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

by Caprice Hokstad

  Vahn climbed the stairs and entered his room quietly, pupilless black eyes locked to the frail woman occupying his bed. He was torn over whether to wake her and jealously hold onto her consciousness, or to allow her to sleep and hope it prolonged her life. He was sure she’d want to meet the king, so he determined to wake her when Arx arrived. Until then, he settled for her hand cradled in his. He sat in the chair beside her and gently stroked her forehead with a feathery touch of his other hand.

  He didn’t talk to her, having run out of mundane subjects to cover. It took effort on his part not to break down in tears before his brother came. He didn’t need a score of questions or ridicule from his seven-minute-elder brother. He just hoped Arx would show some tact and not embarrass the poor girl. Vahn had noticed how her emotional state affected her health. The least he could do was try to keep her dwelling on happy thoughts.

  Arx took his time discussing details with Shil. Finally, he dismissed the captain to make preparations for the execution. Arx took his bodyguard with him to the master chambers, but once he saw Vahn’s posture, he asked the guard to remain at the door. He approached the bed with a frown. “She’s one of your servants?” Clearly, he meant to accuse Vahn of the neglect evidenced by her gaunt appearance.

  “She was my Freewill Slave fifteen months ago. I gave her to Terzak on Saerula’s insistence. Terzak held her prisoner underground for seven months with another underage slave of mine whom he impregnated. The starving was an attempt to force a miscarriage. The girl died in childbirth, then Terzak brought Kee back to Mors Manor. When Kee found evidence of Terzak’s plans, she ran all the way here to get that parchment to me. She had no shoes and no cloak. Moreover, zupwolves attacked her in Fendrus Forest.” Vahn pointed to the bandages on her arm and the jagged gouges in her cheek.

  Arx nodded, taking in the information thoughtfully. “Looks as though she was beautiful at one time.”

  “She’s beautiful now.” Vahn furrowed his brows in irritation. “Don’t you understand? She sustained all these wounds for you and me. She dies and we don’t.”

  “So you made her an honorary member of your house then, as a reward for her sacrifice.”

  “There’s nothing honorary about it. She practically begged me for my bands, but I wanted her to heal first. If anyone is honored in this, it is I.”

  “I’m sorry she isn’t going to make it, Vahn. Truly I am.”

  Vahn nodded his thanks for his brother’s condolences. “Kee, there’s someone here I’d like you to meet.”

  Kee’s lashes fluttered weakly as she struggled to waken. Blue eyes endeavored to focus, but she looked back and forth between the two men confusedly. “Master Vahn?”

  “Yes, and my brother, King Arx.”

  She winced. “Please forgive Kee for not showing proper respect, your majesty.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive. I hear you saved my life. I came to thank you for both the queen and I.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Is there anything you want from me? Anything at all?”

  “Help Master Vahn find his son.”

  Arx cringed lightly. Vahn smiled to himself that Kee had managed to embarrass him. Arx cleared his throat. “I promise to help him, Kee, but I also want to make a memorial for you at the Royal Palace. What is your family name?”

  Kee frowned and closed her eyes. Vahn guessed her problem and slipped his finger under her ear, uncovering the rounded pinna from behind her hair. “She’s Itzi, Arx. She has no surname.”

  “Would you just put ‘kee, slave of Prince Vahn Rebono, duke of Latoph’?” she asked in a small voice.

  “If that’s what you want, of course I will. I can see my brother chooses his house well,” Arx said.

  “I think it’s the other way around, Arx. I am eternally grateful she chose me,” Vahn said. Kee smiled as widely as wounded cheeks would allow.

  There was a knock at the door. Arx granted entrance, to Vahn’s consternation. Even in his own bedroom, his brother took over. The door opened, revealing Niles and Lord Blackthorn. Both sank to a single knee in the presence of the king. Arx waved his hand dismissively and released them from their kneels.

  “Ah, Lord Blackthorn, so glad you could come.” Vahn stood and offered his hand.

  “I had to come see my star pupil,” he said brightly, directing it toward Kee as he grasped Vahn’s wrist.

  “Good afternoon, Lord Blackthorn,” Kee said.

