Part II - The Liar's War

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Colors blur around me and I hear Mother’s frantic voice somewhere close by. I try and raise my head but the back of it feels like someone smacked me with a mallet. It throbs, sending a pulse of pain all the way down into my toes. There’s a metal scraping, then all my blurry eyes see is blackness. I groan, blinking into the dark. The smell of hay hits my nose, then the stench of animals. A wooden door opens, fresh sunlight stabbing my eyes.

“What…where,” I say, tongue heavy. I feel like I’ve forgotten something very important, something I have to do. But the world is too bright, too loud. All I want to do is curl up beside Mother and Father and drift to sleep. Maybe Liam will walk the fields with me when I wake.

Something wet presses against my face, then drags up my cheek. A furry face is beside me, a big man shooing the beast away.

“He wasn’t coming no other way,” the big man says, cowering before a small woman.

“You could have killed him!” she cries, her arms flailing, the small girl beside her crying.

“He’ll be fine miss, we both know that.” The big man backs away, a dog at his side. “Now get him up and ready, the master will want to see him.”

“Luther,” the woman says, standing over me. “Luther!”

My eyes snap wide and I sit up. My head feels too heavy, like it’s going to topple right off my shoulders. I reach up and touch the tender flesh at the back of my skull, pulling away from it with a wince.

“Damn that man,” Mother crouches beside me, tears in her eyes. “How dare he touch you.”

She helps me to my feet, the snort of horses behind me. I put a hand over my eyes and look around, the light nearly blinding. There’s a stable behind me, two horses munching on hay within. One is large and muscular with a thick scar on one of his shoulders. The other is small, a chestnut with a finer mane than any of the horses back in Hylek. A stone wall encircles the stables and the small shack beside it, a wooden gate at the far end. But then I turn around and see the house.

The men who owned the farms back in the village lived in big houses. I got to stay inside Mr. Yulen’s during a sudden storm once. But the house before me is three, no four times the size of his. Windows stare down at me, planters puffing with vibrant flowers below them, their petals waving in the breeze. I count five windows on one side, one for each floor. And the building itself is made from thick cuts of darkened stone, sturdy wood making out the frame. I can’t help but gawk up at it, suddenly feeling very small in comparison.

“Luther.” Mother’s hand grips my shoulder and I remember.

“Where is Davos?” I spin, searching.

“We had to leave him and the others outside.” Her face quivers for a moment, then holds firm.

“No…no.” I hadn’t seen much of it but the swirling camp outside Isren’s walls was a filthy place. The thought of my friend and the other villagers having to stay out there turns my stomach.

“I’m sorry, but it was the only way for us to get inside.” Mother tries to pull me close to her, but I step away.

“I’m going back for him.” I get a single step toward the gate before mother seizes me.

“You will be going nowhere.” Her eyes are wide, frantic. “I made many promises to my brother in exchange for us getting inside. You will not ruin this opportunity. I know you want to help them, but do you really want your sister back out there?”

Kyna leans against one of the stable’s posts, her toe digging into the dirt.

“No,” I say. “But…but isn’t there something we can do?” I gesture at the gigantic house behind me. “Surely your brother has enough room for a few more people?”

“Your uncle was very precise when he told me how many he would allow. It’s a miracle he let any of us in.” Her grip on my shoulders loosens, her face softening. “I’m so sorry Luther, but it would be best to forget about the others for now. My brother wants to see us, and we must make a good first impression. Do you understand?”

I stare up at her. How are you allowing this? But then I look at Kyna and her dirty dress, her sunken cheeks tenting her jaw in shadow. If we left, where would we go? Would we even be able to make it?

“Fine,” I say, pulling away from her. “But I’m doing this for her, not for you.”

She wipes a tear from her cheek, her body taken by a sudden shudder. “If that’s what it takes.” She calls Kyna over, scrubbing the dirt from her face the best she can. She adjusts my tunic next, her movements frantic.

A door along the far wall of the house opens, the man with the strange orange and red shirt appearing from within. “Are we ready?”

Mother nods and the man smiles flatly, his teeth somehow perfectly white. “Then follow me.”

