Chapter 5 (Part 1)

Chapter 5

Eos bowed again and continued, "Forgive me, Master Seti," and tried to step round him but he blocked her. With strong fingers, he grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him. HIs eyes leered into hers and travelled over her body before he smiled again, "And what is my little brother's favourite whore doing out of his quarters?" he asked. 

"I was summoned to see Lord Griffin, master," she answered, trying in vain to pull away. 

"I see, so you sleep with father as well, then? Trying to weasel yourself to a higher position?" 

"No, master. Lord Griffin merely wished to ask about Master Azea." 

Seti snorted and his hand grabbed her throat instead, lifting her feet off the ground to see her eye to eye, "Likely story. I'm sure you must have slept with plenty of men back in the cat house, haven't you?" 

Eos couldn't answer. She couldn't even breathe. 

Suddenly, he slammed her against the wall, her head hitting the hard surface. She couldn't even cry out since his grip on her throat had not slackened. If anything, it got stronger. She felt his other hand grab her silk clothes and rip it off. 

There were yellings in the background, but she couldn't make it out as her head was beginning to spin. Eos was panicking as she clawed at his hand to get him to release her but it was like scratching at a marble statue. Tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes, blurring her vision further. 

Finally, his hand was wrenched free from her throat and she fell onto the ground. Everything was hazy but she could see a tussle going on and shouts. A louder voice yelled out something and it stopped as she was gasping thankfully for air. A cloth wrapped itself round her as she was lifted from the ground. She smelt a familiar cologne and could have cried again in relief that Master Azea had found her. 

When everything stopped becoming so confusing, she found herself in Master Azea's bed as he held a cold cloth to the bump on the back of her head. She never saw him look so angry before. "Are you alright?" he asked, seeing her watching him. 

Eos opened her mouth but somehow, the words were stuck in her throat. She tried to clear it but, instead, started crying. 

Master Azea lifted her gently onto his lap, "It's alright," he assured her, stroking her hair, "We'll leave tomorrow. You'll be safe with me then," he told her, holding her. Eos didn't know what he meant by leaving. But the fear was still gripping onto her and she didn't care what he meant. As long as it would get her away from Seti. 

At last, when she managed to calm down, she pulled away from Master Azea and hugged her knees, "What happened?" she asked him. 

The master took a lock of her long hair and kissed it. 

"Adna told me that father summoned you and I was a little worried over what. I was in Jordah's quarters. Apparently Seti had raped one of his maids last night and I had to go help him calm her and had to go see father about it as well as settle the compensation fees to her family. So by the time we settled it, I returned and Adna told me where you went so I went after you. Gods bless, I managed to get there in time. I was this close to just stabbing his head with my sword when father turned up to stop us. After that, I didn't bother to stick around," he explained. 

Eos nodded and kept silent for a brief moment before leaning over to kiss him. "Thank you," she murmured. 

Master Azea shrugged, "You're my responsibility," he told her, stroking her hair, "Now go help the servants pack. We leave first thing in the morning. Your new clothes are all ready anyway." 

"Leave where?" 

"To Rozen of course. Didn't I already say?" 

Eos looked surprised. From what she was told, the trip wasn't for another month. If they left now, it would still be winter there. Master Azea saw the look on her face and said, "I'd be more comfortable if you were out of Seti's reach indefinitely," he told her. 

She couldn't help but to agree. 

Master Azea observed her for a moment then wrapped an arm round her to bring her closer to him, "From now on, don't go somewhere I can't see you." 

Eos stowed the her necklace into one of the packs. Master Azea was being fussy. He insisted she brought her all her dancing clothes along with the new clothes he had ordered for her for the cold weather. In the end, what could have been only a few packs turned out to be enough to fill a wagon. And that was not including his clothes. 

"Does the master always lug so much baggage around with him when he leaves?" Eos asked Adna who was going over the items one more time. 

"Hm? Yes, of course. After all, he will be staying there for a few months," Adna said, looking down his list as he went through the packs one by one. 

Eos looked at the luggage that was being stowed onto the wagons so they could leave at once the next morning. "Hey, Adna, have you been to Rozen too?" she asked, sitting on a bench nearby. 

