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

by Caprice Hokstad

  “Training,” Vahn answered with his best dashing smile.

  Something about his voice must have caught her attention. She looked up. “Oh, so sorry, your highness.” Her cheeks colored and she dipped her quill hurriedly. “You have a new slave to train? Male or female?” This time she conveyed much more interest in her tone.

  He loved to cause flustering like that, but he never tormented his victims. “Yes I do,” he said proudly. “Female and Freewill.” The scribe looked twice, her eyes wide with surprise. She checked a few boxes on the parchment application, took her name and age, but skipped most of the questions on the form. “I prefer Lord Blackthorn, please,” Vahn reminded her.

  “Yes, your highness. I’ll find your records right away. Please wait in Faithful Obeisance Chamber, down the hall, to the left.”

  “Thank you,” Vahn said. His departure with kee was a stark contrast to the patron before. Vahn didn’t bother with a gesture. kee followed without being asked. The scribe and the patrons in line stared after them with mouths agape. Whispers started the moment they were out of range.

  At the door to Faithful Obeisance Chamber, Vahn stopped and turned to kee. “I want to speak with the trainer alone at first. Please wait here, if you will.”

  “Yes, Master.” She settled to her knees on the floor beside the door. In a regal Standard Kneel, she was the perfect sentinel. Vahn entered the room and took a seat near a large desk.

  A page in purple and gold entered from the opposite side of the room. He bowed at the waist. “I’m sorry, your highness, Lord Blackthorn has been detained. Would you like another trainer assigned?”

  “No,” Vahn said. “I will wait. Lord Blackthorn knows my house and my preferences.”

  “Very well, I will inform him you’re waiting.” The page disappeared again through the interior door. Vahn got up from the desk and headed out the other door to kee. She was predictably just as he left her. He propped the door open so he could hear when Lord Blackthorn arrived. He sat on the bench beside kee who knelt on the floor.

  “Looks like we’ll have to wait a bit,” he said.

  “kee is sorry she causes inconvenience, Master Vahn.”

  “This is not your fault. I’m particular about which trainer I want handling my house. He’s busy and I elected to wait. He’s the Headmaster here.”

  kee nodded, her gaze affixed across the hall. A young Itzi was chained by her neck band to an iron loop on the wall. She sat on a bench, sobbing. Vahn sympathized. She couldn’t have been over 13. He thought of xassa as he watched her. “kee, do you want to talk to her? She looks like she could use a friend.”

  “Yes, Master, kee would like to, thank you.”

  Vahn leaned back against the wall and watched. kee crossed the hall, slipped slowly onto the bench beside the crying girl, and placed her arm around her shoulders. “Do you feel like talking about it?” kee asked.

  “There’s nothing to talk about. My mother sold me. I’m a slave. What could you possibly say that would change anything?” she whimpered.

  “kee cannot change it. But maybe it is not as bad as you think. What do you think is the worst thing about being a slave?”

  “Being in these chains—locked up like an animal.” She tugged at her neck band and cried all the harder.

  “Please be careful. You would only hurt yourself. Your master probably locked you so you wouldn’t run away. Perhaps if you showed more acceptance, he would give you more freedom.”

  “But I do want to run away.”

  “Where would you go?” kee brushed some hair from the girl’s face.

  “I don’t know. I just want to go home.”

  “That would be the first place they looked. It would only get you punished. Do you still love your mother after what she did?”

  “Yes. Mother didn’t want to sell me. She had no choice.”

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters at home?”

  “Yes, two sisters and one brother. All younger.”

  “Would you give your life to save one of them?” kee rubbed the girl’s back.

  “Yes,” she said, hiccupping. “I think I would.”

  “Then think of your slavery as giving a bit of your life to save them all.” kee turned her wrist to find a freshly tattooed ‘22’. “You only have to be a slave for one year. Is one year of your life worth it to save your sisters and brother?”

  The young Itzi sucked in her cries. “I never thought of it that way.”

  “Think of it as a privilege. You are their savior. kee would have done anything to save her sisters and mother. They are dead now and nothing kee can do would bring them back.” The girl wiped her eyes and sniffled loudly. kee stayed close by, whispering soothingly to the girl.

