Ebudae (31 page)

Mary backed out of the room, never taking
her eyes off Ebudae. “You killed her. You killed her,” she repeated
over and over. They heard the words coming from the grand hall even
after she disappeared from sight.

Ebudae went to the couch she had sat in
twice the previous day. At least she thought it was the previous
day. “Tina? Did Captain Fallamer and that man of Master Blavoci’s
come here yesterday?”

Tina nodded.

“Judging from the light outside, it’s
afternoon?”

Another nod.

“Thank you.” Ebudae stared out the window at
the willow trees beyond the long, wide porch and then back at her
servant. “I didn’t kill my grandmother.” She hoped Tina would
believe her.

“I, I, I, I, I know.” Tina struggled to get
the words out and looked proud when she succeeded.

“Thank you,” Ebudae replied gratefully. She
went back to staring out the window. When Tina put a glass of white
wine in her hand, Ebudae was surprised at having lost time to
thought. The cool wine tasted heavenly and she felt some of the
tension leave her shoulders.

Her grandmother’s arm was still hanging over
the edge of the chair. Ebudae would have to make arrangements to
care for the body. She considered crying, but there was no need or
desire to do so. Her grandmother had not wanted her and had
certainly not loved her. Ebudae had never felt any sort of
affection for the woman. Tears weren’t necessary.

She considered feeling angry, but there was
no need for that either. The woman had truly been terrible to
Ebudae, but she was dead now and that was done.

The thing that irritated Ebudae the most was
that she’d have to run the estate from that point on. It would
leave less time for magical studies and adventure. She suddenly
realized she would never be allowed to leave Dralin. It was
frightening for a moment, but Ebudae realized that she liked living
in the manor and didn’t
want
to leave the city. The thought
of traveling around the world to visit dusty farms and rural
kingdoms was distasteful.

“Milady,” a nervous voice came from a few
feet away. The cook was standing there with hat in hand and a bag
at his feet. “Lady Pallon was good to me all these years, but I’ll
not be staying with you.”

Ebudae wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
Her grandmother had poisoned the staff’s minds against her so much
that they wanted to leave. There was a good chance the others would
follow. “Your food has been wonderful and I’ve enjoyed it even
though I haven’t always told you.” She was proud of herself for
acting like an adult about the matter.

“Thank you, Milady, but I’ll be leaving
nonetheless.”

“Very well. Are you owed any pay?” Ebudae
wanted to be fair to anyone who worked for her even if they were
leaving service.

“Yes, Milady. I earn a silver piece per day
and it’s been four since I’ve been paid.” His shoulders tensed in
worry.

Ebudae’s coins were in her suite and she was
about to send Tina for them, but the knowledge of a small coin
chest in a cabinet on the far wall of the room came to her mind.
She held up a finger for the cook to remain where he was while she
got up and walked over to the cabinet. The doors were locked, but
they opened as she reached it. She set the chest on top of the
cabinet and opened it to find gold and silver pieces filling
it.

Taking four gold, she walked back to the
cook. “For your excellent service. May you know happiness and peace
in your life.” Ebudae placed the coins in his outstretched hand and
enjoyed the look of surprise on his face.

He put them away in a pouch and tucked it in
his shirt. “Thank you, Milady.” He had no similar blessing or well
wishes as he picked up his pack and left.

Seven other servants filed into the room
with their personal belongings in packs shortly after the cook
left. “You will all be ending your service then?” Ebudae asked
sadly. When they said yes, she gave them each four gold and let
them go on their way.

Ebudae sat on the couch again. “Will you
leave me too, Tina?” Her personal servant came around and hugged
her. Ebudae finally broke down into tears. They didn’t last long
and Ebudae patted the couch next to her for Tina to sit. “I don’t
know what to do now. Being an adult isn’t any more fun than being a
child.” She sighed.

Tina patted her hand and smiled
encouragingly. Ebudae squeezed the hand and had an idea. The chest
of coins was still half-f, so she went over and got the entire
thing. When she got back to the couch, Ebudae put it in Tina’s lap.
“You get the biggest bonus. This is all yours and the chest too. Do
whatever you like with it.”

