Six: Zargis

Marythelia blinks at me for a few moments before she takes a deep breath. Behind me, Lady Unda is sobbing and cursing the girl. If I had known what was to go down when she returned alone, I wouldn't have left her. My beast feels pride for her strength and balls to hit an elder. We both wanted to take Marythelia back home and keep her safe in the castle.

"Punish her, Zargis!" Lady Unda demanded. "Punish her!"

Marythelia's eyes went wide as she barely shook her head at me. I try to reassure her by caressing her cheeks with my thumbs, but this only seems to put her into more terror.

"Do it, Zargis!"

"Enough, Mi 'Lady. She's still young and you're a stranger in her home," I say and feel Marythelia relax in Otreg's arms. When I let her face goes, she would have slipped to the ground if it weren't for my friend holding her up. "Let me see her," I say.

Otreg hands her over and Marythelia nestles herself against my chest like a child. I carry her into the house without acknowledging Unda's screams for me to come back. "I apologize," I hear the soft whisper.

I open a door and go inside a bathroom. I make her sit on the counter and grab a cloth, wetting it with warm water. Once it is wrung out, I wipe her face. "You should never go against a Lady like that. Especially that one," I explain softly.

She nods and doesn't look me in the eye. I sigh but let her speak. "How did you get there so fast? You were already in the forest and I didn't hear you behind me."

"I'm a fast runner, and I flew."

She looks up to notice my shirt was off. Her face blushes and her eyes go to the set of wings on my back. It's interesting to watch her eyes light with curiosity and amazement. Marythelia stretches out a hand and runs a finger down one wing, fascination the only expression I see now.

"Are you better now?" I ask.

Her eyes flick to mine. "What about you? If you're alone with her, she'll do it again."

"I won't be alone," I say. She stares at me blankly. "Because I'm going to request for you to be my personal servant while I'm here. That means you have to play the role of being into me, trying to seduce me."

Her eyes get big. "I can't do that!"

I give her a wicked smile. "Trust me. I'll help you through it."

Her face goes red again and she covers herself with her hands. Her shyness makes me smile, but I pull her off the counter and turn her around. Grabbing a comb, I pull her hair up and pin it up. From a pocket, I rip a slit through her slave dress, letting her legs show. She gasps and tries to close the gap, but is unsuccessful. I put one of her arms through mine and make her look at me.

"I won't let you be harmed, Marythelia. Just stay close to me and everything will be good." She nods and I add, "If you believe she is getting too close, distract me however you are able. I suspect Otreg will help you in any way he can."

I lead her into the sitting area and we are immediately approached by her master. "I apologize for her behavior! She doesn't always act like that," Citron says desperately.

I hold out a hand as Marythelia bows her head respectfully. "No need, Citron. As punishment, she is going to be serving me while I stay." I look down at the girl with a grin. "She'll wish she never would have done that."

Marythelia flinched, but I hold her tighter. Her body shakes violently as Citron nods his approval, moving away. Otreg was talking to Unda, so I pushed Marythelia out of sight and held her against a wall. She whimpered. "Please don't!"

"Look at me," I whisper. She looks up, tears streaming down her face. "I am not going to hurt you. All I will do is touch you in certain spots and have you perform tasks for me. I will not do anything to put you in harm or scare you."

"But you said—"

"So that you don't get a punishment later when you should be in the sky," her eyes widen as I finish my statement, "With me. It's so suspicion doesn't seep into anyone's mind."

"But what if he punishes me anyways? What about her?"

"I told you. I won't let harm come to you. All you need to do is listen to me, let me convince them that this is going to be enough for you to learn your lesson."

She nods, the shaking stopping soon after. "Okay."

Once she's calmed down, I pull her into the sitting room and sit in an armchair, bringing her onto my lap. She squeals in surprise then sits stiffly upright. I lean closer and put one hand around her neck. In her ear, I whisper, "Relax Marythelia. Just lay against me."

She slowly leans back until her head rests on my chest, her eyes shut. Opposite of me, Otreg is watching with a calculating gaze while Unda sits with a glare on Marythelia. Once she's calm, I let her neck go and put it on her knees, my other arm around her back so she doesn't fall back.

"Zargis, why don't you hold me?" Unda says, standing up. Marythelia stiffens again and I feel one of her hands ball into a fist between us.

I give the Lady a smile. "Maybe later, Lady Unda. I'm teaching this slave respect. The only way to do that is when she is close. We wouldn't want her doing something so stupid again, would we?"

Unda didn't seem to think of this, and she sits back down beside Otreg. Citron enters the room and stares at his slave with a disapproving look, but hides it with a smile at me. "Ale, King Zargis?"

"No, thank you." I turn my attention to my friend. "Thank you for your help today."

Otreg knows this isn't just me using my manners, but also a message. He nods. "No problem, my King."

Unda sighs. "If I were her master, she wouldn't be seen. I'd have her locked up."

I tighten my hold on Marythelia as I feel her body shake either from fear or from fury. "That's enough, Unda. Citron is able to do what he wishes with his slave."

"Humph."

I pat Marythelia's leg. "Come. Show me to the kitchen." Immediately, Marythelia jumps up and starts walking ahead of me like a normal slave, but I pull har back. She stares up at me for a moment in fear and confusion. "Your arm, please?" I say.

Her body relaxes again and gives me her arm. I loop it through mine and start towards the kitchen. That is, until Unda shoves Marythelia to the ground, replacing her. Marythelia whimpers and looks up at us. Unda looks at me with a smile. "I can take you!"

She starts to lean in and I almost don't have time to react when we hear a scream. Unda claps hands to her ears as I look at the source of the noises. It's Marythelia, she's holding her ankle. "It hurts!"

I smile at her and kneel. "Let mem see."

"That little runt is faking it!" Unda demanded, trying to pull me away.

I glare at her. "No she isn't. Her ankle is twisted. Otreg, can you get ice?"

"Sure."

Unda stomps away and I finally see a smile on Marythelia's lips. "I don't think she likes me."

I chuckle. "No, she doesn't."

Otreg returns and kneels beside me. He smiles at Marythelia as well. "Quick thinking, Thelia."

"What is going on here?" Otreg and I turn to see Citron glaring at Marythelia. Unda is behind him. "Calm yourself. Her ankle is twisted."

Citron gritted his teeth and stomps forward, pulling Marythelia to her feet by the hair. She whimpers again and it takes everything in me not to kill him. "Stand up right, girl! You are not a cripple! No man should be hovering over you!"

"But, Master! It hurts!" she cried.

He shoved her away into the wall, daggers almost visible through his eyes. "Work it off!"

I clear my throat. All eyes turn to me and I pull Marythelia to me. "No need to be rough, Citron. When I'm away, then you may do whatever you wish, but while I'm here, I will handle her."

"You shouldn't have to!" Unda shrieked.

"I choose to," I say firmly and she shut her mouth. I turn to Marythelia and wrap my arm around her waist. "Come with me."

We hobble away from the others and she doesn't speak this time, and I wonder if we would ever make it through this day without an injury.