the Leathermines

Ready for this chapter?  Wait, where did you start?  If you need to, go back to Chapter 42.  If you need to go back further, look at the The Slave Lady chapter list or the Novels Page (please register) to see where everything started in The Slave Warrior.

 

The message from Falmir noted that a few people would be coming with him.  Laun forced herself into the role of making sure that as many of the guest quarters were open and aired and stocked as possible, much to Del’s annoyance.  She moved things around, made plans depending on who came with her father and generally made people understand that while she was there, she was in charge.

The troupe tried to move out of the Manor.  Laun would not hear of it.  With the extra hands to help, it made setting the manor for the visit easier, and Laun planned entertainments with them, but that was not all.  The acrobats were put to the roof above the privy in Laun’s room to find the roof leak when there was another short shower and the leak had destroyed more of the cleansing paper.  Del gave them access to a storage area that had repair supplies and it was done in less than a day after Laun had been asking Del and Senri to get it accomplished for over a week.

The soldiers took time each day to mend and polish their uniforms.  It was fun for Laun to walk by lines of the men with needle and thread or wax and cloth.  There was a man with a knife shaving many of the men who did not have their own shaving kits.  Not all of them got away without seeing their own blood.

Laun made a point of visiting the medic every day.  He was unresponsive the first two times she went to see him, just laying with his back to her in the tent.  She would not talk of anything much, just the plans for the upcoming visit, the weather, and the state of her foot.  The second day, as Laun was leaving, he rolled over and looked at her.  The third day, he was sitting up on his cot while she was there.  Still, not talking back or being active, but he smiled as Laun stood to leave.

Great swaths of the waist-high grasses around the manor were cut down and bundled to be used as feed for the livestock.  A huge tent was erected on some of the flatter cleared area with tables and chairs brought into it.  It was as large as the Great Hall, but with the sides drawn back, there was far more room.  Laun insisted that not only lanterns but brasiers be brought to the tent.  Several cords of wood were split and stacked, a wall of wood being created along one side of the tent.

On the morning of the fourth day since the messenger had come, Del seemed very nervous.  Laun had started something similar to the Salam-Dir morning meal ritual that included the leaders of the three main groups of people and many of their people.  Tea would be shared, food passed and jobs discussed.  Laun knew that each of the leaders knew their people better than she and the jobs needed to be done varied from day to day, just as in Salam-Dir.

But Del would not look at Laun on the fourth morning.  He would talk, looking at the other men, but not look at her.  The thought that morning was the group from the city would arrive that day.  A sentry with a fast horse was posted on the main road.  

The entertainers had been essential in finding and distributing things such as candles and soaps through out the manor, though with as many people as Laun thought may be coming, she asked about more.  More food supplies were arriving that day from surrounding farms and Laun knew why Del was unhappy.

Laun had the accounting book.  Del must have gone to it and with not finding it where he had put it, knew he was being chased.  Laun had copied down the last five pages from the book and had placed it in with the other documents she had transcribed.  She wanted to make him squirm, but needed him to be her household steward he was until...

Laun tilted her head and started thinking.  The conversation went on around her as she looked at the possessiveness she was feeing about the Hawkwell Manor and estate.  She did not know why she was feeling that way, but she thought about her kidnapping, the loss of her home and people.  She needed a base.  She needed a place to call her own and since what she had before was ripped from her, she took what she had around her and claimed it.

There was quiet, except for a slight tapping.  Laun looked up and realized that she had been asked a question and many eyes were on her.  She leaned forward in the chair and her fingers stopped moving on their own.

“I apologize to you all.  I was thinking of something completely unrelated.  What did I miss?”

The Lieutenant narrowed his eyes.  He knew that when she looked like she was watching something several leagues away and started tapping her fingers, something he had to clean up happened.  “Your entertainers wish to dance in the King as they come up the road.”

Laun raised an eyebrow and then leaned back again.  “The message was in Father’s terse style so we do not know if he comes to us in a foul or celebratory mood.  I would like to see Adelmar’s people being joyous as he comes to the manor, but it may not be appropriate.”

There were a few nods.  “And after being on the road, no matter how he started, he may not be in a good mood as he approaches.”  The Lieutenant rubbed his chin.

Adelmar put his mug of tea down and said, “We will keep our joyousness for the welcome meal.  If that pleases our Lady.”

Laun nodded.  Another glass of milk was placed on the table and she looked up to smile at the servant in back of the chair.  It was one of the household servants and she smiled, getting a small, shy smile back before she turned to the men around the table again.  There was a soldier whispering into Senri’s ear, the Lieutenant nodding.

“It looks like I need to discipline a few of my men.  If you would excuse me.  I will put todays actions to the roster and I hope we will have word of our King today.”  He stood, made a small salute and left.

Laun said under her breath, “Not my King.”

