Phirynei slowly opened her eyes. She was on a soft bed under a chunky fur cover. The first thing she did was check her cap. It was still secure on her head, and she felt relieved, although it was slightly damp on the outside, the inside was dry. Her mother made it waterproof and she was thankful for the woman's forethought. Her back was bandaged tightly, but the pain was bearable. She assumed they gave her some medicine. Asila didn't waste medicine on slaves unless the illness was life-threatening and even then it was a rare occasion. They had to be worth it to save. She was an unclean slave, but the Estate Master of Seukine thought she had value.
"Ah, you are awake." A man's voice startled her, and she sat up. A terrible mistake as she flinched in pain and froze. Her ribs and back hurt so much that every muscle in her body was tense. She was afraid to move back into a resting position, stuck between sitting up and lying down. The man spoke again, "Rest, you’re safe now."
Slowly lying back down she tried to relax. She was alive which was a good thing, but at what cost? She knew what she had said was toeing the line of disloyalty to Asila, but Phirynei had spent her entire life at the mercy of others and she had long ago grown tired of it. If she didn't speak then she would have died as a criminal. Taking a slow deep breath she forced herself to sit up despite the pain. She felt her cap one more time, surprised that the man didn't at least try to take it off.
The room she was in was different from the infirmary in Asila. The room was warmer and with fewer beds than her home estate but it seemed to be fully equipped to care for almost any ailments or injuries. Against the wall was a cubby bookcase dedicated to what looked like medical books. It was so tall that it almost reached the ceiling.
She looked at the warm source of light coming from the bedside. It was a Light Orb. The glow it gave off was pleasant and the heat warmed her completely with being too strong. Asila had them as well, but she wasn’t allowed to have one. She had to use candles for light and heat. When she was a child, she used to watch the maintenance servants heat them in blazing fires, until the light was almost blinding. The heat and light would last for hours until the sun rose again. Now the orbs lasted for days before needing to be reheated.
"You are a stubborn one," a voice brought her from her musings. She looked up from the bedside table to the person. "You fought to keep it on even half-conscious,"
She realized that he spoke of her hat and she fought the need to check if it was still on her head correctly. The man turned away from his desk to look at her now. Honey-colored eyes stared blankly at her as she tried to get off the bed, "And you are at it again, You have fractured ribs and a severely lacerated back. It would help you and me if you would listen and relax?"
"Danu Ro is foolish, forgive her," she said using the speech meant for slaves. She stopped her struggle to get off the bed and instead lowered her head. She still couldn't believe she had fought with him over her hat, while semi-conscious. It made sense to her since she was told by her mother never to take it off.
However, the physician didn't seem angry instead he was more annoyed that she wouldn't lie down. Still, she was wary of the tall man. He walked over to her and the laugh that escaped him only made her want to retreat. He had a deeper voice than what he spoke with earlier. It was probably because he wanted to calm her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you but I have news for you." The man began as he grasped her upper arms and pushed her back to the bed gently. She noticed his eyes were a soft golden color that was close to being the closer of honey. It was hard not to stare at his eyes since he was so close to her. She thought it was a fitting color for him. Eventually, she averted her eyes as soon as she realized she was probably being extremely rude to be a slave.
"First, I am your doctor. You may call me Physician Sa or Ion. My name is Kii'ion Seulnine. Second, you are in my infirmary and will listen to me as I am here to help you heal and recover. Third you are to be very careful after such a beating. It took me several hours to stop the bleeding and your ribs are not so good right now. Moving around without thought is not a good idea and I would appreciate it if you do not give me more work than I already have. Fourth, you are now Fanu Re. You may not refer to yourself as anything below that. You have climbed up to such a notable position in such a short time, you should be thankful," Physician Ion said pushing the girl under the warm furs.
"Dan- Fanu… Fanu Phi?" Phirynei tested the new status title. She didn't like it. However, she was spared because of it, so she would learn to live with it. She thought Ion would hate her for taking advantage of the Estate Master, but his voice held no animosity. It was strange but she didn’t think it would last. It was probably a pretense that would end eventually. There was no way he didn't resent her for sullying his Master.
"Phi? What is your given name?" He asked walking back over to his large desk that was cluttered with books and paperwork. A light orb sat with a faint glow on the left side of the desk. It wouldn’t be long before the energy was used up. The man sat down and began organizing the desk.
He must have been closely related to the Master of Seukine as they shared similar features. Dark black hair and pale skin with thicker eyebrows, though Physician Ion was less intimidating. He bolsters a calm and relaxed demeanor. His clothes were also the color of Seukine but his dress was like Lashir’s with a button-up shirt and fitting pants. He stuck out and she wondered if it was only when he was working in the infirmary.
