Kale: The Dryad Chronicles, page 3
“Kale,” Charla said.
“Kale,” Lady Margaret said. “Well he will be fun for my son to play with when he gets better. Charla I want you to wait in the room next to the kitchen for Healer Rutherford. I think that is about how far you can be from your tree anyway until your tree matures. Maybe have some cold water and some fruit in there in case he works up a sweat. I can't have him too tired to see to my new dryad. I am going to have a tub brought up. Maybe bathe him afterwards as you feed him. Just make sure his clothes aren't soiled during the act. I want to show him a good time so he will come back.”
Kale heard all of that and passed out. Kale was not sure how long he was out when he could feel something cool being poured over him. His body readily soaked it up as Kale could feel it was water. It made him relax a little as he was stripped of his shirt and the cool liquid was poured directly on his skin. Kale could hear a chant as some other liquids were poured on his chest. This wasn't water and felt weird. Kale could feel his body trying to go to work on whatever the strange mixture was. It spread throughout his body and Kale could feel his pain had lessened.
“What did you do?” said a young male voice.
“It is a concentrated form of Dopium and I am praying for the Goddess of healing for it to work,” Healer Rutherford said. “Your mother really made sure I was taken care of. For a young boy like you, you might want to try one of these dryads out. How old are you son?”
“Fifteen,” the young male said.
“That is a good age to start,” Healer Rutherford said. “Listen boy, by now you have started to notice young ladies. They can't go out and have fun the way we can, they need to keep their flower intact. It would be a shame for them to get a husband that doesn't know what he is doing. You can practice with these dryads you have. Make sure to take care of them afterwards, they aren't like the goatmen. Take care of them and they will start looking forward to seeing you. You can get experience and whoever your future wife is will be happy. It won't even get around, many times young lords are too reckless and leave a trail of bastards and broken hearts in their wake. With the dryads, no one can pin anything on you.”
“I have been curious,” the young male voice said.
“Young Lord Trevor,” Healer Rutherford said. “It is written in every holy book from every god you have ever read that the Menials are here to serve us as penance for their failed culling of the human race. “
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Lord Trevor replied.
Whatever the healer was doing was working, Kale thought. His body wasn't as sore anymore but he still didn't want to wake up to see anyone just yet. When they finally left, Kale could hear someone else come in and start wiping his forehead. Kale took a deep breath and thought she smelled like pine. It was a dryad, the same one who had taken care of him before.
“Are you okay?” she asked in a low voice. “No one is around us.”
“No,” Kale said weakly.
“How did you come here?” Charla asked.
“My friend put me here,” Kale said as his body was threatening to cry.
“We don't cry here, not now or ever,” Charla said. “When I blend back in with my tree is when I cry. It is the only time I am alone. You don't have a tree, so you cannot cry. The masters would see you crying as an attack on them and you not being grateful for what they have done for you. You would be beaten until you smile and pretend you want to be here. Whatever you do, you should never cry.”
CHAPTER 4
EMMA
Eight Years Later
“Emma, I bought you a new dress today,” Miriam said. “Your favorite color complete with the matching ribbon for your hair and shoes.”
“I don't want a dress,” Emma said and rolled her eyes. “You keep it or give it to Mary.”
“What do you mean, you don't want a dress?” Sam said irritated. “You love dresses and this one was made by the best tailor in the area.”
“I don’t love dresses and I don’t want a dress!” Emma snapped. “Can you both just leave me alone.”
“No I will not leave you alone,” Sam replied. “Your mother and I went through alot of trouble to get this dress for you. You don’t even have an idea of how much it cost. If you did, you wouldn't be acting like this.”
“I don’t care about the price and I don’t care about how much money you spent,” Emma said irritated. “All I want is for both of you to get out of here and leave me alone!”
“Why can’t you be like your sister?” Sam said. “Mary is happy everytime we buy her new things. She is in a nice home with more food than she can eat and surrounded by nice things. You are always angry, irritated and you rarely go anywhere. You snap at us like we are enemies or you hate us.”
“Your guilt trip doesn't work with me,” Emma said as she faced Sam. “I am not daddy’s little girl anymore. You betrayed my trust, I don't care about your feelings.”
“Are you still on about that?” Miriam said. “They aren't even people. If it means so much to you, we can buy you a couple to take care of or something.”
“And that is why I do not like any of you,” Emma said. “As soon as I am able, I am leaving here and if I never see either of you again. It would suit me just fine.”
“Why would you say such a thing?” Sam said with pain in his voice. “Me and your mother have given you everything a girl could ask for to the best of our ability.”
“I asked you for one thing and you couldn't do it,” Emma began. “No, you wouldn't do it. I don't care about whatever you try to buy me off with, take it and throw it away. You don't care about my feelings and I don't care about yours either. You are both wicked people and have put a stain on my conscience that can never be removed.”
“Look around you Emma,” Sam said. “Look at all of the good it has brought. No one around us is starving anymore. Our lands are fertile and the people we have working for us are happy.”
