The Prince's Pet (5 page)

He cursed again, throwing his
head back to stare at the ceiling, then regarded me for a long moment. "I
don't need you." He said.

My shoulders slumped and I
hastily wiped the back of my hand to across my face to catch a tear as it ran
down my cheek.

“I could set you free.” He said
quietly. I wondered if it was pity I heard.

I said nothing. I knew that
would be as good as a death sentence. I would be a young woman on my own in a
foreign land, and someone was bound to take advantage of that in one way or
another. From all I had heard from Ellys and the sailors on journey, Cimbra was
not always easy for women, and worse for foreigners. I would end up enslaved
again, or worse.

He spoke quietly in Cimbrai as
though holding a debate with himself. I looked up at him, but I couldn't
understand his words.

“My father would be angry.” He
said.

I just looked at him, defeated.
My lower lip quivered and my eyes threatened to spill more tears. The prince
looked frustrated, like he wanted to grab and shake me.

“Stop crying.” He said, as
though I could turn it off at will. I blinked hard, and tried nonetheless.
After a while I picked at the food again, still hungry but somehow lacking
enthusiasm for the meal. The tension was thick between us, the atmosphere
uncomfortable.

The prince drained another
tankard and rose. “Call for water.” He said. “I will bathe now.”

I was glad to have instructions. It gave
me something to do. Besides – in my mind, every order he gave me made it more
likely that he would keep me. I pulled the chain that rang the servants' bell
and when a girl came and meekly knocked, I opened the door a crack and asked
her to bring bathwater.

The girl soon returned with
four others. They brought steaming water in huge jugs and pails. I tried to
help them, but they pushed past and ignored me. I was only a slave like them,
but they seemed to want nothing to do with me. So I stood uselessly,
supervising as they trailed in and out of the bathing room and filled the large
iron tub.

After their final trip in
and out, the five girls bowed their heads to me one by one as they left with
their empty jugs. I mimicked their actions, bowing in turn and closing the door
after them.

I didn't know where the
prince was, so I went to look for him. I crept slowly and hesitantly, as though
I was walking on eggshells. I didn't know the proper way to behave. How were
house slaves in Cimbra supposed to act? No one had told me the rules.

I hesitated for a long
moment before knocking on the door to his bed chamber, worried I would
antagonize him by disturbing him.

"Eai?" Came the
reply.

"Your bath is ready,
my Lord." I said.

The door was wrenched open
abruptly before I had finished, and I gasped and took a step back. He only
glanced at me for a moment before stalking past, into the bathing room. I
stayed where I was, unsure what was expected of me.

I thought of my bath with
Atshye: the way she had washed me and oiled me with her hands. I bit my lip as
I waited, certain he would tell me to follow him into the bathing room.

After a few steps, he
turned back, and it looked like he was considering something for a long few
seconds. “You should rest.” He finally said, looking away.

Relief flooded me. I was so
overwrought from the stress of the day and so exhausted from running on very
little good sleep. It must have been
obvious how tired I was. I was grateful for his kindness, in this at least.

I curtseyed. “Thank you, my
Lord,” I said honestly, as he closed the door behind him.

I
didn't expect to sleep easily,
but somehow I did. When I woke, it was in confusion. For a moment I couldn't
remember where I was.

I had laid down on the divan in
front of the fire, which was now nothing more than cold ash. There was a light
woven blanket covering me.
He must have put it there.
I let it fall to
the floor as I sat up. I looked around, and everything came flooding back. My
preparation, the venomous queen, meeting my new master. His questions; our
conversation.

Now that I wasn't so exhausted,
my thoughts were clearer.

I hadn't lied to him about my
fears. But there was another thing I had been reluctant to admit even to
myself. This morning it was harder to deny.

This Prince, Issander, intrigued
me in a way no other ever had.

I had never had much time for
boys at home, working from dawn to dusk every day. Most girls were promised at
an early age, but for me there had never even been thought of marriage. My
father couldn't do without me on the farm, so I had put it out of my head,
assuming there would be time for it one day in the future.

Sure, I had dreamed of what it
would be like to be married, with children and a house of my own. Perhaps even
being comfortable enough that I wouldn't have to fill every hour of every day
with back-breaking labor. But there had never been a specific target of my
fantasies.

I'd barely had any contact with
men, save those I traded with in the village, and had no interest in the crude
farm-hands that drifted through. Not that they had spared much of a glance for
me – a small girl, perpetually dirty and tired, with her head either in her
work or in a book.

This
man, Prince Issander
was unlike any I'd ever seen - dark and handsome and so very masculine, with
his unreadable eyes and hot temper. His presence alone froze me and made me
tremble. He was so intimidating, and yet somehow enticing. I didn't understand
it.

And the way he looked at me so
hungrily... like he wanted to devour me. I was some prey animal, a frightened
rabbit to his lion. I wasn’t quite sure what that meant, either. All I knew is
that I was drawn to him.

