Leah's Punishment Read online

  'But –'

  'I shall speak to him.'

  'But my lord, under the terms of her tithe –'

  'Please do as I say!'

  Lirann bowed silently and remained with head hanging, uttering not another word, until Lord Shardlan had dressed and hurried from the room.

  Then she glared at Leah. 'Get some clothes on.' Leah froze. Lirann took three steps forward and, raising her arm as if wielding an axe with which to fell a tree, she delivered one dreadful slap across Leah's face, then another that was harder still. Then she grasped her by the hair and dragged her off the bed. 'Get some clothes on – now!'

  When Lord Shardlan returned, having asked in vain at the wharf for the elusive trader Merek, and finally having guessed what was afoot, he found Lirann alone in the bedroom.

  'Where is she?'

  'She has gone, my lord. Her lover took her.'

  'Ean? You didn't try to stop him?'

  'I could not.'

  'You mean you would not.' Seething, Shardlan strode out on to the terrace and clutched the balustrade. Lirann meekly followed. He did not look at her but stared out over the gardens and the hillside beyond. 'Perhaps I should send a party in pursuit? I think I shall. What say you to that?' He scowled at her.

  'Surely, the party designated to hunt down runaways is you and I, my lord?'

  'I should have you flogged for this, Lirann.'

  'As it pleases, my lord. But do not harm your child.' She unbuttoned her tunic top and dropped it to the floor, leaving her swollen breasts naked and her master utterly speechless.

  He did not flog Lirann. He carried her to his bed and sealed the peculiar bond that tied them, lord and pregnant girl-guard. All thought of pursuit was put aside for a precious time of sharing. Then, just as all seemed settled for Lirann, Ulline came knocking at the bedroom door. Shardlan drew the sheet completely over his naked assistant.

  'There is a girl asking after you, my lord,' said Ulline.

  'Truly, I am having to fend them off, today, Mistress Dresser. Pray put her to someone else. As you see, I am beset.'

  'She will see no one else; she seeks work; she says you promised to take her on if she chose to ask.'

  'I promised no one. Who is this barefaced individual?'

  'She says her name is Deneca – Denni.'

  'Ah . . .'

  In the late morning sun, two breathless figures stood at the top of the staircase of locks.

  'Don't stand in the open, Leah. We may be seen from the Retreat,' Ean said.

  'I want to look – just to look at the view.'

  'But we need to keep moving: they will surely come after us. I don't trust Lirann.'

  Leah didn't answer. She was strangely quiet and calm. He looked upon her delicate features, her soft blue eyes staring ruefully out across the sunlit landscape.

  'Are you thinking of Merek?' Ean asked apprehensively.

  'My destiny does not rest on Merek – not now.' Leah turned. The slave-token was no longer round her neck: it slid from her fingers into the water. She looked at Ean searchingly for a long while. Then she said: 'How many times did you seek to save me?'

  'And failed each time . . .'

  'And still you persisted.' Her eyes were now moist with tears. 'Come here, Master Ean.' Leah took him in her arms and kissed him, through her tears and with them. Then, still holding him, she turned and looked wistfully down upon the beautiful, vast expanse of the bay and the open sea beyond.

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