kadja

RP blog for Kadja, a slave of the Great and Ancient House O'Neill in the Thol group verse. AU verses are Indie.

[exsousiis]

-

“Probably not,” Lethe admits quietly.

She can’t imagine that Eldina O’Neill would be very pleased if one of her slaves went around disfiguring her face. Oh, she wouldn’t punish Kadja for it. No, it was more likely the Eldina’s heart might break.

“For my lady’s sake, I’d advise against it.”

[inviictus]

She gives a small nod. Understanding. Solemn acceptance of the things from which she cannot run. 

She forces a smile, a nervous laugh.

“I guess, I should get some sleep. A lot of hair dressing to learn tomorrow.”

[exsousiis]

-

“And what if it’s not death? What if he decides to sell you on the black market and you find yourself in a worse position than you were before?

Eldina O’Neill will prevent that whether you  want her to or not. So it’s better to let her. It’ll be easier for both of you.”

[inviictus]

Kadja is quiet for some time. There has to be another option. There must be...

“It’s my face that caught his eye...”

Her voice is careful as she speaks, a undercurrent of uncertain fear running through it. 

“If I marred that beauty, would he still want to bed me?”

[he-who-cannot-bow-archive-blog]

-

It’d been a boring day. He was waiting patiently for Echo and Kadja to arrive– and then waiting had gotten tedious. And so, he’d skulked off to the shooting range to practice archery.

He liked to spend hours out there, even though for anyone who wasn’t in a military class, the use of weapons was  pointless– he found it relaxing. He liked the sort of focus that came over him, the way he could clear his head and narrow everything down to his arrow and the target. 

Of course, the voice behind him COMPLETELY ruined his calm. 

He sighed, lowered his bow, and gave her a look that was half annoyance, half amusement:

“To what? Manager of floor cleaning?” 

[inviictus]

She’s a little disappointing at his calm reaction, but amused none the less.

“Hey, it’s a real position. Don’t mock it.”

“But, no. Actually I’m going to be a hair dresser. To Eldina Ultana O’Neill.”

Kadja is probably one of the worst possible choices for the position. She can barely even manage her own hair, much less an Eldina’s. And LEAST of all Eldina Ultana whose wild curls took ages to tame even for those with experience.

“Yes. Now you have permission to laugh.”

[exsousiis]

-

She can sense the distress– the oncoming despair that’s settling over Kadja– she knows the kind. Every slave has it at  least once in their life, the helplessness, like standing on the edge of a beach, watching a wave the size of three houses rush up to meet you and knowing, knowing that you’ll never be able to outrun it.

A breath– and she reaches out to the other woman, touches her shoulder.

“Eldina O’Neill kept you close to her quarters so she could protect you. She’s a good mistress– and her kindness often extends so far that she  makes a nuisance of herself to the rest of the family for our sake. Be open with her and she’ll do her best to look after you. I’ve seen her debate Eldina Maeven, even, her mother-in-law, down from beating a slave– and her husband– she once told his father of his… his illegal actions with another  slave and her husband struck her for it but she didn’t care– because it got him in trouble and his father  had the slave given to a more appropriate master.  And–” she’s starting to ramble, now, but she can’t help herself, “–and she’s gotten in-between, you know. Her husband’s fond of striking slaves, and she’s gotten in between. She’ll protect you, if it comes down to it. I know she will.” 

[inviictus]

“I do not want her between me and him!”   Her objection is forceful and impulsive,

“Is it not our duty to protect HER? If she is hurt for our sake then we have failed... In the very fundamental purpose of our our lives we have failed...”

It is as if she is speaking to herself more than Lethe, reminding herself, resigned, setting a resolve.

“... the choice is mine, I will bear the consequences. Be it beating or death.”

[exsousiis]

-

“And by O’Neill law, you are an extension of Eldina O’Neill’s body, and so by extension his.” She plays with the fold of her dress. “Be careful. Even if it were to go to Wetan council– the conflicts between Thollan and house law are complex and who do you think they’re going to side with? An Eldarin, or a female slave?”

[inviictus]

Kadja falls silent.

Lethe’s words ring of truth, and for a moment she is very aware of the shackles that bind her.

She was lost in her liberties. Speaking freely of Eldarins with the cleaning slaves, sneaking off to the Tyrconnell estate, helping Echo with the refugees...

Moire Oxan. THAT was living in chains. To be owned by a brothel or worked to death in the factories lest you starve.

Helping them escape, find their own freedom... it is easy to forget that she too is bound.

           She is just a slave.

For all her liberties, she is just a SLAVE.

[exsousiis]

-

Lethe is QUIET– an UNUSUAL feat for her. Then, after a moment’s deliberation:

“Then you must tell Eldina O’Neill. If you make it very clear that you don’t WANT it– then she’ll do everything in her power to PROTECT you. But–” she bites her lip, “By O’Neill law– he can do what he wishes.” 

[inviictus]

“By Thollan law, he cannot touch  me without first reassigning my  stated position and transferring ownership to himself.”

[exsousiis]

-

“You’re bound to SERVE, aren’t you? In what you’re ASKED?” 

[inviictus]

She feels cold, arms wrapping around herself. And empty, all reasoning gone save the one conviction.

She cannot be his whore. 

She CANNOT.

“I would sooner cut those  binds and suffer death...”

[exsousiis]

-

“I’m simply amazed that he finds the TIME. It’s impressive, actually.”

But then, with more seriousness– she looks up at Kadja and bites her lip. 

“That’s why YOU’RE here, you know. He’s going to try someday.”

