Another Day
Chapter 8
The Garden
Kai went to explore the grounds. A while after breakfast he came into the stables and found Enrique half way up a ladder, with a ball of hay on his shoulder. "Hi, there!" Enrique called in greeting.
"Hi. What are you doing?" Kai asked.
The blonde smiled, "I am going to put this away, then I am taking two of the horses out to graze, and lastly I will take Tanny out for a walk." He pointed to a large, black mare, close to Kai.
The slave boy reached out and she sniffed his hand before letting him pet her, "She is beautiful." Kai sighed, his eyes large and shining. He had never seen a horse up close before, but he somehow forgot being afraid of her, even though she was much taller than him and could easily do him a lot of damage.
Enrique came up behind him, "Tanny is Lady Sarah's horse. She's a bit frisky, but she is always careful when the Lady rides her. The twins, Carry and Cimbel, are master Tala's and Lady Danielle's. Those are the two going out to the pound." He pointed at two smaller horses standing beside each other in different stalls. They were brown and white with white manes. There were six horses in all. Enrique walked over to the other side of the long stable and showed Kai the other three horses. There was one large brown, one white and another black one. "The brown one is Amber, she is Mr. Ivanov's horse, and Spark and Cyprus over here are for the carriage."
They talked for a while and admired the horses, but eventually Enrique straightened and sighed, "I had better get going. The twins are getting restless." Kai nodded and got up from his sitting position on the ladder. He left the stables with a wave to Enrique and started strolling down one of the many pebbled paths that forked and met all over the garden. The sun was shining bright and there was hardly a cloud in the sky, but it was thankfully not as warm as it had been yesterday. Kai had no particular goal and it was simply by accident that he managed to stumble over Rei on a patch of grass. The slate haired teen stopped, stared and doubled over in laughter. He laughed so hard that he had to lean on one of the many, white benches that decorated the garden.
The sight before him was hilarious; a pink square of blanket had been spread out on the grass and a small, delicate set of teacups and plates had been placed upon it. There was tea in the cups and a plate of biscuits in the middle. Surrounded by all these things was Rei, with a large, pink, fringed hat on his head, a teacup in one hand and a biscuit in the other. The only thing that spoiled the picture was the deadly glare that Rei sent in Kai's direction. When the Hiwatari finally managed to compose himself, he smiled playfully at Rei, "Enjoying yourself, Pricilla?"
Rei looked around hurriedly, "No, I am not, and if you don't wipe that silly grin off your face I will stuff you into this teacup! I swear that little girl is a monster in disguise! She spent all morning trying on dresses and then she drags me out here for a tea party. I even have to wear this stupid hat! Her mother called for her, and she ordered me to stay here, but she will be back anytime. I just wish I had some poison to drop in her tea."
The slate haired teen snorted, "Did she ask you to scrub her back as well?"
Rei shook his head, "I have been instructed to stay from the bathroom when she is in there. And thank the gods for that! Why do you ask anyway?"
Kai smiled as the memory of the past morning came back to him, "I think my new master has a thing for me; he even asked if I wanted to come into the tub with him."
For a second something dark flashed over Rei's features and when he spoke his voice was filled with a strange mix of sarcasm and anger, which Kai could not quite understand, "I bet you leaped at the chance."
Kai turned just a little colder at the other boy's assumption, "Um, no, I did not actually. And as it is I am afraid that Tala is planning to murder me." Rei looked like he wanted to ask more, but then his eyes went wide as he saw something behind Kai's back. And as Kai looked around he did indeed spot a purple-clad, little figure moving towards them. Realising that this would be a good time to exit the scene he gave a final wave to 'Pricilla', and left as fast as he could, lest Danielle decided to make him play picnic with them.
Kai admired the flowers for a while before he caught sight of someone standing on all four over a flowerbed. His curiosity was awoken and he headed over. It turned out to be Steve, with a small spade in hand and a water-can by his side. He was just finished patting down the earth around a new flower when he noticed Kai. He tipped his big straw hat a bit further up on his head and smiled, "Hi, what are you doing here?"
Kai grinned at him, "Admiring your handiwork."
"I'm going over to clean the bird cage and feed them, you wanna help?"
Kai's eyes widened, "Really? I can?"
