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

by Caprice Hokstad

Daelin eyed marha a few moments. There was enough tension in the air to strangle a koopchuk, but he could hardly refuse his commander. “Wine, if you don’t mind.”

  marha counted the cost and decided her dignity was worth it. A reprimand or confinement would probably excuse her from whore duty. “Actually, I do mind,” she said evenly.

  Terzak was so shocked by the outright refusal that he was speechless for a long moment. He glowered at marha. marha didn’t move. “kee, fetch Captain Daelin some wine,” Terzak requested in a low voice.

  “Yes, Master,” kee answered almost before he finished. She bolted from her kneel at his side to the wine rack near the kitchen. marha was amazed Terzak decided to ignore her. She took a tentative step away.

  “Commander, if you don’t intend to do anything about her disrespect, may I?” Captain Daelin asked.

  marha froze. She detected a note of condescension in Daelin’s request. It was trouble. If Terzak had one weakness, it had to be his authority with his underlings. He would have to save face in front of Daelin.

  “No, thank you. I will deal with her.”

  marha shuddered but held her ground. Wisdom would have her assume Submissive or Abject, apologize, and beg for mercy. However, Terzak had been so lax on discipline marha wasn’t sure how badly she needed to behave to earn something serious enough to deter the chore she dreaded. She turned her back on her master.

  kee was pronouncing the ritual words of presentation for Daelin’s wine but marha felt all eyes on herself.

  “kee, go get the whip,” Terzak ordered.

  “Yes, Master,” kee said faintly, then exited the room.

  marha bit her lip. While she had intended to invite punishment, the whip frightened her. She hadn’t expected Master Terzak to go from severe laxity to severe punishments. Terzak stood and grabbed her arm. Her resolve melted. “Please, Master Terzak, please don’t whip marha. marha will be good,” she begged.

  “It’s too late for that,” Terzak growled. He dragged her along, opened a drawer, and pulled out a rope. marha cried and begged as he tied her hands around a column at the end of the room.

  kee returned, hurried to Terzak’s feet, knelt in a brief Submissive, and kissed his foot. “Master Terzak, kee is optimess. kee is responsible. Please punish kee instead.” Her voice carried enough fear to convey it was no empty ceremony. After all they had done to kee, she offered to take a whipping for her?

  “Give me the whip, kee,” Terzak said. kee lifted the whip up to him. “Go kneel by Baroness Livronia.”

  “Yes, Master Terzak.” Her voice was sad and her movements away were slow.

  marha begged some more through her tears.

  “Silence, marha,” Terzak barked. He didn’t bare her back so she wasn’t ready when the lash hit. A deafening crack rang out. Terzak’s aim was poor and the whip caught her across bare thighs. She screamed.

  “You sure you don’t want my help?” Daelin asked. His voice was light and jesting. Both he and the baroness acted as if this were a sport. The offer only made Terzak angry. The next six lashes hit squarely across marha’s back. She screamed, cried, and begged him to stop.

  Finally, he dropped the whip and turned around. “kee, get her out of here.”

  “Yes, Master Terzak.” She scrambled to the column.

  Through the haze of tears and pain, marha saw kee clawing into the knots that bound tortured wrists. She spoke soft words of comfort and encouragement. Why did it have to be kee? And why did she have to be so nice? Yet, if someone had not been there, marha would have collapsed once the ropes were loosed. kee slipped marha’s arm over her shoulder.

  marha groaned as kee shouldered her out. kee took her to the inhouse the slaves were expected to use. willow happened by and kee asked her to boil some water. Mors Manor didn’t have hot water plumbing like Rebono Keep. kee shut the door and held marha. For a while, she just rocked her and cooed softly, then she coaxed marha to sit without support.

  Ever so gently, kee removed the torn uniform. She soaked a cloth in water and gently swabbed the wounds. The water was ice cold and blissfully numbing. marha stared blankly; tears still fell down her cheek. willow appeared with two large kettles. kee directed her to empty them into the half-barrel they used infrequently as a bathtub.

  “marha has already used her bath ration for this fortnight,” she whimpered.

