Anathema - The Song of Eloh Saga, Book 2 (3 page)

“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 towards 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 backwards, 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 towards 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 towards 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!”

The door burst open as two of his honor
guards ran into the room, searching for enemies but only finding me
quivering on the floor.

“Tod, Dean, take her to the dungeon. Hold
her there until the branding ceremony. Don’t let her out of your
sight for an instant,” he growled.

“It was just a stupid story, my lord.” I
wrapped my arms around his ankles. The dungeon was dank and filled
with rats. “Please don’t put me in the dungeon. Please!”

Kandek reached down and for a moment I
wondered if he was going to help me up. His hand found mine, but
instead of taking it, he grabbed the leather bag I clutched. I
burst into tears, realizing that not only was I going to be
imprisoned, but I would face the branding with no help from his
herbals. He had never been anything but kind to me. How could he
turn so quickly? He had to know I didn’t mean any of it.

“Take her and guard her cell until the
moment I send for her,” he instructed the larger of the two guards.
“She won’t fall into anyone else’s hands.”

I didn’t struggle as the huge guard lifted
me to my feet and led me away. What good would it do?

Walking out, I glanced over my shoulder into
the room. Kandek slumped over in his chair, his head in his hands.
He looked up briefly at me. I expected to see rage, but I didn’t. I
only saw raw fear.

Chapter Three

I sat on the damp floor in the darkness and
punched my fist into my lap. Why did I have to tell such a
ridiculous story? I hadn’t meant a word of it. In fact, it spilled
out of my mouth without any thought, just like all the stories I
had told him over the years.