The Chosen Page 4

  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.

  Chapter 2

  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’ s
ignal 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.”

  For the first time, Kathryn looked into Arianna eyes and then nodded in agreement.

  Kathryn was tiring quickly. She had had a long day and she hadn’t slept in the carriage ride to the palace. Arianna noticed the little girl’s exhaustion and as soon as the bird was fed put Kathryn to bed, tucking her in gently and softly humming a
tune Kathryn didn’t recognize. Within minutes she was fast asleep.

  She woke to someone gently calling her name. Panic seized her as she realized she’d slept late. Lady Blackwood would be furious. Shocked upright, Kathryn came awake prepared to leap out of bed but a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

  “Calm down, little one.” The calming voice was neither Lady Blackwood nor Claude. Slowly the events of the last night came back to Kathryn and she realized Arianna was the one waking her and not one of the other servants in the manor. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows, dazzling her vision.

  “Would you like some breakfast Kathryn?” Arianna asked as she pulled the blankets back and helped Kathryn sit up.

  Rubbing her eyes to clear her vision and unable to ignore the clenching pains in her stomach, which were just beginning to assert themselves, Kathryn nodded. She had eaten little in the days before her departure from Blackwood Manor and while she had survived on less she had learned long ago never to refuse food that was willingly offered.

  Arianna smiled. “Good, because breakfast will be here soon. Come and get dressed.” Going to the closet Arianna selected a blue dress and held it up for Kathryn to see, only Kathryn was no longer on the bed. Looking around she finally saw her kneeling next to the baby bird.

  Carrying the dress, Arianna knelt beside Kathryn. “This little one will be fine,” She promised. “Now let’s get you dressed.”

  The dress Arianna had chosen was too big for Kathryn’s frame. She frowned as she studied the other dresses in the armoire. Finally she shrugged. “Either we are just going to have to get new dresses made for you or we’re going to having to fatten you up a little,” she said as she helped Kathryn into the blue dress, spending a few minutes tucking and rearranging the fabric in several places to achieve a better fit. “It’s about thirty years out of date fashion-wise,” she said with a wry smile as she finished lacing up the back and turning the little girl around for a better look. “But it looks perfect on you.” She gave Kathryn another grin and began hunting around for stockings and shoes in the bottom of a chest next to the armoire. “Maybe,” she mused quietly, “we can ask the Queen if she has any of the princess’ old dresses that she would be willing to give you.”