  It was actually late morning, but Blackthorn didn’t correct her. “Good afternoon, Kee.”

  Vahn repeated Kee’s story to Blackthorn. Blackthorn was so furious he was ready to storm the dungeon and kill terzak himself. He was particularly disturbed at the use of a branding iron for her Owner’s Mark. “A tattooed Mark I could help you with. We remove those all the time. There’s nothing I can do for a scar like that. But,” Blackthorn said, “I will have the Mors Manor symbol stricken from the ITC records.”

  Kee smiled at that news.

  Arx excused himself to attend to the execution. Blackthorn asked the king for permission to help. Arx granted his request. Soon Vahn was left alone with Kee. He urged her to sleep, holding her hand possessively. Later, Niles brought the teatime meal, which Kee tried to eat, but couldn’t.

  terzak’s execution occurred just as the tea hour ended. Nearly everyone in Ny was there, including Lady Willow. Vahn watched from a window high in the west tower. Though seeing terzak ripped to pieces by his horses was gratifying, it was strangely empty in light of the price he had to pay.

  Timmilina, Ghiannelle, and Fawnessa arrived at Rebono Keep directly after the execution. They filled the floor and the extra bed space beside Kee. Vahn attempted to leave them alone with Kee, but she had a tight grip on his hand and wouldn’t let go. The ladies encouraged him to stay for Kee’s sake.

  Arx’s servants and Blackthorn helped Niles prepare supper. The king and other visitors ate in Vahn’s dining hall while Vahn stayed with Kee. She couldn’t eat and he wouldn’t. Arx and his entourage took leave after the meal. Blackthorn and the former slaves said their farewells. Many a teary eye left Rebono Keep that night.

  Captain Shil rescinded Rebono Keep’s alert and sent the extra guards home. Niles and Willow cleaned the kitchen and dining hall, then came to see Kee. Mostly, Kee slept, but even when she was awake, she grew more and more incoherent.

  Vahn wanted to be alone with her, but he couldn’t send her friends away. They relieved him of the burden by requesting to take leave. Finally, he was alone with the gentle Itzi who couldn’t hold on much longer. He knelt at the bedside and wept over her until he drained his body of all energy. It had been a long, arduous day and he had slept very little the night before. He fell asleep holding Kee’s hand, his sorrow-filled face resting against the back of her palm.

  Chapter 101

  A tall, hooded figure entered the shadowed doorway to the master chambers uninvited and unnoticed by the two sleeping within. Judging by height, it was an Elva, though no features were discernable in the darkness. Silent footsteps carried the cloaked personage through the room to the side of the bed opposite from where Vahn knelt. The dark stranger slipped his hand inside the folds of his billowing robe. He reached toward the helpless Itzi—

  Vahn’s hand caught the stranger by the wrist just before he touched Kee. Squeezing tightly on the hand, Vahn stood. “Explain your presence before I end it,” he said in a hushed growl. He hoped to avoid waking Kee.

  A stick flared to light at the end of a wide sleeve on the stranger’s free hand. It was employed to light a lamp at the bedside. The room lightened, but the hooded figure made no move to reveal his face. “I am Siv Raedan. You sent for me,” he said calmly. His deep voice resonated with wisdom and patience.

  Vahn released the wrist, though he made no apology for his protective measures. He walked around the bed, his gaze locked on the hooded figure. Vahn dropped to one knee and bowed his head. Ironically, he had never given his brother the same honor. In fact, Vahn h
ad knelt for no one since his father died. “Thank you for coming, Archmage,” he whispered.

  Siv Raedan raised both hands and lowered the hood. His face was deeply creased with the passage of time. Both his beard and hair were long and black. Piercing blue eyes closed and a wrinkled hand touched Vahn’s forehead. Vahn remained silent, allowing the touch and making no move to break the kneel. “My novitiates tell me you seek the use of the Arts on some mere slave. Is this true?”

  “She was a slave, yes, milord. However, there is nothing ‘mere’ about her. The wounds you see upon her are the result of her risking her life to save mine and the king’s and queen’s. The healer has done all he can, but infection is rampant. I also seek to remove the branded Mark from her forearm, but that means nothing without her life. Can you help her?”

