Chapter Six - THE HOUSE BY THE HILL

The taste of the fruit is sharp in my mouth as I try to peel it with my teeth. As we, the simpleton and I, sit in the back of the repulorwagon on our continuing journey to the capital city we have learnt to share many things. One thing, however, I will not allow him to do is peel fruit. He has large clumsy hands and the goodness of fruit is belittled when it is handed to you in a mashed pulp.

I spit the skin out of the vehicle and then dig my thumb into the fruit, using the stump of my other arm to hold it as steady as possible and I split the fruit as best I can. I hand the bigger piece to the simpleton - he is larger than I and is now of a paler colour than when we left the trainer’s house - and he takes it gladly. In two bites it is gone and he grins at me with a moist chin.

I suck on the juice of my half as I look out of the cart. The energy cage is unlocked and powered down now that my master is sure that the simpleton is no threat and there is little point in keeping a man who is supposed to be a bodyguard under restraint. The sword lies on the floor of the cart and within reach, although I slap the simpleton’s hand away from it several times.

As we travel this road I try to think of a name for the simpleton but none come to me. I do not wish to call him Trunk for when I had mentioned it his expression of sadness reminded me of the way he used to be called it with derision. He is a kind and gentle man, even if conversation is impossible, and it is nice to have company where there is no fear of anger or argument. We make good travelling companions, he and I. He cannot speak and I do not wish to although he listens to what I have to say but if he understands, or even cares, I do not know.

I have not talked to Anto for many days. My position as a slave would make it awkward, that much I am sure of, so I do not even try to attract his attention. He has far more pressing things on his mind at this moment and I feel that his push towards the capital city is one of urgency. If he is overjoyed at the prospect of returning home and that is why he pushes his men I cannot tell. All I know is that one of the energy cells in the lead repulsorwagon died this morning and it appears as though we will not be keeping up with the cohort.

My master is dismayed at this. Although he would never have been able to enter the capital city with a military escort he is quite perplexed that he is being left far behind.

Anto’s words still pound in my head as I hang on the edge of sleep. I do not know if I hate him for telling me I was a coward or for telling me the truth. Perhaps I always knew that I was afraid of facing the truth and feel robbed of the chance of convincing myself of it. He is my friend, and I do not wish him ill. He was the one who carried me from the battlefield and nursed me back to health. Is he also trying to heal me of my emotional wounds?

Such thoughts are useless, I know, but I cannot help thinking that he is judging me, now that he is a Commander. This, too, makes me angry.

As night approaches we come into the grounds of a grand house at the base of a high hill. It is surrounded by purple swaying fields and long, neat rows of grapevines and orchards. There are various people working the fields and vines and my master calls out to some of them in greeting as we travel the short road to the house gates. The men he calls to obviously know him for they return the greeting with wide smiles and loud voices.

The house is a large affair of three stories, a strange sight indeed as it tapers into a triangular roof, surrounded by a wall that appears to have no guards. As we approach the gate it is already open and another speeder is coming out with containers of some produce in the rear. The driver of the speeder calls out my master’s name and a greeting and my master returns the shout with a wish of good fortune at the market. We must be near a town or city for the driver does not seem equipped for a long journey.

Inside the walls there are several other buildings, one with the sweet smell of grapes and wine drifting from its open doors, and as we climb down from the transports an old man, with white hair and a small curly beard, approaches from that same building with reddened feet and his clothing tucked up between his legs. With the roundness of his body and the thinness of his legs it is a comical sight to behold. He hails my master with a deep voice that seems to belie his age.

   “Ho, Maru,” is his shout as he walks towards the carts. “You have chosen a fine time to come to my house!”

My face changes from a small smile to a shocked expression. The owner of this fine house, lowering himself to crushing grapes? The man is either very enthusiastic about his estate or very bored.

   “’Tis the season to be pressing for wine, Livu,” my master calls back. “I would say my timing is perfect to try out your newest batch.”

The men shake hands and then the man called Livu casts a glance over the repulsorwagon from which the simpleton and I have departed. I hang my sword and blaster from my belt and move to take my place at Maru’ side.

