Rasgen and Nua’s eyes opened, and for a moment, Nua was filled with the urge to violence when she saw she lay naked next to a human male… but before the anger could make it past her eyes to spread to the rest of her face, memory returned. ‘I’m going to have to work on that.’ She immediately thought, and glanced at the two lovely half elves.
“What is it?” Rasgen asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he glanced toward the window that would normally be shining a light into his room, and found there was no light at all. “Is it even morning yet…?”
“Yes, master.” The collared half-elf replied.
“No, master.” The collarless half-elf replied.
“I’m guessing they mean it is morning before sunrise.” Nua flung her legs over to one side of the bed and stood up.
“Yes, my lady.” The pair said in unison. Though their faces were without expression, they inclined their heads at once in emphasis.
“Most don’t pick up on these two that quickly…” Rasgen remarked with a raised brow as he flung his legs over the other side of the bed and rose.
“Slaves like to confound their owners so much that it becomes a habit after a while.” Nua smirked at the pair, who gave faint smiles of appreciation to her observation.
“I see. So, what has you two confounding me by waking us up before the sunrise?” Rasgen demanded as he took position and waited to be dressed.
Nua did the same as the pair went for clothing to dress the noble couple. “Murders, many, many murders, master. In the construction area, they were pulling up bodies from the waters for most of the day. Word is everywhere.”
“Bodies?” Nua and Rasgen asked at the same moment.
“Yes,” the collarless half-elf replied, “many.”
“Who is there now?” Rasgen asked.
“The new mistress’s servant, Freyjin, and several members of the watch.” The collared half-elf replied.
“Why is she there?” Rasgen asked and looked over to his bride to be.
“I would suppose that when somebody informed Priceless, she sent for Freyjin.” Nua answered as the servant began to lace the dress up. “Freyjin is a surprisingly gifted investigator. She worked out a number of details that were vital in my servant’s recovery, I would give more weight to her presence than a regiment of searching cavalry.”
“I see, I see.” Rasgen murmured, “You have a way of drawing talent.”
Nua managed a wink at him despite the gravity of the matter, “I was in bed with you last night, you don’t have to boast, I remember.”
For a moment she thought someone would finally laugh at one of her jokes, and he did manage a slightly cocky smile, “Bad timing, but fair enough.” He replied.
“It looks like you’ll have your hands full, I’ll leave you to it, assuming you plan on going yourself…?” Nua asked, and though the Prince shuddered at the location needing him, he inclined his head.
“I’m the Prince, settling the people is part of my job, I have to go.” Rasgen answered dutifully.
“Tell Freyjin she’s at your disposal for the day, and longer if you need it. My house can manage without a Steward for a little while, I’m sure.” Nua answered as the gloves were pulled down over her hands with sharp tugs by the servant.
“Thank you.” Rasgen said, and meant it.
“This is my city too.” Nua said, and meant that.
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Kaiji sat across from Diana in the small dining area on the upper floor, reserved for the more elite servants of the house. “It’s happening today, isn’t it?” Kaiji asked, and the woman whose family she had killed managed a contented smile.
Diana’s smile was a contented silent yes.
“I admit, Diana, I’m impressed by your resourcefulness and resolve. You found a way to continue to help my mistress while also gaining freedom for yourself.” Kaiji dipped the bread into her stew and took a bite, then reached for a small silver plate of butter.
“And you don’t envy it, I suppose?” Diana asked with a wry smile.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“No. Not at all. I get to stay where I want to be. After everything, I won’t blame you if you take some satisfaction in the fact that I’ll be calling you ‘mistress’ and kneeling to you. But this is where I want to be, so I won’t be unhappy. No matter how high you rise.” Kaiji answered, setting the butter aside when she had spread it over some bread, then pouring tea for them both. She slid the cup to her former slave with a slow and comfortable motion, and for a moment Diana was quiet.
“You may not believe this but, it really isn’t a problem. I could have had it worse, and most other Prime Ministers would have just killed me at birth and been done with it. Or stripped me of my name and sold me for a few coppers, and I’d have grown up never knowing anything about where I came from. My parents were stupid, my grandparents were stupid. So… when it happens, I’m not going to be cruel to you… I don’t think my adoptive mother would approve of that anyway.” Diana chuckled, “She takes her rule seriously.”
“One of the reasons I revere her.” Kaiji affirmed as they took sips of tea.
“It’s why I’ve come around with Sado, also. I feel bad for him, being in love with the Lady as he is, I’ll be glad to have him with me. Plus… it’ll be good to have someone of my faith with me there.” Diana replied with a saddened sigh. “If things had gone differently, he would have been an excellent choice to be at her side, Rasgen doesn’t love her, Sado does… and I may be a merciless manipulative bitch, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize sincerity and tragedy.” She gave a regretful ‘hmpf’, and drained her cup.
“Give him things to do in your service, and he’ll recover.” Kaiji replied, “Have him establish a temple to our god, I’m sure he’s been busy trying to memorize the Black Book… when the Pain Children and Lady Solution aren’t using him for practice.” She gave a rough chuckle at that, “My Sado, first warrior priest of Mict’aratz… I never could have imagined it. But he’ll be formidable, assuming your husband-to-be doesn’t get in the way, but I don’t think Yanlim will dare.” Kaiji’s solid red eyes had no pupils, but after growing up with her, the subtle changes around her eyes were plenty to tell Diana when they were hard and vicious.
“You sound confident?” Diana replied, her winsome smile invited the response.
