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

by Caprice Hokstad

  He smiled back. “Good morning, ladies.” His voice was soft and soothing, but not held to a secretive volume. Willow awoke and rubbed her eyes.

  “Good morning, Master Vahn,” Kee said weakly. She moved the covers aside and forced her leg toward the edge of the bed. It took every ounce of energy not to wince.

  “I brought breakfast, Kee. You’re eating it right there.”

  She blushed. “Master Vahn, Kee needs to use the watercloset.”

  “Then let me carry you. I don’t want you standing on those feet.”

  She felt awful for being so weak and damaged, but she didn’t feel like she could walk if she tried. His wishes sealed her fate. He lifted her from the bed, keeping a sheet around her for modesty, as she was still nude except for bandages underneath. Gingerly, he placed her on the seat and made sure she was stable.

  Kee cringed; the scrapes on her upper thighs and buttocks pained her to sit. She made a concerted effort to hold her head up, but couldn’t manage it. Embarrassed and angry with her body, she steadied herself against the wall. Thankfully, Master Vahn left the room. The sound of the cord-pull that sent water to flush out the waste was his cue to knock. She answered the knock in a somber tone. “Kee is ready, Master.”

  He returned and scooped her up. He smiled at her and swung her around in his arms. Kee smiled back weakly, but she couldn’t muster the excitement she so desperately wanted to show. Being in his arms was better than breathing, yet she was sure her lack of vivacity suggested ingratitude.

  He laid her back in bed, which Willow had stripped and changed while she was out of it. Fresh sheets met the backside wounds. Kee tried not to show any indication of the pain she felt merely lying down. Stitches pulled, scabs pressed, bumps and bruises ached. She knew Master Vahn did all he could to make it painless. It wasn’t his fault, but she couldn’t escape all the pain. She was thankful he asked Willow to feed her. For a moment, she was afraid he would do it himself.

  Master Vahn sat back in his chair and began to recount all he had done that morning. He coaxed a pained smile from Kee and an unabashed one from Willow when he told them he branded terzak. The news of Chupo’s change in status was appreciated as well. Kee drank in the honey sweet tones of his voice and found them deeply comforting. In fact, after Willow prodded her to eat until her stomach was full, she found it difficult not to succumb to the hypnotic lullaby that Voice provided. Yet, though it was hard, she steeled herself against such a disrespectful act. How could she dare to fall asleep as he spoke?

  She concentrated on his words. Her mind still worked despite the fact her body failed. Something he described struck a chord—an iron box with four locks, inlaid with silver and encrusted with gems. For some reason, it sounded familiar. It bothered her enough she raised her less-damaged right arm. He had gone on to sharing his plans for the day, but he noticed her movement. “Yes, Kee? What is it?”

  “Master Vahn, the iron box—it sounds familiar to Kee...” she stopped and frowned at herself for not having something more valid or important to interrupt him for.

  “It was terzak’s. Maybe you saw it at Mors Manor,” he offered.

  Kee thought hard, furrowing her tiny brows in the effort. She shook her head.

  “I’m going to bring it up here so you can see it. Maybe it will help you remember. You may know where terzak kept the key.”

  “Kee doubts it, Master Vahn. The marquis lied to Kee every chance he got and would never have let Kee see something if it was important. Even the parchments that saved your life were not given to Kee to look at.”

  “You went looking through them without permission?” Master Vahn asked incredulously.

  “In a way, yes. The Nymphs scattered them about the underground lair with a downdraft from the chimney. Kee picked them up to put away for Master Terzak when she saw your name. It was probably wrong to look, but Kee is not sorry if it saved you.”

  “I am forever in your debt for that, Kee.”

  “You can read, Kee?” Willow gasped.

  Kee cringed. Now she had messed up. That subject was strictly forbidden outside timna and Master Vahn and she knew it well.

  “She can, Lady Willow. You can learn too. Kee herself will teach you, won’t you, Kee?”

  “As you wish, Master Vahn.” If Kee lives.

  He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I wish you’d be well, Kee,” he whispered.

  He was gone before she could sigh helplessly.

