Aftermath of Blue-Rock - Day 4

Sephenia

I had traversed the woods every day since I went to Canis’ home for his bow. I was far from the best hunter in the kingdom and had so far mostly been able to hunt enough to eat at home, though I had managed to snag a deer which I was planning to sell in the village soon. I liked being in the woods, at home there were people who depended on me, people who needed me to be strong. In the woods I had none of that, it was just me and the trees, with the occasional animal; they didn’t care how many tears I shed.

I had been hoping to use Canis’ home as a place to skin the animals, to preserve the meat, and to store it. However, when I had returned on my second morning after a fruitless first day of hunting, I had found that Motten had sent his men to claim the property in his name. Under the laws of the kingdom, when someone dies without a next of kin for their possessions to go to, the lord of the land has the right to claim it as their own. He had taken advantage of that law and his men had been ransacking the house for anything of value. I had considered trying to get them to leave but there were too many of them and I did not want to receive another beating. When I returned in the evening the home had been burnt to a cinder.

Today I had managed to hunt two rabbits and a quail; I had spotted a boar, but it had managed to evade me and in truth I wasn’t sure I was properly equipped to slay it. I passed through the village on the way home and heard a cry or two from the drunks near the tavern, telling me that I should turn Aucus in. I gritted my teeth at the proposition. I understood their frustrations, Motten had brought the economy of Blue-Rock to all but a standstill, yesterday was when traders usually passed through every other week, but they had been turned away by the guards. Atop of that, anyone who had worked for the lord in any means were now unemployed, whether they were employed to maintain the village, the woods, or anything else that was paid out of Motten’s pocket. If that wasn’t enough, there were more monsters nearby recently. They had been increasing in number for weeks now, one of the farmers, Petyr, had been attacked by a pack of goblins on his way to the village and had needed healing.

I couldn’t blame the villagers for wanting Aucus to be turned in, Motten had made it clear that he was the source of their troubles. Still, he was my son, I wouldn’t let any of these drunks lay a hand on him. Their words wouldn’t sway my resolve either, I knew that Motten could probably guess where Aucus had fled to but so long as I didn’t confirm his suspicions, he would waste time searching elsewhere just to be sure.

I walked down the path to my home, the soft billow of smoke coming from the chimney. I opened the door and was hit by the warmth of the fire, I smiled.

“What have you brought us this time?” I heard Rosaria ask; she was in the kitchen preparing something for dinner whilst Mia sat in a chair swinging her legs. She watched her mother cook the meat that I had brought back yesterday, an innocent look on her face, too innocent for this world.

I hoisted the carcasses into the air, “I’ve got rabbit, and I’ve got a quail. What do you fancy having first?” I ask, walking over to her and looking across her shoulder at the meal. She was mashing a bowl of potatoes and had the rabbit from yesterday seasoned and ready to be cooked.

“I think the quail, I don’t want to be eating the same thing every day” she said, looking back at me and jumping a little at how close I was.

“Quail it is, I’ll take them out back and start skinning them” I say as I turn towards the back door. I look back at Rosaria, “smells good” I say, making her smile.

I step back out into the fresh air, seeing Canis’ grave and forcing myself to look away. I walk over to the hut that I had set up for skinning and preparing the animals, my mind drifting to Rosaria and Mia. I liked to have some time to myself in the woods, but in truth I didn’t know what I would do on my own. Probably something stupid like attacking the manor, or maybe I would follow Aucus to the city and lead Motten’s men to him.

With the animals skins removed and hung on a rack I had prepared; I took out the hooks I had found and hung the bodies to dry. I went back inside the house, cleaning my bloodied hands in a bucket of warm water that had been left over a fire. Rosaria had finished her cooking and was applying the finishing touches before laying it out on the table.

We sat and ate the food together, “So how was the woods?” Rosaria asked, picking up a spoon to eat her food with.

I shrugged, forgoing the utensils as I hungrily devoured the food. I had always admonished Aucus for eating like this, but I hadn’t had a thing to eat since breakfast. “Busy” I said between mouthfuls, “More monsters than usual, I think I saw some dark hounds. I didn’t want to get too close to them without my sword though”

She nodded her head solemnly, “someone needs to do something about them, won’t Lord Motten lose money if the village gets attacked by monsters?”

