kee wasn’t sure whether his tone was truly false or whether she read falsity into it because of the extreme aversion welling up in her. It took every ounce of will not to recoil in disgust from his arm about her shoulders. It drove her mad to keep up the charade, but it was even worse to second-guess every move she made. She sent a silent prayer for help as he lifted her into the wagon. Existence would be easier when she didn’t have to tolerate physical contact.
It was chilly, so the blanket Terzak placed over her was welcome. She didn’t care whether he was trying to hide her or not. Her eyes were useless and for now, escape was outside of wisdom. She took the opportunity to clear her mind and rest. She would need all the strength she could muster to get away at the first reasonable chance. Though the ride was rough, inner turmoil had exhausted her. She slept despite the bumps.
They arrived at Mors Manor near evenfall. “We’re home, kee,” Terzak said. “I’ll take the blindfold off, but the suns haven’t set, so be careful.”
She wondered how much time had passed. The first trip had seemed much longer. Then again, maybe she was so weak she had slept longer than she realized. She felt energized, but decided not to make it known. “Yes, Master Terzak. Thank you,” she replied groggily.
“Sleep well, little one?” he said as he removed the rag from her face.
kee rubbed her eyes as she searched for the proper answer. She had never liked being called “little one” but now it was intolerable. “The ride was very bumpy, Master.” No lie there. She hoped he would infer she slept poorly, but it was unlike her to complain about anything. Even if she had been exhausted, she would never have voiced the fact to Terzak.
“I know, kee. As soon as we get you something to eat, you can sleep. willow and fawna can do the work tonight. They’ll be glad to see you.”
kee had forgotten about them. ghian, alkae, and ria must have been released, but what about byli? She considered inviting them on the escape. Just as quickly, she dismissed the idea. She couldn’t risk them disbelieving Terzak’s intent, or worse, believing it but siding with the marquis instead of the duke. It was no secret most of her band sisters held their former master in contempt over the change in ownership. For all kee knew, they might wish to see Duke Vahn dead and aid Terzak just for spite.
Chapter 86
willow was indeed glad to see kee, though she hardly recognized her. How had kee become so emaciated? Why did she act as though the light caused her pain? willow had known kee and xassa were alive somewhere because Master Terzak kept bringing their uniforms to be laundered.
Master Terzak reported xassa’s death. willow shed tears at the news. She had a thousand questions, but she knew better than to push her luck. Gone were the days of blaming anyone else. Both hers and fawna’s backs were scarred with lessons learned the hard way. Since alkae, ghian, and ria were freed nearly four weeks earlier, willow and fawna had had a rough time.
fawna and willow served Terzak supper. kee was a gaunt bag of bones and tired from the journey. After helping fawna clean the kitchen, willow brought kee some soup in their quarters.
“willow is so sorry for how she treated you before. She made you do her work and let Master yell at you for her mistakes. Please forgive willow.”
“It’s all right.” kee opened her arms to invite an embrace.
willow rushed into kee’s arms and wept on her shoulder. Thin skin barely covered kee’s bones, making the contact uncomfortable for willow, but she didn’t complain.
“Where’s byli?” kee asked.
“She died of sweating fever. Master put her in stocks and left her outside in the cold and rain for three days just before she fell sick.”
kee winced. “What day is it?” willow told her. kee cringed at the date.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
kee shook her head. “kee didn’t know she lost so much time.”
Although willow thought there was more, kee looked far too weary to press for details. “Please lay down, kee. willow has to get Master Terzak into bed, but she’ll be back.”
fawna volunteered to warm Master’s sheets. Master had banned all other activities in his bed even when he wasn’t exhausted, but willow didn’t want to be detained in Master’s room for any reason tonight. She hoped kee would have some energy to talk. willow would care for her optimess the way kee had cared for marha after that first awful whipping—the way they all should have cared for each other all along.
