Conquering Lazar (4 page)

"Most of you have lived in Lazar for your entire adult lives, I am told," he began. He circled around each woman as he continued. "You have no idea the battle we have in store to conquer Lazar. Though we will be there to try to protect you, we will be easily outmatched by Jaden warriors, three to one. We are lucky that our army is growing daily, by allied forces, but Jaden still has the upper hand. I will tell you now what they will do."

Elbi hung on his every word. Before they'd left Lazar they were told of Jaden's murderous rages through the desert communes. It had seemed that with each commune conquered, they become more fearsome and bloodthirsty. They considered themselves, Elbi had heard, to be equalizers of the world's wrongs. She was inherently afraid of them.

"There was a siege on the commune I lived at last. Jaden came running down the dunes, screaming shrill calls to each other. I watched as they picked off our men one by one. Their swords were guided with swift pursuit, and I watched them kill men who were easily bigger in size and by far the smartest men of the commune. But their swords cut through them at the neck. They had a thirst that my commune didn't know existed. It wasn't for precious water. It was for blood. We didn't see it coming. I watched blood stain the sand, and I saw men who I called friends…" Nico's face contorted with the memory.

Elbi was surprised to see him show such emotion now. He would stop every few moments and gaze at one of the women as she was held in a locked position by a soldier who would then guide her arm back and into a jabbing motion low into their guts.

"And then I saw them begin to pick off the women. The girls who were young and beautiful, as all of you are now, were slung over their shoulders after being grabbed or bludgeoned on the head and knocked nearly unconscious. I saw these men throw themselves on top of our young girls, raping them. I listened to them scream and watched them bite, pinch and claw at these men. But nothing could stop them. When they were determined to have a woman, they would take her. I fought as best as I could with no weapons and no preparation. And then I saw something that convinced me my life would be dedicated to defeating men like these animals. These beasts of the desert. I saw a man who snuck up behind a girl a few years younger than all of you. She was crying, motionless, in a heap on the ground. He grabbed at her in his blind passion. He couldn't make contact with her without enduring her swipes to his face. And finally, when he had her wrapped in his arms, she bit down hard on his neck and drew blood from him. He screamed and let her go, throwing her to the ground, not before slapping her across her face so hard that her nose began to spout blood. He was so enraged, he took her by her hair, swung her around and laid her out on the ground, flat on her face. Quicker than I could realize what he was about to do, he pulled his sword out, swung it around his own head and down on her neck. Her screaming stopped instantly, and what was once a farmer's daughter, was now little more than a head rolling away from her body."

The harem women had stopped in place. Their eyes were wide, their mouths slightly agape.

Briar screamed, "Nico! That is enough!"

Elbi began to sob. Something inside her snapped. Whatever had been holding her fragile mind together, now crumbled. A deep well of madness took over. She had no choice but to leave the courtyard in a quick sprint.

"You don't want to hear this," Nico began, "but you need to know what it is you are up against." His voice faded as she ran—deeper, and deeper into the darkness.

"Come on, Elbi," Briar pleaded, as she stood on the other side of the bathroom door. "It's okay to let me in. It's just me."

Elbi sat, blocking the door with her crumpled body on the floor, quickly running her hand through her blonde hair. She held her hands close to her, afraid to let them be anywhere else. Her wide eyes tried to take in as much as possible and they kept darting around, taking in everything in the room. She could barely breathe. The pain in her chest made her wonder if she was dying of fright. Sweat formed on the top of her lip, yet she shook uncontrollably.

Briar knocked on the door again. "Nico was just telling the story so all the women would take training seriously. Don't let what he said scare you. Our situation is different. We will be prepared, so nothing bad will happen to us." She knocked on the door again. "Please let me in."

"Elbi," she heard a deep male voice call from the other side. "It is Malachi. I'm coming in." Without waiting for a reply, he slowly opened the door, pushing against her body that sat against it.

Elbi looked up through her tears and began to cry even harder. Sobs rocked through her body as she gasped for whatever air her tightened lungs would accept. The ringing in her ears grew louder and darkness edged her vision.

"It's all right, Elbi," Malachi said, as he carefully lowered himself to his knees. He extended two hands hesitantly. "Everything is going to be all right now. I want you to look me in the eyes and know that you are not in danger."

She did as he asked, looking into his deep brown eyes.

"I want you to take a deep breath and try to calm down." He turned to Briar, who stood in the doorway with terror painted on her face. "Go get me a glass of water," he directed softly.

Elbi continued to look into his eyes and took a deep breath. The effort caused a pain in her back, and the tightness in her chest intensified.

"Good girl." He squeezed both of her hands, which were engulfed in his. "Now take another one. Focus on me and know I am here and will not leave you."

She took another deep breath as Briar came rushing back to the bathroom with water in hand. Malachi took the glass and gently placed it to Elbi's lips.