  “Then you shall use kee’s,” kee said. “This is too important. Your wounds must be cleaned.” marha didn’t have strength to argue even if she wanted to. Once the water was mixed to a tepid bearability, kee and willow eased her into the barrel. Then kee dismissed willow and settled to her knees at the barrel’s side. She trickled water over marha’s back with a sea sponge. Slowly, the tears subsided.

  “You never asked marha why,” marha said softly.

  “Does it matter?”

  “Yes. Because it is likely to happen again and you mustn’t offer to take my place again. It was very kind of you, but couldn’t you see I provoked Master Terzak on purpose?”

  “Yes, kee saw, but kee also saw that you changed your mind.”

  marha’s eyes filled with tears again. “kee, you have already suffered too much for us. It was wrong of us to treat you as we have. marha will talk to the others. We will help you more. Please forgive us.”

  kee placed a gentle hand to her shoulder and stood. “Shhh. It’s all right. Come out of the water now before you chill. kee will see if she can get some salve.” kee steadied marha as she stood on trembling legs. The optimess swiped over the wound on marha’s thighs. It was the worst of the seven. Not only had it caught her on bare skin, but it would be tormented every time she knelt. marha gasped in pain. kee wrapped marha in a towel and helped her to her bedroll.

  Chapter 74

  kee knelt at the parlor threshold. “Master, may kee please have some salve for marha?”

  Master Terzak scoffed until the baroness whispered to him. “There’s some in the shearing shed,” he said as if it pained him to allow something so frivolous.

  “Thank you, Master Terzak.” kee noticed xassa was present and behaving uncommonly well in front of Master and his guests. Perhaps she’d heard of marha’s whipping. kee was thankful since it gave her the opportunity to care for marha.

  kee applied the salve, then helped marha under a blanket. She held marha’s hand and stroked her hair until marha fell to a fitful sleep. kee stayed by her side until she couldn’t hold her own eyes open any longer. When she retired, most of the other slaves were already sleeping on their bedrolls. xassa was notably absent.

  At some point in the middle of the night, marha coughed herself awake and struggled to get up. kee scrambled to her side. “What is it?” she whispered.

  “I need to go to the inhouse. Now,” marha gurgled back.

  When they were alone in quarters, some slaves used first person speech as an expression of mental freedom. It was an unspoken understanding that such private matters were never held accountable or reported. kee helped marha up and to the inhouse. marha barely made it to the watercloset before she retched. kee cringed and stood by, waiting to help.

  “Please, kee, go on back to bed. There’s no reason you should lose any more sleep. I’ll be fine.”

  kee frowned, and then nodded. She was exhausted and the acrid odor of vomit made her sick. She whispered a good night and returned to bed. Weary as she was, she had no trouble returning to sleep. She didn’t even hear marha return.

  The next morning, kee awoke to find both marha and xassa missing. xassa was most likely one of two places—already working or in Master Terzak’s bed. kee would bet a week’s worth of scrubbing floors on the latter. marha’s absence was disturbing, but kee assumed she was in the inhouse again. kee headed there first.

  When she didn’t find marha, kee panicked. She used the watercloset and then hurriedly washed her face and hands. kee dressed and searched for her wounded sister; a twinge of guilt for having left marha alone in the middle of the night gnawed at her c
onscience. marha was not in the kitchen nor out in the chicken yard. kee could not imagine marha wanting to work at all, much less start early.

  Though worried, kee couldn’t neglect Master Terzak any longer. She entered the master chambers quietly and found xassa in Master’s bed, just as she suspected. For a split second, kee imagined that a large lump of covers was marha. She shuddered to think that Master might have made marha join his bed after a whipping. xassa shifted into the area of the bed that looked body-shaped, disproving the notion. kee set a kettle to the chamber stove and rekindled the fire.

  “Master Terzak,” she said softly. “Master Terzak, it’s time to get up.” He grumbled a bit before sitting up. “Good morning, Master Terzak,” kee whispered. He stood and stretched while kee worked up her nerve. She knelt at his feet. “Master Terzak... kee could not find marha this morning...” She hesitated. What could possibly have happened to her? Was she now getting her into further trouble?

