Chapter 9

While negotiating the undulating paved pathway leading toward the barn and workshop, Peter stopped twice to rest his aching leg. Each time they paused, he would slowly turn in place, letting Nahuul soak in the surroundings using his borrowed eyesight. As he took in the westerly views toward the lake and the new spring greenery covering the hills of the mainland beyond, he was rewarded to see Nahuul smile with joy. The same thing happened when he bent with her so she could touch the petals of the bright red and yellow tulips blossoming at the base of the stone wall surrounding the workshop’s courtyard.

They met Hamm working at the sharpening wheel just outside the barn. “Good morning, Milord,” his villein said, knuckling his brow in deference. “Welcome back to your island.”

Hamm had given Nahuul a brief and uncomfortable glance but had thereafter dismissed the girl. He’d obviously been introduced to the woman sometime during the previous half week.

“Good morning to you, Hamm,” Peter replied, cheerfully. “How are things faring out in the more productive parts of my lands?”

Hamm went on to summarize his activities for the week and report on the health and well-being of the island’s larder animals. An important current task was the ongoing preparations for the spring planting of the gardens and renewing the grass in the small pasture meadow on the southern end of the island.

“That is where Klup and Reed are working now, Milord,” Hamm explained, gesturing toward the southeast. “They are plowing a third of the pasture so it can be resown with the new grass.”

Three months ago, Peter had returned from Earth with a sack of brome grass seed. He wanted to see how the pure earthly strain would do on Kreven and if it would make a better feed source for the milking cow and goats. Though much of the plant life on Kreven was similar to what was found on Earth, some strains were different enough that they either thrived or failed spectacularly when transplanted. In his pasture, he was hoping for the former but was only experimenting with a third of his grazing land in case it went poorly.

Hamm followed them into the workshop. Inside, while Nahuul stood patiently waiting by the doorway, Peter and Hamm discussed the status of the plumbing upgrade project for the manor. The brass and copper waste piping system for the new improved toilet was ready and all that remained was to hire a team of guild carpenters and joiners to come to the island to assist with the remodel.

The work would involve removing the flooring from the bathroom adjacent to his solar to install the new toilet waste trap. Peter and Hamm discussed the work needed and how it would disrupt life in the manor and decided to put off the installation project until early summer. As they wrapped up, Peter remembered the message he had wanted to relay during the visit.

“Please have Reed return to the manor around midafternoon, Hamm,” Peter instructed. “I have a task for him inside. Also, see that he arrives thoroughly bathed. Please oversee that task yourself.”

Hamm nodded, accepting the instruction without comment. If he suspected what Reed’s task inside actually was, he kept it to himself. Hamm then left out the back door of the workshop while Peter guided Nahuul back into the front courtyard.

“You may borrow my sight again,” he said to the slave as he took her hand. Almost immediately, he felt the tingle in his mind as the blind woman took advantage of his offer. He wondered if it was a sign she trusted him or that she simply did not fear the consequences of displeasing him. As before, he slowly circled, letting the woman take in details of the courtyard. He saw Nahuul stiffen when he faced the gate and path leading down toward the lake below.

“Have you been down to the lake, Nahuul?”

“No, Lord Bentencourt,” she replied, “I have only been allowed access to parts of the manor and the gardens just outside.”

“Let’s take a stroll down to the shore then, shall we?” Peter commented.

He guided her through the gate, demonstrating to her how to close and latch it properly behind them. She didn’t ask nor did he bother to explain that the reason for the gate was to keep his grazing animals outside the courtyard. When they started down the sloped trail to the dock area, he noticed how Nahuul would jump each time she started walking. She’d done it before when they’d left his manor.

“Nahuul, your hesitation when beginning to walk, is your foot bothering you?”

“No Lord Bentencourt,” she replied warily. “My foot is fine.”

He watched her walking and had to admit that once moving, she walked fine. Peter chuckled as he realized that she walked better than he did currently. Nahuul’s mental connection allowed her to be aware he kept studying her feet.

“It is this walking around on two legs, Milord,” she finally explained. “I am simply unused to it.”

That’s right! He remembered how the girl had moved on the ice island, and how she had gotten around in the dragon realm from the intercepted memories. Peter was also pleased Nahuul had referred to herself in the first person.

