***
The next day, a beautiful song entertained Pulchra not only during lunch but during dinner as well. Celisha and Carmina giggled in obvious excitement that their master and mistress were making some connection. Pulchra spent her time reading in the large room and walking in the garden. Tobart was often nearby ready to answer any questions about the household, daemons, and Akaru.
“You see, mistress,” he explained as they perused the library in the afternoon. “When the gods created daemons they created a single race with many natures. Unlike men whom the gods created with a single nature.”
“You mean the greater and lesser daemons you spoke of before?” Pulchra asked.
“Not quite mistress, though that is related,” Tobart answered. “A daemon’s nature dictates certain traits that are apparent in him. His appearance, preferences, and habits. For instance Celisha and Carmina have an avian nature, and so they have feathers and prefer a diet of insects and berries.”
“Oh, so you mean that each daemon is like a different animal?”
“Basically, though some daemons have natures that are not manifested among animal species.”
“Really? How many different natures are there?”
“Many hundred,” Tobart said and gave one of his large ears a few quick scratches in a very feline manner. Pulchra had an urge to pet his orange head, but she stopped herself as he continued his lesson. “No one has ever catalogued all of them. But the daemon’s nature is not like an animal’s species since, with a few exceptions, different species cannot produce children with members of other species. A goat cannot bear the kid of a duck and a duck cannot lay the egg of a crocodile. All daemons, though, are of the same race, and so mixing natures can produce children.”
“Like a mule,” said Pulchra. “The offspring of a horse and a donkey which has characteristics of both its parents.”
“Yes, mistress, it is similar,” Tobart replied. “Though a mule is a desirable offspring, a useful animal. The children of two greater daemons with differing natures are significantly lesser than either of their parents and are therefore called lesser daemons.”
“Lesser in what way?” Pulchra asked as she frowned at the notion.
“Many ways,” Tobart said and he continued speaking before Pulchra could ask another question. “Lesser daemons cannot then produce greater offspring. The children of lesser daemons, even if their natures are the same, will always be lesser daemons as well. Greater daemons are only born to two greater daemon parents of compatible natures. Because of this, in the past daemons lived in clans with others of their own nature.”
“I suppose that makes a certain sense,” Pulchra said as she brushed a strand of hair off her face. “They do not live in clans any longer?”
“Not for many generations,” Tobart answered. “Fierce rivalries developed between clans. Many daemons died in clan wars. Eventually clans banded together in order to gain safety and stability. It is the norm now in most of the world for a lord, or in some cases a lady, to be the head of these coalitions and maintain that safety and stability.”
“So Akaru is a type of a king among his people, as he said,” Pulchra whispered more to herself than to Tobart. Thinking back on what Celisha and Carmina had told her of their early lives Pulchra asked, “What becomes of the lesser children? Are they often mistreated?”
“Those of us in Lord Akaru’s domain are very fortunate,” Tobart stroked his whiskers. “Far more fortunate than most.”
There was a look in Tobart’s eye that Pulchra could not identify. She was curious to know more, but not sure if it would be rude to ask.
“Please do not worry for us, mistress,” Tobart said when he noticed Pulchra’s concern. “Celisha, Carmina, and myself have a good life and a good home in this house. Lord Akaru has helped us to forget the injustices of the past.”
Tobart smiled showing his pointed fangs. Then he silently stroked his whiskers as his eyes looked at nothing in particular. Pulchra turned back to the shelf of scrolls.
Celisha and Carmina were also attentive to their new mistress. Whenever their household duties allowed, they also remained nearby, eager to be helpful. Pulcha had worried when she left her mother and sister that she would no longer have opportunities to enjoy the company of other women, so she was glad to have her maids. They were very curious to learn more about human food so she taught them how to grind wheat grains into flour and bake bread and also how to steep tea. She found it amusing to watch their feathers ruffle as they chattered or puff out when they were startled. One afternoon Celisha forgot that she had left a pot over the fire in the kitchen. When she smelled something burning the long peacock feathers rose from where they rested against her back and spread like a halo around her head as she ran to the kitchen.
“I hope it wasn’t anything important,” Pulchra giggled.
“No, no,” Carmina said, giggling too. “I think it was just a snack for Tobart. He will have to nibble on some of his grass.”
“Tobart eats grass?” Pulchra was surprised.
“Only one particular variety,” Carmina said. “He found it in another part of Lord Akaru’s territory and brought some here. When Lord Akaru planted the garden Tobart had to move his grass into one corner of the courtyard.”
“Why did Akaru plant the garden?”
“For you, mistress,” Carmina smiled. “He traveled all through his domain collecting the most beautiful flowers. He said he wanted to send a bouquet to you for your next birthday, but he could not decide on which flower was the most beautiful. So he planted them all here and said he would spread their seeds near the town so that you could see all of them.”
