Chapter 3 (part1)

Light conversation was made between Lady Dareen and Lord Griffin but Master Azea only spoke when he was spoken to and even then, he gave short answers. Whenever he bordered on rudeness Eos would accidentally hit him lightly with the fan. He would scowl at her and she just looked back, raising an eyebrow slightly. Whether or not it was impudent of her- she was not going to allow him to sour his relationship with his father any further. 

"Azea- so this is the prostitute you bought for yourself?" Lord Griffin asked suddenly. 

Master Azea shut his eyes for a brief moment. He always hated it when people referred to Eos as a prostitute or whore. She had no idea why. It was what she did for a living after all. When he opened them again, he looked like he was having a headache. 

"Yes, father. This is Eos." 

Eos kept her eyes down as she fanned Master Azea. 

"I don't approve of you using her," Lord Griffin said, lifting his wine glass for the serving girls to refill. Master Azea stiffened, "Father, you never have less than three bed slaves for yourself," he said, keeping his temper reared in. 

"Yes- but they had only ever served me. This wench on the other hand- gods only know how many men she has bedded." 

Yeah- you included, Eos thought to herself but said nothing. 

"I bought her," Master Azea said, "What I want to do with her is up to me." 

Darleen scowled at Eos from across the table. "I hope you planning to get rid of her after we wed," she said icily. Master Azea's temper was growing shorter and shorter. No doubt he was going to snap at his fiancee. Under the table, Eos slipped her hand over his and gave it a light squeeze. He looked at her for a moment and released a breath. "I will keep her as a dancer," he said at last. 

"But is she just your bed warmer?" Lord Griffin asked, watching him carefully, "I hope you aren't trying to get a child out of her." 

Eos had to stop herself from wrinkling her nose. A child? What was Lord Griffin? Senile? Everyone knew it was a ridiculous idea of getting a prostitute pregnant. What then? There would be dozens of possible fathers and none who would claim it. No money. And after birth, there was a high chance of them losing their good body shape. 

Master Azea clenched Eos' hand before getting to his feet, "This is why I'd rather not dine with you. Or even be in the same room with you. You only ever spend all your time criticising me and ordering me around. I'm not a child you can control anymore and you don't like that. What I wish to do is my own business," he said and stalked out of the room. Eos followed him, puzzled. 

Why was he suddenly so angry? 

Glancing back, she saw Lord Griffin cast his eyes down, looking downcast though he tried to hide it. Lady Dareen on the other hand just looked angry. 

They didn't say a word as they returned to Master Azea's wing. When they reached his bed chambers he waved out all of his servants. Once they were gone, he aimed a kick at a chair and sent it half way across the room. 

The man has strong leg muscles, Eos found herself thinking. 

"What?" he snapped when he saw her staring at him. 

"Nothing. I just never expected you to behave just as spoilt as Lady Dareen." 

He glared at her, "What?" he asked again. 

"Look around you. You have everything we could only dream about in the lower city. What you have on your dinner table alone each night, is what my mother and I used to have in half a month. You have a good bed. An education you're not even bothering with. You think all this just fell from the sky? You only have this kind of luxury because of your father-" 

"Who is a self centred man whom I ever had the displeasure of being remotely related to-" 

"Which brings me to my next point," Eos said, raising her voice a little to cut him off. She looked at him, calmly, "You have a father. Something I had never had in my life. My entire life was a huge question without him. Even if he's done some wrong to you, he's still your father. He's been around for you. He's trying to mold you into a better person. And yet, because of your own selfish whim for pleasure, you're throwing it all away. You've been with people who tell you nothing but what you want to hear for so long, you blocked yourself to the only person who has been trying to tell you what you need to hear your entire life," she said. 

Master Azea stared at her, looking shocked. 

Eos breathed for a moment, "Good night, master," she told him and returned to her room. Propping a chair to the door knob to keep it shut, Eos changed her clothes and dropped onto the bed. 

Any other master would hand her a trashing for her words. 

Her eye lids began to draw shut. Ah well- tomorrow she would deal with it. 

