True to his word, Blackthorn returned promptly to Faithful Obeisance Chamber. kee bowed her head as he entered. “kee, I need to have a talk with you, but I think first we should get some fresh air. You are the only slave in this area not on a leash. I have done that because of the trustworthiness you have displayed. I may ask you to do some simple tasks as an example.”
“kee is at your command, Master Blackthorn. Order her as you will.” She smiled.
Blackthorn wondered if anything was beyond her willingness. He would test it soon. “Very good. Follow me. Stay within six feet at all times.” He didn’t mention how much trouble she would be in if she strayed. Yet, the high security area was a conscious choice. In the low security areas where other slaves would be unleashed, degradation like he planned might embarrass her. Moreover, there was always rivalry between trainers. He wouldn’t have anyone so much as thinking kee was substandard. In the high security areas, where she rightfully belonged by virtue of her newness, he could show off. He smiled in anticipation.
kee fell in behind him within the ordered boundaries. Though it was nippy, the fresh air and suns’ light were pleasant. At least ten other trainers held tethered slaves outside. One particularly exasperated colleague worked with an Elva female. If he ordered “kneel”, she stood, if he ordered “stand”, she sat. He strapped her back and pulled her chain leash to force compliance, but she refused to acquiesce.
Blackthorn approached the trainer and whispered in his ear, “Let me help you out, Marcus. Just follow my lead.” Marcus nodded. “kee, kneel,” Blackthorn ordered. kee obeyed.
“tera, kneel,” Marcus parroted. tera remained standing. Marcus hit tera twice with the strap. “tera, kneel,” he ordered again. tera grit her teeth to bear the pain but she didn’t budge. Marcus yanked on her neck chain, forcing her down. She sat rather than kneel.
“kee, sit,” Blackthorn ordered. kee shifted from kneeling to sitting.
“tera, sit,” Marcus said. She was already sitting. tera jerked at her chain, trying to stand. Marcus wouldn’t give her slack enough to do it. The trainer started to praise her, “That’s goo—” tera shifted to her knees. Marcus beat her with the strap, each slap louder than the last.
Marcus obviously needed a break. Blackthorn decided to switch trainees for a while. “kee, take tera’s place,” Blackthorn said. kee slipped quickly between tera and the strap. Marcus delivered a loud smack to kee’s back before anyone knew what happened. kee winced and emitted a small grunt, but otherwise accepted the blow without complaint. “What are you doing?” Blackthorn shouted toward Marcus.
Marcus stared blankly at Blackthorn. He had no way of knowing that kee had the odd restriction against lashing. Blackthorn was just about to explain it when kee answered the question meant for Marcus. “Taking tera’s place, Master Blackthorn.”
Then tera sat. Blackthorn and Marcus exchanged surprised looks. Blackthorn whispered to Marcus not to hit kee again. “tera, stand,” Marcus said. tera looked at kee then back at Marcus. “tera, stand or I will beat kee.” Blackthorn knew Marcus was bluffing, but they could find another slave to use if it worked. tera stood. “Very good, tera!”
The Elva girl sighed and cast a forlorn look at kee. “Why did you help them do that?”
kee looked toward Blackthorn. “You may speak for yourself, kee,” he said instinctively before he realized he’d never taught her to ask permission to speak.
“Because Master Blackthorn asked.”
“But why do you do what he wants?” tera lamented. “Why don’t you fight them?”
“Well, to begin with, it hurts much less to obey. kee cannot understand why you would rather be beaten than do a simple thing like sit or stand.”
“I wouldn’t rather be beaten. I’d rather be free.”
kee was silent a few seconds. She stared into the teary eyes of the defeated Elva slave. “Does disobedience and punishment get you any closer to freedom?”
“No, it doesn’t,” tera admitted in a quivering voice.
“Then try obeying. You may find your term more pleasant that way.”
“Come now, kee.”
“Yes, Master Blackthorn.”