Chapter 87
While willow and fawna attended to Terzak’s bedding, kee decided this was her chance. Escape during the day was not plausible. Her eyes couldn’t take the light. Never again would the sleep deficit be so greatly in her favor. Besides, there was no time to waste. She didn’t have 26 days to reach the duke. She had two.
She opened her flimsy bedroll and removed the parchment. She folded it again and slipped it under her wrist band, pressing it into the concave underside. Wads of dirty clothes made her bed look occupied. Hopefully, no one would look too closely. If she could get an entire night’s head start, she should do well. Ny was ten miles away. She hoped to make it before Terzak even noticed her missing.
kee slipped out the kitchen door and into the nearby landscape. Though the suns had set, it wasn’t yet dark. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the rapport with Mors Manor gate guards as she had with the ones at Rebono Keep. Of course, that was not the fault of the guards, but the lord of the manor. Duke Vahn’s guards were charged with knowing all his slaves and allowing them free passage both in and out. It was not their responsibility to ascertain who had permission to leave. Mors Manor guards operated under different rules. Only a strict list of individuals was granted entrance. No one, not even the hired stable boy, could leave without reason. kee had heard him ask for leave when his mother was ill so he could attend her.
A dog found kee in the bushes. She scratched his ears and spoke softly to keep him from barking. But she didn’t expect any of the dogs to remain quiet if she was headed over the wall. Fortunately, the dogs would be fed directly after the horses. She paid the animal generous affection from her hiding place until the stable boy whistled. As expected, the dog left the harmless slave to heed the call for food.
kee waited a few minutes to allow all the dogs to be busy eating, then headed to the wall. It was much higher than she expected. From a distance, twelve feet hadn’t looked so tall. She took a deep breath and grabbed the outcropped stones. Her bare feet found footholds, though the rough rocks were not kind. She had already resigned her feet to injury; she didn’t bother to look at the scrapes.
She meant to climb down the other side, but slipped and fell. The drop was painful, but not debilitating. She was more concerned the twigs she broke in the process made too much noise. kee held still for several moments, at the same time willing her pain to subside. It was surprising how much her muscles already hurt. She hadn’t considered atrophy. It had been a long time since she had been able to walk more than a few feet.
kee suddenly realized it was cold and scolded herself for not preparing better. As long as she kept moving, she would be all right, she hoped. Surely, it was too early for a freeze. However, she was already past the point of no return. Her heart hammered in her chest. Capture would not only mean failure to warn the duke, but probably serious punishment for her. kee drew a deep breath, set her gaze west, and scanned the horizon.
The road to Mors Manor had a long, unobstructed view. Terzak was paranoid that no one ever be able to sneak up on him, though in practice it was only good for those who stuck to the road. kee would have to abide the forest, at least for a while. For the first time in over two years, she missed her clunky brogans. The forest floor was littered with rocks and twigs, most of them sharper than her tender feet. She felt the stinging soil press into her wounded soles and winced. Her imagination conjured bloody footprints leaving an easy trail.
Daylight dissolved, to kee’s relief. It was ironic that her long imprisonment underground had prepared her for the f
light of her life. She would be safer in the dark as long as no one was after her. However, just as she comforted herself with that, she heard zupwolves howling. Smaller than common wolves, the short-haired breed was considered more vicious, especially in packs. Fear set in. She prayed they weren’t hungry for Itzi and quickened her pace through the forest. Snap, crunch, ouch. Her heart raced as she ran. Her pain increased as she was no longer able to be careful with her steps. The howling seemed closer. She altered her course in an attempt to evade the beasts.
Soon thereafter, she realized she was losing the race. She was lost in the dense brush. The howling beasts closed in. She was out of breath. Even if she could continue running, it was not sufficient to keep from being overtaken. In frantic desperation, she blurted out prayers to her guardian Nymphs. She had to keep her wits about her. She grabbed a branch from the forest floor and struggled to catch her breath.