"Of course. I follow Master Azea wherever he goes," Adna replied, checking something off on his list. 

"How is it there?" 

Adna frowned, thinking it over, "Cold. I don't really like it. And many people there look down on us desert people. They see us as uncivilised barbarians," he said with a snort, "Stupid pale faced creatures." 

Eos swung her long legs. "If you don't like it, why do you still go?" 

"Because," Adna said, going through one of the master's bags, "Master Azea goes there for training and his presence is also to strengthen ties between the desert and Rozen. Where Master Azea goes, I must of course follow. What kind of manservant would I be if I didn't?" 

"I guess so," Eos said. 

There was a moment of silence before Adna spoke out, "By the way, try to be more careful from now on." 

"I know, I know. I will." 

"I hope so. I've never seen Master Azea quite so angry since coming to serve him when he was eight," he said. 

"Wow, that's a long time." 

"Yes, seventeen years to be exact." 

Eos fell silent. Finally she nodded, "By the way, Master Azea said Seti raped a maid from Master Jordah's quarters. Is she alright?" she asked, deciding to change the subject. This time Adna sighed and looked up from his list, "I wish I could say she's fine. But needless to say, she's traumatised by it. Compensation fees have been sent to her family, but that's hardly enough. Not only can she no longer marry, but she doesn't wish to serve here anymore because she fears it will happen again. Her family wishes to move out of the city completely back to their hometown. And Lord Griffin is trying to keep matters under control of course. This isn't the first time this has happened though. But it's usually confined to Seti's servants and Lord Griffin still has to quieten them down." 

"He's disgusting," Eos found herself saying. 

Adna tapped her head with his quill before going back to work. 

"Eos?" Master Azea's voice floated to them. He appeared, looking round and gave a small sigh of relief when he saw her. "Don't wander off," he told her, "Come." 

The girl got to her feet and hurried after him as he walked back into the building. "What were you and Adna talking about?" Master Azea asked, sitting on the bench just outside the entrance with his feet in a copper basin. Eos poured warm water from a pitcher into the basin and washed his feet. "I was just asking him what it's like in Rozen," she answered, drying his feet with a towel and tying his sandals back on for him. 

"Ah, yes, Rozen. It's an interesting place. Very different from the desert. I don't quite like the women there though," he added teasingly, watching her, "I much prefer the ones here," he told her, bending over to look her in the eye. 

She looked at him before pulling the string on the sandal too hard, making it pinch. "Ow!" 

"Forgive me, master," she replied drily before washing her own feet. Unlike him, she went about barefooted. Master Azea pinched her nose, "Meanwhile," he said, "Are excited? You've never left this city before, have you?" he asked. 

Eos dried her feet and went after him, "No, I haven't. But Adna said it might still be winter there. Won't it be cold?" 

"It'll be extremely cold," he agreed, "A friend of mine wrote and said it was snowing." 

"Snow?" 

"Yes. Frozen rain that comes down in white flakes. It covers the ground and its very cold. But its beautiful as well," he explained. Eos had heard of this phenomenon from the boasting travellers in Desert Gem but she thought it was mere boasting. 

As she took her evening bath with Master Azea, she wondered what other strange happenings she would experience in Rozen. "I daresay you'll find it an interesting experience," Master Azea said and she scowled openly at him, caught off guard. He grinned lazily at her as she pinned her hair more securely to keep it dry. 

She turned her back to him to reach for the soap so she could wash herself again when she felt warm lips at the back of her neck, jolting her. Neither of them said anything else but Eos ducked her head, looking worried. 

Chapter 4 (part 2)

"Eos! How's it going?" Tara asked, hugging her. 

Eos' guards were clamoured by the younger girls in the Desert Gem already. Eos sighed, sipping the juice. "It's been over a couple of months since Master Azea bought me, and honestly, I think I'm really getting fat," Eos complained.

"Really?" 

"Yes! He's feeding me too much! And when I'm not practising my dancing or fighting, he expects me to laze around and eat with him day in and day out! How does he stay fit….?" she complained, slumping over the table. 

"Maybe he's just luckier than you," Tara said, helping herself to a raisin. 

