The week after the holiday, Inessa only left her room when Martin wasn’t at home. She laughed and joked with the other women of the household until Martin returned, then she went to her room. Martin said nothing at dinner, even as Adosina kept wearing the simple, homespun dress made by Tima. Martin ignored not only his daughter, but everyone at that table. It shocked more than Inessa when Martin was the first to leave the table at dinner that first night after the holiday, but now it became expected. Once Martin left, the conversations were far more relaxed. Even Sara started smiling again at Rosa’s jokes. Sara hardly ever smiled when she was around Martin.
Then Sara stopped smiling all together when Adosina received the letter that her titles were to remain. Not only that, but as she and Elias had come with the same request consecutive years in a row without listening to the High Elders, they were beginning to question their devotion to God’s Holy Church. Furthermore, if they came the next year with the same beseeching, they would be in danger of spending three days in the dungeon, the punishment of those who outright question the High Elders.
Adosina crumpled the letter, and from that moment on, Martin no longer existed to her. She stopped coming to family dinners, and Martin went on staying silent, acting as though there was no one at the table. Inessa went in for her nightly examinations with Martin. She didn’t speak a word as he placed his fingers on her temple, sensing whatever was there before dismissing her.
She was too afraid to remind him about his promise with Riel. The tension in the house made it difficult for her to be around Martin at all. It surprised her when Riel came, apologizing that he had been quite busy after the holidays but Martin reminded him about his promise and he was ready to give her a lesson.
They were in the nursery while Adrian, Thomas, and Aaron did their homework. She practiced writing the first few letters Riel had given her. Rosa was in the same room since it would have been inappropriate for a male tutor to be alone with a woman. Once Adrian was done with his schoolwork, they started a quiet card game.
“Thank you, Riel,” Inessa said quietly, pushing the paper of her squiggles to him. “I have always wanted to learn how to read.”
“Forgive me for not offering my services sooner,” Riel said, checking her paper.
“I didn’t think I was allowed,” Inessa said.
“Not allowed? Why would you think that?” Riel asked.
“I guess… because High Elder Navir told me I wasn’t allowed. But Martin must have changed his mind.”
“I’m glad he did. An education is important. I am free in two days to continue the lessons. Keep practicing the letters, you will get them down in no time,” Riel said, bowing as he handed the papers back to her.
“Thank you,” Inessa said, bowing in return as she couldn’t curtsey while sitting. She continued, filled with a quiet thrill. Yes, her letters were atrocious, but she would practice, get better, and learn how to read.
Riel left the nursery, almost bumping into Derio on his way out.
“Forgive me,” Derio said, entering further in. “Rosa, a letter from your husband.”
“Oh, thank you, Derio,” Rosa said, taking the letter from his hand and swiftly opening it.
“What’s it say! What’s it say!” Adrian asked.
“Hold on, Adrian, let me read it,” Rosa said, her eyes swiftly running over the lines. Inessa hoped one day to read it just as fast, and now it was a possibility in her future.
“Api had another battle. He got out of it without a scratch, so his letter says,” Rosa said with a small smile on her face.
“Yay!” Adrian and Thomas said, clapping their hands.
Inessa knew there was something else. It was there, in the way Rosa’s face was trying too hard to stay smiling for her boys. The way Aaron, noticed, too. She folded the letter, tucking it into her dress, kissing the top of Adrian’s head before continuing with the card game, unaware that Aaron noticed her smile dropping.
The door opened again. “Forgive me for disturbing you so often, ladies. Inessa, Martin would like to see you in his study.”
Inessa frowned. Martin never sought her out. It wasn’t time yet for her nightly examinations. “Oh. I did not realize he was back from the Cathedral.”
“He’d like to talk to you before dinner.”
Inessa stood and gave a curtsey. “Thank you, Derio.”
He bowed before holding the door open for her. She walked through the home toward the entryway. She didn’t want to talk to Martin. For the past week he’d been avoiding the entire family, barely making an appearance for dinner before disappearing in his study again. It hurt the rest of the family, but she almost preferred it when he wasn’t there.
Inessa steeled herself before knocking on the door.
“Come in,” Martin said.
Inessa walked in, quietly shutting the door before walking forward enough to give a curtsey. She didn’t say a word, simply stood there, her hands in front of her, her eyes cast downward. Martin was scribbling something on a paper. “Have a seat, Inessa,” he said quietly, but with a tone that said she should not argue.
Inessa nodded, sitting down as gracefully as possible.
“Please forgive me, the weeks after the beseeching always add more work,” Martin said, finishing up the note he was scribbling.
“I have noticed you absent a lot more, sir,” Inessa said.
“Mmm.” He moved the letter to one side and placing his quill in the ink pot. There were bags under Martin’s eyes. The usual cheer from his face was gone. He didn’t smile nearly as much, and when he looked at Inessa she saw the emotionless creeping across his face. The man certainly was under a mountain of stress. Inessa looked down at her hand.
