Kale: The Dryad Chronicles, page 8
“Happiness?” Sam said and rubbed his chin. “Maybe I should get into the goat man business.”
“Goat men can always run off,” Lady Margaret said. “Catching them is difficult. Even if someone else catches them, the person doing the catching might keep them for themselves. I only have a few goatmen around, I just bought a troublemaker for practically coppers yesterday. He is in poor health but my water dryad has been tasked with taking care of him. He is competent and after a rough period when he first came has been a shining example of what a relationship between a Menial and their owner should be. He never complains and his work is always good. My centaurs are another story. They fight so much that they have nearly killed each other. The one I saw you rode up with was one of mine. Mixing males and females are something that shouldn't be done. The males would fight for the right to mate with her and that centaur had them all in a tizzy. At least I never have to worry about them running off. I branded them so even if they were successful they would be recaptured and returned. Mating them is difficult, although the males fight, they can only make little centaurs once a year. There is money to be made if you want to mate yours. I want more little centaurs running around, I can sell them for ten times what a horse would go for if I were in the selling business. I just want a full stable of centaurs so I can finally get rid of all of my horses.”
“We were thinking of mating ours with a draft horse,” Sam said. “I don't know much about them.”
“Dangerous,” Lady Margaret said. “The babes are large and very intelligent. Their coats are beautiful and they are very noticeable. They look like magnificent horses, larger than either of their parents. The centaurs have told me such a union is not natural and after my own mistakes, I believe them.”
“What happened Milady?” Sam asked.
“A male happened,” Lady Margaret said. “Many people think they are a separate species but all a unicorn is, is a half bred centaur. That horn is fully formed and tears the mother up inside. I lost three centaurs before I learned my lesson, I wouldn't do it.”
“What about a male centaur with a horse?” Sam asked.
“They would refuse outright,” Lady Margaret said. “I have had a few coerced into the act but I had to get rid of them. Two of them rode a carriage right off a cliff, they didn't even care about their own lives. Centaurs and goatmen are hard to raise. Having dryads are difficult as well.”
“Not really Milady,” Sam said. “It depends on what you are using them for. If you are using them to raise food like I am, the best thing to do is to leave them alone and leave them to it. I may have to break a few branches but eventually they get the point and do their magic. My fields are always bountiful and I have someone to work it. If you don't care about growing and only want a laborer, then their magic doesn't matter. Their lives are tied to their trees. Just make sure the tree is good and you will have a slave for you and your grandchildren long after you die. They can't even run off, they can only get so far away before they have to return to their tree. An easy punishment is to just take them away from their tree. You can't make it last forever though, the tree will start dying and so will they. I have a few goatmen but I think I am a bit more heavy handed than you are milady. They breed fast so I have been able to watch a few generations to see if my technique works.”
“And what technique is that?” Lady Margaret said.
“I don't deal with the males at all,” Sam replied. “I get one of those goat girls, they get pregnant easily. After she is with babe I separate her from the father. Him I work in someone else's field and keep him there. If he is difficult I call the watch to beat the pit out of him and then I put him in a friend's field. The females are easy to submit, they are worried about their children so they are meek.”
“I don't follow,” Lady Margaret said.
“Well if the goatman is gone, she only looks to me for food and shelter,” Sam replied. “If she has a girl, she will teach her girl to be meek and to not anger me. If she has a boy she will teach him the same. In fact, she will punish him for you if he steps out of line. She wants to keep him safe. I just keep restarting the cycle, the males are elsewhere and the woman and her children answer to me.”
“Well you have to get the males back sometimes,” Lady Margaret said.
“I do,” Sam admitted. “If they are angry over the goat girl getting another lover or not submitting to them, they get beaten again. The angriest of my goatmen have been taught a lesson and although broken, they can be troublesome sometimes. Their children are nothing like them, the children are always quick to please me. I just haven't had the time to properly get into the business with the work I have to do with the dryads.”