"I'm trying to cut down here…" 

"Why don't you just tell him that you're getting fat and ask him not to make you eat so much anymore?" 

"But the food up there taste so good…" 

Tara laughed and Eos sighed, sitting up properly, "Anyway, I heard from Mother earlier that your persistent admirer hasn't given up yet," she said. 

This time it was Tara's turn to sigh, "No, he hasn't. It's beginning to get on my nerves. He's moved to the city, with his three wives," she said, rolling her eyes. Eos frowned, "Three?" she repeated. 

"Yes, not counting four bed slaves." 

"Wow- he must be rich." 

"And full of himself. Urgh, I can't stand it at all." 

The sound of laughter made the pair look round to see the girls all giggling and laughing at a joke one of the guards had told them. "They're enjoying themselves," Tara observed. "Yeah- now there's always a little fight on who accompanies me down to visit you and Mother," Eos said. 

"Oh no- that reminds me, I have to collect the incense Mother ordered!" Tara said, "Give me a moment, I'll be right back. I hope they aren't closed for the afternoon yet. Mother will punish me if she finds out I forgot!" 

"I'll go with you, it'll be nice to walk round the town again," Eos said, "C'mon- if we slip out the back, my guards can continue their enjoyment." 

"So thoughtful." 

"Just move, before the afternoon rest begins." 

The two managed to sneak out the back with the two guards much to preoccupied with the girls, to notice. Eos adjusted the veil over her head, looking around her. There were beggars out, stalls, street performers or two, hungry children scrabbling about and reaching into people's pockets. Eos was once one of them. 

Having grown up on those streets, she had a sharp eye for such going-ons. "Somehow- I'm just thankful I'm out of it," she murmured just loud enough for Tara to here. The older girl looked at her, "Yeah- you are a lucky one. Master Azea's family usually let slaves stay on, just changing their duties instead, right?" 

"That's what I hear," Eos replied, "A lot of Lord Griffin's former bed slaves now work in other parts of the palace but they are confined to ensure they do not have children with other men. That would most likely happen to me one day. But as long as I remain attractive and no other prettier girl comes his way, I can remain in Master Azea's immediate service for a good five to ten years. Even after his marriage to Lady Dareen, he expressed his wishes for me to remain as his dancer. But still- no one would want an ugly dancer." 

"True. Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do when… you know… I get too old. I mean- Mother has hinted, that if I show I'm capable, she might leave the Desert Gem to me… but nothing is for certain," Tara said, looking worried, "Maybe I should accept the proposal." 

Eos hit Tara over the head. 

"Ow! …. Thanks, I needed that." 

"Your welcome." 

They arrived at the store that had heavily perfumed air and was, thankfully, still open. Tara gave him the order leaflet and the store owner went back to collect the order. "I hate this place. The air is so thick, I can hardly breathe," Eos complained. 

"I know," Tara said, flapping her hand to fan herself. 

There came a surprised voice, "Tara?"

Tara let out a small, very rude and unladylike curse before looking round. 

Eos did the same, her hand going straight for the baton she wore hidden in her dress that Master Azea had ordered her to wear that morning. A tall, rather proud looking man, came into the store. He was handsome enough but his skin was smooth enough to tell Eos that unlike Master Azea, this man did absolutely no labour or fighting. And he had a weak chin he hid with a small, well trimmed beard. But she noticed he had a roving eye that most men who came to the Desert Gem had. 

"Hello, Master Leorn," Tara said with a polite bow before turning round to look for the store owner, silently bidding him to hurry. 

Eos didn't like the look of this man at all and was not surprised at how Tara did not want anything to do with him. She turned her back to him but couldn't help but feel a prickling feeling through her body. The kind she had during training with Master Azea when he was about to pull a trick on her. 

"And who is your friend? Another girl from the Desert Gem?" he asked and she felt his hand in her hair. At once, she pulled away, feeling disgust. Reigning in the urge to glare at him and beat his face in with the hard baton, Eos cursed the incense merchant and his father and ancestors. Suddenly, she felt a hand grab her shoulder roughly and turn her around. Another hand gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. 

Immediately, Eos pulled out the baton and smashed his hand away. She froze. 