Adelmar’s eye went to her and she could see a small smile.  “Lady Laun, Verna came to me about something you had brought up to her...  Are you sure you wish to present your Father with such a...present?”

Laun nodded, her eyes flicking to Del who still was not looking at her, but listening.  “It is purely on the women of your troupe, but having the opportunity may be better than most gatherings like this.  I have been told that his preferences are fairly specific, but with the selection he has had, you never know.  I cannot offer anything to them but the experience it’s self.”

The magician looked into his tea.  “I wanted to make sure before bringing it up to them.  Though,”  Adelmar had a wicked smile as he said, “I think they would prefer your servant.”

Del’s face showed shock before the mask fell again.  Laun put a finger under her lower lip and said, “I can send him over to the room on a false errand if they want.”

The magician laughed.  “I’ll bring that up, too.”  He saluted her with his tea and slugged it down.  “Well, since I was the only one up this morning, I think I should go kick them to make sure that we are ready if the K- mmm, your Father arrives today.”

Laun smiled at him as he rose to make a flourish as he left.  Laun turned to Del who could have left at any time but still was sitting at the table.  With just the steward and the Lady sitting there, and the looks that were on their faces, many of the others in the room started to go about their day’s business.

Laun waited.  She looked at him.  She did not move except to raise the cooling milk to her lips.  She caught him as his eye glanced to her and he could not look away.  She did not look away and he could not blink if she did not.

He turned towards her and was able to lower his eyes.  “Lady...”

Laun waited.  She waited for five breaths. And then five more.  His breathing was speeding up, a panicked look on his face that no emotional mask could cover.

Laun leaned forward and put the milk down, sliding the glass to the side so nothing was between them.  She pulled her braid around to the front and looked like she was playing with the tail of her hair.  She was making sure that, even if most people had not caught the bell, that it was visible as she asked, “What should I do about it?”

He became aggressive and belligerent in his posture across the table, raising his chin and setting his shoulders, slightly standing to make himself taller.  “You have no power to do anything!”

He had been loud.  The people still in the Great Hall suddenly had somewhere else to be.  Laun sat back and put her hands over her belly.  She felt a little movement and a kick from inside.  She stared at the steward and waited.  He sat back down and threw his mug at the fire behind her, the ceramic smashing on the stone and the fire suddenly hissing.

Laun sighed and still looked at him.  She tilted her head and started to tap her fingers on her belly.  The dark blue tunic was heavier than she wanted, but it covered her and right then, it was heavy enough to cover the bulges that were being made by several weapons she had hidden on her, as well as the stupid belled twine.  Laun knew she would be able to draw one of the blades or the small sap held to her forearm before he could do anything.  She actually hoped he would do something.

Del was fuming.  He could not deal with Laun not saying anything.  He needed her to say something so he could deny what he had done, but with everything unsaid, he couldn’t.  He turned on the bench and pounded one hand on the table.

“Damn you!  Why did you come here?”

Laun continued to look at him, tapping her fingers on her belly.  “Lord Falmir sent me here to protect me.”

“Fuck that!” he screamed.  He turned and pointed at her.  “He sent you here to discredit me and take everything from me!”

Laun stopped tapping and sat up.  “Perhaps.  You discredited yourself, Steward Del.”

He screamed, a wordless, primal scream.  Faces appeared at the doorways to watch, but did not dare to come in any further than that.

“You are over reacting.”

“Fuck you!  I might as well, everyone else has!”

Laun knew this would come up and had hoped not to place the stick she had.  Her voice was quiet and did not carry to the doorways as she said, “Should I invite Corporal Janu, too?”

His fists pounded on the table, but he did not scream.  He stopped after a few good hits and just sat on the bench holding his hands.  The hate in his eyes as he looked at her would have made anyone else flinch.

“I am not one to hold sex against someone else.  I don’t care if you sleep with men, women or don’t sleep with anyone at all.  But now that you are in a relationship with him, you need to be aware your actions will affect him.  Drastically, depending on the next few minutes.”

He shook his head.  “There is no way you know anything.  No one knows.”

Laun brought her braid up to her lips and was looking at him over her hands.  She was trying to show him the bell, trying to tell him without telling him what she doing with him, against him.  She leaned forward and started to talk in a monotone that was low and forceful.

“He caught your eye the day of the burial.  I saw it, you know I did.  From there, you and he were inappropriate in the summer kitchen, more than once.  I made sure that when he was on the roster for my room that I sent him to the kitchen or to find you for minor things and he always took at least an hour and a half for something that should have taken less than half an hour.  You have started to shave every day when you had not shaved for at least two weeks before he had caught your eye.  And you forget to put a cloth down when you meet with him outside.”  Laun’s eye went down, her look going through the table to where his knee was.

Del’s head went down and he saw the streak of dried dirt on the tabard at his knee level.  He brushed at it and swore.  “Shit!  Fucking whore!  Shit.”