Yes, I was afraid of him. I was
scared of this place - of whatever was in store for me here. I was frightened
of being cast out for all the reasons I'd mentioned. But a small part of me was
also worried because if that happened, I would never see the prince again.

I was still in the fog of many
hours of deep dreamless sleep. But I felt so much better. Rubbing my eyes, I
stood, smoothing my crumpled gown and trying to make it cover me sufficiently.
The sun was shining through the windows where the curtains were open, filling
the room with yellow morning light.

I jumped in surprise when
he
came into the room. He was dressed in leathers, buckling on his sword belt, and
he looked at me as though only now remembering I was there.

"May I help you, my
Prince?" I asked, running a hand through my hair in an attempt to smooth
it.

"You can fetch my
sword," he said. "I have
Kai La
...” He searched for the right
words. “Combat drills - in the mornings."

I found the sword in its rack.
It was surprisingly heavy when I picked it up. How did men manage to fight with
such weapons?

I bowed my head as I passed him
the sword and his hand brushed mine, sending a strange little shiver through
me.

As he took it from me I looked
up, noticing the way he treated the weapon almost reverently, gazing at its
blade before slipping it into its sheath at his belt. He nodded once at me and
left the chambers, leaving me alone.

He hadn't eaten - which meant
neither had I. I was hungry, despite my feast of the night before. But wasn't
sure what to do about it.

I sighed, and placed my blanket
back on the couch, and went to look around the rest of my master's rooms. I
entered his bedchamber - hesitantly, as though I might be caught trespassing.

It was huge and luxurious, with
thick dark carpeting and comfortable couches. The middle of the room was
dominated by the bed – the biggest I'd ever seen, with a thick mattress that
looked wonderfully soft, and wooden bedposts reaching almost to the ceiling. I
was tempted to climb up and see what it felt like, but resisted the urge.

The bed-linens were twisted and
half strewn on the floor.
Restless sleeper,
I thought. I straightened
them, and picked up clothing from the floor.

Aside from the dining room,
privy and bedroom there was the bathing room with its huge tub, standing off
the floor on clawed feet. The room was cold right now, but there was a fire pit
that could be used to keep the water warm, and several long benches with
pillows. The harem had a similar thing, where the concubines would lay for
massage by one of the skilled slaves.

There was a small closet-like room
that was empty and a neglected-looking study with shelves of books. I thumbed
through one, not sure what I was expecting. I was literate, but I couldn’t read
the Cimbrai characters. Sighing, I placed the book back in its spot on the
shelf.

My stomach growled and I sat
down at the dining table with a huff. Should I ring the bell? I debated for a
long while, but the thought of calling some other poor slave to wait on me
rankled too much.

Growing more and more
frustrated, I finally got to my feet and opened the door, peeking out along the
empty hallway. Perhaps I could find a kitchen or a friendly face to help me.

I made sure to pay attention to
where I was going so I could find my way back. Even so, the twisting hallways
were confusing.

From time to time a slave would
pass me, carrying some burden or other. They were recognizable, of course, by
their collars. Some wore dark iron, some silver. Those in silver collars were
dressed in uniforms, and some of them carried trays of food. I guessed they
were the ones who waited on the royal family.

Every one of them looked up at
me, nodded swiftly then averted their eyes, lowering their heads and hurrying
past. Even when I smiled and greeted a young girl who was carrying a breakfast
tray, she bowed hurriedly and continued on. Why were they so reluctant to
associate with me?

I found the staircase and
followed it down, then soon came across a brighter section of the palace, where
many windows let in the warm morning sun. Columns lined the walls and the floor
was a beautiful, intricate mosaic of brightly colored tiles. Intrigued, I
followed the passage, delighting in the rays of light falling on my upturned
face.

Live trees in huge pots stood
next to a huge double-door. It was open, and beyond I could see a bright walled
courtyard covered in greenery with plants and ornate statues and a trickling
fountain pool.

There was no one around that I
could see. Curious, I made my way through to the garden. This oasis of greenery
was surprising in the hot, dry climate of Cimbra. From what I'd seen of it, the
few trees out in the town were palms and tough shrubs. Here, there was lush
grass and flowering plants, and unfamiliar but beautiful trees with pink
blossoms trailing down over the paths.

I inhaled the sweet flowery
scent, closing my eyes in bliss. Then I sat on the edge of the fountain and
listened to the trickling water, idly trailing my hand in the pool. It was cool
and refreshing.

Suddenly I was conscious of
someone standing next to me. I looked up, to see a young man clad in a sky-blue
robe of rich but undecorated fabric. He had pale blonde hair, but the
golden-brown skin and almond eyes of a Cimbrite. He was perhaps my age, or
slightly younger - and beautiful.

"I'm sorry," I
stammered, shaking water from my fingers. I stood up, my face heating. Whatever
this place was, I was probably not supposed to be here. "I am lost."

He stood serenely with his hands
clasped before him, hidden in his sleeves. And he smiled warmly. He spoke, but
I couldn't understand much of it - and I apologized again, moving to leave.

