The Conjured and the exiles

Daen spent another two nights in the city dungeon; left to the merciless memories of her past and new concern about her future she spent it without much rest. And It was not until dawns braking on the second night that she finally succumbed to a fitful sleep unbroken by tendrils of nightmares.

She was woken by a guard who was accompanied by a blond haired man. She recognised his voice from yesterday if not his face. Groggily she rubbed the sleep from her eyes resigning herself to what ever bastard that noble has sent to fetch her.

Yesterday she had watched as the other men had been taken. A huge bear of a man had been shouting at them and cuffing them in iron neck shackles as he taunted them, those who answered back were beaten soundly. So her own departure she viewed with trepidation.

‘Still a bed at this time of the day?’ The blond haired man smiled.

Despite herself Daen laughed. ‘You would call this a bed?’ She asked gesturing to the slab covered with straw.

He smiled, a true smile his eyes crinkling mirth, ‘It’s still a bed, I have slept on worse when the situation has called for it. I’m Captain Faorin by the way. But a pretty girl like you may call me Veione.’

Daen ran her gaze over the man. He was in his early middle ages, probably no older than thirty. He was a tanned golden a healthy glow of one who spends much of his time outdoors. His face was hansom in the clean cut way of blond men. With blue eyes and an easy smile, he was slight but she had the feeling he had the wiry strength of an acrobat. But what was most striking about him was his mane of blond hair. He had a rakish charm, and he wore his clothing with a cavalier attitude just short of scruffy. His pale brow quirked.

‘It’s traditional when someone tells you there name to reply in kind.’

Daen didn’t answer.

‘What still no name?’ Veione’s smile faded a touch. He looked back at the guard who still loitered in the door way. ‘Doesn’t she have a name? Surely someone will know her name?’

‘Not that we know of. And she’s never given us anything to call her by.’

‘Well I will need something to call you by, unless you want to go by as girl.’ Veione smiled as he busied himself with the pack slung across his back.

Daen shrugged. ‘Call me what you will.’

Veione looked back at Daen, pity in his eyes. Daen scowled his pity annoying her. But before she could nurse her anger he threw an apple at her. ‘Here eat this; I expect you won’t have had any fruit for a while.’

‘Thank you.’ Daen said uncertainly. The Captain’s smile returned as she munched on her apple he watched puzzled and amused Daen watched him back warily. ‘Your not the same as the other man. You’re been nice to me.’

‘Other man?’ He frowned for a moment thinking ‘Oh you mean Kef!’

‘I was expecting that he would be sent for me.’

‘No, he’s already gone, taking the men back to the West. Besides you’re a completely different case your not some violent criminal.’

'Am I not?' She smiled. Veione laughed. Daen was curious, and she wanted to get as much information from this man as possible. ‘What do you mean, because I’m a girl?’

‘No because you have some potential to become a conjuror My Lord wouldn’t allow a finger to be laid upon you.’

‘A conjuror?’

‘You know use magic, talk to sprits, summon demons that kind of thing.’ He said waving his hands in the air as if conducting. Daen smiled not quiet laughing then went back to eating her apple thinking about what he had just said.

‘You remind me of a filly.’ He said as he shook out a long cloak then held it out to her. Daen gingerly took it from him and threw it about her shoulders.

‘A filly?’

‘Yep , half feral half tame. Shall we go?’ He said gesturing to the door.

‘What, no neck iron?’ Daen replied honestly surprised by this.

‘There’s no point you couldn’t run form him now.’ Veione answered. He looked closely at the girl’s still confused expression. ‘Oh I see, you don’t know do you?’

‘Know what?’

‘He’s tasted you; Lord Darcia will always be able to find you now no mater where you run.’ Veione tried to explain. Daen touched her mouth.

‘You mean when he kissed me..’

‘Exactly it wasn’t just a kiss, it was a spell.’

‘What kind of black magic was that?!’ Daen interrupted, and franticly wiped her mouth. She looked up at the blond Captain for an explanation.

‘I don’t know how it works I’m afraid. All I know is that you’re my Lord’s bought and paid for and he wants me to take you to his town house.’

‘Who is he? And what kind of creature is he?’ Daen asked her voice quiet.

‘He is. He is Lord Darcia; General of the western army, prince of Bala, and baron of Marchadia. As for what he is I don’t think I really know the answers to that.’ Veione placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, you are going to be very valuable to him everything is going to be fine.’

