The next morning, Eos awoke when she heard a fearful groan from the master. She bolted up right at once and looked round, "Master Azea- are you alright?" she asked.
He groaned again, "Don't speak so loudly. My head is killing me," he told her. She looked round and saw one of the servants pulling open the curtains to let in the light, warm morning sunlight.
"Master Azea had too much wine during dinner last night. Not that anyone would blame him. Any one of us would have done the same in his position," the servant informed Eos who heaved a quiet sigh of relief.
The birds in the aviary downstairs were loud as usual during the morning.
Master Azea covered his eyes with his arm, "Gods- someone have those birds shot and let me have my peace," he said.
Eos stifled a giggle and slipped out of bed. Some of the servants were preparing Master Azea's usual morning bath as Adna brought in a foul smelling herbal drink, "Master," he said offering it to Master Azea.
The master took one sniff and retched. But he took the mug and downed it. Eos wrinkled her nose, and her respect for Master Azea greatly increased. The sight and smell of the herbal drink was horrendous. If she were him, she would have gone on with the headaches.
Several times, Master Azea looked as though he was about to vomit. Indeed, Adna carried a basin at the ready but after awhile, Master Azea waved him off. "Eos, come bathe with me," he said at last, getting to his feet and looking much better already. At the request, Eos hid a grimace and followed him to his bathroom. There was an area that was raised up and the bath carved out of the marble. The servants had filled with warm water standing in the middle of the cold marble floor. Adna helped undress Master Azea and barely batted an eye nor give a glance at Eos who began to remove her clothings as well.
He really was the type who would not notice a group of naked ladies parading pass him if he needed to attend to the master.
"Urgh… I wonder how long Dareen will be staying," Master Azea groaned as he leaned against the side of the bath. Eos had only half a mind to attend to him. The other half had never been in a bath so large nor so filled with soap bubbles so she felt inclined to play with them.
Master Azea watched her as she picked up a handful of soap and blew it so it would float through the air. He smiled.
"You never bathed with soap bubbles before?" he asked and she shook her head, "Then maybe you should bathe with me from now on." He observed her face, "Now you're thinking you'd rather sit on a snake's nest."
Eos fought an exasperated look that made Master Azea laugh again.
At last when he recovered, he reached out to touch her hair she had tied up from getting wet, "You're not going to wash your hair?" he asked, his hand moving down the gentle curve of her back.
"It's a pain to dry and hardly practical to wash everyday," she replied.
"We have time," he said, "I can help you dry it later."
Again, this statement disconcerted her but to hide it, she slowly removed the pins she had used and her hair slowly uncoiled and fell down her back. Master Azea watched her for a moment before deciding to wash himself as well.
Eos watched some of the lighter bubbles float pass her. Her back was to the master as she slowly soaped and rinsed her hair, thinking and trying to reason out her fears.
Master Azea was a kind man. Kind especially to those who served him. Had he not say his fiancée had thrown a spoilt tantrum at a maid whom he had also treated well because he had just lost her family? He probably saw Eos the same way. All he did was merely kindness on his part. That was all.
"Girls must have it hard," Master Azea observed. She looked round and saw him watching her, one arm propping his chin up on the side of the bath.
"Master?"
"It's just, the time it takes me to bathe and wash myself, hair and all, is less than the time it takes for you to wash your hair," he said.
That remarked poked at her like a sewing pin. Eos leaned towards him and touched the back of his ear. He watched her curiously. "You didn't wash behind your ears," she told him after her inspection and went back to rinsing her hair. Master Azea scowled like a small child and obeyed, "You didn't wash your back either," Eos guessed.
"Can't reach it," he replied, "You do it."
She obeyed, taking the small hand towel to wash his back. As she scrubbed, she noticed for the first time, what appeared to be old scars on his dark skin.
"Their from battles and fights," he told her, "Even my hands. Look," he showed her one open palm that had a shiny scar on it she had never noticed before. "Doesn't it hurt?" she asked, touching it.
Master Azea's hand enclosed around hers, "When I first got them? Yes. But now?" he said, kissing the back of her hand, "They're just scars." He released her hand and she continued her job. After awhile, he asked, "Can you reach your back?"
