Page 18 of Firebird
Lady Fortuna smiles upon you, Malina.
I shivered as the memory of Julian standing with me in the darkness last night came back. How could he say such a thing? She had abandoned me. I wondered if my own gods of Dacia were punishing me for putting my faith in a foreign goddess.
Yet still, I couldn’t remove the coin. It was a talisman I couldn’t give up, even when I knew it was likely causing my own misfortune.
Kara finished linking the chain beneath my braid. “Stop your scowling,” she snapped. “This necklace will keep you safe.”
I snorted a laugh. “Safe? My master’s collar?”
“The master’s name,” she corrected, wearing a deep frown. “No one will dare harm you with his name around your neck. You should be thankful.”
A sharp pang of grief struck me then. What would become of Enid now?
“Enough. The master is up,” snapped Ruskus gruffly.
Kara nodded to Ruskus and rounded back to her table and her dough. “You can eat breakfast later.”
I wasn’t hungry, so it was no difference to me. I followed Ruskus along the path I’d taken last night, but in the light of day I was able to see how opulent and beautiful Julian’s home truly was.
Tall columns painted in red and gold adorned every entryway. There were intricate mural mosaics on every wall—floral and pastoral scenes. There was a giant one in the floor near the atrium in what looked like a gathering hall for guests. The mosaic was of Diana the huntress in half-skin drawing her bow, her wings flared, her tail curling behind her, and her gaze intent as she aimed for some unseen prey.
The hall with the Diana mosaic was filled with low chaise sofas, velvet cushions on the floor, and a large plush rug beneath—a lounging room for feasts and entertaining.
I wondered how often Julian held celebrations here. I hoped never. The idea of a room full of Romans drinking and feasting while I was forced to serve them made me nauseous. Besides, rumors of how Romans used their slaves for entertainment at bacchanal gatherings filled me with a new dread. I refused to become a toy to be used and abused by these creatures. I had to make a plan of escape before that happened.
Ruskus wound us back down the long corridor to Julian’s bedchamber. He stopped at the open doorway, waited for me to go in, then left. He didn’t wait to be dismissed like last night.
The room was unchanged from the night before. I glanced at the chair and sofa where he’d interrogated me. His large bed sat facing the open terrace doors. It was sized to accommodate him, of course, with thick wooden posts and a canopy holding sheer curtains. The bed linens were rumpled where he’d slept. I frowned at the intimate scene and at the fact it would be my job to tidy it for him.
My gaze caught on a shelf to my right filled with both papyrus scrolls and bound books. Unable to help myself, I wandered to it, dragging my finger along the worn spines. Not bothering with the papyrusrolls, I plucked a bound book from the shelf. I expected something on military warfare, frowning down at the title of a Greek tragedy.
Setting it back, I pulled out another and opened to the middle. This one was written in Latin. The author droned on about the key to happiness and finding inner peace. I huffed a laugh.
“Something funny?”
I snapped the book shut at his deep voice. Julian stood just beyond a dressing screen, watching me. He wore a short red tunic that revealed far too much of his thick thighs, and he was wrapping the extra fabric of the robe across one shoulder.
Hurrying to put the book back in place, I turned and waited for him to yell at me for touching his things.
“You’re late,” was all he said. His expression was calm as he stood with the robe only partially draped over one shoulder.
“I apologize,” I stammered quickly. “I am not yet used to…” I shook my head, trying to find the words.
“Your new home?” He raised his brows in question.
I merely nodded.
“Come here.” He watched me carefully, as if waiting for me to defy him.
I walked closer.
For a brief moment, he simply stared, but I couldn’t hold that gaze any longer. It made me feel confused and uncertain. I didn’t like feeling that way. The one thing in my life I’d always been able to control was my emotions—and those of others when I needed to.
“Tuck this fold in the back.” He turned.
It finally dawned on me that he’d simply wanted me to do my job, to assist in dressing him. After taking some instruction on how to properly drape and tuck it, I stepped away.
“Kara is always up with the sun,” he said as he turned to face me. “I’ll instruct her to be sure you’re up as well.”