And with that Daen followed the Captain out of the dungeons. She paused briefly in the doorway the light stinging her eyes somewhat so she was left blinking like a new born. And so slightly dazzled and confused not used to the press of people Daen was lead through the bustling streets of Mawnaws to where the houses were larger and more ornate. Towers rose from them, like a forest of competing spires. It was to an older slightly shorter one of these that Daen was taken to the town tower of the Darcia family.

Daen had already pulled up the hood of the cloak to keep the sun from her eyes. But even so she felt the stairs of unseen servant’s eyes as they entered the tower complex. Some younger boys openly pointed and gossiped but no one approached them.


Daen and captain Faorin entered through the back hall, and as they walked through what seemed to be a confusing warren of similar looking rooms Veione pointing out what they were or things of interest. But it was all a bit much and she had trouble taking in everything that the chatty captain said. She began to feel a presence like the pressure in the air before a storm it grew thicker and heaver before they even saw him striding down the hall and her anxiety intensified two fold.

He was all in black again, but this time he wore thigh high boots for riding, and carried a crop and tricorn hat in his gloved hands. The blond captain bowed shallowly to his master, and the lord briefly paused in front of them. Daen had to look up at him but his mask made it hard to tell whether he had noticed her or not in any case he didn’t seem to be paying any attention to her.

‘Have you seen my new Iron gray Veione?’

‘I have, it’s a beautiful peace of horse flesh. It will make a fine coursing horse. Who bread it?’

‘Lord Redbourn. Though I think he was loathe to lose it. It is out of his black mare the one that won all those races last spring.’

‘I’m surprised he let it go.’

‘Ah well, I don’t think he wanted to, but he took some heavy losses at the card table to me a week ago.’

‘I bet he is as mad as a hornet about that.’

Lord Darcia shrugged, ‘Never bet more than you can afford.’

Daen was defiantly been ignored. But it gave her some time to study the man in front of her. His clothing was well tailored, and even without his cloak his shoulders were as broad as they first appeared. Further more the clean cut coat emphasised his trim waist. And the tight breaches he wore were like a second skin, revelling more of his toned thighs than they hid.

‘So are you taking him out today?’

‘No today I have the pleasure of accompanying his Exultancy on a ride.’ The masked man said with barely disguised sarcasm.

‘How drol for you.’ Veione sympathised.

‘Hmph.’ His lord agreed. ‘I’m glad I ran in to you Veione, I wanted to know if you would take the gray out for me. I don’t trust the stable boys here, not with just broken blood stock.’

‘It would be my pleasure my Lord.’ Veione replied with real relish, obviously pleased with the prospect of riding the new horse.

Darcia nodded and turned to walk away. Daen was about to sigh in relief when he added his parting shot. ‘Oh and Veione, make sure the girl is bathed I wish to see her tonight and not have to suffer her smelling like a beggar.’

Daen flushed right to the roots of her hair, equal parts indignant, angry and embarrassed. Despite the cloak walking through the city with Veione Daen had been very aware of how ragged and filthy she appeared. In the gaol she had kept as clean as a bowl of water would allow, she was as clean as any of the inmates came, the fact was she was probably cleaner than much of the imperial city’s population. However in this opulent setting she looked no better than a street urchin and her pride was stung by it. And so it was with seething resent she glared at the retreating back of Lord Darcia.

‘I would suggest that you never show him that face. Lord Darcia doesn’t take any form of insubordinance very well.’ Veione said in a low warning voice as he ushered her through the remaining halls. ‘He can be… he is a very dangerous man if he is crossed.

They climbed up a flight of stairs and then through a heavy wooden door on to yet another hallway. ‘This is your chamber.’ Veione pointed to a door to her right. He opened the door and she peeked in past him. It was a good sized room, and old but beautifully carved four post bed dominated it. Daen slipped past the captain to sit on it. The mattress was pleasingly soft and she longed simply to lay down on it.

‘Come on lets get you washed up, you do smell like a sheep.’ Veione laughed. Daen sighed and looked longingly at the bed again, promising herself that she would sleep later.

‘We didn’t bring any of the female staff with us so I’m afraid you will have to manage by yourself. Of course I could always lend a hand?’ Veione added with a licentious smile. Daen had been wondering how long it would take for him to make a pass at her. The way he had smiled and winked at the pretty girls as they had walked through the streets made her fairly sure that the captain was an accomplished and well practiced flirt.

