The Fall of the Stars Book 1: Wheels of War

Susei Turner I

Susei stared at her nakedness in the body length mirror Lady Antwater had placed in her room in Left Tower. She was developing in the same way all fourteen year old girls did, she guessed, but she believed there was something off about her breasts. One hung lower than the other, though they were both the same size. That is only normal, she told herself. She would watch her mother's breasts when they showered to see if hers were the same way, but she could never get a good enough look at them to judge.

Suddenly her door swung open and a guard was standing there, looking as startled as she. She reached for her gown that she had laid down and pulled it over her body, but he had already seen his fill.

"Lady... Lady A-Antwater is ready to receive you." He was young, she saw, and an Eastman like she was. Most of Lady Antwater's guards were young she realized. A lot of them were around her own age and looked more like boys than men. She could bet that they had never seen a serious battle in their lives.

"Tell her I will be with her shortly," she said to the guard.

When she lived in Stonetown, Susei never felt safe. Now that she was away in Mewood she felt safe, but she was always confused. She thought that she would have to work as a servant when she first arrived, but all of Lady Antwater's servants were men. The lady only wanted Susei to walk the town with her (and her guards) and eat with her, and sometimes she wanted her to share her bed with her. She told Susei of her life and lives of other people, and she gossiped endlessly. Susei never heard of half of the people the lady gossiped about, but it was interesting to hear nonetheless.

After Grobert of the Wood was executed, Lady Antwater had retreated back to Left Tower, and when Susei arrived late she was vexed. She was even more cross when a guard told her that Sir Gerey had escorted her. More times than she could count, Lady Antwater had expressed her hatred for Rancis Selley and all of Windmoor, where Susei believed Gerey was born since he always walked around in a Selley Cloak. Susei didn't know Rancis Selley or Windmoor, so she only nodded when she spoke of such.

That execution was behind them, though, and Antwater's fury and its scars had all gone away by then. That morning she wanted Susei to eat with her on the topmost floor of the tower instead of the courtyard.

"You have beautiful hair," the lady said, wrapping her fingers around Susei's curls. The motion made Susei uncomfortable. Lady Antwater seemed to be pondering something for a long time before she spoke again. "Tell me, have you had a man yet?"

Susei blushed. "No, my lady. I am still a... a maiden."

"That is good. You are too beautiful to have yourself spoiled by some lout." She released Susei's hair and sat upright. "To be honest, I have no idea why Sir Bastard brought you to me. I do not regret that he did, though. You have proven to be a wonderful companion. You speak only when spoken to, you obey for the most part, and most importantly you're beautiful."

"Can you not..." Susei began to say but her voice died in her throat.

"Go on, girl." Antwater leaned in curiously. "What do you mean to say?"

"Can... Can you not call Sir Rynn by that name? He is..."

"Your savior, I know." The lady scoffed and leaned back in her chair. "I have no doubt he met many girls in your same predicament while he was scouring the Densebrook. He only saved you so that he could say he saved a beautiful damsel in distress. I'd even bet he plans to bed you soon or make a serving girl of you."

"Rynn... Sir Rynn wouldn't do that. He is a man of honor..."

"Perhaps. Maybe I have drunk too much and speak nonsense. Either way, I will not have you around Rynn Stant or his dog, Gerey. Especially not Gerey."