“Is my friend happy?” Emma asked. “The one you threw in chains and beat. What about his friends? You know, the ones that are forced to work or die?”
“Your, Thing, was already helping out with the fields and so were the others in their own way,” Miriam said. “They are not doing anything they wouldn't be doing anyway. Only now they have supervision.”
“And what about those they threw in a brothel?” Emma asked. “Or those poor girls forced to serve the rich? Who knows what they are going through? How is that something they want to do?”
“Emma they are like animals,” Sam said and gave a deep sigh. “We wouldn't feel bad if we were mating horses or cattle.”
“You are evil,” Emma said. “And I suppose I am an animal. I was viciously slapped down like trash by my own father while my mother held me in place. I do not want to talk to you.”
“Lord Trevor is coming over,” Miriam said, changing the subject. “His father has been asking about your bride price in a roundabout way.”
“So that is what it is?” Sam said with a small smile. “I see we mention Lord Trevor and your whole attitude changes. If you were just missing the young man, all you had to do was say so. He has been absolutely smitten with you and asks about you from any who knows him. I just wish Mary could find someone like him.”
“Lord Trevor has a kind heart,” Emma replied. “And you do not. If I ever get married, you can rest assured that neither of you will ever touch or meet my children no matter what the situation.”
“Why are you being so evil?” Miriam said as tears started to roll down her face. “I don't know why you hate us so. At least look out for Mary, she is your sister and does not have your gifts.”
“Why are you wasting your time?” Mary said as she walked in the room. “All she does is sit here and moan about whatever. Mother, can I go into town to see Erica and Jamie?”
“Why don't you take Emma with you,” Sam said. “Maybe getting out of the house will do her some good.”
“She never wants to go anywhere fun,” Mary replied. “I have asked her. Many of the boys ask about her when they see her. She doesn't even smile at any of them. It irritates me that Lord Trevor seems absolutely entranced by her. I would be a better wife. I could have babies, and run the house and servants. I would have great balls and feasts and have our family the talk of the town. But no, he doesn't want me, Erica or Jamie despite knowing and talking to us longer. He wants blond little Emma and her sour face.”
“You are just jealous,” Emma replied.
“Of course I am jealous, sister!” Mary said. “I admit you took all of the looks. Your hair, your eyes, even your figure is a lot curvier and bustier. You are a fool for not enjoying your time as a single girl. You may get the ultimate prize in Lord Trevor, but you will regret not having your fun when you could.”
“Maybe you can get Lord Trevor to introduce Mary to a few of his Lordling friends,” Miriam said. “It could really improve our family’s standing.”
“I don't have a family,” Emma said. “Family does not go around hurting each other. You both did and I will never let you forget it. To you it was worth getting this big house and all of your things. All it cost you was my respect forever.”
“Emma we were so close,” Sam said. “Remember we used to talk about what type of horse we would buy when we had money? Or about what type of flowers we would plant around the house when we bought one? Back then those were all dreams, with a bit of hard work those things are a reality and you are still not happy.”
“I asked you, begged you not to do something,” Emma said. “I don't care how you see them. You can see them as animals if you want. I asked you not to do something and you ignored me and did it anyway, knowing the hurt you would cause.”
“You expected us to stay in rags when we finally had a way out?” Sam asked. “Be serious Emma.”
“I expected you to care about your little girl’s feelings,” Emma replied. “You don't. You only care about yourself, this dress of yours is just something else you bought to try and ease your conscience. I will never trust you again, you or mother for as long as I live.”
“If you want me to say I am sorry, I am not,” Sam replied. “My family is living well and it was worth the temporary disappointment of a little girl. Hearing you and your sister cry because you didn't have any food, that was tough. Seeing my wife go hungry because of the little food we had went to you and your sister, that was tough. Watching my family shiver together in the winter because I didn't have the wood or materials to patch the shack we were staying in, that was tough. Hearing you cry about something that happened years ago while you sit in luxury is just annoying.”
“You keep that same energy,” Emma replied. “You keep your luxury and your thoughts. Years from now when you are on your deathbed, I want you to remember it all. I want you to remember it as you see I am not there by your side, sobbing and shaking. I want you to know it is because of reasons like this.”
“If you want us to say we are sorry, fine,” Miriam said. “We are sorry.”
“Don't apologize to her,” Mary said. “It is because of her we don't have our own house dryad like we should. Lacy Luberon just got her own baby dryad and planted the tree right in her courtyard.”
“A baby?” Miriam asked. “That is our problem Sam. We need to have a good breeding program. Sometimes I think they purposely don't give good seeds just to deny us of our right to live.”
“How is them not wanting to throw their baby into a horrible life hurting you?” Emma asked angrily.
“Ignore her,” Mary said. “You both need to stop coddling her and let her run off to do whatever. I should have my own dryad. Or maybe I could get a centaur or a unicorn if any of them are still around.”
“That is what we need,” Sam said. “We got lucky finding the dryad grove. I wish we could capture some more of the water type but they are hard to come by. Well we know where they are but they die if taken out of the water. You have to find one of the little ones and keep it caged for the adults to work for you. Merfolk are just not worth the trouble. They are some nasty buggers and have sank many ships out in the open sea.”
