “Live in the woods? Scrounging for food and covered in dirt? You wouldn’t want to do that.”
“But I could?”
“Yes.”
“Has anyone ever done it?”
“Once. And he didn’t last long. He ended up coming back to the manor in less than a week.”
“Lady Camdon let him back in?”
Gertrude laughed. “She’s not as heartless as she wants people to think.”
Along the way they ran across two more servants: a younger woman with copper skin and bright eyes and an older man with a pale, chalky complexion and a narrow build who was busy arranging books in what looked to be the library. Both nodded to Mariyah as the women passed and gave her a welcoming smile.
Gertrude told her their names were Kylanda and Rastimar.
“We’re really not supposed to speak to one another while we’re working,” she said, “unless it’s something to do with our duties. But don’t worry. You’ll meet everyone properly later tonight. All the household staff eats together.”
“How many are there?”
“Not as many as you’d think. The manor more or less cleans itself. Fifteen of us take care of the rest. Of course, more temporary staff are brought in during parties and other social functions. Not that you need to worry about that right now. You’ll have a day or two before being expected to start work. Not even the Iron Lady expects new arrivals to jump in on their first day.” She bent low to whisper in her ear. “That’s what we call her when she’s not around.”
Most of the staff were housed in rooms in the east wing of the manor, close to the kitchens. Mariyah, however, was given a suite across from Lady Camdon’s personal bedchamber. It was quite spacious, though not as elegantly furnished as the rest of the manor. The bed was twice the size as the one she’d had back home, and it looked warm and inviting. The mere sight of it reminded her that she had just finished a long journey. The dressers, wardrobes, and closets were filled with apparel of varying styles and sizes.
“You’ll need to find what fits you,” Gertrude told her. “Once Lady Camdon officially appoints you as her personal assistant, you’ll have a proper fitting.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“It has happened once or twice. But I’m sure you’ll be fine. Have a look around, and I’ll come get you when it’s time to eat.” She turned to leave, pausing at the door. “Oh, I almost forgot. We have running water here. Have you had any experience with it?”
“Running water?”
Gertrude tittered, then pointed to the door in the right corner. “In there. I would show you, but I think it would be fun for you to learn about it on your own.”
As it turned out, fun was not exactly how Mariyah would have described her first experience with running water. Hot running water. The huge ceramic basin, large enough for her to fit her entire body inside, had two knobs and a spigot. She scalded her hand twice before figuring out how to combine cold and hot water to a pleasing temperature, and another few minutes pondering how to prevent the water from running away straight down the drain. However, once she finally worked out that she simply needed to pull up a knob affixed to the spigot, she found a warm bath to be a most pleasant experience.
In the same way the dust had disappeared when Lady Camdon brushed it onto the floor, the droplets of water from her body when she stepped from the tub vanished the moment they struck the tiles. As useful and benign as it was, she found even this kind of practical magic to be unsettling. That she would be forced to walk upon it at all times made her skin crawl.
There was one other room in her suite, apparently a parlor, though with only a small table, four chairs, and a single empty cabinet against the near wall. From the thick layer of dust, it looked as if it had not been used in some time. At least the furniture isn’t magic, she thought. Though it was entirely possible that it was throughout the rest of the manor. With only fifteen servants, keeping the dust at bay by hand in a place so enormous would be nearly impossible.
The clothes were mostly formal dresses and gowns, along with a variety of bejeweled accessories and shoes. To her relief, she did ultimately find a few casual and far more comfortable outfits, as well as a beautifully soft nightgown.
The warmth of the water had been soothing, to be sure; it had also made her keenly aware that she had not slept in some time. The bed was practically begging her to test its quality, and she had no desire to reject its allure. After slipping beneath the cool sheets and pulling the thick blanket up to her chin, she instantly became drowsy. Lady Camdon might throw her out to fend for herself come morning; in this moment, however, she felt secure. Considering all the turmoil and uncertainty that was now prevalent in her life, why shouldn’t she enjoy whatever small time she could? Her troubles would still be there when she opened her eyes once again.