  Lord Blackthorn arrived. Vahn got up. kee bowed when he stood, but he gestured for her to continue. He was pleased with the progress she was making with the crying girl and didn’t want to interrupt. It had taken him months to communicate as much to xassa. He entered Faithful Obeisance Chamber alone and shut the door behind him.

  Chapter 40

  The girl confessed to kee that her master had let her keep her birth name, berru. Moments after Master Vahn disappeared, berru’s master emerged from the door beside their bench. He was older than Master Vahn, and suspicious to find kee sitting next to berru. “What are you doing here?” he asked sternly.

  kee’s heart raced. “kee was only talking to berru—trying to comfort her. She seemed so sad.” The man scowled. He yanked kee by the arm and threw her to the center of the hall. kee cowered on the floor, not sure what she should do. He raised his hand to strike her.

  “It’s true, Master Loth,” berru said. Something about her tone caused the man to turn back, averting the blow he was poised to deliver to kee. “Please don’t hurt kee. She helped me see that I am doing a good thing to be your slave. I’m sorry for the trouble. I won’t try to run away.”

  “Oh, sure. She told you to mollify me into confidence so I will be careless and leave you unchained. Then you’ll take advantage of it and run away. She’s probably a runaway herself, here to be punished.”

  “No, Master Loth. I have nowhere to run,” berru said. “Chain me as much as you like. And kee is not a runaway. She belongs to Duke Vahn. He’s right behind that door.” berru pointed to Faithful Obeisance Chamber. “He gave her permission to talk to me. Ask him yourself.”

  kee was amazed at the change in berru. Loth was startled enough to consider her words. He turned to kee and glared. “Slave, tell me your name and master. If you lie to me, I will see you whipped 20 lashes.”

  kee gathered her courage and quickly shifted to Submissive Kneel. She lifted her face from her knees only enough for clearance to speak. “This slave is kee. She belongs to Master Vahn Rebono, duke of Latoph. Please forgive kee if she has offended you in any way. kee is sorry.” She held her breath and remained in Submissive.

  Loth hesitated and then sighed in defeat. “It seems I’m the one who’s sorry. As you were, kee.” kee exhaled and straightened her torso, but maintained Standard Kneel. Loth smiled weakly. “Thank you for talking to berru. It seems you did her some good. Is there any way I can make it up to you for the shoving?”

  “There is no need for apologies, but if there is any thanks to be given, please give it to Master Vahn. It was his idea for kee to speak with berru.”

  “You are a credit to his house, kee. I will do that.” He turned to berru and unlocked the chain that held her to the wall. “Come, berru, you need to meet your trainer.”

  “Yes, Master Loth,” berru said. kee smiled and winked at her. She smiled back, but kept her attention on Loth. Loth and berru disappeared through the door.

  kee decided the center of the hall was not the best place to be and crossed back to resume her sentry beside the door to Faithful Obeisance Chamber.

  Chapter 41

  Vahn had entered Faithful Obeisance and found Lord Blackthorn standing behind the desk. The middle-aged Elva in gold embroidered
purple silk bowed at the waist. “Welcome, your highness.”

  “Thank you, Lord Blackthorn. I’m glad you could find time for me.” They grasped each other’s forearms and shook heartily. Blackthorn gestured to the chairs as he glanced over the application parchment. Vahn seated himself, never taking his eyes off the trainer. He could hardly contain his anticipation of the expected response.

  “Freewill?” Blackthorn exclaimed.

  Vahn grinned. “Yes, Freewill. And she’s already half trained.”

  Blackthorn frowned. “Now, now, that isn’t proper, you know. How long have you had her?”

  “About an hour.” Vahn’s eyes danced with mirth as he watched Blackthorn.

  “Do you mean she was a slave before?”

  “Not at all. This is her first banding ever. I haven’t done any formal training with her, but she’s very bright and has been watching timna and the other girls for about a week.”

  “Well, that doesn’t count. As far as we’re concerned, she’s untrained.”