"Take a small sip," he said as he tilted the glass.

She once again followed his command and took a drink, coughing slightly when the water made its way to her tight throat. She took one more sip and felt her chest loosen up a bit. The ringing stopped, and her vision cleared somewhat.

He kissed the top of her hand. "Good girl. Calm down. I am here." He released her hand and returned the glass to Briar. "I will take it from here, Briar. Please go and inform everyone that Elbi is fine, and I will be attending to her this evening. Then get some help and bring back a few buckets of hot water, and leave them by the door."

Briar nodded silently, gave her friend a soft smile, and turned to do as Malachi asked.

Elbi covered her face with her hands, continuing to shake a little. She shook her head and let her sweaty locks spill everywhere. She had never been so embarrassed, so ashamed.

He let out a soft sigh. "Elbi, everything is going to be all right. You had a rough day and were pushed too far. You had a panic attack, and you will feel much better once we calm you down."

She peeked out from behind her hands to look at him. "I am so afraid. I'm not strong enough. I'm so sorry!" She began to cry even harder.

"Look at me. Take another deep breath and look at me."

Elbi carefully lowered her hands from her face, trying to take deep, calming breaths.

"That's it," Malachi said softly, extending a hand. "It is okay, Elbi. There is nothing to be ashamed of." The thick accent of his voice helped soothe her nerves. The way her name rolled off his tongue sounded like a soft lullaby. The pain in her chest continued to lessen.

Elbi's hand shook when he lifted it up and placed it in his palm. Her hand was sticky, sweaty with anxiety. He pulled her against his chest and just held her. Held her tightly against his body, allowing her to cling to his strength. They remained like that for quite some time, until they heard the sound of buckets being placed outside the door.

"Since we are here, let us get you a bath, shall we? We will get you cleaned up."

Elbi froze when Malachi grabbed the buckets of water for the bath and began to cry again.

"It is going to be all right. You need to calm down," he softly ordered.

She tucked her legs up to her chest and rested her forehead against her knees, her body continuing to tremble. Malachi sat down on the edge of the tub and carefully rested a hand on her back.

"You can have trust in me, Elbi," he whispered. "You are not in danger anymore. I promise you that I will not let you feel this afraid again." He turned to tend to the bath and said over his shoulder, "I will give you some privacy to bathe, but I will be on the other side of the door, waiting."

She took a breath and raised her head, only for tears to start rolling down her cheeks in streams. "Please don't leave me."

"I will only be on the other side of the door," he lightly encouraged.

"Please stay with me," Elbi pleaded, letting a sob shake her body. She had just experienced the edge of insanity, and Malachi was the only thing keeping her from falling over the edge.

He stood up and wrung his hands together. "Very well. Let me help you undress and get into the bath."

Elbi's sobs stopped, and she glanced up at him. "Thank you," she whispered.

Silently, he stood her up and untied her soiled silk. She hadn't realized how filthy she truly was until that moment. She should have been embarrassed at her state of condition, but all she could feel was a sense of security.

Malachi removed her clothing, baring her completely. He pulled her gently and assisted her balance as she stepped into the steaming water. His hands gently grasped her shoulders, lowering her down into the bath water.

She let out a soft sigh when the water warmed the stiffness right out of her.

"Elbi," he said, so quiet she almost didn't hear him. "I am so sorry for everything you have been through. I take full responsibility. If I could take away all your fear, I would."

She allowed the remaining tears to silently fall down her face as Malachi washed her hair. She needed to cry it all out. She needed to feel vulnerable, she needed to allow all her fear to surface. She wanted to be strong. She wanted to be the courageous fighter in battle, but at this moment in time, she was just a scared little girl.

Malachi reached for a sponge and began washing her back, her shoulders, and then he gently placed the sponge to her face. He looked her in the eyes as he washed the tears from her cheeks.

"I will protect you, Elbi. I swear you this."

The pain on his face pulled at her heart. She knew he meant it. But she didn't know if what he said was possible. All she could do was whisper, "Promise?"

He nodded with a soft smile. He leaned in and gently kissed the tip of her nose. "I promise."

Malachi stood up and carefully assisted her out of the bath, dried her off and wrapped her in a large towel. He escorted her to the other room, closing the bathroom door behind them.

"I am going to take you to my quarters to stay with me. Is that all right with you?"

"I don't want to be a burden to you. I'm sure you have your hands full with everything. The last thing you need right now is to be babysitting me." She tried to walk away, but her legs began to wobble, and she reached out for him to steady herself.

He quickly supported her weight. "You are exhausted, and you need to be watched over." He helped guide her to the hallway, where a worried Briar stood with some others from the harem. "Will you ladies gather some fresh silks and overnight supplies for Elbi? She will be residing in my quarters until further notice."