While the doctor was working she noticed his sleeves were rolled back to his forearms. He has strong muscles in his forearms which was odd to Phirynei. All the physicians of Asila were old, weak men. They didn't look anything like this man. She almost didn't believe he was a doctor but a soldier with his physique.
"This one is known as Phirynei," she said confused about whether she should get up and greet him formally. He had told her to stay seated but he had to be someone important to the family. If she showed disrespect after being shown mercy she would be showing a lack of gratitude, which could end with her back in her former predicament of imminent death.
"Phirynei? A foreign name," The man said sitting down and leaning back in the chair. "No wonder Mir'fea has decided to keep you. You don’t have to be formal here. Slave speech is distasteful to me."
Phirynei was taken aback by his wanting her to speak informally. She also assumed that Mir'fea was the Master of Seukine's affectionate name, thus proving that the doctor before her was a relative. A relative with a close relationship. A passing thought came to her, that the Master of Seukine was now her master. She was no longer a part of the Asila Estate. Everything that happened felt unreal to her and left her unsure if it was a good development. Master Lashir had wanted her dead and she wasn't. There was no way he would let her just leave.
"Is she awake?" The young man from earlier entered the infirmary without asking. He was shorter than the physician but a lot taller than her. He was the Rini or noble servant of the Estate Master. A personal servant who was above all other servants in the Estate and even had the authority to command the guards of the estate.
"Rini Euïya you are just in time. The Fanu is awake. Probably very sore but that will fade with time and rest." The doctor stood up, "I will take my leave. Tell Mir'fea his taste in women has gotten better. You see to it that he takes care of this Fanu. It is good to see him finding interest in women again."
Euïya scoffed at the request before fixing his expression. His cold black eyes turned to her. She had never seen such dark eyes. It was as if he had no distinguishing difference from his irises and pupils. She sat up despite her pain and got down on the floor onto her knees. She then lowered her head to the floor. "This F-fanu apologizes--"
"Am I your master?" He cut her off irritated. Phirynei shook her head unsure what to do. The man was angry at her but didn't want her to apologize. It was confusing. Asila had a strict hierarchy and she always knew how to appease those over her.
"Master has explained," he turned his dark glare elsewhere. "I think you are simple and stupid to be used in such a way but you are innocent. Let us start over. You must get up. You must not bow to me. My status is below yours now."
She hadn't even thought of that. As a Fanu, she was above all attendants and servants, even the Rini. She could not command the Rini since he could only be controlled by the Estate Master, but she could not bow to him and he could command her to do things. It was complicated but she understood her new place.
She knew he was watching her reaction as he said that, but she did not react. There was a difference in her status now, but she was unsure how she should feel because she didn't know how she felt. Euïya helped her back to the bed, and she remained quiet afraid she might anger him a second time.
"I am Euïya. You may call me Rini Re or Rini Eui. What is your name?"
"Phirynei," she said barely above a whisper.
"What an odd name. Were you born here in Vahnaine?"
"I do not know," She placed her hands on her lap.
He had touched her without shunning her. It was a surreal moment. She couldn't help but stare at his hands. He was young and seemed to be near her age maybe a little younger but his hands indicated he used them a lot. There were no visible calluses, but they were the hands of a hard worker. They were clean with a few scars. He caught her looking at him. She noticed he glanced at his own hands for a second then back at her. She felt embarrassed, so she hung her head.
"You are still an impure slave, but that will change soon enough. I will not take offense. I will purify my hands before we meet with our master. She nodded, and he took a seat in a chair next to her bed. "You have been asleep since yesterday. Your former master is pestering our Master Seulnine to see you, though I'm sure the reason is less than noble."
"Must I see him?" Phirynei whispered. Lashir was frightened when enraged and she was sure she had ruined his plan. Even alluded to being used by him in the scheme, but she found herself now a part of Seukine at the very least. Still, she surely wouldn't escape his wrath in the end.
"Yes, he still has that right but you must meet our Master first. Come I will have a Sha Sevi assist you into your garments." The Rini said getting up to assist the small girl.
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The female attendant didn't speak much to her as she helped her dress. She didn't even look at her like she was a person. The woman simply did her job and stayed in the room until the Rini returned.
Traveling from the infirmary to her new master’s courtyard made Phirynei realize how big Seukine was. The master’s courtyard had two gates that were guarded. Between the two gates was a garden that was sprawling. It looked even better than the one with the pavilion in the lake.
Seukine was nothing like Asila. Very few courtyards in Asila had small gates. The ones that did have them didn’t have such a luxurious design. Even the uniforms for the Danus were different. While Asila uniforms were one-piece made of thin cotton, canvas, or burlap for lower-ranking Danus, Seukine’s Danus had much more prestige. The uniform was the best fabric she ever had against her skin.