  Chapter 98

  Vahn tried to remember how long it had been since he’d been bereft of a confidante. Saerula had never been that, he realized. Though he’d often confided, she never really listened. Once Jallor and the other servants were gone, he had grown to trust Niles, but Niles was never a listener like timna and kee used to be. Vahn rather envied Shil for having caught Timmilina as his bride. One session with Kee and Willow made him realize how much he missed such things.

  The wounds Saerula inflicted still hurt, especially where it concerned his son. Kee had stirred him to think about whether he needed or wanted to remarry. Even if he wanted to, did he dare think of Kee that way? The more he thought about her, the deeper in love he fell, but he had other considerations besides love.

  Still, he couldn’t bear to puzzle over it while her life hung in the balance. The only thing he did know and would freely admit was he desperately wanted her to live. The details of how she would fit in were irrelevant if she died. If she were to somehow pull through, it would be a long road to recovery. He would have time to sort out his feelings.

  Vahn slipped into the kitchen and collected a plate of food. He reported Kee ate well, which pleased Niles greatly. Vahn ate standing in the kitchen as he watched Niles scurry around. The majordomo was preparing delectable desserts to lure Kee to gain weight. “I appreciate all your efforts,” Vahn said and laid a hearty hand to Niles’ back. Vahn finished his breakfast, and then drew a glass of water to take down to the dungeon.

  terzak groaned at the ringed wall where he was chained. Vahn strode over to him with the glass of water, taking a loud sip for his benefit. “Thirsty, slave?”

  “Yes, Master,” terzak replied wearily.

  Vahn arched a brow in mild surprise. terzak was learning. “Very pleasing. I will allow you to drink if you answer some questions. I can be reasonable. I already let one of your guards go. I may even hire the man.”

  “Traitor,” terzak muttered under his breath.

  Alas, the behavior was too good to last. Vahn threw the water into terzak’s face. “Wrong, slave. You are the traitor. Watch your tongue or there will be no water.”

  “Yes, Master,” terzak said repentantly, trying to lick the drippings from the wall.

  Vahn grinned to himself. He would have to give terzak water somehow or he would surely die of thirst after all the blood loss. He had to be very near dehydration now. Yet, everything had to be earned. terzak would pay in degradation and pain.

  “That’s better. Now, I am no longer interested in your pathetic cronies. Your guards helped me enough there. Instead, I think you can tell me how to open the iron box we lifted from your office.”

  “You’ll never get it open,” terzak boasted. “Go ahead, melt it.”

  Vahn picked up the board again and smacked him on the back. terzak groaned.

  “I’m not a fool. Heat would destroy the documents. It’s filled with parchments, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, Master,” terzak whimpered.

  “I’m losing patience, slave. Tell me where the key is, now.”

  “No, Master,” terzak said in a respectful, yet pained, voice.

  There was something calm about that defiance. Vahn knew that tone. This was a point where terzak would never budge. Whatever was in that box, terzak would die before letting him see it. He couldn’t reward the defiance; he had to find something else terzak would do.

  “You get no water for refusing, but since you answered respectfully, I won’t beat you this time. You’re making progress. Why don’t y
ou just see if there’s something you would like to tell me, hmm?” Vahn took the empty glass to the pump in the corner and refilled it. He returned to terzak and held it up to eye level. “You do want this, don’t you?”

  “Yes, Master.” There was pitiful longing in his tone and he licked the wall some more.

  “Then talk, slave. Tell me how you planned to assassinate my brother. Tell me what Saerula was going to give you once she was in power. Tell me what really happened to xassa.”

  “I would never kill the king.”

  Vahn lifted the board.

  terzak saw it and whimpered, “Please don’t, Master. Please? I’ll tell you about xassa. Just don’t hit m—terzak again.”

  If he lied about the treason, he would likely lie about xassa too. However, Vahn had to pretend the information was true in order to be able to “reward” terzak with the water. He didn’t want to punish the first person slips either, as doing so might hinder confession. “Talk, slave.” Vahn lowered the bloody board.

