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Chapter Nine

Part One

The smell of some kind of spicy stew tickled Salia’s nose and drew her out of her slumber. Her stomach responded to the scent with an alarmingly loud rumble. She stared at the red quilt beneath her for a moment, and then sat up and looked around for the source. A small table and chair, just the right height for her, sat in the corner by a window. A strange lidded pot sat on it and the smell was coming from it.  It was warm to the touch, and when she lifted the lid she saw a rich, brown stew made with some kind of meat. Her stomach rumbled again as she picked up the spoon and prodded the lumps of meat suspiciously.

“It’s not poisoned, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Salia jumped and looked up. Lyrekka was standing behind her. How had she not sensed her? She wanted to ask, but all that came out was a squeak. Lyrekka obviously understood though.

“My hunger tends to disturb my charges, so I mask it,” she said. “Now be a good girl and eat up and then I’ll show you around.” She patted Salia’s head.

Salia gulped fearfully and prodded the stew again. When she made no actual attempt to start eating she heard Lyrekka sigh.

“It really isn’t poisoned, Salia. Why would we waste all that effort to get you here just to poison you?”

Salia shook her head. “It’s not that,” she managed finally.

Lyrekka gave her a puzzled frown and then shook her head. “Oh, I see! No, it’s not made with Trystilri flesh. It’s just venison.”

“Tryst-what?” Salia asked blankly.

“Oh, sorry. It isn’t Speaker Flesh. It’s from a non-speaker deer. You know, you’re the first one to actually worry about that. I think I’m going to like you.” She took the spoon from Salia’s hand, scooped up some of the stew and held it to her lips. “Now, be a good girl and eat up.”

Something brushed Salia’s mind gently and then the stew was in her mouth and she was chewing on a tender lump of venison. She didn’t want to like it but it really was very good.

“There you are, it’s not so bad is it?” Lyrekka placed the spoon back in her hand and ruffled her hair again.

“That’s not fair,” Salia said between mouthfuls. Try as she might she couldn’t stop eating.

“Fair would be letting you starve yourself?” Lyrekka said. “Gerian-mirian has given me responsibility for your welfare. If I let you starve yourself I’d be failing at my charge, and I think you’d appreciate being force-fed by me even less.”

Salia scowled at her gaoler but finished the stew in silence before finally looking around at her prison properly.

It didn’t really look much like a dungeon at all. In fact, it reminded her of her bedroom at home. Except it was furnished in red goblin silk and glossy dark wood rather than the light colours of home. There was even a collection of toys similar to hers.

A few things gave its true nature away, however. The thick bars on the windows and the fact there was no way to open them, for one. The heavy wooden door had no bolt on the inside and the lock looked like it would only work from the outside.

“Come on.” Lyrekka took Salia’s hand and drew her to her feet. “Let me give you a tour of your new home.” She pushed open one of the doors to reveal a bubbling, scented pool. “This is your bathroom. The water’s always warm and refreshes itself regularly.” She led her to a small alcove. “And this is the toilet.”

Salia peeked down the toilet hole and was disappointed to see that it led into a dark pit rather than outside and there were bars about two foot down it anyway. But then the hole looked too small for her to climb down anyway. Lyrekka gave a soft chuckle.

“Even if you could, you’d just land in a pile of stinking waste in the cellar,” she said. “Not very pleasant. Come on.” She ushered Salia out of the bathroom and opened the door to a huge walk-in wardrobe. It was full of goblin silk clothing in various styles, but all the same deep red colour as the furnishings and Lyrekka’s own gown. “As you can see, we have plenty of clothes for you.” She pulled a tunic and skirt from one of the hangers. “Yours are all torn up. You should change before I show you the rest of the wing.” She handed the clothing to Salia and clapped her hands. A red-eyed goblin whose ears and angular cheekbones suggested that she might be half-haltia appeared. “This is Makina; she’ll be your personal maid. Makina, help Salia get changed.”

Salia considered fighting but what would be the point? She let the goblin woman help her out of her ruined dress and into the clothing Lyrekka had picked for her. They were soft against her skin and fitted perfectly.

Once she was changed, Lyrekka took her hand again and led her out into the corridor.

“You’ll have the run of this wing during the day. At least when you aren’t having lessons.” she said. “Though the doors to the rest of the palace will remain locked unless you’re summoned. The others live in this wing as well, but they’ll both be busy at the moment, so I’ll introduce you later.”

Lessons sounded ominous when a dragon talked about them, Salia decided. Then she registered that Lyrekka kept talking about others.

“What others?” she asked.

“You aren’t the only one important to Gerian-mirian’s plan, you know?” Lyrekka said. “You’re the third Trys… third speaker child he’s placed in my care in the last few months. The other two should finish their lessons soon. Let me show you the garden next.”

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