The Shrinemaiden (The Maidens) (23 page)

“Suspicions?”

“He has been abusing a few slaves. Not Sarcopians slaves, to my knowledge, so there is very little outrage. Did he hurt you?” The sudden fierceness in his tone nearly made her weep.

“No. He hasn’t touched me. I think he bought me for… his son.”

“Daken? I knew there was a reason he’s been looking at you tonight like some lovestruck swain.”

“I’m sorry,” Adelai whispered, closing her eyes. “I didn’t have any….”

“Enough.” A tongue flicked against her, and she gasped. “I knew what we were getting into, Adelai. You need not apologize for carrying out your duties.”

“I know, but it does not lessen any of the guilt.”

“There is always the future.” He kissed her, then pulled out of her. Adelai sighed softly at the sudden emptiness he left behind.

“Wait, Thornton.” She struggled to rise to her elbows. “There has been talk that King Garrant had sent out assassins to have King Belair assassinated.”

The captain nodded. “I have heard rumors to that extent. Garrant only laughs when the question is put to him.”

“There might be documents to confirm this, but no one knows where they are kept.”

“Nobody knows. The king has been very careful about it.” The captain had re-fastened his breeches. Now he helped Adelai back to her feet, then kissed her again. This time, it was a slow, drugging kiss, passionate without the demanding lust that had preceded it. “Be safe, Adelai.” He whispered against her lips. “And damn what King Belair says. Now go.”

After making sure her gown and hair were in place, Adelai paused by the door, turning to look back. Thornton was already leaving through the terrace, though he had also glanced back at her. Their eyes met, and a quick smile flashed across his handsome face, before he turned away. A moment later, he was gone, and she was alone in the room.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Arrisque

Adelai returned to her normal routine following Lady Wilchestrom’s party, though invitations for her to attend others also increased shortly after. As much as she had been overwhelmed at first, her friend’s succinct observations during the ball had helped Adelai greatly, enabling her to know which invitations to accept and which to politely reject. She accepted those from people known to have closer ties with the king, and while Adelai didn’t know if she could find out anything else, she was determined to try.

So far, all her attempts were in vain. Many of the lords and ladies were more content to talk about themselves rather than anything else, and Adelai had spent many a bored afternoon trying not to nod off as they talked. She was still often invited to Lady Wilchestrom’s manor on occasion, and these she accepted with more enthusiasm.

One invitation caught her attention - the Lady Shannika Maestre had invited her up to her manor whenever was most convenient. Adelai had hesitated, remembering the tall, beautiful woman, and wondered. Somehow, the Silvermaiden didn’t seem like the type of person who liked to invite people over for frivolous gossip. She quickly penned a reply, thanking her and promising to visit as soon as she was able.

She still spent some of her nights with Daken, and Allan seemed content to let her set her own schedules for the day. It was why she was surprised when her patron summoned her to his study one afternoon, out of the blue. She found him looking down, at a letter in his hand.

“I was wondering if you would do me a favor, Adelai. General Kazer is hosting an intimate dinner with a few close friends, and he has requested us to come. It is usually an overnight affair, so rooms are to be prepared for us.”

Adelai was surprised. There had been no indication that the earl and the Jackal ever had a friendship.

He smiled at her puzzled expression. “The General and I share some common interests. I’m sure you know that he had also made a bid on your contract, my dear. It’s his way of showing that he holds no grudges.” He paused. “I think I should give you fair warning, Adelai. On these occasions, the general has been known to host a few
arrisques
with his own shrinemaidens.”

Adelai paused. It was not an uncommon practice among shrinemaidens to perform an
arrisque
if asked. It was typical for patrons to ask them for their consent, but shrinemaidens were also expected not to refuse without any good reason. Still, she had a bad feeling about the Jackal. Nothing she had heard about him was good, save only that he was a brilliant tactician.

“I would be delighted to attend,” she said, because she could not turn down his request over a feeling. Allan looked pleased.

Daken sulked, naturally, though he seemed to realize that he couldn’t keep Adelai all to himself forever. She was relieved that he wasn’t as angry as he had first let on. That night, she departed the manor with Allan beside her, for the general’s estate was only a few miles outside of the city. She was dressed in a teal gown that was again, simpler than others she could have worn. The more unobtrusive she could be, the better.

