The Chosen (4 page)

For the next three radians she was constantly glancing down the hall where her mistress and her guests had gone. Worry making the time feel three times longer than it actually was.

Kathryn’s last job was to wash the floor, a chore she looked forward to with great apprehension as the scabs from the last time still hadn’t completely healed and her neck was only just regaining its full range of movement. She was halfway done, ready to run back to her room to check on the small bird and hide herself away from the rest of the manor, when a manservant appeared.

“Come with me,” he ordered gruffly. Kathryn’s heart pounded as she realized he was taking her to her mistress.

The manservant entered the room first, bowing. “Milady.”

Kathryn followed, giving her mistress a brief curtsy, before lowering her eyes to the floor.

“Are you sure this is her?” The Lady of Blackwood Manor’s voice was suspicious.

Kathryn forced herself to remain still. Lady Blackwood’s tone left no doubt in her mind that her actions in the forest had been the most recent topic of conversation amongst the Blackwoods and their guests.

“Yes, Lady Blackwood. I am sure.” The woman’s voice was light and musical, but still firm, nothing at all like Lady Blackwood’s stern, cold voice. And not at all what Kathryn had imagined an outcast’s voice to sound like.

“Kathryn, look at me,” The Lady of Blackwood Manor commanded. Slowly Kathryn raised her head and looked her mistress in the face.

Satisfied at the response Lady Blackwood continued. “These people say you were using your...” Kathryn caught the brief glimpse towards her guests, “…talents. Is it true?” Her tone of voice was dispassionate, suggesting that she didn’t care one way or the other what Kathryn’s response would be, but her eyes were cold, and it was the coldness that frightened Kathryn. She had seen it before and the events that followed still gave her nightmares.

But what could she do? She couldn’t lie. Not with the outcast woman in the same room. There was nothing to do but tell the truth.

Bracing herself for a blow, Kathryn reluctantly nodded.

Lady Blackwood let out a horrified gasp, as if she had been struck. Fury and indignation burned in her eyes and Kathryn winced at the sight, quickly lowering her eyes back to the floor.

“What am I going to do with you Kathryn?” Lady Blackwood may have phrased it as a question, but her tone left little doubt to Kathryn as to what she planned to do. She resigned herself to more pain and nightmares.

“You will turn her over to me.” The strange Lady spoke this with such authority as to startle everyone in the room.

Lady Blackwood looked in astonishment at the speaker. “And why would I turn my servant over to you, Lady Jasmine?” She asked incredulously, some of the anger she felt at Kathryn seeping into her words.

“Because this girl has a gift and she cannot learn to use it if she’s a servant,” The dark haired lady said severely.

Listening intently, Kathryn thought to herself
—
gift? What gift?

“Kathryn has been with us for six years, I have come to depend on her. You cannot take her from me. And no local sheriff will support your demand that I simply hand over my servant to you without reparation. So how, pray tell, will you abscond with my servant?”

“I will involve the Guardians.”

Lady Blackwood sniffed disdainfully. “They are far too busy keeping the peace between villages and farms to be bothered with the fate of a simple servant. Besides, how would you call them? Only their vaunted Council knows the locations of their homes.”

“There are ways,” one of the visiting men commented slowly.

“Perhaps, but until then you are no longer welcome in my castle or on my properties. If you wish to involve the Guardians than by all means, involve them. But until you ride up to my gates with them behind you, take your leave of my estate.”

“And have the child disappear in the time it takes to fetch the nearest Guardians?” The vertically challenged visitor asked sarcastically. “Not likely.”

Lady Blackwood stood. “I don’t give one wit about your feelings in this matter. Kathryn is
my
servant. My property. Without a legal dispensation from the King giving you the right to take her from me, she belongs to
me
. You can threaten all you like, but not even the Guardians have the right to take a child from her home without the consent of her custodians.”

“They can if she’s gifted or if she’s in danger,” the fire-haired man argued.

