If the dye is magicked, how does Vistra get the dye off?

She uses a special mixture of herbs and what not to wash it off.

So Clarine and Nathan went to watch the execution for Clarine's birthday?

Well, that was definitely not the way Nathan had wanted to celebrate. But Clarine had insisted. She felt guilty, celebrating her birthday while at the same time, in the very same city, someone was to be executed.

Why did Axe look at Nathan so coldly?

Well, Axe wasn't exactly pleased that Nathan left for a noble lady, but he was more understanding that Vistra had been. But he also didn't like how Nathan had hurt Vistra. Axe is very protective of Vistra and dislikes it when she is harmed in any way, physcially, mentally, emotionally.

Does General Aleyn have anything to do with the Raven Armory?

I don't believe so.

And how do you pronounce Aleyn's name?

Al-in.

Author's Note: Well, I'll try to put up a website as quickly as possible, but considering my computer skills… blah. Oh yes, and we get to meet new characters in this chapter. Aren't you pleased?

11. First Day in the Castle

Nobles' Bane: Chapter 9

"So, you're the new one we got today, eh?"

Vistra nodded. "Yes, I'm here to take Marlette's place."

Lousan Mial, a woman in her mid-forties, stared at Vistra. Then she nodded. "Good. You're a tad small, but you look able. What's your name?"

"Alisse," Vistra said dutifully to the woman who was in charge of the servants in the castle.

"Alisse, have you met the other servants of the household?"

"Not yet."

"Well, there are three others. Delice, Morna, and Rye. You'll meet them later. You are in charge of the upkeep of the castle. Keep the rooms clean, the hallways dust-free, the lanterns working, and you'll be fine.

"I have to do all that?" Vistra said with wide eyes.

Lousan gave her an odd look. "You'll have the slaves to help you, of course. But you're in charge of overseeing and making sure everything is running smoothly."

"You have every second and sixth day of the week free, but during the others you will be here, working. Don't slack off, don't be disrespectful to the resident nobles, and don't become pregnant."

Vistra blinked and smiled shyly. "I'll do my best."

Lousan returned her smile. "All right then. If you've got all your things settled, I suggest you begin." She turned and walked away.

Vistra's fake smile dropped as she glanced around at the small building that the servants quartered within. Most of her things were unpacked and lying upon her bed, but she did not feel like organizing it all at the moment.

She turned and strode out of the small building, staring up at the castle she was responsible for keeping clean.

She could almost hear Danel's laugh. Good thing he wasn't here.

She sighed. Maybe Danel had been right about her plan being hopeless after all.

~*~*~

Vistra spent the rest of the day getting to learn more about her job. She met the slaves whom she was in charge of, got a good look around the castle, and talked to the other servants.

It was all going pretty well. Considering.

But of course, the day had to be ruined by something. This something being General Aleyn.

She had been rushing through the halls looking for Lousan. But then she had passed a room with its door flung open, and a familiar voice shouting from inside.

General Aleyn was shouting words of reprimand to a young man who quietly stood in front of him. Just as she had shaken her head and was about to continue by the open door, General Aleyn saw her.

"What do you think you're looking at?" he snapped furiously.

Before General Aleyn had even finished his sentence, something came flying through the air and hit her right in the chest, throwing her against the wall and shattering on impact.

Vistra's neck snapped back, and her head bounced painfully off the wall. And there were glass shards everywhere, in her hands, her arms, her legs.

"Father!"

Vistra crumpled to the ground, and the floor swirled upward to meet her. But before she fell completely onto the glass spattered floor, arms caught her around the waist.

"I got you," someone murmured into her ear.

She cried out when she felt a piece of glass press deeper into her arm.

The man holding her cursed and apologized. "Just hold on," he said roughly.

Vistra vaguely felt herself being carried somewhere. Then she felt herself being laid down onto a soft surface.

"Are you all right?"

Vistra blinked, trying to regain her focus. But instead, amazingly, she started to cry.

Her tears obviously distressed the young man. "Hush," he whispered, laying her head on his chest and handing her a handkerchief. "Please don't cry." Her wet cheek left marks on his expensive shirt.

It wasn't that she wanted to cry. But the tears just wouldn't stop. It was just too much like that moment sixteen years ago, when she had flown through her glass window. The glass had been everywhere, just like it was now. But there was one thing that struck her as immediately different from the situation she had faced in the past.

This time the glass wouldn't be leaving her face any remarkable scars.

And with that thought, she was able to slowly calm her tears. She shielded her smudged face with his handkerchief, glad that the makeup she wore was magicked.

The young man who had helped her gently pushed her down onto the bed. For a moment, her breath caught. The stories of bastard children had by servant girls with their lords were infamous.

Oh, don't be an overreacting fool…

But then his hands started to run up her leg, over her knee.

Think like a servant…a servant…a servant…

She was successfully able to fight against the immediate instinct to kick him away from her, but she wasn't able to hide her flinch from his touch.

He glanced up at her, a frown creasing his forehead. "There are dots of blood on your skirt. I was just checking to make sure there were no glass pieces in your legs…"

"Oh."

She sat tensely, waiting for him to finish. His hands probed gently over the skin of her legs. Once everything was clear, he pulled his hands away and carefully lowered her skirt.