I snort at that, “He doesn’t care, he’s got plenty enough to lose. A few silvers in taxes a year won’t matter much to him. Best we can hope is that they move on from around here and attack a village with people defending it” I shrug my shoulders as I wolf down another mouthful of the rabbit and potatoes, it was really good. “Other than that, someone could put out a contract for adventurers. That’d take weeks though, and Motten won’t pay for it”

She nodded her head, “it’s not looking good then” she said at last after scorning Mia for eating her food like me.

“No, if you have to leave the house, try not to go too far from the village” I warn her, “they don’t like getting too close to people unless they plan on attacking”

She nods her head as we finish out meal, “we’ll be fine, you just look out for yourself in the woods”

Zarin

My wounds had healed nicely in the days that I had rested, the ghastly discolouring of my arm had began to fade though it was still more green than flesh toned. My cuts had scabbed over, and the smaller ones were little more than scars now, the ointments that Carlot had provided had seemingly worked miracles. Though I was well on the way to recovery, I liked to still exaggerate my injuries around Elsie. I couldn’t keep it up for much longer, it had done what I intended it to; Elsie had been sympathetic to my injuries and lowered her guard around me. Now she seemed to like me well enough, she was certainly impudent and didn’t know her place as a slave, though that was necessary to take her from Aucus. She would learn her place in the future.

I had good news for her today; my father had decided that she had been taught what it meant to be his slave and was now giving her to me. Father would still keep the contract of course and she would have to follow his orders, though in all other regards she would belong to me. My mind wandered to how she would react to the news, she had been tired when she returned to my rooms recently and though she denied it, I was sure Theodora was still beating her. It was for the best; she would associate me with the relief of her pain

I was shirtless as usual and sat on my bed when I heard the knock at my door. I glanced out my window, it looked like the usual time that Elsie would come to my room. I quickly fumbled for my bandages and the ointment, slathering some onto my arm before calling for her to enter the room.

She pushed the door open in her usual timid manner, slowly until her face was visible and then waiting for me to bid her entry. “Elsie, come on in” I said, making sure she could get a good view of my chest. “I’m just doing my arm; it’s starting to feel better now” I add as I watch her come into the room. I look at her in the maid uniform that had been made for her, she had blushed when I first saw her in it, it really showed off the best parts of her. “Come on have a seat” I say as she stands around the doorway like a fool

She comes into the room and sits down on the bed. Where she had first sat at the end furthest from me, she had slowly moved closer and at her current distance I could reach out to touch her if I wanted to. She tried not to show her pain as she sat but I could see a slight twist of her face as she winced. I had finished laying the ointment onto my arm and looked at her, “Do you mind?” I ask as I hold out the bandage.

She nodded her head and took the bandage from my hands, laying it over my arm with her delicate touch. She had accepted this task yesterday to my relief, I wanted her to grow accustomed to touching me and this seemed like a good place to start. “So, how was your day?” I ask her, looking carefully at her face as her hands continue moving.

She looked up at me, “Oh, it was okay I suppose. Theodora had me in the kitchens for most of the day, and then she…” she trailed off as she thought of something but eventually continued, “she had me clean out the latrines” she said at last with a disgusted expression. Oh, that wonderful woman I thought to myself, Theodora would have to be rewarded for that. I should really speak with my father.

“Ah, not the most pleasant of tasks I suspect” I say to her as the bandage is finally wrapped around my arm and she ties it off in an extravagant bow before helping it into my sling, “Thank you” I say giving her a smile. She smiles back at my gratitude. “I do have some good news though”

She looked at me with a shrewd expression, “Oh? What is it?” she asks. She tries to sound curious, but I can hear the hope in her voice, she wants desperately to get away from Theodora.

“I spoke to my father again. Well, I suppose I should say that we fought again; anyway, I told him how kind and gentle you are and how you didn’t deserve to be punished meaninglessly like he has been doing to you” her lips curved upwards at the compliments.

“I’m sorry you’ve been fighting with your father; I hope it’s not because of me” she said as she laid a hand on my arm.