Chapter 47
kee paid more attention to her surroundings as they made their way back to Faithful Obeisance Chamber. She sensed Master Blackthorn was displeased, but she kept silent. Safely behind the closed door, he finally spoke. “Take off the tunic, kee.”
Her jaw dropped. “M—M—Master?” Surely, this wasn’t allowed. Master Vahn wouldn’t have given permission for this, would he? kee’s eyes grew wide with terror.
“I said, ‘take off the tunic, kee.’”
Tears welled in her eyes. Options flew through her mind in a frenzy. She could refuse. That would gain her punishment in addition to what she feared he wanted. She could ask to be unbanded. Would he rape her anyway and then ruin her chance at belonging to the duke? Resignedly, she obeyed, teardrops falling quickly upon each other. She arranged her hair over youthful breasts and held her tunic over lower private parts.
“Turn around, kee, I only need to see your back,” Master Blackthorn said. With a sigh of relief, she turned and dropped her tunic to the floor. “What did you think I was going to do?”
“kee was not sure, Master Blackthorn.”
“You seemed relieved at the order to turn around. Most slaves are terrified of baring their backs. What if I were to whip you now?”
“That is your right.”
“I saw how willing you were to take a beating for tera. Too willing. I was concerned about the damage. You didn’t deserve it and I have to explain it to the duke. Thank the Heavenlies, Marcus didn’t break the skin. I’m the one who is in trouble, kee, not you.”
“The strap didn’t hurt much, Master Blackthorn. kee will not mention it to Master Vahn.”
Master Blackthorn chuckled. “He said you’d take the blame to protect me. Go ahead and put your tunic back on. I’m not done talking to you.”
“Yes, Master Blackthorn.” She inhaled deeply and wiped the tears from her face.
Master Blackthorn took the large chair behind the desk and scrawled some notes to parchment. kee soon reclothed and knelt in Submissive at his feet. “Standard Kneel, kee.” She lifted her torso. “Now, if you were not worried about a whipping, what made you hesitate?”
kee bit her lip. He wasn’t going to let it go. She bowed her head, inhaled, and blurted out, “kee was afraid you wanted her virginity.” It was all the more embarrassing knowing she had been wrong.
Master Blackthorn arched a bushy brow. “I cannot do that. Duke Vahn would have my head or something else I’d rather not lose. However, it is his right. Would you react that way for him?”
“He would not want kee, Master Blackthorn. Mistress Saerula is more beautiful and he loves her.” There. Maybe that was enough.
“Owners, especially royalty, do not have to limit themselves. He owns you as long as you wear those bands. Do you intend to refuse him your treasures of maidenhood?”
Her feelings for the duke had only grown. She craved his affectionate touches more than sustenance, but she was not ready for intimacy. timna had said Master Vahn never touched her that way. kee did not relish pondering how she would react if the unthinkable happened. “kee does not want to refuse him anything, but kee is afraid, yes.”
“All right. Thank you for your honesty. That is outside my scope of training. Your master will have to train you to please him in that way.”
She nodded and lifted her head, careful to keep her gaze from meeting his.
“We are going to discuss some more uncomfortable things, kee. I want truthful answers from you, even if you think they are improper, understood?”
“Yes, Master Blackthorn.”
“Good. We discussed whipping. What about branding? Are you afraid of that?”
“No. kee offered herself as Permanent or Numbered before she offered Freewill. kee was willing then to be branded. kee would be proud to have an Owner’s Mark
as well.”
“Those are usually tattooed. Branding is only used when the Mark is intended as punishment.”
“kee is more afraid of committing offense than how she might be punished for it. If kee earns a branding or whipping, that is minor compared to the disgrace of dishonoring the house.”
“All right, it’s important to uphold honor. That’s commendable. Let’s imagine for a moment you’ve done nothing wrong, like in the courtyard. You perceived me asking you to take tera’s beating and you did it. Let’s have the same situation but change tera’s predicament. She is locked to a post with her back bared and Lord Marcus has a scourge, ready to flog her ten times. Would you take her place if I asked?”
“kee is not sure if she could hold resolve once the lashes started, but kee would try.”
