The days they had been given to rest and explore the palace had passed by quickly. In the early morning of the fourth day since her arrival, Zerena found herself standing with a straight back and her gaze following the Head Maiden's every move as she studies the other servants. She had been given her uniform the night before: a crisp black dress with ruffled short sleeves, several pairs of white stockings, a golden apron to tie around her waistline, a golden bonnet that she now wears atop her neatly done hair, and shiny black dress shoes with leather laces. Zerena assumes that they were given different uniforms for a reason, to set them apart from the actual maids and servants who work here.
The five other females were given the same uniform, some fidgeting nervously with the hems of their dresses. The male's outfit seemed simpler, black slacks with a golden tunic, complete with a black bowtie strapped securely around their throats. Zerena turns her head slightly in an attempt to catch Rosale's eyes, needing reassurance that things would be okay. That they would get through these three weeks together, when Zara's sharp voice has her snapping back to attention once again.
"Shortly, I will be delivering your assignments. You will complete these tasks quickly and once finished, report back to me. Everyone will rotate in their duties throughout this first week." She pauses in the middle of the passage way, her gaze landing on Zerena for a long, uncomfortable moment, before shifting to the short, young woman in front of the door to her left. "Each of you will be watched over this first week by my senior maidens and servants. After this week, you will be expected to complete your future duties alone. Is that clear?"
Zara claps her hands once, her voice growing louder at the silence. Zerena hadn't realized the older woman expected a response. "Is that clear?"
"Yes, Head Mistress." The twelve of them echo, all sounding startled.
"Good, now-" The Head Matron begins calling out names and their respective jobs. Zerena watches silently as each of the slave-servants steps forward, growing puzzled when she sees the four from the House of Treasures. The two males and two females looked remarkably healthy, their bones weren't sticking out from being underfed. Though she wonders if their mental health is as good as their physical health seems to be.
Zerena couldn't help but keep her eyes on the male with skin as blue as the mid-day sky, his black hair combed back away from his golden eyes. He caught her gaze and sent her a dazzling white smile, before following the senior maid assigned to him down the hall. Zerena merely blinks, then recomposes herself when she hears her name finally being called.
"You have stable duty." The Head Matron looks her up and down, handing a sheet of parchment with what Zerena assumed was the list of things that needed to be done. "I suggest you change into something more . . . suitable. Leo will fetch you shortly." Zara dismisses her with a wave of her hand. Zerena hurries back into her chambers, opening her wardrobe and sorting through the clothes.
At last, she pulls out a pair of brown breeches and a simple looking tan tunic, something she wouldn't mind getting dirty. Zerena changes hastily, only just slipping on a pair of tall leather boots when she hears a knock on the door. She rushes to open it, peering cautiously at the man standing before her.
Immediately she notices his broad chest, his skin tanned from hours spent in the sun from where his top didn't cover it. He wears a grey, loose fitting sleeveless tunic, allowing Zerena to also get a quick look at his biceps, muscular and toned due to days no doubt spent at the Palace's stable. She swallows thickly, numbly wondering just what exactly she had gotten herself into, when finally he speaks.
"You gonna stand there all day? Or should I inform the Head Mistress that you aren't up to the task?" His voice is smooth, an arrogant lilt to his tone as he raises his dark eyebrows at her. Zerena frowns, taken aback slightly by his attitude.
So this is Leo, she thinks as he backs away from the threshold, giving her space to step through and shut the door firmly behind her. Zerena motions for him to lead the way and he turns swiftly, his strides long as he moves towards the spiral staircase. She hurries to keep up with him, half afraid that he'd leave her behind if she was too slow. Which, judging by the one sentence he spoke to her, was more than likely to happen.
Leo doesn't speak to her as they exit the castle, following a gravel path leading to an elegant building made of white stone and wood. They reach a sliding door and with one easy tug, Leo pulls it open. Zerena marvels at the size of the stables, never having seen a building that housed horses this large. There were rows of stalls lined up on either side of the packed dirt pathway. They seemed to go on for miles and miles.
Zerena couldn't help but smile at the sight of a few of the horses sticking their heads out of their respective stalls, nickering softly as they watched Leo pass by. He pats each of their soft noses, his tone far more gentle with them than the one he had taken with her earlier.
