Arriving at the door, Jade didn’t even knock, she simply burst in. J’arrin, startled from his light sleep, watched in confusion as she stuffed the practice dummy into the fire and set about retrieving all the equipment that they had painstakingly accrued over the years.

“What’s going on, Jade?” J’arrin asked.

“I did something stupid,” Jade replied. “C’arren pushed me too far…”

“You didn’t kill him, did you?” J’arrin interrupted urgently.

“No. I don’t think so. But he’s lying unconscious, in the hall as we speak,” Jade’s voice was clipped, it was taking some effort to remain calm and in control of herself. “And someone is already on their way to get the guards. It’s not going to be pretty.”

J’arrin sunk his head into his hands,

“You know you will be punished, don’t you?”

“I know. I’ll be alright.”

“I’m sure you will,” J’arrin smiled, clearly trying to comfort her. “You are a much stronger person than I ever was.”

“Master!” she protested.

“Ah, it’s true,” he sighed. “I knew that this would happen eventually, he was never going to leave you alone and you were not going to hide from him forever. It just isn’t who you are, and be glad of that.”

“Still, I could have…”

“Don’t second guess your decision. You’ll need the strength of your convictions. After all, the only person looking out for you here is you, so don’t doubt yourself, understand me?”

“I do.”

“Good,” J’arrin paused. “So, how did it feel?”

“Amazing,” Jade laughed. “It was like, I was finally myself, for the very first time. I can’t explain it.”

J’arrin nodded approvingly,

“You have the soul of a fighter. Your body and your mind already know the rhythm of a fight. That feeling is the one thing I couldn’t teach you, and yet it is the most important part of being a warrior. That final lesson is worth whatever silly punishment you get.”

“You think?”

“Tell me it wasn’t worth it, just to see the look on C’arren’s face,” J’arrin grinned.

A smile spread across Jade’s face in return,

“Ok, yeah, that was worth it.”

“Whatever Avrinly gives you as punishment, just remember that. I am proud of how far you have come in such a short time.”

“I have a good teacher.”

“Well, it is gratifying to learn that I can still see the potential in a pupil. All this time, I was convinced that I had lost my ability to judge people.”

Jade shot him a quizzical glance,

“Why would you think that?”

“I made a mistake. Many years ago, I misjudged someone, significantly. They did not turn out to be who I thought they were.”

“That’s what made you doubt your instincts? Something so small?” Jade was puzzled. A single error in judgement was not something to dwell on.

J’arrin laughed, but it was tinged with bitterness,

“Well, it wasn’t so small, really. In fact, it’s the entire reason I’m here.”

Jade was surprised. In all their time together, she had come to know J’arrin quite well, but he had never once even touched on the reason that he had been enslaved. Though she had been desperately curious, she hadn’t pressed the matter. It was a question that simply was never asked.

“It is just hard for me to talk about, even after all this time,” J’arrin sighed. “But perhaps it is a story I should tell at least once, hmm?”

Jade knew she should go, she likely didn’t have much time, but she couldn’t leave without hearing him out. She sat next to him and waited for him to proceed.

“I did tell you that I once owned a school, of course,” J’arrin continued. “It was very successful, in fact. In a matter of years, my small training academy grew into a prestigious boarding school for the elite. In that time, I gathered a staff consisting of a mix of educators and martial instructors, to provide a world-class education in many areas of warfare and tactics.

“I was proud of what I had built,” J’arrin smiled wistfully. “Those were the best times of my life. I loved my work and loved the kids too. But love isn’t always a good thing, is it?”

“What do you mean?” Jade asked.

J’arrin sighed,

“You see, there was one particular teacher at the school. She was beautiful and intelligent and ambitious,” the look in his eyes had grown abstract and faraway as he spoke. “She was a mage, hired to teach the students with power. And she was very talented. I grew to love her deeply and it seemed that she returned my affections. A year later, we were married, and I was sure that life could not get any better. As it turned out, I was more right than I could ever have imagined.

