Chapter 3: A Different Breed

   Later that evening, as the moon rose outside her window, the girl lay seething in her bed.

   She was angry about her captor’s rough handling, and even angrier that she could do nothing about it.  

  Karis had used her all day; running errands, bringing meals, standing off to the side when she conversed with her court and council, no matter how long it took.She’d been direct and severe, insulting even, but the girl gave her enough of an act to make her think all was well. She was just trying not to do anything or act in a way where Karis would have her whipped, or worse.

  She went back over their parting in her mind. 

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 “You performed well today.”

 “Thank you, Mistress. Gods be praised.”

 “I see potential in you. I’ll keep you with me for now until I know what to do with you. You are free to go. A Docile will see to your needs, and I’ll see you at first light.” 

                                            ************

  Instructed to bow to Karis and keep her eyes down, she did.

  Curious as to what potential Karis saw, but grateful she hadn’t been cast aside, the girl stayed in the hot bath until the water cooled and the soapy foam was black with her day’s labor. 

  Her  dinner plate was piled high, and she ate like it was her last meal though she knew it wasn’t. It was good to know that here there’d be no consequences of the famine in her homeland.

   Glutted and sated, she was too tired to get excited about the soft bed awaiting her, but her bones would have groaned in pleasure at the proper bed by a window that let in the cool and pleasant night breeze. 

   For once, she smelled night flowers instead of human stink.

   For one last night at least, you’re human once more. [

Chapter 4: Parcels of Destiny

       The boy was still sleepy, but it didn’t seem to matter when the loud banging on the door and shouting made him jump as he woke up in fright.

       Keeping his silence, he poured himself some water from the nightstand pitcher and let his heart stop pounding as loudly as the fist on the door. 

       When he finally opened it, he looked into the face of his captor. 

       “The Mistress will see you now, boy. Your fate is to be decided this morning.”

        The boy swallowed; he wasn’t ready, but after some consideration he realized there was never a way to prepare for this kind of thing.

        “A word of advice: you’d best stop shaking. It’s seen as a weakness, and you’ll get the mines. Serving in court is bad enough, but serving in the camp is worse.”

     He let the cryptic remark speak for itself. 

      “I understand.” the boy said. He didn’t know if his trembling was from the cold, malnourishment, fright, or if he was going to die. 

      He wondered if he cared, and decided he didn’t.

      “You’ll be fine, then,” his captor said, chaining him. “Come along.”   

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       By the time they arrived, the boy saw that the girl who scared him before was already standing by the slave mistress’ side, her eyes down, but looking scrubbed, clean and fresh in the early morning sunlight streaming through the balcony doors’ glass.

    “Mistress Karis,” the guard greeted her. 

    “Guardsman. Thank you for being prompt. Leave the boy with me, and go.”

    The guard bowed and took his leave. In the settling quiet, the boy was glad he wasn’t trembling. The lack of people in the hall gave things a comforting silence, and he took notice of how serene they all were as a result. 

     Karis appraised the boy, and while she did the girl spared him a brief glance as well, but if she remembered scaring him she didn’t show it. 

     Karis walked over to him, speaking as she came. “Do you remember what I called you?”

     “Yes, Mistress. ‘Bones on a rope.’ “

     “You were easily captured.”

     “My parents were killed in front of me. I pleaded for their lives, but I…”

     “Yet you did nothing.”

     Not knowing what point she was trying to make, he dared to raise his eyes. 

     “My loved ones were killed. There was nothing left to fight for.”

    Karis’ eyebrows arched, in surprise at his momentary boldness, and peripherally, he saw the girl looking at him too.

    He’d expected Karis to slap him, but she didn’t, and the words she spoke next caught him off guard. 

    “Such loyalty to your family is laudable,child, that their deaths would trim your sails rather than fill them with anger and wrath.

    “Would you like something else to fight for, to avenge them, now that your hate is kindled?”

    He raised his eyes again, the answer already in him before it formed on his tongue.

    “Yes, I would.”

    “Good. Then don’t lower your eyes again.”

    He didn’t, not even as she sent the girl down to stand beside him. 

    Coming toward him, she spared him a glance, one of respect this time.