Chapter 2- Servant's House #72, Member #5

A/N

This chapter is dedicated to my friend Chanel. Long story short: She helped me find 3 feathers, even when she had to pee. Thanx Channy!

Recap: Geoden, a prince, escaped death while hitching a ride on a caravan, to his chagrin; he was sold to the King of Norsunder as a servant. On with the story!

The blonde spoke again. "Hi my name is Edie of Faust. I'm the head of Servant's House #72, Member #1."

Her words meant absolutely nothing to me, so I just nodded. Evidently she noticed my confusion, because she quickly explained herself.

"Right, you're new here so let me tell you how things work. Every servant room houses 5 people. When one leaves, it's the head of the house's job to replace them. It just helps to keep things running smoothly. You'll be in bunk #72, so that means your number here is 725, cause you're the fifth member. Am I making sense?"

"Yeah, but I have one question for you. We sleep in rooms with four other people?" I responded.

"Hah! You're funny! Didn't think we'd get individual rooms did ya? Come on, we're almost there."

Edie led me to a large area full of identical numbered building, which I assumed were the servant's houses. I scanned the area to find the one labeled 72, and found it in the very back corner. I groaned.

"Ya, it's a decent walk to the palace from here, but you get used to it! Plus, it's good exercise!"

Uggghhh… must she always be so cheerful? I thought. There has to be a law against this optimism in a servant…

We entered the bunk, where 2 others were playing Ynots, a game using tokens and 2 dice.

"Hey you guys, I got the new one!" Edie sang. The two looked up. There was a man who had to be older than me by a few years, and a boy who couldn't be more than 12.

"Guys, this is umm…. What's your name?" she asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Geoden." I replied non-enthusiastically.

"Alright, Geoden, this is Tanner of Norsunder," she said brushing the boy's brown hair, "and this is Jarrett of Valador."

Startled by the news that the man was from Valador, I examined him. He had ebony black hair and a green eye. His right eye was covered with a sort of navy bandana, and he was sturdily built. Upon gazing at me, he frowned a bit. I prayed he didn't recognize me. Looking away, I asked Edie.

"You said there were 5 in a bunk, where's the last person?"

"Oh, she's just finishing up her chores. She'll be along." Edie replied smiling again.

"Hey Geoden, wanna play some Ynots with us?" Tanner asked. Thinking of nothing better to do, I agreed. As I played, Jarrett's emerald gaze was focused on me.

All of a sudden, the door slammed open, and four young boys around Tanner's age rushed into the room.

"It's almost bedtime! Where's Rika?" one shouted.

"She should be almost here by now." Tanner answered.

"What, you boys are missing me already?" a heavily accented voice questioned from the door. I looked up from the dice and saw a Cidamon girl, almost my age.

Great, more Cidamon, just what I need… I thought with distaste.

"Please Rika! You promised!" another of the boys whined.

" Umei Liam, Umei! What shall I sing tonight? I am knowing!"

"I know…" Edie gently corrected.

"Right!" This Rika replied. She closed her eyes and began to sing in Cidamarian.

Kavk qi dedi,

O'nn moon iua veho,

Qi etqus nymo e tyxat,

Zynn tufh iua wu vnoor,

Zynn tugh iua wu vnoor.

Her voice, I had to admit was beautiful. The foreign words gliding off her tongue easily, her long, knee-length, dark brown hair swaying with her body. As she finished, her golden eyes opened, and each of the children embraced her, and went their separate ways. As her gaze fell upon me, she appeared startled.

"Oh, so sorry, I am forgetting…I forgot… Edie bought number 5 today! My name is Katrika Paolova."

"I'm Geoden." I replied with more venom then I'd intended. Her eyes turned to the ground.

"Yes, I am of the Cidamon, but that's no reason to treat me unkindly. I work as hard as anyone else here!" she spoke. Not angry, more full of pain. That hit me hard.

Geoden you jerk! She just sang kids to sleep and you're being racist…

As the evening drew to a close, we all got into our bunks, and I drifted into sleep. I woke abruptly when a hand clamped over my mouth and Jarrett's voice whispered.

"Come with me. I know who you are."

Oh damn.

A/N

Itsa me SerayaNeko! I decided to put chapter 2 up now because the story won't show up in the archives unless I do…grrr… Hope you enjoyed it! Sry about the cliffie! I'm so evil…Mwahhhahahaha!

Cidamon Translation:

Umei- Okay

The Song:

Hush my baby,

I'll keep you safe,

My arms, like the river,

Will rock you to sleep,

Will rock you to sleep.