"All of their stalls need to be mucked out and fresh bedding laid down. Take care of the empty ones first while I turn these guys out. Once you've finished with that, you'll clean and refill their water troughs. Get started now, or else this'll take you all day." He takes on that gruff tone of voice again. Zerena has the strange urge to throttle him.
What is his problem? Have I done something wrong already?
She only nods her head however and he leads her to the closet where the tools she would need are kept. Zerena grabs a wheelbarrow and shovel before heading to the first stall. She pauses upon the sight of it, grimacing at how filthy it is.
"What? Too afraid to get your hands dirty?" Leo questions and this time, Zerena stiffens. She looks at him, her expression like stone and her voice cold. She would not tolerate him, nor anyone else talking down on her. Not anymore. She wasn't at the Farm, there were no more Masters to punish her for fighting back.
"I don't know what I've done to upset you," She begins, feeling that familiar tingle of power beginning to build within her for the first time since she had that dreadful collar removed.
"But you don't know anything about me, what I've been through, or even why I'm here. You have no right to judge me based off of the fifteen minutes you've known me." Zerena snaps at him, watching with satisfaction as that stony expression he wears slips into what appears to be shock. Apparently, he hadn't expected her to bite back at him.
Without another word, she turns her back, and with renewed vigor, sets to work.
----------------------------------------
By the time Zerena finally finished with the last stall it was already noon. Her skinny arms are sore from hours of shoveling, scraping, and lugging the manure-filled wheel barrow back and forth from whatever stall she had been at to the muck pile located at the back of the stables. She also had to put new bedding, which consisted of two barrows filled to the brim with wood shavings so soft that Zerena was tempted to lie down and sleep on it herself.
She's beginning to start on refilling the water troughs when Leo's voice brings her out of her thoughts. Zerena jumps, she had almost forgotten the stable-boy was still here. She turns her head towards him, face blank.
"I'll . . . refill their troughs. You can rest for a few minutes, if you need to." He says, almost as if the words pained him. Zerena raises a thin eyebrow, surprised at his offer. Yes, she was tired and her bones ached from her working on the stalls for so long. But truthfully, she didn't mind this kind of pain. She had grown used to this sort of work during her eight years at the Farmhouse. She also wasn't sure if this was some sort of test or not, as if Leo were just waiting to report to Zara the moment he caught her slacking off.
"You've been cleaning the stalls for hours. I'm not going to report you for taking a little break. That is allowed, you know." It was as if Leo had read her mind. Zerena shakes her head, using her forearm to wipe the sweat dripping from her brow.
"I'm not used to being allowed breaks. Forgive me if I find your offer a bit suspicious." She murmurs, the wounds on her back beginning to itch. Even a moment's pause in her previous life would result in beatings. Zerena brushes by him, stepping out into the sunlight to watch the horses huddled together, grazing peacefully on the sea of graze that seemed to go on forever. She places her arms atop the log of the fence that prevented the animals from escaping.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
The day was a windy one and Zerena was glad for it, letting out a sigh as she leans into the cool breeze that swept past her, grazing the skin on her cheeks as if in a kiss. She hadn't even realized her eyes were closed until she heard the sound of footsteps in the grass next to her. Immediately she snaps them open, surprised to find Leo standing only an arm's length from her. His expression is different from the one he wore towards her this morning, his gaze full of curiosity as they stare at each other.
Zerena is the first to break, feeling almost awkward as she looks back towards the pasture. This time her eyes land on a gleaming white stallion grazing underneath a tall oak, his ears twitching and foot stomping at the flies that dared to buzz around him. As if sensing her stare, he raises his mighty neck, nostrils flaring as he looks right back at her. Her breath catches in her throat as time seems to still for a reason she couldn't comprehend.
"Does he belong to a member of the royal family?" She questions once the steed grows bored of her and lowers his head, resuming his feast.
At this, Leo lets out a snort. Zerena turns towards him in surprise. The stable-hand shakes his head.
"No, he doesn't belong to anyone. Originally, he was supposed to be the King's horse. But no one could tame him."
Zerena can't help the smirk that comes to her lips at these words. Good, never let them break you. Or perhaps this horse was waiting for the right person. Maybe he would only accept the absolute best, and only then, would he allow another on his back.
"Does he have a name?" Zerena asks next, unable to help her growing curiosity.