“Kathryn is hardly in danger here,” his host replied haughtily. “In fact, if my Lord and I hadn’t taken up her guardianship, the local townspeople would have hung her years ago.”

Even though she tried not to, Kathryn couldn’t help but cringe at Lady Blackwood’s accurate recount of the villagers’ hatred of her.

“She is a child,” Lady Jasmine protested in dismay. “Who would hang a child?”

“She’s a murderer and a sorceress,” Lord Blackwood interjected oily. “Or at least that’s what the townspeople believe,” he added after a moment.

“Maybe you have protected her from the village people,” another of the visiting men spoke up, the light haired one this time. “But you cannot deny that she is gifted. At the very least the Guardian Council will want to examine her gifts.”

“Kathryn’s powers are weak,” Lady Blackwood said dismissively. “Hardly worth entrance into the Guardians.”

The guests of the Manor all exchanged significant looks. Lady’s Jasmine’s eyes hardened. “You would deny the child her birthright?”

“She has not used he
r
birthrigh
t
as you call it since she was seven. Now she is ten, years past the admittance age for the school,” Lady Blackwood returned sharply, looking pleased with her victory.

The dark-haired lady’s jaw tightened. “Are you telling me you knew this child was gifted and deliberately didn’t report it?”

Her words were cold and there was a fire burning in her eyes, in all of the visitors’ eyes. It should have been warning enough, but Lady Blackwood was too far gone in her anger over such mistreatment within her own walls to notice or heed it. “And have th
e
Guardian
s
take my servant from me?” Lady Blackwood let out a cold laugh. “You must be delirious.”

“My dear,” Lord Blackwood interjected nervously, uncomfortably aware of the crime his wife had just implicated them in. “I think you’ve said enough.”

“Yes. I do believe you have,” The black haired man said coldly. All four stood abruptly.

“The child is coming with us and if you continue to object I
will
take the matter to the king.” The fire haired guest said and turned to Kathryn who had not moved since the conversation began. “Come child.”

Lady Blackwood leapt between the man and her slave. “Take one step out of this manor with my servant,
Si
r
Landen, and I will have the entire contingent of knights at this manor throw you and your companions into our dungeons.”

Sir Landen’s jaw worked as he clenched and unclenched his jaw. “You will do no such thing,” he replied calmly after a couple heartbeats.

“I most certainly will! I will not be ordered about in my own home,” she said emphatically.

“If you make any move to detain anyone in this party, you will be guilty of treason against the crown,” the dark haired man said slowly.

Lady Blackwood eyed him skeptically. “Who are you to make such a claim?”

Lady Jasmine stepped forward. “You may not recognize my companions, but you will recognize me.” When Lord and Lady Blackwood looked at her in confusion and anger the woman continued, “I am Dowager Princess Jasmine. The king’
s
siste
r
,” she added this last bit as if emphasizing a point that Kathryn was unable to comprehend.

For a few moments there was utter silence in the room, and then, “You expect us to believe that the Dowager Princess travels without a retinue due to her station…with only three men to guard and protect her and no ladies to attend her?” Lady Blackwood asked scornfully. “Whoever you may be, you most certainly ar
e
not
the Princess Jasmine and I demand that you leave our residence before we detain you in our dungeon.”

The woman reached into her sleeve and pulled out an object that glittered in the dull light of the torches. “My signet ring,” she said simply as she handed it to the manservant. Kathryn watched Lady Blackwood receive the ring, an air of impatience and irritation surrounding her. That aura rapidly changed as she studied the ring. Her face paled visibly and she held the ring out to her husband with a trembling hand.

“Are you satisfied that
I
a
m
Princess Jasmine?” The woman asked.

Mutely, Lord and Lady Blackwood nodded and fell to their knees. “Forgive us, Princess. We did not know you.”

 
Princess Jasmine ignored them and walked over to where Kathryn stood, her eyes still on the floor.