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The undergarment dress she was given was made of soft lightweight cotton. Then there was the full dress on top that was made of a linen fabric that was a mute burgundy. It kept her warmer than any of her Asila uniforms. There was a simple white flower design on it but nothing eye-catching. She had heard that Seukine was one of the few families that still chose the older noble fashion. The style had become a staple for families that were considered part of the Old Clans. Asila was one of those families, even though it was smaller than most, but when Fhain'dea Lashir took over he had changed to the modern style of attire.
However, she thought the older attire was beautiful. Unlike Asila, Seukine had the tradition of women wearing half dresses which was the practice of high-ranked nobles. Even the attendants and slaves wore half dresses over their full dresses as they were servants of a noble family. Even the half-dress she wore was a fabric that wasn't completely silk but more than half was. Danu’s were truly of a different cut in Seukine. Her shoes were fitted with a good amount of cushion and looked to be made to last. It was strange for her to wear such expensive clothes.
“Fanu Phi,” Euïya’s voice broke her train of thought, “You must not dawdle.”
Phirynei nodded jerkily and hurried her pace behind the young man. An uneasy feeling was building in the pit of her stomach again as she stepped into the office. She could hear the trickling of water from a fountain within the room. The soft scent of cypress and a touch of cedar hung in the air. It was a calming scent but Phirynei felt no relief. Hearing the double doors close behind her caused her to flinch, and she looked to Euïya. The Rini glanced at her before guiding her to the master’s workspace. The man was in the motion of putting down a teacup gently.
Euïya hurried to his side and stood on his left. Before anything could begin Phirynei went to her knees, “Master of Seukine your benevolence and mercy for this one is a debt that can never be repaid. Please forgive me for only having words of gratitude. Thank you, I am undeserving of such kindness. I am undeserving of the life you have given me. Thank you for showing my mother mercy in saving my life.”
She lowered her body to the floor and placed her face on the ground. A display of complete humility and vulnerability. A sincere bow of this nature was rarely ever seen, even Danus found it to be degrading. She didn't care how it made her look. Pride was never an issue for her.
“Rise,” Euïya said. She did as she was told and slowly rose. Her ribs ached and her back still felt raw but she knew what she owed the man before her. Getting to her feet she lowered herself one more time but not like before. She kept her head low as a sign of respect.
“Master states, You have been spared from death because you are innocent.” Phirynei didn’t understand what was meant by the statement. She was guilty of touching him, but Euïya continued, “You committed a mistake out of fear, not with malicious intent, and were a pawn in someone else game. You will be considered innocent in the matter."
She could only be grateful that the Master of Seukine was indeed very intelligent. Seeing through the scheme would not have been easy, especially if he was enraged by the crime committed against him. She would have been dead if not for the man before her.
“Thank you, Master Seulnine.” She dropped into a third bow not knowing how else to express her gratitude.
“Master Seulnine now wishes to know what happened before you came into the Seria garden?” Euïya questioned her. Phirynei hesitated to answer. She had been instilled with the laws of Asila for years. Speaking of matters between the master, wives, and even servants was prohibited. Even though she had been sold to Seukine she still hesitated to speak for fear of retribution against her mother.
“Speak Fanu,” Euïya said forcefully. His black eyes became piercing the longer he stared.
“I- I…” she began but trailed off, eventually giving up. Euïya turned his attention to their master and then nodded.
“You belong to Seukine. Your loyalty to Asila has been made void. You belong to Mir‘fea, as a Fanu you must obey his commands. You went so far as to insinuate that you were not a willing party to the incident. Why do you hold back?” Phirynei was taken aback by the rini's use of the affectionate name and looked up at the man in red. His elegant demeanor never changed. He was sitting stiffly with a passive look on his face. He exuded grace without speaking. Just his posture was a testament to his rank.
Though his eyes were closed, she felt that he was staring at her. It was such a strange feeling to know his attention was completely on her. It felt like he was reading her thoughts and knew exactly how she felt. Even some of his messages that came through Euïya were spoken as if they came directly from him rather than the Rini. She decided she needed to give in. He was right she was no longer a part of Asila and she did forget her loyalty to hint at the truth of the matter.
“I- I was attacked on the bridge of the guest courtyard, Hyacinth. I ended up in the Master’s garden because I blindly ran from the attacker. I only wanted to hide in the pavilion.” She explained quietly with her hand clasped in front of her. Her palms were becoming sweaty the longer she stood there, before another question could be asked, she spoke, "I never meant to harm you. It was never my intention to even meet you."