“Is there anything I can do to lighten your load, sir?”
Martin didn’t smile. “Before Nathaniel left, he told me I had some work to do on the relationships with the members of my family. I do believe he is right. So, let’s start with you.”
Inessa glanced up with enough time to see the emotionless eyes before glancing down again. “Of course, sir.”
“Alekduhan, a Zimoran philosopher once said the most important part of building any sort of relationship is trust. Would you agree?” Martin asked.
“I… I would think so, sir.”
“Mmm.” Martin pulled a box closer to him. “I haven’t been the best host these past two years. I know you have been incredibly lonely here. I have certainly tried to do my best to navigate this new experience, and yet you were sitting on a mountain of lies right from the beginning.”
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Inessa frowned. “Sir?”
“I shall give you one more opportunity to gain my trust, and I strongly urge you to be honest with me.”
Inessa frowned. “I don’t-” Martin opened the lid to the box and held up the drawstring bag and the dagger. Inessa gasped, feeling as though she’d been stabbed in the gut. She covered her mouth, her chest tight.
“Would you mind explaining to me why my servants found poppy root powder and a dagger in a hidden section of the drawer in your room?”
Inessa couldn’t breathe. Her mind was so numb with fear she couldn’t fully grasp what this could mean. “Sir, please. Please I…” Inessa couldn’t talk. She couldn’t even explain herself. She thought she had months left.
Martin stood, and Inessa cowered her chair. “All these years, all those tests, and really it was you that brought this upon yourself.”
She scrambled out of the chair, away from him. “Please, sir-”
“Tell me how you acquired this.”
“I… I…”
He moved around his desk, closer to her, his face devoid of emotion. “Speak when I ask you to, concubine.”
Inessa felt the first of the tears fall down her cheeks. Despite everything they had been through, this was the first time she felt unsafe around Martin. “I… I have a garden of poppies hidden. I do the crushing myself. With my powers.”
“Who taught you this?” Martin asked, holding up the bag of poppy root powder.
“I don’t know her name.” Inessa hit the wall and Martin kept coming toward her. She gasped, sinking to the ground, looking away. “I swear I don’t!”
“How did you come across such a woman?” Martin asked.
“She worked at my mother’s brothel,” Inessa said, too terrified to lie.
“Your mother operated a brothel?” Martin asked.
“Yes sir. Yes sir. I swear I never worked there. I swear on my life. I was pure the day Dalius took me as his concubine. The only thing I lied to Dalius about was my age. I’m pretty sure I was fourteen when Dalius picked me up as his concubine, but my mother never kept track of the day we’re born. Please. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Inessa said as Martin towered over her, still holding the drawstring bag and the dagger.
“Who are you working for?” he asked.
“What?”
“What secrets are you divulging to the enemy about the High Elders?” Martin asked. It was such an odd question said in sincerity that Inessa had no other choice but to look at him, unable to answer. “Who are you working for?” he asked again, a bite to his voice.
“No one,” Inessa said. “There’s… no one. I… I’m not-”
“Were you planning on murdering me in my sleep?”
Inessa stared at him incredulously. “What? No. I swear, no.”
“Do not lie to me, concubine. Why else would you have a dagger?” Martin asked. Inessa stared at him, too afraid to look away. She was glad to be on the ground. Her legs wouldn’t have worked anyway. “I will not ask you again, Inessa.”
“Every… every concubine has one. A way to… to…”
“To kill the High Elders?” Martin asked.
“To kill themselves,” Inessa blurted. “If life gets too hard.”
There was an almost imperceptible softening in Martin’s face. He looked at the dagger again. Inessa was to terrified to move, even though she desperately wanted to curl in on herself. She was still in a bad state of panic. If the floor swallowed her whole and she fell straight to hell itself, she would have been relieved.
“Are you an Oraminian spy?” Martin asked.
“A what? No! No, I’m not. I swear,” Inessa said.
“Have you been placed by one of our enemies? Are you in contact with Kiam?” Martin asked.
“I… I don’t… no, I…”
“Then why are you stopping yourself from getting pregnant?” Martin asked.
“Because I don’t want a baby,” Inessa said. Despite everything, she felt relief at finally telling someone, even if that someone forced it out of her. “That is the only reason why I did it. I swear it. I was going to stop in another month.”
“I don’t believe you, Inessa,” Martin said.
“It’s the truth, sir. I’m not a spy. I don’t even know how to read,” she said.
Martin narrowed his eyes as though just remembering this fact. He studied her closely, every inch of her face, the distrust evident there. Martin turned around, returning to his desk. He dropped the dagger and the bag back in the box before sitting down. Inessa was still breathing erratically as Martin moved another paper from his large stack onto his desk and taking out the quill again. Inessa didn’t dare return to the chair. She doubted her legs would have got her there. She tried to steady her pounding heart, trying to calm her mind, but she knew exactly how much danger she was in.