Steve nodded, "As long as you stay calm and don't frighten them too much." Kai agreed eagerly, but to his puzzlement they headed for the stable instead of the cage. At his question, Steve explained that they had to get the grain and the key. Once in the stable, Steve headed for the ladder, "I'll go get the grain, and you can get the key. There's a little door in the wall over there." He pointed to the shadows, and Kai walked over, sliding his hands over the old planks until he found a small hole. He curled his index finger inside and pulled, and a small square in the wall swung outwards, revealing a deep, rectangular hole. And there was indeed an old key on a hook inside it. Soon, Steve came down from the ladder with a big sack under his arm. On their way out, he also grabbed a broom that was leaning against the wall.
They walked over the grass towards the birds and Steve said, "You have to promise me not to tell anyone where the key hangs. Lady Sarah loves her birds very much, and she would be devastated if anything happened to them. That is why I hide the key. Not even Enrique knows where it is." Kai promised easily. As they walked, Kai cast a glance behind him and saw Carlos walking along the wall. That was strange; why had they not seen him when they came out of the stable? The wall was so long that he must have rounded the corner before they exited the old building. Kai shrugged and dismissed it; they'd just been too busy to notice him, that was all.
Steve unlocked the chain that kept the door to the cage closed and pocketed the key. Then he opened the door just a fraction and allowed Kai to slip in first, before squeezing through himself, "We mustn't give them a chance to escape. It is especially tricky with the smaller ones, but so far no one has ever managed." Most of the birds ran away when the two men came in, but some continued hopping around, familiar with Steve's presence and recognising it as the signal for dinner-time.
Steve decided that they should clean the cage first. They shooed the birds away as they went and took turns sweeping the ground, until all the feathers lay in a heap, then they swept the pile into a small sack that Steve had brought. Next, it was feeding time, and the green haired man opened the sack of grain. "Why don't you give it a try, Kai? Just take a handful and spread it out on the ground." Kai did as he was told and suddenly all the birds were trying to inhabit the same space, hacking and pecking for the grain. Kai jumped out of the way from the hungry birds, but Steve just laughed and threw another handful of grain, a bit further out this time, to get the fowls a distance away.
"Thanks for letting me help you; it was fun!" Kai said as Steve relocked the cage-door.
Steve smiled at him, "I was just glad for the company; it gets a bit boring when you have done it so many times."
They parted, and Kai walked around the house, on the look-out for more adventures. A sound from above made him stop and listen. Someone was singing. When he thought about it he realised that he had to be standing under the window to the music room, although it was three floors up. From the open window there floated a beautiful voice, singing a song about spring. For a moment, Kai stood very still, his eyes closed and face peaceful, simply listening to the music. It reminded him of his mother, whom he could hardly remember except for her beautiful voice singing him to sleep. A piano came to accompany the song, which rose and fell before ending in a single, clear tone. Kai sighed.
"Sorry to break into your tranquil moment, but you are wanted upstairs." The harsh voice cut through his peace, and Kai turned to find Carlos sneering at him. The blue haired boy didn't say anything, so Carlos repeated, "Tala has called for you. You had better hurry or he will be pissed."
Kai snorted, "Tell your master that he can explode for all I care; I am not coming."
He turned away with the full intension of leaving, but Carlos ran around him and stopped him with a push to the chest, "Where do you think you are going?"
Kai looked at him in confusion and tried to walk the other way, but this time he was grabbed and pushed up against the wall. That was enough. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded.
Carlos growled, "When Tala calls you answer."
Kai shook his head, "I am not going, now let go of me!" He tried to shove Carlos away from him, but the other teen was strong; he had both hands fisted in Kai's shirt, and now he pushed him harder into the wall, until it started hurting.
Kai's eyes widened when Carlos hissed, "You think you are so great, but Tala does not like you. You are not worth the dust on his shoes, and he will punish you if you don't obey his orders."
"What is it with you and Tala anyway? You sound as if you're his number one fan or something. And it is none of your damn business if I obey him or not. He can beat me until I bleed, for all I care." With that Kai shoved his knee into Carlos' side, making the boy let go of him with a cry of pain. Kai looked at the black haired boy incredulously for a moment, and then he ran. He didn't stop until he was up on the third floor.
For some reason, Carlos frightened him. The kid seemed to have lost some of his marbles. As he leaned on a wall and tried to regain his breath, he realised that while everyone else used formal titles when talking about the family members Carlos spoke of Tala by his first name only. Kai did that as well, but he did it out of disobedience, while Carlos seemed to idolize Tala. That kid just got more and more strange.