   “Not many slaves for the market this year, I see,” Livu muses as he looks me up and down and then makes a face of disgust as the simpleton falls into his perception. “What, is Udjein Major not presenting you with trade?”

   “I sold my slaves to the trainer Monima,” Maru explains. “He gave me a good price for half-decent men.”

   “Ah, Monima,” Livu nods with understanding. “He will have to build up his resources if he is to get through the next few weeks.”

My master appears confused. “Why is this?”

   “Have you not heard? It is why I am surprised at your lack of slaves – there has been a decree that there are to be days upon days of games to celebrate Prime Lord Atheus’s victory over the Setnin Sector.”

I am not surprised at this although my master’s face is awash with shock, most of which is exaggerated. “Games? Oh, if only I knew of this I would have charged him more!”

The two men laugh until Livu motions to me. “A bodyguard, I take it? And such a strange one. I do not think I would have chosen a... well...”

   “A cripple?” Maru says bluntly and I tense. It has been many days since I have been referred to as that but even now the words anger me. “But you have not seen him fight, Livu. Besides, my guards are worthless and I have angered Monima somewhat.”

   “Ah, say no more of it. I know it is not wise to upset Monima the Vengeful. But where are my manners? Come, eat and drink with me and tell me why you are in such trouble.” As if with an afterthought he waves in our direction as he walks away. “You can lock your slaves in the lower house, if you wish.”

Maru motions to the guards to see to the simpleton but motions for me to follow him. As I take the first few steps towards the house I hear muted moaning behind me.

All eyes regard the simpleton as he struggles with the two men who are to take him to the cell, his eyes on mine with an imploring look. I, in turn, look at my master.

   “My Lord, if I may take care of my friend?” I ask with a slight bow at the waist. Maru looks at me with impatience and waves his hand with a dismissive air.

   “If you must. But hurry and join me, I own you for a reason.”

It takes a long time to get the simpleton settled. We have not been separated for many days and I have the feeling that he thinks he will not see me again. I stroke his hair and talk in a low soothing tone. I wish him to go to sleep quickly – if I do not join my master with promptness he will be upset and probably embarrassed in front of his host and I do not wish that.

   “Sleep, my friend,” I whisper but he does not listen. With lessened urgency he grabs my hand each time I stand to leave, and after a time he slowly closes his eyes and falls to sleep.

He is not well, that much I can see. His skin is pale and his clothes soaked with sweat. The last few nights he has been uneasy in his sleep and has been relieving himself whilst he slumbers and I am afraid for his health. Slowly and quietly I slip from the room and lock it, handing the key to another of Maru’ slaves who sits outside the door. He is not a guard -  there is simply nowhere else for him to sleep for he refuses to share the room with the simpleton.

I find my way into the house and approach what I think is the dining hall. As I head down the pristine corridor, decorated as it is with drapes and marble, I prepare myself for an evening of simply standing in a corner with my hands behind my back whilst my master drinks himself into a stupor and feeds his belly.

A small face catches my attention to my right and I sharply glance over. I have my hand on my sword hilt, for the face appears out of nowhere and appears to have been hiding in the shadows of the corridor’s pillars, and prepare myself.

But it is simply a young woman in fine gowns and jewellery. Her face is of a tanned complexion, her hair dark as night and piled up on her head, touched by gem and crystal. I watch as she walks around me, at a slight crouch that increases my suspicion of her, and admires me as a person would a statue of Prime Lord Atheus himself.

   “Is there something I may do for you, my Lady?” I ask politely, my deep rough voice not suiting the words. She is obviously of some importance and I do not wish to offend.

She looks at me, her eyes lingering discomfortingly on my lack of arm, and then looks at me directly in the face.

   “Is it true?” she asks, almost demands. She smells of crushed petals and wine.

I cock my head with confusion but before I can ask her meaning she adds with impatience, “The fight. At the trainer’s house. Did you really kill four fighters?”

   “I did kill four, but they were not fighters.”

Again her gaze drifts down to my arm and she smiles. “I do not believe it,” she says.