Tina’s jaw dropped open and she shook her
head as she tried to give it back.

“No. I insist. I have much, much more than
that and you deserve it.” Ebudae sat back down next to her and
stared out the window. Fortunately, the heavy stutter precluded
Tina from arguing.

Ebudae stopped paying attention to her
environment as she stared. At some point, Tina got up and poured
Ebudae a fresh glass of wine. She also poured herself one. If
Ebudae had noticed, she wouldn’t have cared. The poor woman had
been through a lot.

A knock drew her out of her reverie. Tina
jumped up and headed to answer the door. Ebudae sensed no danger
from the estate, so she didn’t worry about it.

Tina escorted a Priestess and Soldier of
Reanna into the sitting room. The soldier was a bodyguard for the
priestess. Ebudae jumped up with delight when she saw Shade, her
emo bunny, in the priestess’s arms.

“She’s nice and healthy now,” the priestess
said in a warm voice. She was a thin woman with dark brown hair
that had silver touching it. “I am Priestess Omira and I have a
talent for taking care of sick and injured animals. Shade just
needed some good food. You’ll want to continue feeding her plenty
of hay and vegetables. I’ve brought a small tray with wood chips
that she’ll use for relieving herself in. Put it in a warm corner.”
The soldier handed the tray to Tina who put it next to a cupboard
along the wall.

Ebudae rubbed Shade’s cheek. The bunny was
sad, but it fit Ebudae’s mood perfectly. “Thank you so much for
caring for her. It’s been a difficult few days. I’m so glad to have
someone to hold.” She took Shade from the priestess and held her
close.

“I am sorry to hear your days have been
difficult. Is there anything specific that has upset you?” Ebudae
couldn’t help but glance at her grandmother’s body still in the
chair. Omira followed her gaze. “Oh my! Reanna give me strength.”
She put a hand to her neck. “Whatever has happened?”

“My grandmother died of a stroke. The City
Guard tried to accuse me of doing it magically, but I didn’t. The
Guard’s healer verified that.” Ebudae wanted to make sure they knew
that. “I’m now the matron of the estate. All of the servants left
me except for Tina.”

The priestess stared at her, then at the
body, then at Tina and then finally at Ebudae again. “That
is
a miserable day. I’m so sorry for your loss. It will
not
be safe to leave your grandmother’s body there. Have you
made arrangements?”

“No. I don’t think she’d want to be buried
on the estate, but she never shared her religious beliefs with me.”
Ebudae realized that her grandmother had never shared anything
about herself.

“I . . . This is very unusual.” Omira walked
over to the chair. “Reanna believes that the dead should be
released with fire so their ashes may free the soul to the sky. I
would take your grandmother’s body back to the temple for you. We
will give her a funeral and pray for her soul.”

“That sounds nice,” Ebudae said. She was
more interested in her rubbing cheeks with her wonderful bunny.

“A donation for expenses would be
appreciated, but not necessary.” The priestess gestured for the
soldier to carry the body. He seemed disturbed by the situation,
but chose not to say anything.

“Of course! I should have thought of that
myself. My mind seems to have left me.” Ebudae suddenly had
knowledge of a pouch in the cabinet that would do the trick. Tina
picked up the chest of coins to offer, but Ebudae shook her head
and went to get the pouch. The cabinet doors were still open and
she was able to grab it without disturbing Shade.

The soldier slung the body over his
shoulder. It was unceremonious, but Ebudae didn’t care and she
handed the pouch to Omira. “There are a few gems in here. I give
them freely to your temple. May the light of Reanna keep you warm.”
Ebudae didn’t worship Reanna, but she did like the goddess.

“Thank you for your generosity, Milady. May
Reanna part the darkness for you.” Omira and followed the soldier
out.

Ebudae sat with Shade. “Tina, will you
please get my bunny some hay or vegetables and a small bowl of
water?”

She didn’t know if Tina did or not due to
the fact that she fell asleep on the couch with Shade still in her
arms.