“Emma, why didn't you ever show me how to catch one?” Mary asked.
“The money would be welcomed but at least we can sustain where we are,” Miriam said. “Emma I am tired of you being inside of here. Your sister is right. I want you to put on your new dress and go out on the town with her. You still have two years before you can legally leave here unless you are married and I will not have you spending all of your time cooped up in this house.”
“I am not doing anything you say,” Emma replied. “You are just as bad as he is, I hate you.”
“You are going to get out of this house or I will stay in here, in your room,” Sam replied. “I am not leaving until you stop acting foolish and get up. I am going to send Wilma in here to pretty you up.”
“Wilma,” Mary said and rolled her eyes. “She has horrible style, father. Lacy Luberon uses her mother’s dryad to pretty herself up. It really has a talent for that sort of thing.”
“We both know seeing those things makes your sister ill,” Sam replied. “They disturb her when we had them around when she was younger. It is not worth bringing up anymore. Wilma does a decent job and she knows how to mingle around the influential.”
“Me and my friends are just going to the square,” Mary said. “We aren't going around any fancy people.”
“There are poor boys in the square,” Sam replied. “I wish Lord Trevor would hurry up and get here. I am not surprised that they are always asking about work. As if I would pay them when I could get the labor done for virtually free. Get your things Emma, you are leaving here. Mary, I trust you have enough coin to have fun with?”
“Of course I do father,” Mary replied. “I can't believe little miss sad and troublesome is going out though.”
CHAPTER 5
Emma
Emma rolled her eyes at Mary as they sat in the carriage. They didn't need a driver since the steed they had pulling the carriage was a centaur. The woman always seemed broken to Emma whenever she saw her. Emma took solace in knowing that she was not the reason the centaur had been captured, rather her father had acquired her from somewhere Emma didn't care enough about to learn. Mary was in her own world and chatting about how desperate the boys in the square were and how she could make them do all sorts of things. Emma thought her sister was an idiot who didn't care enough about anything except her own comfort.
“I don't know how my friends are going to take you being there,” Mary said. “You are prettier than they are, you are richer as well. You already have Lord Trevor pining for you, don't try to take any attention away from them.”
“I don't care about some stupid boy,” Emma said. “Or your stupid friends.”
“Emma, what is wrong with you now?” Mary asked. “You have always been such a sourpuss. You are snapping at me and I have never done anything to you.”
“You are right,” Emma said and let out a sigh. “I am just angry at mother and father and I am taking it out on you. Sorry Mary, I will try to behave.”
“Was that an apology?” Mary said and raised an eyebrow. “Who are you and what have you done with my mopey little sister?”
“I just can't stand to be around them,” Emma said. “And as I am getting older, I am getting angrier and angrier.”
“I don't see why,” Mary said. “Mother and father both love you. Sometimes father cries about the way you treat him. You have always been his favorite, like the son he never had but wanted.”
“Liar,” Emma replied. “You are his favorite.”
“I am an airhead Emma,” Mary said. “I am self absorbed and I am lazy when it comes to doing any work. You used to toil in the fields with him and snuggle up to him asking for stories. You did all of your chores and some of mine and never complained. I remember when our parents didn't have any money to get you anything for your birthday. You saw how sad they were so you took the meager savings you had somehow collected and bought them some cake and picked some flowers to cheer them up. You are his favorite, now that we are both older I only care about girl things. Messing with boys, getting pretty ribbon for my hair and anything to make my life more comfortable. You just stay in your room reading and scowl at father whenever he asks you anything.”
“I do not scowl at him,” Emma replied. “But I have nothing to say to him, now or ever.”
“All because of the lesser born?” Mary said. “Mother or father didn't invent this situation and long before they were born and long after they die the creatures will still have to see to human comfort. The delicious food you eat comes from them, big juicy pears and succulent oranges. Mother and father are not evil to the things, sure they have to beat them every once in a while but they make sure the things have plenty to eat and stay clothed well. They have more than we did when we were poor.”
“Mary, Kale was my friend,” Emma said. “I saw him try to help us and I turned him in. I thought he was being mean by not helping every field instead of just ours. I followed him to where he slept and discovered the dryads hiding in plain sight. I wanted them to help out everyone, I thought father would be able to talk to them. I never dreamed that he would start hurting people. You should have seen him when I begged him not to, he didn't care about me at all. These things he buys me are just to ease his own guilt because his daughter refuses to talk or laugh in his face anymore. I can’t trust him with anything, the only person father cares about is father. Every time he hands me anything it is a slap in the face. It is a, so what I betrayed you and had your friend beaten. Take this and shut up and forget about it.”
“You are too kind of a heart,” Mary said. “They are not human Emma. Do you care about the cow that you eat every day? Its job is to live and get fat so we can kill it and eat it. Sometimes the mother cow has her babe taken from her early on so we can enjoy her milk all year round and then her and her babe are killed. Do you care about them the way you care about the other animals?”