“The school thrived under our instruction. Some of the most powerful men in the land had sent their sons and daughters to me, and our reputation was growing year by year. When the crown prince of Esrasea himself was sent to train with us, we were ecstatic. It was the culmination of all our work, a sign of our great reputation.

“The prince was a nice lad, almost 18 years old; he was the only heir to the throne and his father wanted to polish and refine the training he had already received, before he became king. The prince did show great promise as a warrior, but he never had a chance to live up to his potential. The month after he arrived, he was murdered.”

“Oh, Void.” Jade gasped.

“Yes, it was a shock to everyone. Most of all to me. I had felt that the school was well guarded, even unassailable. We made quite certain that our students were protected, and I had been so sure… At the time, I couldn’t imagine what I had missed.

“An investigation, of course, began immediately. In short order, evidence was found that the prince and my own wife, the woman I loved, had been having an illicit affair. They claimed that I had found out and tried to kill both of them, for their treachery. The murder weapon was found in my home, there was blood found on my clothing. Then the final blow came. My wife appeared before the tribunal to testify that I had come after the two of them, insane with jealousy. She claimed she had seen me kill the prince, and that I had gone after her as well, but she had driven me off with her magic, just in time. With those tears in her eyes, who would doubt her?

“The prince lay dead; there was ample evidence against me, and an eyewitness. What was worse, I had no alibi. In fact, I couldn’t even remember the night in question. I remembered meeting my wife for dinner as usual, but after that, the whole night was a blank. I protested my innocence anyway, of course. After all, I had no idea that my bride was anything less than faithful, and I certainly would not have tried to kill anyone, even if I knew. But nothing I said could convince them. I was convicted quickly and very publicly.

“The king would have had me hanged for my supposed deeds, but at the time I was an influential man with influential friends, and the country was rife with internal turmoil. Students who had graduated from my school, many of them now powerful and influential in their own right, spoke out on my behalf, claiming I must have been driven mad when I discovered my wife in the arms of another man. A boy really. They said my memory loss was conclusive proof of this. In the end, the king could not hang me without the risk of inciting a civil war.

“So, to solve this problem, he stripped me of everything I owned and sold me as a slave. He called it a mercy, but really, he simply intended to have me killed as soon as no one was looking. Even told me as much. However, before that could happen, the family I was serving was killed by bandits on the road, and the slaves with them were stolen and sold at auction. The people who bought me had no idea who I really was, and I was certainly not going to bring it up. So, I became just another anonymous, invisible slave. Over the years, I was sold from house to house before winding up here. I don’t think there is anyone left who even knows who I used to be. Frankly, it’s better for me that way.”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“What really happened to the king’s son?” Jade asked.

“Ah, now that was the most shocking part of all,” J’arrin chuckled, darkly. “That I discovered it at all can only be due to fate. You see, one day, I was sold into a household where I was meant to serve in the kitchens of an exceptionally large and luxurious mansion. I would likely have never even encountered the lady of the house, except that in my first week there I got lost and ended up in the library by mistake. Seeing that I was obviously in the wrong place, I turned to leave, but as I did, I caught sight of the mistress herself, sitting and reading in a chair. She was clothed in the finest and most luxurious clothing I had ever seen, and she was simply dripping with gold and jewellery. But there was no mistaking who she really was underneath, none other than my own ever-loving wife. She did not see me, but I saw her quite clearly, and I could never have forgotten her beauty. Her honey brown hair, the subtle curve of her neck, her smooth skin and her exquisite violet eyes, everything was the same. I can’t fully describe my shock. For a moment I stood, dumbfounded, and just stared at her, but when she stirred, I knew I had to get away. I barely escaped back down the hallway before she spotted me.

“As the days passed, I could think of nothing but her. How could she be here? Why had she framed me? I did not understand what had happened, but I knew that she must have been involved, because she had blatantly lied to incriminate me. I needed to know why. The thought consumed me. Then, one day most of the household was out travelling and I seized the opportunity to sneak in and search her room. I found her diary, just as I knew that I would. She had always kept a meticulous journal; it was one of her little habits. She kept it well hidden, and locked with a magical ward, but I knew her and fortunately the password was the same as the one she had used for many things when we were together. The diary opened for me, and I began to read.