"I haven't been able to come up with one that suits him. He hates people, I can barely lead him inside on stormy or cold days." He states, a hint of irritation in his voice. She lets herself chuckle at this, which has Leo raising an eyebrow.
"I can't exactly blame him for not liking people," She murmurs. "They're the ones who stole him from his home in the first place." Her heart truly went out to the animal, who had been forced to travel here against his will. No doubt the journey to the palace alone had to have been quite a trek. She wonders sadly if the horse was even from this continent. Before she can think about it for too much longer, Zerena turns her back to the pasture, stretching her arms.
"I should resume my work." She states, but Leo moves to step in front of her, blocking her path.
"It's already done for now. All that's left to do is bring the horses in before nightfall and feed them." And then, he says something that catches Zerena completely off guard. "Look . . . I'm . . . sorry for how I acted this morning." He had a pained expression, his hand lifting to rub the back of his head, ruffling his raven hair even more. "Normally, when they hire someone to help me they're brats from some noble family who don't even know how to handle a broom. I realize that's not the case with you."
Zerena watches him fumble through his apology, her eyebrows lifting as amusement settles over her. Her first reaction is to brush away his words, to say something snarky or sarcastic. But she does neither of those, her lips forming her response before she could stop them.
"I accept your apology."
The stable-boy sags in relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Why did he even care?
"You're free to go, just meet me in the banquet hall for dinner and we'll head to the stables together." Leo tells her. She gives him a surprised look before glancing at the sky.
It was merely noon and she had until dusk
to report back to him? Zerena frowns, feeling uncertain. The Head Mistress had said the work would be difficult, but mucking out stalls truly hadn't been that bad. Again, she couldn't help but wonder if this was some sort of test.
"Go on. Get cleaned up and eat lunch, I'll inform Zara myself that we're finished for now." Leo waves her off with his hand, as if shooing her away. Zerena nods, stealing one last glance at that white stallion - his coat shining like freshly fallen snow, his long tail swishing in the breeze as he continues to graze happily. She finally begins to follow the path back up to the palace, her nose wrinkling when she catches a whiff of herself in the breeze.
Maybe he wanted me to go because of how badly I smell, she thinks sourly. But then she perks up at the thought of that claw-footed tub waiting for her in her chambers and her steps instantly quicken.
Zerena is barely twenty feet from the back entrance of the palace when she catches the scent of salt and brine coming from her left. She halts, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. The ocean was many miles from the palace, even with her sharp senses, she shouldn't be able to smell it from here. On top of which, the expanse of the Crystal Sea was in the opposite direction. Wearily, she looks around, making sure there were no others around to watch her as she follows her nose into the dense forest.
The path here is narrow, overgrown with weeds and brush, as if forgotten by the servants. Zerena's fingers sweep gently against the rough bark of the pines as she weaves between them,being careful not to trip over their roots. The path keeps going, the silence of the woods eerie. She's beginning to regret this decision, wondering if she should just turn back, when that scent of salt and brine grows stronger. She feels the wind pushing at her back, as if urging her to continue onwards.
Zerena hesitates when she reaches a narrow, worn stone tunnel being overrun by trees and crawling vines. A gap wide enough for a single person the only indication that there had to be something hidden just beyond it. She swallows thickly before venturing forth into it, noting the dampness on the walls, the smell of mildew making her nose itch. She follows the light streaming from the other side of the long tunnel, pushing away the thin branches of the trees shielding it.
She looks down when the ground becomes softer here, the dirt giving way to white sand. Zerena emerges from the tunnel, her mouth falling open at the sight before her. This is where the scent of salt and brine had come from.
It was as if she had entered a completely different world, taken back in time. The cove she now stood in allowed the sun to stream through, the high walls of the rock curving in a circle around the expanse of the white sand. At the other end from where she stood spilled a grand waterfall that rushed into the salt water spring glinting brilliantly in the sun. In the center of it all sits a circular slab of stone, with marble steps leading up to where she could see three tall, towering statues.
Unable to stop herself, Zerena wades through the ankle-deep water, feeling the cool liquid seeping into her boots. It made her veins hum with a familiar energy she had not felt in years. She steps onto the sand banking the stone dais, then slowly climbs up the steps.