‘No thank you I think I can manage.’ She said coolly. She shut the door to the woman’s baths in his grinning face.

And soon Daen had submerged herself in a hot tub of scented water. It perhaps the only good thing about the imperium, hot running water. She had looked through the cosmetics most were old, but a few still seemed to be alright, she hoped no one minded her using them.

As she worked soap through her hair she began to contemplate her situation. Even after her parent’s murder, she had not felt as lost and miserable as she did now. Somewhere her brother was risking his life for her in the arena and she was sitting up to her eyes in scented luxury. Leoff had been such a gentle child, she often wondered what he would have turned out like if she had not sought to avenge her parent’s murders, and instead simply lived out there lives. It was another thing to add to her burdened conscious. Some how she had to escape this place. Daen poured a bucket of clean water over herself, rinsing away the soap and the grime. If only our consciouses could be cleaned as easily as our bodies she thought.


After her bath Daen looked down at her filthy ragged clothing as if it were a rat. Now clean she didn’t much fancy putting them back on again. She looked about the room and spotted a colorful silk sleeping robe. Now attired somewhat decently she slipped out of the bathroom and tried to seek down the hall to get her cloak.

‘Escaping are we?’ Veione’s mocking voice came from behind her. She turned guiltily.
‘No, I just feel a bit exposed.’

‘Ah, so there was a pretty girl under all that dirt.’

Daen tugged the robe down as the blond mans eyes roamed appreciatively over her body. She glared at him. He smirked and shook his head. ‘Don’t worry I wont touch you. I value my life to much.’

Daen wondered what he meant by that not for one moment did she believe that he was afraid of her. But If he wasn’t going to hit on her who was she to complain.

‘Don’t look at me as if I just ran through your father. I ‘v actually came to tell you that I have left some clothing in your room and some food as well.’

‘While I was in the bath?’ Daen raised a haughty brow.

‘You can’t blame a man for trying.’ He grinned boyishly, his hands making a placating gesture. Daen couldn’t help herself from smiling.

‘Now that’s better, you have a nice smile Filly.’



Daen awoke to a tap tap on her door. She had taken a pleasant nap on the bed, and it was just as comfortable as she thought it was going to be.

‘Helo?’

‘Lord Darcia wishes to see you in his apartments as soon as possible.’

‘Oh, one minuet. Let me get dressed.’

Daen had managed to persuade Veione to take a letter to Leoff at the arena telling him where she was after he had told her he had to lock her in her room. Well actually she had been a bit vague on the exact details but she let him know she was safe and in Lord Darcia’s service. There was no point in worrying him. Veione warned her sternly about trying to escape again, but Daen was beginning to wonder that if they had to lock her in perhaps it was just a lye to make her afraid to try to escape.

Some one had brought up a whole platter of food for her meat, spiced wine, tea, bread, fruit, and sweet fruit pastries. She had in two sittings worked her way through most of it. She looked at herself in a smallish mirror on the empty dressing table. She had never been vey big, but the trials of the last few months had left their mark and she was just a little to thin, but it was nothing a decent amount of food couldn’t cure. She looked at her new scars, knife marks carved in to her back, silver markings marring her skin, runes. The marks of her sins. But she found herself unable to bare the sight of them and what they stood for anymore. Quickly she covered them up with the dress that Veione had left for her.

It was more robe than dress, in the Imperius court style, made out of heavy silk it was mushroom colored with pale blue flowers upon it, under that she wore a corset and a brown silk under dress. Daen was slightly annoyed by the shear volume of the gown, but at least she was covered. At any rate she felt more able to face Darcia feed, clean, rested and dressed.


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Lord Darcia stood looking down in to the crackling fire in his study. It had been a long day but a good meal and a glass of wine had gone a long way to reviving him.

‘She is here.’

Lord Darcia nodded.

‘This one has looked a long time for one such as she.’

‘Then we are fortunate Bherith.’

‘You do not believe in fortune.’

The noble didn’t reply but he smiled. Bherith knew his answer there was no need to voice it. Carefuly he placed his sword on its stand, the red ruby jem facing out on to the room then He fell back in to watching the flames until one of the servants announced they had brought the girl as he had asked.

