Demiourgos (7 page)

Rose was content to sit in silence with Nina until the appointed time. Once the burner smoldered down to nothing the two of them walked back into the main room and took up a place near the door, drawing many strange stares from all. "They notice this is not my usual place."

"Well at least we know most of the girls here are observant, not just pretty meat with eyes." Nina smirked for a moment and perked her head and ear to the side. Hearing a change in the norm outside of the door she nodded to Rose almost imperceptibly and rushed off into the matron's room.

Most would find it a gesture to avoid the lecherous gaze of the pasha but Rose knew better. Not long after Nina left the main room the doors swung wide and she turned around expecting to meet the eyes of the pasha. Instead a tall man with a well-trimmed black goatee and dark eyes stepped into the room. He had dark skin that obviously had seen too much sun and as he swept his hateful gaze around the room Rose almost flinched. The pasha's son wore a thin tunic and breeches that were more for what little modesty he had than anything else, it was a hot day.

Hoping that he would not attempt to choose her she kept her gaze away and left her attention focused on the brazier. She could feel his burning glare without turning around though. For a moment she considered bolting or using the invisibility spell to keep her from harm's way but she knew it would draw too much attention. The guards knew not to let him touch his father's prize possession and he hated her for that more than anything. For a long time she stood completely still, trying to seem impassive until finally the royal brat selected three of the younger girls including Koral and ordered them to his quarters.

"Young master, you are not to cause the girls harm this time. Your father has forbidden you from damaging his trinkets." The larger of the two guards said with his stern eyes never leaving the nobleman's back. Rose could only silently applaud him for standing up to the ornery spoiled brat of a man.

"You will not forget your place as a sentry or I may forget that you are alive and use you as practice for honing my swordplay." The snake-like man hissed in return with his horrid voice. "Escort these three to my quarters immediately, I shall be in shortly."

"As you order young master." A smaller guard led the scared girls down the hall with the evil man in tow right behind.

Rose huffed a sigh of relief as the man left and turned to watch the three girls walk down the hall. She noted that a scared Koral met her gaze almost pleadingly. She wished she could help but at this time it would not be wise to blow her cover. It pained her almost physically that she could not assist them. With a shake of her head she sat down to wait, looking over at the matron's room to make eyes with Nina only once. Rose did not have long to wait for the pasha to arrive at the door and step into the room to select a girl, or girls, for the night. This night he wore a bright red robe with a golden sash and a pair of red slippers to go with it.

Turning toward him she smiled broadly and stood to her full height, letting her breasts come to full view right at his face level. She stood at least six heads tall and he at five could see right between the cleft. She had his attention that was true but she had to guarantee that he would take her to his chambers this night so she stepped toward him and took his hand; bringing it up to her face she kissed his fingertips. "Does my pasha desire worthy company this night?"

"He does treasure, he does." The older man said with his eyes lighting up considerably. She was affectionate to many people but rarely did she show affection to this man so she felt she needed to make it believable. "I wish to repay you for not giving up on me when I was scarred; I want to show my gratitude."

"I would like that very much my favored. Shall we choose another to join us?" He said with his eyes hungrily sweeping across the room at the other girls.

"My pasha, how am I to show my true gratitude if I cannot have you all to myself." To emphasize the point she stepped closer to him and crossed her hands under her breasts, causing them to jiggle a bit as she lifted them. "I need no help to pleasure my master."