Chapter
21

Pelya stared at the three bodies hanging
from the ceiling. They had been brutally tortured before their
deaths. She didn’t understand how anyone could do such a thing to
another person. It didn’t make any sense at all.

Frath’s arm came around her shoulders, his
sword still in hand, but held away from her. “They were probably
left there as an example of what would happen to any slaves who
tried to escape. It’s times like this when I wish I had taken you
to a different city, somewhere nice and safe. It would kill me if
anything like that happened to you.”

She fortified her resolve. “I’ll be alright,
Daddy. You’re the best father ever and you’re not allowed to think
otherwise. Is that clear?” Pelya looked him in the eye, largely to
avoid looking at the bodies.

“Judging by what a wonderful daughter I
have, I’ll not argue.”

She wrapped her arms around him and buried
her face in his chest. The fact that he wasn’t wearing his chain
shirt felt odd.

“It is good to see such a strong familial
bond in humans, but we have matters to attend to,” Zaan said. His
higher voice had affection for them while the lower chastised for
wasting time. It was an extraordinary effect that awed Pelya as she
separated from her father.

“No people down here. Must go upstairs,”
Erma said from the bottom of a recently renovated, stone
staircase.

The room appeared to be a staging area for
slaves and smuggled goods. There were tables around the edges and
chains hanging on the walls. Two large, empty cages like the ones
under the previous warehouse were set against the far wall.
Lanterns cast ominous shadows throughout the room, but Pelya shook
off the dark feelings. “I promise to keep my wits about me. I
shouldn’t have reacted like that.”

“Easier said than done,” Frath said. “I’m
happy that it horrifies you. It means you haven’t become jaded.” He
headed up the stairs, moving just as silently as Erma.

Frath stopped at a wooden door on the left
side of the landing and checked it. It was locked, so he went
through the keys to find the right one. Erma moved halfway up while
Pelya and Zaan stayed at the bottom. “I can pick the lock,” Pelya
whispered up. He gave her a disapproving look and shook his head.
“It’s good for me to practice,” Pelya whispered again. Every lock
was a challenge to her. He stared at her with a gaze that brooked
no further argument.

Erma made her way up the stairs. Zaan moved
halfway up and gestured for Pelya to remain at the bottom. It
bothered her that they faced all the danger, but she realized they
were adults and would do so whether it bothered her or not. She
dutifully watched the doors behind them for any sign of trouble.
Someone had shut them when she wasn’t paying attention.

Frath opened the door and slipped inside
with Erma following. Zaan dashed to the doorway and made ready to
cast a spell with his upper hands. He visibly relaxed and gestured
that it was clear for her to follow.

A hallway led to another set of stairs.
There were two open doors on the left wall and Frath came out of
the far one. He went to the bottom of the next set of stairs and
looked up to the left. He turned around and told Zaan and Pelya,
“There was one person. He’s unconscious. This second room is an
office. I think we can get some of their records.” He went back
inside.

Pelya followed Zaan. A brief glimpse showed
that the first room was a storage room filled with crates, most
likely illegal goods.

Erma had just finished tying up a clerk
wearing Blavoci’s yellow colors. Frath was behind the desk,
flipping through an open log. He looked up. “Pelya, help me find
any records of illegal goods or of people being smuggled. Erma, you
don’t know how to read, do you?”

She shook her head. “No. Taught other things
in the orphanage and other places.”

“Please watch the hallway while we check
these books,” Frath requested. She nodded and slunk out of the
room.

“What do we need with the books? Why are
they important?” Zaan asked.

Pelya answered as she went over to a
bookshelf with logbooks. “There should be information in them that
will prove Blavoci is kidnapping people and other illegal
activities. If we find that proof, then we can shut down his
holdings and prevent any more kidnappings.” One of her more boring
classes was on how to scan financial tables for illegal activities
and forgeries. She began skimming through the books.

“That will make it more difficult for my
enemies to function. I shall assist.” Zaan began flipping through
logbooks next to her.

Over the next twenty minutes, Pelya helped
him decipher the different items written and what would be
incriminating. The Rojuun read the human writing without
difficulty.

“Taking too long,” Erma said impatiently
from the doorway. “We rescue people, not books.”