She flushed, feeling like an idiot for thinking so bad of him. "Sorry, I just--"

"I understand," he said quietly.

He ran his fingertips lightly over her arms, checking for more glass and pulling the little pieces out once he found them. She had to fight back shivers that his light caresses brought.

Once he was finished, he sat back and looked at her.

She was startled to see that she recognized him. Dark black curls fell about his forehead, unfathomable black eyes pierced her own gaze. It was the young lord whom she had met with Nathan that day she had stalked him in the market.

"Kenric?"

He smiled. "So the others have told you about me?"

She blinked. "Huh?"

He blinked. "What?"

They stared at each other.

"I'm Alisse, the new servant," Vistra said quickly, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Yes, I know," Kenric said. "And I'm Lord Kenric. General Aleyn's son."

General Aleyn's son… General Aleyn's son… General Aleyn's son…

And then, Oh gods.

She started to get off the bed. "Please, I'm sorry for interrupting you and your father. I didn't mean anything--"

He grabbed her by the wrist and stared at her with his black, black eyes. "So you didn't hear about me from the others, did you?"

"The others?" She shook her head. "Please, let me go. I'll be more careful next time, I promise."

He reluctantly let go of her wrist. "You've misunderstood me--" he started to say.

"I have to go." She quickly rushed out of the room.

Just a bit later, she collided with someone down the hallway.

"Oomph!"

She and the person whom she had crashed into fell to the floor.

"My lady!" a male voice cried out.

Vistra lifted her head and stared at the woman she had smashed into. She started to stumble to her feet but then immediately debased herself.

"I am sorry, my lady. I hope I did not do any damage with--."

Queen Janah shook her head and motioned to Vistra. "Stand up, girl. Don't drape yourself across the hallway that way. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Vistra said quietly. "I should have been more careful, I'm sorry--"

The queen laughed. "Don't worry, dearie, we all need to get tossed onto the floor some time or another--"

"Janah," the man beside the Queen frowned at her.

The queen turned to her companion. "Oh, don't be jealous, Athaniel. You could crash to the ground too, if you want." The queen then proceeded to step back and tried to ram into her escort.

He caught her in time and braced himself. "Janah."

The queen frowned. "Athaniel, you didn't fall to the ground like I and the girl did. Here let me try one more time--"

But she was held tight in her companion's grip. "Hush, Janah. Don't overtax yourself." He turned his gaze onto Vistra, who was watching the scene wide-eyed.

"Be careful while running through the halls of the castle. Next time you may not be so lucky as to only bump into the queen."

Only bump into the queen?

"I'm sorry," Vistra said sincerely. Then, more hesitantly, "Will she be all right?"

The man looked down tenderly at the queen. "All right? No, it is much too late for that." He nodded at Vistra. "Good night."

"Good night." She watched him lead the monarch away and then shook her head.

When she had gotten to the servant headquarters, she found the other servants there, waiting for her.

"Alisse, are you all right? We heard that General Aleyn hit you with one of the glass vases," Morna said with concern.

Delice snorted. "Of course, she's all right. Lord Tonerian took care of her."

Vistra blinked. "Lord Tonerian?"

Rye spoke with a pipe hanging out of the corner of his mouth, "Lord Kenric."

"Lord Kenric?"

Delice laughed. "Look how confused she is."

"What's all this racket?" Lousan suddenly entered the building. "Alisse, are you all right?" she asked when she spotted Vistra.

It had been such a long time since Vistra had been hit with so much concern. "Yes, I'm fine."

Lousan nodded. "Good." She turned to the others. "Go, off to bed now. Alisse is fine."

The other servants left for their own rooms, wishing good night to both Lousan and Alisse.

"Lousan, who is Lord Tonerian?" Vistra asked after a moment.

Lousan looked amused. "Lord Tonerian is General Aleyn's son."

Vistra frowned. "General Aleyn has two sons?"

Lousan shook her head. "No. He has one."

Now Vistra was really confused. Lousan saw the look on her face and laughed.

"General Aleyn has one son, whose name is Kenrictonerian."

Kenrictonerian…

"It's quite a mouthful, isn't it? His father calls him Tonerian. But Tonerian wishes for us to call him Kenric." Lousan shrugged. "Of course, we can if we want. But if General Aleyn hears us referring to him as Kenric…"

"I see," Vistra said.

"Did he take care of you after what his father did?"

"He took me to his room and proceeded to take out every glass shard personally," Vistra said.

Lousan's eyes narrowed slightly. "You don't like him," she stated.

I don't like any noble…

Vistra realized her mistake and immediately shook her head. "Don't like him? Of course I like him!" She let out a laugh. "He was very kind to me."

But Lousan was not to be fooled. "Do not judge him harshly. You will never meet another father and son who are more different. His father is disappointed in him, of course. He wants him to be harder, more cruel, more like himself. But he is not. And he has always been decent, no, more than decent to us. And the slaves."

Vistra had to stifle a snort. A lord being decent to a slave? This woman was being ridiculous.

"He sounds like a very nice young lord," Vistra said quietly.

Lousan nodded. "Yes. Because he really is."

After Lousan left, Vistra settled herself into her bed. She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, but couldn't help but think of the day's events.

Well, I suppose the day wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be…