“You cannot take Kathryn!” Lady Blackwood cried. “She…she is like a daughter to me.” There was no hiding the desperation in Lady Blackwood’s voice. Everyone but Kathryn knew the punishment for failing to report a gifted child. And the slight that the Blackwoods had just delivered to a member of the royal family guaranteed that the punishment would not be overlooked.

Turning to face her, Jasmine spoke severely. “First you claim Kathryn is your servant and property, and now you claim she is like a daughter to you. Which is she, your daughter or your servant?” When Lady Blackwood gave her no answer, she turned back to the trembling girl. “Look at me child,” she commanded gently.

Kathryn raised her eyes to look at the princess, who smiled down at her.

“Would you like to come with me, Kathryn?” Her voice was gentle and calm, so unlike Lady Blackwood’s.

Looking into her eyes, Kathryn sensed something, not pity or sorrow or hatred, but kindness, genuine kindness. It was an emotion that was so rarely directed at her that she was confused. Unsure of what to do, she glanced over at her mistress, who glared at her. Looking back at the Princess, Kathryn shook her head.

Mystified at the unexpected, Jasmine turned to look at Lord and Lady Blackwood. All it took was a look at Lady Blackwood’s face. She returned her gaze to Kathryn. “I think you do. Go and pack your things. You are leaving with me tonight.”

“Kathryn doesn’t have any possessions,” Lady Blackwood interrupted.

Jasmine turned to Kathryn. “Is this true?”

Kathryn started to nod, but then stopped. What about her bird?

Without a word she turned and hurried off to her room, scooped up the fragile creature, and hurried back to the stunned adults.

Jasmine, seeing that the girl had something pressed close to her chest knelt down to take a look. “May I see?”

Hesitantly, Kathryn held out the tiny bird for the Princess to see.

“Well we can’t leave your friend behind can we?” Jasmine asked after taking a close look at the tiny animal. Kathryn shook her head slowly. “Very well, then we’re ready to leave.”

“Wait.”

Jasmine turned and looked at Lady Blackwood.  “Yes?”

Moving towards an oak desk, Lady Blackwood opened a drawer and pulled out an object. “I’ve been saving this until Kathryn was older, but if she’s leaving with you it belongs to her.” She held out a small pendant hanging from a gold chain.

“I thought you said she had no possessions,” Jasmine reminded her as she took the necklace.

Lady Blackwood gave no answer. Jasmine, perceiving Lady Blackwood’s apparent act of kindness as one of self-preservation, albeit a very strange act as the little girl gave no sign of recognition of the jewelry, secured the chain around the little girl’s neck.

“Very well then. Come Kathryn.” Princess Jasmine led the way out of the Manor. In the courtyard servants stopped what they were doing and stared at the procession, they began whispering among each other. Neither the threats of the Master nor the icy looks from the Mistress could silence their words.

Claude came out to see what was going on, immediately assessed the situation and held out his arms to Kathryn. As he crouched down on one knee, she ran into his gentle embrace and hugged him. “I’ll ne’er forget you little miss,” he whispered to her, she responded with a quick kiss on his cheek.

“Wait here?” he asked looking at Kathryn, who nodded. He disappeared into his bakery and returned his hands clutching something. Fighting tears he knelt down and handed her a bag of berry tarts. “Here, a couple of your favorite treats for the road.”

Kathryn took the bag and hugged him again.

“Go on young miss,” He said softly. “They’ve tarried long enough and won’t wait forever.”

Kathryn nodded then rejoined the Princess and her companions who were waiting patiently and followed the Princess out of the gates of Blackwood Manor and into her new life.

Throughout the whole ride to the palace Princess Jasmine tried to make conversation with the silent girl sitting before her. “How old are you Kathryn?” For a moment it seemed like the little girl wouldn’t answer, then she slowly held up ten fingers.

“Ten years old?”

Kathryn nodded briefly.