Master Azea had trained her to the extent it was now a reflex for her. But still, to hit a rich man… she was going to be in so much trouble… 

Master Leorn scowled, "How dare you, you little wretch-" 

"Leave her alone!" Tara said, "You have no right to touch her anyway. She belongs to Master Azea." 

"Do not tell me what to do, Tara," Master Leorn snapped at her. He looked ready to grab Eos again when a firm hand was placed on his shoulder. "We must ask you to refrain from harming Lord Azea's concubine," Eos' guard said, his face stern. The second guard stood by his side, hand on his sword hilt. 

Master Leorn cast his eyes at the two guards and then at the girls. He looked angry, the expression twisting his handsome face into an ugly mask instead. Without another word, he swept off. "You need to be more careful. Master Azea would have killed us if something had happened," said one of the guards, knocking Eos lightly on the head. They accompanied Tara back to Desert Gem before heading back. 

Eos was quiet during the journey, keeping her head down. After awhile, one of the guards poked her, "What's wrong, little sparrow?" 

"I'm not a sparrow," she replied, dully, "And I'm worried about Tara. That man after her is dangerous." 

"Well, the Desert Gems have guards, don't they? And I don't think your friend will be stupid enough to go wandering on her own." 

Unlike me, Eos thought to herself. But he did have a point. Tara was the careful one. She won't go looking for trouble. Still, worry continued to gnaw on her all the way back. Who knows what a person like that may try to do. There was no point asking Master Azea for help. Tara wasn't his property. He wouldn't meddle in the affairs of others. Sure, he meddled in hers, but it was all in the intent of owning her anyway. 

When Eos got back to Master Azea's quarters, he wasn't there. She frowned. It wasn't time to train or anything. Where could he be? It wasn't like him to disappear suddenly. 

She pondered about it, wondering if she should go practice her dance or something when a servant from the main house came looking for her, "Lord Griffin summons you," the servant said. Unlike the ones that served Master Azea, this one was hard to read and was perhaps a perfect servant by the way she held herself and spoke. 

Eos bowed and went to make herself more presentable. She didn't expect Lord Griffin to try and bed her, but still she prayed Goddess Rhyga that he wouldn't try it. 

She followed the servant back to the main house. "Why does Lord Griffin wish to see me?" Eos asked her. 

"Lord Griffin merely wishes to have a word with you," the servant replied. 

Eos didn't say anything but wondered what on earth was so important that he would want to speak to a slave girl. Whatever it was, it probably was bad news for her. She continued to ponder about it as she followed the servant to Lord Griffin's study. 

She knocked on the door and opened it, "Milord, the slave girl is here." 

"Good. Let her in." 

The servant ushered Eos in quickly then left. Eos wasn't quite sure what was going to happen but she knelt on the floor in front of the desk. 

"Stand," Lord Griffin told her and she obeyed, still not looking him in the eyes. 

He surveyed her for a brief moment then started, "I still don't understand why my son would go out of his way to buy you," he said, "If anything, you've caused a bit of problems for Lady Dareen." 

Yeah, she was dead. So dead. He was going to send her off or something. 

"But I must thank you." 

Wait- what?

This time Eos looked up in surprise. Lord Griffin watched her, "I have reports from his teachers and his trainers. It would seem you had a hand in his new found enthusiasm for studies and work. I'm not sure what you did, or how you did it, but thank you." 

Eos got a grip of herself and bowed again, "It is an honour, my lord," she said. 

"Very well, that is all. For now, I hope you continue to assist my son. He has stubbornness from both his mother and myself." 

For a brief moment, Eos looked surprise but hurriedly bowed again and left. She made her way back, deep in thought. 

He has stubbornness from both his mother and myself, she repeated in her head. From what she had gathered about Lord Griffin from the stories Master Azea had told her, she believed him to be a man who didn't pay much attention to the women in his life. But from what he had just said, it seemed he still remembered Master Azea's mother. And for her to show her stubborn streak to him, it would mean that they were closer than Master Azea thought them to be. 

Someone stepped out in front of Eos, causing her to jump as she almost bumped into them. 

"Forgive me-" she stopped, seeing who it was. 

Cold black eyes stared down at her and Seti's lips twisted into a smirk.