The Duke's Handmaid (Book 1 of the Ascendancy Trilogy)

by Caprice Hokstad

  “You hurt her?” His jaw dropped. “What did you do?”

  “timna tied her wrists with baling twine and—”

  “Baling twine! You tied a freewoman’s wrists with baling twine? Why in Byntar...?”

  “To do the submission test, like at the ITC. She asked for training. timna was trying to show her...” timna broke off in more sobs.

  “The submission test? You mean you tied her wrists behind her back?”

  “Yes, Master,” timna whimpered, still struggling to finish. “She never complained. Four hours she knelt. Then she tried to stand with her hands tied. She fell trying and that was when timna noticed her wrists were cut by the twine.”

  Vahn stood abruptly and turned his back, directing his gaze out the window. He was so angry, he could barely think straight. Lady Keedrina could hold him liable, even ask for restitution. He wanted to ask timna how bad the fall and cuts had hurt the poor Itzi, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak to her. Her blubbering was pushing him to the edge. She would have to be punished, but he didn’t want to do it in anger and right now, he was beyond furious. “I am very disappointed in you, timna. You are confined to your quarters until I can speak to Lady Keedrina.”

  “Yes, Master Vahn,” she managed to say with a minimum of sobs. She got up from the floor. As she neared the door, she hesitated. Turning her head just enough to be heard, but not enough to face him, she said, “Lady Keedrina was looking for Lord Patkus when timna left her less than ten minutes ago, Master.”

  Vahn tightened his fingers in a fist and delivered a loud blow to his desk. He appreciated knowing where to look for Keedrina, but appreciation was lost in the disturbing implications. To hear that the poor girl sought a healer was bad enough. The wounds must be severe. Even worse, timna had left her alone, without knowing if she’d found help. timna was a stranger to him and that troubled him deeply.

  Vahn stormed out of the study, grabbed his manteau, and dashed out the door. He skipped saddling Allegiant and rode her bareback. A few minutes later, he dismounted at the infirmary adjoining Lord Patkus’s house. He rapped on the door. A silver-haired Elva answered promptly.

  The woman curtsied. “May I help you, your highness?”

  “Yes. I’m looking for Lady Keedrina. Have you seen her?”

  “She was just here looking for Pharn. I told her he was seeing a patient on Squire Street—the shoemaker. His shop is next to the cooper’s.”

  “Thank you, milady.” He hurried back to his horse. The fact that the healer’s wife or assistant or whoever she was had let Keedrina go comforted him. Surely, she would not have allowed a badly wounded girl to leave the infirmary. He galloped off toward the shoemaker’s shop. He saw Keedrina entering the shop while he was still several blocks away.

  After dismounting and securing Allegiant, he slipped in the door and ducked into a shadowed space near the shop front. Keedrina didn’t notice him, but the two men in the shop looked up. Vahn put a finger to his lips and shook his head, pointing to Keedrina so that Patkus and the shoemaker wouldn’t acknowledge his presence. He knew he had a dumbfounding effect on her and didn’t want to interfere. Pharn Patkus smiled his willing assent to the unspoken request.

  Chapter 25

  Keedrina inhaled deeply, enjoying the strong scent of leather in the cluttered little shop. An Elva sat with his leg elevated while Lord Patkus applied a bandage. Lord Patkus looked up and smiled.

  “Ah, Keedrina,” the healer said. “I have something for you.” He fished through his pocket and removed a scrimshaw pendant on a leather thong. He stepped away from his patient to approach Keedrina, then held the necklace out to her.

  Keedrina took her mother’s compacting gift with a nod. She ran her finger over the seagull etchings before closing her hand around it and slipping it into her pocket. She had to put it away fast before she thought about it too much. “Thank you, Lord Patkus. Did you get my message?”

  “Yes I did, and I want you to know I couldn’t be happier.”

  “Then you are interested?”

  “I have been interested for a long time, Keedrina.”

  “Well, then, the only thing to discuss is the price.”

  “Yes. When are you old enough to be compacted, little one?”

  Keedrina frowned. What did compacting have to do with anything? Not only that, but the “little one” appellation seemed inappropriate. She was as tall as his wife. If she was old enough to transact business, she shouldn’t be treated as a child. “In two years, milord, but I am a legal adult now.”

