2020-05-15
Entry tags:
Part Thirteen: Sasha Speaks About His Experiences As A Slave
“Very well then. Who was he?”
“Master used to call his kind kitchen slaves. They were trusted enough to do specialized tasks directly under the masters’ supervision. Like many of them, Jalo was…” Sasha hesitated. “Loyal.”
She frowned. Although this explained certain things about the man’s attitude, it hadn’t really been what she was after. “And who is he to you?”
Sasha bit his lip. “No one, really. I ranked below him so he didn’t really-“
“Is that why he kept staring at you?” Sigrid said bluntly.
“I don’t know…” He shifted against her. “Maybe?”
He was avoiding her questions, but not outright lying as far as she could tell. That was something.
Time to cut to the point.
( Read more... )
“Master used to call his kind kitchen slaves. They were trusted enough to do specialized tasks directly under the masters’ supervision. Like many of them, Jalo was…” Sasha hesitated. “Loyal.”
She frowned. Although this explained certain things about the man’s attitude, it hadn’t really been what she was after. “And who is he to you?”
Sasha bit his lip. “No one, really. I ranked below him so he didn’t really-“
“Is that why he kept staring at you?” Sigrid said bluntly.
“I don’t know…” He shifted against her. “Maybe?”
He was avoiding her questions, but not outright lying as far as she could tell. That was something.
Time to cut to the point.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Part Fourteen: A Brief Rest
“Yes, you are,” Sigrid said, amused. “Now close the door and settle down.”
Klaus grinned and did so, throwing himself down onto the bed face first. “Do I have enough time to take a nap before we have to go anywhere again?”
“Just enough, I think.” She put the finishing touches on Sasha’s braid. “I wouldn’t mind a rest myself either.”
( Read more... )
Klaus grinned and did so, throwing himself down onto the bed face first. “Do I have enough time to take a nap before we have to go anywhere again?”
“Just enough, I think.” She put the finishing touches on Sasha’s braid. “I wouldn’t mind a rest myself either.”
( Read more... )
Part Fifteen: Jalo's Confession
The next morning, Sigrid woke from vaguely unsettling dreams to find Sasha already dressed while Klaus slept on beside her, face screwed up in a skeptical pout.
“I see you’re prepared,” she remarked, pushing aside Klaus’s arm so she could sit up properly.
Sasha nodded resolutely.
Sigrid sighed. “Come here and give me a kiss.”
She saw a bit of tension ebb from his features as he smiled at her before leaning in and brushing his lips against hers gently.
“I’m not scared,” Sasha whispered. “But my stomach’s all twisted up.”
Sigrid stroked his hair, trying to find the right words. I understand seemed likely to provoke him into pointing out that she really only had the faintest idea of what he was going through. My poor sweetling likewise might make him bristle for treating him like a child with a stubbed toe, although it was her first thought.
So instead, she pulled him closer and said softly, “No matter what he says or does, I will be there with you.”
Sasha bit his lip and nodded before turning away, blinking his eyes a bit too frequently. “Thank you.”
( Read more... )
“I see you’re prepared,” she remarked, pushing aside Klaus’s arm so she could sit up properly.
Sasha nodded resolutely.
Sigrid sighed. “Come here and give me a kiss.”
She saw a bit of tension ebb from his features as he smiled at her before leaning in and brushing his lips against hers gently.
“I’m not scared,” Sasha whispered. “But my stomach’s all twisted up.”
Sigrid stroked his hair, trying to find the right words. I understand seemed likely to provoke him into pointing out that she really only had the faintest idea of what he was going through. My poor sweetling likewise might make him bristle for treating him like a child with a stubbed toe, although it was her first thought.
So instead, she pulled him closer and said softly, “No matter what he says or does, I will be there with you.”
Sasha bit his lip and nodded before turning away, blinking his eyes a bit too frequently. “Thank you.”
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Part Sixteen: Klaus Learns About Sasha's Past
Klaus was silent even after they had left Hofn’s hall and all the way to their guest room.