"Yes, with a little difficulty," she answered.
"Yes, of course. You're a dancer. You should be flexible enough. All the same," he turned round to face her, taking the towel from her hand.
Obeying his promptings, Eos turned around and pulled her hair away from her back. As always, Master Azea's hands were gentle though large against her small back, "It's always been on my mind… but your skin is fairer than most… do you have foreign blood in you?"
"I don't know," Eos replied, "I never met anyone from my mother's side and I don't know anything about my father," she explained.
His hands stopped and she felt his lips press against her shoulder. She looked at him in surprise and he smiled, "Let's get out before we look like prunes," he said.
Eos got out first and wrapped herself in a towel before bringing another two for Master Azea. They left the bathroom while Eos tried to dry her hair, heading towards her room. She shut the door behind her with a relieved sigh and wrapped her hair up in a towel so she could get dressed.
When she finally was dressed in a dark red costume made of silk with gold beads and embroideries, she sat down in front of her mirror, still trying to towel her hair dry. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the door to Master Azea's room open. She really had to find away to make sure it stays shut when she wants it to. Master Azea simply walked up to her and sat on the seat next to her.
Taking the towel from her, he helped towel her hair dry. But Eos tried to pull away, "Master Azea, this is not something for a lord to do-"
"Shush," he told her, taking the comb and gently running it through her hair, loosening the tangles. When he had brushed it through, he wound it up and pinned it up in such a way that thick coils still wound and curled down her back.
Eos looked surprised and he smiled, curling a lock of hair at the side of her face playfully with his finger, "When I was young I used to watch my mother do her hair. She even let me try sometimes. I think she found it a little amusing," he explained, getting up. Eos followed him to his private sitting room for breakfast, "Your mother…?"
"Yeah,she was one of father's slaves. He had five of them. Seti and I were born on the same day. Seti was born from father's official wife though," he said, as they settled down on the cushions and rugs for breakfast. The other servants set out the meal on the mat before them. "But our mothers were close. They were almost like sisters," he told Eos. He looked at her face as he picked up a fruit, "You're wondering why Seti and I are so different?" he asked. She nodded, pouring juice into a glass for him before helping herself.
"Seti was never close to anyone. You could say he was a bit of a selfish brat from the start. Even his mother couldn't do a thing about him but she died when we were four anyway. Mother cried and cried. But father didn't even shed a single tear," he said, his eyes growing colder at the thought. He got back to normal quickly as he picked a sweet roll, "By the way, speaking of father, I have to have dinner with him tonight with Dareen. I'd hate to put you in a difficult position, but I would like it if you attended it with me. It's easier to relax when you're around. You can serve me as usual as an excuse to be there," he said.
"As Master Azea wishes," Eos replied.
He leaned back and wound an arm around her waist easily, "Feed me," he told her as she leaned against him.
She picked up the roll and helped feed him. After the roll he picked up his goblet and drained it. Just as Eos was pouring him more juice, the door burst open again as Dareen strode in imperiously.
That woman loves a dramatic entrance… Eos thought to herself as she poured the juice into Master Azea's goblet and set down the amphora.
The moment Dareen caught sight of Eos, her lips tightened. Eos heard Master Azea sigh, "Good morning, Dareen. I trust you slept well? Won't you join us for breakfast?" he said in a cheery voice.
"Us?" Dareen repeated icily.
Master Azea sighed a little more obviously this time. Eos spread honey on a slice of freshly baked bread and another one with soft cheese as Master Azea liked and set it on his plate in front of him. She took a roll and spread soft cheese on it before biting into it.
The master removed his arm from around Eos, "We have apricot jam; it's your favourite right? I remember your chef always had it at your breakfast table when I visited last spring," he said. Dareen smiled, flattered that Master Azea seemed to remember such a small detail. She sat down on his other side and Eos murmured, "Please excuse me, master," she said. Master Azea nodded and gave her a short apologetic look.
When she left the room, Master Azea already had Dareen swooning for him. Eos shook her head as she shut the door.
Master Azea could be extremely charming when he wanted to be. That was probably more dangerous than how Seti was.
