Ebudae (38 page)

She snorted. “Right. You have four inches in
height and six inches around the arm. Find me someone my size and
I’ll take you up on the offer.” Kitta was very strong for a woman.
Muscles roped her arms and legs, extending into her neck. It was
just short of being too much, but she was more handsome than
beautiful. Brown eyes twinkled merrily and her dusky blonde hair
was tied back in a tight braid.

Frath removed his arm from the table and sat
back. The crowd went away disappointed. “How’s things, Kitta?”

“They’re not so good. Buy me a drink and
I’ll tell you about it,” she suggested. Frath tossed a silver piece
on the table and shook his head when Kitta asked him what he’d
have. “You’re not much of a drinker, but that’s alright.” She
ordered ale for herself and gave the waitress the silver piece. “I
tried starting my own business around here. I know where to get
things for a good price and sell them for a better price.”

“You’re the best,” Frath admitted. It was
precisely why he came to her.

“That’s the problem. People are refusing to
do business with me and I’ve received threats.” She leaned forward
angrily. “I can take care of myself, but powerful merchants run
trade in this city and it’s real easy to make people
disappear.”

“I’ll be honest,” Frath said. “I’ve heard
you were having problems from a couple of Guardmembers who patrol
here. They told me you were out of money.”

She nodded without words. Frath could see
that she was restraining tears. Kitta would never let anyone see
her cry.

“Do you think you’ll be able to get it back
together?”

Kitta stared into the mug of ale the
waitress brought. “No,” she admitted.

“Want a job?”

She looked up with a frown. “What kind of a
job?”

“Buying household goods like food and . . .
whatever else a house needs. Doing some heavy lifting here and
there and just being generally useful.” Frath wasn’t sure what
positions Ebudae would need filled. What he knew was that Kitta was
in trouble and needed somewhere to go. She was better than anyone
at finding deals. Ebudae and her staff would need supplies.

“You know I don’t do anything illegal . .
.”

“You know I’m a member of the Guard and
wouldn’t ask you to.” Frath was a little irritated that she would
suggest otherwise. His reputation was good.

“No, you’re right.” She reached over and
gave his hand an apologetic squeeze. “Things haven’t been good for
me, so I’m on edge. What’s the job?” Kitta took a drink of the
ale.

The apology was good, so Frath explained the
situation. “A friend of mine, Lady Pallon, died yesterday. Her
granddaughter, Ebudae, is now the head of the house. The problem is
that Lady Pallon poisoned her servant’s minds against the girl and
all but one of them left.”

“Is there anything wrong with the girl?
Perhaps the grandmother was right?” Kitta set the mug down and
crossed her arms on the edge of the table. “I don’t know the
situation, so I can’t judge, but I don’t want to go in thinking
this girl’s a misunderstood angel if she has the personality of a
carnivorous fairy.”

Frath chuckled. “She’s not an angel. Ebudae
is an odd one honestly, but I like her. She’s my daughter’s best
friend.”

“Well that’s a good thing then.” Kitta sat
back and took another drink.

“I will tell you that she’s a powerful
wizard. She tends to be gloomy and has an emo bunny for a pet. She
disappears now and then without telling anyone where she’s going.
The manor and the grounds around it are eerie and unnerving, but
they’ll keep you safe.” Frath rubbed his face. He was getting
tired. “She needs a seneschal to run the household for her. I’ve
hired a cook and maid. Tina is Ebudae’s personal servant who will
answer only to the lady, but everyone else will answer to you.”

“That sounds interesting, but I don’t know
that I’m qualified.” Kitta shook her head and sighed. “There are
servant guilds with trained people the nobility hires from.”

“And not one of them would work for the
Pallon Estate. Ebudae wouldn’t accept them anyway.”

Kitta leaned forward again. “You have me
intrigued. There’s more than you’re telling. Also, what’s the
pay?”

“I don’t know what the pay is. It does
include room and board though.” Frath stood. “Go to the Pallon
Estate in the Merchant District. Tell the squirrel that you’re the
new seneschal. Give the job a try. If you like it, fine, if not,
then so be it.” He got up from the table and walked away.

