He stepped in front of Garthan, who had just shoved the rapist roughly into the wagon and stopped when he looked at Thorel. Garthan took a step back, away from him, with fear filling his eyes.
Thorel noticed the spirit of the brown bear that had treed him twice before his thirteenth birthday next to him; she was pawing the ground angrily.
“Sir, I meant no offense, I swear it!” Garthan babbled looking at Thorel in terror. “It was merely a jest, sir!”
Can this man sense how angry I am? Thorel had wondered briefly before the thought was swallowed by his rage.
Thorel took the collar of Garthan's jerkin in his right hand and lifted him to the tips of his toes easily. He looked into the man's frightened eyes and said, “Never speak to me that way again. Ever.” He told him flatly.
“Yes, Milord, I swear it! I won't! Just please don't use your Magik on me!” Garthan blurted out.
“Good,” Thorel said coldly. He released him and walked back to the guard that was holding Mae's leash, scratching the bear's spirit absently between the ears. The bear seemed to enjoy the touch, even though Thorel couldn't feel it.
When he reached Mae, the guard saluted and said “Milord,” before handing Thorel the leash. It was odd to Thorel to be addressed as 'Milord'. He hadn't done anything to earn that, but he had no time to argue etiquette now; he was more concerned about Mae.
Mae was even more terrified than before though. Her eyes were wide and stared at him. “Please don't take my soul, Milord Wizard,” she said, and began wailing in terror.
“I won't, I promise. Wizards don't do that. Those are only stories. And I'm no Wizard, just an apprentice Mae,” he said more calmly than he felt.
Thorel's words did not reach her though. He could not calm her down, as much as he tried. He gave up and told her to get into the carriage. She obeyed when he finally got frustrated and raised his voice to her.
That is the price of my power. I'll terrify even those I'm only trying to help, he grimly thought as he climbed in behind her.
* * *
A pleasant breeze blew in from the northern window of the Audience chamber on the fortieth floor of Dothranan Manor. The warm afternoon sun bathed the room in its radiance. The black polished marble floor reflected its rays beautifully.
Ari sat at the desk, reading reports from her guild masters. She was happy to see that cleanup was finally finished from the disaster at the east water house. It had only taken two days longer than the guild master of Labor had estimated. The guild masters of carpenters and masons reported it would take them at least forty-five days to repair the damage to the water house itself.
Reading the reports of her Hold in disarray disturbed Ari. But she smiled when she thought of what Quarrel's reports must look like today in comparison. That made her problems look like a dusty dress compared to moth-eaten clothing. She giggled quietly when she pictured Quarrel in a moth-eaten Masters’ robe.
The speaking stone on the desk sounded. “Mr. Tangarth is here to see you, Mistress.”
She touched the stone and said, “Send him in,” Ari quickly sorted the reports into 'read' and 'unread' piles.
The huge hydraulic doors swung open silently. Thorel walked more quietly than would seem possible for such a big man. The doors shut silently behind him.
“Mistress,” he said, obviously noting Kira on the cushion behind her. She was crocheting something as was her habit. She often did this when she sat with her.
“I found three with spirits attached to slaves at the market auction today. They are waiting outside if you wish to see them. If not I will have them taken to the pens to await your convenience.”
“I will see them in a moment, one at a time. Kira, water. What would you like, Thorel?” She asked with a small smile meant only for him. Kira set her crocheting aside instantly and stood up from her cushion.
“Some water and a snack, if possible Mistress. I missed my lunch,” he said.
“See to it, Kira. Sit, how was your trip?” Ari inquired.
Kira scurried away with a murmured, “Yes, Mistress.”
Thorel sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk. “It was taxing, Mistress. But at least it was successful.”
“Taxing? In what way?” She asked, with a touch of concern.
“The market was strange but fine in its way. But Mr. Garthan was extremely rude to me,” Thorel said.
That piqued Ari's interest. “How so?” She asked as Kira slipped in from the discreet door in the corner near the outer wall.