Now that she was closer, she could better make out the figures standing frozen in time.
In the center stands a tall maiden, her hair crafted in fine detail as her marble waves fall down to her waist. In her right hand she holds a grand rapier, the hilt embedded with tiny glimmering sapphires, her left is placed on the furry shoulders of the horse-sized wolf snarling at her side. The wolf's massive paw is raised as if to attack. His claws are shaped to a razor-sharp point, making Zerena glad that he was only a statue. On the woman's right shoulder sits an eagle-sized bird, his wings spread and beak upturned towards the blue sky. She didn't need to see his flames to know that this was the Phoenix from the legends her mother had told her as a child.
The Three encased in stone, but just as elegant and dangerous as Zerena always imagined them to be. Dangling in the center of the Water Goddess's breasts sits a tear-shaped locket, it too carved from marble.
How could a place like this have been forgotten for so long?
Zerena reaches her hand forward, brushing her fingers against the smooth surface of the Goddess's right wrist as she looks up, peering into her beautifully etched face. Even in stone, she still looked powerful and mighty. Two things that the half-elf could never dream to be.
She's about to turn away to begin her journey back to the palace, when that voice from three days ago has her stopping in her tracks. Her gut tightens as it speaks to her once more, like a melody in her ears as it whispers:
Summon.
"What?" Zerena breathes, looking around for the source of that voice. But there was no one else in this cove. Just her, and the three Gods standing strong behind her.
Summon, Zerena. Call the water, surround yourself with it.
"But I haven't . . ." She hasn't called upon her magic in years. She doubts she could even summon a drop of it, let alone surrounding herself with it. "I don't even know if it still works." Zerena murmurs, feeling a bit foolish. If anyone were to witness her right now, she would look as if she were speaking with herself.
Your magic is a part of you. It will only disappear once you have gone from the world - call upon it, and see for yourself.
Zerena huffs out a breath, closing her eyes and willing herself to focus. She raises her hands, palms facing each other and fingers curved. She goes within herself, calling for her power. Surprisingly, it answers her willingly. As if from a geyser, water shoots up and out of her pores in a great burst of blue. Her throat catches, her heels digging as firmly as they could in the wet stone to prevent from slipping. She opens her eyes, unable to keep the laughter from her lips as she calms the water, allowing it to swirl around her toes all the way back up to her head.
But then the water starts moving all on its own, the stream floating vertically before pooling atop the stone.Zerena watches in awe as the puddle begins to take shape, rippling upwards. She can make out legs taking form first, then a liquid torso. Arms and hands come next, solidifying into pale white skin. Then finally a head of royal blue, shining hair and dazzling ocean eyes stare down at her. Zerena takes a quick glance at the statues, recognizing the form the water made immediately. She gasps, falling to her knees and lowering her head in a respectful bow.
"Goddess Aqua.." She breathes, her heart hammering violently within her chest.
"Rise, Zerena Walker." The Goddess of Water speaks. Zerena realizes that she had been the voice that had spoken to her all along. The half-elf stands, raising her head to stare at the powerful being that stood before her. Her blueberry tinted lips curl into a warm smile, before her expression falls into a serious one. "I have brought you here for a reason, young one." She lifts a hand, beckoning for Zerena to come closer. The long, white silk of her sleeves drape against the water that pools around them.
Zerena does so, feeling small compared to the Water Goddess's towering height.
"I do not have much time, this form will not hold for much longer." Aqua states, her hand refreshingly cool as she lays the palm of it against Zerena's cheek. She resists the urge to lean into it, her heart giving a painful twinge. "You must listen carefully to what I have to say. Zerena, you have a grand part in all of this."
"All of what?" Zerena speaks, somehow managing to find her voice through her shock.The next words that come from the Goddess's mouth has her reeling, the blood within her veins running cold.
"There is darkness waking in this realm once more. My companions and I have sworn an oath, we cannot interfere again. It is up to you, Zerena. You must stop it from eating up the world." She pauses for a moment, holding her other hand palm up between them. There, sitting daintily in her fingers is a necklace Zerena thought she would never see again, the sapphires glinting brightly in the light. In a single blink, the locket dissolves into water - only to re-emerge moments later around Zerena's neck. She snaps her head back up to the Goddess, eyes widening even further.
"You are now my Champion, Zerena Walker."