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

by Caprice Hokstad

  Within an hour, all the house staff and much of the hypaethral division had returned. Even Denally and her mother dropped by to be sure there was nothing they could do.

  A good portion of Queen’s Jubilee festivities relocated to the large cobblestone clearing outside the gates to Rebono Keep. Quite a crowd gathered, excitedly waiting for word on the birth.

  The next knock to the door revealed an Elva woman in a hooded mage’s robe. “Do you have need of my services?” she asked.

  It was highly odd that a mage would come without summoning. Was there danger he didn’t know about? “Perhaps you should tell me whether I have need or not,” Vahn replied.

  She closed her eyes and tilted her head back. After a moment of silence, she looked back at him. “The Heavenlies do not say.”

  The magess would only be summoned to Saerula if something serious went wrong that the midwife and the healer couldn’t handle. But extra prayers wouldn’t hurt and Vahn felt better knowing she was close by. Besides, she had come to him and he didn’t think it prudent to spurn her presence. “I would like you to remain, if you would. I will pay for your time whether a need arises or not.” He offered her a gold coin.

  She accepted the coin with a nod and slipped inside. In a darkened corner of the foyer, she assumed a meditative pose with her head bowed and her hands crossed over her heart.

  The slaves, completely of their own accord, prepared finger food for the house. Vahn and Patkus ate in Great Throne Hall where the two had begun their second game of Nobles and Nomads. Vahn had never found such a well-matched opponent. Patkus had actually beaten him in the first game.

  Twelve hours after Vahn was so rudely awakened, timna burst out the door, ran down the stairs, and declared, “It’s a boy! Long live the prince!”

  Vahn cheered openly and jumped from his seat. Patkus clapped him on the back before he was out of reach. Vahn managed a kiss to timna’s forehead on his way up to the birthing room.

  The midwife was just finishing her careful wrapping of the squirming bundle. She handed the baby to him with a motherly smile. Vahn rocked his son in his arms. He gazed with pride into the handsome little face and cooed unabashedly. He shot a love-filled glance to the exhausted Saerula. She smiled weakly and closed her eyes. “His name is Dauntere,” Vahn announced.

  “Long live Prince Dauntere,” the old midwife whispered. She gathered her belongings and gave instructions to timna as if she were the duchess’ handmaid. timna paid the midwife at Vahn’s behest, since he was unwilling to put Dauntere down, then she aided the midwife down the stairs. The magess entered the birthing room and pronounced her sacred blessing on the child, then took his footprints for the Temple records.

  * * *

  Slow, hobbled steps delivered the Itzi midwife out to the gates where her arrival sent a tangible hush through the crowd. She smiled a toothy grin, leaving them all in suspense.

  “Well?” the guard asked as he opened the gate for her.

  She gave another wrinkled smile as she looked over the expectant crowd. “’Tis a boy. Long live Prince Dauntere!” She raised her arm in victory even though it trembled with age.

  The crowd roared its approval. Songs of joy began as the news relayed throughout the streets. Very few Ny residents went to bed ignorant of the royal birth. It was even announced through the halls of the ITC, bringing a smile to at least one slave therein.

  Chapter 58

  Saerula quickly forgot her pain-induced toleration for timna and Itzi. Her advertisement for a nursemaid was quite specific: “No Itzi or peasants need apply.” Vahn was embarrassed to deliver it to the Ny Gazette. Saerula refused to breastfeed. Since any mature Byntarian female could produce milk and Vahn was sure Itzi were out of the question, he suggested timna could nurse him while they looked for a nanny.

  “Are you mad? Next you’ll suggest we bring a goat into the nursery and force an unclean teat into our son’s mouth while the beast drops its dung on the floor!”

  Vahn threw his hands in the air and bought a set of bottles. He didn’t bother mentioning that the nipples were made from the salt-tanned teats of butchered goats. Logic only infuriated her when her mind was set.

  Saerula declared the second floor off limits to the Itzi. timna would have been excluded as well but Vahn refused to let Saerula’s incompetent males serve him.