Pulchra was touched and again wished she could speak to her husband.
The mealtime songs continued for days. It did not escape Pulchra’s notice that the coming of her anxiety and the coming of the beautiful music always occurred simultaneously and she wondered if this was related to her husband’s prolonged absence.
“Tobart,” Pulchra asked one afternoon after listening to another of Akaru’s songs. “Akaru is so close, why does he not return home?”
“He wishes to give you ample time to become accustomed to the household,” Tobart said stroking his whiskers.
“Does he not wish to see me?”
“Oh, mistress,” Tobart sighed. “I can tell you with absolute certainty that he very much wants to see you.”
Pulchra did not understand her husband’s reasoning. He had written of his deep love and brought her to his home and yet he had left her completely alone. Well that was not entirely true. She did enjoy the company of Celisha, Carmina, and Tobart. Their odd appearances did not startle her anymore. Was that why Akaru did not show himself? Because he worried she would be shocked by his appearance. Was he so vain? Or was the reason somehow related to the anxiety she felt when she heard him singing?
On the fifth day she remembered Fortis’ words and called Tobart to her.
“Tobart. I will be visiting my family tomorrow,” she informed him.
“Very well, mistress,” Tobart stroked his whiskers. “I shall inform Celisha and Carmina to prepare for your departure. Do you wish them to accompany you?”
“No, they would startle the townspeople,” Pulchra said. “I’ll go alone.”
“As you wish, mistress.”
Tobart bowed and retreated. He must have told Akaru shortly afterward because the song at dinner that evening was filled with melancholy.
The next morning Akaru must have approached very near the house for Pulchra awoke to a sense of dread and her stomach churning. She summoned Celisha and Carmina and ordered them to pack her a breakfast of pastries while she dressed. She did not wait for their return but pulled her cloak on, snatched the statue of Tutela from the vanity, and went down the stairs. She met her maids in the atrium.
“You don’t wish us to pack more clothes for you, mistress?” Celisha asked as she handed Pulchra a cloth bag containing her breakfast.
; “No thank you, Celisha,” Pulchra accepted the bag. “I left all of my old clothes at my parents’ house.”
“Please return quickly, mistress,” said Carmina. She did not look Pulchra in the eye.
“I will,” Pulchra answered then quickly walked down the stairs, again smelling nuts. The door at the bottom of the stairs was already open. She stepped out into the forest clearing and as she walked across it she heard a soft “Good riddance.” Then as she entered the forest, she heard Akaru singing in the distance and almost turned around, but she did not.
She walked faster down the path through the trees. Her stomach settled more the further she walked. When she passed the spot where she had first met Tobart, she reached into the bag and ate one of the pastries. It tasted amazing yet completely different from anything she had ever tasted before, like so many things she had experienced in the past days.
After more than hour walking she finally exited the forest and walked across the fields and into Angustia. People in the streets stopped to offer her a warm smile and a “welcome home”. These were the faces she knew, the places she knew, this was home. News of her return spread and her family met her in the street in front of their parents’ home. She threw herself into her mother’s arms, tears flowing down her cheeks. Then she also embraced her father, her brother, and her sister.
“Welcome home, Pulchra,” her father said and ushered her inside. Then he called to his servants, “Bring the finest wine and fresh cheese.”
Fortis pulled his sister aside and asked, “Are you alright? Did he hurt you at all?”
“No, Fortis, I am fine,” Pulchra assured him and turned to follow the others.
The family sat together and listened as Pulchra recounted all that had happened to her. She did not tell, however, that she had never seen her husband’s face, or that she suspected that the fear she felt was related to his absence. She also said nothing about her attendants’ odd appearances. Thankfully her family was much more interested in the opulent household she inhabited.
“Truly you have married a king,” her sister Cara said, with a hint of envy in her voice. Pulchra smiled and ate a piece of cheese which tasted quite bland compared to the cheese she had eaten in her husband’s house. After a time, her mother suggested the family move their conversation to the dining room so they might eat lunch while they talked. Pulchra almost suggested that they eat in the garden, but stopped herself. There would be no sweet songs to be heard in her father’s garden.
That evening Fortis, Cara, and Telon left the magistrate’s house that evening to return to their own homes. Fortis smiled at his older sister.
“I am relieved to hear that our younger sister is so well cared for,” he said.
“As am I,” Cara agreed. Then once Fortis entered his home she turned to her husband. “She certainly does like to speak of her new found wealth and attentive servants.”
“But you know, my dear,” Telon said. “There are no such places in the valley.”
“None owned by any nobleman,” Cara lowered her voice. “She must be wed to a barbaric bandit. That would explain his wealth and he’s probably served by his kidnapped slaves. Didn’t you notice how she spoke so little of the man she has wed?”
“I did indeed,” Telon said thoughtfully. “Your theory would explain her reluctance. She must be afraid we will discover this shameful secret.”