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

by Caprice Hokstad

  Vahn felt odd in the mess hall, looking out over a sea of purple and gold uniforms. It was almost like addressing someone else’s army. Their serious mood gave Vahn hope. “I’m sorry to keep you all from your homes,” he said in his most commanding voice.

  “When my property is returned, you may go.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Surely no one here has done this despicable deed. But maybe one of you saw something that can help us.” A young man with white hair and crooked teeth raised his hand. Vahn nodded at him.

  “I saw Fendonis with a hooded slave, and I said something about her being a handful, but she wasn’t struggling, now I think about it. I just assumed she was a problem or he wouldn’t have used a hood.”

  The sea of purple and gold rippled with a soft murmur while everyone looked about for Fendonis. Vahn motioned the crooked-toothed man forward. “What did this hooded slave look like?”

  “She wore a tunic, her feet were small, and she had long black hair.” He frowned and shook his head. “I’m sorry, your highness, she was hooded and I only saw her a moment in the halls.”

  “Short or tall?” Vahn asked.

  “Well, she had to be Elva if she had black hair,” he reasoned, “but yes, I remember now, her head came up to Fendonis’ chin.”

  “That fits my kee,” Vahn said. “I want to see this Fendonis immediately.” He thought for a moment, and then readdressed the crowd. “Look for a tall, hooded female with long, dark hair.”

  “Lord Blackthorn believes she’s still here somewhere. Think like a thief. Where would you hide a slave? If anyone sees Fendonis, bring him to me immediately.” No one moved. Vahn smiled to himself. “You’re dismissed.” The sea of purple and gold receded while rivers gushed out the doors.

  A few held back: the man who’d brought up Fendonis’ name and another with curly hair. They shifted their weight and looked around nervously.

  “What is on your mind?” he asked both of them.

  “Fendonis could have been transporting one of his regular trainees,” the crooked-toothed man said.

  “If he was, then he has nothing to worry about.”

  “And if he does have your slave...?” the other man asked.

  “It would be in his best interest to return her to her rightful owner,” Vahn said with just a hint of threat.

  “What would he be charged with?”

  Vahn pondered a moment. Kidnapping was his first instinct, but since kee wore bands and registered as a slave, he couldn’t use that. “Thievery,” he decided. “On the level of ten horses.”

  The curly-haired man looked at him with wide eyes then quickly averted his gaze. “What’s to stop him from killing her? None of us saw enough to condemn Fendonis, but she can sentence him to death.”

  Vahn studied the man. He was probably a friend of Fendonis, if not his accomplice. Making the penalty high would endanger kee, as he’d pointed out. “I swear by my mother’s memory that I’ll treat him as he treated her. If she dies, then so does he. But if she lives, I will spare his life.”

  “That’s not the law,” the curly-haired man reminded him.

  “Perhaps,” Vahn said. “But, if she hasn’t left the ITC, then she’s not quite stolen, is she? I believe I will be within the law to handle this as I see fit.” Only noblemen could appeal his judiciary decisions and Fendonis would be a fool to attempt it even if he were of noble birth. Vahn offered leniency no one else would give him. “Friend, if you know where Fendonis is, then urge him to stop this now. He can’t get away with her.”

  “Yes, your highness. Thank you,” the curly-haired man said. He left abruptly without looking up. The crooked-toothed man followed him out.

  Vahn caught two trainers in the hall and suggested in a whisper that they follow the curly-haired man.

  Chapter 55

  Blackthorn inspected the two secret passage entrances and found them safely jammed. The releases were covered in inches of dust and layers of spider webs. Thank the Heavenlies. If they had been used, he would have to suspect his most trusted trainers. Continuing the search, he’d found utility closets he forgot existed, storage compartments both full and empty, and all sorts of rooms he’d barely remembered since his orientation as Headmaster.

  He disturbed numerous prisoners in their cells, but it didn’t occur to him to worry about it. He disarmed the various Permanent Slaves with a sheepish, “Excuse me, I’m looking for a girl.” Most of them laughed too hard to pose any threat. Finding the right key for any particular lock wasted most of his time.