  Vahn made the trip to the ITC on the appointed day to retrieve kee. No fewer than ten employees begged to buy her. He savored refusing each offer. While he signed the records, she held Submissive Kneel at his feet. His boots were polished by her cheek before it was time to go.

  She glowed with confidence borne of competent training, yet Vahn felt no guilt for collecting on the bet and paying only her boarding. Blackthorn would go down in ITC history as the trainer of the highest scoring slave. Moreover, he didn’t look the least bit poor after calling in the bets with his colleagues. kee thanked him for his help. Blackthorn winked and whispered, “You’re very welcome.” Vahn brought kee home where she quickly acclimated into life at Rebono Keep.

  While awaiting a qualified nursemaid, Saerula cared for Dauntere herself, but she proved less than motherly. Vahn returned to his routine of jaunts outside the keep and beyond Ny’s walls, but he was always home by evenfall. He swore not to duplicate his father’s mistakes. He spent time with his son nightly—held him, talked to him, played with him—making up what Saerula lacked in parenting.

  Six weeks after Vahn had commissioned him, Captain Shil returned from Ganluc. No noblemen in northern Ganluc claimed scarlet and gold uniforms. However, year-old recollections of an illiterate Dronakian farrier were hardly a solid lead. He could have concocted the story for attention. Even if he had truly seen something, he could have confused the details. He may have actually been in Latoph and witnessed the transport back to Occi. The supposed “out of uniform dead body” may have been a sack of feed.

  Even if the farrier was right, where did the investigation go from there? So it happened in Ganluc instead of Senkra. It was still unsolved and Vahn had no idea what else to look for. Much as he hated to admit it, it seemed as though Arx had done everything conceivable. It gave Vahn a headache to meditate on the many unanswered questions.

  Chapter 59

  Saerula finally hired a nanny when Dauntere was three months old. Frustration forced her to lower her standards. She was tired of the constant burden. The woman she hired, Lady Marrette Ultomp, was an Elva of reasonably good family. With Lady Ultomp to care for the screeching nuisance during the day and Vahn to take over in the evenings, Saerula could almost return to a normal life. She was relieved beyond measure.

  Now that her royal-blooded son would not be left in the care of filthy slaves (none of her servants, who now numbered four, would stoop to childcare), Saerula consented to an evening at The Scarlet Dryad. She employed Laban to attend her. Vahn insisted timna accompany him over Saerula’s vehement objections. At least she talked him out of bringing his new toy, kee. Vahn refused to admit no girl would willingly become a slave unless she had bedroom games on her harlotrous little peasant mind. Bad enough he gloated on and on about her at home, but to parade her and timna both in public would have been insufferable.

  Saerula knew she was the laughingstock of Ny, if not the whole duchy. Vahn kept a harem of whores at his command and everyone knew it. She had tried to do this her father’s way, acting the part of the devoted wife, but the humiliation was more than someone of her rank should have to endure. Now with the pregnancy over, she rewarded Laban for putting up with all Vahn’s nonsense. Father couldn’t argue because Vahn had flaunted his indiscretions first. At least she was politic.

  Chapter 60

  kee enjoyed her new life, especially the evenings when Master Vahn came home. He would play with Prince Dauntere and cradle him in his arms while he talked about his day. kee always made sure her chores were finished so she could kneel by the dais after supper and listen to him. Master had seemed wistful when he mentioned Mistress Saerula late
ly. It would be good for them to have some time together tonight. timna was elated to be going on her first outing in five months and kee was happy for her.

  Master Vahn left extensive baby instructions with Lady Ultomp. The nursemaid assured the worried father everything would be fine and bade them a good night.

  “kee,” Master Vahn said, “I want you to make up the master chambers while we are gone. Change the sheets and turn them down, lay out my clothes and see that the fireplace is ready.”

  “Yes, Master Vahn.” It was an honor to be allowed personal service to the master and mistress and it would save timna from having to rush through it when they returned.

  “Oh, and be available to help Lady Ultomp if she has any problems,” he added.

  “Yes, Master.”