When they were safely alone with the door shut behind them, Sigrid put her hand on Klaus’s shoulder. “Klaus, I can answer your questions now.”
Instead of answering her, Klaus walked over to the bed and sat down hard, burying his face in his hands.
Sigrid felt Sasha’s hand slip into hers before Sasha said, quietly, “I’m sorry for lying.”
( Read more... )
When they were safely alone with the door shut behind them, Sigrid put her hand on Klaus’s shoulder. “Klaus, I can answer your questions now.”
Instead of answering her, Klaus walked over to the bed and sat down hard, burying his face in his hands.
Sigrid felt Sasha’s hand slip into hers before Sasha said, quietly, “I’m sorry for lying.”
( Read more... )
Part Eighteen: Returning Home
This takes place a day or so later than the previous part.
Klaus slept on Sigrid’s shoulder most of the carriage ride home while Sigrid and Sasha sat in companionable silence, watching the scenery go by.
“You know,” Sigrid said, after a while, “I will be favoring others for the next week or so.”
( Read more... )
Klaus slept on Sigrid’s shoulder most of the carriage ride home while Sigrid and Sasha sat in companionable silence, watching the scenery go by.
“You know,” Sigrid said, after a while, “I will be favoring others for the next week or so.”
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Part Nineteen: Charlotte Asks For Advice
Lotte’s chambers were, in many respects, not unlike Sigrid’s. She had a large four-poster bed, some armchairs and small tables with candles and a jug of water and cloth, and a heavily carpeted floor. There was even a small cabinet, about half the size of Sigrid’s, that stood not too far from the bed.
The main difference was that Lotte only kept things that she liked to be used on her.
Other than that, perhaps Lotte’s things tended towards lighter colored woods and more pastels, while Sigrid preferred darker woods and jewel tones. Sigrid’s bookcase was more densely populated, while a good fraction of Lotte’s was devoted to baubles her men had given her as gifts over the years.
( Read more... )
The main difference was that Lotte only kept things that she liked to be used on her.
Other than that, perhaps Lotte’s things tended towards lighter colored woods and more pastels, while Sigrid preferred darker woods and jewel tones. Sigrid’s bookcase was more densely populated, while a good fraction of Lotte’s was devoted to baubles her men had given her as gifts over the years.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Part Twenty: An Audience with the Queen
Karl was waiting for Sigrid outside Lotte’s chambers, and she was glad for it.
“Karl, find Gudmundr and bring him to my office. I am told he has some business with me.”
“I would, my Lady but the Queen has summoned you for your report.”
“Already?” Sigrid frowned. It was not wise to keep Mother waiting, but she was nervous at the prospect of seeing her without knowing what Gudmundr had to say.
Karl inclined his head.
“Then I suppose I must go to her.” She sighed.
“I will have Gudmundr waiting in your office when you have finished your business with the Queen.”
“Thank you, Karl.”
The audience chamber was on the ground floor, near the dining hall. It was where the Queen always heard her daughters on state business, though it was not her exclusive domain. Still, even if Sigrid had sat in the throne from time to time to hear petitioners when her mother wasn’t in the mood “to deal with trifles”, she always felt all of six years old when standing alone before the enormous mahogany doors.
Although there were no mirrors to check herself in, Sigrid idly brushed her hands over her clothing, even as she knew this would do little to nothing for any real wrinkles.
Remember, stand up straight. Don’t look away. You’re her blood, not her servant.
( Read more... )
“Karl, find Gudmundr and bring him to my office. I am told he has some business with me.”
“I would, my Lady but the Queen has summoned you for your report.”
“Already?” Sigrid frowned. It was not wise to keep Mother waiting, but she was nervous at the prospect of seeing her without knowing what Gudmundr had to say.
Karl inclined his head.
“Then I suppose I must go to her.” She sighed.
“I will have Gudmundr waiting in your office when you have finished your business with the Queen.”
“Thank you, Karl.”