“She detailed the events of those fateful days leading up to the murder. I discovered that a man had approached my wife several days after the prince arrived at our school. Apparently, he read her better than I ever had. He knew that her marriage to me had been solely for the influence and prestige. Her only desire was for greater power, and I had simply been the fool willing to give it to her. He promised her a position beyond her wildest dreams, if she would assist him in his plan to weaken the royal line. He had a plan to pave what she described as a slow and subtle path to the throne. She accepted this offer without hesitation. Far from hesitant, she was eager. It had been her idea to frame me for the crime; removing suspicion from herself and removing her unwanted husband from the picture in one motion. It was she who had made it appear as though she and the prince had been lovers, planting love letters in both of their rooms. It was never true. Once the scene was set, she had made me dinner and drugged me, so that I would be unconscious during the deed. She then called the prince to her classroom, making some excuse about his work. When he arrived, she stabbed the defenceless boy in the heart herself, smeared my clothes with his blood and left the weapon in our home. It was all, apparently, very easy for her.

“With the crown prince dead, there was no clear heir to the throne. This destabilized the royal line. All part of his plan. The deaths of many potential heirs would follow and at the same time, my wife climbed through high society with surprising alacrity. Once she was firmly ensconced, they had planned to take the throne so subtly that their litany of crimes could never be traced. Based on her position at the time I read her journal, I assumed their plan was going well.

“Once I knew, of course, there was nothing I could really do about it. I had no one to tell, and besides, who would believe a slave who was also a convicted murderer? No, coming forward would only expose me, and likely get me killed. Maybe I should have killed her myself, but I suppose I am a coward. I was too afraid of the consequences, so I just replaced the diary and went about my work, being sure to carefully avoid my wife. Eventually she married into an even more powerful family, and I was sold to this house, without her ever knowing that I had been in her employ at all. And that, Jade, is the end of my tale, such as it is. I am here because I never saw the truth, until it was too late. Had I judged her better…”

“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself; apparently she was quite skilled at deception,” Jade offered.

“True, but that does not change the outcome.”

“No,” Jade conceded. “But neither does regretting the past.”

“Sound advice. I would tell you the same for the days to come. C’arren deserved what he got, do not forget that. In fact, if you ask me, the man deserved worse.”

Jade dropped her gaze, for a moment she had forgotten what she had just done. She didn’t have long now. She had to leave.

“Thank you, master,” she said quietly. “It means a lot that you trusted me enough to share that story. I know it can’t have been easy, and I hate to leave now. But they will be looking for me, and they cannot find me here with you.”

“Wait! There is one more thing I need to tell you, before you go,” J’arrin rose to face her, eyes serious. “I’m sorry, but the truth is… I really am a coward. I never intended to help you, Jade. Just to keep you from leaving, so I wouldn’t get blamed. I…”

“I know,” Jade smiled.

“What?” J’arrin looked a bit taken aback.

“It was pretty obvious, master. In the beginning, anyway.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” he demanded.

“Because you weren’t wrong. I had no real plan. No way to escape. Staying was the better choice. And the training was helpful, whatever your motives. Sometimes it was the only thing that kept me sane.”

“It was good for me, too. I’d forgotten how much I missed it. The teaching. And you have been an excellent pupil,” J’arrin put a hand on her shoulder, “But it was wrong of me, to try to keep you here. You deserve a life. A real one. If that is what you want, if you are willing to take the risk. Don’t wait any longer. Don’t wait until they break you. Find a way out.”

“I will,” Jade nodded. “And thank you for everything, master.”

J’arrin embraced her,

“I am very proud of you, Jade.”

“Thank you, J’arrin.”

Jade turned and headed for the window, unlatching it, she swung her legs over the ledge. Before she dropped over the side, she paused,

“You know, you never told me her name.”

“Who?” J’arrin asked.

“Your wife,” Jade replied.