“You don’t need to be afraid of me, Kathryn,” the Princess told her gently, yet the little girl refused to speak or even to look at her.

Jasmine’s heart went out to the small child whose malnourished arms were wrapped around the little bird nestled on her skirt. Shortly into the ride the little girl had opened the bag the baker had given her and had pulled out a single tart. Jasmine found it strange how quickly the bird gobbled up the small flakes of pastry Kathryn offered it, even more surprising was the fact that Kathryn seemed to understand that pastry wasn’t a suitable meal for her charge and kept the morsels she fed it small. Turning her thoughts to the little girl, she could only imagine what Kathryn had endured at Blackwood Manor. She had seen the looks Lady Blackwood had aimed in the little girl’s direction and seen the barely visible flinches given in response.

Earlier, when they had left Blackwood Manor, Jasmine had taken Kathryn up on her horse and the small group had ridden toward the Rawasi Mountains. They rode into the forest that covered the base of the mountains and as they were riding a large house suddenly appeared out thin air before them. Kathryn jerked at its sudden appearance, but Jasmine had spoken quietly and calmly, assuring her that everything was alright. At the large house they had
changed clothes and transferred into a carriage and set off once again.

The carriage they were riding in was equipped with messenger birds and Jasmine called for one. Quickly she penned a message and sent the small bird ahead. By the time they arrived at her estate, Jasmine knew there would be a few surprises for Kathryn.

The ride to the palace was a long one, several times they had to stop and wait for a herd of cattle to move or an inept merchant’s dithering to replace a wheel on his disabled pushcart or wagon. “Who moves their herd at this time of night?” Jasmine muttered to herself after the third herd of cattle was safely on the other side of the road and they were on their way again. As the time of night registered, Jasmine’s eyes flew to her silent companion, hoping that she was asleep.

But no, Kathryn was still awake and looking out the window, glancing away constantly to check on the small bird. Jasmine slept for a few radians around midday and woke to find her companion as alert as before.

As the first rays of sunset began to dance upon the earth and bathe the sky crimson red, they arrived at Jasmine’s home. Two guards quickly advanced on the carriage and one opened the princess’s door and helped her out.  “Welcome back my lady, I trust you had a safe and pleasant journey” 

Although she had much on her mind, she smiled and replied that the trip had been most profitable and that she had a special guest that would be staying for some time.  Turning and motioning with her eyes she said, “Regalde, this is Kathryn.”  

Regalde, his rough and pockmarked face puzzled slightly as he gazed at the little girl, and with a raspy voice greeted her formally. “Welcome, Miss Kathryn.”

After Jasmine smoothed her dress she turned and held out a hand to help Kathryn down. The little girl’s eyes were wide and she took in the huge windows, towers, and gardens. As Jasmine approached the main entrance her arrival was announced by the chief manservant.  As they entered, Kathryn was awed by the size and majesty of the atrium, easily ten times the grandeur of Blackwood Manor. Knowing that the girl had to be exhausted despite the fact that she looked wide awake, Jasmine quickly led her to an apartment next to her own.

“This is where you will stay,” she told Kathryn as she opened the door. Dutifully Kathryn entered the room, but stopped short upon seeing the interior.

The apartment before her bordered on regal and was more elegant than Lady Blackwood’s. In contrast to the dark stone that entombed Lady Blackwood’s apartments, the walls before her were hewn from a light and airy crème marble with gold vines and leaves etched into the walls and ceiling. Forest green furniture with gold filigree sat in a sunken sitting room before her. Gauze curtains that matched the furniture adorned the generous windows set back into the walls. Gold and crème colored tiles covered the floor in an alternating pattern.

“What do you think?” Jasmine asked. The little girl looked up at her, eyes wide with astonishment. Smiling, Jasmine continued, “Come and see the rest of it.”

Kathryn couldn’t believe there was more to this wonderful room, but she obediently followed the princess.