“This is a massive breach of trust, Inessa.” Martin’s voice was quiet and emotionless, like he was discussing a simple business transaction that would have no big impact on his wealth. “I should report you to the other High Elders. Your titles should be revoked, you should be returned home in disgrace. You should be made an example of, to warn other women who try to manipulate the concubine law.” The silence stretched on as the quill scratched out Martin’s reply to a different matter. “But I won’t.” She let out a tiny breath, before sucking in more air. “I fear my fellow High Elders will be far too cruel to you if they were to ever find out. So, I will show you the mercy you do not deserve and propose a deal. You will get pregnant next month, or I will tell Navir what I’ve discovered and leave you to whatever punishment they decree.”
“I understand, sir,” Inessa said, barely above a whisper.
“I will trust you in this last thing. Destroy your little poppy garden after dinner, then return home. I have no desire to see you for the rest of the week, so either wait until I’m gone at the dinner table or request your food to be taken to your room like Adosina has. Do you understand?” Martin asked.
“Yes, sir,” Inessa whispered.
“Then go. We have nothing more to discuss,” Martin said as he dipped his quill again and kept writing. Inessa struggled to her feet, covering her mouth to keep her sobs inside. She stumbled through the door, dropping her hands to pick up her skirts before running as fast as she could to her room.
***
Martin finished writing his opinion on the beseeching from a minister in a small town. Inessa had left the door open in her haste; her sobs impossible to ignore as she rushed away. He placed the paper to one side before grabbing another. He tried to focus on what was written, but he couldn’t. He set the paper down, rubbing his forehead before looking at the box again. He lifted it, taking the dagger out. It was dangerously sharp. To carry it around for over four years, she must have taken great care to keep it that way. And even though the logical part of him knew he could no longer trust her, that she must be using it to kill him, somehow, he believed her. There had been enough suicides since the beginning of the concubine law for him to not ignore this. He placed the dagger back, grabbing the drawstring bag.
“Derio!” Martin called out.
He waited only a moment before his head servant walked in and bowed. “Yes, Martin?”
Martin handed him the drawstring bag. “Thank you for finding them. That was most helpful.”
“I wonder where the girl got it,” Derio said, hefting the bag. “It’s expertly made, though if she needed some poppy tea to help her sleep, she should have just asked.”
“It’s not from the pedals,” Martin mumbled. Derio frowned, but as a good head servant, didn’t probe too much more into it. “Just get rid of it. The powder is harmless.”
“Very well. Anything else?”
Martin had the quill in his hand and was about to write something when he stopped, thinking over Derio’s question. He looked up at his head servant, trying not to think about the situation he was in, but knowing he had to. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to come to terms with this.
Inessa lied to all of them. She was so skilled as a tree talker that she kept it hidden from Navir and himself. He had been harsh to the girl, but he had to figure out why, to make sure she wasn’t a spy. In the process, he had given her a terrible fright. Their relationship was more than just rocky at this point. He could no longer trust anything Inessa did. He should have her thrown in the dungeon. Navir should strip her of her privacy to make for certain she was not an Oraminian spy, or someone working closely with the Kiam. However, he simply couldn’t see it. He was aware Inessa had fooled them all, and therefore couldn’t be trusted, but he doubted her manipulation went as far as spying for different countries. The fear in her eyes was genuine, and he had to believe she was telling the truth. That for whatever reason, she only did this because she didn’t want a baby.
Martin again looked at the box, again remembered how frightened she was, and how she admitted concubines always had a way out. He took out his handkerchief, dabbing his forehead. “I need the staff to keep an eye on Inessa.”
“Anything in particular?”
“She received a nasty shock today. I am aware she feels depression a lot deeper than other people I’ve met,” Martin said.
“You think… is she in danger of…” Derio asked, his usual well-mannered servant persona slipping into a concerned gentleman for the life of a girl.
“I don’t know.” Martin played the conversation over in his head. “I don’t think she’ll try anything too drastic, but as I cannot be certain, it is best the staff is made aware that she needs to be watched. Nothing too invasive. Just keep track of what she eats, who she sends messages to, what the messages are about. Make sure she gets fresh air and sunlight. And make sure she is never alone for too long.” Martin looked down at the beseeching letter, knowing that was the best he could do. “I shall put this in your capable hands, Derio.”
“I will do my best.”
“I asked her to run an errand for me tonight after dinner, and she will do it privately. Alert me when she’s left, and when she’s returned,” Martin said.
“Are you worried she might try to do something while she’s gone?” Derio asked.
Martin tapped his desk, frowning. “I will ask a female servant to check and make sure she doesn’t take anything dangerous. Keep a private eye on her through the trees.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you, Derio. That will be all.”
Derio bowed before leaving, closing the door behind him. Martin picked up the letter, glad he could finally focus on it again.