“Could generals afford such a place?” She gasped aloud, as the carriage rode past an iron gate, where a large, paved road led them up to an imposing manor. A large intricate water fountain before the house attracted their attention as the carriage wheeled to a halt, with a sculpture bearing twin eagles sitting on its pinnacle. Carefully trimmed shrubberies were everywhere, the flowers colorful and bright. There were hundreds of candles at every window of the mansion, and it looked majestic in the growing twilight.

Allan chuckled. “What is not often known about the Jackal is that his family is steeped in wealth. Remind me to bring you to some of my estates outside the city, Adelai. If this impresses you, I have no doubt what holdings I possess shall astound.”

Alighting from the carriage, they were met immediately by a silent butler, who bowed and led them inside, which was just as magnificent as it looked outside. She had expected the general to keep sparse holdings, but the rooms overflowed with more expensive luxuries and items than even the earl’s manor. Imposing portraits, some bearing similarities to the general, glared at them from all sides as they walked the long hallway to enter an ornate dining room, where a feast has already been set. “I’m afraid the general isn’t much for the proper courtesies,” Allan said apologetically. “We’ll have to find our own places.”

“It is nothing at all,” Adelai said, smiling to hide her nerves.

Other visitors had already arrived. The general’s shrinemaiden, Caera, was already there, presiding over the guests like a true hostess. Adelai was amazed to see General Falen present as well, and that he did not come alone. The man people called the Wolf sat at a chair at the end of the table, and kneeling beside him was a pale, familiar-looking redhead. She was barely clothed, with only a short woolen shift to hide her nakedness. There was a heavy leash around her throat, and the general held the other end of it.

The girl glanced at her, and Adelai could make out pale blue eyes on a lovely face before she flushed in shame and lowered her head, not daring to look up at anyone else. With a shock, Adelai remembered that she had seen the redhead during the auctions, one of the Highrolfe subjects who had been captured by Sarcopia.

“I presume you already know who General Connor Falen is,” Allan said, like having a slave by the dinner table was common enough in all the kingdoms. Adelai fought to keep her emotions under control, curtsying low. The Wolf only nodded, looking disinterested. “You must mind his manners,” the earl said, with a small grin, as they moved on to the next chair. “Falen made a record number of purchases during the last auction, and I suppose his mind is still occupied with bringing them all to heel.”

No doubt he was smiling, Adelai thought, because of the profit he himself had made from those bids. Allan seemed different that night. Though still as polite and courteous as always, there was a queer smile on his lips, like he knew something only he was privy to.

He was not the only one with slaves in tow. There were many others present, mostly generals, who had brought a slave each, presumably their favorites. Some Adelai had never seen before, and surmised they had been bought at other earlier auctions before hers. All were treated in the same manner, collared and made to kneel on the floor beside their respective masters, and most were female.

There were two other shrinemaidens there. Laranei was a comely auburn-haired girl who perked up when she saw Adelai. She had been purchased by a handsome merchant named Kalai only two years ago. “Sometimes I still have trouble getting used to the city,” she confided with a laugh. “I wished I hadn’t taken the solitude and quiet of the temple for granted when I was still a novice.” The other shrinemaiden, a pretty blonde named Malena, seemed to be attached to her patron’s elbow and barely acknowledged her. “Captain Havan Delshire had only bought her contract the year before,” the earl told Adelai, “right on the heels of a very bad contract with the Marquise of Colverton, who has since been blacklisted by the Temple, I believe. As you can see, she is quite grateful.”

Even more surprising than the Wolf’s presence was the appearance of the Silvermaiden herself. Lady Shannika Maestre sat at the table, though she looked somewhat ill at ease. At her side was the slave she had bought - the notorious General Khalid. Like General Falen’s slave, he was sitting on the floor beside his mistress’ chair in nothing more than a loincloth, with a leash around his neck. Unlike her though, his head was lifted, almost arrogant still despite his situation, and he met her gaze with angry gray ones, all without flinching.