“Oh,” J’arrin laughed. “I’m sure you know her name already.”

Jade tilted her head to the side,

“I do? How?”

J’arrin smiled sadly, and then he replied,

“Her name was Istaria. Now, Istaria Lorval.”

Jade’s mouth dropped open in shock,

“The Queen of Esrasea!?” Something tugged hard at her subconscious, as if those words held some deeper significance to her, but she couldn’t put her finger on why.

J’arrin nodded slowly.

“But she is so young! How could she have been your wife, so long ago?”

“It wasn’t that long ago,” J’arrin protested. “But also, she is a mage, Jade. They do not age the same way we do, surely you know that. She could be a hundred and still look as she does.”

Jade blushed; she should have remembered that. She opened her mouth to ask more, but at that moment she heard footsteps in the hallway outside J’arrin’s room.

“They are coming,” J’arrin hissed.

“Goodbye,” Jade whispered.

Then she dropped from the window onto the lawn. The next instant, she heard several of Avrinly Carayn’s guards burst into the room.

“What is the meaning of this!” J’arrin snorted indignantly.

“We are looking for Jade,” the guard replied. “Someone said she was seen coming this way.”

“I have no idea who is spreading these lies, Sergeant. As you can see, there is no one here.”

There was a brief silence as the guard presumably searched the room. Jade held her breath, pressing her back tightly to the wall below the window, so no one would see her if they thought to look out.

“We will find her. She has nowhere to run. If you know where she is, you should do yourself a favour and tell us now,” the sergeant advised.

“I honestly have no idea,” J’arrin replied calmly, “But I do wish you luck in your search. Renegades give us all a bad name.”

As the guards left J’arrin shut the door quietly behind them, then he sat down on his cot and rested his head in his hands. This probably wouldn’t be so bad; Jade would be punished, but not killed. Avrinly was not so careless with her property. But it was likely that he would never see her again. Even if she remained in the house, they would be keeping a close eye on her after this, and she would probably be sold on in short order. The Lady disliked troublemakers in her house. So, this had been the final parting of a master and his student. He was going to miss her, but he knew she was ready to be on her own. There was little more he could have taught her anyhow, not in this place, not in his condition. And he truly hoped she would escape. He regretted holding her back for so long. Saying a silent prayer for his pupil, J’arrin lay down on his cot. He was so tired of late.

Avrinly was seated on the divan awaiting her dinner when the door banged open and a pair of guards, supporting an injured and bloodied man between them, burst into the room. Avrinly rose sharply,

“What has happened?”

“My lady,” the guard on the left inclined his head respectfully. “There has been an incident.”

“Obviously,” her tone was withering.

Avrinly looked the man over. It was C’arren, one of her guards. He was unstable on his feet; a mottled lump had formed on his temple and his face was covered in dried blood.

“Get him to the settee,” Avrinly motioned impatiently.

C’arren groaned, cradling his head in his hands. Avrinly sat next to him and laid a finger gently on his head wound, closing her eyes in concentration. Slowly, the discoloration drained away and swelling subsided, returning his face to its natural appearance. He winced at the pain, but didn’t make a sound. His ego had likely taken all the damage it could for the day. She finished her healing ministrations and rose, turning to the guards who had brough him in.

“Now, tell me exactly what happened.”

As the guard, B’yern, relayed what he knew, Avrinly felt her face blanche. By the time he finished, C’arren had recovered enough to speak for himself,

“The bitch needs to be punished for this,” he snarled, catching himself at the last moment he modified his tone and added, “If, of course, my Lady agrees.”

Avrinly hesitated, considering her obligations. If only it had been any other slave. Any one but Jade. Then, she would have had no doubts as to the punishment. She was rarely reluctant to mete out discipline. But her… Avrinly saw the eyes of the three guards on her, surely questioning her reticence. No, she had allowed this to go on too long. She risked looking weak in front of her people. She could no longer spare the rod, even for her. Avrinly nodded,

“It appears that punishment will be necessary,” she turned to B’yern, “Find Jade. Bring her to me.”