  “I didn’t know she could get pregnant from me. I thought Itzi had to be older and mate with another Itzi. I swear I didn’t know it was possible. I hid her so no one would know. I put kee with her because she already knew; she took care of xassa. I thought xassa would probably miscarry.”

  terzak was taking a breath when Vahn interrupted. “So you gave them only the barest of rations. Then kee thwarted your purposes by giving all her food to xassa.”

  “Yes, that’s true. I didn’t watch kee. I didn’t notice she was getting thin. All I could see was xassa getting so big. But it didn’t matter. xassa died in childbirth. It was natural causes, really. Please, I told you, now can I have the water?”

  “Two more questions and I’ll let you have it. First, what did you do with the baby?”

  “He was sickly and weak. I sold him to a notorious slaver in Ganluc.”

  Vahn was surprised. This sounded truthful. Perhaps terzak thought Kee would be able to refute a lie. Perhaps he was just desperate to get the water and this particular crime was the least of his worries. “You sold your own son? You animal. I don’t know a punishment great enough for that. The Heavenlies can deal with that one. You’re such a fool. I’d do anything to have my son back and you throw yours away like garbage.”

  “Your son didn’t have red hair,” terzak muttered.

  “Didn’t? Why did you use past tense? What do you know about my son?”

  “Nothing, Master. I swear I don’t know anything. I only meant my son had red hair. Your son isn’t a disgraceful bastard like mine.”

  “Let’s say I believe that for now. Who was the slaver?”

  “I don’t know his name. He’s called the Tongue Slicer.”

  Vahn cringed. “You had a baby’s tongue cut out?”

  “Oh, no. I wanted xassa’s tongue cut out. She died and saved me the trouble. The baby was more valuable than xassa.”

  “You, slave, are so low I cannot fathom. Why didn’t you sell kee off too? Or wouldn’t this Tongue Slicer take a starved Freewill with an Owner’s Mark?”

  “I didn’t want to sell kee. I was going to have her nursed back to health to work the new tavern. I thought I could trust her. I never thought she’d betray me like this...”

  “Stop there, slave,” Vahn growled. “You were doing well before you started to disrespect Kee. I will give you the water now if you ask properly.”

  “Please, Master, let your slave have the water?”

  “That’s better. Here.” Both of them got what they wanted from the exchange. Vahn held the glass and made sure terzak got the entire contents. It would be difficult to stage another success to be able to give him more. He might have to send Niles down, pretending to be compassionate behind the master’s back. Vahn set the empty glass aside. “You saved yourself from another beating for now, slave. I tire from listening to the filthy depths of your worthless soul. I’ll be back later.” He started toward the door.

  “Thank you for the water, Master,” terzak said.

  Vahn couldn’t tell if it was sardonic or sincere. He didn’t care. He slammed the dungeon door behind him without answering.

  One by one, Vahn interviewed the ex-guards. They had seen their cooperative companion walking the grounds freely with Shil and were eager to be freed likewise. “Lord Spittle” had already reported terzak’s condition, negating the need for any more visits to the dungeon. After he had some time to think, even “Lord Spittle” himself was more cooperative. By dusk, Vahn returned the slave barracks to Lord Chupo’s charge without prisoners.

  Vahn took a couple of trips over the course of the day to see Kee. Willow took good care of her, but she did not improve. Her face always lit up at his visits, but her strength drained away by the hour.

  Chapter 99

  Vahn had given Shil the whole day to work on the iron box, but he’d had no success. Mallets had not jarred the locks. Daggers shoved between the seams bent and broke without budging the lid. Hairpins tinkered inside the keyholes accomplished nothing.

  When Shil turned his attention to securing Rebono Keep for the night, Vahn removed the box from his custody. Even if Kee couldn’t help with getting it open, it was an innocuous conversation piece. The worse she became, the harder it was for him to climb those stairs. Every time he saw her, a little more of her life had slipped away. Patkus came to change the bandages. Kee put up a brave front and merely winced at the pain.

  Vahn grunted as he lifted the iron box. Breathing hard at the top of the stairs, he was glad the door to his chamber was open. He set the heavy box atop a bedside table. A thud sounded when the box met the table and stirred Kee from her restless sleep.