[inviictus]

“I’m NOT a WHORE.” There’s a ferocity  that’s come to her voice, a deep-rooted conviction strong as steel.

“I am a slave of House O’Neill, NOT a whore.” 

[exsousiis]

-

“Eldarin Hugh O’Neill has one bespoke clone to his name, another in the making, and a whore he bought from a brothel. He has his pick of any woman he finds attractive that’s under his power and STILL SOMEHOW finds time and energy to sleep with his wife almost every night. He’s in HER bed more often than he’s in HIS OWN.” 

[inviictus]

Eldarin Hugh O’Neill’s reputation is not accurate. No, it is by far an UNDERSTATEMENT.

“That’s... EXCESSIVE.”

[exsousiis]

-

“Good.”

“Then I won’t have any trouble being patient with you.”

[inviictus]

Kadja nods with a little happy smile. She’s relieved that her mistress and new mentor are willing to put up with her lack of qualifications. 

But then, at a more serious thought,  the smile fades and her tone takes a tentative tone. 

“... Eldina O’Neill lives up to her reputation in both kindness and grace...”

“Is her husband... is his reputation as accurate?”

[exsousiis]

-

“Are you an idiot?” 

[inviictus]

“No. Just horrifically inexperienced.”

[exsousiis]

-

Lethe giggles a little. She looks at Kadja, surveys her up and down, and then starts to talk.

“You have a VERY forgiving mistress. It won’t be difficult. If it were anyone else then we might have a problem– but– Eldina O’Neill tends to find flaws more endearing than infuriating. You don’t need to worry. We’ve known each other since we were children and I’ve never known her to be angry with anyone.”  

[inviictus]

“And how does your patience hold up?”

“I really know NOTHING.”

Kadja barely knew what to do with her own hair and clothes, much less an Eldina’s.

[exsousiis]

-

“Lethe,” she replies. 

Clever fingers finish screwing the last jewel in place and she sets it aside. She’s not adverse to sharing her room– it’s just that she’s never done so. As her life as a slave has gone– she’s been quite spoiled and she’s very aware of that fact. 

“Ultana–” a pause, a correction, “Eldina O’Neill, informed me that you were going to study under me?”

[inviictus]

“You mean transforming this drudge  into a personal slave?”

In the presence of another slave, her formalities fall away. As naturally as the silence came with Eldarins and Eldinas, her free speech came with those of her rank.

[exsousiis]

-

She has lived in the O’Neill household for almost two decades, ever since Eldina Ultana married– and known her Eldina long before that. Ultana was not a person who delighted in extravagance, who collected slaves like figurines. Her husband, the esteemed Hugh O’Neill, was the opposite. 

Every once in a while, a new pretty face would appear in Ultana’s personal line of staff– and it was always clear as to why. 

Eldarin O’Neill had a craving.

She’s unsurprised when she looks up to see the blonde standing there, though she can’t recall ever meeting her.

Lethe offers a smile from where she’s sitting on her bed, mending a little piece of jewelry from Ultana’s collection that had broken a few days back.

“Come in. It’s your room too.”

[inviictus]

Kadja gives a small awkward nod and ‘hm’ before shyly stepping inside. There’s another bed on the opposite side of the small room - hers she presumes.

She sets the box down and then plops down beside it. Her fingers drum against her knees for a minute as she makes a quiet little ticking sound with her tongue, trying to think of something to say. It’s a  habit she’s had for as long as she can remember.

Finally she speaks up. “Hi. I’m Kadja.”

[inviictus]

@inferiim

It’s dark outside by the time she arrives. What was meant to be a brief trip to the Tyrconnells turned into a lengthy visit  and the concise goodbye to her cleaning  friends became a long, heart-felt farewell  full of hugs, blessings, and just as much  laughter as tears. She would see them still, yes, but it would not be the same as  working side-by-side, as seeing them at meals and breaks alike. 

With a box in her hands (she does not have many belongings), Kadja quietly  enters her new room. A dark-haired woman is inside, not entirely a stranger; she has seen her in passing over the years. 

“Lethe?”

[inviictus]

@he-who-cannot-bow

Tomorrow she began her new life. Tomorrow her world would change. And Kadja wanted to enjoy her last few hours of being nothing more  than a cleaning slave by joining Echo on a trip to House Tyrconnell. She had little doubt that slipping away would prove much harder a feat  when Eldina Ultana O’Neill herself was aware  of her presence.

While Echo was off discussing Moire Oxan refugees with Eldarin Turlough, Kadja asked around until she managed to locate Eldarin Rory. Since age six she’d been joining Echo on secret trips to the estate, and in as much as they outranked her, the members of House  Tyrconnell were almost like family.

She found him past the Eye of Donegal in one of the outdoor target ranges. He had a crossbow, shooting down the holographic targets.

She watched him for a few shots, then quietly sneaking up with carefully silent steps until she was right behind him, said,

“I’ve been promoted.”

[the-lady-oneill]

-

“Good. Now, then–”

She started back, back to her closet so she could choose what she wanted help dressing in today. Something purple– and it was a bit warm today, so something light, and perhaps a two piece– yes.

“Fetch Lethe for me, will you?” 

[inviictus]

Kadja stood and, with a small bow, dismissed herself. She stopped by the side-room to call Lethe back in before heading off to set about packing. She didn’t have many belongings, but the ones she did have were precious. However, for as precious as her possessions were, her time was even more-so. 

There’s a small smile on her face as she made  her way across the estate. It was morning. If she hurried, she could have everything packed  up by the end of the hour and be at the Tyrconnell’s by noon. It may be a while before she could see them again with her new arrangements, so she fully intended to make the most of her last day.