  “marha is no longer your concern. I never want to hear her name again, understood?”

  kee was shocked but knew better than to gasp in his chambers again. Her cheek still hurt every time she thought about the first slap. “Yes, Master Terzak,” she said sadly. So many questions. Had marha been sold, and if so, to whom? There was something about his tone that made kee wonder if marha was still alive.

  xassa, however, was not as prudent in letting the matter drop. “But where is she, Master Terzak?”

  kee shot a warning glare at xassa.

  “That is none of your concern, little one. Tell the others no one is to question me or ever mention her name again.”

  “Yes, Master,” xassa sneered.

  kee couldn’t believe he didn’t react to xassa’s insolent tone. The devoted optimess had been slapped for an involuntary expression of surprise but the sassy little flirt got away with sneering at him. kee couldn’t help wondering if Master Terzak despised her because she asked for freedom the day of her branding. She held her tongue as she prepared tea and hot towels with the kettle water.

  Master Terzak drank his tea without any condiment, but kee always served it as she’d been taught at Rebono Keep—from the house’s best teapot, with a silver spoon and china cup on a fancy tray, offered aside crystal jars of honey and cream. Considering the way he gulped it down without apparent thought, it was probably a ridiculous custom to uphold, but kee couldn’t help it. No matter whose house symbol was seared into her flesh, no matter what uniform she wore or who held legal title—in her heart, she still belonged to Duke Vahn. Everything she did reflected his last orders to her. She would have served the duke honey and cream with his tea, whether he ever used it or not. Since Master Terzak never told her otherwise, he received the same courtesy by right of the Final Order.

  Master Terzak settled into a chair. kee wrapped a hot towel around his face. He was not unpleasant to look at, though he affected her as little as Itzi males did. kee laid out his wool uniform. She plucked at an errant piece of lint, then straightened the epaulets and fourragère. She checked all the royal insignia and knighthood honors on his baldric. His attire was perfect, as was usual ever since it had become her responsibility.

  kee removed the warm towel from Master’s face and rubbed some oatmeal soap over her hands. She smoothed her hands over his jowls, neck, and chin. She wiped her hands on the towel then sharpened the straight blade with a few strokes on the strop. Steadying his head against the chair, she cupped her hand under Master’s chin. With careful strokes, kee gave him a perfect shave.

  The first few times she’d held a razor so close to his neck, he’d held a dagger to her side. It took him nearly a month to feel comfortable with the idea of allowing a slave so close to his neck with a blade. But she was very careful and rarely nicked him. After she finished the shave, kee pumped some cold water to a sea sponge and pressed it to his skin to remove the soap residue.

  Sometime during the shave, xassa left the room. kee wondered whether xassa would remember to tell the others about marha. She shuddered to think of someone bringing it up at breakfast. kee helped Master Terzak dress and finish grooming before he dismissed her. “Just two eggs this morning, kee,” he called after her. “I have business in Ny.”

  “Yes, Master Terzak.”

  kee arrived in the kitchen in time to halt the normal large breakfast and remedy the oversight xassa had indeed forgotten. “Master Terzak says no one is to ever speak marha’s name again.”

  The others were stunned. “But what happened to her?”

  “kee does not know. Master Terzak just said she was no longer our concern.” They raised brows sharply and frowned at her. When she turned to help cook, kee heard them mumble behind her back. They didn’t believe she didn’t know anything else about marha.

  At breakfast, willow and ria fawned all over Master Terzak. kee rolled her eyes once she was safely in the kitchen where none could see her. She was amazed he fell for their obvious ploys and invited them to Ny. byli, ghian, alkae, and fawna accepted his invitation as well. xassa was invited, but curiously, she declined. kee, however, was not invited. After all, someone had to clean up after a night of guests and havoc. xassa would never get anything done by herself. Master Terzak drove away with a wagonful of chattering females, leaving kee and xassa alone at Mors Manor.