"Very well then, to my chambers favored." He ordered while shooing her off with his hands and following close behind with his eyes tied to her rear as it swayed back and forth like a flower in the warm desert breeze. He was too interested in her to notice the fact that a slight draft wafted past him causing the red robe he wore to sway a bit.

~~~~

Rose was tired that much was true; the pasha had the stamina of a man half his age. Once she was sure he was sleeping she took a look around the room and sighed. He had changed his chambers again; the stone book shelves that lined the walls had been dyed purple though she knew not how, to go along with the purple drapes and cushions on his bed. The barred window leading outside had a black drape across it blocking out the moonlight. A pair of candles like hers flickered almost angrily as they hit pockets of air trapped within the self-reforming wax.

Nina's spell of invisibility had worn off during her time with the pasha; she had seen it herself and motioned the elf underneath the bed to hide. Once she knew it was safe she ushered the girl out and over to the largest of the book cases. She knew the book and where it was so she pulled the tome out of the shelf and showed it to Nina who smiled broadly and nodded to confirm that it was the right book. Excitement hit her instantly as she tasted the sweet freedom her betrayal of the pasha had purchased.

Nina walked to the window and pushed the curtain aside, looking outside as if she were trying to find someone just on the ledge in the night. Instead she cupped her hands and whispered something unintelligible, soon after Rose looked on with wide-eyed fascination as she watched the moonlight sneaking into the window pour down into Nina's hands as if it were pale water. Once the elf girl had a handful of the stuff she touched her lips to the surface and flung the droplets out into the night air. Rose
watched them dance out into the open light instead of dropping to the ground like she had suspected. Nina frowned and whispered softly. "They are unable to take us now, so we wait."

If she did not have faith in Nina and her kin and complete trust in their word her panic would have taken her then. They both settled down under the window to wait for their saviors to arrive. The wait was almost unbearable; Rose feared that her captor would wake up at any moment and know something was amiss at having both girls in his room when only one had entered at his bidding.

She felt a wash of relief as the male bodyguard Merik appeared before them in a swirl of moon-colored mist and held out his hands for both girls, smiling the whole time. "Come Rose, your freedom awaits."

"I'm sorry mother, but I must do this." She whispered into the air as she took the muscular elf's slender hand.

Disorientation hit her hard on her first translocation. Memories swirled in her head: images of Ninanthia the elf that had guaranteed her freedom in exchange for a minor theft of her master’s property, the feeling of power and fear she got from her first magic lesson, a promise between the two of them. The last thing she remembered was taking the hand of an elf allied with Nina.

Alethia Rose, that was her name she told herself silently as time and space bent around her and flowed through her simultaneously. Her ears were popping, it was an alien feeling she had never experienced before. Then as suddenly as it started the feelings stopped and she felt as if she were standing on the floor again. Before she knew it her head was spinning and she felt herself unceremoniously falling toward the ground. A pair of thick, strong hands gripped her shoulders tight.

It took a moment for her to recover but she finally heard a silky but thickly accented voice close by. “I should have warned you that your first couple of times would be a bit dizzying.”

“I think I’m alright now.” She squeaked out weakly while being stood up straight by Merik. He was a tall muscular elf with amber eyes and hair and a gentle manner about him regardless of his obvious physical prowess. Even so she felt as if she was being swung around effortlessly almost like a ragdoll. “May I call you Merik?”

“Only if I may call you Rose.” He smiled, it was not strained but it wasn’t broad ether. The gesture fit his face like a perfectly tailored glove would slip onto its designated hand.

“Then thank you Merik.” Rose replied. Her surroundings were foreign to her but she figured no matter where she ended up it would be unfamiliar for her since she had lived such a sheltered life. She was inside another building; this one was open-air and run down as if it had not been occupied in a very long time. As she gazed upward her breath caught in her throat. The stars above her were so plentiful that she could have sworn someone had just torn small holes into a gigantic dark blue sheet and draped it over the world to block out the sun. The first moon was half and the other two quarters but together they shed enough light to illuminate her surroundings. “The sky is so beautiful out here.”

“This is your first time out of the palace isn’t it?” Merik remarked with a tone somewhere between amused and saddened. “Then we must celebrate your freedom young naarabi!”

“Where are we?” Once she pulled her gaze from the sky she noticed the sand-worn stonework around her was in complete disarray. They were definitely ruins of some sort. The hard floor was covered with a thin sheet of sand and all around the rather large but open room were elves going about their duties. She noted though that all of them stopped to look at her for a moment before continuing on, as if she was a spectacle. “Better yet, why is everyone staring at me?”

“You are the first naarabian we have seen in a very long time. But more than that you are still wearing the smock of a slave-girl. We must find the both of you some suitable clothing.” Merik bowed to them both and turned on his heel to go find something for them to wear. “Princess, your mother requests your presence as soon as you are settled in.”

“Thank you Merik.” She said through a light smile. In her hands she held a small book with leathery binding and bone pages. It was ancient and she and Rose had stolen it this night. It was a book of elven prophecies that had been lost for some time. “I’m sure she does.”

“You are a princess?” Rose asked in an astonished voice. For a moment she had forgotten Nina was beside her. She could still feel their gods-blessed bond and the promise between them but her mind had wandered. The yellow-haired elf was slender and shorter than rose with white skin and dark blue on sky blue eyes. She was also dressed in the clothes of a slave.

“Correct, heir to the elven throne.” She giggled a bit at her friend’s look of astonishment and waved her hand. “This changes nothing between us trust me. I feel a bond with you that I have never felt with anyone else. I hope you’ll remain my friend even knowing my heritage.”

“No question about that.” Rose shook her head and gave Nina a light squeeze across the shoulders, again drawing looks from the elves around them. “What’s all that about?”

“They’re all commoners and guards, normally it’s not permitted for a commoner to touch one of royal blood unless invited to do so.” She looked over at the gathering of elves and waved her hand imperiously to get them to return to work. “Let’s find Merik and get out of the open, I feel strange in this outfit outside of the harem.”

