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

by Caprice Hokstad

  “I didn’t think you’d want to be reminded of slavery, Kee, but if it pleases you, I would be happy to call you that,” he assured her, brushing her forehead gently as he spoke.

  “If Kee was not so... damaged and... useless, she would beg you for your bands again.”

  Vahn was floored. “Useless? Kee, you just saved my life and the life of the king and queen! You wouldn’t be damaged if it weren’t for me. As soon as Arx hears, he’ll be petitioning you to some high position on his court. You’re far too good for me.”

  Niles and Patkus listened with mouths agape. They likely assumed she was just a runaway escaping an abusive master.

  She sighed deeply. “Kee could never be too good for you, your highness.” Her voice carried a note of sadness. She closed her eyes, blinking back new tears.

  Vahn was entertaining other thoughts concerning her. He didn’t want to make any decisions based on the high emotions of a crisis. He needed time to sort it all out. The healer said she was likely to die, but Vahn was not the type to make empty promises counting on that. He wanted her to live. He hoped beyond hope she would live. But she needed to hear reassurance. Hear it, she would.

  “Kee, you are a priceless gem. If you would consider staying with me after all I have put you through, I would count myself the luckiest man on Byntar. You are part of my family now, never to be turned away again. I swear by Calla and Cana. Just get better. Live. We can talk about it later,” he soothed.

  Kee blinked. A blissful smile broke over blue-gray lips. “Kee wants nothing more than to be yours again. May Kee call you ‘Master Vahn’?”

  “You can call me whatever you want, Kee. Just ‘Vahn’, if you like.” Very few people had the honor of using his name without any title.

  “Thank you, Master Vahn,” she whispered contentedly. After a soft sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  Patkus urged Niles and Vahn away to give Kee some rest. There would be plenty of time for bedside vigils. The three men left the master chambers and headed downstairs.

  Chapter 90

  Captain Shil was waiting in Great Throne Hall when Vahn, Niles, and Patkus descended the stairs. Niles cringed. “I’m sorry, your highness. I was supposed to tell you Lord Shil was waiting. I didn’t think you wanted to be distracted.”

  “That’s fine, Niles. You assumed properly.”

  Vahn turned to Shil. “Captain, we have a traitor to apprehend. I want my twenty best men to join us on a little trip to Mors Manor. Oh, and find me a messenger.” While he might have let his brother be killed, Vahn doubted Terzak would be able to carry out the plan after he was through with him. It was more to Vahn’s advantage to gain Arx’s trust by warning him.

  “Of course, your highness. Any particular skills I should consider for the Fendrus campaign?” Shil asked.

  “A few archers, a handful of swordsmen. Just make sure everyone has strong stomachs. The Dronak Death Gang’s fate will be child’s play compared to what I have planned.”

  Shil raised a brow. “When do you want to leave?”

  “An hour ago,” Vahn said dryly. “Get the messenger first. As soon as I send him off, I’ll meet you at the East Gate. Can we make it in half an hour?” He knew he was pushing it with the time.

  “I’ll do my best,” Shil vowed.

  Vahn set his hand on Shil’s shoulder and drew him aside. He handed his captain the damning parchment. “I know you will. This is why we have to capture Terzak. Kee is upstairs starved worse than any galley slave I’ve ever seen. Terzak branded her for no reason other than to lay his claim to her. She ran barefoot through Fendrus Forest and was attacked by zupwolves to get this to me. Lord Patkus doesn’t believe she will live. I hate to admit it, but if timna had had another year left, I would have given her to this pig too.”

  He knew the mention of timna would drive the point home. Captain Shil and Lady Timmilina Hocar had recently announced their betrothal. Shil listened as he read the parchment with widening eyes. He nodded. “Understood, your highness. I’ll gather the men immediately. May I tell Timmilina she may visit Kee?”

  Vahn smiled. He had not brought her name up for that reason, but he welcomed the idea. He lowered his voice to a whisper and addressed him more casually. “An excellent idea, Najost. I’m sure Kee would love to see her. You can tell her I’ll be out on the mission, so she need not worry about anyone but Niles.”