A relief washed over Elbi that almost set her heart rate at normal pace. Malachi's take-charge attitude was the only thing making her feel like she wasn't drowning in a sea of terror. She glanced at Briar, and suddenly felt guilt for making her friend worry so much. She bowed her head in shame and allowed her damp hair to cascade forward around her face, forming a curtain of disguise.

When Briar left and the other girls followed, he tilted her face so she had no choice but to look into his eyes. He brushed her hair away from her face and said, "I will never allow you to have another panic attack. I will never allow you to feel such fear. I will be here. Trust in that."

"Everyone else can handle it. No one else is panicking. I'm the weak link and simply holding you, and everyone around me, down. I feel so ashamed."

"There is no shame in truth, Elbi. You only express the truth that every single person at Casen is feeling. Everyone is afraid. We are all scared. Just because you are the most honest person here, does not mean you are the weakest." Malachi wrapped his arm around her body and pulled her close to him as he guided her down the hallway. "With a little rest, you will be ready to face your truth head on."

Night had fallen when her eyes finally fluttered open, the smell of roasting meat catching her attention first, followed by something soft beneath her. She looked around, her eyes adjusting to the flickering candlelight after a moment, and as they did she realized she had been carried to Malachi's bedroom. The bed beneath her was covered with a fur-lined blanket, which was brightly colored, and warm. She stretched only a small bit before pushing herself up, combing her fingers through her hair and scrubbing the dried tears from her eyes. It smelled like him, the bed; a fragrance that set her soul at ease but her heart aflutter. She blushed at the thought of what they could do in this bed, but reminded herself that there was no shame in it, since he was, after all, Malachi of Lazar.

Standing up, she straightened the blanket and pillows beneath her on the bed before she found her way back out into the other room, where a fire burned and a pot bubbled away, full of some thick stew. She was surprised, as she didn't know many men who could cook anything, let alone what she saw over the fire. She found a large wooden spoon and gave the pot a stir before she found a towel and pulled a pan of biscuits off, setting them carefully on the table. She looked around the little place, which clearly had only those two rooms. Still, it was well-built, and neatly kept, save for some dust, which she expected was impossible to keep out. It was nowhere near as impressive as the accommodations of the Palace of Lazar, but it was still cozy and welcoming. Elegance and opulence were replaced by quaint and inviting.

The only thing missing was Malachi. As if the thought had drawn him in, the door opened and swung closed as the handsome man stepped in, carrying an armful of freshly split firewood. He paused when he saw that she was awake before putting the wood near the fire, turning to look at her in silence for a moment before he spoke, at last.

"Did you sleep well?"

She nodded gently, fidgeting with the edge of her silk. "Yes, thank you."

"How are you feeling? Has all the tightness in your chest gone away?"

"It has." She thought for a moment, chewing her lip, before she added, "I'm sorry to be such a burden. I feel much better, and can join the rest of the harem now."

He paused a moment, nodding slowly. "If that is what you truly want." Then he crossed the room and cupped his hands on both sides of her face. "But
is
it truly what you want?"

She tried to turn her head away, but he held it firmly in place. Averting her eyes, she said, "I do not want to make my problems yours."

"Look at me," he commanded.

She did as he directed.

With his hands still cupped on her face, he asked, "Do you want to stay with me? Or do you want to join the harem?"

"I feel safer with you."

"Then the decision is made. You will stay with me until we return to Lazar."

"The entire time?" His declaration surprised her. She didn't know what to make of it. She had never been apart from the harem. Not even for a night.

He smiled, his eyes reflecting the firelight, the flames dancing in them. "Yes, the entire time." He let go of her face and turned toward the meal, stirring as he spoke. "My quarters are small, but secure. As long as I am here, you are protected. And when I am not here, I will make sure you are still protected." He turned to look at her with another reassuring smile. "I promised you that you would always feel safe. I plan to honor my word."

There was an awkward silence between them, neither seeming to know what to say. He was the first to break it, moving to gather a couple of plates so they could have dinner. "I would like you to continue to train with Nico and his men during the day. He has assured me that he will keep his tales to a limit from now on." Malachi smirked and gave her a playful wink.

She nodded. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry I ran out like that. I really made a fool of myself. Here, let me," she went on, moving to stand in front of the stove, taking the plates from him. She didn't like standing around doing nothing the whole time while he was on his feet; it didn't feel right to her.

He relinquished the plates and instead took a seat at the table, reaching up and rubbing at the back of his neck. "I do not want to hear you talk about yourself in such a manner again. You are not a fool. Fools are people who have no fear at all. Fools are people who do not approach life with caution. Fools are people whose confuse bravery with thoughtlessness. You, Elbi, are not a fool."

Placing both the plates, now filled with food, onto the table and sitting down across from him, she frowned. "What will people say about me staying with you? It is not the way of the harem."