The inside of the house is thankfully dimly lit. My head still feels like it’s about to split open, and each flash of candlelight sends a shard of glass into my eye. But they flicker mercifully from high up the wall, some twinkling within strange hanging rings of golden metal that dangle from the ceiling.

We pass paintings as we go, the faces within staring at me. Mr. Yulen had a painting in his house, but these are different. The people and places look real, like visions of another world. I stop to stare at one but Mother pushes me along, our boots echoing.

“Master is not in the best of moods this day,” the oddly dressed man says. “So this will be a brief meeting. But Margaret is busy preparing your clothes and Ms. Harper is at work in your rooms. You will be taken care of.”

“Thank you, Servard,” Mother says. “We are very grateful.”

“Save such gratitude for my master, he whose generosity knows no bounds.”

We stop before a thick oak door held to the wall by dark metal, shadows dancing in the space below it. “We arrive at the study.” He turns and looks over each of us, his lip curling a little more each second. “I’d wished to wash you first, but master insisted on seeing your family right away. I trust their manners will be sufficient?”

“They will be,” Mother replied, her voice sounding small.

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“Good. Then let us begin.” Servard opens the door, the dark hall flooding with amber light.

The room within is massive, the entire space bigger than my family’s home back in Hylek. The walls themselves are swallowed by row after row of books. I feel the pang of loneliness as I look upon the thousands of tomes, noting how Mr. Oliver would have loved a place like this. Candles also burn here in great numbers, some balanced atop stacks of books and others secured to strange devices along the wall.

My uncle sits behind a massive desk, a large oval window behind him. The desk is lined with books and ink wells, maps and the stumps of burnt-out candles. He is dressed in a shiny black coat, his hair oiled and combed back across his angular head. But he does look a bit like Mother, especially the way his eyes shift over the parchment in his hands. She gets the same scrutinizing look in her eye when she’s about to lecture me.

“So, these are your children?” he says, lazily drifting his eyes over to us. His voice is surprisingly deep, and I reflexively stand a little straighter.

“They are.” She pushes me and Kyna out in front of her, a shaking hand between my shoulders.

He gets up and strides over to us. He’s tall, far taller than I expected. But his body is thin, his clothes hanging off a frame that’s a bit too small for them. Still, the authority in his eyes commands respect, and I have to remind myself to breathe under his steady glare.

His feet carry him to Kyna first, and he rests a ringed finger on the tip of his shaved jaw. “She looks just like you,” he says, not a hint of warmth in his voice. “Tell me girl, what do you think of this place?” he gestures at the room.

“It’s big,” Kyna replies, her eyes not quite finding Uncle’s.

He smirks. “That it is. Built off the backs of my…our family’s labors. Are you a hard worker?” Kyna nods. “Then you will find a place here. Starting tomorrow, you will be assisting my maid Margaret in her household duties. I believe some of Tessa’s clothes should fit you.” He nods at mother, some prearranged agreement being acted upon.

Then he turns to me, the lines on his face drawing righter. “And you, you look just like your father.”

“You met him?” I didn’t even know I had an uncle until after the raid.

He clicks his tongue. “You do not speak unless asked to, do you understand?”

Mother’s hand pinches into my back. “I do.”

“Good.” He leans a bit closer, his breath smelling of summer flowers. “You will be helping Barrigan in the stables, as well as assisting me in some personal matters.” He straightens. “Taking you into my household was an act of extreme generosity.” Servard nods from behind Uncle. “I expect you to follow the house rules and always respect my authority. For from this moment forth, you are my servants. Understood?”

Kyna and I both nod.

“Very good. Now, Servard will you please escort them to their rooms and show them where the privy is.” He sniffs. “And have Margret draw a bath for the lot, they smell awful.” He returns to his desk, not looking up as we’re escorted out of the room.

Servard takes us down a series of halls, each twist and turn further confusing my senses. As we reach a spiraling staircase, a small girl and an older boy run out from a side room. They stare at us, mouths agape like they just spotted hidden treasure.

“Master Tessa and master Eremon,” Servard says, bowing at the two newcomers.

“Hello,” Kyna says, doing her best attempt at a smile.

“No manners,” the girl says.

