For the umpteenth time that morning Rena blew a rebellious strand of hair out of her eyes. Her copper colored hair was getting a little too long to manage so she had started to braid it loosely down her back or wear it up just a long as it was out of the way. And for today's task of feeding the man-eating plants, her hair was definitely up.
Despite being surrounded by monstrous plants both my nature and by creation (some of Mozenrath's experiments) they never seemed to bother her as long as she kept calm and fed them on time. She dragged in a whole half a cow's worth of meat in a wheelbarrow and that was just for the giant Venus flytrap in the center of the room. She wheeled it into position and it dumped the load in front in front of the monster so as to prevent it from eating the cart too. Her master would be most upset since it had eaten 3 of them already this month.
She spread out seed and water for the other plants and was in the middle of tossing chunks of chicken parts at the snap-dragons when they began to hiss angrily and turn their attention toward the door. Surprised by their actions Rena turned and screamed.
There in front of her stood a green skinned man with yellow eyes and foul expression. He glared at her with disapproval, one taloned hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his side, sharp pointy teeth showing as he spoke with a hiss. "I've come to ssssee your Masssster…"
"Oh!" She stammered, clearing her throat in nervousness. She tossed the rest of the chicken to the plants and wiped her hands on her apron. "Yes, sorry, this way please."
Nervous as mouse being followed by a yellow-eyed cat Rena hastily moved through the corridors towards the lab, the guest behind her not making a sound. Not even his footfalls. That alone was so unnerving she was tempted to turn around and make sure he was still following but the feel of his gaze on her back assured her he was still there.
Rena hastily knocked on the lab door, calling out for Mozenrath before he even had time to answer. "Mo…Master Mozenrath, you have a guest here to see you."
The opened almost instantly, the dark sorcerer in his more formal attire, complete with turban, which was not as common as one might think when he worked in the lab. Rena assumed it was more for show than for any other reason. He smiled his usual wicked smile and eyed the lizard-like man behind her. "Ah, the Mukhtar. Right on time. Punctual, I like that."
The Mukhtar only hissed in reply simply stepping past the confused woman and entered the lab, its door hastily shut in her face.
Taking it as her sign to leave Rena turned and began to walk away when the lab door clicked open again. "Rena," Mozenrath called so sweetly it made her sick to her stomach, "Be a lamb and start dinner already. I'm in the mood for something extravagant before my bath tonight."
Her eye twitched slightly. "Yes Master Mozenrath." She called as the door closed.
"What is up with him?" She asked herself as she headed down the stairs. "I haven't seen him this happy since…" Rena paused halfway down the stairs and turned to look back. "He's plotting again. Oh hell, what's he up to now…"
With a hasty retreat she hustled down the stairs toward the kitchen to start the requested feast. There was only one good perk about Mozenrath in a good mood…he liked to tell everyone about it.
She been in the middle of making an "extravagant" meal for her master when he'd appeared, making her jump and squeak in surprise. He stood on the opposite side of the tall table just watching her with an expressionless gaze. "Oh…h-hello…" She stammered, clearing her throat. "Can I help you with something?"
He didn't respond.
Rena tried again, her irritation keeping the awkwardness at bay a bit. "Please, sit. Would you like something to eat or drink?"
"Water." Was all he said before he sat on the stool next to him, his gaze following her as she moved around the space. He eyed her as she placed the cup of water in front of him, observing it for a moment, sniffing it even before taking a drink.
"It's not poisoned if that's what you're worried about." She said flatly, hands on her hips. "I had it pulled fresh from the well this morning."
He said nothing as he downed the drink, but simply nodded in thanks to her, pushing it forward for want of another cupful.
"You are not from thisssss land." He hissed as she refilled his cup.
She paused for a second to give him a look of surprise before shaking her head. "No, I'm not. Mozenrath found me on his doorstep several season's back and made me his servant to repay him. I have no memory of how got that far though."
"I have ssssseen many with your coloring to the North of thissss place." He said simply. "Mosssst are from the Bronze Ccccity."
That got her attention. "I've heard of it before. Someone told me a sad tale about the queen there once."
"The place issssss cursed." The Mukhtar said simply. "Esssspecially the royal family."
With her pot simmering behind her she had time to sit across from him and listen, her fear lessened as he spoke leaving only a mild awkwardness between the two. "What kind of curse?"
"It isssss said that the king was cursssssed by a witch he had inssssssulted. Cursssssed to only bear one child in hisssss lifetime."
"I heard this part. The queen died in childbirth as did the baby."
The mukhtar glared a bit. "The child lived."
Rena quirked her eyebrow in surprise. "Really?"
"Ssssshe has never been ssssseen before. Ssssssealed away in a tower so no man may gazzzzze on her beauty."
Her interest suddenly turned to concern. "Why are you telling me all this?"
"There is ssssomething ssssspecial about you." He paused, sniffing the air. "A ssssscent of magic other than that of thisss land." He stood, raising to his full height and pointing a finger to her. "There isssss an innocencccce to your aura. Ssssuch gentility should never be tainted by the dark powersssss of thisssss world. Go back to your homeland and be gone of thissss placccce."
Rena's brown eyes sparked with fear and anger. "This is my home and I will not be bullied out of a perfectly good job! And if you're talking about leaving just because Mozenrath uses black magic you're preaching to crowd because I've heard this song and dance before. Besides, he needs me…at the very least he needs three square meals a day!"
The mukhtar's gaze softened slightly with curiosity and surprise. "Very well." He turned and headed toward the exit pausing only for a moment. "May you ssssssuffer your own choicessss."