“As do I honestly, I’ve never really liked this attire.” Rose followed Nina and discarded the white clothing as they walked, leaving her wearing absolutely nothing as she followed close behind the young elf. The elves around her had a penchant for staring apparently, because she was again drawing looks. She shook her head and rolled her eyes at them, wondering what she had done this time. “Elves have poor mannerisms it seems.”

“You’re unique and on top of that to say you’re pleasing to the eye would be an understatement. Nudity is not a big issue for the elves; we are a very open people I assure you. But that doesn’t mean that the males around you will not lust for you anyway.” Nina laughed a little at Rose as she rolled her eyes again. She found Merik as they rounded the corner. “I guess that soft coat of yours protects you from the cold? I’m freezing.”

“I’ve been told my people are adept at desert survival.” She said simply with an off-handed shrug, taking the offered bundle from him. “Thank you.”

Rose pulled the breeches and tunic on over her fine coat and stretched her arms and legs out, admiring the material. It was thin and light and it fit her perfectly, which considering the fact that her body was shaped differently elves, was strange. The grey, black and white fabric was very comfortable. “This fits perfectly: where did you find my size?”

“I didn’t, this cloth is made of the finest elven spider silk. Hand-crafted for the members of the royal family.” Merik replied as he offered her a belt with two bone daggers strapped to it. “You’ll need a weapon as well. If you are not the hunter you are the prey.”

“Thank you but I wouldn’t know the first thing about using these.” She belted on the offering and pulled the daggers from their sheaths to test them. They were, of course, of the finest make and they felt quite comfortable in her hands. Inspecting a few of the pouches on the belt she found miscellaneous items she made a note to inquire about later.

“Well then,” Merik smiled at Rose and indicated the daggers at her belt as she put them back where they were. “I would be honored to give you a private lesson.”

“I would like that.” She could hear the implications of that in the undertones of his statement; he was flirting with her, playfully, but flirting no doubt. “Very much.”

“Enough, you two are making me ill.” Nina snorted in a very unladylike manner and donned her own clothing and a small suit of armor over the tunic that looked to be made of highly polished obsidian plates. On her belt she wore a short sword and a dagger within one boot. Her brow sported a circlet of obsidian with a red gem embedded in the forehead. The transformation was impressive. “You look the part of a princess in that outfit, it suits you well.”

“I find myself preferring the slave garb instead.” Nina giggled at herself and motioned to Merik who obediently led them out of the side room and into an adjoining chamber. “I must not keep my mother waiting long or she’ll be cross.”

Merik took the lead and guided both Rose and Nina around several turns and twists in the passageways of the ruined building, which seemed to be huge. Rose marveled at the chipped and sand-worn stonework and faint traces of what used to be color as far as she could tell. The stones beneath their feet were similarly pitted and cracked and covered with sand. Once they reached their destination Rose knew it immediately from the four guards standing outside the chamber at the far end of the long open hall. She could see inside of what was the only room with a roof still on it and found a dim light like that of a candle flickering beyond. Two of the guards moved into their path and readied their halberd. “Merik of the Two Blades and Princess Ninanthia Sunmane you may pass but the naarabi woman must remain in our custody.”

“What is the meaning of this?” Rose said defensively as she began backing slowly down the corridor. “Am I to be your slave now too?”

“Mother!” Nina cried out with building anger, clenching her fists to her sides. “Explain yourself.”

“Explain myself to you? You are my daughter and you follow my orders until you yourself take the throne.” Queen Miralastra Sunmane said in a haughty tone, drawing herself up on the makeshift throne the elves had erected for her. From that cloth-and-bone seat she motioned to the guards at the door. She looked like an older version of Nina, yellow hair, blue on blue eyes but with an imperious air around her. “Take the naarabi into custody and hold her under guard until I say otherwise.”

“Queen Miralastra, I do not understand this course of action. As your chief security officer I should be informed of all threats to my charges.” Merik’s face was calm but those present could see the fire behind his eyes as he regarded his liege.

“You shall be briefed shortly Merik.” She replied off-handedly as she motioned for both he and Nina to approach. “Do not worry yourself with this.”

“My queen I made a promise to you earlier that I meant. By the blood of my ancestors I shall hold true to that unless you convince me otherwise.” No one knew the danger behind that statement but the two of them. His oath to her meant he was to follow her orders and protect her without fail but he was a fair man. His second promise to her was to follow the tenants of his people and let no ruler lead them astray.

“Merik, Nina, I shall go quietly. However I wish an explanation.” Rose said as she eyed the two guards menacing her.

“I do not answer to you, you will submit or you will be dealt with accordingly.” The elf queen stated flatly in her best commanding tone. She locked eyes with Rose, one of the few people apparently who dared to keep her steely gaze for any period of time. “Take her.”

Nina watched the two guards go and scowled at the woman before her as if she were the worst person on the face of the planet. In many ways Nina did indeed think her mother was that bad because of how she had treated someone who had been nothing but helpful to their cause. “Mother you had better explain yourself, daughter or not, Rose has been nothing but accommodating to us and still you treat her like common rabble!”

“Ware daughter, do not raise your voice to me. Take solace.” The last two words had high emphasis and she inclined her head toward the door indicating the two guards that were standing outside.

Merik, taking the cue walked over to the doorway and dismissed the two guards telling them he would take over their duty while the queen spoke of private matters with her daughter. After that he let loose the cloth they had fashioned as a cover to the portal. “My queen?”

“Tonight an attack will come.” She whispered in return as both Nina and Merik gathered close to her. Her use of one of their private key phrases had hinted to them that there was something sinister at work. “They have three goals. The first is the book that even now you carry on you Nina, with you being the second target. The third is Rose.”

“Rose? But why?” Nina said without masking her surprise. “And how would someone know she is here?”

“It is complicated my dear but I cannot share as of yet. Rose is a decoy and here is the plan.” She leaned forward to them and smiled broadly, feeling a slight tingle of adrenaline as they planned their ambush.

