Hurried footsteps echoed through the dull stone corridors as servants darted in every direction, their faces pinched with fear.
Maids called out for their master, voices raised and shaky. Even Gaz, usually composed, hurried along the hall, his gaze snapping to Rakon's private chambers.
Gaz hesitated at the door, easing it open just enough to peer inside. Rakon laid sprawled on the bed, breathing steadily. Relief flickered across Gaz's face as he muttered, "
Puffing out his chest, he entered. "
Rakon startled awake and looked around, confused. "
"
Rakon lurched upright, blankets falling around him. "
Unexpectedly, a maid tugged at Gaz's sleeve. "Gaz," she whispered urgently in his ear. His eyes widened in shock, then he turned to Rakon.
********
The doors banged open. Kalika lay curled amid a haphazard pile of books and scrolls, her cheek pressed against the table. Mae hovered nearby, arms crossed and eyes wary.
"" Mae explained, gesturing to the pile. "
Rakon narrowed his eyes as he scanned the scattered books and Kalika's slumbering form. He stepped closer, noting the volume still clutched in her hand. ""
His gaze dropped to Kalika's uniform, and his lip tightened at the dark stains blotting the hem of her skirt. "
Rakon took off his vest and settled it on her lap. "
Mae, confused, stepped forward to speak.
Rakon's gaze hardened. "
Although reluctant, everyone bowed and left the library.
With everyone gone, Rakon lingered by Kalika's side. He reached out, but his hand stopped short, fingers trembling in the air as if blocked by something unseen. Kalika's eyes fluttered open. She stared up at him, her expression unreadable.
Slowly, jerked his hand back, nerves prickling.
Kalika's eyes flicked to the network of scars across his chest, then quickly averted her gaze.
The hush in the library pressed in, broken only by the faint hum of glowing crystals lining the walls and bookshelves.
Rakon took a deep breath, then reached past Kalika to grab a book. He examined the title, flipped through a few pages, and murmured, "
He repeated the process, flipping through pages and scanning his surroundings before setting each book or scroll aside. "
Kalika shot him a sidelong glance, then lowered her eyes before he could catch her looking.
"
Kalika glanced again, and Rakon continued searching, declaring most as mere stories and a few as historically accurate with some relevance.
By the time he finished, Teyv entered in a panic with clothes in hand.
He stood, took a few books and scrolls in hand, then strode off with a simple statement. "
Teyv straightened, but Rakon had already vanished through the doorway. Alone again, Kalika's shoulders dropped, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"
Teyv said nothing for a moment, then managed a weak, "
********
Teyv gulped, staring at the fire within a chamber full of garbage. She glanced periodically at Kalika, clearly unsure what to do with her.
Teyv cleared her throat. "
Kalika blinked at Teyv. "Cook?"
With mild hesitation, Teyv gestured for her to follow. "
Kalika followed in silence, her footsteps muffled on the worn stones. The kitchen buzzed with clattering pans and shouted orders, the air thick with the scent of roasting meat and herbs. Teyv wove through the chaos, finally ushering Kalika to an empty, secluded station.
"
Teyv pulled at a shell and broke the nut free, demonstrating. "
Kalika's brow furrowed as she eyed the unfamiliar task. Teyv hovered for a moment, glancing nervously at Kalika's hands before retreating. "
Without another word, Teyv scurried away, leaving Kalika under the watchful eyes of the maids and cooks. Some glanced at her, curious or gossiping.
Kalika's shoulders tensed; she lowered her gaze and focused on the task, blocking out the whispers and glances that followed her.
She worked methodically, cracking shells and dropping nuts into the bowl, hands moving on autopilot. The rhythm of labor took over, engrossing her in the mundanous of the task.
Soon, the sound of busy maids and cooks filled the kitchen. Maids grabbed her full bowls, replacing them with empty ones, repeating the cycle.
Eventually, the line of nuts ended.
"
Kalika's lips tightened in annoyance, but she moved to the next station and set to work, hiding her frustration behind a blank expression.
She ground yellow flour.
She cracked furry fruit.
She cut the vegetables, gagging slightly but continuing regardless.
A cook laughed.
"
Koph sputtered, "
Kalika rolled her eyes at their banter, turning back to her work. The kitchen's humidity clung to her skin, the air heavy with steam and spices. She chopped vegetables while a demon beside her sprinkled herbs onto raw meat, then carried it to the fire.