  He heard his associates join the search and called down the stone halls to let them know what he’d already covered. Blackthorn was surprised so many had pulled together to help.

  “None of my keys fit here,” he heard someone yell.

  “Let me try,” another yelled back.

  Seconds later: “None of mine fit either. Lord Blackthorn?”

  “Coming,” he called and hurried toward the voices. The lock was an older type, but he had a key for it. The door creaked as it opened, exposing a small, cold cell. A wave of his torch revealed female legs chained together. He held the torch up and found a black hooded figure seated and chained to the wall. “kee?” he shouted as he surged forward.

  Muffled sobs came from under the hood. Blackthorn tore it off. “Heavens, what did he do to you?” Her eye was purple, swollen shut, and her nose had bled all over her chin and down her chest. He pulled the gag from cold lips.

  “Please tell kee this was not a test, Master Blackthorn,” she sobbed.

  “No, this was no test,” he assured her as he hastily unlocked the chains.

  “We found her!” one of the men exclaimed. The message echoed through the halls, followed by yelps of triumph.

  When Blackthorn had all of the chains free, he turned to the man behind him. “Get word to the duke that she’s all right and have him meet us in Faithful Obeisance.”

  “Yes, milord,” the man said and shot off.

  “kee, did you see who did this?”

  “No, Master Blackthorn, but he has a raspy voice and kee thinks someone else called him Fendonis.”

  Another trainer spoke up. “Duke Vahn has a lead on Fendonis too. It’s got to be him.”

  “Excellent. Send word to the main entrance to open the doors. Fendonis is under arrest if they see him. Ask the duke’s optimess if she’ll follow you here. I just want her to help kee, but she’s not to be ordered.”

  “Yes, milord,” the trainer said and hurried to carry out Blackthorn’s instructions.

  kee had somehow ended up in Blackthorn’s arms. She cried, but it sounded more like a release of nervous energy than an expression of pain. He didn’t mind holding her, but the sooner timna arrived to take over for him, the better. “Shhh,” he consoled as he smoothed her hair and patted her shoulder. “It’s over now.”

  The little throng of trainers produced a clean damp cloth and offered it to their supervisor.

  “Thank you,” he said. Blackthorn gently washed all the blood from her skin. “We need a healer to meet us in Faithful Obeisance.” Another of his men hastened off to the errand.

  timna arrived and Blackthorn gently transferred kee to her band sister. He was grateful the duke had brought timna along. She could offer more sympathy than Blackthorn could. He hoped Duke Vahn would allow him to finish kee’s training and for that, he needed a certain emotional distance.

  timna was the perfect mother figure, comforting and quieting. She seemed to sense how important it was to minimize the damage before the duke saw kee again. He led the way back to Faithful Obeisance while timna followed, kee leaning on her. Blackthorn caught Lady Sholina on the way and listened to kee’s work report as he walked.

  Chapter 56

  Vahn paced inside Faithful Obeisance Chamber, trying to calm himself. The trainer who reported her found had said she was all right. Why was he still so wound up? Blackthorn opened the door and entered with a bow. Vahn had forgotten about timna, but she supported kee—good th
inking on Blackthorn’s part. timna and kee started to kneel at the doorway. “Please enter,” he said softly to preclude it.

  kee’s face was buried in timna’s shoulder, but he didn’t hear any crying. Vahn turned to Blackthorn with a questioning look. “Forgive me, your highness,” was Blackthorn’s doleful reply.

  Vahn took a deep breath then summoned his softest voice. “kee, are you all right? Please let me see.”

  timna encouraged her with a nudge. Slowly, kee turned her face toward him. Her nose and eyelid were swollen and purple, her cheek bruised. That filthy thief had hit her.

  Vahn suppressed a gasp. “That has to hurt,” he said cheerily, hoping to brighten the mood.

  kee nodded.

  Vahn lifted her chin and smiled. “You understand this is not your fault, right?”

  She gave a pained smile and a nod back. He wiped a tear from her cheek.

  Blackthorn leaned over and moved one of her wrist bands. Her wrists were abraded and raw beneath. “How did this happen, kee?” Blackthorn asked. He probably wanted to prove his innocence after the strapping he’d admitted. Besides, kee likely needed to talk about it and questioning would facilitate that.

