EPIC: Fourteen Books of Fantasy (142 page)

Chapter II

“R
EYCHEL
,”
A
LOW
VOICE
WHISPERED
from the doorway. I spun around, not at all surprised to see Grey leaning against the door. His voice, so low and smooth, occupied many of my daydreams. I’d recognize it anywhere. “I’ve got a message for you.”

 
I wiped my hands on the towel hanging from my waist and attempted a smile. But as always happened in his presence, I couldn’t decide whether to smile or talk. Instead a half smile appeared followed by a tiny noise.

I balled up my fists and pushed my toes into the tips of my shoes. Would I ever be able to control myself around him like Ivy did? It was so easy for her, but me, oh no, I thought I was doomed to a lifetime of stilted words and weird expressions around boys.

“Happy birthday,” Grey said, rubbing the brand he received last year. “You’ll do okay. It’s not that bad.”

“Really?” I asked, stunned. Having seen Ivy’s return, I wondered if her experience was unusual. A small bit of hope rose in my chest. Maybe it wouldn’t be as awful as I feared.

His eyebrows, so pale in color they were almost invisible, rose up. “Well, yeah, it hurts. I was just trying to be nice.”

“Oh,” I laughed. Why was I so eager to believe everything everyone told me? “Of course it does. I saw what it did to Ivy.”

“Speaking of - where is Ivy?” he asked. “I haven’t seen her around at all this morning. Usually I pass her in the market while I’m delivering messages.”

The lies rolled around in my brain.
Ivy was up early. You probably just missed her.
She was asked to run a special errand in regards to today’s party.
But none of them would slip easily off of my tongue in front of Grey. Many nights I’d lulled myself to sleep wondering what it would be like if he touched me, even the smallest accidental elbow bump would send me into hours of fantasies. I could barely converse with him on a normal day, how could I lie to him now?

Before I could turn around, a single tear dropped out of my eye. In Eloh’s name, why couldn’t I hold myself together?

“Reychel,” he whispered again as he took a step closer. “If she’s off on some crazy errand then she may not be home in time for your branding ceremony.”

I nodded, not looking at his face. The lie was his, but it fit and explained my tears. It was better than I could do at the moment. His boots shuffled closer and I held my breath as his arms encircled me. His chin rested on my head. As my scalp shifted to accommodate his broad chin, I felt tingles course through my body. It felt better than I’d imagined, not that I ever thought he’d actually take me in his arms.

He moved his mouth down to my ears as he whispered, “If she’s not back in time, will you let me help you?”

I swore I felt his lips brush my earlobe, but I was too overwhelmed to register anything more than the obvious. He wanted to help me, be the one to make sure I was well before and after the ceremony. It was beyond anything I could have dreamed.

“Yes,” I answered into his shoulder, nodding my head slightly.

Grey pulled back, but only far enough so that his arms were still around me. “You’ll do okay, Reychel.”

I glanced at him. His brown eyes wandered my face and lingered on my lips before settling back on my eyes. The skin around his eyes crinkled as a smile sprouted from his lips. He cocked his head to the side and slowly moved in toward me.

“Grey,” Luci screamed from the kitchen. “Are you done delivering that message yet? If you are, then get your butt out of the back room. Reychel has work to do.”

“Message,” he fumbled as he let go of me, stepping back to the doorway. “I forgot about the message.”

I wanted to tell him it was okay, that I was happy with what had, what was, happening. But I just nodded, my lips together. His fingers broke the seal on the note and opened it.

“I’ll read it.” I reached out for the note.

“No,” Grey said, “I was given orders to read it to you, as a witness that you received the message.”

“Okay,” I said, pulling my hand back.

“You’re to report to Kandek’s private chambers,” he said, his eyebrows narrowing. “Alone and make haste.”

His shoulders slumped as he repeated his message one more time. I knew how it sounded. Just like every other slave, he wondered why I spent so much time alone with Kandek. I knew it the moment he read the first sentence.

“I have to go now,” Grey said, backing up to the doorway. His eyes no longer sought mine.

“It’s not what it sounds like,” I begged, finding my voice. But it was too late, he had already left.

I stomped my feet on the dusty floor and put the last of the breakfast dishes on the cart. I wheeled the cart off, averting my eyes from the bright sun streaming through the open window. I pushed the cart to Luci and told her the contents of the message before hurrying down the hall. My mind drifted back to Grey. Had he considered kissing me? I certainly thought he was going to until Luci interrupted us. Then the message. I felt the heat rise up from my belly.

My whole life I had accepted my fate here. No looking out windows, no trips outside even if everyone else was given a chance. I attended Kandek as he asked, no more, no less. But why? What made me so special?

As I entered Kandek’s outer rooms, my eyes couldn’t help but jump to the window. The heavy damask curtains were drawn, leaving the room dark save for the light of three candles on the table. The fireplace looked as if it hadn’t been used in a long time. It was summer, after all, but a bit more light would have been welcome.

I felt my nails dig into my palm as I made a fist to knock on the inner door. It hurt, but it didn’t hurt as much as the anger I felt. Before I could pull back for another go, the door creaked open. A young boy peered out at me, his bald head making him look more like an old man than a seven-year-old kid.

“He’s waiting for you, Reychel.”

“Thanks, Ian,” I sighed.
 

He pushed the door backward, his left leg flexing while his right stood crooked to the side. Although he’d been injured in a horse and cart incident as a toddler, Ian had managed to make himself useful as a personal servant to Kandek. Most rulers would have tossed him out to live on the street, but Kandek had kept him around. Another curious case like my own; my master was full of mysteries.

“Reychel here to see you, m’lord,” Ian yelled as he gestured for me to follow him to the interior chamber. He shuffled ahead, leading me to an overstuffed damask chair near the window. Sweeping his arm to the side, he indicated I should sit.