Tomorrow she would take whatever he had to throw at her. 

The next morning, she met Master Azea at his breakfast table. He was quiet and seemed deep in thought. When she stepped up in front of him, he looked up, "Adna, lock the door and pretend you don't have a key if Dareen comes looking," he told his servant. 

"Yes, master," Adna bowed and left. The door clicked as he turned the key in the lock. 

Once they were alone, Master Azea reached out a hand for Eos. She took it and allowed him to draw her onto his lap. He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her, cradling her to him. Eos observed his manner as she ran her fingers through his hair. 

"You didn't sleep well last night," she commented. 

"No. I couldn't. And when I thought of sleeping with you, I found you have somehow shut your door on me," he said, lightly tapping his fingers up her spine again. "Forgive me, master," she whispered. 

"No, I understand. You've probably grown tired of being around me all the time," he said before pulling away and clearing his throat, "Today… you're going to visit the Desert Gem, am I right? I'll have Adna arrange for some guards for you and a horse," he said, letting her sit down on the cushion next to him instead. 

Eos felt hurt suddenly. She knew he had already mentioned she could have the day off already. But for some reason, she felt like he didn't want her suddenly. The day before in the palm pavilion, he could barely keep his hands off her. Now he wasn't even looking at her. She shut her eyes for a moment, reminding herself of her place. One day he would stop calling for her and that would be that.

She poured his wine and served him before helping herself. 

After breakfast, she changed into a shirt and trousers and went to look for Adna. He assigned her two of the men at arms and a mare. 

Eos looked at the mare as though it was a rabid wild dog. "Relax," Adna said with a grin, "This is Moonbeam. She's as gentle and sweet as can be. The master had gotten her especially for you," he said, handing her the reins. 

Looking uncertain, Eos mounted the mare and wriggled herself into a more comfortable position. Moonbeam didn't even fidget or toss her head as the other horses she practice on did. One of the men at arms had his horse amble up next to her, 

"Do you want me to use a lead rein?" he asked, "You never practiced in the town roads before." 

"Why? What would happen?" 

"Well- more distractions for a horse. She might bolt," he said and Eos looked horrified. 

"Don't tease her," said the other guard, "Moonbeam has been in town plenty of times before. She won't even rear if she gets chased by dogs." 

Eos still didn't look certain as she gripped the reins as though her life depended on it. "Master Azea has given the order for you to use the servant exits and make sure no one outside, nor inside the palace, harm her. By that, Eos knew that Master Azea still feared Seti might harm her 

Riding down to the town, Eos was flanked by the two guards. They went down the streets that Eos still knew so well. It had been only a few weeks but it felt like a lifetime. They went straight down the main road and took a right by the spicer stall and then a left at the store that sold god idols made of bronze and sometimes gilded depending on the order. And at the very end of that street was the Desert Gem. 

A girl in a simple dark gown and head scarf was walking towards it, her back to them. 

Eos recognised her from the manner she walked and held herself and kicked Moonbeam into a gallop. "Oh great- now she decides to speed up," the guard who teased her muttered, having his gelding gallop after her with his partner. 

Tara turned around at the sound of hooves and immediately spotted Eos. 

"Eos!" she cried as the younger girl jumped off the horse. 

The two hugged, "Look at you! You look so beautiful- have you gained weight?" 

"No!" Eos said at once. She gained weight easily which was why Mother always told her to watch what she ate. The dancing and sex helped to keep her weight down as well. "How about you? You haven't been using that lotion Mother told you to use, your skin looks dried out again," she said. 

Tara sighed, "I know, but it can be such a bother. Besides, we're in a room that's half dark all the time, they can't see too well," she pointed out, "So- how are things with you and the young lord?" she asked. 

Eos looked at the two man at arms who were looking around but she could swear they had edged closer when Tara asked that question. "Let's talk inside…" she said but the guards followed them. Eos glanced at them and signalled to some of the girls hanging around. The sign she sent told them that those two men following her had close contact with a very rich man. At once, the girls disappeared and returned, less dressed and fluttered around the guards. 