I felt a hand on my arm, gentle
but insistent. The young man was still smiling, and nodded encouragingly.
"Come," he said -
that,
I understood. He had such a warm, open
face that I couldn't help trusting him. I smiled back and allowed myself to be
led by the hand.

We walked down the path under
the swaying trees, and entered a stone building that looked older than the rich
marble of the palace. A white carpet ran down the center of the huge room,
sunlight streaming through colored glass windows and casting rainbow light on
the interior. Life-sized statues stood in alcoves. Their pedestals were covered
in candles, flowers, coins and various small treasures.

As I looked at the statues,
recognition dawned on me. They were the same figures that stood sentinel on the
bridge at the entrance of the city, only in miniature. I stared at them as we
walked by.

The young man sat me on a stone
bench. “Wait.” He said, patting my wrist once and turning to sweep off.

Having nothing better to do, I
waited. I didn't sit though, instead standing in the middle of the hall and
taking in the sights. The minutes passed by as I looked at the statues. I was
amazed at the craftsmanship. What did it take to carve such a likeness? I
especially liked the curvaceous woman - her eyes curtained by long waves of her
hair, her smile at once somehow sweet and mischievous. It was peaceful here,
and I felt calm - as though my worries were far away.

I spun around at the sound of
someone softly clearing their throat.

Ellys stood there, with the
young man at his elbow. I was struck by the similarity of their clothing. The
chief eunuch's robe was of silk, finer than the young man's dress, but they
were both a similar pale blue shade. Where the eunuch lined his eyes with the
cosmetic they called kohl, the younger man -
is he a eunuch as well?
I
found myself wondering - was unadorned. Ellys' face was stern as he looked down
his nose at me.

"Ellys," I squeaked in
surprise.

He nodded in acknowledgment.
"Leander here came to tell me there was a lost slave in the temple. What
are you doing here?"

The boy named Leander smiled,
made a short bow to each of us, and walked away. I looked at Ellys like a child
about to be scolded by her father.

"I was... left alone."
I said. "I didn't know what to do."

He only looked at me, so I
continued - the words beginning to tumble out in a rush as I defended myself.
"I had no food, no clothing -" I brushed uselessly at my dress, the
same one I'd been wearing yesterday.

"What were your orders?"
The eunuch asked.

"I had none. The Prince
doesn't care what I do. He doesn't want me."

He raised one well-groomed
eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

"He... he looks at me with
disgust." To my shame, I felt tears begin to burn my eyes. I rubbed at them
angrily with the heels of my hands.

Ellys was silent for a long
moment, then let out a sigh. He put his hand on my upper back, and drew me over
to the bench. "Come." He said quietly. "Sit."

I did so, and he sat down beside
me, taking up most of the space so that we were lightly squashed together. We
were quiet while my tears ran their course - Ellys tactfully looking in the
other direction.

Finally, I took a deep shaking
breath and tried to center myself. I looked up. "Please -" I said,
eager for a reprieve from the subject of the prince, "will you tell me
about these statues?"

He followed my gaze, and looked
around the room at each stone figure. "They are images of our gods."

"All of them?" I was
astonished. Thessia had only one god, and though not everyone was devout,
worshiping any other was unheard of.

He made a sound which might have
been a muted chuckle. "Yes. All of them."

I stared with new eyes,
wondering. How was it possible to worship more than one god? Or did the
Cimbrites choose one or the other to pray to? How did their priests get along?

"Which one in particular
speaks to you?" Ellys asked.

I looked at him, curious. Then
my eyes flicked toward the naked stone woman. The statue was so beautiful, I
felt like I could look at it for hours. "That one." I admitted.

When I looked back at him, he
nodded approvingly. "Me too."

"Who is she?"

"That is Iele." He
answered reverently. "The goddess of love and desire. She happens to be
the patron goddess of pleasure slaves, among other things."

At the mention of the goddess'
name, I felt a strange stirring within me. My family had never been devout, and
I had grown up without worshiping the one Thessian god. What did it really mean
to do so?

"We can teach you of her,
if you wish." Ellys said.

I looked up at him and smiled,
grateful for his company; for his kindness. "I would like that. If I stay
in the palace long enough."

The eunuch folded his hands in
his lap and gazed down at me. "I have known Issander well from the time he
was born," he said. "He will not cast you out. You were a gift from
his Father."

I furrowed my brow. "But
why? I would think his father would give him a gift he actually wanted."

Ellys barked a laugh. "He
did. It is only that he does not know it yet."

"I don't understand."

"It does not matter. You
will learn."

After a leisurely walk back
through the gardens, he took me to the Harem. I had to take almost two steps
for every one of his long strides, and was out of breath by the time we
arrived.

The harem had a large room for
the storage of clothing. I was allowed to select a number of dresses from the
shelves. I chose plain, comfortable shifts as well as beautiful silks and
brocades, wispy dresses like the one Atshye had chosen for me and some more
modest, but still beautiful.