“Do you have debts to pay off?”

He looked up, fright on his face.  “Uh-What?”

Laun moved her hands from in front of her to the side, palm up with her braid on the palm of one hand.  “You have family in the South, but you have not seen them for years.  You do not have a wife or mistress, and this was before the soldier.  You have little of your own and have not gilded yourself or your quarters with the money and resources that are missing.  Who do you owe?”

He was calmer, but he was still throwing daggers from his eyes.  “How do you know all of this?  How can...”  He looked at his hands.  He hissed through his teeth and started to talk in a lower tone.  “I was in the Capitol City several years ago and was gambling.  A woman came to me when I was far under and I couldn’t pay any part of what I owed.  She said she was the servant of someone who would take on the debt if I would just do a few things for her.  I did...things.  Against Dreng.  Then things just stopped.  I didn’t hear from her until the coup happened and it was about a month out.  She came to the estate-”  He pounded the table again.  “She said that if I didn’t pay back the money still owed that my treason would come out to the rebels.”

Laun leaned back, her hands going over her belly again.  “Thank you.”

He had a sneer twitch his lip.  “For giving you this information?  That will hang me?”

Laun shook her head.  “I need one more piece of information.  Who was she working for?”

He looked at his hands, more scared than before.  “She will kill me.”

Laun nodded.  “Most likely, if I don’t do it first.”

He looked up, his eyes red.  “Lady...?”

“Tell me.  After that, we can see what can be done.”

“I was told...  Master Blue.  I-I don’t know who that is.  I only know that the woman works for him.”

Laun smiled.  All her teeth showed.  There was no humor in her eyes.

“I know.”  Laun stood.  She held out her hand to him.  “I promise to be your advocate in this matter.  I also promise to try to protect you from the Blue Master.  We have a history.  It will not be easy once your payments stop, but I have a feeling that this visit may bring some of that to an end.”

Del looked at her.  He stood and took a moment before he presented his hand.  He went to bow over her hand, but Laun shook her head and took his arm in a warrior’s grip over the table, palm to elbow.  He felt the weapon fastened there and glanced down, but did not let go.

“Lady, thank you.”

They both relaxed slightly and let go.

Another puzzle and piece of the whole picture had just dropped into her hand.  The Lady Engrid had been working from within the sworn of Dreng’s household for years.  This would make sense, but it also made Laun feel as though anyone could have been touched by her excellency.

Laun took ahold of her cane and walked towards the outside door closest to the soldier’s encampment.  If her father and unknown others were to be there that day, she wanted to see Aloen before she became distracted with other things.

Several servants and several soldiers came to her as she made her way through the manor with things that needed a little direction on.  Laun made sure to stop and give each of them the attention they needed and a touch to their arm or shoulder before she sent them on their way.  It all seemed minor, but Laun knew that to them, it was the most important thing in the world that it was done, and done right.

She rested on one of the benches outside for a few minutes.  It was hot out and the rain that had come in the night had just made it hotter with the humidity that was rising with the sunshine.  The heaviness of the tunic was working against her and she could feel the heat building inside her clothing.

Laun was in the shade, but the bench was soon to be in the sun, the heat creeping towards her.  There was also a person coming towards her from out of the hot side of the shade line.

Hunter was polished.  From his recently shaved head down to his glistening boots, he looked ready for any inspection from any superior officer.  Laun nodded to him and he saluted to her, not relaxing until she actually saluted back.  He went to parade rest and looked down at her.

“Sergeant.”

“Lady.”  There was a sight change in his eyebrow, the subtlety making Laun grin from ear to ear.

“The company looks ready for presentation.”  She moved slightly and put her hands both on the cane propped in front of her.

“Yes, Ma’am.”  Laun saw a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Laun stretched her bad foot out and pointed her toe at the ground at his feet.  “You are looking quite presentable, yourself, Sergeant.”

He made a slight nod.  “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Perhaps I should make you go through a few drills to make sure you are ready for our guests.”

His eyes had smile lines at the corners.  “At your pleasure, ma’am.”

Laun stood and then held the hand to him that was not on the cane.  He took it and put his fist under it in a formal stance.  They walked towards the stables and then past, Laun keeping her stride even though her foot was aching.  She nodded to several soldiers as they walked, but did not stop to salute or talk.

Hunter escorted her to the tent the medic was being held in.  She paused before lifting her hand from his.  She did not turn to him, but she said to him, “Things change.  When Lord Falmir gets here, I will change.  Please know that I have enjoyed and appreciated our time together, Hunter.”

He stood next to her and she could hear him swallow.  “Laun, please be careful.  I do not want to have to only remember you.”

Laun felt a sob and could not stop it.  She turned to him and curtsied.  “Thank you for your escort, Sergeant.”

He bowed slightly and said, “Ma’am.  Call if you need anything.”