“Fair enough. A flogging like that is nothing to scoff at. I sincerely hope you never have to find out. You’re a good slave. This is just speculation.”
“Yes, Master Blackthorn.” She beamed at the compliment.
“Is there any punishment that would make you hesitate to take her place?”
kee nodded.
“Tell me.”
“If she were being skinned alive or burned at the stake, kee would hesitate.”
He laughed. “I should think so. Anything else?”
“kee would not offer her life for an obstinate stranger.”
“Very well. She was rather stubborn, wasn’t she? How about a slave from your own house? Would you die for one of them?”
kee was quiet a moment. “kee would offer for timna or xassa, but Master Vahn would have to order kee to die for any of the others. If he asked, kee would give her life.”
“Does he hold the others in higher regard than you?”
“kee does not know. kee is the newest. It would only be right that kee be the lowest.”
“What if he wanted you to be optimess? What would you think of that?”
“kee would be honored, of course. It would be most difficult for timna.”
“Would you refuse it for her sake?”
“Only if Master Vahn made it a choice. kee trusts he would give timna’s feelings consideration. kee cannot imagine him choosing her over timna for optimess, but if it was his order, kee would not dispute it.”
Master Blackthorn nodded and wrote more notes on his parchment. A few moments passed in silence. “kee, other than the things we’ve already discussed—intimacy, knives, fire—is there anything else you fear?”
kee thought a while. “Yes, Master Blackthorn. kee is afraid of rejection. kee would rather Master Vahn punish her in any way than to disown kee and throw her out.”
“You are afraid of being destitute?”
“No, kee has always been poor. kee is afraid of being unwanted and useless.”
He picked up the quill and parchment. “I’ll be back in just a moment.” He hopped from his seat and hurried out the door. kee remained where she was, deep in thought.
Chapter 48
Blackthorn scrawled a notation on kee’s records, Begrudges use of her maidenhood treasures, may submit, but not willing. He also deducted ten points. If she were older or Elva, it would have cost her more, but Itzi had great social pressure to keep from compacting too soon. Those who went against tradition and conceived before age eighteen usually miscarried or died in childbirth. While the ITC discouraged the recreational use of younger Itzi, only slaves under sixteen had protection of law in Latoph. Most of the other kingdoms didn’t grant even that much protection. He mourned the loss of the perfect score, but it was staggering enough without artificial inflation.
Blackthorn returned to kee with a vial of murky gray liquid. He held it out to her. “This is a truth apothecarum. Drink it.”
kee downed it in a single gulp. She scrunched her face a bit, then handed the vial back empty. He shook his head in marvel. Just because 90 percent of slaves balk and a full 20 percent have to be held down and forced, why would that apply to her? She didn’t even question it. “It takes five minutes to be effective. We’ll wait, then I’ll ask you the same questions again.”
Fifteen minutes later, he understood why she was so unconcerned. Her answers varied only in degree. Under the influence of the powerful potion, he found her loyalties more ardent and her submission more intense. The apothecarum tended to loosen the lips, gaining him details on why she feared what she did. He hadn’t realized she was the sole survivor of the Dronak Death Gang attack. Less than a month had passed and it was already an epic legend in Ny. It was no wonder that she feared rape, knives, and fire. What was remarkable was her focus on service despite her history.
He finished his questioning. The rest of her score could be determined while she learned the practical skills of service. He would have sent her to work right away, but it was dangerous to let slaves run amuck under the influence of truth apothecarum. He took her to a small kitchen and ordered her to prepare tea with what she could find, then he sat back to watch.
kee didn’t burn any food, but she was unfamiliar with seasonings and menu planning. The tea was edible and adequate, even if strange. She would be taught better. Duke Vahn had his house trained to prepare state dinners and royal banquets. Blackthorn had learned culinary arts from King Brendax’s head chef. It was probably the reason Duke Vahn requested Blackthorn personally to train his slaves.
He let kee eat after him, then instructed as she cleaned. Common farm practices would hardly meet the standards of the royal family. She listened and followed his directions.
