Here is Chapter 9! This is the wrap-up of Alaliya's back story as well as a glimpse of the not so nice side of the Keepers. Next chapter we will get back to Sarantha and Trivalm, but for some reason, Alaliya demanded that her story be told as well!
Sadly, my Beta reader has been out of touch long enough that I am looking for a new one! If you are interested, send me a message! If you comment as Anonymous I have no way to respond!
As always, THANK YOU for reading and I hope you enjoy!
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Ehrik looked down at his sister, pale and still on the bed. His heart clenched. Fear was not an emotion he often felt, but the last four weeks had held nothing but terror for him. For the last four weeks his sister had not left her bed. She had woken only sporadically and never for more than a few moments, usually not even long enough to nurse her child. The babe was in the room, never far from her mother, but being nursed by a midwife. Sarantha would be enraged when she found out.
For the first two weeks, Sarantha had continued to bleed. Not much, but more than was normal, enough that she was unwell. The King's Healer, Kyrsti, had checked her daily, but had been unable to find the source of the bleeding. Two weeks passed before she used an odd tool and herbs to force open Sarantha's birthing channel open to do a more thorough inspection. Even through the herbs, the pain had woken the sleeping woman, but the Healer had ignored her screams of agony as her assistants restrained her. Only today, two weeks after the Kyrsti had sutured the gash she eventually found, had she pronounced the wound sufficiently healed. She claimed that Sarantha would now, with much rest and proper nourishment, begin to recover.
He watched as his wife stroked Sarantha's hair back off of her face. Alaliya had been absent in their own bedroom, and as much as it shamed him, he was becoming resentful. He missed his wife. She bathed in Sarantha's personal tub, ate her meals next to the bed, and spent any spare time caring for Sarantha, combing her hair, cleansing her skin. She had not spoken a single word to him that did not somehow pertain to their ill sister. Not once in the past four weeks had she initiated physical contact with him. She didn't protest when he held her, or when he kissed her. But it was obvious that his once passionate wife was removed from those acts, her attention elsewhere.
Alaliya was militant in who she would allow into the room. In the first week, much of her time had been taken up keeping Ivory from disturbing the sleeping woman. Anytime the little blond was in the room, she was climbing on the bed, trying to press closer to her Mistress. The few times Sarantha was awake long enough to hold the baby girl, Ivory had slid from where she rested on her Mistress's legs to try to nuzzle her way into her owner's embrace. Once, when Sarantha was lucid long enough to attempt to nurse, the little slave had almost knocked the child from its mother's arms. Enraged, Alaliya had ordered the slave removed, and Ebon had instantly obeyed, whisking his charge away. Later, she made it clear to a scowling Ebon that if Ivory continued to appear a threat to the child, even inadvertently, she would be punished. Everybody knew that Alaliya wouldn't date lash one of Sarantha's pets, but they also knew that Alaliya didn't need to; she was exceptionally imaginative. Ehrik, trying to avoid any additional stress for all parties involved, slyly intervened without contradicting his wife and now both slaves were only permitted in the room when they were locked in their cage.
Trivalm had also been removed; there was no reason for the slave to be in the room with the recovering woman. He now acted as one of Ehrik's slaves under Kriel's watchful eye until Sarantha was well enough to reclaim him. The three slaves were restricted to their room unless Kriel was kind enough to escort them to the training rooms. According to the Captain, the men enjoyed their time in the training rooms, always pushing themselves hard in their physical activity and adapting well to the style of training different than what they had known. They had even been permitted to spar with several of the soldiers. Ehrik assumed it was an outlet for their frustrations at being confined. Even so, he approved of the slaves' dedication. He wanted them in good condition. He had no use of trophy slaves; they were little more than breathing vases that required food. If he could convince the war Generals that their lives were not as desolate as they now believed, then he could allow them freedoms. They could be personal slaves and even be assigned pseudo-positions in the military beneath him. They would never hold rank, but respect was so much more important than rank. That fool Milier was proof of that. He knew the slaves were probably scheming, speculating possible escape, if not for themselves then for their Queen, but he didn't care.
Kriel also reported that Trivalm inquired over Sarantha's health daily and was unsatisfied with the answers the Captain gave him. The slave had asked to see his Mistress regularly, and only relented when Kriel threatened punishment by way of herbs. Only once had Sarantha asked that her "little slave" be allowed to rejoin Ebon and Ivory and all three be returned to her, but Ehrik had denied her. Thankfully, she'd been far too tired to argue, only murmuring that the King's Healer would agree with her. The Healer, having overheard the exchange, hadn't acknowledged the request beyond a roll of her eyes.
More often than not, when she woke, Sarantha was too exhausted to speak. That didn't stop her from calling out in her sleep, and when she did it broke Ehrik's heart. She called for Kellir, for her husband. Tears would leak from her closed eyes when her hands would reach for him and find only empty space.
Ehrik missed his younger brother. Since they were children, Ehrik had cared for Kellir. Their mother was not affectionate; bearing children had been nothing more than a duty. Their father had loved them and was determined to see them raised correctly. But he was a soldier of the late King's army. He had no idea how to show his affection for his children other than with harsh discipline. When the boys did well, they could always look to their father and see pride shining in his eyes. However, when they failed, their punishments were more severe than any soldier had ever suffered. Those punishments had left scars. Ehrik's father had died before the King, so he wasn't humiliated as the other officers were when Jecis relieved several of them of their posts. Keepers were no longer required to be Generals, though at present all four Golden Keepers were, and ranks could no longer be inherited. Ranks had to be earned, and officers were no longer permitted to promote any within their families. Jecis had changed so many laws in his time as King; Ehrik wasn't sure if his strict father would have been able to adapt to them.
The King had stayed for two weeks after the child's birth. He went to Sarantha's room more often than was appropriate, but none dared question him. Eventually though, he had been forced to return to the Capital. But not before he had kept to his word and seen to Allek and Trivalm's punishments. Jecis has insisted that he was capable of seeing to a single slave's punishment while Ehrik saw to Sarantha, skillfully taking the decision of the severity of punishment from Ehrik's hands. True to his word, the King's punishment for Allek had been lenient, only five lashings with a soft leather flogger. The Captain willingly returned to his duties the next day and the welts had lasted only a few days. Trivalm, however, had received thirty with a much harsher instrument. The King doled out the punishment true to his word to Sarantha. The slave's punishment for his disrespect had been lenient, only five lashing. The other twenty-five had been for threatening Sarantha. The slave hadn't been able to move for a week and there would be severe scarring. Ehrik, feeling the punishment had been a bit excessive but not daring to question his King, had been kind enough to send Melil and a Healer to the slave.
Jecis had left the young Healer, Kyrsti, and all of her assistants behind in the Keepers' care to see to Sarantha's health. The Healer only left Sarantha's room to sleep and bathe and she always left at least three of her assistants behind in addition to Alaliya to ensure Sarantha was properly cared for.
And now Sarantha was cared for. She was as healthy as was possible at the moment, and only time would improve her condition. Ehrik wanted his wife back.
"My love." When Alaliya didn't respond, Ehrik walked to her side, taking her face in his hands and forcing her to look at him. "Come, my precious wife. There is nothing more we can do for her. The Healer is here; our sister is well cared for. Come, my heart."