Thorel sighed as Kira put the platter down with a pitcher of water and fruit with cold stones around the pitcher. She poured glasses for them and waited. Ari passed her hand over the food and drink to check for poison and found none.
“Thank you, Kira,” Ari said.
The young brunette woman curtsied and said “It is my pleasure, Mistress,” she returned to her cushion and took up her crochet.
Thorel took a drink of his water. “One of the slaves with a spirit attached is a young girl. She is only fifteen years old and was sold by her mother yesterday. She is completely terrified. When we were leaving, I told him she was going to ride in my carriage so I could try to calm her. I had been trying to calm her down since we'd acquired her. Then he implied I was going to defile the girl! And she isn't even of marriageable age yet! I could not let that pass,” he said vehemently.
“Interesting. It has been my experience that most men like young girls. Isn't that so, Kira?” Ari knew this very well. She touched Thorel with her Magik to see the truth of his next words.
“It is Mistress. When I was a slave, I serviced many men before my sixteenth name-day,” she replied without looking up from her crochet.
Thorel was stunned. “I would never do such a thing to a child. It is even reprehensible to consider in my opinion. And for him to suggest I would… I was insulted by the very idea.”
Ari nodded at the truth of his statement. This man truly was not a beast as so many others were. She withdrew the truth seer and asked, “What did you do?” as she took a drink from her water.
“I walked up to him, took him by the collar, and told him never to say such a thing to me again. He started babbling in terror that he never would and begged me not to use my Magik on him! He even called me 'Milord'! If I hadn't been so angry, I might have laughed in his face at that point,” Thorel shook his head in wonder.
“Strange. You did nothing else? And my slave master babbled in terror to you?” Ari asked with an incredulous look on her face.
“No, nothing Mistress. I think he knew that I was ready to hurt him if he didn't apologize right then and there though. I'm sure it was obvious how angry I was,” Thorel nodded, and a thoughtful look passed over his face.
“The guards all started calling me 'Milord' after that too, now that I think of it. Mae, the young slave girl, begged me not to take her soul and knew I had Magik somehow. How could she?” He wondered out loud.
What did he do? Ari thought. “Let us ask her then. Get her.”
“Yes Mistress,” Thorel went to the large double doors quickly.
Ari touched Siri's speaking stone with her mind. “Siri, I need someone with the proper knowledge and documents for freeing slaves, legal transfer of a spirit, as well as swearing in new holders to come to my Audience chamber.”
Siri's thin voice touched her mind. “Yes, Mistress. I will send Joshen immediately.”
Thorel returned leading a young girl wearing a plain brown pull over dress. Her hair was dark brown, hanging to the middle of her back. She had dark circles under her puffy eyes; she had obviously cried a great deal. Small wonder since her mother sold her last night. Other than that she was pretty.
She was obviously scared. Her eyes shifted everywhere as if expecting an attack or searching for an escape. Thorel led her gently to her desk. Ari dismissed the following guard with a gesture.
“Mae, this is the Great Lady Dothranan. Please be respectful,” Thorel said.
Th
e terrified girl nodded numbly.
“Girl, what happened when Thorel was taking you from the slave market?” Ari asked. She gestured for her to be seated in one of the chairs in front of her desk.
She just looked at her dumbly and started crying when she looked at Thorel.
Ari sighed, “Kira..,” she said in an exasperated tone.
Kira set down her crochet and came around the desk quickly. “Come girl, sit down. Let me get you some water,” she quickly went to a cabinet for a small glass and filled it halfway. “Come now, sit. There's no need for tears. Mistress Dothranan is the kindest, gentlest person I have ever known. There's nothing to be afraid of.” Kira gently pushed Mae into the chair and put the glass in her hands.
“Don't drop it, please. I'll have to clean it up if you do,” Kira said gently. Mae almost giggled involuntarily.
Ari nodded in admiration of Kira's skill with calming frightened girls. It seemed a lifetime ago now when Kira had done the same for her. Ari shoved the memories that tried to flood her mind at that thought away.