Another door across the room opened and Kandek strode into the room. I pushed myself up as Kandek waved his hands at me.

“Sit, sit, my dear Reychel. There are no formalities here in my chambers.” He patted Ian on the head. “Out, my boy. Reychel and I have important things to discuss.”

Ian smiled at me.

“Did you lose another tooth?” I bent over, placing my thumb on his chin. His grin grew larger.

“Yep, Reychel, I did,” he said.

I smiled, feeling some of my anger abate. His youth kept him from assuming any improprieties, a big relief after what happened with Grey. I couldn’t deal with another accusing glance. Behind Kandek’s back, Ian gave me a little waggle of his fingers and hobbled out of the room.

A scowl forced its way on to my face as I noticed Kandek’s big grin.

“What’s wrong, Reychel? Today’s your birthday. You should be thrilled.”

He threw himself into the chair opposite me. Behind his left shoulder was a big window with the shutters closed. It was always the same. We’d have some small talk, then he’d throw open the shutters giving me my only exposure to direct sunlight and my view of the outside world.

But today he thought I should be thrilled? What a cruel joke. Instead of forcing a smile, I felt my eyes narrow as I glared at him.

“Nervous about the branding ceremony, are you?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small leather bag. “Rub this ointment on the back of your neck before coming to the great room. My herbalist tells me it numbs the pain.”

I took the small bag, opened the drawstrings, and peered inside. A small amount of opaque cream pooled in the bottom. My thoughts drifted back to Ivy’s branding day and the pain she endured all in the name of slavery. I was so sick of being treated different from the other slaves.
 

“But why me?” I asked, clutching the bag in my hands. “No one else has ever been given an ointment. They have to suffer the pain for days! I know Ivy, who would never admit it, felt unspeakable pain.”

“Ivy, hmm?” Kandek stroked his graying goatee. It was in strong contrast to the fiery hair atop his head. “Where is your friend?”

Cursing my stupidity for even bringing her up, I stared at him defiantly. “I don’t know.”

“Don’t you?” He stood up from his chair and opened the shutters. My eyes squinted from the bright, direct light as I turned my head to the side.

“No, I don’t,” I said. At least it wasn’t a lie. I didn’t know where Ivy was.

“Honestly, I’m not worried about that right now. She’s easily replaced. Anyone can go to the market for cook. How’s the sunlight feel?”

As my eyes grew used to the overwhelming brightness, I turned my face back toward the sunlight. Bright puffy clouds drifted into view, filtering the rays. For a moment I let the warmth of the sun sink into my skin. It had been so long since I’d felt the sun against my face and my anger toward Kandek began to wane as I relaxed.

“Here’s some tea,” he said, passing me a little blue teacup. I recognized it as one in a set I had cleaned and dried this morning. “Take a drink and then tell me one of your stories.”

 
He sat back in his chair, legs crossed and his arms, long to match his body, folded across his stomach. His eyes rested on mine. They weren’t filled with malice or desire, just curiosity. It was the same as always. He listened to my stories and then sent me back to my chores with a smile on his face. I didn’t understand it, but the desire to argue trickled away as I enjoyed the rare glimpse of the world.

Rising from my chair, teacup in hand, I leaned against the wall next to the window, peering out in the bustling city. Merchants hawked their wares in booths lining the streets while people rushed in and out of inns looking for a respite from the noon heat. A mother corralled her children, who would rather chase an errant goose than tag along on her search for bread and eggs. I giggled as her youngest grabbed a hold of a tail feather, plucking it clean away from the goose’s rump.

But it was the sky that tugged at my eyes. I saw people every day, the sky was a treat. A lone hawk circled in the distance awaiting the perfect moment to grab his lunch. Other than him, it was a peaceful day in the heavens filled with white puffy clouds making shapes for the world to interpret. The dark blue in the west foretold of coming rains. I was lucky Kandek had chosen this time for me to gaze out the window.

After finishing my tea, I settled into a story; one that had just come to me.

Not long ago…

“Always the same opening,” he chuckled. I ignored him and continued.

…a young girl moved on to a new life. She was thrilled at the opportunity she had been given, but angry she had lost the one person most important to her. She vowed to reunite, whatever the cost.

Her new companions, lovely and lively people, encouraged her to seek her fortune in another city, but she refused knowing that she could never leave her friend behind. Determined, she implored her new friends to help her. They loved a challenge, but they also believed in caution. If anyone knew what they were planning, their leaders would condemn them as foolhardy. With the limited time they had, they made a plan to extract her friend quietly.

With their strategies in place, the group moved into position the next morning. They knew there was no time to waste. The perfect opportunity was upon them. There would already be confusion and chaos and they would be able to slip in and out undetected. Everyone was charged up at the thought of rescuing another.

The morning arrived and they dressed in their finest. They would all attend the ceremony, but exit with her friend before anyone knew they were imposters. It would be easy, particularly since one of them knew the building inside and out.

Today’s branding ceremony would not take place. Not for Reychel.

I started, hearing my name slip out. I’d been so caught up in my own story, not even paying attention to the content. Telling stories was like that for me; I slipped into my own little world, unaware of what I was saying as if I was only a conduit, not the storyteller.

But the significance of this tale sunk in like a brick in a pond. I looked to Kandek, his brow furrowed, his hands shaking. He grasped the arms of his chair, his fingernails digging into the fine fabric.

“I’m sorry, master,” I stammered, quickly dropping into a bow at his feet. “It was just a silly story. I wasn’t thinking. I am so sorry if I have offended you.”

“I will not lose you.” He leapt up, knocking over the heavy wooden chair. “You’re too valuable. Don’t move an inch,” he snarled, sticking his finger in my face. “Guards!”