"Jealous?" Adna asked with a grin on his usual morning rounds to make sure all was well. He usually went round during the master's breakfast and supper.
Eos raised an eyebrow, "I'm his dancer and bed slave," she reminded, "He bought me. There's nothing between that,"
Adna shrugged his shoulders, "Master Azea rarely has women in his bed. Tell me- why does someone like that want a bed slave for? It hardly seems like him."
"Master's a strong man. You can't expect him to live like a monk right?" Eos wanted to know and went to search for the musicians to practice.
She spent the rest of the morning dancing until Adna came to look for her nearing rest period. "Master Azea has managed to rid himself of Lady Dareen. She is spending time with Lord Griffin's wife. He summons you," he said.
Eos dried her sweat and made to go up to her room to make herself more presentable since she was dressed in a shirt and loose trousers. "He also says if you are not dressed in your usual attire, you don't need to," Adna added.
Eos grimaced, "Where is the master?" she asked, accepting a handkerchief from him. She mopped her brow and neck before handing it back to him, "Thanks."
"Master is out in the Palm Pavilion."
Eos sighed, she worried whenever he asked her to go there. It was surrounded by different kinds of palms which, though cooled the air, hid them from view of other people and it was easy to here people coming on the gravel path. The last time they were there, he had gotten a little carried away on the day bed.
"Master?" she called as she searched through the clearings among the palms. She found him reclining in the furthest possible area from the walkway. He had a book strewn on the floor, probably bored from reading it. "Come here," he said, sounding irritable. He was lying on his back with one arm slung over his eyes. Eos climbed over him and laid down between his legs and on his chest.
Master Azea opened his eyes and stroked her head, "Gods… I'm tired," he said, "Distract me."
He sat up and kissed her mouth, tugging her tucked shirt loose. She expected that and merely helped him with the task. It didn't matter they were outside, but Eos suspected Master Azea had used that place as a safety precaution so that Dareen wouldn't run into them. Either than that, neither really cared if there were other servants or slaves around. During most of their lovemaking sessions in the bedroom, there were other servants, including Adna there, still doing chores like checking the fire and blowing out the lamps.
Rest period was almost over as Master Azea tucked an arm securely around Eos, "That helped," he said, covering her with his silk tunic.
"Don't you have lessons, master?" Eos asked, finding herself winding her fingers with his. She heard him make an exasperated sound. "I'll skip it," he said. Eos had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
There came a crunching sound on the gravel but Master Azea didn't rouse himself, "It's Adna. Dareen doesn't step so lightly or so swiftly either."
True enough, Adna appeared and didn't bat an eye at the scene, "Master Azea, Lady Dareen is searching for you. What do you wish for us to do?"
"Send her off in the opposite direction," Master Azea ordered, lazily.
"At once, master."
Once Adna was gone, Master Azea reached for the glass of wine he had left forgotten on the side table they had almost knocked over several times. It was a miracle the wine glass hadn't fallen and shattered on the tiles.
"Would you like a glass?" he asked, leaning back. Eos sat up, holding the tunic to her naked form as she searched for her shirt, "No thank you, master," she said in an almost flat voice. She retied the cloth around her breasts before pulling on her shirt then searching for her trousers. "You hardly touch wine or brandy or even ale," Master Azea said, after sipping his wine. He set the glass down and started getting dressed.
"I need to keep my wits about. And Mother said it's unattractive for us to be drunk and not to be able to even walk in a straight line," she replied, tying a leather loop round her waist to tighten her trousers.
"Wise woman," Master Azea said, grinning, "And speaking of Mother, I was thinking tomorrow, you could go down to the Desert Gem and see your friend… um… Tara?"
Eos looked at him with surprise, "I can?" she asked. It had only been less than three weeks. Master Azea smiled, looking a little sly, "Kiss me and it's a definite yes. But bear in mind, not that I don't trust you, some of my men at arms will accompany you."
All this while Master Azea had been the one to prompt such things. Still.
He was stretched out on the day bed once more and Eos climbed on top of him to kiss him on the mouth.