With them distracted, Eos and Tara went to a corner to talk. 

"Well?" Tara asked. 

"I'm not too sure… I think I might have offended him last night," she said. 

"What did you do?" she demanded. 

"I… I might have yelled at him a bit," she said and received a cuff on the top of her head, "Ow!" 

"What are you!? Stupid? Why did you yell at him for!?" 

"If you stop yelling at me, I'll tell you why I yelled at him," she said, rubbing her head, "Look, he blew his da off, alright? Not to mention he's always skipping his lessons and things. So I might have yelled at him for doing those things, that's all," she said, "Anyway- what happened to you? Anything new?" 

Tara sighed, "Well… I got a new customer. He's rich and completely in love. I got a pair of new earrings. An old suitor of mine came to try and buy me back. Mother has been trying to find a dancer to replace you-" 

"Wait- what!?" 

"I know!" Tara said, "It's been absolutely useless. No one can dance like you-" 

"No- I mean, an old suitor came to buy you back? What happened!?" 

"Oh, it was some rich merchant's son from my old village," Tara said waving a hand, dismissively, "Honestly, he already has two wives last I heard. When he asked for my hand, his mother saw my parents couldn't pay much so she gave him another bride and he took her, no complaints. Suddenly, he appears in Desert Gem a week ago and recognised me. Next thing I know, he's all over me," she said, "Even offered to buy me back but I told Mother no." 

"But why?" 

"Oh, please, Eos. He's not the same kind of man Master Azea is. And I know for a fact, he's one of those who only like me because I'm pretty. The moment I get old, or he finds a more beautiful girl, he'll drop me like a pair of old riding gloves," Tara said. 

At that point, the other girls were already all over the guards, laughing at their least humorous remarks and fluttering their eyes. The guards looked as though they had absolutely no regrets about accompanying Eos at all. 

"They look happy," Tara observed. 

"Tara- I want to ask you- please be careful? You don't know what will happen." 

They had plenty of bad experiences with men who had gotten too infatuated with them. Many times it was harmless. But there were times when some got too obsessed. It was to the extent the girls could hardly move about without having one of the men workers follow them around to make sure they were kept safe.  

Tara smiled, "Whose being a grandmother now?" 

"Tara, I'm serious. Remember what happened to the last girl?" 

The pair fell silent. That last girl had been killed. The man who had fallen so obsessively in love with her could not handle her constant rejection any further. Somehow he had led her away from the Desert Gem and the next day, someone came to the Desert Gem and said she had been seen being dragged away. Her screams had stopped when she was out of sight from the witness. Her body was found in the home of the man who had killed her. 

"I'll be fine," Tara assured her. 

The two continued chatting, talking about the latest gossip in town and in the Desert Gem. 

At last, the two guards managed to extract themselves from the girls, with much regret, to tell Eos it was time for her to return. Tara sighed, "I'll let Mother know you dropped by. She's out visiting slave pens again," she said as they got to their feet. Eos hugged her tightly, "Thanks. I'll visit as soon as I can. And i'm sure you two want to come too, right?" she asked the two guards who nodded, trying not to look too eager. 

"Take care of yourself too," Tara told Eos, "And keep a guard on your tongue and temper," she reminded, smacking her arm lightly. "Yes, grandmother." 

Back in the palace, Adna informed Eos that Master Azea was entertaining Lady Dareen so she had dinner with the servants and went back to her room. Washing herself from the water in a small basin, she dried off and heaved a sigh of relief. 

She had forgotten how dusty the streets could be. She brushed the dust out of her hair and set the brush down on the dressing table. Her hand stopped for a moment and slid the drawer open. 

Inside was a small piece of linen with the pendant hidden inside. She took it out and and sat down on the bed. 

Setting the square of cloth on her lap, she opened it up and took the pendant out. The silver was slightly tarnished. She should polish it again soon. She touched the intricate pattern, feeling the cool, smooth surface. 

Mama loved him…. she found herself thinking, Mama loved him to the vey end. But did he love mama? Did he love her, his daughter? Did he even know she existed? 