Kitta called out at the departing figure.
“Wait . . . squirrel? What in the world are you talking about?”
Frath knew she would be curious enough to check it out. He left the
bar and headed toward the Orphan District and his secret entrance
to the Forlorn District. Along the way, he stopped at a market that
sold prepared food day or night.

It didn’t take long to reach the tunnel and
enter the streets of the haunted district. The ghosts were lively
in the moonlit sky, but they left him alone. Crows cawed their
welcomes at him as he passed the rusted gate that lay on the ground
and walked to the arched double doors, which were the same on the
outside as on the inside. He entered the left one.

Purple flames danced above candles lined in
holders along the walls and on tiered tables to either side of the
statue. Black stone pews bordered a center isle with a violet
runner that never became worn. Sometimes when he visited, the
statue of Distra would raise its head and look at him with glowing
eyes, but it remained motionless this time.

Frath recognized a difference in the way the
shadows moved. There was someone inside. He put a hand on his hilt
and moved forward. With any luck, it would be the man he freed from
the wizardess’s cell. Then again, perhaps that would be a bad
thing. It was hard to tell.

A hunched figure sat in the center of a pew
to the left of the aisle, three rows from the front. It was hard to
see him because he wore a black cowl and made himself small. Frath
got the impression that the man was used to hiding.

Upon reaching the pew, Frath sat down. “I
brought some food. Figured you might be hungry.” He tossed the pack
on the bench halfway between them. “You don’t have to cook
anything, it’s all ready to eat.”

The man wordlessly looked at him with
crazed, grey eyes. There were cuts on his face from the torture,
but they were healing. It was hard to tell if he would be handsome
without them. The robe hung loosely from his body from cowl to
ankles.

It was then that Frath realized there was a
sword across the man’s lap. Nearby shadows looked at it longingly.
“That sword is the same as your tattoo. It
is
the tattoo,
isn’t it?”

The man groaned as he sat up straight and
half-drew the blade in a defensive gesture.

“Don’t draw it. You’re in no shape to defeat
me even with a magical sword, which that obviously is.” Frath
gestured for him to relax. “I’m not going to try to take it or hurt
you. I went through too much to get you out of that cage.”

The man resheathed and relaxed some. He
leaned forward to stare at Frath’s eyes. Then he looked at the
statue of Distra and back again. It seemed he either wouldn’t or
couldn’t talk.

“Yeah. She touched my mind pretty hard.”
Frath shrugged. “She’s given me a place to think though, so I’m
sure it all works out.”

The man just stared at him. His grip on the
hilt of the sword didn’t lessen and Frath got the impression that
the tortured man was dangerous despite his condition.

“Listen. I don’t know why she wanted me to
save you, but she did. Now you’re alive and you have food.” Frath
gestured at the bag as he stood. “There’s wine in there for you to
drink too.” He turned to walk away, but stopped. “I don’t know who
you are, but I murdered someone to save you. You owe me a favor and
I’m going to collect it one of these days.”

The man didn’t answer. They stared at each
other for minutes before Frath stomped down the aisle and out the
doors. He went back to the manor and straight to his bed to get
some sleep.

Chapter
26

Pallon Estate gently woke up Ebudae. It
touched her mind and let her know people would be arriving soon. It
was able to predict visitors to a degree, but couldn’t actually see
the future.

She sat up and stretched. Early morning
light peeked through partially closed curtains. The sun hadn’t
risen yet, but would soon. Pelya was sprawled under the covers at
the other side of the bed, which was big enough for five people. As
Ebudae got up and headed to get into a dress, the estate informed
her of its condition.

Three people had arrived the night before.
They were all in the kitchen with Tina, preparing breakfast. It let
her know that one was a seneschal who would run the staff. One was
a cook and one was a maid. The estate considered them very odd, but
they seemed competent and it did not believe they would pose danger
to her. It also let her know that Frath had returned late and was
asleep in his bed.

Ebudae chose one of her dresses for
adventuring. It was black with metallic green runes embroidered in
it. She had the feeling that it was not going to be a peaceful day.
Pallon Estate agreed with her.

“I don’t want to get up.” Pelya grumbled
from the bed.

Ebudae turned to see her sitting up. “So
don’t. Everyone else will save the world without you today.” She
smirked.

“Oh good.” Pelya flung herself back and
pulled the covers over her head.

