“I need to put someone else at the ironing station, kee,” Lady Sholina said. “You may try something else or return to your quarters.”
“kee will return now, thank you.” She felt a little better about ironing, but she hoped she would have more practice before Master Blackthorn asked for a demonstration. She bowed to each of the supervisors in turn and then walked out. It was difficult to hide her fatigue. If the basin in her quarters held water again, she’d wash her face first, but nothing sounded as alluring as her bed.
Straining to hold her head up and lifting her feet just enough to keep from shuffling, she navigated the stone hallways. The crack of whips and screams echoed in the passages, though their source seemed faraway. Torches flickered against the darkness, their oily, burnt scent tickling at her nostrils. kee wondered why there wasn’t more traffic in the halls, like there had been that morning.
As she turned a corner, a sack enveloped her head and everything went black. A drawstring tightened around her neck and she halted in her tracks, barely swallowing a shout of alarm. This has to be another test, she told herself as she willed her heart to cease its hammering.
“You are kee?” a raspy voice asked.
With the pressure on her throat, she couldn’t speak, but she nodded. The drawstring relaxed only enough to draw breath. Strong hands yanked her arms behind her back and applied a padlock to join her wrist bands.
“Blackthorn assigned me to finish your training.”
Although she wanted to know why, something in her captor’s tone and manner warned her not to ask. She felt him attach a leash to her neck band and heard it click into place.
“Be silent and follow me.”
He dragged her by the leash so quickly she could hardly keep up. He turned again and again. Blinded by the black hood, kee stubbed her toes on the stones and eventually she tripped. Without her hands for balance, she propelled toward the floor. A hard pull on the leash saved her face and upper torso from meeting the stone, but she choked as the steel band at her neck absorbed the impact.
“Get up,” the trainer growled.
She managed to kneel, coughing and sputtering. She wasn’t even sure how to stand, but she was afraid to ask for help. Tears threatened over her dilemma, then a strong hand grabbed her pinioned arm and yanked her up. She scrambled to her feet.
This time, the trainer walked alongside and held her shoulder. She heard other male voices saying, “Got a feisty one there, eh, Fendonis?” and “Looks like she needs a sound whipping.” But the raspy-voiced man who shoved her along never answered them, so she couldn’t be sure they were talking about her. Something felt wrong about this, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. Besides, there was very little she could do about it. Nervous tears fell silently behind the black hood.
On and on he pulled and shoved her, so far it seemed to kee they should have exited the ITC. It was a huge fortress, but it felt as if she’d been dragged for miles. Finally, he stopped. She heard a key turn in a lock, followed by a door creaking open. The trainer pushed her, then two steps later, he yanked her to a stop. “Sit,” he ordered and pressed down on her shoulder.
kee pondered a verbal response. Master Vahn had only told her to call Blackthorn ‘Master’. Even when Master Blackthorn had told her to switch with tera, he hadn’t told her to call Lord Marcus ‘Master’. This trainer had given her neither name nor title to use. “Yes, milord,” escaped quivering lips just as her bottom met a hard, cold seat.
“Silence,” he ordered. He pushed her until her back met stone. kee nodded as the tears flowed faster. Chains rattled as he talked. His rough hand touched her thigh; kee instinctively drew her knees toward her chest. “Relax, slave. I just want some...” He grunted and kee heard her tunic rip. The next thing she knew, he stuffed her mouth with fabric and tied a gag under the hood.
He unlocked her wrist bands from behind her back, only to relock them to chains on the wall. He left the hood on, but removed the leash, then locked her neck band to the wall as well. He hobbled her ankles together with a short length of chain.
“Your owner has decided to sell you.”
Had Master Vahn already heard about her unwillingness for intimacy? Would he reject her for that? She didn’t try to hold back her sobs, but the gag did it for her.
“You will be Numbered as soon as I can get a tattooist in here. Seventy-one should be about right. You’ll wait here until we have a buyer ready.”