"What is that?" 

Eos jumped and fumbled the pendant before clutching it to her chest once more to stop it from falling. She hadn't even heard Master Azea enter her bedroom. She could smell Lady Dareen's sweet, jasmine perfume on him as he sat next to her. 

"What is that?" he asked again, sitting next to her, "Wow- your bed is harder than mine," he suddenly commented.

He took the chain that hung from her grip and she let him take it from her. "Wow- what is this?" he asked, "A trinket from an admirer?" 

"No," Eos said, looking at it, "It's something my mother gave me, before she died. She said it belongs to my father." 

"Oh…" he said and handed it back to her. She took it and rubbed it with her thumb. "It looks like you really treasure that thing," he observed, "You never even knew him." 

She drew her knees up and rested her chin on them. She held the pendant in her hands, watching the shining surfaces that peeped out from beneath the tarnish wink and glisten in the light, "Exactly…" she said softly, "I don't have anything else from him. Not a picture. Not a face. Not a smile. Not even a memory. When mama gave this to me she said this belongs to him. Not belonged. It means it was still his when she handed it to me. Maybe she was waiting for him to come back and take it." 

"And you're waiting for him to come back and take it too… huh?" Master Azea asked, his voice gentle. 

Eos nodded, clutching the pendant harder. 

From the corner of her eye, she saw Master Azea reach out as though he wanted to wrap his arm around her but stopped suddenly. Instead he gave her hair a stroke, "It's going to be all right," he told her before getting to his feet, "Well… good night, Eos. Sleep well." 

And he left. 

Eos watched him leave, feeling a little hurt despite herself. 

Shaking it from mind, she wrapped the pendant back into the cloth and put it back into the drawer. With nothing to do, and suddenly not feeling quite so sleepy anymore, Eos went down to the servants quarters to beg the cook for something to eat.

She had gotten hold of a roll with raisins and some honey when Adna came looking for her, "What on earth did you do to the young master?" he asked as she was about to bite into the roll. She raised an eyebrow, "Nothing. Why?" she asked. 

"I just asked him why he wasn't sleeping with you tonight, and did you know what he said?" Adna said, helping himself to some raisins in a dish only to get his hand smacked with a wooden spoon. "Adna! That's for the master's breakfast bread tomorrow morning," the cook snapped and Adna quickly pulled his hand back, nursing it to his chest. Eos bit into the roll, waiting for him to answer his own question. 

"Anyway- he said you're getting bored of him." 

Eos swallowed, "What?" she asked, staring at him.

"He says- you might be getting bored of him that's why he wants to give you some breathing space. He doesn't want you to hang around him because you have to," Adna said. 

The girl stared at him, "Right- someone needs to remind the master that he bought me. It doesn't matter what I think," she pointed out. Adna shrugged, "I don't know, I'm just telling you what you need to know. And also, a word of advice, no slave should bite the hand that feeds them." "I don't bite cookie's hand," Eos said and cook grinned. 

Adna glared at her, "You know what I mean." 

"Fine!" Eos said, stuffing the rest of her roll in Adna's mouth and going up to the master's bedroom. 

The man was already in bed as the servants' were still dimming the lamps and stoking the fire. Eos could tell that Master Azea wasn't asleep yet. "Private moment?" she mouthed to the other servants in the room. 

They nodded and quickly finished their chores and left the room.

Shutting the door, Eos went over to Master Azea, moving carefully and lightly. She leaned on his side of the bed, "Master?" she called softly and he opened his eyes at once and looked surprised. 

"Eos! What's wrong?" he asked. 

"I couldn't sleep," she lied, "Can I sleep with you…? Please?" 

Master Azea gently touched her hand, "Sure," he said and she could see him smile a little in the darkness. He moved a little to give her space and she climbed into the bed with him. He tucked an arm around her securely. 

"Why couldn't you sleep?" he murmured, his lips pressed to her forehead. 

"I dunno," she replied, edging closer to him. She heard him give a very quiet, content sigh and she couldn't help but smile.