  Silence followed for a long time. “The girl was prepared to die for you and the monarchs. Her death is noble and you have many means of commemorating her. Latoph can live with one less slave.”

  “Can you help her?” Vahn’s voice was even and respectful, but unwavering in purpose.

  “I can, young prince,” Raedan admitted, “but it would take much out of me. I will not waste my Gift so you may have another bootlicker to fetch and bow for you. It appears you have time for farewells. I suggest you say them.” He removed his hand from Vahn’s forehead.

  Vahn looked up from the floor with pleading eyes. “I am deeply disappointed you hold life in such low esteem. This poor Itzi lost her entire family to marauders. She chose to serve in my house—Freewill. She gives to everyone she meets and expects nothing in return. With all due respect, I think her Gift far surpasses yours. You could help her and yet it would ‘take too much out of you’? Hogwash. I’m sorry I wasted my time sending for you,” he said flatly.

  The Archmage raised a sleek black brow. “How badly do you want this, young prince? What is she to you?”

  “I do not know what to offer you, but I would give you anything you asked for, including my own life.” He lowered his voice. “I love her.” He bowed his head to hide the tear threatening at the corner of his eye.

  “Love like that is dangerous. I will grant your petition, but it will cost you. Are you truly prepared to give me anything I ask?”

  Vahn looked up, blinking in disbelief. “Name it and it shall be yours.”

  “Oh, but it will not be that simple. I have no need of gold or baubles. I do not need empty titles or plots of land. In fact, right now, I need nothing at all from you.”

  “But you said it would cost me?”

  “You will owe me a debt of gratitude and a promissory favor. I may even die before I collect, in which case this costs you nothing but gratitude. You will not know the favor until the day I ask it. Do not take this lightly. What I ask will undoubtedly be difficult. If you refuse me on that day, not only do I recall the life of this Itzi, but your firstborn son also. Consider well, young prince. I will return tomorrow.”

  Vahn did not hesitate. “The answer will be the same tomorrow as it is now. I swear by the Knight’s Oath I will give you whatever you ask in return for the life of this woman. You may ask now, or a hundred years from now. Grant her life and I put myself willingly in your debt.”

  “Very well, young prince. Do you wish it done now?”

  “If all is favorable, yes. I would be willing to delay if it gave any greater chance of success.”

  “We gain nothing by waiting. You cannot be present. I have three apprentices waiting downstairs who will assist me, but you must give your word not to enter or interfere while we are conjuring. She may cry out, but I assure you, she will not be harmed. Can you abide that?”

  “Yes, milord. I will entrust her to your care. How long will it take?”

  “Several hours at least. If her heart is as pure as you say, the time will be shorter. Go, fetch my apprentices,” Raedan ordered.

  “May I say goodbye?”

  “She is best left asleep so her mind will be pliable for healing.”

  Vahn’s lips curved into a weak smile. Kee was always pliable. He would not argue the Archmage’s wisdom. He bent over and kissed her soft lips. He brushed an errant lock of near-black hair from her forehead. “Take care, my gem. I will be close.” He stood and looked at Raedan. “I will send your men up. Is there anything else you need from me?”

  “Man and women,” Raedan corrected. “Two are female. But the answer is no. I need nothing else from you.” He laid a hand to Vahn’s shoulder and whispered, “I would have saved her without your promise. Both the Nymphs and the Heavenlies fancy her greatly. It was their wish I proved your worthiness to continue fellowship with her. Had you not passed, she would have lived, but you would never have laid eyes upon her again.”

  “I have no regrets. I promised her she would never have to leave. My debt to you allows me to keep that promise. The price was just.”

  “Let us hope you still feel that way when I collect, young prince.”

  Vahn nodded and left. As Raedan had said, two Elva females and an Itzi male, dressed in mage’s hooded robes, awaited in Great Throne Hall. “The Archmage wishes your aid. Please attend him in the master chambers,” Vahn said. The mages’ eyes widened. They hurried up the stairs.

  Vahn adopted a nervous vigil in his throne. Willow and Niles urged him to eat and drink, but he refused with a mumbled excuse about meditation to insure a good outcome. The three of them spent the tense period in silence, each one whispering prayers for Kee.