“Well your technique seems interesting,” Lady Margaret replied. “Maybe you have a business there. I think if you are correct, you could be buying, selling and breeding goatmen. Ah here comes my favorite Menial, Kale. Kale, can you refill my cup? I want water, as cold as you can make it.”
Emma had been listening to Lady Margaret talk and had gotten dizzy. She was ready to vomit until she heard his name. Kale. It couldn't be the same person. She turned to see a young man, he was tall and lean. His black hair was shorter than he used to have it, it looked like he had just dunked his head into a bucket of water. His clothes looked expensive but they were also wet. Emma thought he looked like he had just climbed out of a lake. He didn't seem to be dripping though, in fact, when he walked he didn't leave wet footprints behind either. Emma watched him stick a finger in Lady Margaret’s cup. A sound not unlike someone urinating reached Emma’s ears and seconds later she could see the cup was filled. Mary handed over her cup and Kale took it without looking up. He filled it along with everyone else who wanted some water.
“Don't you want some water Emma?” Lady Margaret asked.
“No,” Emma said softly.
“Are you sure?” Lady Margaret asked. “It is the cleanest, best tasting water you have ever had. In fact, sometimes I prefer it over fresh squeezed juice or even wine. The water also helps my dryad trees, they prefer it over the regular stuff.”
“I am positive,” Emma said as she began turning green.
“You may go Kale,” Lady Margaret said as Kale bowed and then turned and walked away.
“I need to get back to my room,” Emma said as a well dressed woman walked up from behind her, causing everyone to rise out of their chairs.
“Your Grace,” Lady Margaret said.
“Don't you, Your Grace me Margaret,” Duchess Charley said. “Is this her?” the Duchess said while looking at Mary. “So what she is pretty, look at everything she has on. It looks like it took a team of people to fix her that way. She is not much better looking than my Tiffany, some would argue that she is uglier.”
“Your Grace, might I introduce Sam and Miriam Dolly,” Lady Margaret said. “They are the parents of Mary and Emma Dolly.”
“I don't care who these people are,” Duchess Charley said while focusing on Mary. “What did you do? Did you show him a good time and now like an idiot he is in a trance?”
“Your Grace, you are berating an innocent young lady,” Lady Margaret said. “Everyone at this table is just too polite to tell you. Emma, the blond in front of you, is Trevor’s heart. You have been insulting her sister.”
“You listen to me girl,” Duchess Charley said as she spun Emma around and then started sputtering.
“And she heals the sick for free in her off time,” Lady Margaret said.
“You,” Duchess Charley began. “You are beautiful. I will not deny you that. And you are probably selfless, healing babies and all that. But you are a commoner. Why did you sink your hooks into him?”
“She did no such thing,” Lady Margaret said. “Trevor has been pursuing her and now that you have seen her, you know why.”
“Tiffany is already heartbroken,” Duchess Charley said. “Why did you have to flaunt this girl in front of her?”
“Not me,” Lady Margaret said. “Trevor wanted everyone to meet her. He told me the sooner it happened, the sooner everyone would leave him alone.”
“I apologize for my behavior young lady,” Duchess Charley said looking at Mary. “I am an angry old woman who has seen a match that should have been an easy one get demolished in only a few short months. Margaret, I will leave you to your guests and we will talk later.”
“That went better than I expected,” Lady Margaret said. “Just the sight of you made her pause. Emma you are looking green, you should have some water.”
“I need to lay down,” Emma said as she grabbed her chair. “I know the way.”
Emma left and thought she would vomit right on the floor. She had just made it out of the ballroom when she heard Trevor talking to someone. It was Kale. Kale and Trevor were the same height but it was obvious that Lord Trevor was a lot broader. Emma was already too close to flee, Lord Trevor had made eye contact with her already. Emma took a deep breath and walked over.
“Did you see any guests who needed water?” Lord Trevor asked.
“No Milord,” Kale said as he looked towards the ground.