  “Yes, of course. So what amount did you have in mind?”

  Keedrina thought a moment. The tiny charred lot and small henhouse were worth far less than the farmland Mother had sold him. “Would 400 be too much to ask?”

  “Oh, my dear, I wouldn’t cheat you like that! I was thinking more like 500.”

  Keedrina’s jaw dropped. “500 silver?”

  Lord Patkus laughed. “No, little one, 500 gold, of course.”

  Surely, she didn’t hear correctly. “You mean for my land and the henhouse you would pay 500 gold?”

  “Well, I hadn’t thought about the land and...” He stopped. “Keedrina, do you want to be banded?”

  How had he known? Did she dare tell him her aspirations? Then understanding dawned. He had asked about compacting age to determine a slave term. He was offering such a high price for her, not her lot and henhouse. 500 gold still seemed exceptionally generous. She felt awful to disappoint him.

  Keedrina dipped her head and answered softly, “I do want to be banded, milord, but I promised myself to Duke Vahn, if he’ll take me. I’m sorry. I thought we were talking about my lot, henhouse, and poultry. It was my fault for not specifying what I wanted to sell.”

  Lord Patkus sighed. “Well, you can’t blame a man for trying. If by chance the duke doesn’t take you, please remember me.”

  Keedrina didn’t know how to answer that. If the duke wouldn’t take her, she wasn’t so sure about anything. Indeed, it surprised her that her feelings about service were so closely tied to Duke Vahn and his house. Would moxi’s company be enough to fill the void in her heart? She was deep in thought when another voice interrupted. It was rich, booming, and unmistakable.

  “The duke will take her, Lord Patkus.”

  Keedrina melted. Without a conscious thought, she found herself on her knees. She bowed her head and held perfectly still. It came naturally, like a reflex.

  The healer chuckled. “It appears the duke already has her.”

  “Are you interested in her land and henhouse, Lord Patkus?” Duke Vahn asked. “The price is 400 silver, and I believe, quite reasonable.”

  Lord Patkus paused. “Yes, your highness, I want it, but I want to deed her the oak tree area where her family is buried. It is of no agricultural value and it should remain with her.”

  “Very pleasing. I will witness the transaction right now if that is agreeable to both?” Any transaction between Itzi and Elva required an objective Elva to mediate. The shoemaker could have done it, but any contract witnessed by the duke himself was as good as written in stone.

  “That is fine with me, thank you,” Lord Patkus said.

  Keedrina nodded. The healer sat and pulled parchments and a quill from his satchel. Keedrina could have written a deed herself, but Lord Patkus did not know of her writing ability. It was just as well, since she wouldn’t move without the duke’s request.

  Lord Patkus handed two finished documents to the duke. The healer pulled a leather pouch from his pocket, counted out gold coins equivalent to the silver price, and handed them to Duke Vahn.

  The duke scanned the documents, then set them on a workbench. “Lady Keedrina? The contracts are as you agreed. If it pleases you, would you seal them with your mark?”

  “Yes, your highness,” she replied. She stood from her kneel and approached the workbench. She felt no need to recount the coins after the duke had done it. However, she read one of the deeds out of curiosi
ty.

  Duke Vahn looked over her shoulder. Lord Patkus was busy putting his bandage supplies away. The shoemaker had turned his attention to a shoe needing a new sole.

  Keedrina inscribed a precise “K” to both deeds. She could write her whole name, but it wasn’t a legal mark for contracts. Most Itzi made an X or a circle. Keedrina withdrew and reassumed her kneel at the duke’s side. The healer quilled his mark on the deeds under hers. It was a double “P” with the letters stacked vertically and using a single line for both half-circles.

  The duke grabbed a nearby candle. He dripped hot wax onto the deeds and then pressed his signet into the wax and held it while it cooled. He removed his ring and nodded approval of the imprint left. He handed the first parchment to Lord Patkus. “Congratulations, milord, you are the proud owner of the Silla Property, complete with henhouse and poultry.”

  “Thank you, your highness,” Lord Patkus said, handling the deed carefully. “And thank you, Keedrina.”

