Disclaimer: I'm not Tamora Pierce and I do not own any of the characters (except for Arella) or places.
Warning: if you do not like Domitan of Masbolle, then don't read this story!
Chapter 2
"This tastes horrible, you miserable wench!" CRASH went the wooden bowl filled with porridge, against the ground.
"Look what you made me do!" he angrily screamed. "Now I'll have to eat yours." With that he pulled Arella's bowl of porridge away from her. She had only eaten one mouthful and that would be all the food she got that day.
Later on when they were on their way, Ella leading the donkey with the supplies and her master riding his horse, it started pouring again.
"Dammit, we'll have to stop at that village up there till the rain stops.
As they approached they realized that it was not a village they were approaching, but rather a refugee camp, called New Hope.
"Who goes there?" asked a man from the walls.
"Two weary travelers who would like shelter from the rain."
When the gates opened they walked in to find two tall figures walking towards them.
"Hello, I'm Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, the commander of this camp. This is our chief healer, Sir Nealan of Queenscove. Since you've been out riding in the rain, he would like to examine you to make sure that you won't become sick. If you'll go with him my son, Tobe, will look after your horse and donkey. He has wild magic with horses, you see," Kel told them proudly. I'll explain about Tobe later
"Well, I guess we can be examined," the man said slowly.
"My name is Alexander Believe, and I'm a fur merchant heading to Corus. Oh, and this is my servant," he said the last part as if Ella didn't matter. She didn't care, she was used to it.
Kel's eyes hardened as she heard the off handed manner in which he dismissed his servant.
When Neal had finished examining them he told them that they were free to stay in the infirmary until they left. Alex accepted his offer.
Neal rushed off to see Kel. "I have to talk to you," he told her.
"You know that servant that came in with the fur merchant?"
"Of course! She looked nice, but he treated her so meanly."
"Well you aren't going to like this, but she has a back that has been severely lashed many, many times, probably as recently as last night. Also she has a magic choker on that prevents her from going more than 100 meters from her 'master'."
"Oh, Neal! That's horrible!" Kel says, jumping up and practically running to the infirmary.
When she gets to the door she stops and opens them as if she just came for a visit.
"I was just wondering if either of you would like some food while you wait?" Kel politely asks.
She saw the girl's eyes light up with hope and she glanced at her master and he glared at her. To the Lady Knight he said "I'll have some, but my servant just ate."
"Very well, Tobe here will lead you to the mess hall. Your servant may stay here if she wishes, no one will bother her." Kel explained.
"How far away is this mess of yours?" he questioned carefully.
"Only about 50 meters, sir," Kel sweetly replied.
As Alex walked out and the doors closed behind him, Arella sank to the Lady Knight's feet. "Thank you for even this brief respite from him Lady," she told Kel gratefully.
Looking down at her Kel frowned, called to Neal as she helped Arella to her feet.
"Did you heal her fully?" she questioned.
"Of course, Protector of the Small," Neal drawls.
"I f you want to live to see you next meal, you will stop calling me that stupid name, and take that blasted collar off her neck this instant!" Kel snapped.
"Okay, okay. No need to get testy!" he quickly says.
After the choker had been removed Kel sent two guards and told them to put Alex in the stocks.
"Now please tell us your story," Kel kindly asked the girl.
"Well, firstly me name be Arella Castor. Me friends used to call me Ella.
"Me village was burned and me parents killed two years ago, when I was 15. Alexander Beleive became me master after that.
"After a little whiles we moved 'cause Alex said a half burned village ain't no good for business. At first he was nice. But then he started giving me less and less grub.
"One night, afore I went to me bed, he called me into his room, told me he had a present for me, then slaps that cursed collar on me. The next night he started lashing me for things I did wrong durin' the day, real or 'maginary. Then he took away me bed roll and made me sleep on the floor after me lashes. Is been like that little more'n a year"
"Would you like to be my servant instead?" Kel asked.
Ella hesitated before answering. "I'm not sure milady," she said slowly.
"Will you get Tobe please?" Kel asked of the sparrow sitting on her shoulder.
At Ella's questioning glance Kel told her "all the camp's cats, dogs, and birds in the surrounding area have willingly been changed a little by magic so that they will understand humans, and we them."
Just then a breathless Tobe ran in. "You were wanting to see me, mother?" he asked.
Gathering Tobe in her lap she says to him "please tell this girl, Ella, what I made you do as my servant. I adopted him, you see," this last part to a confused looking Ella.
"Well, she makes me eat my vegetables and I have to have a bath every day," the boy told Ella.
"She didn't whip you, or starve you?"
"No, but me old master, Alvik, used to."
Here Kel took over the story. "Tobe was raised by the village midwife, and then when she died he became an indentured servant to a man named Alvik, who runs an inn not far from here. When the group of Knights and soldiers I was in at the time stopped there for the night, I found Alvik beating on Tobe. I bought his papers and he's been treated pretty well, ever since." Kel finished.
"Except for the vegetable thing," whispered the boy and startling a laugh out of Ella.
"I like vegetables and miss having baths, so I guess I would like to be your servant," Ella told them happily.
"Wonderful, now I'll just go tell your master that."
They find Ella's papers in one of Alex's bags and Kel walks towards the stocks. She steps in and throws 5 copper bits at the merchant's feet.
"You get those and no mention of this to the local magistrate if you sign your servant over to me," Kel tells him sternly.
Knowing he has lost he signs the papers, ties his donkey's lead reins to the horse's saddle, then mounts up and swiftly rides away, since the rain had stopped.
Kel looked at her new servant. "Let's get you cleaned up!" Kel told her joyously.