  “Sorry to wake you,” Vahn whispered. “I brought terzak’s lockbox. Don’t worry if you don’t recognize it. It’s not your responsibility to know this.” The last thing she needed was another perceived failure.

  Her eyelids fluttered open. She squinted to focus on the strange box, lifting her head from the pillow. Tiny brows furrowed. She flopped back down, exhausted from the strain of holding her head up.

  “Don’t fret over it, Kee. It isn’t important. Just rest.”

  Kee’s eyes shot open again. “Kee knows why it is familiar, Master. Kee never saw this box, but look! The silver and the gems are designed like the key the Nymphs gave to Kee after her dream—the one Kee gave you the day she was first banded.”

  Vahn blinked and studied the box. It had been two years since he saw her key. He had forgotten he had it. “Kee, I think you’re right. Let me run and get it.” He dashed out the door. What would it mean if it did match? Was the box supernatural like the key? Was there any hope of opening a supernaturally locked box?

  He ran to his study and opened his safe in the base of the lamp table. The key was just as brightly polished and gleaming as it had been two years before. He had to admit the resemblance in design was uncanny. He darted back upstairs with the three-inch silver key. Of course, it was ridiculous to hope that design in silver and stones meant a key he had locked away for two years might fit a box belonging to a traitorous cousin.

  Niles noticed his hurried pace and followed him up the stairs. Willow and Niles stood on the fringes of the master chambers when Vahn hurried to the iron box, panting heavily. He started to place the key into the lock, but hesitated. “Kee, this key is yours. The Nymphs gave it to you. I only held it safe for you. It’s very well I forgot about it, or I would likely have given it to Terzak when you left here.” He held the key out so the weak Itzi occupying his bed could see it.

  Drifting in and out of consciousness, Kee shook her head weakly. “No, Master Vahn. Kee gave it to you when she became yours. Kee is glad you kept it safe. It will give you something to remember Kee by.”

  “I could never forget you. I’d give all my gold and silver to have you well again,” he said. His voice wavered and a tear welled in his eye.

  “Did the key open the box, Master?” Kee asked faintly. She sounded as if she was talking in her sleep.
>
  Vahn turned back to the box and slipped the silver key into the lock. It fit perfectly. Willow, Niles, and Vahn all held their breaths as he turned the key. It clicked when it came full circle. Quickly, he positioned the key in the other locks and unlocked them. He set the key aside and grasped the heavy iron lid from both sides. He lifted slowly, finding the lid free of encumbrance. Three held breaths released. Vahn cheered, “It worked, Kee! Your key opened the box!” Kee answered with a tiny smile, then drifted out of consciousness.

  The box was filled with parchments, as Vahn had expected. He was surprised there wasn’t any gold. Niles and Willow shared their ebullience with a short hug; then they left the room.

  Vahn gathered the parchments within the box and settled back in his armchair to read. It was no wonder terzak didn’t wish the box opened. The parchments within detailed all his schemes and ambitious plans. The longer Vahn read, the more crimes he found. The fancy tavern was to be a front for a bordello. The marquis had planned to chain slaves to the beds and force them to pleasure any man who paid. Vahn was outraged he’d given money and girls to further such a hideous idea. Thank the Heavenlies terzak never got around to actually opening the tavern. Being partner, Vahn would have marred his reputation and set himself up for blackmail. He kicked himself for being so beguiled by his smooth-talking cousin.

  Reading on, Vahn discovered terzak knew precisely where all Arx’s troops were. The marquis had kept surveillance on the royal army for far longer than fifteen months. terzak had known, yet feigned ignorance all this time. It puzzled Vahn, since such a simple piece of intelligence would most likely have sated his nagging about the tavern.

  Vahn took a short break for supper. Willow woke Kee and coaxed her to eat, but she was too groggy to keep her eyes open. After four bites of felton berry pie, Vahn told Willow to let Kee sleep. He dismissed Willow to eat, bathe, and find a guest room to make her own. She had the rest of the evening off.