The Servant's Heart by Missouri Dalton Page B

know yours?" I snapped.
    Dorn hit me. It took every bit of control I had not to hit him back. I staggered, recovered and glared at him for all I was worth. "Watch your tongue, boy."
    "I will not participate in foolishness," I spat. Before the big one could strike me again, I was out the door and running down the hall to the servant's stair. I slipped through the kitchen and to the servant's quarters. I barricaded the door to my room with my cot and sat down on it, my back resting against the door. My hands were shaking -- I could taste electricity on my tongue. How close had I come? Could I have-- I could have. It was in my nature. Wasn't it?
    Poisoned -- like the rest of my bloodline.
    I sighed, raking my hand through my hair. I closed my eyes, and let myself fall into a hazy half-sleep.
    "No matter what happens to me, promise me-- promise me you won't take revenge."
    "Anna!"
    I heard the pounding of boots against the wooden floor and someone knocked loudly on my door. "Terence, open up!" I opened my eyes.
    It wasn't any of the lords...it sounded like the Chamberlain, Yavin.
    "Terence! It's Yavin." Good guess, Terence.
    I slid the cot away from the door and allowed it to swing open. Yavin was a whip thin man with a sharp chin and dark eyes; his gray hair was immaculate, as was his well oiled mustache. His face was clouded, angry. He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room. The light from the kitchen caught in my eyes, and he frowned. He touched my face, grabbing hold of my chin and taking a closer look.
    "That's going to bruise." He sighed and let go. "What were you thinking? I've never heard a word against you. You've never been even slightly insubordinate."
    "I will not do things I think to be unethical, or foolish," I said. "They took offense to my statement of that fact. I know my place, Yavin."
    "Well, that little stunt had the prince saying a few sharp words to me about you. He doesn't want you to serve his lady any longer, and he wants you taught a firm lesson. He does not think you know your place."
    "I will do whatever you ask of me, Yavin. I will not, however, play the prince's games. I refuse to be a fool for his amusement."
    Yavin nodded. "If he asks anything of you again, let me know. I at least have the ear of the king, and the king will not stand for his son's foolishness."
    "And until that day? Would you have me beaten for warning the prince away from foolishness? I may have been insubordinate, but his man was quick to correct my language." I touched the spot on my cheek that was starting to bruise. "What else does he wish to correct?"
    "I believe it was something to do with you running out of the room without permission and your utter refusal to do as you were told," Yavin remarked dryly.
    "I have rights here." Rights I'd never had in my homeland. Rights I'd never dreamed of. No one here could have me killed for spilling tea in their lap. No one here would beat me for falling ill or making a simple mistake. Here they only cared for direct disobedience, which I'd been wary enough to avoid until now.
    "Yes, I know." Yavin sighed, running a hand through his hair in an uncharacteristic sign of worry. "I will do what I can, Terence, but if the prince pushes this, there will be no other option. You will be demoted and you will receive a beating at the hand of the Guard, or worse, the Weaponsmaster."
    I took a breath, "I will do whatever you ask." It was what I was good at. Doing as I was told. Why the prince's request had rubbed me the wrong way I don't know. Perhaps the free-thinking actions of the other servants were rubbing off on me. I'd certainly heard stories about pranks played at the mutual amusement of servant and noble. Friendly relationships beyond the one I shared with Milady.
    Things were... relaxed here. In a way they had never been... with him.
    Yavin frowned, "I think that is exactly the problem." But rather than explain he walked away. "Take the day, Terence. I don't want to see you working