“Why are you in such a hurry to leave?” Lord Trevor asked. “Do you have a girl somewhere you are trying to get back to? Perhaps one of the dryad women?”
“No Milord,” Kale replied.
“Have you done all of your duties?” Lord Trevor asked.
“Yes Milord,” Kale replied.
“That is a good boy,” Lord Trevor said. “How is my new goat man?”
“Hurting Milord,” Kale replied. “I was just going to see about him now.”
“You look soggier than usual,” Lord Trevor said. “Like you are producing more water or something. How are my dryads doing?”
“They are alive Milord,” Kale replied.
“I didn't ask that!” Lord Trevor snapped as Kale flinched. “Kale I am sorry for yelling at you. I am asking if they are okay.”
“They do not want to be here,” Kale replied. “The fertilizer you buy for their trees only gets used because they are scared of you and your family.”
“How ungrateful, but it cannot be helped,” Lord Trevor said. “The food they produce is used exclusively at my orphanage and the excess is used to feed the poor. Go see about my new goat man and then take the rest of the night off.”
“Thank you Milord,” Kale said as he turned to leave.
“Kale is my number one Menial,” Lord Trevor said. “You will be seeing a lot of him.”
“I have seen too much already,” Emma said as she straightened her posture. “You have broken him.”
“What?” Lord Trevor said shocked.
“I know Kale,” Emma said. “I grew up with him. I am the reason he is here in this horrid place.”
“Come back here Kale,” Lord Trevor demanded. “Have you been beaten recently?”
“No Milord,” Kale replied.
“He won't even look you in your face,” Emma replied. “I thought you were different, that you were kind.”
“What are you talking about?” Lord Trevor asked. “I get along great with Kale, he is my best Menial and he always gets the best of everything.”
“He is not the boy I grew up with,” Emma replied. “I am the reason he lost his smile.”
“You know my beloved?” Lord Trevor said in a menacing tone why looking at Kale. “What have you done to her? Some kind of magic?”
“No Milord,” Kale replied.
“Kale, have you been beaten since you have been here?” Emma asked. “If you wanted, could you just walk away without any repercussions?”
“Emma, what is wrong with you?” Lord Trevor asked. “Kale helps take care of all of my Menials and also helps grow the food I feed all the kids and poor people with. He is not mistreated here.”
“Just by being here is enough for me,” Emma said. “They are not dumb animals, they have their own wants, feelings and desires.”
“And they can have all of them filled here,” Lord Trevor asked.
“Just as long as it is under your roof and they never flee,” Emma said as she finished his statement. “I cannot live like this Lord Trevor, I am sorry for taking up your time.”
CHAPTER 8
KALE
Kale was feeling horrible from the beating, he knew he had a few new scars and hadn't been laid into like that in a while. Something happened during the beating, Kale thought it felt like he could just make his powers burst from anywhere on his body rather than just his hands. Kale tried to focus on that feeling, he could barely move anyway so it wasn't like he had something he needed doing. Kale thought he had it, just as he was about to try he heard someone coming into his room. Kale ceased his actions as the door opened up. It was Lord Trevor and he was carrying a bucket of something. Kale flinched first then went to get up.
“Stay resting Kale,” Lord Trevor said. “I regret putting it to you like that. I was just angry about Emma. I brought you something to make you feel better.”
Kale could feel something cold pouring over his body. His skin readily soaked it up and it was water filled with some kind of drug. Kale could feel the effects of whatever it was immediately. Kale shuddered as the drug started running its course, he was still sore but the pain wasn't throbbing anymore. Kale thought he may be able to sit up a bit as Lord Trevor started talking again.
“Emma is a beautiful girl,” Lord Trevor said. “She has a beautiful and kind heart and she proved it by dumping me. She is a girl that doesn't care anything about my money and power. It has made me want her even more but she refuses to have anything to do with me other than friendship. When I last saw her I could tell it was over. She went from horrified to just cold. Her father said that is just how she is sometimes. She just hates all of your kind doing your rightful job to serve your masters. She made it seem like I do nothing but beat you everyday for my own enjoyment. Not including this last chapter between you and I, I haven't touched you in a while, have I?”
