"Perfect," Razziel thought. "I have a job, a home, and food. The only problem is, I don't know anything about being a maid!" Razziel was making her knew master's bed. He was called Owen.
"Maybe I can just wing it," Razziel said aloud. "All I have to do is clean, polish some armor and weapons perhaps, probably sew some cloths, I can sew pretty well. I should also have a hot bath for him at the end of the day." Razziel looked at the small closet, witch was to be her new bedroom.
"This is better then living was Donion. Right?"
Razz thought of the first time that she had met Donion. He was fat and had a face like a pig's. He was only eighteen but looked much older. He was spoiled, arrogant, and rude. Just the though of having to marry the slob made Razziel shiver.
"Yes, this is much better the living with Donion," she reassured herself. "I can learn more about fighting here then I know, then one day I could probably quit my job and live in a forest. I would live off the land and be able to protect myself."
The only thing that bothered her was the fact that they had made some certain papers saying Owen was her master. She didn't like the thought of being owned by someone. She also wished she had thought of a new name in advance. Her real one had almost slipped out.
Kel's P.O.V
"What?" Kel asked in astonishment. Dom blushed.
"The King is having the Winter Ball soon, I was wondering if you might want to go with me?"
It was getting colder every day, Kel had expected winter weeks ago but winter had come late this year. Winter being late was a bad sign. It usually meant bad illnesses would follow.
"Well, I-I guess we could go together. I'm not much of a dancer but-,"
"That's great!" Dom said abruptly, deepening his blush. Kel smiled.
"I'll see you later," she said as she walked off.
Kel hated balls, but this was an important one that was held every winter. "Maybe I should go pick out my dress," Kel thought.
As Kel entered her room she found Tobe polishing her shield and Jump, her dog, lying on her bed.
"Hello Lady," he said, nodding his head to her.
"Oh Tobe, you just reminded me, I need to stat giving you lessons on how to read," Kel said, remembering there hadn't been much time for it at Heaven.
"I already know the alphabet, you told me how to remember that before," Tobe answered.
"Recite it for me." Tobe sighed but answered
"A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N, M, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W…X, Y, and Z."
"You mixed up N and M," Kel pointed out.
"Oops." "I will have to teach how to write those letters properly, and then we can work on words. Get some paper, I'll write down your alphabet and you will have to practice writing the letters correctly," Kel ordered, as she looked through her closet.
She had plenty of old dresses but no one suitable for a ball; she would have to ask Lalassa, her old maid, to make her one. Once Tobe had fetched the paper Kel wrote down each letter slowly, showing him how to write them.
"This is already hard," Tobe moaned.
"You haven't even started yet," Kel scolded. "Now, do your work, I'll be back later."
Kel's P.O.V
"This is harder then it looks," Razziel groaned, as she attempted to start a fire to warm her "master's" room. All she had managed to do so far was get ashes all over herself and burn her fingers.
"I wonder why that girl helped me," Razziel mumbled to herself. "She barely knew me and she let me sleep in her room last night, she even got me job." Razziel was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the door open.
"What in Mithros are you trying to do?" a voice asked behind her. Razziel turned to see and old women peeking in the door. She had grayish hair and wrinkles under her eyes.
"I'm trying to light a fire," Razziel answered.
"I couldn't tell," the women said sarcastically.
"I heard there was a new girl and I thought I would offer some help but I didn't know you would need this much." Razziel blushed and looked at the floor.
"My name is Salma, here let me help you."
Kel's P.O.V
Kel twirled in the powder blue dress Lalasa had said was grand on her.
"Oh Lady, you look so beautiful," her former maid commented.
"Thank you, I like it as well," Kel replied, watching as a trail of blue cloth trailed behind her like blue mist.
"We'll just have to fit it a little better," Lalasa said, pinning cloth around Kel's shoulder. Kel wondered why Dom had been so shy about liking her, he was usually very outgoing.
As if reading her mind Lalasa asked, "Is there anyone special you are to be going with?"
"Yes," Kel said smiling.
When Kel returned from her shopping adventure she found Tobe in her room, scribbling on pieces of paper.
"How are you doing?" Kel asked. Tobe shrugged. Kel leaned over his shoulder to see his work. His As'-Fs' were good. He had problems with G, R, S, and Z but the rest were decent. His best letters were the Ts'.
"Very good," Kel reassured him. "The only thing is that the Zs' go the opposite way, the Ss' are a bit shaky and I'll show you how to do the Gs' and Rs' again." Kel took his hand and outlined the letters, letting him try. "Keep practicing," she said.
"Still?" he whined.
"Yes, I'm going down to practice my jousting a bit, I've hardly gotten to do it since I was a squire."
"Can't I take a brake to watch you?" he begged.
"Okay, but only for a while."
Tobe had raced ahead and gotten Peachblossom ready before Kel had even entered the stall. It was true she hadn't practiced in a while and she hoped she wouldn't make a fool of herself in front of Tobe or any other bystanders. Kel took a lance that had been specialized for her. It had lead weights inside to make it heavier.
Getting into position she pointed her lance at the small wooden hole that was to be her target. "Charge," she whispered to Peachblossom, and she was off. At first she was scared she was going to miss it entirely but she soon felt her oh so familiar position. She hit the edge of the wooden ring, but had still missed.
"C'mon, I'm sure you can do better then that," she heard Tobe tease.
"I can always make you copy down your letters some more," Kel countered.
"No need to spank me Mother," Tobe replied. This made Kel smile.
The second, third, and fourth time Kel tied she hit the ring perfectly. By the time Kel had hit the ring eight times perfectly she was a bit bored.
"I'm done for today Tobe, which means you must get back to your lessons," Kel said, but as she turned to face him she saw that he was not alone. Razz stood next to him.
"Hello m' lady," she said uncertainly. "You were grand out there. Salma said was finished and that it was okay for me to explore," Razz continued in a questionable voice.
"It's not like we want to lock you up, you're free to do as you wish, within reason," Kel said. Tobe took Peachblossom, leaving the two. Kel noticed Razz looking at her strangely.
"M' lady, you look hot, should I fetch you some water or maybe-?"
"Water would be great," Kel replied. She was parched. Razz hurried off and soon returned with a tankard full.
"Thank you," said Kel, guzzling almost the whole thing down in one gulp.
"You're welcome m' lady," Razz answered as Tobe returned.
"Off to your lessons," Kel ordered.
"Fine," Tobe muttered, and he sulked away, Razz behind him.