The bathing room was done in the same color scheme as the sitting room, sporting a huge sunken soaking pool for bathing and glittering mirrors for dressing. Hesitantly, Kathryn leaned over and peered down into the marble pool. Not even Lady Blackwood had this luxury, relying instead on large copper tubs that servants filled with steaming jars of water for her baths. Inside the bedchamber was the largest bed Kathryn had ever laid eyes on. It was topped with so many blankets, quilts, and pillows she wondered if anyone could even fit on it. Slowly, when the princess wasn’t looking, she ran her hand over the bedspread, feeling the silk and satin fabrics slide like water beneath her fingers. The walls were done the same way as the sitting room and bathing room, the gold etching smoothly transitioning into the new room. Large windows were present on three of the walls, each sporting a very comfortable looking furnished window seat. Everything in this room was done in gold or crème.

A middle-aged serving woman stood next to the foot of the bed and at the princess’ signal she came forward. Kathryn tried to study her discreetly. She was tall, taller than the princess, and had black hair almost as dark as Kathryn’s, but unlike Kathryn’s or Princess Jasmine’s, hers was streaked with silver. Her simple dress and unassuming manners told Kathryn that she was a servant of the palace.

“Kathryn, this is Arianna.” Jasmine knelt down and nodded towards the woman as she introduced her. Arianna stepped forward as the princess said her name, bringing her within an arm’s reach of Kathryn. The instinctive step back was barely visible, but both women had sharp eyes. Turning her eyes slightly, Jasmine studied Arianna’s reaction. The servant was already backing up a few paces to ease the child’s discomfort. Turning back to Kathryn she continued gently, “Arianna will assist you while you are here with us. Arianna, this is Kathryn.”

Arianna followed Jasmine’s example and knelt down to reach eye level with the little girl.

“Hello Miss Kathryn.” Her voice was soft and gentle like the princess’, but Kathryn still refused to look her in the eye. She paused, taking in her new charge’s condition, and asked, “Would you like a bath?”

Wondering if she’d misheard the question, Kathryn glanced up. There was nothing but open honesty in Arianna’s warm green eyes and the smile on her lips told her that she had heard correctly. She shifted her gaze to the princess, hardly daring to wish for something so wonderful.

“That’s a wonderful idea, Arianna,” Jasmine answered for Kathryn and stood slowly. “A hot bath and a hot meal do wonders for a good night’s sleep.”

“I’ll draw the bath while you show Miss Kathryn the rest.” Arianna rose gracefully and moved through the door and soon Kathryn could hear the sound of running water. She wondered how that was possible. If one wished to bathe, one must first heat water in the kitchens before it could be brought up to the bathing chamber. She hadn’t seen a fireplace in the bathing room that would allow for such a brief interlude between Arianna’s departure and the running water.

“Come Kathryn, there is more to see,” Jasmine instructed, tearing her mind from the mystery.

What else could there be? Kathryn wondered. Already she was staying in a room that would have had Lady Blackwood consumed with envy, she would be taking the first bath she’d had in months in a bathtub that resembled a pool more than a tub and would probably be getting the first decent hot meal she’d had in years. What more could there be?

Jasmine led the way to an armoire opposite the bed and opened it. Reaching inside she pulled out a small nightgown that looked like it had been created specifically for the room’s color scheme. Turing around, she smiled at Kathryn. “I think this is about your size, why don’t you try it on?”

Slowly, Kathryn began to step forward and then stopped. She looked down at the small bird still nestled against her chest. Jasmine noticed the movement.

“Let me hold your bird while you dress,” she said kneeling down, then, seeing the panicked look that flickered across the girl’s face hurried to promise, “I’ll give it right back when you’re done.” She knelt down and held out her hand for the baby animal, watching as the first signs of indecision swept across the little girl’s face.

All her life it had been drilled into Kathryn to obey every order without pause, but for the first time she hesitated. What if Jasmine didn’t give the bird back? Her training won and she slowly surrendered the bird to the Princess, and took the nightgown.

