10
Tarquin's attention was removed from the paintings as soon as she made too much noise while sitting down.
Their eyes met and Jza 's gaze shied away immediately. She knew her face gave away everything and letting him access her eyes was akin to letting him step into her mind. She hastily started shuffling papers around. For a desk that had been through a war it was remarkable it was still in exactly the same condition she left it. It was obvious the new owners of the castle had not bothered to even try accessing information via the library. The recent clean down was clearly in anticipation of their Lord's visit.
The Lord's gaze was still upon her but she pretended to ignore his attention. While settling her things in the right places she thought about her new discovery. Tarquin's reasons for his brutal takeover were clear to her now. He obviously had a Barbarian ancestor and to avenge him required this kind of destruction.
Barbarians had scattered after the war. Some had adopted Goridian culture far away from the capital but most had left the country completely. Tarquin's country, Somerluian, must have taken in a fair share of Barbarian refugees. But how was it that a Barbarian was able to marry into their Royal family?
The Somerluians were obsessed with purity of blood. They only took a single wife and only her children were considered their father's heirs so their choices of wives was very narrow and particular. The previous Lord of the Somerluians was not of Barbarian blood. Jza may be ignorant to her country's neighbours but it would have at least been common gossip if the man had Barbarian blood running through his veins. So it must have come from Tarquin's mother; that illusive creature who seemed to be the only person that had caused the man to show true emotion.
"Some rise and some fall. Their blood fades away into nothingness," Lord Tarquin mused as he sat himself on top of the desk, opposite from where Jza sat. Clearly seeing her ancestor's portraits had led him into a philosophical mood.
"But blood lives on forever in ones children," She replied curtly.
"Maybe that is why I intend to capture all of King Samuel's progeny," Jza's heartbeat rose at this statement. The man already possessed the key to his goals. Would this be the day he realized what power was in that locket.
"Surely telling the enemy's spy of your plans is not wise," The girl met his gaze briefly before looking down at her papers.
"Why hide my intentions when I have no chance of failing."
"So, you will kill them then?" Jza asked with a sneer.
"Maybe."
"You can still marry one of them. They could be an asset rather than a burden," She asked quietly still trying in her own way to save her sisters, "Who better than a Princess to be your one and only wife."
"What other virtues do these famous beauties posses that might tempt me? I have only heard of their many attributes in song and I never found the taste to follow flowery poetry," Tarquin asked, jovially, leaning closer all over the desk.
Jza cleared her throat as she leaned away, "They possessed great beauty as you know. They will produce the most beautiful children."
"But surely they had other virtues beyond their looks. I am only an ogre on the inside. I don't fear the chance of producing ugly children," The man smirked while his companion gave his audacity an appalled look.
"The eldest loved horse riding and her hunting skills were impeccable. She along with the others could sing, dance, sew, play musical instruments. They were all accomplished young ladies," Jza continued ignoring how much more closer he was leaning in now.
"And what of you?" The man asked abruptly.
"Me? but I am not of the famous twelve beauties. I am nothing in comparison to them. I never was," The brown haired girl shook her head wistfully.
"Surely all young respectable women learn these things. I am sure even you could play a pretty piece."
"I could try if you want to lose your ears. I grew up in a barn you see," Jza accidentally revealed far more than she had intended to. Her heartbeat thrummed in her ears. If the man wanted to hear music all he needed to do was place his ears close to her heart.
"And your father let you grow up in a barn?" Tarquin loomed near to her face. His nearness was an effective scare tactic as anything else.
"M- My mother was dead and they had been estranged prior to it. I was raised by my uncle. He- My father did not know where I was until... until... I have throttled enough chicken with these hands," Jza wriggled her ten fingers with a slight manic edge. The man was asking too many probing questions.
"And now they hold these precious books," The lord murmured slowly, absorbing her stiff posture and forced expression.
Jza got up abruptly and pointed behind her. Her hand shook as she turned towards her destination.
"On that section was where I know books about the Barbarians were left behind. Should I show you in case you want to ever access them yourself?"
"That would be wise," Tarquin did not ask about her obviously strange behaviour. He slid off the desk and took her hand gently and placed it on his arm. Her fingers clenched, trying to find some solid ground, even if it was only her enemy's muscled arm but she stopped herself.
"They were not always called the Barbarians," She volunteered the information with an unsteady voice, "Their original name fell out of use years ago."
"Of course, it was," The man replied with a scoff and followed the girl's lead to the book shelf.
"Oh good, they are still here. Books on Barbarian culture, art, history, oh, and even war. There's a lot more then I thought I would find," Jza was engrossed by her discovery to let her troubles go for now and also the man's arm. She found a book on Barbarian textiles and flipped through it.