  “She would come even if you were going to be here.”

  Vahn nodded. He wouldn’t argue, but he knew his former slave would be more comfortable without him around. He backed away, taking the parchment from Shil with one hand while clasping wrists with the other. “Heavenlies go with you, Captain.” Shil finished the handshake, bowed deeply, and hurried out.

  Vahn turned to his majordomo. “Niles, I’m leaving you in charge of Kee. Had you not guessed, she is worth more to me than anything here. Let the walls be razed and everything plundered before you allow a hair on her head to be harmed. Guard her with your very life. If she wakens, urge her to eat. Give her the richest foods you can coax her to take. When she wants no more, encourage another bite. Tell her it is my orders.

  “If that mage ever shows up, accompany him to see her. Lady Hocar may come as well. You may leave her alone to sleep, but if she is awake, I want someone with her. Talk to her. Read to her. Just sit and hold her hand. I wish I could stay, but this cannot wait. Don’t tell her where I went unless she asks. Hopefully I’ll be back before she knows I’m gone and Terzak will be dead or wishing he were.”

  “Understood, your highness,” Niles said. “And good luck.”

  “Thank you, Niles.”

  Vahn took the traitorous parchment and slipped down to his study to write a letter to his brother.

  Dear Arx,

  Enclosed you will find evidence proving Marquis Terzak has plans to assassinate you and me, along with the queen. I could have kept this information to myself if I had cared to. A valued member of my house risked her life to warn us.

  He was deliberately vague on who she was—partly because of his own uncertainty about what she might become to him, and partly to keep his brother from getting any designs on her.

  I am gathering my Castle Guards to deal with Terzak. I do not know how many men he might have, or how well they might be trained. If I fail, know that Terzak is the traitor while I was your defender.

  Vahn

  Vahn didn’t anticipate failure, but he wanted Arx to think he was going to great peril, even if he succeeded. He sealed the letter and Terzak’s parchment in a silver cylinder and then wrote a separate scroll to authorize the emergency delivery channels. He pressed his ring into hot wax near his signature, but he didn’t seal the roll.

  Vahn tiptoed upstairs and changed clothes. He had only thrown on the nearest pair of breeches to run out the door in darkness. He would be dressed properly for this. He walked over to the bed to regard Kee sleeping. There were so many deep unexpressed feelings roiling in his mind. However, now was not the time to tell her. If he didn’t pull away, he’d end up teary-eyed again. He kissed Kee’s forehead and left her to sleep.

  Niles knocked softly on the chamber door, which Vahn hadn’t closed. “The mage is here, your highness.”

  “Come in, but try not to wake her,” Vahn whispered.

  They entered. The young man in a hooded robe furrowed his brows at the sight of Kee. “I fear she is beyond my feeble skills, your highness,” the mage said. “I will gather Ny’s mages to pray for her.”

  “Please summon the Archmage. I will pay his traveling expenses and I promise a generous reward if he can save her.”

  “I will send your request, your highness, but he is not easily swayed to leave the Temple, even when begged by royalty.”

  Vahn sighed. It was no surprise. His father had alienated the Archmage when he’d ordered portents sealed and threatened arrest for speaking of prophecy. Arx likely hadn’t tried reconciliation. “Pray, then.”

  The mage bowed. “
We will.”

  Vahn hurried downstairs. A knock sounded on the heavy ebony doors. He inhaled with satisfaction to find Windrider waiting. Vahn handed him the silver canister and the unsealed scroll. “You will ride at top speed until you reach the first station on Royal Rebono Road. Give both of these to the highest officer and emphasize the king and queen are both in mortal danger. Your duty is dispatched when you see the officer mount and leave. Rest yourself and your horse and then return at your convenience.” The Emergency Relay was even faster than the mere exchange of horses. Why should Windrider have to ride the full distance? This was Arx’s life; Arx’s own men could bear the brunt of responsibility.

  “I pledge my life to this, your highness,” Windrider said. He bowed and hastened away.