Sadly, the respite proved to be temporary. It felt like she had barely drifted off when the door opened and Gertrude hurried in.
“Lady Camdon wants you to dine with her this evening, I’m afraid.” She bore a look of severe consternation. “So we’d better start getting you ready.”
Mariyah yawned and stretched. Gertrude was already sifting through her wardrobe. “How long was I asleep?” she asked.
“About two hours.”
It hadn’t seemed that long. “I thought I was supposed to eat with the other servants.”
“You are,” Gertrude replied, holding up a cream-colored dress. “Trysilia almost never ate with the mistress. Except when there were guests, that is.”
“And are there any tonight? Guests, I mean.” She stretched once more then sat up on the edge of the bed.
“No. Lady Camdon canceled all invitations until her new assistant arrived.”
Mariyah crossed over to the wardrobe and pointed out a few similar dresses that would fit. The one Gertrude had picked was too small. “Why do you think she wants me there?”
Gertrude selected a green dress with black borders and laid it out on the bed. “Who knows why the Lady does the things she does? It’s best not to question her.” Motioning for Mariyah to sit in front of a vanity next to the wardrobe, she retrieved several brushes and hairpins from its drawer.
A moment later the door opened, and the girl named Kylanda whom they had seen earlier entered. She was carrying a tray with a ceramic pot and a cup.
“I thought some tea might help,” she said. “Gertrude told me that you were sleeping.”
“Thank you,” Mariyah said, nodding politely. “I’m still quite tired.”
“I would think so, after all you’ve been through.” She set the tray down and began preparing the tea.
The girl’s gracious demeanor and welcoming smile went far to assuage Mariyah’s anxiety. “You went through the same thing, didn’t you?”
“Eight years ago,” she affirmed. “Feels like a lifetime since I left Lobin.”
Mariyah glanced down to see she was not wearing an anklet. “So you’re free now?”
“For three years.”
“Don’t you want to go home?”
She gave a wide-eyed shake of her head. “Not a chance. Too dangerous. There’s nothing for me there, anyway. Most of my family are dead. Besides, I was barely in my teens when I arrived at the manor. Home … well … it isn’t home anymore.”
; “But why stay?”
Kylanda smiled and handed her the cup. “Oh, I’ll go in a few years, once I’ve saved enough gold. If I left now, I’d still need to find work. Lady Camdon pays well. Better than most. Besides, I have friends here that I love very much.” She tilted her head and shrugged. “I guess it’s hard to leave a place when it’s all you really know.”
Mariyah could not fathom staying somewhere she had once been a prisoner. “Where will you go?”
Kylanda pulled up a chair to sit in front of Mariyah while Gertrude proceeded to brush her hair. “I haven’t decided yet. Near the mountains, maybe.”
“You’ve never been to the mountains,” Gertrude chipped in. “And you hate the cold.”
Kylanda frowned. “You just want me to stay put.” She leaned in and took Mariyah’s hands. “I hear you were sentenced to life. Lady Camdon must have really wanted you, to let Trysilia spend so much.”
“Lady Camdon knows talent when she sees it,” said Gertrude lightly. “Which is why Mariyah is Trysilia’s replacement … and you aren’t.”
Kylanda huffed. “Who says I wanted to replace her?”
This was clearly a well-worn topic between the two of them.
“So it wasn’t you screaming at the top of your lungs when Lady Camdon announced she was sending Trysilia to Lobin?”
“I was not screaming,” Kylanda insisted, looking a bit flustered. After a brief moment, she regained her composure. “The position pays more. That’s the only reason I wanted it. To be honest, the thought of being in the Iron Lady’s company all day and night…” She exaggerated a shudder. “I’m better off where I am.”
“How many indentures live here?” asked Mariyah, thinking it best to change the subject.
“Other than you, only two,” Kylanda replied.
“So few?” For some reason Mariyah had expected the entire house to be filled with them.
“I think you might have the wrong idea about Lady Camdon,” said Gertrude. “If she could, she would have none. The mistress despises the practice. But appearances must be kept up, particularly among the nobility. A person of her wealth and status without at least a few indentures would be noticed.”
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