 
Jasmine held the little bird and watched as Kathryn slipped out of her old clothes. As she did, Jasmine noticed something. She laid a restraining hand on Kathryn’s shoulder. The little girl had only partway pulled on the nightgown and her back was still mostly bare. Jasmine couldn’t believe what she saw. Multiple thin scars raced up, down, and across her small back. Parts of skin were still bright red, indicating fresh bruises that would soon darken. There were more bruises, each in various stages of healing from a dark blackish-purple to others fading to yellowish-green. Her arms and legs bore the same types of scars and bruises. The only part of her body that seemingly hadn’t been touched was her face.  Jasmine felt sick and angry. What had this poor girl been through? Had the vengeful villagers done this? She didn’t believe Lord Blackwood’s claim that the child before her had murdered someone, and she certainly didn’t believe that she was a sorceress. But she’d heard of places in the kingdom where some villagers still held to the ancient beliefs and superstitions, had seen some of the victims of those villagers. She couldn’t recall a single occurrence that had ended in favor of the condemned. Superstition and fear, she knew from experience, overrode common sense and rational judgment.

Kneeling down she held Kathryn’s face with her free hand. This time she studied the girl intensely. Her black hair, matted with dirt and tangled so badly that Jasmine doubted even someone with Arianna’s patience would be able to comb it out, hung loosely about her face. Near the edges of Kathryn’s face she could see faint marks that indicated faded bruises. Whoever had done this to her had taken great care not to make the abuse obvious so that no one would give Kathryn anything more than a passing glance. Superstitious villagers wouldn’t care about something like that. “Who did this to you?” she asked quietly.

The child didn’t respond, didn’t even raise her eyes from the floor, but Jasmine had instinctively known the answer even as she had asked the question. She vowed to make them pay dearly for their actions.

“It was Lord and Lady Blackwood, wasn’t it?”

Kathryn didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to lie but neither did she want to tell the truth. Finally she nodded. For a long time Jasmine didn’t say anything. The silence unnerved Kathryn more so than one of Lady Blackwood’s silences, but she did not make eye contact.

The silence was broken when Arianna returned, announcing that the bath was ready.

“Kathryn, look at me,” Jasmine ordered gently and waited for the little girl to look at her. “I’m going to put the bird right here,” she moved to one of the chairs situated next to the bed and gently nestled the little bird into the pillow. Kathryn followed her like a shadow, and Jasmine continued, “I want you to take your bath and get ready for bed.” Her tone was gentle, but it brooked no argument.

Kathryn nodded and Arianna led her out the door and into the bathroom, glancing back only once towards the chair where the little bird lay. Arianna helped Kathryn out of the nightgown and draped it over a rod next to a fluffy towel. There was a long moment of silence when Arianna saw Kathryn’s bare back. Afterwards her hands trembled as she gently removed the golden chain from around the little girl’s neck and helped her into the bath, her eyes shining with tears. The emotional response puzzled Kathryn, no one had ever cried after seeing her scars before, but the hot water felt so good that she soon banished all other thoughts from her mind.

Never before in her life had Kathryn been assisted in bathing or dressing, but tonight Arianna wouldn’t let Kathryn do anything herself. From washing and combing her hair to tucking her into bed the gentle servant was always there.

A meal arrived while Arianna was still struggling to comb out the tangles in Kathryn’s hair. The servant allowed Kathryn to eat while she continued to doggedly finish the task she had started. Her belly warm from the hot soup and bread, Kathryn began to feel the first signs of weariness. The cook had even sent up a meal of kitchen scraps for the bird, which Arianna helped Kathryn feed.

The little bird had a ravenous appetite for something so small and it eagerly gobbled up every morsel Kathryn offered it. As she removed the empty serving tray Arianna quipped, “Well one thing is certain. Your bird is not a picky eater and has an appetite that would put a woodsman to shame.”