  She swallowed. “When kee realized her captor had stolen Master Vahn’s property, kee tried to resist. kee tried to free herself so she could return.”

  “You resisted him?” Vahn asked. New appreciation dawned at the thought. So, his gentle Itzi wasn’t compliant with just anyone. Her loyalty was stronger.

  She nodded, then she pushed her neck band up to reveal a nasty bruise. “Except for this. kee still thought the thief was her legitimate trainer when this happened. kee tried to keep up with him in the halls, but he had a hood over kee’s head and kee’s arms bound. kee tripped. He used the leash to stop the fall.”

  “It still wasn’t your fault, kee,” Blackthorn said. “I’m sure he pulled you far too quickly for anyone to have been able to keep up. He was never supposed to be your trainer, at all.”

  “Lord Blackthorn, is there someplace timna can take kee to clean her up?” Vahn asked. “You and I need to talk—alone.”

  Blackthorn gestured to a door. “That’s my private inhouse. There’s water in the ewer. Please feel free to use the linens, timna. I spoke to Lady Sholina about kee’s house uniform. It should be here shortly. There’s a healer on the way, too.”

  The two slaves hurried into the inhouse, kee moving without support. She would heal, Vahn told himself, though someone would pay for this.

  “It’s official,” Blackthorn said once the door shut behind the girls. “kee’s score is 290. No one else in the history of the Ny ITC—indeed, probably all of Latoph—has done better. She lost ten points for reluctance to yield her maidenhood. Itzi are discouraged from mating until they reach 18. However, I think she’d give in with a little urging.”

  Vahn laughed. “So, she’s too young to be interested, but if I chose to rape her, she’d probably allow it?” He laughed even harder. “That only proves she doesn’t spout ITC propaganda blindly. I take those ten points as a badge of honor. I’d rather have her as she is than your perfect 300!”

  Blackthorn smiled. “Will you let her remain for another five days to finish her training?”

  “On two conditions. Find Fendonis. I won’t have her here unless he’s in irons.”

  “Irons? You’re not going to execute him?”

  “I can’t. I swore against my mother’s memory that if kee remained alive, I’d spare him. He can live out his sentence on one of the slave galleys. He’s not worthy of my house.”

  “Agreed.”

  “I want kee in your sight at all times from now on. If you leave, lock her up. I trust her, but I don’t trust anyone else. Tell her this isn’t a punishment; it’s for her own safety.”

  “I will do as you ask. She didn’t complain when I locked her to bed. You were right; she’s more than half trained. She only needs lessons in cooking, serving rituals, protocol, and house management. With your permission, I’ll have her wear your house uniform so everyone can see she’s yours.” Blackthorn looked at him with a ‘How’s that?’ expression.

  “Anything else happens, and it’s your skin next time,” Vahn said tightly.

  “Yes, your highness.”

  There was a knock at the door. Blackthorn opened it. “You called for a healer, milord?” said a slender young man in purple and gold.

  “Yes, I did,” Blackthorn said. “I have a slave who was stolen and injured by her attacker. She’s in my inhouse.” He pointed toward the door where kee and timna had vanished.

  The healer nodded and hurried in that direction. Lady Sholina arrived with kee’s pressed uniform. Blackthorn winked at her and shuttled the uniform into the door where the healer had gained entrance. Female hands accepted the uniform. Then the inhouse door closed behind the healer.

  Vahn’s thoughts returned to the suspect, Fendonis. Now that he’d gained kee without having to count on the thief’s surrender, he was sorry he’d vowed not to kill him. If the ITC people didn’t find him soon, Vahn was ready to send out his knights.

  Another knock came to the door. “Enter,” Blackthorn called.

  Three men in purple and gold dragged in a fourth man who wore the same purple breeches, but no shirt.

  Blackthorn grinned. “So good of you to join us, Fendonis. I see you’re out of uniform. No problem. You don’t work here anymore.”

  “Wait,” Vahn said. “We make sure first. kee?” he called toward the inhouse.

  The healer opened the door and kee walked out wearing her house uniform and smiling. She dipped her head to Vahn, looking nearly well, except for the swollen eye and nose. “Yes, Master Vahn?”