Now she was certain something wasn’t right. She’d neither committed crime nor accrued any debt worthy of fifty years of slavery. If she’d done something to displease the duke, he might throw her out, but he wouldn’t order this, not even for profit. He’d said himself she was worth more as a Freewill than Numbered. But kee wouldn’t let this thief know she wasn’t fooled. She continued to sob softly.
Three footsteps sounded, then the door slammed and the lock tumbled. Then silence. Stupid thief. If he wasn’t so bent on keeping that hood over her head, he might notice her round ears. An Elva might be old at 66, but an Itzi would not be middle-aged yet. She had more years of service in her than he knew, but she thought it poetic justice that he’d not profit from them. She still didn’t relish the thought of a strange new master and some unknown house, likely in another kingdom. If her present treatment was any indication, she didn’t fancy what lay in store for fifty years.
Chapter 50
Blackthorn ordered both exits barred and banned anyone from leaving. He prayed fervently that kee was still inside. All of the staff who worked near the exits swore they hadn’t seen any female slaves leave within the last two hours. The lighthouse bells tolled six. This time of day was usually their busiest, when owners arrived to pick up slaves who had finished training or correction. Blackthorn couldn’t refuse them for long or he’d have riots to add to his woes.
He couldn’t watch the exits and search at the same time. Only one other person could recognize kee. He had to tell the duke. If kee was already gone, the duke might want to start a search in the city and beyond. As much as Blackthorn didn’t want to face him, a delay might make matters worse. Blackthorn stationed himself at the main entrance and penned a message to Duke Vahn.
Your highness,
I regret to inform you I have lost custody of kee. I believe she is still on the ITC grounds, but I need your help to cover the exits while I conduct a search within. Please come at once.
Your Servant,
Galen Blackthorn
Blackthorn shuddered as he blew on the ink. If he didn’t find kee, his closing could become literally true. The parchments owners signed only protected him if a slave ran away. No stretch of the imagination could convince him kee had escaped. Morally and legally, he was liable for her.
He folded the message and addressed the outside, then summoned a page to run it to Rebono Keep. His heart sank when he released the parchment and watched the messenger disappear with it. Even if she turned up, he’d have to explain it to the duke and he dreaded that.
Chapter 51
kee shivered in her lonely prison. The stone she sat upon was rough and so cold it drained the heat from her body. She’d managed to sleep for a while, but once the edge of her fatigue had been dulled, she couldn’t sleep any longer. She pulled at her chains until her wrists felt raw, but gave up when nothing budged.
Fear of what was to become of her fought against concern over what her disappearance must have caused. Would Master Blackthorn assume she’d run away? Would Master Vahn curse her name for bringing such dishonor to his house?
She couldn’t dismiss her own guilt. After all, she’d stayed at the laundry longer than required. Perhaps if she’d left when her regular turn was over, there would have been more people in the halls and less opportunity for the thief to strike. She berated herself for not having figured it out sooner so she could have screamed while there was help close by.
Chapter 52
Vahn had just finished supper and retired to Great Throne Hall for wine when timna escor
ted a page wearing ITC purple and gold into his presence. The page handed Vahn a parchment with a deep bow, then backed away, almost as if he expected reprisal for delivering it.
Vahn unfolded the note and read. His jaw dropped. Lost custody? What did that mean? He turned to the page. “You’re dismissed, thank you.” The boy hastened out. timna had also turned to leave. “timna, I need a favor from you.”
She spun to face him and bowed her head. “Yes, Master Vahn?”
“kee is missing. I know you don’t like the ITC, but you can identify her. I won’t order you to come, but I ask you for kee’s sake. Will you come with me, please?”
“timna will come with you, Master Vahn,” she said with a weak smile.