I gave her one of my smiles, “You don’t need to apologise Elsie, of course I’d fight for you” her cheeks turned red, and she looked away. “But yes. We argued and I managed to get him to give me your slavery, in a way” I told her. The hopeful look in her eyes almost made me break my resolve and laugh but I was able to control myself. “He still holds the contract, and you will have to answer to him if he gives you an order, but in all other regards you will be serving me. I’ll make sure that you don’t have any more… unpleasant experiences from Theodora”

“Thank you Zarin, thank you” she cried out and leaned in to hug me. I let her stay there and put my good arm around her, patting her back gently. When she finally pulled away, I could see tears in her eyes and her cheeks bright red. “Sorry” she said quietly, “I was just happy”

“That’s okay Elsie” I said with understanding. “But don’t be too happy, I’m a harsh taskmaster” I said in a humorous tone, giving her a smile. She smiled back at me. “I’m not sure _what _I’ll have you doing to be honest” I say scratching the back of my head, “I think you can clean my rooms and that kind of thing, I’ll have one of the other maids give you details. I think you should come with me to Alynthir and take the test of divinities as well”

She looks at me with genuine, uncollared hope for the first time. “You mean I can become an adventurer?” she says quietly. I nod my head to her, and she wraps her arms around me again, “Thank you Zarin, thank you so much” her chest presses against my bare body as she hugs me. Realising that her hands are feeling my shirtless figure she pulls away once more and flushes

“I’m sorry Zarin, I didn’t mean to…” she trails off from embarrassment.

“Elsie, I’ve already told you that it’s okay. I really don’t mind, you’re quite attractive to be honest” I pause for a moment and look at her burning cheeks. “If you wanted to do anything more…” I trail off and leave her to think of it herself.

She remained silent for a moment, as though contemplating my offer until she spoke. “No, no I can’t do anything like that Zarin. I love Aucus” she said with difficulty

I sighed and looked at her, “Aucus” I say at last. “You and he…” she nods in confirmation. Even gone he was still a problem; I would have to do something about that. “Elsie, I know you are close to Aucus, but every time I hear his name I remember all if this” I gesture to my injuries and pause before finishing my request. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention him to me again”

She goes silent and for a moment I think she is going to deny me. “Of course Zarin. I know if you can talk to him, we can move past the misunderstanding, I think he would like you. But for now, I won’t mention him to you” she says. The words are bliss to my ears, I would make Elsie mine and Aucus would suffer a pain unlike any felt before.

Elsie

I had gone to my room after spending some more time with Zarin. We talked for almost an hour before I had made my excuses and left for the room that he had given me. I undressed myself and became readied for bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about what he had said to me. I still loved Aucus of course, we had been so close for so many years and in recent weeks we had only grown closer together. I had to admit that the thought of marrying him had crossed my mind a few times. Perhaps I would always love him.

The thought of Zarin asking me not to mention his name rattled through my skull, I didn’t like the idea of having to avoid him as a subject, but I supposed I could understand the reasoning. He didn’t know Aucus like I did, and clearly he had had a bad experience with him, the bruises on his body were a testament to that. I knew that what he had told me, and his father couldn’t be the complete truth of what happened, but the evidence spoke for itself. Zarin had been grievously wounded and Aucus had fled the village, even if it had been a misunderstanding, he did look guilty. If I saw Aucus again I would be sure to speak with him and find the truth of what happened.

The other thing that he had said also crowded my thoughts, he thought I was attractive. I couldn’t say that I didn’t find the idea flattering, some of the boys in the village had shown interest in me before, and of course there was Aucus. But Zarin was nobility, and he was so handsome, every time I saw him without his shirt it made me think indecent thoughts.

I laid myself in bed wincing at the pain in my bottom, but I endured through it, I wouldn’t be getting beaten like that again as Zarin’s servant. I pulled the blanket up to my chest and smiled, he had suggested doing other things besides hugging. I wasn’t sure what he had meant by that, but my mind had drifted to what Aucus and I had done that day in the lake. It had felt so good. Could he have been thinking of doing something like that with me, we couldn’t of course but a part of me liked that he might be thinking that way.

I looked around at my room bathed in the flickering glow of a candle resting at my bedside and leaned over to blow it out. My room succumbed to the darkness, and I closed my eyes to get some rest, I may not be worked as hard as I had been in the coming days, but the exhaustion of my labours weighed on me.

As I drifted into the soft embrace of sleep, I dreamt a dream. A dream about me and Zarin, and a bed.