  Vahn ran down to the dungeon, then headed out to the stables and readied Fortitude. He delighted in the fact Saerula had left the best battle horse, probably out of ignorance. chupo roused and offered to ready the horse, but Vahn encouraged his equerry to return to sleep.

  Vahn rode out to the gates and spoke with his guards. There were already more than the normal complement. It was a tribute to Captain Shil that Vahn didn’t need to waste time with Rebono Keep’s defenses. The alert had automatically taken care of it.

  “Do not admit anyone but the healer Pharn Patkus and Lady Hocar. Two of you station yourselves inside the keep, one outside my chambers and another in the foyer. Niles is in charge of interior matters,” Vahn said.

  “It will be done, your highness. Good fortune to you in Fendrus.”

  Vahn had to wait a while at the East Gate for Shil and his twenty men, but only because he himself was early. Ny’s cobbled streets stirred to life as the men assembled.

  Satisfaction and confidence welled up in Vahn as he addressed them. “We are going to Mors Manor. Everyone there is to be placed under arrest. I prefer the traitor Terzak alive as I have some questions and miseries planned for him. However, he is not to escape, no matter the cost. We will keep to the road until the last two miles, and then cut through the forest. With any luck, he may still be sleeping when we get there. You are my elite. I don’t want to lose any of you, but if any of you pay the ultimate price this day, know that your death is not in vain. This traitor has plans to assassinate me as well as King Arx and Queen Phinia.”

  A hushed murmur passed among the men. Vahn studied their faces to be sure they were prepared. The fire in their eyes matched the raging glow behind his own pupilless gaze. He nodded to his captain and the squad galloped into the misty dawn.

  They arrived at Terzak’s walls sometime after the ninth hour. Vahn took Shil to the gate with him, leaving the others hidden in the woods. Terzak’s guards refused admittance until Vahn mentioned treason. He promised the guards immunity if they would open the gates quietly and cooperate. They hesitated until Vahn directed their attention to the woods where eight archers held their bowstrings drawn. Terzak’s guards laid down their swords and opened the gate without sounding an alarm.

  Chapter 91

  willow hadn’t bothered the mound on kee’s bedroll the previous night. She assumed kee was weary from the journey and let her sleep. She didn’t light a lamp in the room as a courtesy to kee’s light sensitivity. The next morning, willow awoke at the rooster’s crow. To her surprise, kee’s bed was still occupied. willow could not remember a single instance when kee had slept beyond her. She wasn’t sure if kee would be given grace from chores and decided, for kee’s protection, to wake her. kee would have done the same for her.

  willow knelt at her bedroll. “kee,” she whispered, “it’s time to get up.” She set her hand down where she thought kee’s shoulder would be and gasped when her hand met no resistance. She threw the covers back to reveal the decoy. willow frowned and shook her head. kee had obviously attempted escape, but willow had grave doubts for her success. She feared kee had disappeared forever like marha.

  Almost as worrisome was what she should do about it. Should she report it immediately? Would Master Terzak believe she had not known earlier? willow decided he would accuse her of abetting no matter what. As long as she was going to be punished anyway, she may as well give kee as much time as possible.

  She knew she was only putting off the inevitable, but she prayed the time might give kee an edge, however small. With that Ringed ankle band and an Owner’s Mark, kee had no chance at freedom anywhere in the Twelve Kingdoms. Yet, in her condition, she might have a chance if she made it to the ITC. While running away was a serious crime, so was starving a slave—at least in Latoph. Her only hope was to counter-charge Terzak with neglect.

  willow dressed and slipped into the master chambers silently. Terzak was snoring away. Good. fawna also slept soundly at his side. willow snuck out to start morning chores. Shirking wasn’t the motive in letting Master sleep; that would only compound her woes later. She gathered eggs and milked the goat. Cooking seemed risky as the aromas might titillate Master’s nose and rouse him for hunger. If not awakened, the opposite predicament was just as dangerous—that his meal would grow cold while he slept on. Cold or overdone food didn’t tend to please Master Terzak. willow fretted over the inevitable beating as she attended household chores to pass the time.