He caressed her cheek. “Thank you. Wait here; I’ll be right back.” He jogged to his study and retrieved her Unringed neck band. Her eyes lit up when she saw it. “So no one will think you’re there for training,” he explained as he hurriedly switched her neck bands. It wasn’t really a danger with her wearing his house uniform, but he felt vulnerable with the anonymous Ringed bands. His name was engraved in the silver band and he wanted his name visible.
“This is a temporary amendment to your punishment,” he said, mostly to admonish himself for slipping in his discipline.
“timna understands, Master. timna won’t take it for granted.”
“Good. Let’s go.” He decided not to tell Saerula he was leaving. Hopefully, this wouldn’t take long and she’d never notice his absence. Allegiant carried both timna and him. They passed the page and arrived at the ITC ahead of him. Vahn tied his horse and scanned the murmuring throng outside the entrance. He whispered to timna, “Stay close until we get inside.”
“Yes, Master,” she said. He had to admit—if she had any anxiety, she hid it well. Vahn found it frustrating to navigate through the restless, unbudging crowds. timna thought of the solution before he did. “Make way for Prince Vahn Rebono, duke of Latoph,” she called loudly.
He smiled at her as the crowds parted to allow him passage. He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze, then ran forward with timna at his heels. Vahn couldn’t remember ever seeing the doors to the ITC shut before. He nudged past the party closest to the door and knocked.
Lord Blackthorn opened the door. “Thank Heavens. Please come in, your highness.”
“I brought timna. She can identify kee—”
“Good thinking.” Blackthorn hurried both of them inside and shut the door behind them. “We can station her at the door while I brief you.” He turned to the check-out scribes. “This is Duke Vahn’s optimess, timna. She can identify the missing slave. No one gets past the door she doesn’t examine and approve. Understood?”
“Yes, milord. We can handle this. Go ahead with the search.”
Vahn interjected, “She’s not to be treated as a trainee.” He didn’t correct Blackthorn on the optimess point. The misinformation would protect her and assure the ITC officials treated her well.
“Yes, your highness,” they answered.
Blackthorn gestured to a nearby room. Vahn tarried a moment, watching timna and the officials. “She’ll be fine,” Blackthorn promised.
Vahn scowled. “That’s what I thought about kee when I left her here.”
If Lord Galen Blackthorn could look any more contrite, Vahn couldn’t imagine how. “You’re right, your highness. Please forgive me.”
Vahn didn’t offer his forgiveness yet. He had yet to hear how Blackthorn could have ‘lost’ his gentle Itzi Freewill. He entered the room and fixed his gaze on Blackthorn who closed the door and bolted it.
Blackthorn approached him, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head. “I take full responsibility for losing kee. If we do not recover her, I submit myself as payment. I am so sorry.”
“Galen, I’d love to have your oath, but not like this. Just tell me what happened.”
“You were right about her. She’s priceless. She broke the Ny record for the submission test. I knew I’d lost our bet and that’s when I started making mistakes. I bragged about her to everyone I saw. Then I left her at the laundry station with permission to return to her quarters alone.”
Vahn listened and nodded. Blackthorn had obviously rehearsed his defense, but Vahn didn’t want an orchestrated story. “Did you hurt her?” he asked calmly yet firmly.
Blackthorn cringed. “She was hit with a strap, but only once. It was an accident.”
Vahn arched a brow. “How do you strap a girl by accident?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“I wasn’t holding the strap. My associate, Lord Marcus, was strapping another slave who wouldn’t obey. I told kee to trade places with the other slave so Marcus could have a break. kee slipped in under Marcus’ lash before I could warn him to stop. It didn’t break the skin and kee didn’t seem bothered by it. She was ready to hide it to protect me, just like you said she would.”
“All right. Go on with what you were saying.”
“I believe kee was stolen. Someone heard my bragging and found her an easy target, thanks to my carelessness.”
“How do you know she didn’t just change her mind?”
“kee told me under truth apothecarum that her greatest fear is that you’d disown her. The last thing she did was lead the entire laundry room in song. Does that sound to you like a girl who wants to run away?”