Ari cleared her throat. Kira looked to her and quickly said to Mae. “The Mistress is a nice Lady, but she is very busy. If you don't answer her question, she might make me spank you. You don't want to be spanked for being disobedient, do you?” Kira asked seriously making the girl look at her.
Ari smiled lightly at that. Spanking wasn't what she had in mind. A good beating with a belt was far more likely if this girl kept wasting her time.
“No ma’am,” she sputtered.
“Then tell the Mistress what happened when you left the market,” Kira asked firmly.
“He was taking me out after he bought me,” she sniffled nodding at Thorel. “He talked to a stinky beggar for a minute; then he handed me to a soldier. He walked to the other man, and I could feel the ground shake in my shoes when he walked! Even the stones ran away from him!” She sobbed.
Ari just looked at her. Her Magik told her she was speaking the truth, but what could Thorel have done to make this happen? She looked at him. His face held a look of confusion and disbelief.
Kira looked at her. Ari nodded for her to continue. “Then what happened?”
“He grabbed the other man and said something to him. I don't know what he said. But I think he was more scared than I was though,” she sniffled.
“Good girl, Mae. That wasn't so hard, was it?” Kira said with a smile. Mae shook her head.
The speaking stone on Ari's desk activated. “Mistress, Mr. Joshen is here to see you.”
Touching the stone Ari said: “Send him in.”
A tall, thin man of about thirty years passed through the double doors. He carried a case like Siri's and wore thin framed spectacles over his eyes.
He bowed properly and asked, “Mistress, you needed my assistance?” in a deep voice that belied his lean frame.
“In a moment,” she gestured to the empty chair to the right of the girl, and he sat without comment.
“Do you want to be freed, girl? You don't have to be a slave,” Ari asked.
“You mean I can go home?” Mae asked her tearfully.
“Why would you want to go home? Your bitch mother sold you. You can stay here if you want,” Ari said seriously.
Confusion played across her features; then her eyes hardened with understanding. “What do I have to do?” Mae asked sniffling.
“There is a spirit attached to you. He is about my height and looks older than him,” Ari said pointing to Joshen. “He has your look about him. He may be a relative.”
“My father?” Mae said. “He died last summer. A Kryss killed him. You can see him?” Her puffy red eyes looked at Ari in wonder.
Ari nodded. “Let me take his spirit, and you can be freed girl. I will accept your service if you wish to offer it; when you are clean, you will be pretty enough to be on my household staff.”
The steward opened his case and organized his papers quietly. What was his name again? Ari thought irritably.
The girl had a strange look on her face as if she didn't know what to do with what she was just offered.
Kira spoke, still kneeling by the girl's chair. “It's a good thing, Mae; I did it. You don't have to be a slave. My life is a lot better now than it was when I was a slave.”
“You want to take my father's soul?” She sniffed. “That's evil!” She cried.
Ari was growing irritated. She entertained herself with a few ideas about how to make this little bitch's life a living hell if she refused. She would have Garthan start with a carriage whip and work from there.
“It isn't evil, Mae. It's a spirit, not a soul. Being a slave is very hard. You'll be beaten if you make mistakes, and men will come to use your womanhood. You don't want to be a slave, honey,” Kira said sincerely.
“Ok. I'll do it. What do I have to do?” She blubbered more calmly now.
Finally, Ari thought. “He will give you papers to sign,” she indicated the steward. “Do you know letters?”
“No. I can write my name though,” She said.
What a surprise. Ari thought sarcastically. “He will read the agreements to you then. Kira, wine,” Ari rarely drank this early, but dealing with this child was trying her patience.
“Yes Mistress,” Kira said. She went directly to the wine cabinet in the corner, retrieving a glass and bottle.
The steward began reciting the legal agreement to her. Ari could have written one from memory, but she wasn't going to waste her time on such a thing; that was why she paid him. She gestured at Thorel to come closer. He obediently made his way around the desk, as Kira returned with her glass and a bottle.
She whispered quietly to Thorel as she checked the wine for poisons. “When she is done, I will take her father's spirit from her. Watch what I do closely. You will take the next one.”