  Terzak walked groggily into the dining room. willow knelt at his feet and bid him good morning. He said nothing about not being wakened, evidently appreciating the extra sleep time. “Where’s kee? I miss her close shaves,” he said, brushing his hand over his cheeks. He had not allowed willow or fawna to perform shaves. He had taken the whip to their backs too many times to trust them with a blade near his neck.

  “willow does not know, Master Terzak. Did she not wake you?” She could shift the blame to kee without worry. kee was already in as much trouble as she could be. Failure to wake the master would be nothing for her, and it gave willow a good alibi for not having done it.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know?” he growled.

  “willow has not seen her, Master Terzak.” What more could she say? Discovery was imminent and this was no time to lie.

  “Maybe she went out to feed the chickens or milk the goat. Go look for her. Tell her to report to me immediately.”

  willow didn’t mention she had milked the goat and seen to the chickens herself. She merely dipped her head respectfully. “Yes, Master Terzak.” She rose from her kneel and headed out the kitchen door, wondering just how long she could dawdle outside before she would have to report kee unfound.

  No sooner had she stepped out the door when someone grabbed her from behind and clamped a hand over her mouth. She tried to scream and kick until Duke Vahn appeared in front of her. willow relaxed. The duke put a finger to his lips. She nodded her understanding of his request. The duke nodded to her captor. Slowly, the hand lifted and released her. willow dropped to her knees, then folded into Submissive before the duke.

  “Where are the others?” Duke Vahn whispered.

  “fawna is probably cleaning the master chambers. willow doesn’t know where kee is.”

  “Kee is home at Rebono Keep,” he assured her. “What about the rest?”

  willow frowned. Was this some sort of test? “ghian, alkae, and ria were freed on Queen’s Jubilee. marha disappeared seven months ago. xassa and byli are dead.”

  The duke spoke in a clipped manner. “Tell me, has Terzak treated you well?”

  “Not nearly as well as you did, your highness.” She was afraid to be completely honest. She still had no idea what this was all about.

  “Then I hope you won’t mind me removing him. He is guilty of treason, not to mention abuse and neglect. I’m revoking the deal that gave you to Terzak and granting your freedom, effective immediately. We’ll give you a ride to Ny. You may go home or stay at the guest cottage at Rebono Keep for as long as you like. Your debt is paid in full. I beg your forgiveness for giving you to this swine. Please, get up, Lady Willow.”

  He would never use “Lady” with her given name if he wasn’t serious about freedom. She stood, s
miling. “Thank you, your highness, thank you.”

  “Now tell me, where is Terzak and what weapons does he have?”

  “He was in the dining room when I left,” Willow said, slipping into first-person naturally. “He still had on his nightclothes and no weapons I know of. He sent me out here to look for kee. He doesn’t realize she escaped yet. You probably saved me from another whipping by getting here just now. Would you like me to go back in and distract him?”

  The duke frowned. “No. I’ll never put you in harm’s way again. Just wait here with my men. I’ll be back shortly.”

  Willow nodded and stepped over to where the bulk of the men were. The stable boy was already in their custody along with the gate guards.

  Chapter 92

  Vahn took Captain Shil and the three best swordsmen inside Mors Manor. They regrouped in the kitchen, and then stormed the dining room.

  Terzak’s jaw dropped. He jolted as if to stand and fight, then realized belatedly he was outnumbered and weaponless. With five swords leveled at his chest, he leaned back in his chair. “Ah, good morning, cousin. My, but aren’t we the one for dramatic entrances? I trust you have an explanation for your rudeness?” Terzak breathed coolly.

  “Call me ‘cousin’ again and I’ll cut your tongue out,” Vahn said. “You are under arrest for conspiracy to assassinate the duke, king, and queen.”

  Alarm flashed in Terzak’s eyes but his voice kept its smug confidence. “Me? Kill members of my own family? Preposterous. Shame on you, Vahn, for believing such drivel.”

  Vahn slid his sword shallowly across Terzak’s throat, drawing blood. “You will not call me by my name, you lickspittle knave. And don’t count me for a fool. I have evidence in my possession and I suspect there is plenty more here,” Vahn said sharply, canting his head to Shil. The captain nodded and headed for the office.