After tea, Blackthorn had kee follow him again. Through the maze of hallways they snaked until they reached the laundry. Three women in ITC purple and gold supervised the large operation. Slaves were stationed about the room. Some were unfettered while others were chained to eyelets bolted to the floor. The room was steamy and smelled of sweat, the faces within somber and grave at their tasks. Blackthorn spoke with one of the supervisors, giving whispered instructions about kee—to note her interaction and attitudes; she was not to be chained or struck; she could be excused alone.
“kee, when Lady Sholina dismisses you, go to your quarters. You may move freely two doors on either side or across the hall if you would like to meet some of the other slaves. I will return for you at supper.”
“Yes, Master Blackthorn.”
He left the laundry and headed to the staff-restricted area. Toned-down bragging earned him some nice wagers with four other trainers to compensate his loss to the duke. He’d have to prove kee to each one of them. He could hardly wait.
His wife had not understood why he had been so late coming home the night before. Blackthorn wanted to make it up to her with a few errands. It was not often he could leave in the middle of a day and still have his trainee productive, but with kee, there were no qualms. He left to see some merchants and check on his ailing nanny goat.
Just before suppertime, he returned to the ITC. He made his way to kee’s assigned quarters, but she was not within. He checked the other rooms she had been given permission to venture to. She was nowhere to be found. None of the slaves had seen her.
Escape wasn’t a concern. kee could have freedom if she but asked. However, all that boasting Blackthorn did could easily have made another trainer covetous. Snatched and smuggled away, she could be sold on the illegal market, no doubt at great profit.
With wildly beating heart, Blackthorn began his investigation where he last left her—at the laundry. When he heard music emanating before he arrived, his hope surged. Who else would have the sweatiest, most dreaded workstation singing Hail to Latoph, the Great? He slowed to catch his breath and peeked in. Twenty slaves sang as they worked, but kee was not among them. Blackthorn’s heart caught in his throat. Heavens, how am I going to face the duke and tell him I lost her?
* * *
Ordinarily, Blackthorn would have been pleased by the brisk beat of a patriotic ballad coming from any workstation, but right now, the unaccustomed singing in the laundry only irritated hi
m. He hurried toward the head supervisor and asked, “Where is kee?”
Lady Sholina disjoined the singing to answer. “I released her about an hour ago. She helped a dozen other girls and she started the singing—”
“I don’t have time for her report now. She’s missing. Did you see which way she went?”
Sholina frowned. “You’re the one who said I could let her go without escort. I think she headed back toward the quarters, but I had nineteen other slaves to watch.”
“It’s not your fault,” he assured her quickly. “It’s mine.” He stood in thought for a moment, trying to push his self-recriminations and fears aside to think.
“To whom does she belong?” Sholina asked.
“Duke Vahn.”
She winced. “I don’t envy you. I get off in an hour. I’ll help you look if you haven’t found her by then.”
“Thanks,” he muttered as he rushed out.
Chapter 49
kee had been frustrated by her inability to maneuver the heavy pressing iron. She had put more creases in the cloth than she removed. Lady Sholina had showed her how to hold the iron and which way to move it, but kee felt awkward and inept. The supervisors in the laundry rotated her to washboards, then wringers, and then to pinning clothes on the pulleyed clothesline that disappeared out the window. kee had no trouble with those tasks, having done them at home ever since she could remember. She’d thought nothing of singing while she worked, but it was quite a while before the others joined her.
“Your time is up, kee,” Lady Sholina said. “You may go now.”
“May kee return to the ironing station please, milady?”
Lady Sholina smiled. “Blackthorn said you were at liberty until supper. You may stay if you like.”
kee ironed until her arm ached. Steam from the cauldrons and her own sweat darkened the underarms of her tunic and coated her face. Twice, she almost pushed her damp hair behind her ears, but she remembered not to reveal her rounded pinnae. She lost track of time, but it seemed like all the other slaves around her had rotated several times.
The Duke's Handmaid (Book 1 of the Ascendancy Trilogy) Page 20