Chapter 7
Ozzie's Fort - 600 A.D.
The new room had been a big surprise to Auree. It was small but clean, with a bed, a table, a chair, a wardrobe and a fireplace. Apart from the door she had used to enter the room from the corridor, there was another one in the left wall and what appeared to be a closet in the right corner. She had dropped her pitiable bunch of clothes over the bed to examine the place and when she had opened the smaller door in the corner expecting a built-in wardrobe or something like that, she had been taken aback.
It was a tiny bathroom, complete of everything.
She had never had a bathroom for herself in her whole life. And she hadn't even had a bedroom for herself in the last twenty years. Yes, from the sad day in which she had to leave the house she loved to follow her mother into a new one...a single-room one for poor people...
Well, Yulanna, she sighed between herself, how could I blame you if you've fallen for this?
But Flea's quarters -that she could access directly through the door in the left wall- stunned her with their own sheer magnificence. There was a spacious parlour, a large bedroom, and a huge bathroom bigger than Auree's whole chamber.
There were tapestries and painting hanging from the walls, rich furniture, coloured candles that spread a fruited scent everywhere.
And Flea, of course. He was sitting like a king amidst that opulence. Or more like a princess, to be honest. He immediately stood up when Auree entered and came toward her with a proud smile.
«Welcome, dear. This is my humble place...what do you think of it?»
«I-impressive, sir»
«Yeah...I'm striving hard to impress my guests, you know. Come closer, I won't bite. Do you like your room? Are you lacking something? Is everything all right? Good...»
«May I...ask a thing...sir?»
«Speak freely»
«What happened to...your previous chambermaid, sir?»
At first, Flea seemed puzzled by the question, then he remembered he had talked about a chambermaid.
«Oh, never had one. Just these annoying and inept Imps. Auree, listen: your work will be one of responsibility. You'll have to organise...Not cleaning up and washing, not you personally. Imps will do the physical work, the heavy one, understood? But you'll need to supervise them continuously because otherwise they'll do something wrong and damage my things»
«But...sir, you've spoken about a heavy job...I thought...» she protested.
The Mystic smiled slyly.
«I said that to frighten people. That's all, Auree. Take your time to get used to the place, you can start working tomorrow»
The girl looked at him in amazement. Take your time? Tomorrow?
«Tomorrow, sir?»
«Yeah, you'll bring me my breakfast from the kitchen...at eight thirty, please. Ah, I like sleeping! It's good for health, you know, and what is good for health is good for beauty»
Auree nodded slowly. Flea was staring at her with a slight worried frown. Then he sighed.
«Well, I must tell you. Don't take offence, but...are these your best clothes?»
Auree lowered her gaze, quite ashamed. Entering those lavish rooms she had already felt ugly and badly dressed.
«Yes, sir» she whispered.
Flea shook his head.
«No, that's not right. I know it isn't your fault, you were working in the kitchen and all...but now you must take care of yourself. You'll be part of the ambience, if you get what I mean...Come with me»
Auree followed him in the bedroom. Flea opened one of the three big wardrobes and chose some clothing, tossing them on the bed.
«Being beautiful is a full-time job. You aren't believing that I can look like this without effort, are you?» he said, mischievously.
Some effort was necessary to Auree, not to snicker.
«You can laugh» he said unexpectedly, re-emerging from the wardrobe, and winked, to her embarrassment.
He had chosen another blouse and was examining some trousers.
«We are of the same size, I think. Would you like this? Or that...what do you think? Let me see...»
He confronted the shirt he was holding with Auree's pale incarnate.
«Not bad. Do you wear trousers? They are very comfortable, especially when you are working...»
«Never tried them. But, sir...!»
«Yes? Ah, I'm afraid my shoes won't fit you. But my shoemaker can take care of your feet, and next time my tailor will come to the castle...she usually comes here twice a month...you can ask her for some...you know...underwear. She can do neat masterpieces with laces. But what were you saying, dear?»
«I can't accept these things! They are yours!» she protested.
she asked herself Is what he's wearing?
She felt herself blushing slightly.
«I have already worn them enough. I have so many dresses, robes, skirts...you need them more than I do. And...well, I would be very, very pleased to see you wearing my clothes» he added, with a secretive smile.
Auree felt like she was somehow missing the point. There were strange undertones in the way Flea had pronounced the word . She preferred not to investigate.
«I will try them...thank you, sir. You...are so generous»
«Are you frightened by me, Auree?»
She opened her mouth to answer, but hesitated.
«Or you are always so bashful?»
«Y-yes...»
He smiled openly, picking the clothes and putting them in Auree's unresisting hands.
«Never mind. It's your temperament, don't apologise for this. You can go. Ask for your supper in the kitchen and...rest well, dear. See you tomorrow»
«Good night, sir» she whispered and hurriedly left forgetting the curtsey.
***
The day after, Flea found Auree perched on the top of a ladder, busy into checking the content of a high wardrobe.
«My goodness! What are you doing? I told you not to do heavy works! Pay attention...it's dangerous!»
«It's all ri---» Auree tried to say, but she hastily had to hold on the rickety ladder not to fall down.
Flea ran promptly to her aid.
«This thing needs a fixing! Please, come down...Oh, you are wearing this...Good choice. You look lovely»
«Thank you, sir» Auree dutifully answered, a little puzzled by the delighted smile she saw on Flea's face.
He was under her, holding the ladder.
She resumed her work, peering inside the cupboard and moving various stuff around.
«I'm almost finished...»
She suddenly realized that he was looking up her skirt, and froze. Seeing admiration in someone's eyes was a new and pleasant thing for her...but she felt uncomfortable, she didn't like to show her body. She had shapely legs, but, unfortunately, very hairy ones; although she used to spend a lot of time shaving them with care, she was always unsure about the result. Well, Flea seemed to enjoy the sight anyway...
She slowly descended and faced her master. He was wearing a skirt too, a light blue one. She observed his legs with a bit of envy. His skin had a smooth, never-touched-by-a-razor look. Perhaps he was hairless everywhere...
Auree! Shame on you! she cried in the silence of her mind.
«...hello? Auree, I'm talking to you»
«Sorry, sir»
«I won't see you injured in some stupid accident. Call for the Imps for this sort of things, will you?»
«Yes, sir»
As if I knew how hairy a man usually is...
He winked. He hadn't missed her glances toward his legs. She blushed.
«B-but...the Imps don't seem willing to obey me, sir»
«They are stupid, you have to repeat your orders many times...the only things they can do by themselves is jumping around showing you their tongue...They are born like this. Well, you can go now. Remember, you're here to organise»
She curtseyed and left. Back into her room, she sighed heavily, irritated at the memory of other slaves' mindless chattering. She began to walk around, suddenly enraged.
That kind of man, eh? Doesn't like women, eh? It's not what I saw in his eyes! He was...
She stopped and tried to calm down, sitting on the bed.
Be honest with yourself, Auree! she thought What are you doing here?
She checked her legs. She couldn't see hairs anywhere. Good.
Organising, of course.