Hunter stepped away and Laun felt both a thrill and loss.  He had snuck into her room several times since the messenger had come.  Most of the time, they just talked.  There was kissing involved, but he had sought her out more for her conversation than her bed skills.  There were some good times between the sheets too.  And above the sheets.  And in the stone tub...

Laun shook her head and took a deep breath.  She used the cane to knock on the upright at the tent’s door.  A voice from within told her to enter.

Laun pushed the flap back and the heat that was in the tent was intense.  She went in and made her way to a canvas stool next to the only other piece of furniture, the cot that Corporal Aloen was sitting on.

He looked up at her and straightened up.  Laun smiled at him and he smiled back.

“How are you doing today?”

The corporal shrugged.  “Hot, Lady.”

Laun nodded, a sympathetic look on her face.  “It is much warmer in here than outside.  Would you like the sides of the tent pulled up for a breeze?”

He nodded.  Laun stood and went to the side of the tent, untying the lines from around the bottoms of the poles, bringing them up about knee height.  She worked her way around and there was much more air and light when she came back to sit on the stool.

“Your foot is better?”

Laun smiled and nodded.  “Kell does not want me to walk as much as I do, but things don’t get done if you don’t do them.  Thank you for your concern.”

He looked at her slippered foot.  “Can I see?”

“If you wish.”  Laun used the other foot to help get the foot out of the slipper’s hold.  She lifted the foot and he caught it by the heel.  There was a light bandage wrapped around it and a cotton pad over the healing wound.  He saw a knife under her tunic and looked up at her.

“May I use the knife?”

Laun reached down and pulled the tunic hem up.  “Only if you will not use it against yourself.”  She looked at him and his eyes wavered from hers almost immediately.

He dropped the foot and looked down at the trampled grass under his feet.  “I cannot promise that, Lady.”

Laun put her foot back into the slipper.  “Then you shall not see the wound.  Or anything else.”  Laun pulled the hem of the tunic back down.

Laun sat and watched the conflicted man.  He breathed as if he was going under water and did not know when he would reach the surface of the water again.  Tears started to flow and he put his hands over his face.

He was crying.  The first tears she had seen in her visits.  She wanted to reach out to him, to take him in her arms and comfort him.  She was the one who had sent him through this.  Laun was feeing guilty and felt she had to help him through his depression, for as long as she was able.

He rubbed his nose along his uniform tunic’s sleeve.  He looked slightly ashamed and sat upright again.  “Sorry, Lady.”

“You are sad.  You have a right to be sad.  It is not wrong to be sad.”

He nodded violently and said, “I am not supposed to have any emotions I cannot control.  I cannot have emotions so that I can help and heal those who need me...”  His hands went to his face again.

Laun let him cry into his hands for a moment and then leaned forward.  “If you do not have emotions, how can you know how your patients are feeling?  Without your own emotions, you cannot help those around you who do have emotions.”

He shook his head and mumbled through his hands, “I let my emotions get in the way and rule me.  And then they suffer.  She-”

Laun saw the pain in his face, even through the fingers covering it.  “Can you tell me about her, what happened?”

He shook his head.  He sobbed and cried into his hands.  He was becoming devoured by his own darkness.

Laun used the cane to help her get onto her knees at his feet.  She put her hands on his knees and laid her head on his lap.  She stayed away from any contact that could be considered sexual, her head staying on her own hands, mostly.  She stayed there until she felt one of his hands come off his face and onto her hair.

He started to stroke her hair, slowly.  She sighed in a slightly exaggerated way and she felt his hand become firmer in his stroke.  She sensed a calmness over him and she looked up into his face.

His eyes were closed.  He was seeing another woman at his feet.  Laun put her head back down and waited.  Her legs were starting to go to sleep by the time she felt a change in how he moved his hands over her hair, his breathing steady and even.

Laun took her head off his lap and he had his eyes open.  “I have to go now.”

He nodded.  “Thank you, Lady.”

Laun used the cane and his leg to help her up.  He stood as she reached the tent flap.  Laun turned and he made a salute.  She saluted back and left.

There was still pain in him.  She might never know what he had gone through two years before, but something had changed in him.  Something had come into balance.  Laun felt some relief.

The Lady walked among the soldiers, complimenting many on their uniforms or close shave.  She did point out a few tarnished buckles or a dirt smear on a nose here and there, but all was taken with good humor.  Laun paused at the paddock and watched the fancy barding being put onto the large horses.  They were quite beautiful and the harnesses and armor with a hint of gold on the edges shown brightly in the summer sun.

She had rested enough for the trip back to her room.  She wanted to have a bath and a nap so that if there was a caravan from the Palace, she would look as fresh as possible.  She had need to show Falmir that she was her own person, that no matter what he threw at her, she was going to get through it.

 

Chapter 44 awaits.