“He got his throne because of our mistress. That won’t be lost on anyone, they won’t forget it. She forced him to call her ‘sister’ in one meeting, and our Komestrans…” Kaiji’s proud answer was intercepted and carried on by Diana…
“Tore the light skirmishers to pieces?” Diana finished for her, and Kaiji’s lips parted to flash a savage, toothy smile.
“I figured. So he won’t be an obstacle, and though I wasn’t there long last time, the temples were closely in bed with Yanmelu, Yanlim might even welcome the new faith to balance against them. The last Prince really should have just done what mistress wanted, then he’d still be alive.” Diana speculated, and Kaiji put her hand out and covered Diana’s in a loving gesture.
It caught Diana off guard and she cut off speech to catch the eye of the woman who reared her.
“Remember those words. Never get in her way, never oppose her… you think you fear her now? I remember when I was first brought to her… she’s not even trying to put fear into you.” Kaiji warned, and the silence stretched between the two.
“I know. I won’t forget. I’m giving her my child as a hostage to my good behavior…” Diana answered and lowered her eyes, “I never felt so much a coward as when she demanded that as the price of her trust… love is my greatest weapon, and she made it more potent, then turned it on me.”
“I’m sorry.” Kaiji replied, not without sincerity, “But if that is what it takes for Komestra to rise again, for everything to rise…?”
“I know that too. I promise… Kaiji. But it’s easier to pay a price myself, than to… you know.” Diana clenched the hand that covered hers, then changed the subject. “How do I look, by the way?”
She drew her hand away and stood from the table, the chair made a slight scraping noise going over the smooth floor, and Kaiji looked the young woman over. Diana’s long black hair was tumbling freely to the base of her back. Her ruby lips stood out over the cream colored features of her soft face, and her bright eyes sparkled like jewels. Her dress was green with flowing black patterns, like the river of the dead, undulating around her. The wide base was wholly improper for a slave who was expected to be mobile and hurry… but for a free woman who could take her time about things? It was a status symbol.
Kaiji stood up, came around the table and put her hands on Diana’s shoulders. “You look beautiful. As you always have. You look beautiful, and I’m proud of you. For whatever it is worth from me, I mean that, so for the short time I have before I’ll be kneeling when you speak to me, let me look you in your eyes and say, you’ll do great things for all our people.” She then kissed a quiet Diana on both her cheeks. “I have to get going, the mistress will return soon and I need to bathe her and prepare clothing for her. Why don’t you go work with Tir for a little longer so she can take your place here, and maybe select a few Starlings to take with you as servants.”
“Thank you…” Diana replied blushing a little at the praise that was given to her. “I never did ask this… but just one more thing?”
“Go ahead.” Kaiji said, stopping at the door and turning to face Diana.
“I know my mother… you spared her because she was pregnant with me, but when she begged for her life, do you think she was begging for my sake, or hers?” Diana asked, a deep longing for an answer to the long unasked question sat just behind her eyes, and Kaiji looked at the floor.
“That is a… bitter truth… but I’ll tell you. You deserve to know. My first thought was that she did it for herself, and I hated her for it. But she… she looked a lot like you. Looking back now, the way you spoke of giving up your child as a hostage, it reminds me of her. She put her hands where you lay inside of her, her eyes shone like yours, and... I think her only fear was for you. When she had you in that little cell I kept her confined in, and you nursed from her, she was supremely happy. She wanted you to live, I thought I caught her by surprise when I cut her throat. But in hindsight? I think she just accepted it, she got what she wanted, her child would live. That was enough for her.” Kaiji answered and her long ears flicked unhappily.
“I cursed her for a fool back then, and I do it now. A woman who wants her child to live, definitely shouldn’t be party to any coup. I won’t apologize, but… at least you know the truth.” Kaiji answered, “Congratulations again, now I’d better get going.”
Then Kaiji was gone, leaving Diana to her thoughts.
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Taen could barely believe his ears when he first heard word flying around about dozens of bodies being found. His heart didn’t exactly race anymore, however, if it could still beat, it would have skipped one. ‘Of all the… well this might complicate things. Or maybe not?’ He wondered, but wasn’t sure, and so no sooner did he wolf down a pointless meal than he followed the crowd that was moving in a direction everybody normally avoided. In the far corner of the city, all the water from the heavy rains was guided. Every trench and every slope ran that way. Nobody ever went there but the lowliest of slaves, and nobody ever wanted to because of its proximity to the waste collection areas that would go to the farms and paddies.
Now however, everybody wanted to, if only to see the unthinkable. When he arrived, the crowd was just like he liked it, substantial. Taen moved about the sea of living bodies with the grace of a dancer, until he managed to get a decent view.
‘Sonofa… it’s that bitch! That elven bitch that tracked the stupid gash down before! What is she doing here?!’ The tall, slender, blonde elf had clearly taken command and was walking past the sea of corpses. When she had her back to the crowd, Taen’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of something curious on the paper she had in hand. ‘Squares? Why has she drawn all those squares…?’
As it happened, she inadvertently gave him the answer. “Hurry up! I want these bodies laid out on dry land just the way they were found in the water, in the same order!” Iron collared slaves, that had been mercifully given gloves, did exactly that, “And you!” She pointed to some halberd bearing soldiers who wore rags over their faces, “Move the crowd back, we need more space to work!”
It was when some more heavily armed soldiers appeared and began forcing their way through the crowd shouting, “Make way for the Prince!” that Taen decided now was the best time to leave.
‘I’d better meet with Saelin, if his half-elf partner is still alive, we need to change that, among other things, fast.’ He told himself and made his way out as fast as he’d come.