“You could have just told them everything.” He said after a moment, looking at her thoughtfully. She appraised him. Beneath his constant shadow of a beard he actually had a rather pleasant face, perhaps in his early forties, and his rather penetrating grey eyes were softer than normal, the faint lines around his eyes crinkling with amusement.
“They would have stoned me. Did you hear their reaction?”
“Yes.”
“Well?”
“Perhaps.”
“Absolutely. Women are vicious protectors of the status quo.”
“I’ve never heard it put that way before. I always just think, judging bitches.” She half choked on her food, and let out a coughing laugh.
“That too. Listen, do you have any brushes for cleaning? “He pointed to a set of shelves behind him,
“Yeah, why?”
“It was also messy.” He winced and she shrugged. “Not my fault, I was an innocent bystander… but I’d like to get them clean nonetheless.”
“Really? I don’t have to?” He looked surprised.
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“You’re the only one who thinks so. But I’m glad you do. Help yourself.” He cleaned up the plates and she took what she needed and headed for the creek with her load. Inside everything was dimly lit and it was near impossible to tell the time, but outside the sun was bright and high, illuminating the jade grass brilliantly. The air was fresh and clear and she paused to appreciate the raw beauty of the place, the broken shoreline, and windswept pastures.
She dumped her laundry, including the damp dress at the creek and settled herself into her work. By the time she was done she had a thin layer of sweat covering her skin. She hung everything out on branches to let them dry and air properly and removed her own clothes, laying them out on a small boulder by the water. The water was cold, but refreshing, and soothed the parts of her that were still tender. The ache was slowly ebbing away and the combination of the cool water moving over her skin and the heat caused by her memories of the previous night, memories that were insidiously slipping their way into her mind, were replacing that ache with tingling warmth instead.
She was considering turning her body up stream to sooth this new sort of ‘ache’ when a strange vibration ran through the ground beneath her. It happened again, and repeated itself, growing stronger until it felt as though it were directly beneath her before disappearing completely. She rose from the creek and wrung the water from her hair. As she reached for her clothes she felt the eyes on her again, and this time when she turned she was sure there was someone there. She called out nervously, and to her relief Thelios emerge silently from the trees.
She was not insensible to the irony of that relief. Habit made her cover herself and her pulse raced. He was looking directly at her and gave her a small smile, but strode towards the water, leaning down and splashing it over himself. She pulled her clothes back on and sat on a nearby rock watching him. A number of ewes and lambs stumbled out of the trees behind him also looking for water.
“Whose sheep are those?”
“Mine.”
“Really?” She didn’t see him as a shepherd.
“Yes, really. What did you think I was doing all day?”
She shrugged. She hadn’t really thought about it, her mind had been otherwise occupied.
“Terrorizing a small village?”
He gave her a sharp look and she made a valiant attempt to bite back her grin until he smirked first, causing her to lose the fight.
“Did you console the others yet?” He asked washing his arms. Her heart sunk a little.
“Attempted.” He looked back at the water.
“I see. What did you tell them?”
“The truth… more or less.” He gave her a sly smile.
“How much less?”
“I didn’t think examples were necessary.” He chuckled slightly, but it sounded humourless.
“And they reacted badly. Let me guess, they’d rather die?” Had he already spoken to Demitiri? She was going to say no, but he looked at her, seriously this time. “And don’t lie, it wouldn’t become you.” She closed her mouth and looked at her hands.
“Maybe if I sent you one at dinner, tonight, one of the less skittish ones, then they’d see… they’d believe me. I think they just have trouble believing me you see.” He stood straight and came to stand over her looking like silver again in the sun. She resisted the urge to touch him, to test if he was real.
“Somehow I don’t think that will help. But do what you must. Keep in mind though, I will hold you responsible for the results.” Her stomach twisted.
“You said no death right?” she reminded him, worrying the cloth under her fingers. He touched her face lightly and she blinked.
“Don’t be silly. I’ll merely take my frustrations out on you instead. I’m sure you’ll survive the second time as well as you did the first.” The cold in her stomach melted, and her legs went with it.
“One can only hope my lord.” He released her face and looked around at the strange hanging garden she’d created.
“I’ll be in shortly; there are a few more I have to collect.” He gestured to the sheep. “Let Demitri know.” She nodded her compliance and stood as he strode away, her knees wobbly and her face still prickling from where he’d touched her.
She still hadn’t decided what to do about the other girls when dinner rolled around, so she thought she’d let Demitri decide for her.
“The fair one then.” He said rinsing the wine residue from one of the jugs.
“Any particular reason why?”
“Looks better? I don’t know. You said pick.” She’d given him a choice of three girls she thought were least likely to cry or break down in a fit of panic. She nodded, good enough reason. “Any reason you won’t pick?” She shrugged and picked at the olives.
“I feel like I’m prostituting them.” He grinned at her evilly.
“Easier if I prostitute them for you?” She watched an olive roll off the plate and stopped it with her finger.
“Do you think he’ll like her?” She was very pretty she thought, remembering the girl from the ride. She’d thought she was pretty then too, more than the majority of them, and far more than herself.
“Depends. Hard to judge any mans taste, least of all one as odd and particular as the master. Why? Worried he’ll take it out on you if he’s mad? He won’t you know, men that big don’t need to beat up on women. Not when there’s plenty of men out there who are more satisfying.” He grinned and winked at her. She smiled back. He was turning out to be a surprisingly friendly fellow, brusque and impatient perhaps, but by no means cruel or as miserable as he initially seemed.
“No, I’ve been informed already of my… culpability… I just wonder if he’ll like her, that is if she manages to stay calm enough.”
“No, I knew none of you would do, too weepy… present company excluded, don’t know what’s wrong with you. They’ll all need to be coddled and he doesn’t have it in him.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me!” she defended.
“Sure you’re a deviant.” She could feel the blood rising to her face.
“I am not. Just because I choose to be pragmatic and make the best of…” He was laughing at her and she stopped. “Don’t laugh at me. This whole situation is very difficult for me.”
“Girl you’ve got one rare set of balls on you. Chiding your captors.” He was still mocking her.
“Well maybe they deserve it. Is she there yet?” Her mind flitted back to the dining room.
“Not yet, just going to get her… want to come?”
“Should I?”
“Whatever you want.”
“What do you think would be easier on her?”
“How should I know.” She decided to go with him, and motioned him forward. She waited outside while he went in and picked her out. She heard wailing and winced, thankfully the girl in question looked stunned, but wasn’t yet in tears. Calliope smiled encouragingly and took her hands in hers giving them a squeeze.
“He wants to meet you… all of you. It’s alright, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” The girl looked between the two of them questioningly.
“He’s just having supper now,” she started leading her by the hand towards the dinning room, and felt guilty as hell looking into that terrified face. “He’s really very nice, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“But you said he wanted…” Calliope winced inwardly. Perhaps she should have kept that to herself.
“It’s more of a theory really, he never mentioned anything specifically.” Well it wasn’t totally a lie, but she was glad the girl had her back to Demitri who rolled his eyes. She shot him a look and put an arm around the girls shoulder, pausing at the door. She took the girls hands in hers again. “Just breath and stay calm, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Really. Just be yourself and pretend it’s just like any other meeting you’ve had. Alright?” She nodded, but Calliope had a feeling it wasn’t the tiniest bit alright.