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.Unfortunately, thegeneral avoided his house, and Kei usually only saw him in the late evening and atbreakfast for the briefest period of time.For the rest of the day, he was left to the tendermercies of the other servants.Nothing he did pleased them, no matter how hard he tried.They didn t want him toplease them, because that would rob them of their fun.So would him learning the language,which no one bothered to try and teach him.He picked up a few words here and there, buthe had undoubtedly learned more Prijian from the soldiers on the march than he ever wouldin Sei Arman s kitchens.He had no knowledge of where the other Darshianese were being kept and under whatconditions, and he feared they were being treated at least as badly as he was, or worse.Hewas deathly afraid someone like Urki would actually lash out, or that Peit would, and thenthey would be punished for rebelling.He hoped wherever they were, they were doing as hewas, and trying to keep their heads down.As he never left the house, he had no chance offinding out, and Mykis would turn into a tuktuk bird and fly away before he told Kei newsof anything, let alone the other hostages.The other problem was the lady of the household who, Kei suspected, encouraged quitea lot of the abuse, though for what reason, he had no idea.She came to the kitchens onlyrarely, but Kei was set to work in the gardens too, spending long days digging in the hotsun, allowed little rest, and water only grudgingly provided after he d fainted one day.Shewatched him from the verandah, fanning herself elegantly, sitting on a kind of long backedchair, chatting to her maids but her eyes on him, speculating, assessing.The gardener likedto express his disapproval with blows from his shovel handle, and more than once, heknocked Kei to the ground not far from where this woman sipped wine from a glass.Shenever showed any reaction to the violence.Kei wondered how anyone could be so callous or so cold.He never saw the woman speak to her husband, nor did any of the staff interact withthe general more than brief exchanges with the footman.It was if he barely lived there.Keihimself provided he did what was asked of him to an adequate standard was invisible tothe man, for all Kei returned to his room each night to sleep.The only time the general took the slightest interest in him was when Kei s medicalequipment was finally sent to the house, and left for Sei Arman to attend to upon his return.Kei found the general looking at the box the next morning when he woke. This is yours?Kei scrambled to his feet, then held onto the wall so he didn t fall down.He felt solight-headed these days. Yes, my lord.They re my medical supplies. Medical? Show me, the general ordered.Kei took the surgical instruments out and displayed them, making sure he mentionedhow sharp they were so he would not be accused of storing weapons.The general wasstruck by the quality of the metal. Where are they made? In your village? No, my lord.In Darshek.It s a special method.The steel is very strong and can bemade very sharp.The general examined one of the knives closely and tested the edge on his thumb. Interesting.You can t keep them. No, my lord. And this? Nitre distillation.It s an antiseptic. At the man s puzzled look, he explained further. It prevents infection. Is that so? What is it, some magical potion or other? No, my lord.It s distilled nitre weed.Highly toxic if drunk, but safe if not.The general s face wrinkled in disgust. You said you were a healer.Do your patientssurvive? Many do, my lord.The credit most times goes to them, not to me. I m sure.Well, you can t be allowed to have these, but the tools are too valuable todispose of.I ll lock them up in the library. He closed the lid of the box. You re adept atmaking poisons? No, my lord.I make medicines.I told you, I don t kill.The general s eyes narrowed. You re impertinent, Kei.Go get my breakfast and don tever forget who you re addressing.As if he could ever do that. Yes, my lord.~~~~~~~~Her Serenity wasn t happy, and it meant extra work for everyone.The Darshek siegeshowed no sign of succeeding as yet, and Arman was summoned almost daily fordiscussions with the Lord Commander and the admirals about ideas on how to hasten thingsalong.Personally, he thought Kita was foolishly impatient.It had only been three monthssince they had sealed the trade route tighter than a drum.The blockade was holding, so itwas a matter of when, not if, Darshek would fall, and the riches of the north could come toKuplik by sea [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]