  Not two minutes after the master and mistress left, Prince Dauntere began to cry. Lady Ultomp checked his diapers. They were dry. Mistress Saerula had put him on a bottle from birth. He couldn’t be missing the closeness of a breast. The nanny gave him his bottle, but he wouldn’t drink. She rocked him to no effect.

  kee passed Lady Ultomp twice on her way to iron her master’s jerkin. She slowed each time to give the nanny opportunity to ask for help, but didn’t impose herself unsolicited. She couldn’t remember the young prince ever crying like this before, but then, neither had he spent an evening without his father before.

  kee laid out Master Vahn’s clothes, all except his boots, which he had worn to the Dryad. On her third trip downstairs, she headed to the wood box. Lady Ultomp looked exasperated. “kee? Can you hold him a minute? I need to use the watercloset.”

  “Yes, milady, kee would be glad to help.” She dropped the wood she had started to stack in her arms and removed her apron before accepting the screaming child. Almost immediately, the young prince quieted.

  Lady Ultomp blinked. “He likes you,” she said and ran off to the inhouse.

  kee had held him before, with Master Vahn’s permission, though never in Mistress Saerula’s presence. She kissed his cheek and cooed to him.

  Lady Ultomp returned and tapped kee on the shoulder. “I can take him back now,” she whispered. kee nodded and carefully transferred the contented prince back to his nanny. Dauntere was not fooled. His screaming renewed. Lady Ultomp dismissed her anyway.

  kee replaced her apron, resumed loading her arms with wood, and headed to the master chambers. She stacked the wood neatly by the fireplace then cleaned out the ashes and charred wood. Carrying a burlap sack of fireplace rubbish, kee passed the frustrated nursemaid again.

  “kee, please help,” Lady Ultomp moaned. “He won’t quiet for anything but you.”

  kee handed the sack of ashes to xassa and asked her to dispose of it. marha, the eldest, offered to take kee’s dirty apron to the laundry. kee accepted the hysterical child and paced with him, swaying and humming. The child quieted, but refused to go to sleep. It was as if he knew what his caretakers were trying to do. Twice, kee tried to place him in the cradle or hand him back to the nanny, but he would have no part of it.

  Four slaves and Lady Ultomp begged kee to keep the baby. It was growing late and nerves were stretched. kee was happy to hold the precious bundle. For her, he was quiet and pensive. She settled into a rocking chair and called lopi. “lopi, would you please finish Master Vahn’s chambers? The fireplace is clean, but no fire is laid out and the bed needs making.”

  “Of course, kee. lopi will see to it.”

  Chapter 61

  Any other time, lopi would have been elated to serve in Master’s chamber. Tonight, however, she would be asleep when Master Vahn returned and he would assume kee did it. Before kee joined the house, lopi fancied herself next in line for optimess after timna. Now it was obvious kee had won Master’s favor. With every step, lopi became more and more disgruntled. If kee were any more perfect, lopi would just scream.

  The final straw was kee sitting in that rocking chair, cuddling a prince, and ordering her to go do what she had been assigned. lopi seethed to imagine kee slacking off the whole night, then taking credit for someone else’s work. In lopi’s mind, it was high time that sweet, perfect kee came down a notch. lopi entered the master chambers with a plan. Forty-five minutes later, she returned to find kee still rocking the restless babe.

  “Did you get the bed made and a fire laid out?” kee asked in a hushed whisper.

  “What else do you think lopi was doing?” she said with more than a hint of insult. kee did not comment. “May lopi go to bed now, kee?” she asked, her voice dripping in sarcasm.

  kee furrowed her brows. “kee sees no reason why not. Thank you. Rest well.”

  lopi turned away with clenched fists and gritted teeth. “Hold the prince ‘til Mistress comes home,” she mouthed, “and I will.”

  * * *

  After another hour and a bottle, Prince Dauntere finally slept. Ever so gently, kee took him upstairs and laid him in the nursery. She helped Lady Ultomp unpack and made sure she had a basin, ewer, and towels. kee thought it odd the nursery wasn’t better prepared. Jallor oversaw the whole house. The four male servants had no other responsibilities but the second floor; so why had no one seen to the proper accoutrements? She shrugged it off, always happy to help. Though kee offered to give a bath, the nanny refused in favor of sleep. kee took the empty bottle down to the kitchen, blowing out lamps as she left.