  Chapter 75

  xassa had always longed for Master’s affections for their own sake and never entertained illusions she could trump the others or gain anything by intimacy. She was too young to understand lust and too naïve to realize his attentions were not indicative of the love she hungered for. She wouldn’t forego a trip with Master unless it was important. But she had to talk to kee and there would never be a better chance than this.

  kee and xassa cleaned the kitchen first and then the parlor. They did laundry and various household chores before xassa worked up her courage. “kee, can we stop and sit a while? xassa really needs to talk to you about something.”

  “Of course, xassa. What is it?”

  xassa looked around to be certain they were alone. There was not another soul about besides Terzak’s gate guards and stable boy, and they were well out of earshot, outside. She peered up at kee with a woeful gaze. “xassa has missed three cycles.”

  kee’s jaw dropped. “Cy...Cycles?”

  xassa nodded, her tortured face confirming her words.

  “Are you sure?” kee asked. “Could you have mistaken the days?”

  “Do you think xassa would take something like this lightly?”

  “No.” kee sank down next to xassa and patted her knee. After a short silence, kee frowned. “You should be due around Queen’s Jubilee. You may not be free before the baby comes.” Even if she were free, without a compact or family, she’d likely end up having to send her baby to an orphanage. The baby’s best hope (if it managed to survive) would lie in Master Terzak choosing to help.

  “Master Terzak might sell xassa before then.”

  kee’s face was grave with concern. “You must tell him, xassa. You cannot hide it much longer and if he finds out on his own, it can only be worse.”

  xassa nodded. She knew kee would say something like that. “xassa knows, but she is afraid. Will you come with xassa to tell him?”

  “Of course, kee will come with you, but you must tell him.” She reached out and placed her hand on xassa’s belly. “Have you been sick? kee has not noticed.”

  “No, xassa has felt a little queasy, but it wasn’t bad. It seemed like it was just coincidence to miss two cycles. xassa didn’t think she could really be pregnant.”

  “kee understands. kee would not want to tell Master either if she were not sure. Rest now and hope Master Terzak comes home early and in good spirits.”

  “Thank you, kee. xassa knew you would help her.” She let out a sigh of relief, then did as kee suggested and relaxed the rest of the day.

  Master Terzak didn’t return before supper. kee brought xassa some stew, curiously more meaty than normal. While Master Vahn had
been generous with food, Master Terzak barely allowed more than bread and vegetables. Meat was rationed out sparingly. xassa didn’t ask where the extra meat came from.

  Chapter 76

  Terzak had ignored ria and willow as they tried all day to dance around the subject of marha. He wasn’t fooled by their charm, nor their attempts at encouraging drunkenness at The Scarlet Dryad. However, he was surprised when both resorted to seductive promises whispered in his ear. He was delighted at the prospect of having two girls share his bed that night.

  Strange how they quieted after their offers were accepted, yet he still feigned disregard to their subtleties about marha. They arrived at Mors Manor two hours after sunsdown. Terzak was in quite the festive mood and sent ria and willow to his chambers to change and wait for him. It was too early for sleep, but he had quite an orgy planned.

  byli, ghian, alkae, and fawna disappeared, likely to the kitchen. He hadn’t allowed them into the Dryad with ria and willow. They might have nudged their amorous sisters into realizing he wasn’t going to tell them about marha and then he wouldn’t have the pleasant prospect he’d won.

  kee knelt and bowed her head as he entered the manor. “Good evening, Master Terzak. May kee get you anything?”

  kee was pretty enough and well-behaved enough, but she was vaguely detached. It was nothing he could put a finger on or order her to stop; she was just somehow dull and flat. He assumed it was part of her personality and barely gave it another thought. Besides, she was scrupulously faithful with her work. “No, kee. I’m just about to retire to my chambers. Did everything go well at the manor today?”

  kee took a deep breath. “There is some house business you need to hear if you have the time.”

  “What is it?” Sometimes all the formality his cousin had trained into these slaves drove him utterly insane.

  “xassa must speak with you. Perhaps you could sit in your favorite chair and grant her audience, if it pleases you?”