The audience chamber was on the ground floor, near the dining hall. It was where the Queen always heard her daughters on state business, though it was not her exclusive domain. Still, even if Sigrid had sat in the throne from time to time to hear petitioners when her mother wasn’t in the mood “to deal with trifles”, she always felt all of six years old when standing alone before the enormous mahogany doors.
Although there were no mirrors to check herself in, Sigrid idly brushed her hands over her clothing, even as she knew this would do little to nothing for any real wrinkles.
Remember, stand up straight. Don’t look away. You’re her blood, not her servant.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Part Twenty-One: Sigrid and Peter
It was none other than Peter, the only man she’d ever ejected from her harem. Of course, being a lord’s son, he did have business in the castle but usually they managed to avoid each other without difficulty.
“Hello, Lord Peter,” Sigrid said sourly.
( Read more... )
“Hello, Lord Peter,” Sigrid said sourly.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Part Twenty-Two: Gudmundr Reveals A Secret
Gudmundr drew himself up when Sigrid entered her office,
“Sigrid. Welcome home.” Gudmundr bowed, which was quite a sight from a tall man with as much bulk as Gudmundr had.
“Thank you.” Sigrid allowed herself to smile briefly.
Gudmundr was, in some ways, the closest thing she and Lotte had to a father. He had probably not sired Sigrid, but out of the men in the Queen’s harem during her childhood, he had been the most interested in looking after her and Lotte. Even after he had fallen out of favor and ultimately left the Queen’s personal service in favor of the solider’s barracks, Gudmundr had remained a steady presence in their lives.
( Read more... )
“Sigrid. Welcome home.” Gudmundr bowed, which was quite a sight from a tall man with as much bulk as Gudmundr had.
“Thank you.” Sigrid allowed herself to smile briefly.
Gudmundr was, in some ways, the closest thing she and Lotte had to a father. He had probably not sired Sigrid, but out of the men in the Queen’s harem during her childhood, he had been the most interested in looking after her and Lotte. Even after he had fallen out of favor and ultimately left the Queen’s personal service in favor of the solider’s barracks, Gudmundr had remained a steady presence in their lives.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Part Twenty-Three: Brief Audiences with Leifr and Wolfgang
There should probably be a transition between the next three scenes, but I haven't written one yet.
The door flew open to reveal Leifr, practically glowing.
“You sent for me!”
“Yes, darling.” She gestured for him to close the door behind him, which he quickly did before flinging himself on his hands and knees before her desk.
“I already have a chair,” Sigrid said, amused.
( Read more... )
The door flew open to reveal Leifr, practically glowing.
“You sent for me!”
“Yes, darling.” She gestured for him to close the door behind him, which he quickly did before flinging himself on his hands and knees before her desk.
“I already have a chair,” Sigrid said, amused.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Part Twenty-Four: Sasha Reveals A Secret
Sasha entered, looking so innocently hopeful it hurt Sigrid’s heart.
“Have you changed your mind about seeing me?”
Sigrid swallowed. “I am considering it,” she lied. “But I am preoccupied at the moment with the news that my sister is investigating the death of your former master.”
Sasha turned pale.
“Things are about to become exceedingly complicated, I fear. And so I am going to have to ask you more about how you came to be in that place.”
( Read more... )
On re-reading I noticed some of this scene was redundant as it covered some of the same points as the earlier scene after Jalo's sentencing, so I've tweaked it a little to make it less so. I will probably tweak it again later on.
“Have you changed your mind about seeing me?”
Sigrid swallowed. “I am considering it,” she lied. “But I am preoccupied at the moment with the news that my sister is investigating the death of your former master.”
Sasha turned pale.
“Things are about to become exceedingly complicated, I fear. And so I am going to have to ask you more about how you came to be in that place.”
( Read more... )
On re-reading I noticed some of this scene was redundant as it covered some of the same points as the earlier scene after Jalo's sentencing, so I've tweaked it a little to make it less so. I will probably tweak it again later on.