Soon, the air thickened with the aroma of roasting meat. Kalika finished slicing the last purple vegetable and dropped it into the bubbling pot. Not long after, the cooks set a steaming bowl of fire-cooked meat on the table. Kalika's mouth watered as she glanced around, making sure no one was watching as she snatched a piece and devoured it.
She savored the burst of flavor, but despite its tasteful profile, the bliss didn't last. She let out a quiet sigh and wiped her hands on her skirt, frustration flickering across her brow. "So annoying..."
She glanced up. The kitchen bustled around her, every maid and cook lost in their own rhythm, laughter and chatter echoing off the stone walls.
She grumbled. But before she could linger on a thought, a basket was slammed in front of her. "
"Whatever." Without much complaint, she worked.
The afternoon wore on, Kalika's eyelids grew heavy. The kitchen's bustle faded, replaced by the scrape of brooms and clatter of dishes as she cleaned up the remnants of the day.
While she swept up the pink skins of the vegetables she had to peel, the chef suddenly spoke up. "
The cooks exchanged nervous glances. "
Wooden bowls and plates clattered in an uproar. "
"
Kalika reached for the plate without hesitation, her quick movement drawing startled looks from the chef and several cooks.
"Give that back!" one of the cooks shouted as they rushed at Kalika. The chef stepped between them, blocking their way. "
The chef huffed and watched Kalika stride from the kitchen, her head held high and her steps even, showing no sign of nerves.
The chef jabbed a finger at one of the cooks. "
Groans and whines filled the castle halls.
"
********
Arriving at Rakon's office, Kalika kept her eyes low. She entered with a plate of meat, bread, and fruit.
Rakon looked up in surprise and folded his contract. His eyes followed the plate in Kalika's hands. "It's about time. You can leave the plate right here," he said, gesturing to the empty spot on his desk.
Kalika set the plate on the desk with careful precision, then stood with her hands folded, eyes on the floor.
Rakon glanced up, then coughed and looked away, avoiding the shine of Kalika's chest. "Thank you. You may leave," he said.
Kalika hovered in place, eyes fixed on Rakon. Only when he looked away did she turn, slipping out of the room and pulling the door shut behind her.
She stood with her back against the door, waiting and listening.
To her surprise, all she heard were frustrated groans and the ripping of paper from inside the office. "
She took a steadying breath and moved on down the corridor, shoes echoing on the stone.
The day passed in a blur of routine, until evening arrived and she was escorted once more to her cell. This time, Gaz and Rakon watched as demons placed the finishing touches on her prison.
Rakon turned to Gaz. "Gaz."
In an instant, Gaz brought out a white cloth and held it out to Kalika.
"Give us your weapons," Rakon ordered.
As commanded, Kalika re-conjured both her knife and dagger.
Acting quickly, Gaz folded the weapons into the cloth and took them away. Replacing Gaz, two guards arrived, both armed with swords and ready for action.
A short Karnal worker croaked, "
"
The demon bowed. "
Kalika paused at the threshold, her nose wrinkling at the sight of the cell. Inside sat a bed, mirror, even a small chest of clothes as if trying to make it homely. But to Kalika, it was little different from her old prison.
Rakon nodded at Kalika. "Enter."
Kalika paused and breathed in the musty air. She crossed the threshold and sat on her bed, the stiff fabric of her uniform scratching her legs. Moments later, a crew of demons bustled in, fastening a thick cloth over the bars and tugging it to test its strength.
She glanced back at Rakon. He nodded approvingly. "
As quickly as the demons came, they left, leaving Kalika in the presence of the two guards.
Like the night before, she stared, and they stared back.
Both sides remained unflinching.
After some time, she examined the cell. "If I were still in that damned prison, I would've thought this was an upgrade. It would've been nice to have some privacy from him... Then again, it wouldn't have changed a thing..."
Her lips tightened. "It's nice."
She shimmied into bed, embracing the pillow and sheets. She flicked her eyes to the guards watching and narrowed her gaze.
Silently, she approached the cell.
The guards tensed.
Seconds later, the cloth dropped on the first side, then on the second. Alarmed, one of the guards hurried to the door of the cell and watched Kalika lie in her bed. He sighed in relief, then returned to his post.
One of the guards whispered, "
The other guard shook his head. "
Still silent in her prison, Kalika closed her eyes, listening, feeling, waiting.
Eventually, her exhaustion was too much, and she drifted into sleep.