Vahn shook his head while he let Blackthorn’s words sink in. “Whoever took her probably told her I’d done just that—thrown her out.”
“Yes, I’m sure he did. And he probably convinced her I was tired of training her and dumped her on someone else—namely him.”
Vahn’s anger rose at the idea someone was lying about him in order to better possess what was his. “What makes you think she’s still here?”
“I don’t know for sure,” Blackthorn admitted, “but if I were the thief, I wouldn’t have tried to remove her in late afternoon, when it was slow, but well-staffed. I questioned everyone and no one saw any females leave at that time.”
“He might have disguised her as a male.”
“Possibly, but then he’d have to tell her why so she’d go along with it.”
“She’d go along with anything,” Vahn said, not sure whether the revelation pleased or bothered him.
“No, I don’t think so. If he told her you disowned her, she’d be devastated, moreso than he’d be prepared for. And he probably wouldn’t imagine she’d comply without a good story. No, all my instincts say our thief has hidden her while he waits for an opportunity to sneak her out.”
“Let us hope so. How do we proceed?”
“If you will question the staff, I can start searching. I know this place better than anyone.”
Vahn nodded his agreement. He’d only been to a few select areas of the ITC. He’d get lost if he tried to search on his own.
“I told my Second to gather everyone into the mess hall we use for the labor camp slaves. If you don’t mind following me?”
“Please,” Vahn said with a sweep of his arm.
Chapter 53
kee’s teeth chattered against the gag. Her wrists and neck were almost numb, but the pain was just sharp enough that the cold didn’t compensate. kee didn’t think about her pain or the cold though. She’d imagined what the future might hold, but she didn’t like to dwell on that either. The present commanded her attention.
The longer she thought about it, the more outraged she became. How dare anyone steal what belonged to Master Vahn? And she hadn’t made it any harder for the knave even after she figured it out. That would change, she promised herself.
The door lock rattled and the hinges creaked. She heard footsteps and then the door slammed again. “I brought you water,” the raspy voice said.
kee realized how thirsty she was. Large hands reached under the black hood and pulled the gag from her lips. She barely restrained herself from biting him. After the water. He lifted the hood only enough to give her mouth clearance and then she felt a wood cup brush
across her lower lip. She drank with greedy gulps. He tilted the cup until it was empty, dribbling some over the sides of her mouth. He removed the cup and the hood dropped back down to her neck.
“What, no thanks?” he said sardonically.
“I give no thanks to thieves,” she replied. Her face erupted in pain. He’d probably been aiming for her cheek, but he’d caught her higher. He hit her nose and eye along with a bit of her upper cheekbone. The force of the blow caused her to lurch against the neck band that was bolted to the wall, causing pain at her throat as well. No one had ever hit her so hard.
“You will not talk to me that way, slave. I’m your trainer.”
She bit her lips to keep from giving him the satisfaction of hearing any cry. When she had control, she muttered back, “Unless I hear it from Master Blackthorn himself, I say you are nothing but a scurrilous usurper.” She braced for another blow, but it didn’t come.
He laughed. “Now that you know, you can cut the cocky act. It won’t save you. Men who buy from the illegal market like their slaves feisty so they can beat them into submission.”
kee hesitated, surprised. She’d been so sure he’d stolen her because of her compliant attitude. “Whatever they like, I will be the opposite.”
“Is that any way for a duke’s slave to talk?” He didn’t give her any chance for a reply, but maneuvered the gag back between cold and stretched lips. She tried to bite him, but bit fabric instead. She lunged against the neck band in frustration. Her throat’s abrasions quickly reminded her to retreat.
Well, that didn’t go well. His scornful laugh filled the room as he left, leaving her once again in a cold silent prison, only now she couldn’t ignore her pain. kee dissolved into tears.
Chapter 54
The Duke's Handmaid (Book 1 of the Ascendancy Trilogy) Page 21