“None,” the boy adds.

I want to smash the smug looks off their faces, and I’m about to make an attempt when a third child comes up behind the first two.

“Leave them be,” she says. Her hair is a deep brown, her skin darker than any I’ve ever seen. She smiles as he notices me watching her.

“Master Ven,” Servard says, bowing a little deeper this time.

Ven pushes past the other two and crouches down before Kyna. “Aren’t you just an adorable little thing.”

Kyna’s cheeks flush red.

“I was just showing them upstairs to their rooms,” Servard says. “There will be plenty of time for greetings later.”

The first two children mumble something to each other and then speed away. Ven lingers a moment before she runs along after them.

“Who are they?” I ask as we take to the stairs.

“The master’s three children. Two true born and one illegitimate.”

Illegitimate? What does that mean? I follow Servard up and up, my head and legs both throbbing in unison. Eventually the stairs end in a simple wooden door, one that opens to reveal a sparse hall choked with cobwebs.

“I apologize for the mess,” Servard says as we shuffle inside behind him. “Margate will be along shortly with your clothes and then she will begin cleaning. This part of the house has been rather underused in recent years.”

There’s a crash from a room down the hall, then a burly woman stumbles out with a hammer in her hand. “Ah, the new hires.” She brushes a strand of blond hair from her forehead and huffs. “Beds ready for one of the little ones, but I wouldn’t put too much weight on it.”

“Thank you, Ms. Harper.”

She slips the hammer into her belt and walks over to us. There’s a thick scar that puckers her right cheek and makes her eye droop. I try not to stare at it, but I’ve never seen such a wound.

“I’m Harper,” she says shaking mother’s hand. “Never knew the lord had a sister. Your arrival cased one hells of a dust up.”

Mother weakly smiles. “My brother and I have a troubled history.”

“Eh, don’t we all.” She crouches and gives Kyna’s hand a firm shake. “Be careful if you play up here, little miss. A few of the boards are a bit loose. Wouldn’t want to have to cut your foot off if you get stuck!” She laughs, the sound harsh and guttural. “That was…that was a joke.” She coughs. “And what’s this? A new man in the house.” She pokes me in the chest. “What’s your name little man?”

“Luther,” I say. I want to argue about being little, but this might be the biggest woman I’ve ever seen. Her shoulders are broad and muscled, and she stands taller than us all.

“Strong name that is. I look forward to working with you.” She slaps me across the back, the blow nearly sending me to the floor.

“He will be working with Mr. Barrigan in the stables,” Servard adds.

She frowns. “Darn. Thought maybe he wouldn’t have me clearing the rooms all by my lonesome. But ah well.” She stretches and then grunts. “Guess I should get back at it. It was nice meeting you.” She moves past us and thumps down the stairs, each of her heavy steps making the boards groan.

“I must now leave you. But do feel free to become acquainted with your quarters,” Servard says. “I will return when the baths have been drawn.” Then he leaves us, the door closing behind him.

A silence settles in, the only sound drifting in from a window opened at the end of the hall.

“Is this our new home?” Kyna asks, her hands clutched together.

“It is.” Mother walks to the window and takes a deep breath. “We will need to work hard and long to pay off our debts, but at least we will be safe.”

“Debts?” I ask. Don’t remember hearing anything about debts.

“Yes.” Mother’s eyes find the floor. “Getting you in was not free. I had to make a deal.”

A cold feeling creeps up my spine. “What kind of deal?”

“A deal for labor,” Mother answers. “You are to work here and be your uncle Teagan’s servants for eight years.”

“Eight years?”

“Yes, and it may be longer depending on how we perform. But this was the only way he would let us stay here.”

I recall my oath, my need to see vengeance done. How can I do that if I’m stuck here for eight years? But then I remember my promise earlier to Mr. Oliver. I told him I would try and give this new life a chance, didn’t I? But is this really what he had in mind?

I walk to Mother’s side and stare out the window, the city stretching out before me. Like her I take a deep breath.

“Alright,” I say. “I guess this is our new life?”

Kyna comes to us and Mother pulls us both into an embrace. “It is,” she says, the sounds of Isren washing over us. "It is."