"This is beautiful," She whispered as she paused on an intricate pattern. The book writer had used vivid colours to imitate what must have been rich fabrics.
"Yes, it is," The Lord replied, even though she had required no answer.
She raised her eyes up at him and found him looking at her. With a glare she snapped the book shut. The man just smiled back serenely, distracting her completely from her worries.
__
Jza's days as a captive had been quite mundane. Her routine had revolved around her task in the library. It had taken so many days just to make a comprehensive list of the Barbarian related books and now she had taken to noting every of interest down. It was a solitary task because she had no helpers except for her assigned maid who lugged around heavy books from their shelves. Since the maid spoke nothing of her language Jza had become adept at getting things done via sign language.
In spite of his pretense of a relaxed Lord with a bevy of beauties at his beck and call Tarquin was quite an involved ruler. He spent most of the day either attending multiple war meetings or jotting down correspondences and although he never spoke about his progress Jza had sensed he was gaining momentum over her father's army in other provinces. There was a certain solidness of his shoulders that a defeated and frustrated man would never carry.
Their sleeping arrangements had remained the same. Every night the captor and his captive would close doors behind them and fall asleep in their own usual spots. One on the bed and the other on the floor. Jza suspected her maid had a much more comfortable place at night but she wasn't going to complain. The man would offer the space beside him with a roll of his eyes and that was unacceptable.
Once again as always Jza started her day in the library. Her maid was dozing in a corner while she was jotting down notes from a Barbarian book about dances. It was odd but Tarquin had been adamant everything including frivolous behavioural observations needed to be noted down.
"...And then the men would encircle their partner's waist and lead them on the dance floor..." Jza read and wondered what life would have been like under the Barbarian's rule. They seemed more relaxed and had fewer rules of propriety. And her thoughts drifted to the Barbarians who had to move to their neighbouring country which was even more restricted especially regarding women. They could not even marry on their own accord while the men could keep hordes of women for their own pleasure. The Barbarians must have felt so alienated by the oppressive cultures that dominated them.
Jza rubbed her eyes and broke the trance of the image of gaily dancing men and women etched behind her eyes. She needed another book about Barbarian etiquette to add to her notes about their dances. The freedom of gender mingling obviously altered how they danced and how their balls were conducted.
The Princess got up from her squeaky chair and walked to the relevant shelves. A slight shuffling from the room's corner broke her concentration.
"Is anyone there?" Was on the tip of her tongue but a quick look at her sleeping maid made her pause. There was no point in waking her up from her slumber for something so pointless. The brunette stood on her tip toes on the flagstone floor, swaying, stretching her arms to get to the book when a large book on her right fell. She peered down, her nose scrunching in confusion when another fell and then another until it seemed a waterfall of solid, hard covers cascaded down on her. The girl quickly shielded herself but found herself under the entire contents of the shelf.
She heard her maid yowling in alarm and was quickly pulled away before the bookshelf creaked and fell to the floor with a loud thud. Books, papers, and dust flew everywhere. The other girl gestured frantically at the mess and at her.
"I am fine," She whispered softly at the girl forgetting that she could not understand her words. The maid decided to take matters into her own hands and began prodding her charge to check for damage.
"How utterly bizarre. How did they even fall on me?" She exclaimed, observing the damage. The Princes limped a little as her maid supported her away from the chaos. Three guards slammed the door open and ran inside, equally as alarmed by the disturbance in the room as by the screaming maid. They surveyed the room in alarm as they were told the entire tale by the servant girl.
"You should go back to your rooms immediately," The guard spoke haltingly, his accent slurring the words.
"I should help," Jza said with a grimace painting her face. The guards quickly waved her away.
"We will handle the situation. Lord Tarquin has very strict orders about your safety. You must leave immediately."
Jza was surprised by the urgency in the man's tone,"I would like you to tell her to bring my belongings, my pens and my notebook back with me. I shall complete my assignment back in... my rooms."
The man conveyed her wishes to the other girl while Jza slowly left the hall. The dust was still swirling in the air making it hard for her to breathe. She eased herself through the door and sat down on the bench outside with a weary sigh. The bruises on her face and body were almost healed but apparently an unblemished appearance for her was not meant to be. Thankfully only her arm only ached from the barrage of books.
"Hurry! Tarquin demands the papers immediately. He will be an utter brat about it if we delay any further," A masculine voice hissed from behind a corner near the library.
"Hush! Someone will hear you and your insolence will end in your blood," Another voice replied and Jza strained to see exactly who it was. She could see shadows flickering under a torch's light.
"What does it matter. Half these illiterates do not understand the Goridian language. We can use it with ease," The first voice clarified with a drawl.
"He will find a way and have your head. A man who would can kill his father can do anything."