Footsteps in the stairs made Kai straighten and look around hurriedly. He remembered Judy's words about never coming up here unless on duty. If he was discovered he would be in big trouble, and what if it was Carlos who had followed him? Kai grabbed the nearest door and flitted through, closing it silently behind him. He stood very still and listened to the footsteps come closer and pass. He released the breath he had been holding and turned around to see where he was.
He cried out in surprise when he discovered that he was not alone. He was in the music room, and on a bench by the piano sat Lady Sarah, smiling curiously at him, "Hello, how nice of you to visit." Her voice was rich with amusement. He stood for a moment without knowing what to say, but then the footsteps came back and this time they were coming closer. Kai looked around for a place to hide.
"Quickly, hide here." Kai looked at the Lady with surprise. She was gesturing for him to hide behind the floor-length curtain by the window. She was smiling with excitement, and when the footsteps stopped outside the door, Kai threw all doubts out of the window and did as she told him to. The curtains in this room were green and the whole room was yellow. It had a warm feeling to it. Where he stood now he could not see anything else than the cloth in front of him, but Lady Sarah must have sat down on the bench again for suddenly there was a flowing melody on the piano and the clear voice that he had heard earlier begun her song anew. She stopped when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Kai heard the door open and a familiar voice, "Hello mother, have you seen Kai anywhere?"
Lady Sarah's voice was very sincere as she answered, "No, darling, I have not seen him all day. Have you checked outside? It is such a beautiful afternoon; he is probably enjoying it in the garden."
The footsteps sounded over the floor and when Tala spoke next his voice was too close for comfort, "That boy drives me nuts! I have looked everywhere, I even got Carlos to help me, but that stubborn idiot is nowhere to be found! I don't know what to do with him." Kai almost felt sorry for Tala; he was giving the boy a hard time, but there was no helping it, and Kai would not stop until he found some way to get away from this mansion.
"You know, darling; I think you might be expecting too much from him. It takes time to get used to a new home, and he is probably worried about those he left behind as well. It will take time before he learns to love the life that we will give him here, and you have to allow him that time. Kai is special, and your father bought him to give you a challenge, but you are going about it wrong; you must see by now that Kai can not be forced into submissiveness. You need patience and a soft touch to get him onto your side."
Kai stood very still and listened as the woman spoke. This was the moment that sealed his opinion of Lady Sarah; she was much more than a pretty porcelain doll. This woman had wits and skill, as well as a big heart. How on earth did she end up with a creep like Ivanov? Kai heard Tala sigh, "I guess you are right, as usual. Too bad I was born with my fathers temper instead of your calm wisdom."
Musical laughter rang out over the room, "Oh, Tala, you charmer. You know that flattery won't get you anywhere. Now get going, my son, I am sure you have much to do and it is almost dinnertime." Tala's soft laughter was the last thing Kai heard before the footsteps faded and the door opened and closed.
A second later, the curtain was drawn away and the red haired woman was stifling her laughter behind her hand. Kai stepped out on the floor and looked at her. Had he just found an ally, or was this just a game to her? "Thank you, my lady; I am in your debt, but...why?"
Her smile softened, "I wanted to teach my son that lesson before the two of you met again. Tala is young and does not have much experience with slaves; he needs to learn how to deal with them. And besides; it was rather fun." She laughed, and Kai had to smile with her.
"I heard you singing a little while ago; you have a beautiful voice," he said.
Lady Sarah thanked him for the complement, "All young ladies are supposed to sing and play the piano, so I did not have much choice but to learn. Danielle has private lessons as well, but I can tell you that most people stay well away from the third floor in those hours." She laughed again.
Kai looked at the piano, gathered his courage and asked, "Um, could you...sing some more?" He gestured to the black instrument. She nodded and sat down on the bench again. Kai sat down on the floor, by her feet, and closed his eyes once more, listening. The music took him far, far away and for a while he was perfectly content where he was. The words were simple and before he knew it he was singing along, first to himself and then in a joyful joining with her. He usually only sang when he was alone, but from the few times he had had an audience, he knew that he had a talent for it. When the song ended, Lady Sarah was looking at him with new wonder, and his eyes sought the floor in sudden shyness.
She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, a bell sounded through the house. "That is the dinnertime call." She rose and walked over the wooden floor, her shoes clicking with each step, and her green dress swishing behind her. He hurried to his feet and held open the door for her. She awarded him with a broad smile and he felt strangely light-headed. The bell sounded once again and Kai hurried down the stairs and out into the yard, to make sure that he did not bump into Tala or anyone else that would have him do his 'duty'.