“Khalid,” Lady Shannika said sharply, but it was a few seconds before the man obediently lowered his head. The Silvermaiden stared down at him, a strange expression in her green eyes. Unlike the others, she did not look quite as happy at having to discipline him.

Though he was the host, the Jackal seemed content to let his shrinemaiden do most of the entertaining. All throughout the dinner he said very little, only talking to General Falen about military matters. It sounded complicated to most of the others, who were too immersed in their own gossip to pay the two men much attention, but Adelai had been well-read in military campaigns and history, having been taught by Thornton. She paid close attention to their conversation whenever she could, at the same time engaging in small talk with Laranei and Caera, who were seated across from her and to her right, respectively. It was a skill she had been able to cultivate during her days at the temple, where her sisters chattered a mile a minute without pause, and all at once.

The bulk of the army, she learned, had been dispatched a few miles south of Kessinfall, a small town on the boundaries of Sarcopia, and was awaiting orders to move. Several days’ march separated the city from the outermost border of the Atalantea kingdom, and Adelai swallowed her anxiety. What could this mean? Will King Garrant be planning an assault on Atalantea soon?

The Jackal didn’t think so. “It’s a waste of men,” he said, in his harsh voice. “Other parts of the kingdom are now more thinly defended. There are no threats in those eastern and southern borders, but I still do not agree. The king has commanded they remain there until he gives the order to march, but he has given no further reasons. Would he be so bold as to attack Atalantea?”

“’Bold’ would not be the word I would choose myself,” the Wolf had a quieter, lower voice than his fellow soldier, and dry. “Even the king is aware that we cannot attack without suffering heavy casualties, or perhaps even lose the war in the process, with this strategy. The terrain along those borders are better suited for Atalantean archers than our own cavalry. No, I believe he is waiting for something.”

His assassins, Adelai thought. He is waiting for word that King Belair had been killed, before starting a new war with Atalantea.

“Has the wine gotten to you, sister?” Caera teased, “You are looking quite flushed.”

“I have not had opportunity to indulge in drink since my stay here,” Adelai said immediately, quickly masking her distress. With what she had hoped to do that night, she thought it would be best to do it sober.

“Drink to your heart’s content, for we shall need it before the night is over,” Laranei giggled. “Did your patron tell you of the proposed
arrisque
?”

Adelai nodded, nervous again. She had practiced with several trainers during those glorious weeks she had stayed with the captain, but the privacy of one’s rooms where all had participated, was different than one done in the public eye, with an audience like this. Only patrons who had purchased shrinemaidens were allowed to join in, the intimacy of the act demanding select men who could be vouched for, to ensure the utmost protection for the shrinemaidens involved. And who better to ask than patrons, who had already been vetted by the temple?

“He doesn’t look it, does he?” Caera lowered her voice, so that her master wouldn’t overhear. “He doesn’t mistreat me, of course - he knows the penalties well enough - but I have heard the rumors of other slave girls or prisoners who had not been so lucky. Even with me he can sometimes be… rougher than he should.”

Adelai knew about the gossip. “Do you not worry? Or at least investigate the extent of his alleged abuses yourself? You are in a position to do so.”

Caera shrugged. “It doesn’t concern me. I know it sounds heartless for me to speak this way, but remember - we all took a vow never to become involved in our patrons’ affairs. If it might distress me to know more, and yet be able to do nothing, then why know at all?”

“Open your mouth, pet,” the Wolf said to his slave. The young redhead was shaking, but not from fear. Her pupils were dilated, and she was panting softly. She moaned and opened her mouth, allowing the general to slip a small piece of grape into her mouth.

“Is she feeling ill, milord?” Caera inquired.

“She is eager to fuck,” The Wolf said bluntly. Laranei’s hand flew to her mouth, blushing, and even Caera was stunned. The Jackal only laughed hoarsely.

“Looks a sweet cunt, doesn’t she? I might be interested in a taste of her little hole one day, gods know you already have enough to share! I recommend a shrinemaiden next time, Falen. Better prestige than your slave there, as beautiful as she is. The gods know you’ve spent enough on slaves to afford one or two shrinemaidens instead. I have found no reason to complain.” The general leered at Caera.