“Do you prefer walking on all fours?” he asked curious.

“Mohennial Sala has removed that desire from me, Lord Bentencourt. I will endeavor to try harder.”

“It’s fine, Nahuul, don’t worry about it.”

“Miranda also says that my former gait would soil this clothing.”

That was certainly true. It would keep the woman’s hands cleaner as well, along with slowly allowing her calluses to heal. They continued limping their way down the winding cobblestones in silence. He paused every hundred steps, both to rest his leg and also to focus his vision on items of interest for Nahuul’s enjoyment. Eventually, they reached the water’s edge.

Once at the dock, he sat, resting on the low stone breakwater forming one side while Nahuul stood on the small sand-covered beach next to him. He kept holding her hand so she could continue borrowing his sight. As he directed his gaze, he explained what each area or item was called. The woman seemed fascinated with the rhythmic pattern of waves lapping the shore. She reached out with one sandaled foot to let the water immerse her toes.

“My island must be quite different from the dragon realm,” he commented casually.

“This place is alien to me,” Nahuul replied.

He recalled from her memories the slave areas of the dragon realm had been bereft of large bodies of water. Nahuul had been kept for most of her life in a large valley surrounded by ice-covered mountains. The valley had been temperate enough to allow agriculture during the warm seasons but also suffered harsh winters. With her implanted crystal shard, the cold had not affected Nahuul as much as it had the other slaves. Peter suddenly realized the crystal likely meant the woman might be uncomfortably warm as she had not seemed at all bothered by the cool spring weather in her light shift.

“If you are warm, or simply curious, this is a safe swimming area. The water around the dock is warded safe and the bottom gradually slopes away from the beach. Do not wander in too deeply unless you know how to swim.”

Nahuul did not reply, either to the invitation or to confirm if she could swim, but she did pull the shift over her head and set it on the breakwater. She also slipped the sandals off her feet and walked into the waves deep enough to fully submerge her feet and wet her ankles. She crouched in place and gently felt the waves as they brushed her fingertips. He watched her bring her hand to her mouth to taste the moisture.

“The lake water is fresh,” he explained, “I would not drink from it but if you happen to swallow some, you should be fine.”

Nahuul waded in deeper until the water was up to her thighs. Peter noted the woman’s bare posterior and back were covered with numerous scars. Not so much from regular whippings, but more likely scars from random injuries and deep scratches. He recalled how her violent upbringing in the children’s gangs, and a lifetime thus far spent unclothed, had been hard on her skin. At least the fresh bruising he had first noticed back in the ice fields now seemed mostly healed.

Peter shivered when Nahuul swiftly waded deeper into the cold lake until the water was up to her neck. He also realized that if the woman did not know how to swim, any trouble she found herself in would be his responsibility to rectify. How badly did he want to go swimming today?

“That’s deep enough, Nahuul,” he called out.

“Yes, Lord Bentencourt,” the woman replied as she halted and turned to face him. She dunked her head under the surface for a long moment and Peter watched as she used her fingers to comb out her wet hair. Nahuul then reached deeper under the surface until she emerged with a handful of bottom sand. She then proceeded to use the sand to scrub her arms and legs. It was clear this was how she had bathed while in the dragon realm.

After nearly ten minutes in the water, Nahuul made her way back to the beach and felt her way to the stone breakwater where he sat. Peter noticed that no matter where she was, she remained mostly facing where he was, demonstrating a keen sense of navigation even while blind. As she drew close, Peter noted the woman’s nipples were erect, proving cold did have some effect on the woman despite the ice crystal shard’s magical protection.

He also noted despite being on the thin side, the young woman had a well-developed muscular body. And surprisingly, he found her abundant body hair somewhat exotic with the wet black patches covering her armpits, groin, and legs contrasting sharply with her pale white skin.

“You are very attractive, Nahuul,” he commented.

The woman followed the sound of his voice to directly face him, standing proudly and unashamed. She did not acknowledge his observation but simply remained waiting for his next command. He reached out to touch her shoulder and instantly felt the tingle in his mind from her mental contact. This time, as he studied Nahuul’s body, she responded with interest, touching herself where his gaze lingered. He realized using his sight as a mirror for her to observe her own body might be a novelty to the woman.