I carried the tray in one hand while holding his tail in the other. He had barely stepped into the library when his tail tugged from my grasp. As he left, the candle flared to life so I could see. I sighed and set the tray down.
Curiously, I peeked out the window to see if the nymphs had resumed their frolic. To my surprise, the male remained frozen in the same position. The female sat at his feet, idly touching his root, which no longer stood out stiffly. I felt pity for her. Obviously, the interruption to their play had upset her partner.
As before, a black mist roiled in from the left, catching my attention. The female nymph stood slowly with a lingering sad touch on her partner before backing away a few steps. She didn't look as eager this time as she bent forward.
The mist rolled over her. In its depths, I discerned the shadow of the beast as he reared back on his hind legs. He braced his hands on her back and thrust forward into the nymph. He drove into her tirelessly, and I wondered how she stayed upright, until I noticed her feet rooted into the ground.
Troubled, I let the curtain fall. The enchantments on this place were a puzzle to me, often not appearing to adhere to any rules, such as the food that grew outside the wall. Now, I wondered if there were rules to the creatures here. Why hadn't the female nymph solidified into a tree to escape the beast? She hadn't appeared to want the beast's attention this time. Yet, instead of solidifying, she had rooted her feet in order to accommodate him. Why?
While I pondered possible reasons for what I'd witnessed, I went to my food and drink. Before the beast returned, I'd drunk my fill, eaten a bit of cheese, and then stored the rest of it in my bag to share with Father in the morning.
When the beast entered the room, I was exploring a small section of books.
"Continue," he prompted me softly, again with barely a growl.
I cautiously returned to the lounge, noting from my peripheral that no shadowy mist followed him.
Pent energies, I thought as I began to read. The beast seemed to have a lot of them. I knew the basics of the act I'd seen performed-after all, I'd discovered Bryn doing the same-but some of the finer details I'd yet to puzzle out. For instance, why a woman would want to do that? Obviously, the male enjoyed it. I recalled Sara's reaction to the baker and Bryn's noises. Both women made those noises from what I thought came from enjoyment; but afterward, both had been sad.
I read for a while longer before closing the book softly. The beast's fingers stilled in my hair.
I remained prone on the sofa, quietly thinking. He willingly traded my time for food, and he didn't seem to care how I spent that time so long as it was in his manor. If he truly wanted it cleaned, he would not have asked for me to read. Likewise, if he wanted to hear another's voice, he would have asked me to read from the beginning. Everything seemed to be on a whim with him, even his frolic with the nymph. Yet, each time I fulfilled my time obligation, he asked the same question and became agitated when I took my leave.
"Sir, why do you keep asking me to return?"
"That is my concern," he growled.
"It seems my visits cause you more anger than peace. Perhaps I shouldn't return," I said softly.
"No," he said with a harsh growl before sucking in a great breath. Slowly, the breath eased out. "I apologize for my anger. Return tomorrow, please."
"Will I clean tomorrow?" I asked tentatively. "I enjoy reading, but would like to earn more food to take home with me."
"You will leave with food today," he snarled at me as the mist swirled into the room and extinguished the candle again.
His tail bumped my neck, and I stood with my hand wrapped lightly around it.
I didn't understand his mercurial temper. Perhaps it was just his nature.
When we arrived in the kitchen, he stormed out the door without a word. On the block, I found a variety of cheeses and bread, which I stuffed into my bag.
* * * *
The next morning, I waited until Father left before rising from bed. We hadn't discussed where he worked, yet, or that I'd brought him breakfast twice. I decided I would do the same for him, again, since I hadn't purchased oats with the coin I'd received in trade for a wheel of hard cheese. I had been given a full high silver. Twice the value of a blunt silver. I'd never held so much at once and honestly didn't know what to do with it. I'd slept with it tucked into my bindings.
When I arrived at the back door of the Whispering Sisters not much later, carrying a glazed pastry, I had a blunt silver and eighteen coppers still in my bag. The baker hadn't fussed about making change for a high silver, apparently having plenty of his own.
The guard at the door nodded and held the door for me to enter. I smiled and went inside, the smoke swamping my head almost immediately. However, Ila was waiting in the hallway with a cup of tea.
"How did you know I was coming?" I asked, after draining it.
"We watch from our windows. Another sister spotted you and let me know."
I delivered the pastry to my very surprised father who asked to speak with me in the hallway. Ila excused herself and stepped inside to speak with one of her sisters.
"I would prefer-"
I stopped him with a raised hand.
"You've raised me, taught me, and uprooted our family to protect me. Let me bring you breakfast when you forget to eat."
His shoulders slumped in defeat, and he nodded.
"I like the sisters," I said so softly that he had to lean forward to hear. "But you should rest easy when I'm here. Their life does not call to me."
He met my eyes with relief and gave me a brief hug to which the population of the room softly aw'ed, embarrassing him. I smiled at him as Ila joined me and closed the door. We retreated to the bathing room by an unspoken agreement.
"I can see the questions running through your mind," she said as we descended.
"Yes, but they aren't necessarily about the sisters," I admitted. "We've touched a little on the mood of men. What do you do with an angry man?"
"You want to know what we do, or would like advice regarding how you should handle an angry man?" Aryana asked, rising from the water in one of the tubs. She stepped over the edge and motioned to the back room.
Absently, I licked the glaze from my fingers as we moved. I didn't want anyone knowing about the beast nor did I want their questions if I admitted to having to deal with an angry man.
"What you would do."
Ila waved Gen from the room as she stepped into the trough and gave Aryana a concerned look. Aryana sluiced water over Ila and handed her soap without acknowledging the look.
"When our clients leave the baths, some choose to follow us upstairs for muscle relief." They worked together to lather Ila's body, using languid strokes. I would have felt uncomfortable, but neither seemed aware of the other's touch as they remained focused on me.
"Many who visit us do physical labor that leaves them sore and strained," Aryana continued, absently smoothing her hand over Ila's right breast and leaving a soap trail. "A man with pain is more likely quick to temper. We can show you our techniques, but you must promise never to use them."
I eagerly agreed. The beast didn't seem to do physical labor, so I didn't think the information would benefit him, but I always sought to learn new things. Learning this could lead to other things that might eventually lead to knowledge that could help control the beast's temper.
Ila frowned while sliding her hand between her legs to wash her lower parts.
"Are you sure that's wise?"
Aryana helped her rinse.
"Better to have understanding of a room in the light before trying to walk about it in the dark."
Ila nodded and took a moment to stand before the stove to dry.
Aryana's remark made sense. What they had to teach probably bordered on inappropriate, but knowledge made choices easier. If I knew what obstacles to watch for, I wouldn't trip on them.
Aryana led the way upstairs to a room where Gen lounged on a flat sofa with no back. He didn't seem surprised when we entered.
"Gen, would you mind being our display for a skin and muscle touch?"
The adolescent, around my age, shrugged and nodded, but remained sitting.
Ila took me by the hand and led me back into the hall where we waited. "There are many aspects to a man. For you to fully understand them, we need to show you some of the dangers you might innocently overlook."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
Aryana called softly from within the room, and Ila smiled.
"You will see."