Anais of Brightshire

Chapter 2

The Great House, with its black stone turrets that scraped the sky and its thick red-rimmed defensive-walls, made even Gil, who towered over me, appear insignificant.  At the rear servant's entrance, Gil requested the mistress of the house, and I was reminded of my first visit when I mistook the grand lady who answered our call for Lady Seve herself.  Gil had explained that the woman was Mistress Laurey, the head of housekeeping.  Lady Seve didn't answer the bells rung in the servant's quarters.

Mistress Laurey appeared in a stiff black dress adorned with a long line of ivory buttons.  Her dark red hair was pulled back in a severe bun, which pulled the skin of her face taut against her high cheekbones.  Looking at Gil and me, she sighed deeply.

"How can I help you?"

"We wish to place my niece into your household as a handmaiden."

The woman laughed.  "Rather presumptuous notions you have.  I remember you now.  Remind me of the girl's age."

"Eleven years."  Gil removed his hat and grasped it in front of him, his knuckles whitening.

Mistress Laurey was clean, and she held her frame as straight as an arrow.  In many ways, her bearing resembled that of the noble girl I had observed in the market.

"She's small."  Mistress Laurey's lips tightened into a frown, her nose twitching.  "I can't place her as a handmaiden now, but perhaps she will earn that position in time.  We are in need of another scull."  My mother had told me that most servants working in the Great House started out as scullery maids, more often called sculls, although she had the great fortune of being selected as a handmaiden upon entrance to the Great House.  Sculls had the unfortunate privilege of performing all of the dirty undignified chores disliked by the apprentices or masters in a given discipline, or the handmaidens and valets who served a single mistress or master.

Mistress Laurey was silent for a moment, before addressing me.  "You will work for Mallory, the head kitchen maid.  It's a hard life, and it will be three years before you have an opportunity to advance your status here.  If you leave your position, we'll not take you back.  Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," I whispered.

"What is your name?"

"Anais, ma'am."

"Well, Anais," Mistress Laurey said with a tight smile.  "Welcome to the service of Lord and Lady Seve.  You are very fortunate."

Mistress Laurey turned back to Gil.  "Her entrance fee is two silvers."

Gil offered the coins with no protest, and then grinned at me before taking his leave.  I felt cold.  Without him, I was alone.  I gulped and hoped I would at least be able to see him from time to time in the market.  I rocked back and forth on my heels steadying my nervous stomach.

As Mistress Laurey led me through a long hall lit with floating candles, I couldn't help but wonder if a real mage lived in the Great House.  I had never seen magic before.  The truth was that I knew there weren't any mages left, but I couldn't force the hope out of my blood.  Though I was curious, I didn't question Mistress Laurey about the candles or their origin. My lips felt as if they were frozen in place, and I was afraid to speak, afraid I would say something wrong.  The hallway opened into a large airy kitchen.  The last fading rays of sunlight filtered into the room through several small circular openings in the far wall, and three large fireplaces heating bronze pots and a large oven kept the room too warm.

"Mallory, we have a new scull.  Please show her around, she will be one of yours," Mistress Laurey said and then turned on her heels and left the room.