Cowards Illusion

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Chapter 7

Vhet had everything packed and in a carriage by the time the celebration started for Delmir's birthday party. He was ready to go, but something seemed off. Not that he was going to miss seeing his cousin's coming of age, or anything. Rather something that he was avoiding.

He should never have gotten so attached to a slave. Even if that boy had been his own, it still wasn't right to have feelings for him.

Sitting on the bed, defeated, he sent a servant to go retrieve Maesha.

He waited for a good while, wondering if the boy was even going to show. But he did.

Maesha didn't look up as he walked in, not an act of submission, but rather defiance.

Vhet thought that in that moment, if Maesha had begged him to take him with him, he would have. He would have walked out, right past Delmir, and anyone else.

But instead the boy just stood there, looking at the floor, awaiting orders like an obedient slave.

And so, that was how they left it. Vhet stood up, placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, and left without a word.

As soon as he was gone, Maesha crumpled, tight sobs wracking his frame as he surveyed the empty room.

-

Things didn't change as much as Maesha had expected them to once Vhet left. Delmir still seemed to avoid him, and even allowed him to stay in his room.

Delmir had actually become very quiet. He wasn't so quick to temper, and seemed to take matters of the house into great consideration.

And then one day it happened.

Alna had left for a few days, with little word of what she was doing. Not that it was Maesha's place to ask and Delmir was so wrapped up on decisions that he didn't care.

Alna's carriage returned home, and with it another man. A new husband.

-

Delmir slammed his mothers door open, but this time he didn't look like a youth throwing a tantrum. He looked like a man with the determination to protect what was his.

“Are you mad? Your husbands grave is still warm, and you remarry?”

“It is within my right,” she told him, clipped.

“And how is it going to look on the family?” he snarled.

“I had my proper mourning time, and then went and had a private ceremony. A woman has to secure her own in this day and age,” she told him. “You two will learn to be men of the house as equals, and then when you leave on your own, I will not be left the old widow.”

Delmir looked wounded for a second, then stormed out.

-

The man Alna married was a tall, gruff looking man. He was well muscled, with only a bit of gray showing in his brown hair. He looked like he could be a mercenary rather than someone of nobility.

“Gouran,” Lady Alna. “Why don't we have a formal get together, to introduce you?” she questioned from across the table.

“We can have a final mourning banquet for father all at the same time,” Delmir added bitterly.

Alna glared at him.

“Watch your mouth,” Gouran grumbled.

“I am not a child to be ordered around,” Delmir snarled. He had hardly touched his plate.

He stood up, and both people at the table looked up at him.

“It was one thing to have my cousin here making trouble before I was of age, but this really is ludicrous. I will not tolerate this from some stranger.”

Gouran looked at him as if accepting a challenge.

Maesha came in then, and broke the stalemate. He carriage a pitcher of wine to the table, his movement quiet and unobtrusive. Vhet had taught him well.

He was much more the picture of health now. Delmir had seen to his regular meals. His hair glistened, and his skin was no longer taut and darkened.

Delmir watched Gouran look to the boy, appraising him.

“Maesha, out.” Delmir ordered.

Gouran raised an eyebrow at him.

“You call your slaves by name?” the gruff man questioned.

“He is mine. I can call him what I please,” Delmir snarled defensively.

“Really, we should just send him off,” Alna interjected.

Gouran's eyes said it, though he spoke nothing aloud. 'There are a few uses I could think of.' Alna didn't catch it.

“But he is Delmirs,” Gouran spoke with a spark of mischief in his eye.

Delmir turned and left.

-

“You will assist me Maesha,” Delmir told him. “You will not take orders from anyone else in the household, do you understand me?”

“Yes Delmir.”

Maesha spoke with little emotion, but every once in a while, Delmir would catch a spark of bitter resentment.

“I am doing this to protect you,” Delmir stated.

“You've never protected me before. It seems unlikely that you would start now.”

Delmir was always caught of guard when Maesha did choose to speak. His words were articulate, and lately seemed barbed with poison.

“Just do as I've told you,” Delmir snarled, feeling his patience running out. The ungrateful little brat..

“I always have,” Maesha spoke almost too softly for him to hear.

Delmir left Maesha with a stinging cheek.

-

The tension between the two men of the house only grew, and Lady Alna was the only one who seemed unaffected by it. Even Maesha recognized it.

“Maesha, a glass of water.” Delmir spoke, and Maesha gracefully went to retrieve it.

He behaved impeccably, calling on what Vhet had taught him, and what little was useful from Halden. In private he behaved less like a slave and more like a resentful snake, but he did know one thing. He would spur Delmir in private, but he would not do so in front of this stranger.

When he returned, Gouran slid his cup forward to be refilled.

“Maesha, sit.” Delmir ordered.

Maesha folded himself gracefully at Delmir's feet, without filling Gouran's cup. There was a tense line written up Maesha's spine.

For once though he felt the slightest bit of protection from Delmir. He did not tell himself that it would hold though.

“A spoiled child throwing a tantrum,” Gouran spoke as he poured his own water.

“A stranger proceeds without caution,” Delmir spoke calmly. Even Maesha was surprised at the carefully hidden warning there.

Gouran raised his eyes at that.

-

AN

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