“No Milord,” Kale responded.
“She doesn't want to hear it,” Lord Trevor said. “I am not like the rest of them with Menials. I actually care for your welfare and I want you to be big and healthy.”
“So this is where you are,” Lady Margaret said as she walked through the door. “Are you finished taking your frustrations out on this poor creature? I know his kind can take a beating well but that is no reason to give it.”
“I just gave him some water,” Lord Trevor said as he got up.
“Your father is looking for you,” Lady Margaret said. “Jarlan has officially crossed over into the kingdom.”
“We need to raise an army,” Lord Trevor said worriedly. “We need to get men and start outfitting them with weapons.”
“Your father is putting our goatmen to the task of smithing,” Lady Margaret said.
“I am happy Da saw this war coming a long time ago and made sure our goatmen could turn out weapons and shields,” Lord Trevor said. “This is going to cost a lot of money but luckily we are prepared.”
“The goatmen should be fighting in this war as well,” Lady Margaret said. “They have been getting taken care of and given a place to stay and always have to be chided before they do their jobs. Just look at parts of our lawn.”
“We can’t take the goatmen,” Lord Trevor said. “The Jarlanians are fighting to free them from our protection. The stupid goatmen would take it and end up dying of hunger since they don't know what is best for them.”
“You can't blame them, Hon,” Lady Margaret said. “They don't know better, without us they would just roam aimlessly. It was just wishful thinking that I wanted them to fight as well. Who all are you going to press into battle?”
“Well our big planters will not be going anywhere, like Emma’s father Sam,” Lord Trevor said. “The food he grows is going to be too important to our cause. Likewise any other planter, smith, tailor or whatever will stay put, provided they use their talents to help out the war effort.”
“This is going to cost us a lot,” Lady Margaret said.
“Father has already thought this through,” Lord Trevor said. “I expect many of our poor to shun their duty and wish to hide. He is going to need a force that will travel throughout Duke Charley’s lands and find those who try to resist. For a sizable amount of coin per person, rich men could be pressed into the army and given the job of finding these men, punishing them and sending them to the front. Finding cowards has to be safer than fighting Jarlan and the money will fill our coffers to support everything.”
“Your father is such a smart man,” Lady Margaret said. “You might get your girl to go with you.”
“The battlefield is no place for a lady,” Lord Trevor said.
“She is a healer,” Lady Margaret said. “And it seems like she cannot help herself with her fragile feelings. If you ask her to go to help heal the sick and injured, she would of course leave to go.”
“Field hospitals do need to be set up,” Lord Trevor said. “Healer Chancer is an old man, making this trip would be hard and I cannot take the only healer in town. I need other things I never thought about, maybe a tent or something to act as a field hospital. I will ask her but right now I am worried about you and all of the women we must leave behind.”
“We can beat our own goatmen and trim our own branches,” Lady Margaret said. “We are not worried about the centaurs either. If there is too much trouble, it sounds like there will be enough men here looking for cowards to keep everything in line. I think I should get all of the women and young ladies together to start sewing handkerchiefs and uniforms. I think I should do this now, go find your father and help him out if you can. Kale will be alright, I will have one of the dryads in to see about him later.”
Kale was happy to hear the door close and tried searching for the feeling. When he thought he found it, he tried pushing his power and making water gush from his skin. Kale focused hard and pushed his power, he only had a moment to scream as his entire body exploded and Kale could feel himself drifting away. Kale could see the room but it looked like it was underwater. The sight was weird, like he could see from all over his body. Kale tried looking around and could not see his arm. He felt like he was underwater and fell to the floor, instead of a thump he heard a splash. Kale wanted to scream in fright but couldn’t. He moved and wiggled on the floor but could not see himself. He shouldn't be under water in the middle of a room. Kale panicked for what he thought was over an hour before he tried something different.