Low growls seemed far too close. A twig snapped. The odor of canine breath and unclean fur filled her nostrils. Her leg brushed against something soft and she whirled around to find flowers rather than fur.
A gasp later, the beasts bounded into sight. kee flailed wildly at the zupwolves, counting three in the vicinity. She was lucky it was such a small pack, though even two could most likely take down a female Itzi, especially one so weakened as she. She waved the branch ostensibly. They kept their distance, snarling and spreading out to surround her.
She couldn’t possibly club them all at once if they attacked in concert. kee backed up to a thick pine in hopes of narrowing their lines of attack. Bark scraped her bare buttocks as her too-short skirt rode up. She still had little hope of defeating a pack of three, but at least she could see them all at once. A few more threatening waves of the branch proved ineffectual in deterring them. It only made them curl upper lips in snarling display of impossibly sharp canines. Breathless, wounded, and frightened beyond terror, kee had no epiphany of what more she could do against the imminent attack. All her frenzied thoughts turned to agonizing awareness she would fail to save the One she loved more than life itself.
Chapter 88
kee cried out in agony as a zupwolf clamped iron jaws about her right calf, yanking her off balance. She struck the offender with the branch and caught it just right on the head; it released her leg with a yelp.
Before kee could register relief, another beast leapt at her from the other side. She raised her left arm to shield her face and acquired a second bite between her wrist band and elbow. Screaming, she attempted the same tactic that had worked on the first one. The zupwolf tore away, but took some of her flesh in its teeth. It was less deterred, preoccupied instead with gaining a better tooth-hold. kee was frantically opposed to the notion. She clubbed at the snarling carnivore. She was unaware her weapon had a shoot protruding from it. The twig penetrated her attacker’s ear before breaking off the larger branch. The beast howled and ran away.
The third zupwolf had started its attack as kee beat the second one. Its sharp claws left jagged slices down her right cheek and neck. It shredded a portion of her skimpy uniform before the howling of his comrade startled him. kee beat the third beast with her branch, giving another blow to the first when he seemed to regain initiative. When the first and third ones realized the second was badly wounded, they surrendered their feisty prey and retreated.
kee gasped for breath, thankful the canine stench left with the zupwolves. She was hurt too severely to celebrate her victory. Every bone in her body cried out for her to stop—to rest and nurse her wounds. Yet, without any bandages, what could she do? There was not enough surplus fabric in her uniform to spare any for her injuries. She licked the corners of her mouth; the salty blood from her cheek intensified her thirst. She was afraid if she sat to rest, she’d either never get up or the zupwolves would return in greater numbers. She had to keep moving.
She placed some dry leaves over the worst of wounds to aid the clotting. This was no time to bleed to death. Before she limped away, she checked the folded parchment under her wrist band. It was secure, clinging to the concave underside. She wandered aimlessly a while, too stunned to think clearly. How would she find her way, lost in the woods? She didn’t have extra strength to waste stumbling in circles or headed the wrong direction.
A short prayer cleared her head. The answer was so simple. She found some moss growing on a rock. A second patch on a nearby tree confirmed it. With north known, she could head west. Whether she found the road or not was immaterial. All she had to find was Ny. If she kept moving west, she couldn’t miss.
Encouraged, she plodded through the forest, still carrying her makeshift weapon. Every step was a new experience in pain. She cringed and trudged westward into the night. Her light-sensitive eyes served her well enough so she could somewhat choose where to place her foot. She couldn’t afford time to be too selective.
If she didn’t make it to Ny before cock’s crow, she would probably fail. Fendrus Sector farmers would return her to Terzak if they saw her. kee could just see him paying some poor farmer a pittance of reward for returning his wretched property. He’d probably act all concerned about her wounds until the farmer was gone, then she was as good as dead. She didn’t let herself dwell on the scenario. She couldn’t waste her thoughts on failure. She had to succeed.
kee pressed through the thickets, suffering even more scratches. The pain seared beyond burning to excruciating. She only stopped to remove sticks protruding from her foot. It was one thing to have her soles become sausage filler, but skewering could damage enough to slow her down.
