Human Again (End Of Ever Bk 4) by E.L. Tenenbaum

Author:E.L. Tenenbaum [Tenenbaum, E.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-68046-865-6
Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Cages

Within a few short weeks of the rose garden incident, winter finished thawing. The runoff of melted snow trickling steadily from the mountains signaled it was nearly time for Daimyon to depart and the long-awaited party to arrive.

Under Kiara’s direction, the castle had been turned inside out, not a room, not a level was spared, from the deepest cellar to the most unused attic space. As our staff was too small for such a grand place to begin with, no one was excused; not me for my title, nor Alvie for his age, nor Kellan for his limited focus. Kiara herself flitted about the rooms with an apron tied around her waist and a dishrag flung over one shoulder, her buzzing excitement making the work that much easier to bear.

She had all of the china and silverware brought into the main dining room for inspection and cleaning, positioning each of us along the table to form an easy flow of work. She was rather efficient at making sure things were done satisfactorily, and the rest of us moved quickly, the plates and cutlery passing in such smooth procession from one person to the next they near danced across the tabletop.

Odd as it may be to admit, those days working together were some of the best at the castle by far. Alvie made most of the noise, telling stories about little discoveries and asking a bevy of questions about whatever struck his fancy. We all listened and answered, which helped pass the time more enjoyably. Ms. Potsdam was fond of singing a particular strain of ballads, her voice pleasant, the songs common and simple. Though the first time I did more than hum, the whole room fell silent.

I looked up, already feeling a flush creeping up my neck, but I fortunately noticed their expressions before the anger took hold. The surprised stares were tinged with small glints of hope, and perhaps some relief, too. Daimyon clearly suppressed a smile, Kiara happily beamed at me.

“What?” I asked gruffly.

Kellan was the only one unafraid to answer. “I never knew His Highness to sing.”

“I have a voice, don’t I?” I demanded.

“Yes, Highness, of course,” Kellan replied with a wide, innocent smile, “We just none of us knew it was ever so pleasant to hear.”

I blinked at him. There were so many ways to interpret what he’d said, though I knew his true intent wasn’t insult. Still, it gives a man pause to think that his own servants have never known him in a mood good enough to spontaneously sing out loud, or even hum to himself. What kind of man only gives voice to the harsh demands of a tortured soul filled with viciousness, vengeance, and violence? Had I really fallen so far, that even music sounded foreign in my voice?

Daimyon had the good sense to end the little exchange, and thereby save me from either further embarrassment or losing myself to rage, by picking the song back up again. His voice was weathered and rough, too old for his age, but still clear and on key.

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