   “It does not serve me to lie of my achievements, my Lady,” I answer, much to her annoyance. Then her face is swept over by a mischievous look that, strangely, is both appealing and disturbing at the same time.

It should have been obvious to me at that time that I was talking to a woman that was used to having things her own way. She may have been Livu’s daughter, most likely granddaughter considering his age and her youth, and that in turn meant she had the freedom of the house. She did not appear to be the kind of person who would reduce herself to menial tasks as Livu would but I do not wish to judge her as she is judging me and my abilities.

   “If you will excuse me, my Lady, I must join my master,” I say politely and move to leave but she blocks my way.

   “He will not miss you. they will just drink too much wine and talk of their days as soldiers, that is all.”

Maru? A soldier? I had not thought such a thing possible, the size of the man, but age had obviously caught up with him and maybe his strength had turned into indulgence.

   “So why do you travel to the capital city?” she asks, still standing in my way. Suddenly her eyes light up and she becomes excited, almost breathless. “Are you to be a fighter?”

I shake my head. “No, my Lady, I am not. I serve my master Maru as a bodyguard, nothing more.”

She appears a little deflated by this but then smiles. “A shame. I would have liked to have seen you prove the story of your battle in the arena.”

I am strangely relaxed in her presence. She talks freely and does not mind conversing with me. She is attractive and I find her as appealing as any slave could of a woman of such social standing as she appeared to have.

   “I have never seen the capital city,” I say as the conversation pauses. “Is it far?”

She holds a hand to her mouth and giggles. “Is it far?” she says in a small voice around her laughs.

Without warning she grabs my sword hand and pulls me towards the door of the house. I am shocked indeed – for a woman of her status to be found touching a mere slave would mean a severe flogging for me – but I resist only slightly as I follow. “My Lady, I cannot...”

   “I am the lady of this house and I command you to follow,” she says through her smile and pulls me harder. Not wanting to disappoint her, and more than a little curious at her insistence, I follow her lead.

As we head out of the gates of the house she picks up her complicated dress and begins to run lightly through the orchard next to the house and up the hill. I am aghast. For a lady to be out and about without protection of night time is hardly a wise thing to do. With hissed warnings I follow her into the darkness.

There is no one else about and I follow her up the hill. The air is cool and my sweat chills my skin, but it is a pleasant feeling. Small creatures cry in the dark, making me snap my head around to identify the animal but they do not present themselves. I do not deny that I am slightly afraid. This is unknown country to me and I still have not yet got used to the strange sounds that permeate the night.

Ahead, the woman is standing atop the hill and staring. I wonder as to why she appears to be glowing with orange light, for there is no full moon this evening, and as I crest the hill I understand why.

Oh, what a beautiful site confronts me! What a joyous feeling that seems to wash down my body as if happiness has been captured in a goblet and poured over me!

Ahead, carefully arranged fields, ending with a huge gate that was merely part of a long, high wall, surround a long road. Within the wall was the capital city.

What splendour! What magnificence! Great buildings, surrounded by pillar or roofed with blue reflective tile, high columns topped by statues of figures and beasts, spread out over a vast landscape which still contained wide spaces and enclosures of water. It is, truly, the heart of the Ki-Ki Sector and I can feel the earth ripple beneath my feet with every beat of the mighty city. Even in the night it glowed with brilliance as lights burned atop the walls and within the streets and buildings. It appeared deserted for at this distance I could not discern people but I felt that it did not need citizens within its walls for it appeared as a living thing with form and structure and purpose.

Any doubt I had about the power of the Ki-Ki Sector is washed away as I gaze upon the very centre of our Sector. This was what I had always wanted to see and, very soon, I would be walking the heart of Fedarn, of the Ki-Ki Sector as a whole.

   “Welcome to my home,” the lady says to me in a soft voice, and I notice she is watching my face intently. Her eyes are soft and her chest heaves with deep breaths from the climbing of the hill.

I do not wish to hold that gaze. I do not wish to travel the path that she presents. Or walk the road that I desire.