Page 6 of The Broken Elf King
What a day.
He cleared his throat. “One more thing…”
I braced myself. He looked slightly uncomfortable.
“Are you unmarried?”
Oh, easy question. “Yes. Unmarried. Never met a man I could tolerate long enough to marry.”
The halfcocked smirk was back and he nodded. “No children?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
He looked relieved. “This is a demanding job, round the clock. I fear that having a family would impede your ability to serve me properly.”
I nodded. “Fully able to serve, sir.”
I was an indentured servant working off a five gold coin debt. It wasn’t like my family could move here with me anyway.
I cleared my throat. “How does the pay work?”
He dipped his head, looking more comfortable, as if talking of money didn’t bother him. “I pay your debt today to the trader. Then you work off a gold coin a year.”
Five years. It would take me five years to work off three months’ worth of medicine for my aunt. Anger roiled through me. Not at him but at the chemist who’d charged so much for the life-saving medication.
“How much is your debt?” he asked.
I sighed. “Five gold coins.”
He didn’t look shocked. Maybe people came here with higher debts and worked their whole lives for him, but I wanted my own life. I was grateful for the position, but working five years here tasting food for poison and helping him court a wife wasn’t exactly my passion. I’d be twenty-four years old when I left here. Too old to try to become a doctor?
“You’re disappointed with the five-year assignment?” His eyes narrowed; there was a distrust there. I couldn’t fathom why. It’s not like I could lie to the guy.
“A little surprised at the length of time to pay my debt,” I said honestly. “I had hoped to become a doctor… I left university for this, and I’m excited to go back to school.” I rubbed the back of my neck and winced, forgetting the pain the trader had caused earlier.
Dawning understanding shone in his eyes, and then a little pity. “We don’t study medicine here like they do in Nightfall, but you can shadow me on my healing rounds and ask a few questions so long as they aren’t too intrusive and distracting.”
Hope bubbled up inside of me. “My lord, that would be wonderful.”
All elves had some sort of healing ability, no matter how small, but it had to be taught and practiced in order to bloom. Because I’d never bloomed, my magic was all but dead, but working in an infirmary in any capacity would be amazing.
“One more thing.” He stood, stepped around the desk and reached out, brushing his hand across the back of my neck. A shiver ran down my spine and the pain the trader had caused vanished. Raife winced for a second and then sat back down, picking up the quill and scribbling a note.
Did he just heal me? With a single touch?
“Uh, thanks,” I said.
“You may retire to your rooms,” he said, not looking up from his parchment. “Get settled. I will call on you first thing in the morning. Give this to Mrs. Tirth.” He handed me the letter he’d scribbled.
I stood, understanding I’d just been dismissed, and took my piece of parchment with me.
Personal assistant to the king?
Score.
Mrs. Tirth was waiting for me outside of the king’s office. I handed her the letter and she frowned.
“This isn’t the king’s handwriting,” she said.