When they broke the kiss, he smiled again, "Right then, you can borrow a horse if you like. You're riding has improved a great deal after all."
For some reason, Master Azea had got it into his head that Eos should learn to ride. He would make sure she had three torturous sessions a week. Her rear end had never been so sore.
The look of alarm on Eos' face made Master Azea start laughing again.
"I love teasing you," he admitted, wrapping his arms around her waist and lacing his fingers together to rest on her lower back. His dark eyes watched her, framed by those long lashes of his. Gazing so closely into them, Eos saw something in them. Something wild and blazing but at the same time gentle and kind. For some reason, the strange look in his eyes made her catch her breath.
Master Azea lifted his hand and brushed a few stray strands of hair from the side of her face. He kissed her forehead, his lips warm and tender but send a scorching, electrifying path through her, stronger than anything she had ever felt.
All instincts she had learnt from her life at the Desert Gem screamed to get away from him. It was getting dangerous.
But if she were to pull away, it might seem insolent of her.
Master Azea made a small trail of gentle kissed from the back of her ear down her neck.
At last, she decided, she absolutely had to get away. She pulled free from him, fighting the heat rising to her cheeks. "We just got dressed," she pointed out, not looking at him. She heard him sigh, "Feed me," he said, leaning back once more.
Eos relaxed and took the bowl of nuts from the side table. Master Azea had leaned back, his hands laced behind the back of his head and his eyes shut sleepily. She sat next to him, leaning against the head of the daybed and feeding him. "Mm… less almonds. I want pistachios," he said, idly. The nuts had already been split open for him. Eos rolled her eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me," he said, his eyes still closed.
After awhile, the sound of crunching gravel came to their ears. At once, Master Azea was up, "Oh, gods, its Dareen, quick. This way," he said, grabbing Eos' hand and ducking through the palms. "Keep moving," he told her and they found themselves at a small grassy patch heavily surrounded by thick palms. Master Azea crouched on the ground and pulled her down with him, "Stay very still," he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
"Azea!" Dareen was calling, stalking round the pavilion in search of him. They could see her find the spot where they were moments ago. "Azea!!" she called shrilly and kicked the side table so the contents would scatter on the ground where by she stomped on some of the things including food.
Eos pursed her lips. If there was one thing she had learnt coming from the slums was, never, waste food.
"She's going to be furious at dinner," Master Azea said as they watch the noble lady stomp off like an elephant. He kissed Eos' neck making her jump a little. "What?" he asked, wrapping his arms round her.
"Nothing but rest period is over and you have lessons."
"So? I'm skipping. Besides, for once, we're completely alone and unseen without the danger of my blasted fiancee walking in on us. We can be completely uninhibited," he said, already untying the leather loop round her waist.
Eos had to stop herself from grimacing.
"Are you alright?" one of the maids asked.
Eos was slumped in her bed when she was supposed to be getting ready for the dinner that night. "I'm exhausted," she groaned, getting up, "When master says uninhibited; he isn't joking. Good thing it was windy or people would think that patch of palms was haunted." It was already evening and the sun was beginning to set. She went to get dress, looking at the array of clothes she had brought up with her and the large collection the master had given to her. All with the idea of minimal restrictions on mind.
She pulled out a copper coloured top that would be held up by being wrapped round her back and her neck and a silk copper piece held up by a thin gold chain round her waist that would easily reveal her legs. Donning those, she tied up her hair and together with two maids, went to the pain staking task of weaving the beads into the thick dark locks. With that done she put on a pair of simple earrings and anklets.
At last, Master Azea entered the room ,"Eos- for goodness sake, woman- aren't you done yet?" he asked, his voice humorous. He often made fun of how long she took to dress even though she wore so little.
Eos refused to answer him as she painted the kohl round her dark eyes and added colour to her lips before putting on a sheer veil that sparkled a little when it caught the light. At last she got up and took Master Azea's arm, letting him lead her to the main house.
She hadn't seen Lord Griffin since the dinner and she could still remember his groping hands. All she could do was hope Master Azea would be able to keep him away from her.
"Master Azea," Eos said suddenly as they crossed the garden together.
"What is it?" he asked.
