She stayed that way, in the dark, for a long time.
Chapter Three
The slamming of the bar startled Calia from sleep as well as from her chair and she crashed to the floor as the door was flung open. She was blinded by the glaring light but could make out a silhouette that could only belong to him.
A tiny sigh of relief escaped her. "You came back."
The king reached a hand out to help her from the floor and Calia gratefully accepted it. She hissed as his hand tightened over her sore, throbbing fingers but didn't let go.
Her eyes still hadn't adjusted to let her see his face, or as much of it as the mask would allow, but she heard his low growl when as he looked over her raw wounds.
With his help, she lurched to her feet and the king steadied her when she swayed. Pain, heartache and a lack of food compounded the confusion she felt in her heart and mind. He was the enemy. This was his fault. But without him, she had no hope of ever leaving the dungeon.
Tears slid down her cheeks as he led her out the door and up the stairs. He still held her one hand gently and patted it. "I fear I may have pushed you too hard, or too fast."
She did not know what to say, wasn't even sure her voice would obey her after so many hours and days spent silent. So she walked lamely next to him, praying he wasn't leading her to some new horror.
At the top of the steps an older woman dressed in stark black met them. She was almost as severe as the Cold King and her shockingly light hair was swept up perfectly. Calia tensed, not knowing the woman or how she would be treated by her. But then she saw the look of pity and compassion on her handsome face.
"Abelina, please see to the girls care. And when you are finished, have Iago come up to tend to her hands." The Cold King released Calia and she stumbled against the woman.
"Your Majesty," the woman grated and Calia shrank away in fear. But Abelina threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "Look at the state of her! You should not-"
"Abelina," he cut in sharply.
She huffed and glared up at his glinting mask but said, "Of course, Your Majesty, right away."
Calia let herself be pulled away with the woman, grateful for her kind and strong presence.
"Now my dear," Abelina was saying. "Tell me your name."
"Calia." Her voice creaked but worked.
"I am Abelina, my dear, the housekeeper. But of course I take care of many things." She squeezed her arm around Calia's shoulders again and led her up a grand stair case.
Calia stared around her as she walked, dazed by the opulence and sharp contrast to the surroundings of her last several days.
"We'll get you fixed up," Abelina soothed as she pushed a door open. The room was wide and bright. Rich curtains hung over the windows and framed a giant bed heaped with pillows and luxurious blankets. Paintings graced the walls and there were several small cases filled with books. The cold floor was covered almost wall to wall by a thick, mossy carpet.
"What is this place?" Calia whispered, afraid to step in.
"Why, your room, of course," Abelina said in surprise. "You did not think you were going to stay down in the dungeon forever?"
Tears made Calia's eye swim and her throat thicken.
"Oh my dear," Abelina whispered before throwing her arms around Calia. "You did think that."
Calia could only nod and try to keep worst of her crying at bay. She was beginning to feel she had never cried so much in her whole life.
Abelina pulled back and patted her cheek. "I remember how terrifying my first days here were. I promise you, it will get better. The king is a good man."
Calia shuddered. "No he's not, he's a monster … a beast!"
Abelina started and slammed the door shut. "None of that talk, dear. He's tolerant but he is the master. Now let's get you cleaned up."
Calia looked around the room for a pitcher and wash stand but found none. Abelina left her side to open another, smaller door on the other side of the room. Scared but always curious, Calia inched forward to see what it held.
Her breath escaped her in one long, awed breath. "What is this place?"
Abelina chuckled and went over to a large tub against the wall. "This is where you wash up." She fiddled with golden handles on the wall and a steaming stream of water poured out, quickly filling the tub.
"Is that hot water?" Calia asked, her mind trying to take it all in.
"It is. Surely you noticed the advanced plumbing in your cell." She turned to gather large fluffy towels and cakes of lavender soap from an ornate shelf.
"I did. But I thought it was so no one would have to dispose of my waste."
Abelina chuckled again. "Well, that is part of it. The king brings his new servants everything they need while they are down there but I cannot imagine him bringing anything like that back out. Now, take off your dress."
Calia flushed but the woman clucked and rushed her. Her sore fingers wouldn't let her untie her cloak or unbutton her dress so Abelina took over, much to Calia's embarrassment. And the embarrassment wasn't so much over her bare form but her dirty, ratty clothes, her sun darkened skin and scrawny frame.
"Did not you eat while you were down there?" Abelina asked kindly as she helped Calia into the steaming tub.
Calia could not answer as she immersed herself in the warm water. She had never felt anything like it. The pain and tension in her limbs and back melted away as she reclined in the soothing water. Hay floated to the surface and dirt dropped to the bottom, Calia noted with burning cheeks.
Abelina patted her shoulder. "Just relax. We'll get you clean in due time."
Calia did relax-almost to the point of sleep. But when her hands slipped into the water she jerked up in pain. Abelina frowned.
"Let's get you cleaned up so Iago can take a look at your poor fingers."
Calia was subjected to a scrubbing and rinsing she had never known the likes of. Abelina firmly massaged soap into her hair and scalp before pouring buckets of warm, fresh water over her head. Her skin received the same embarrassing attention but Abelina hummed and smiled through the whole process like scrubbing filthy urchins was something she did every day.
Fresh from the bath, Abelina slathered her with thick cream that smelled heavenly. Then she attacked her hair, first working in a light oil and then combing through it. Calia tried not to wince and Abelina muttered apologies as she fought with the tangles. "There," she finally said and twisted the damp hair into a loose roll.
Calia had never been so pampered and if felt wonderful. But the uncertainty of the whole situation still left her skittish and afraid.
Finally clean and dry, Calia wrapped herself in the warm dressing gown.
"You'll want to put your robe on as well. I'll fetch Iago and send some tea up with him."
Calia stiffened. "Who is Iago?"
Abelina patted her hand. "You have so much fear in you, child. He's just the gardener."
"Why does the gardener have to see to my hands?" They throbbed bitterly and as apprehensive as she was, she was eager to have some relief.
"He's a seventh son."
Calia frowned. "I thought that was a myth."
Abelina stood at the door with the used towels. "Perhaps, but he is a skilled healer." She gave a little smile before ducking out the door.
Then Calia was left alone to wait. She paced the opulent room, taking in the rich fabrics, the detailed fire place. The rug beneath her feet surely cost more than the house she had grown up in. And although it wasn't the dungeon and she wasn't locked in she did not like being left alone.
The knock on the door startled her and she pulled her wrap tighter around her middle as the door opened.
Calia did not realize she had expected a man named Iago to be large until the slight man entered. His clothes waved around him as did his dark hair. That effect paired with his large eyes made him appear almost waifish.
He gave a large grin when he finally spotted her against the wall. "Ahhhh, the new girl, finally. Although I am sorry to meet you under such circumstances."
His friendliness and unthreatening form weren't enough to win her over and he seemed to sense it. He set his tray and bag on a large table and took his time arranging out the tea and cookies. Calia inched over, tempted by the sweet treats.
"You sit," Iago said gently. He pulled a shallow bowl from his bag and began crumbling fragrant herbs into it. Calia cautiously took the seat furthest from him and watched as he splashed a tonic onto the mix.
He disappeared into the little bathing room with the bowl and returned with it filled almost to the top with steaming water.