The young woman was nervous, but she walked with purpose her back as straight as true steal. Apparently she was still annoyed about their meeting this morning. She advanced a few paced in to the room and waited. She did not bow or curtsy she did not greet him as a lord should be greeted not in any way.

She was a taking creature, with large green eyes, a narrow weist, long legs, full young breasts in short and a body made for sin. Her skin was as pale as cream save the natural rose blush of her cheeks and lips. Lips he recalled that were as soft and pliant as they looked. Her hair now free from filth was a multitude of browns. It defied calling it a single color as it was made up of deepest coffee, bronze, gold, burnt umber, chestnut, chocolate, mahogany and copper, every time she moved the hue of it changed.

‘Come over hear by the fire where it is warmer.’

‘I would rather stay here.’

‘It was not a request.’ Darcia said levelly, tilting his head forward.

The woman reluctantly came forwards to stand by the fire, but as far away from the noble as possible. Now close to the fire her hair was red. His mask watched her impassively like the face beneath it.

‘Captain Faorin was unable to find out your name.’

The dark haired beauty didn’t answer him but stared down at the fire as he had been doing a moment ago.

‘What, now you fear to look at me little one?’

She glanced up at his masked visage, her eyes briefly meeting his before looking back down again. ‘No.’

‘No?’

She looked back up at him again, her green eyes appearing more golden in the fire light. ‘I don’t fear you Lord Darcia’

‘Then you’r foolish.’ He said simply. ‘I will have your name little one.’

‘I have learnt my lesson; I will not give out my name again.’ The woman answered with determination. Lord Darcia moved closer. For a second he thought she would step away but she stood her ground. His smile turned predatory.

‘Then you will learn another lesson tonight you will learn to obey me in all things.’

Daen suddenly found it hard to breath; his sent a heady rich male smell had been assaulting her senses since she had entered the room. Now that he was so close, close enough to touch her, she felt completely overwhelmed as if the air itself was trying to crush her.

Lord Darcia caught hold of her wrists in an iron hard grip. She looked up in to the blue of his eyes not hidden by the mask. His voice was calm.’ This is your last chance tell me your name before I take it from you.’

She didn’t answer, not trusting herself with words. Her eyes were wide and fearful but she remained stubborn.

‘So be it.’ He said his voice flat.

He sighed and she watched as he closed his eyes, they suddenly sprang open and he spoke a few words, words that seemed to come from a deep place in his chest. Immediately Daen began to feel like she was itching all over, as if ants were crawling on her skin, beneath her skin, and even inside her body as it was crawling.

Darcia watched the reactions play across her face, fear, discomfort. He murmured another word, and the itch turned to a burn. Daen was writhing in agony, she struggled to get away from his grasp but she was not strong enough. It may have only been for a few moments but it felt like an eternity. She was crying out in her agony a mindless howl of pain.

‘Are you ready to tell me your name yet?’

She gritted her teeth and shook her head.

Those words and that pain again. Over and over until she was begging and crying out for mercy but she still would not give out her name. Finaly he released her wrists and she sank to the floor trembling.

‘I see.’ He growled. 'That is enough for tonight. I warn you that is but a fraction of what i can do to you. If you coroporate i will be generous, i can be very generous. If you do not you will suffer. You will give me your name eventuly, i can wait.'

The young woman remained curled up in a rigid ball, like a dead spider. Lord Darcia bent down he ran a gloved hand down her spine and imidiatly she relaxed with a soft moan. It was perhaps a little too early to be quite so dominate with her Darcia mused, sometimes he didnt know his own strength.

With a sigh of someone ill used he picked the young woman up. She seemed to weigh barly anything in his arms. Once Lord Darcia had taken the tension out of her Daen was So dazed and numb that she did not register that Lord Darcia carried her back to her room until he had gone.

On the walk back Lord Darcia thought about his new aquisition she would probably hate him now, but for now he would have to fear him, if she didn’t do what he said it could get very dangerous, especially with what he had in mind for her. Magic was a dangerous skill to learn and if she was not obedient accidents could happen. He would have to play the villain for her.

Still her will and stuborness would be usefull if chanaled in the right way. If fortune did exist then it smiled upon him as who would have thought once of the last witches in the world would also be the loveliest.


a/n; i decided it wasnt quite yet time for lemons, but its coming up soon!