There were lamps lit in the garden but it was still dim and Master Azea's face was hard to see. But she heard the tenderness in his voice when he asked, "What is it?" She felt his hand over hers.
"You know about my mother. I don't know anything about yours except she was one of your father's slaves," she said, trying to see his face to read his thoughts.
Master Azea kept his face looking up ahead. Nothing in his manner changed. It was the same stiff, slightly nervous air that he had since they left his wing. "My mother died when I was eleven. She fell ill. The whole time she was sick, my father didn't bother to come see her at all. Finally after a year, she passed on because of some sort of rot in her lungs."
"A whole year?" Eos asked, her voice hushed.
"No. When I was sitting with her, I heard the healers talking about how it had only gotten worse then. It had been there for an even longer time. Mother never told a soul," he explained in a quiet voice, "Not even me."
Something in Master Azea's voice brought memories back to Eos that she had spent her life trying to forget.
A small, skinny under grown girl child was huddled at the corner of the room, a woman cough out blood on the bed. The healer carried out the basin of warm water that had a red tinge to it to be thrown out. The woman looked round and reached out a hand for the child, "Star…" she called and the girl ran to her mother's side, gripping her hand. "My beautiful little star…" she said, stroking the child's dark hair, her voice hoarse, "I love you so much… never forget…" she whispered, pressing a pendant into her hand, "Never forget… we love you. We'll always love you."
"I love you, mama."
The woman smiled, "One day, when you meet him… tell him mama's sorry that she couldn't keep her promise…" she said and kissed her forehead.
She laid back down on the bed and smiled at the little girl for the last time.
We…
Eos stopped and Master Azea looked round at her. "Eos?" he said.
She looked at him and saw the orange light from a nearby lamp light his face for that short moment. She stepped towards him and wrapped her arms round his waist. Stepping tip toe a little, she kissed his mouth.
When she stepped down, she looked up at him.
He smiled, "That was unexpected," he observed. He slid his hand round her waist and kissed her forehead, "I like it. You should do that more often."
Don't bet your life on it… Eos thought to herself.
By Master Azea's sudden grin, she knew he had guessed what she was thinking. But he didn't comment on it. Instead, he offered his arm and she took it again so they could continue their way to the main dining hall.
They entered the main building and Master Azea led them to the courtyard where the dining hall was when the weather was good. The ornate lamps lit the courtyard as a low table set with gold plates and cutlery. The table cloth was beautifully embroidered and laden with lavish food that made the thing Master Azea had been eating all this while look meagre and poor. Roasted meat, freshly baked bread, grilled fish, fruit Eos had never even seen before, cheese and different types of wine in pitchers. Musicians played as dancers danced in the background like birds in the morning but Master Azea barely glanced at them.
There was no one else at the table just yet. He waved off the half naked serving girls, "Eos will serve me," he told them. He took a seat on one of the silk cushions and Eos found his favourite wine and proceeded to pour for him.
"You look like a tiny mouse cornered by a cat," she whispered to him. He gave her a tiny smile, his head propped up with his arm, knuckles on his forehead. "Let's just say it's been over month since I've seen my father. And the last time we saw each other, it wasn't pleasant," he said. She fanned him with a fan woven from palm leaves. He saw her curious look and smiled again, "He wasn't happy about how I was neglecting my studies and running around with commoners to practice my fighting."
He sighed and looked round at the silk hangings and lights glinting off the gold.
Honestly speaking, Eos didn't much agree to it either. But she didn't say anything instead she let him run his fingers up and down her spine, tapping lightly. It was a pleasant feeling.
The main door opened and Lord Griffin strode in, head held high and proud, Eos could see he was once a very handsome man. Master Azea had inherited his father's jaw and sharp chin as del as height. But Master Azea's eye were more gentle while Lord Griffin's were severe. His grey hair was kept long but severely tied back and braided. He had gold rings on each finger and wore earrings. His dark face had lines about his eyes and mouth.
His eyes turned to Master Azea who looked back, his face stoney, "Father," he said, curtly.
"Azea," Lord Griffin said shortly.
Eos ducked her head, feeling the tension in the air.
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