  “Is this the man who took you?”

  kee retreated a step and fear entered her good eye. “kee never saw him, Master.”

  “That’s right. You have no proof,” the shirtless man barked.

  “That’s his voice though. kee would know that voice anywhere.”

  “And he had a key to that cell,” one of the ITC men added. “None of the rest of us did.”

  “That’s enough for me,” Vahn said. “I declare him guilty.”

  Blackthorn reared back and punched Fendonis square in the face. A ghastly crack of his nose preceded his falling to the floor, insensible. For a moment, Vahn was irritated he’d not had the pleasure, but it was almost as gratifying to have watched Blackthorn do it. “Excellent shot,” Vahn said to the Headmaster. Fendonis stirred to semi-consciousness.

  Vahn addressed the three ITC guards next. “Get him out of here. He’s to be banded in iron and marked Permanent. Put him with the galley slaves.”

  “Yes, your highness,” one said as they dragged him out. They looked surprised he didn’t order execution on the spot. Fendonis had enough wits not to complain about his lenient sentence.

  “I put salve on the abrasive wounds, milord,” the healer said to Blackthorn. “There’s not much we can do about her cheekbone, unless you want to use ice.”

  Ice was very expensive and hard to come by in a southern coastal town like Ny. Vahn doubted the ITC even had any in store. Rebono Keep, however, had plenty in her cellars. “She shall have ice,” Vahn said.

  “At my expense,” Blackthorn added.

  Vahn arched a brow at him.

  “She was my responsibility.”

  “And she still is, for five more days.” Vahn exchanged a firm knight’s handshake with Blackthorn. “I think it’s time timna and I took our leave. timna?”

  “timna is ready, Master Vahn.” She emerged from behind the healer.

  Vahn whispered to kee, “I want to pretend this never happened, all right? I wasn’t here.”

  She smiled and took the hint not to perform the farewell ritual. “As you wish, Master,” she whispered.

  Chapter 57

  Vahn sat alone in his study, reflecting. He mentally catalogued kee’s accolades for reference in the inevitable conflict with Saerula. Two more days with Jal
lor had only exacerbated the problem, polarizing them on the servant subject. Jallor recommended an assistant. Saerula hired Jallor’s choice with neither interview nor consultation. The two male servants resided in guest rooms built to accommodate the king and queen.

  Saerula no longer ate with Vahn, but took all her meals in bed or her sitting room. She whined relentlessly about her pregnancy. Vahn decided to delay all arguments until after the birth. Surely, once her pregnancy humors are back to normal, she will see reason again. He avoided her completely except to sleep. The only point he couldn’t decide was whether he wanted Saerula to give birth immediately so he could get her back to normal, or whether he wished she’d hold on until kee was home and settled.

  Three nights later, there was a severe pre-winter storm. Just as Vahn was about to retire, someone knocked on the great ebony doors. Who would the gate guards allow through this late at night? timna answered the door and called for help. Since “Majesty-Boy” and his equally annoying assistant, whom Vahn had privately dubbed “Fish Lips”, were both too busy doting on the duchess, Vahn, timna, and lopi assisted an exhausted Lord Windrider in from the unseasonable cold.

  Vahn removed drenched garments and handed them to lopi to be washed. He sent xassa to find some dry clothes for him to wear. timna wrapped the shivering knight in blankets while suitable attire was located. Another slave was sent to prepare hot soup. Fifteen minutes from his arrival, Windrider was redressed, covered in blankets, and being fed soup by a slave girl kneeling at couch-side.

  Coming to his senses, he choked, “My breeches! Where did you put my breeches?”

  “They were taken to be washed, milord. I assume you were worried about this.” Vahn held up the silver cylinder. The lieutenant nodded and coughed. “May I open it?” Vahn asked.

  “Yes, it’s for you, your highness,” Windrider sputtered. Seeing the cylinder safely delivered must have been his only goal, for once Vahn revealed it in his possession, Windrider sighed and closed his eyes. Vahn dismissed his slaves so the lieutenant could sleep. He asked timna to make a pot of tea and deliver it to his study where he headed with the cylinder.