~~~~

“I’ll not see the book in the hands of a madwoman!” Nina yelled loudly as she tore the flap of cloth off the wall while exiting. “I’m not stupid enough to have it on my person while you’re in charge you banshee. I’d like to see you find it!”

Merik smiled internally as he followed the young girl and motioned for four of the nearby armed guards to follow them. He had to applaud the elf-child for her performance considering her age. She would make a fine queen someday. Outwardly he was scowling at her back as if she had actually committed the treason that had just transpired. This ruse gave him a reason to have more guards follow the princess and post another few with Rose as well. He usually took matters of the queen’s security into his own hands. Once they reached their destination, Nina’s room, he ordered the guards to let her have no visitors and left to see to their false prisoner.  He did not like using Rose as bait but she was the only one that could possibly have the book if Nina did not.

The makeshift cell they had thrown together as a precaution probably couldn’t hold much more than someone like Rose. The craftsmanship was sub-par because of the conditions in the desert, and as such the only thing keeping her in was a series of bricks and an old wooden door they had unearthed in another part of the seldom-used ruins. Once he stopped outside of the cell he opened the door and stepped inside to find Rose sitting on the floor against the back wall.  “You are to remain our prisoner until further notice Rose, I am sorry but the orders of my queen come before all else.”

“I understand the call of duty but why?” Rose said in a slightly wavering voice, she had gone from being a privileged slave to a mistreated prisoner in a matter of mere minutes. The light tunic and breeches Merik had given her seemed to be resistant to the rigors of the desert sand to Rose’s amazement as she regarded her clean knees with distain. She looked up at the handsome elf and sighed, attempting to keep her tears back.