  “You’ll think differently when you meet her,” Vahn promised. “Now, I have to impart some information I want confidential—not to be written on her records.”

  Blackthorn considered a moment. “I suppose we can manage that.”

  “You will swear an oath to me. If this leaks out, someone will end up in my dungeon.” His mirthful eyes transformed to deadly serious.

  “Yes, your highness. I swear I will not tell a living soul as long as I live and breathe.”

  “Excellent. kee is tall, has blue eyes and nearly black hair. Furthermore, she can read. Yet she is Itzi. She has been instructed to wear her hair over her round ears. I don’t want that order countermanded. She is not to lie, and neither are you; the subject is simply forbidden. Understood?”

  “Yes, your highness. That shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Good. You may write the rest of my instructions.” Vahn waited for Blackthorn to pick up his quill again. “It is likely kee will be my optimess one day. I want her trained accordingly.” He wasn’t sure if he had the heart to promote her over timna, but timna might not stay beyond the term that ended in a year. “You have all my standards and special rituals on file, yes?”

  “Yes, we have them right here.” Blackthorn patted a thick pile of parchments.

  “Now, because she is Freewill, I want her training altered slightly. I want her treated exactly like anyone else, except if it comes to striking her. I want to confer with whomever witnesses an infraction. If I agree punishment is due, I will either do it myself or watch while the trainer administers. If she is returned to me with so much as a single unexplained switch mark, I will visit it back on the inflictor tenfold. Understood?”

  “Yes, your highness. I understand perfectly.”

  “Very well. Lastly, she has my word she may go free any time she requests. She understands this will not be possible at all times. However, if she is able to ask and does so, then it is my wish that training stop. Summon me at once. If I am detained, unlock her bands and let her go without me. Understood?”

  Blackthorn squirmed uneasily. “No, not exactly. What are we supposed to hold over her if she can’t be punished and she can go free anytime she wants? How will we get anything done?”

  “She doesn’t know she cannot be punished. Threaten all you like. I assure you, she’s eager to learn. She won’t give you any trouble. I’d wager she’d submit to punishment without restraints. And if she thought you’d get in trouble for it, she’d take blame herself to protect you.”

  “With all due respect, your highness, …poppycock. She may have put on a nice show for you, but she isn’t going to fool us.”

  “Would you care to bet, milord?” A sly smile crept over Vahn’s lips.

  “I have very little silver,” Blackthorn said.

  “How about I wager the training fee? If she isn’t all I say, I’ll pay double. If she is, I pay for her rations and you absorb the cost of the training. If she’s as good as I say, training her should be easy. Fair enough?”

  “Done!”

  “Oh, win or lose, I’m not paying extra for third person speech. She’s already picked it up.”

  “If she slips, can I use it against her?”

  “No more than you would anyone else who was just learning, but yes. If she makes mistakes, you are to correct her. That’s why I brought her here. But if anyone does anything untoward that causes me to lose her, he had better fear for more than his silver.”

  “I won’t have to do anything I wouldn’t normally do. Besides, I helped you furnish your dungeon. You don’t have to warn me twice. Anything else?”

  “No, I think that covers it. Are you ready for her?” Vahn couldn’t suppress an anticipatory smile.

  Blackthorn smirked. “Oh, go get her. Let’s see how much damage you’ve done mollycoddling a freewoman into thinking this is a walk in the garden.”

  Vahn felt comfortable enough with Blackthorn to let such a remark slide. He chuckled as he stood. All the better that Blackthorn was so skeptical. Now, how to give kee the best impact? He twisted the knob and opened the door an inch. He found kee on her knees beside the door. She didn’t flinch or turn to look at him. He smiled and made his way back to his seat. Halfway there, he called, “kee?”

  She turned her head, but held her kneel. “kee is at your service, Master Vahn.”

  Vahn folded his tall frame into the chair and leaned back. “kee, before your training, I need you to run outside and fetch a switch—one your trainer would use on you if you disobey him. The choice is completely yours as to length and thickness. You have five minutes to report to me with it.”

  “Yes, Master.” She arose and ran out.