  “You’re welcome,” she replied.

  Lord Patkus picked up his satchel and headed for the door.

  Keedrina had not touched the coins, though she knew they were legally hers. She glanced at her deed. She was thankful the duke didn’t congratulate her as he had the healer. She didn’t want to think about owning a gravesite.

  The duke consumed her attention. She couldn’t help noticing the dignity with which he walked, the strength in his tall carriage, and of course, that enrapturing voice. His very presence filled her spirit and caused her heart to beat wildly.

  “Just a moment, if you don’t mind, milord,” the duke said to Lord Patkus. “I need your healing abilities.”

  “Forgive me, your highness. How can I help you?” he asked as he turned to give the duke’s tall form a critical look.

  “It’s not me, but Lady Keedrina. I want you to look at her wrists.”

  Keedrina gulped. How could she have been so careless as not to hide her wounds? Could the duke guess how they got there?

  Lord Patkus looked toward the frozen Itzi. “Keedrina? What’s wrong with your wrists?”

  “Keedrina’s wrists are fine, Lord Patkus. Truly,” she said, nervously moving her hands from her lap to behind her back.

  “No, Lady Keedrina, they are not fine. Please show them to Lord Patkus. For me,” Duke Vahn said softly. That was all it took. She could not refuse him. She lifted her wrists toward the healer.

  Lord Patkus frowned, scrutinizing and turning her arms. “What happened?”

  She didn’t know what to say. If Duke Vahn probed, she would tell him, but revealing anything negative about timna in front of Lord Patkus would not only get timna in more trouble, but dishonor the house. Above all, she had to protect the duke’s house. “I’d rather not say. It is minor, is it not?”

  “No, I wouldn’t call it minor, but it looks clean. If you had come to me sooner, I would have applied some salve to reduce the chance of scarring, but I’m afraid there’s very little I can do now. Are you in pain?”

  “No.” It was close to true. She wished it hurt more to remind her to be more careful.

  “Thank you, Lord Patkus,” the duke said as he pressed some coins into his hand. The healer tried to refuse, but the duke would not take it back. Lord Patkus hurried out. Duke Vahn turned to Keedrina. “Milady Keedrina, might I have a word with you in private?”

  “Yes, your highness, Keedrina is at your disposal.”

  “Very pleasing. Is there any place you’d prefer to go?”

  “No. Whatever pleases you is fine with Keedrina.”

  “Excellent. Then let us walk a while.”

  Keedrina scooped the gold coins and the deed into her pocket, then followed him out.

  Chapter 26

  Outside, Vahn loosened Allegiant from the hitching post and strolled toward home. Keedrina maneuvered herself to a position several feet behind him, then followed at a respectful distance. Vahn smiled to himself. He weighed talking as they walked, but it seemed too awkward, considering the subject matter. He needed to have her undivided attention.

  He led the horse and Keedrina through the gates of Rebono Keep then turned Allegiant over to one of the stable hands. He considered the keep for the talk and just as quickly discarded the idea. He didn’t want to see Saerula even in passing. He settled on the garden terrace.

  Vahn walked briskly, sure Keedrina would follow. Coming to a bench in dappled shade, he made himself comfortable. There was another bench perpendicular to his position, but he felt certain she’d kneel on the grass before even asking to sit. Keedrina didn’t disappoint him. She knelt six feet away and bowed her head.

  “Lady Keedrina, I want you to know how thankful I am for protecting my house while we were at the shoemaker’s. You had every right to tell Lord Patkus what timna did to you, yet you didn’t. I noticed you didn’t lie either. That’s very admirable.”

  Keedrina blushed. “Thank you. But timna did nothing wrong. Keedrina asked her to do it.”

  “You asked timna to tie your wrists behind your back with baling twine and leave you for four hours so you could lose circulation, fall, and tear your skin so badly that you bled?”

  “No, but Keedrina asked to be trained—so I would be the best I could possibly be for your house. The wounds were an accident.”

  “I’m flattered you were willing to submit to such a harsh training, but timna had no right to do it. It would have been wrong even if you were one of my slaves. An optimess is not an enforcer. She is supposed to lead by example. I haven’t decided on her punishment yet, but she will be punished.”