“Yes Mistress,” Thorel said quietly.
The steward concluded with, “Do you understand and agree to this contract as stated?”
“Yes,” she said quietly.
“Very well then. Please sign, here, here and here,” he indicated the places on the three copies of the document and gave her his pen.
As she signed each one, the steward signed as a witness and handed each to Ari in turn to sign. She did so and kept the last copy. She put it in its place on her desk.
“Have the documentation for her freedom ready,” Ari said to him.
“Yes Mistress,” he replied.
Ari walked around the desk with a look to Thorel. He followed her closely. When Ari reached her, she asked, “Are you ready to be a free girl again?” With an unpleasant smile on her face, “This will be uncomfortable.”
Kira rounded the desk quickly and pulled a hand towel from her waist that she wadded up.
Kira remembers this well, I see. Ari thought as she put her hand on the back of the girl's neck.
The blood-curdling scream that came from the girl delighted her. It was a small payment for how annoying she had been though. The steward was startled and dropped his pen at the suddenness of it.
“Look at me, Mae. It's going to be alright.” Kira stuffed the wadded towel in her mouth to keep her from biting her tongue.
The girl twitched uselessly. While Ari was connected Magikally to her reliquary gland, she would be paralyzed from the neck down. Her muffled screams were not so piercing now.
“It'll be over in a minute. Be strong Mae,” Kira said keeping her focused on her.
Ari plucked the invisible connection the spirit had made to this girl and passed it up her arm to her own reliquary. She fastened his spiritual chain down hard once the transfer was complete.
The girl's screams stopped as abruptly as they started. She sagged forward on her chair, and Kira kept her from falling out of it.
“She's passed out, Mistress,” Kira said quietly.
“At least she's quiet now,” Ari said as she went around her desk and touched the speaking stone there. “Send a guard to collect this girl.”
“Yes Mistr
ess,” the thin voice replied.
“Mistress, I will need the bill of sale to complete the papers freeing this girl,” Joshen stated factually.
Ari looked at Thorel. His eyes were wide, still looking at the girl. “Thorel,” Ari said. He tore his gaze away. “Yes Mistress?” He asked shakily.
“I need the bill of sale,” realization dawned on his face, and he pulled them out of the inner pocket of his jacket. He also pulled the pouch of gold she had given him earlier, minus a few crowns, of course.
“My apologies Mistress, I forgot,” Thorel said, embarrassed.
“It is no matter,” Ari said dismissively, taking the bills of sale.
The doors opened, and a guardsman walked in. “How may I serve you, Mistress?”
“Take this girl to household staff and tell them to find her a room. Remain there until she wakes and alert this man when she does,” she indicated Joshen. “Tell him your name,” she commanded the steward.
“I am Joshen, sir. I will likely be in the offices on the fifth floor,” he said with a respectful nod.
“Very well Mistress.” The guardsman stepped forward and picked the girl up gently. He bowed to her and walked out of the Audience chamber.
Kira gathered herself up and returned to her cushion and crochet.
“Is it always that bad, Mistress?” Thorel asked her.
“Do you mean when you take a spirit from someone? Yes, if so,” Ari replied offhandedly.
“I had no idea that I had done anything strange when we were leaving the market Mistress. I certainly didn't mean to,” he said seriously.
Ari nodded. That definitely disturbed her a bit, mostly because she didn't understand it. Such effects were possible, but to do so unconsciously was unheard of.
“We will speak of it when we are alone,” she said firmly. “I am ready for the next slave now.”
“Yes Mistress. I am to take the spirit, Mistress?” Thorel asked.
“Yes, as I said. Bring one,” Ari commanded impatiently.
“Yes Mistress,” Thorel said and left the chamber.
Ari quickly counted the coin left in the purse she had given Thorel and looked at the receipts. He didn't strike her as the type for theft, but she would leave nothing to chance. It was all accounted for. Good, another point in the man's favor.
Spirit of Magik (The Dothranan Chronicles Book 1) Page 23