  “Well, if she comes back, you want to bet about the switch?” Blackthorn grunted.

  “I’ll bet it’s the best switch you ever saw,” Vahn said.

  “You coached her. This is a set-up.”

  “No, I didn’t. Whatever she brings, question her as if it were inappropriate. I won’t say a thing.”

  “Fine,” Blackthorn snorted.

  Three minutes later, kee hurried back to the still-cracked door with her switch. She made a concerted effort to catch her breath. She knelt in Submissive and called through the door crack. “If it pleases you, may kee be allowed to enter the honor of your presence, Master Vahn?”

  Vahn beamed and glanced over at Blackthorn. “Go look before I grant her permission,” he whispered.

  Blackthorn got up, crossed the room, and opened the door. kee waited in Submissive Kneel with a two-foot-long switch in hand. It was an inch in diameter at the ‘handle’, tapering on a straight shaft. Blackthorn shook his head and walked back to the other side of the room. He nodded to Vahn and retook his seat.

  Vahn was in the mood for showing off. Rather than speak to kee, he looked down at his fingernails. A leisurely assessment of scrupulously clean hands was followed by a casual gaze over Blackthorn’s desk, the painting on the wall, and a perusal of the stone floor. All the while, kee neither moved nor as much as sighed.

  “Enter please, kee,” Vahn said. She arose from the floor, crossed the short distance into the room, knelt in Standard at Vahn’s feet, and offered the switch over her bowed head with both hands. Vahn pretended to inspect the limb. It was thicker and stronger than the duchess’ crop—quite a specimen for inflicting pain and drawing blood if anyone had a mind to. “It’s not me you have to please right now, kee. Take it over to Lord Blackthorn.”

  “Yes, Master,” kee said as she rose. She approached Blackthorn. Though she didn’t kneel as closely to him, she repeated the same motions.

  Blackthorn took the switch and feigned displeasure. “What kind of a switch is this, slave? It’s much too heavy. I want to be able to hold it behind my ear.”

  kee’s eyes grew wide and she trembled. Vahn turned his head away to keep from bursting out laughing. “kee is sorry, Lord Blackthorn. Please forgive her ignorance. Would you like kee to fetch another one?” Not even
Blackthorn could keep from laughing after that. Both men enjoyed a hearty chuckle. kee frowned and looked down at the floor.

  “No, kee, the one you brought was fine,” Blackthorn assured her as he patted her on the shoulder. “Excuse us for the farce.”

  Her sigh of relief was palpable. “No apologies are necessary, Lord Blackthorn.” She lifted her head.

  Blackthorn regarded her, then turned to Vahn. “Do you want her to use my name or yours, your highness?” He shuffled through the house records.

  Vahn knew some owners preferred the trainer to use the master’s name so slaves became imprinted. He felt his slaves were intelligent enough to make the transition. It was bad enough to share his brother’s face. It was unconscionable that anyone else would use his name. “kee, while you are here, this man holds the same authority as I. You will address him as ‘Master Blackthorn’, understood?”

  kee nodded. “Yes, Master Vahn, kee understands.”

  “Very pleasing. Now, if there is nothing else, I believe it is time I take my leave.”

  “I will keep you informed about her progress,” Blackthorn said with a wink. Vahn wished he could watch when Blackthorn lost that smug confidence. This was so delicious.

  kee looked over toward Vahn as he started to rise. “Master Blackthorn, may kee be excused to bid Master Vahn farewell?” she asked. Vahn beamed as he heard her.

  “Yes, of course,” Blackthorn said.

  “Thank you, Master Blackthorn.” She rose to her feet and approached Vahn.

  He smiled at her and reached out to caress her cheek. She blushed. kee waited until he removed his hand then dropped to her knees, leaned over, and kissed his boot. Somehow, she never ceased to amaze him. She had only seen the farewell ritual once; could she possibly remember it? It was enough that she tried. “kee, slave of Prince Vahn Rebono, duke of Latoph—I, your master, leave you here to learn. Wherever you are, you represent me and my house.”

  “kee wishes only to bring honor to your house and name, Master Vahn.”