  No one had noted the hour when the mages ascended the stairs. Time crept by slowly. Low rumblings like the gathering of a thunderstorm emanated from the second floor. All of Rebono Keep shook with the confluence of energies. Kee did groan and whimper, yet none of her utterings were loud enough to be heard outside the room where she suffered.

  Shortly after the eleventh hour, Archmage Siv Raedan appeared at the pinnacle of the staircase. Vahn stood. Two apprentices steadied their weakened master as he descended. Vahn dropped to one knee and bowed his head before the Archmage.

  “The girl will live, young prince. Do not squander what deities have bestowed. Mind your promise. We shall meet again.”

  “Thank you, Archmage. I am gratefully in your debt,” Vahn said, his voice hoarse with emotion. Raedan gestured him to his feet. Vahn stood and watched as the entourage of mages passed slowly into the foyer and out the door. Vahn, Niles, and Willow released held breaths once they were gone.

  Vahn bolted up the stairs. A knock on the door brought no answer. He assumed Kee asleep and entered quietly. She stood near the bed, wrapped in a blanket. Vahn’s jaw dropped as he shut the door behind him.

  Kee sank to her knees and bowed her head. Vahn couldn’t believe she was kneeling at a time like this. He motioned her up. “Kee? Are you all right? Let me see your wounds.” She released the blanket and stood, naked, before him. She turned her foot to expose the sole.

  Vahn gasped in disbelief. It was at first a clinical look as he searched for indications of injury. She looked well-fed and healthy again. The Owner’s Mark and gouges across her cheeks were completely erased. The rest of her wounds had faded to scars. Kee blushed under his scrutinizing gaze. Through his shock and joy, Vahn suddenly realized he stared at a naked woman, and a beautiful one. The sight of her made his heart leap.

  He closed the distance separating them and embraced her. He held her tightly and lifted her from the floor, spinning in delight. She giggled lightly, hugging him back. She whispered her thanks in his ear. Vahn finally set her down again and turned his head. He hadn’t meant to force her into an embarrassing situation. “I’m sorry, Kee. Let me get you some clothes.”

  “There is nothing to be sorry for, Master Vahn. Does Kee’s form please you?”

  “Very much, Kee. Your outer beauty is only surpassed by your inner beauty.” She reached out and directed his face back. Kee stood tall and proud, displaying her youthful splendor with a beaming smile. He drank in the sight. “I’m just glad you will be well and live. I didn
’t realize just how much I missed you until I was about to lose you for good.”

  Kee smiled and returned to her knees. She lifted her wrists in Classic Offering Position. “This humble Itzi submits herself fully and completely to you and your house—to become your property and your slave. Please grant Kee the honor of your bands again, Master Vahn.”

  Her submission was so sweet to his ears. His heart fluttered to see her on her knees at his feet. Why then did he find himself hesitating? It was still too soon. He needed more time to think. “Kee, love, you do not have to be my slave to belong here. You are like family to me. I would never send you away again. I swear.”

  Uncertainty clouded her deep blue gaze. “You do not want Kee to wear your bands, Master?” She held her wrists up, waiting.

  He wanted his name engraved about her neck so much he could taste it. Yet, he wanted something more at the same time. “Can we just talk a moment? This is very hard for me.”

  “Yes, Master.” She lowered her wrists, a dejected frown marring her features.

  He slipped his finger under her chin and gently lifted her face. “Please look me in the eyes. There are no masters or slaves in here. Talk to me as a woman.”

  She raised her eyelids to reveal crystal blue orbs that sparkled like suns’ light on the sea. For a moment, he considered stalling—to ask her to wait a week while he sorted things out in his mind. Her innocently pleading eyes wore down his resolve. What had the Archmage said? “Do not squander what deities have bestowed.” He inhaled deeply and spoke as his heart demanded. “Kee, I love you. I want you at my side forever. How would you like to be my duchess?”

  Lost in the fathoms of his gaze, Kee was silent a timeless moment. She stood slowly, never breaking the eye contact. She closed her eyes in tacit permission for his kiss. Vahn kissed her passionately, allowing his hands to caress her gentle curves. Kee returned the kiss, encircling his neck with her slender arms.