  Lady Keedrina’s eyes grew wide. “Master Vahn, she apologized and she feels awful about it. She didn’t have to tell you. Keedrina would never have told you unless you asked.”

  “She knew I would find out eventually. I am utterly amazed and deeply thankful she didn’t deter you from ever speaking to me again. The only thing she did right in this whole ordeal was to confess.”

  “Yes, Master Vahn,” she said sadly. “As you wish.”

  “Actually, I want to know what your wishes are. Your speech is very pleasing and I only grow more impressed with your actions and manners. What is your wish concerning my house?” timna was untrustworthy and it wasn’t fair to hold the gentle Itzi to words he overheard in a shoemaker’s shop either. She might have overstated her intentions to Pharn Patkus to make her refusal easier. If she was going to submit Freewill, he wanted to hear it from her own lips.

  She drew a deep breath. “Keedrina wishes to sell herself in exchange for timna. Keedrina knows timna is Elva and optimess and Keedrina is but an untrained Itzi, but Keedrina will accept the ‘P’ in exchange for timna’s remaining year.”

  She lifted her hands up to him in the Classic Offering Position—fingers curled shut, wrists together, with forearms exposed. In tales of old, before the advent of protective laws and the ITC, the master would bind the submitter’s wrists and attach them to any convenient stationary object. A distinguishing symbol (precursors to the modern tattooed Marks) would be cut or branded into the forearm, sealing the slave’s fate in seconds. The position was still used in war to beg for one’s life. It was universally known in the Twelve Kingdoms that assuming the position was to relinquish all rights and submit as a slave.

  Vahn, however, was not a barbarian, nor was this Ancient Times. Dumbfounded, he stared at her offered wrists, focusing on the twine-burned skin. He reached out and gently pressed on her hands to encourage her to lower them.

  “Lady Keedrina, do you know what you’re saying? The ‘P’ is for Permanents. timna mentioned you wanted to be Freewill.”

  She smiled. “Keedrina knows, Master Vahn. I read a scroll from the ITC. And yes, I did intend to be Freewill, but that did not seem valuable enough to buy timna’s freedom.”

  He couldn’t think of how to respond, so he decided to inquire about the other burning question. “I noticed at the shoemaker shop that you could read. Who taught you?”

  “An Elva named
Botlop, one of Lord Patkus’s hired hands. He thought I was just a rural Elva who never got the chance to learn. He didn’t find out I was Itzi until after the lessons were completed.”

  “Who else knows you can read? Lord Patkus didn’t seem aware.”

  “Keedrina has only told timna. Keedrina thinks it unlikely Botlop told anyone, since he is embarrassed.”

  Vahn chuckled. Of course the lad would be embarrassed. He had been fooled by a very clever Itzi. Embarrassment would work to his advantage though. “Lady Keedrina, may I think on your generous offer? I want to talk to timna again before I do anything. In the meantime, would you please join me for tea?”

  “Whatever pleases you, Master Vahn. However, Keedrina is not suitably dressed to enter your home. Perhaps Keedrina should find a dress shop first,” she said, patting her coin-filled pocket.

  “Nonsense. There is plenty for you to wear here. There is no reason for you to waste your money on clothes. Come, let’s go to the guest cottage right now,” he said as he stood and pulled his manteau around his shoulders.

  She rose from the grass and waited for him to pass, then followed at a distance.

  Vahn led her through the cottage door. “Please, find anything you like from the drawers or closets—preferably with long sleeves. Bathe and dress, then I will send someone for you. I would love to see your hair down as well, if it’s no trouble. Covering your ears with hair in some way would be wise.”

  “Yes, Master Vahn. Keedrina would be happy to fulfill your wishes.”

  “One last favor, Keedrina, please. While you are with the duchess and not yet banded, I ask that you call me ‘Duke Vahn’ or ‘your highness’ instead of ‘Master’. In addition, please use normal first person. This is not an order, but a favor. I am delighted with your speech, but I don’t want questions from the duchess until I have decided what to do, all right?”

  “As you wish.”

  “Very pleasing. Now expect someone to come for you in about an hour, understood?”

  “Yes, Master.”