“The jewel of your status, how was it changed,” Euïya asked. She didn’t think she would have to explain since it had been figured out already. She assumed he wanted to hear the truth from her. She wondered if it was a test. Would she lie for her former master? The former laws of Asila lingered in the back of her mind. Death would typically be the outcome for one with a loose tongue, but the General wanted to kill her either way and her mother was still in danger of being harmed or worse.
“Mast- General Lashir changed my status jewel. He ordered me to stay at his side. I did not want to deceive you or your attendants, but I had no other choice. I did not touch anyone other than the Master.” She spoke without formal servant speech. She had been an unwitting pawn in Lashir’s schemes against an innocent man. She couldn't keep her mouth closed because of fear.
“You must not hold love for your home estate any longer. Asila has traded you away to retain their dignity, your loyalty was betrayed, and you were left in Seukine’s hands. Lashir does not value your life or your mother’s. So it is time for you to leave that person behind.”
Phirynei nodded as the words only confirmed what she already knew. It was not a harsh truth for her. She understood for a long time what her value was to Asila. It was engraved on her heart from a young age. Tightening her grip on the edges of her half-dress she took a silent deep breath. Euïya motioned for her to sit. She did so, thankful that she didn’t have to remain standing since her back was aching at a stronger intensity and breathing was becoming harder. As she sat down, she was surprised that Master Seulnine’s head turned in her direction. It felt odd. It was like he was looking at her, though it was impossible. She quickly turned her attention elsewhere, so as not to be rude. She took in the regal appearance of his office instead.
It was filled with many potted plants and flowers but they were neatly arranged on a long medium size shelf with many compartments to store the plant. The shelving had no back to it so it was completely opened like the cubby bookcase. It sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that formed a semi-circle around the office area of the room. His large desk was filled with paperwork and maps. There were light orbs that were set up for use possibly for the Rini to read over paperwork. A large tapestry was hanging behind him of the Seulnine family crest. Everything in the room displayed the family's wealth.
Even the leather of the chair she was asked to sit on was too comfortable. She absentmindedly squeezed the seat of the chair. The padding was soft and broad. She had never been on something that made her want to curl up and sleep. The difference between Seukine and Asila was more than obvious.
However, it was strange to her that the room had potted plants and comfortable chairs. Now that she had formally met the Estate Master, he felt cold and distant like a lifeless doll. Yet his courtyard was full of beautiful flowers and the house he lived in had so much care put into it that it contrasted his demeanor. Everything seemed to be picked out with the utmost care.
“Master wishes to know your name.” Euïya’s voice broke through her drifting thoughts and she jumped to attention.
“Fanu Phi's given name is Phirynei,” she said, returning to the proper speech for a servant. She stared down at the uniform she wore again. The half-dress suddenly grabbed her attention with its white flower motif. She pulled at the silk fabric as nervousness settled on her.
“All of your name Fanu.” Euïya clarified with annoyance. Phirynei didn’t speak right away, which drew a stare from Euïya and fed his annoyance. “Master wants to know why you hesitate?”
“Fanu Phi's mother made her promise a vow. I- Phirynei can not reveal my surname. I can not break the oath or she will disown me. I could not bear it as she is all I have left of my family,” Those in Asila didn't even know what her surname was. Her mother warned that it needed to remain hidden and forgotten.
“It is more than I could ever bear but if Master must seek the answer then please do what must be done. Fanu Fi will accept any punishment but I will not speak my family name or rank." She forced the words from her lips knowing that refusing to answer the question would mean a strong punishment. She knew she would be beaten for her disobedience.
It was so simple to answer but Phirynei valued her mother more than herself. She didn’t know why but the weight of her last name would cause chaos. Her mother told her that repeatedly. The Master of Seukine would surely take offense but there was nothing she could do to placate his oncoming anger. She dipped her head low figuring it was all she could do. She could tell Euïya held back from speaking, but his annoyance seemed to fade away to pity.
"Master spares you this time. But there will be a time when you must let go of your oath as it is inappropriate. Our Master will be your husband and you will be his Fanu. Your loyalty must remain his above all else. You owe him your loyalty for your life.”
Phirynei nodded, knowing that the Estate Master was being very lenient with her. She was thankful he was nothing like General Lashir.
“Now let us meet with the General. The arrangement for your marriage must be done right away.” Euïya said moving behind the master and moving him back from the desk. Phirynei got to her feet slowly and looked back at the comfy chair. She felt bad knowing that the lovely chair would be burned because she sat in it, but she couldn’t refuse to sit.
Once she was standing, she bowed and dutifully followed behind them at the correct amount of paces. Although her status title changed, she was still technically a Danu until after the purification, but the Rini didn’t look at her like the others did. He didn’t look at her like she was disgusting or didn't exist. It was a strange feeling that caught her and she realized how nice it was to be looked at as a normal person.