After several long hours, the forest began to thin. kee could see farmhouses in the distance, though the moons were mere slivers of crescents. She also saw the road, but decided against taking it. The fields would keep her farther from the barns and homes. She had to avoid the possibility of waking anyone. She had no energy left for another pursuit.
It was the dead of night and luckily so. There was no place to hide in the open. She went around fences in lieu of scooting under. It would have saved time the other way, but she was glad when an enthusiastic sheepdog came after her, barking loudly. Its alert would probably rouse a farmhand and spell her doom. She wanted to run but found the pain too great. The dog eventually saw she was no threat to his territory and left her alone. If any others were stirred, kee never saw them.
The walking surface was infinitely more friendly in the farmlands—no more sharp twigs or hidden stones. Yet, her pace slowed with the passing time. Months of starvation and confinement coupled with the numerous wounds and the steadily decreasing temperature took their toll. Her teeth chattered and her frail form shivered.
How stupid she had been not to bring a spare blanket along. It could have protected her arms from some of the branch lashing and provided needed warmth. It wasn’t enough that every muscle in her body ached or that much of her skin was abraded, sliced, scraped, bruised, gnawed, and gashed. Now her inner organs had to turn themselves inside out.
She wondered just how much more pain she could endure and continue to function. She cradled her wrenching guts in her less-wounded right arm and slogged forward. Time lost all meaning except at some point she knew its passage would bring the suns up. The countryside was hard to recognize. It had been eight months since she had been to Ny, shackled to Terzak’s wagon, though it seemed like a lifetime ago. She had belonged to the marquis for barely fifteen months but that, too, seemed much longer.
Finally, she saw the East Gate in the distance. She crossed from open meadow to the road. She would welcome capture now—whatever it took to be taken to the duke. It wouldn’t even matter if she admitted being a runaway slave. Seeking the duke was nearly the same as turning oneself in to the ITC. No one this close to Ny should be afraid of taking her to him.
Unfortunately, no one caught her. She had to keep going on her own energy, a resource long since depleted from drained reserves. The last half-mile took another hour. The lighthouse bells tolled five as she entered through the East Gate
. She saw light in a baker’s window, but the rest of Ny’s windows were still dark. Thank the Nymphs, Rebono Keep was just north of the East Gate. She winced with every step as she trudged toward her goal.
The jeweled Rebono crests on the keep gates shone brightly in the weak moons’ light. kee would succeed in warning the duke. She could die in peace knowing her efforts had not been in vain. Waves of relief washed over her.
It struck her she need not ask to see the duke. It had been her original plan, but that was before she became such a disheveled mess. If she gave the parchment to the gate guard, Duke Vahn would never have to see her like this. She doubted she could even kneel properly. Though she longed to see him, she didn’t want to be seen by him. No, it was better to just deliver the message via the guard and hope she didn’t litter his property when she collapsed. If he had ever cared at all, he could remember her as she was in her prime—healthy, unblemished, and wearing his beautiful silver bands.
kee slipped a blood-encrusted finger between her wrist and the copper band and removed the parchment. She uncrumpled it to check the condition of the ink. Sweat, mud, and blood stained the parchment, but it was still readable. Two steps brought her to face Lieutenant Windrider. She curled frozen fingers around a wrought iron spindle for support.
“State your name and business,” Lieutenant Windrider said.
kee cringed. He didn’t even recognize her. She must look worse than she feared. A cough doubled her over in pain. “kee of the house of Marquis Terzak Rebono. Please, this is urgent. The marquis plans to assassinate the duke. Take this to his highness immediately,” she rasped as she poked the document between the spindles.
“kee?” Windrider gasped. He sounded an alert on his bugle, then unlocked the gate.
The Duke's Handmaid (Book 1 of the Ascendancy Trilogy) Page 33