Ebudae giggled and began brushing her hair.
It wasn’t too messy since Tina had washed and brushed it for her
before bed. Pelya had braided hers again and wouldn’t have to do
anything to it, which Ebudae considered cheating.

By the time Ebudae was done, Pelya had
dragged herself out of bed and was getting her clothes on. “Last
one downstairs is old,” Ebudae said and ran out of the room.

“Hey!” Pelya yelled. She was still pulling
up her pants.

Even with the head start, Ebudae just barely
made it downstairs first. Pelya leapt over handrails, cutting out
dozens of steps while the wizardess dashed down the zigzag stairs.
They playfully shoved each other at the bottom while making their
way to the kitchen.

“What’s all the ruckus out here?” A tall,
muscled woman stepped from the door to the kitchen and dining room
into the grand hallway just before the girls got there. She was
pulling her hair back into a ponytail. “Just who are you young
ladies and what are you doing?”

The tone of the words angered Ebudae. Pallon
Estate informed Ebudae that the woman was the seneschal, but she
didn’t care. It took little magic to make her eyes flash and add
volume to her voice. With a thought, Ebudae was able to tamp down
on the candle flames as well. Holding herself up straight, she
proclaimed, “I am Lady Ebudae Pallon. This is my estate and you
will not question my movements or my ruckus.”

Pelya giggling behind her didn’t help the
intimidation factor, but the woman who would be seneschal took a
step back and bowed. “I beg pardon, Milady. Frath Jornin didn’t
inform me that you’d be so young.”

“Yes, well I am.” Ebudae was slightly
mollified. She released the effects and the candles, still lit from
the night before. It wasn’t as dark with light filtering in through
windows at the ends of the hall and through skylights in the
ceiling far above. She flicked her fingers and extinguished the
nearest flame. At the same time, she extinguished most others
unless they might be necessary for the new staff to see by.

The seneschal saw the gesture and effect.
Her jaw dropped and her light-brown eyes showed that she was duly
impressed even though that wasn’t why Ebudae had done it.

“I smell food,” Ebudae said, sniffing at the
air and leaning to the side in order to look around the woman. “Is
it possible that breakfast is ready?”

She bowed again. “Yes, Milady. Bubbo is your
cook. He has prepared an excellent meal.”

“Good, we’re hungry.” Ebudae moved toward
the door.

The woman grabbed her arm. “There’s
something you should know.”

Ebudae stared at the hand holding her.
“Don’t
ever
touch me.” It disappeared in an instant as the
woman pulled it away. Ebudae set her jaw and looked the seneschal
in the eye. “I
hate
being touched. No one is to touch me. I
don’t care what you think of that. I don’t care what anyone thinks
of me. I just don’t care.” Her voice was rising in volume and the
woman backed away.

“Ebudae, peace” Pelya said, putting a hand
on her shoulder.

She realized that Pelya was the one person
the rule didn’t apply to. With a deep breath and closed eyes,
Ebudae forced herself to relax. “I’m sorry. Just don’t touch me.”
She opened her eyes again.

“Yes, Milady.” The seneschal bowed
again.

“What is it that I should know?” Ebudae
asked her.

“The cook’s sister, your new maid, has some
sort of condition that causes her to swear violently. It’s not
something she can control, but she
is
a hard worker.”

“I see. Thank you for informing me.”

“You’re welcome, Milady.” She bowed
again.

Ebudae walked through the doorway,
determined to get to the food. Pelya followed and the seneschal
took up the rear.

The aromas wafting from the kitchen smelled
even more heavenly than usual. A heavyset man was tending multiple
pots over a stove and another over a fire. Bread fresh out of the
oven was cooling on a table while Tina showed another woman how to
set up trays for Ebudae and Pelya.

“It smells divine!” Pelya exclaimed,
following her nose further into the kitchen.

The words caused the staff to jump. The
portly man waved a spoon in greeting. “Ahh, you must be the lady of
the house . . .
two
ladies of the house. Your food is almost
ready. There was plenty in your pantries. This is the most
wonderful kitchen I’ve worked in.” He took a quick breath before
rushing on. “I’m Bubbo, this is my sister Poolu and you’ve met
Kitta.” Bubbo wiggled the spoon at each, ending with the
seneschal.