He shook his head, picking up his spoon and shoveling a mouthful of vegetables in before he continued. "The ways of the harem will need to adapt. If it helps put your mind at ease, Briar is living with Donte for now, as well."

"She is?" It was no surprise that Briar and Donte had more than just a harem girl serving her master relationship, but she still found it shocking that they were living together. "What about the rest of the women?"

He paused from eating and studied her face in silence for several moments. "The rest of the women will be housed in the main building, under intense security. They will train every day just as you and Briar will. Which leads me to my next discussion." He motioned for her to start eating, which she quickly did. "You are to go nowhere without my permission."

She swallowed the bite of delicious, savory meat and nodded. She knew better than to argue, although she was slightly curious as to why.

"When you are with me, it is my responsibility to protect you. The majority of the soldiers are guarding the women in the main building. Therefore, you are to remain by my side until I hand you over to training with Nico. I will then pick you up at the day's end, and you will return to my quarters. You are never to leave, or wander without me. Understood?"

Up until now, he'd been very gentle with her, his voice soft, understanding. These harsh tones concerned her greatly, and she wasn't sure how to react to them. "I… Yes. I understand." She wasn't sure why he was so adamant, but she hoped he didn't plan on keeping her locked up inside his quarters all the time.

He nodded, tucking into his meal and falling silent for the moment. That silence seemed to stretch, unending, between them like an ever deepening chasm. He finished his meal after several minutes and leaned back, rubbing his hand over his chest with a yawn. "I suppose it's time we get some sleep. You have been through a lot today, and more training is ahead for tomorrow."

She quickly stood up and cleared the dishes. "Oh, I see…" She thought for a moment, unsure if she was supposed to follow him, or if she should stay awake and get better acquainted with her new home. "Would you like me to come with you?" She wasn't sure what was expected of her. The rules had changed, but was she still expected to perform harem duties?

He paused at the question for a moment. "Yes, I would," he answered finally, standing and holding his hand out to her as he came around the table, a sweet smile on his face.

Her heart melted when she saw the gentle way he looked at her, the kindness in his brown eyes. He truly was a handsome man. She laid her hand in his and let him lead her back into the bedroom where she'd recently awakened.

He closed the door behind him and, leaving her to linger there, moved to sit on the bed and pull off his boots. His shirt was unbuttoned, tossed aside, as well as his socks. She noticed, however, that he didn't remove all of his clothes.

Elbi walked over to the bed and turned down the covers for him, sitting down for a moment to pull off her own shoes, and finally her silks, until she sat completely nude. Nothing out of the ordinary for a harm girl, but somehow it felt different now. She blushed a bit as she climbed into the bed, tugging the covers up over herself and taking a deep breath. Any art of seduction training had been thrown out the window. She had no idea what to do. She reminded herself that she was his now, and that if he wanted something from her… well, it was her place to give it to him. Her years of training had prepared her for this, or at least they were supposed to.

He blew the candle out, turning to face her as he lay down and pulled the blanket up. He slid a little closer, until she could feel the warmth of his body. His hand moved around her waist, gently pulling her closer so her back was pressed against his chest, his arm over her.

She shivered when he held her like that. It felt so warm, so nice. She knew he would be gentle, firm, but kind with her. She could sense something in the way he held her, so protectively, that he would never do her harm. Elbi knew she could willingly give her virginity to this man… tonight.

She waited for the next move.

When none followed, she wondered if she was the one supposed to make the move. Her question was soon answered by the heavy breathing of Malachi against the back of her head. Taking a moment to relish the weight of his sleeping body pressed against hers, she eventually closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep, tightly wrapped in his arms as the moon slowly sank and gave way to the sun.

The desert, through the bedroom window, was beautiful in the sunrise, casting its glow over the earth from its fiery throne in the sky. Like a great burning eye in the heavens, it watched over those below, giving life to all under its rule.

When Elbi fully awoke, she found an empty space beside her. It took her a few moments to remember the events of the previous day, to remember how she'd ended up in Malachi's bed. How warm he was, how soft, how protective… She bolted upright, immediately stricken with a deep fear that something had happened to him, however irrational it might have been.

She jumped from the bed and ran into the other room, her heart pounding when she did not see him there either. The fire roared behind her, a skillet sizzled with eggs and the smell of biscuits greeted her nose. The door opened and he stepped in, momentarily silhouetted by the sunlight, which cast a halo about his head like some angelic figure. Elbi relaxed somewhat, wondering what she must look like, standing there wide-eyed and naked. She was so quick to jump the gun, to let her mind wander to the worst of possibilities.

"Good morning," Malachi greeted, granting her a wide smile that made her heart skip a little beat. He scanned her body and said, "We have a busy day ahead. Go get dressed and come have some breakfast. I will then escort you to training."