  Chapter 62

  When they arrived at The Scarlet Dryad, Vahn insisted timna announce them, since Jallor had mangled it so badly the last time. He felt a momentary twinge of guilt he hadn’t yet restored the rest of her silver bands. He kept meaning to, but he didn’t want it to look like he did it just to show off. He patted her on the back as she stepped up to the tavern entrance.

  “Prince Vahn Rebono and his wife, Princess Saerula of Ganluc: the duke and duchess of Latoph,” timna called proudly. She was barely able to finish over the roar of cheers and applause. Vahn smiled widely as he stepped in. He shook numerous forearms and accepted their congratulations with genuine gratitude.

  The duchess seemed amiable, at least at first. Everyone wanted to hear about Dauntere. All night long, Saerula constantly changed the subject to keep from having to discuss the baby.

  Vahn, however, never tired of talking about his pride and joy. He was in such high spirits even Jallor’s incessant hovering didn’t dampen his mood. He enjoyed having timna put him to shame at every turn. Though it may have been his imagination, it seemed as if Saerula had become irritated with Jallor’s inferior service.

  To the disappointment of adoring subjects, the royal family took leave much earlier than their last visit. Saerula couldn’t find anyone willing to converse about fashion or the latest court gossip, so she pouted. Vahn found himself missing his son. Besides, there was no marquis to distract him into losing track of time.

  Vahn offered his arm to Saerula as they exited, but she ignored it and walked beside him without touching. Such an act was highly disrespectful of his rank. She only had the right to appear at his side as his escort. Vahn pretended he didn’t notice the slight. Jallor followed them and timna took up the rear. Vahn had brought the carriage because of the still-chilled nights, particularly for timna. By tradition, slaves wore neither shoes nor coats. He would break tradition when necessary to insure his slave’s health or welfare, but riding the carriage negated any need.

  When they arrived home, the keep was dark and quiet. Vahn dismissed timna straightaway. Jallor didn’t offer to help Saerula to bed. Apparently, he had already worked beyond what he considered reasonable hours and therefore excused himself.

  Vahn entered the master chambers and stood in shock, his mouth agape. The feather mattress had been stripped of sheets—those left in a wadded heap on the floor. Fresh sheets were nowhere in sight. The fireplace was clean but empty. Kindling and logs were scattered all over the hearth.

  “So this is the work of that oh-so-perfect new slave, Vahn?” Saerula jeered.

  Vahn chose not to answer. Instead,
he stormed out of the room and marched to the slave quarters. He didn’t care how many might be asleep. He pounded on the door. “kee!” he roared.

  timna answered the door, clothed in a nightshirt. “kee is not here, Master Vahn,” she reported.

  From the other end of the hall, kee came running. “kee is here, Master,” she said breathlessly, hurrying from the direction of the kitchen.

  She had not yet made it to her knees when Vahn bellowed, “kee, did you do what I told you tonight?” He knew she hadn’t done it, but he always wanted to hear confession from the offender.

  “No, Master Vahn, kee did not—”

  “Did you forget?”

  “No, but kee did not know it was wrong to pass the honor to lopi.”

  “lopi?” he yelled, ignoring kee for the moment. “Did kee ask you to ready my chambers tonight?”

  lopi yawned. “What? Wasn’t kee supposed to do that?”

  Vahn frowned. It had been kee’s responsibility to see the chore completed. He was not pleased with her pawning the chore off to someone else, much less without follow-up. “kee? What do you have to say for yourself?” he asked sternly.

  Tears formed in kee’s eyes. She hung her head and spoke with a quiver in her voice. “kee has no excuse, Master Vahn. kee failed you. She is sorry.” She prostrated herself on the floor in Abject. “kee accepts any punishment you see fit, Master.”

  This sort of infraction demanded action. He couldn’t have his orders taken so lightly. Disappointment ran deep. After the big buildup at the ITC and her exemplary work since coming home, he had grown to treasure her. And then there was the confidante factor. He could always depend on kee to listen and care.