River

The next morning I'm in the kitchen making breakfast for Khol, fully under protest, when another servant pops her head in and tells me that there's a guest and that two plates are needed.

Because of course he would have a guest over to show off his new prize.

Briefly I debate on putting poison in his food, but in the end decide not to. Poison is too kind of a death for him. I eye the large filet knife that's on the counter, images of Khol strung up and flayed alive dance in my head as I make two plates and put them on a tray along with a jug of water and a pot of coffee.

The gray was absurdly heavy, but I refuse to make two trips.

Thankfully the dining room was only a few steps from the kitchen and as I make my way to it, a familiar voice echos out of it. Pushing open the door, I have to keep from grinning as Calla leans back in her chair, "it's about time girl!"

"Sorry," I mutter as I put her plate in front of her, glad I didn't poison the food and then put Khol's in front of him. "Do you need anything else?"

Calla's hand reaches out and pats my ass, "well maybe we could talk about dessert," she suggests with a toothy grin. "It's been a long road and a girl needs some company."

"Unfortunately this one is not for pleasure," Khol tells her. "Although from what my whores have told me, you've sampled all of my, desserts."

"Too bad," Calla tells him as she moves her hand. "I'm a woman of specific tastes and I'd pay her weight in gold for a kiss alone." She shrugs and picks up her fork, moaning approvingly as she takes a bite, "I may have to buy her from you. I've been in search of a cook and this is delicious."

"As I said," Khol says rather irritably, "she's not for sale. She is, however, dismissed. Go to your room until I call for you, River." I see Calla briefly freeze as he uses my real name.

"River?" She asks looking back up at me. "An unusual name for a human. One would think you're an elf with that name. Are you an elf, little one?"

I shake my head, "no."

"Too bad," she muses. "If you were an elf I'd rescue you from this place in a heartbeat. You'd love the elf realms, it's the perfect place to have a family." She gets a look in her eyes while her tone remains playful as she asks, "would you like me to rescue you? It would be no trouble at all."

I force a smile and make myself put a hand on Khol's arm which clearly surprised him, "oh I couldn't possibly leave while my husband is still in this earthly realm. Perhaps once he's passed on I'll take you up on that."

"Well," Khol says as he clears his throat. "I don't plan on dying anytime soon."

"No one ever does," Calla mutters as she keeps her eyes on me. She offers me a hand and I take it, feeling a small piece of paper nestle into my palm as she places a kiss on my knuckles. Pulling my hand back, I grab the tray and walk slowly from the room as she says, "now! We have business to discuss!"

Once back in the kitchen, I set the tray down and rush to my room before opening my hand and staring down at the small slip of paper that's hardly bigger than a flower petal.

There's one word on it-

Dawn.