(FWIW - I am not very far along in my novel, but thought this was pretty good.)
I was put to work in the kitchen scrubbing pots and doing other menial chores. I did not mind it, but Daria was an exacting mistress. If she thought she saw a spot of dirt on anything I was cleaning she would cuff me and make me do the chore again to her satisfaction. Lyiera was put to work in the kitchen making bread or helping the cook with meals. Once Arcel saw how clever Catalan was in fashioning things for our little shed, he decreed that Catalan would earn his keep by doing repairs around the house. There were a number of thing that needed repair as the sons fought with each other and the daughters were prone to throwing things when they got into a temper, which was often. I quickly learned to keep out of the way of Arcel and Daria, as well as their children, as was possible. The few times any of the children were near me when I was alone, they pushed and shoved me, trying to make me cry. Fortunately, I was able to sense them if they lay in wait and usually managed to skirt the area they were in. That I was faster, taller and stronger than most children my age was something they never took into account and also worked to my advantage. The one I had the most problems with was the oldest boy, Ran, who was about five years older than me and as much of a bully as his father. We had been there about three months when I was working in the garden one day. Daria, who had a fondness for opiates, was 'resting' in her chambers; the girls were, for once, quietly playing in the great room, while the boys were somewhere with their cronies. Arcel and Catalan were meeting with one of Arcel's clients while Lyiera was shopping. I sensed Ran coming into the garden but decided to ignore him and continue with my chores. Until I felt his hands on my hips and his throbbing member against my buttocks. It was not until later that I found out that my Tellurian heritage provided me with the means to do what I did next – I gathered all of my mental indignation and 'pushed' against him. He flew away from me, landing on his now naked backside, the offending member woefully flaccid and a look of pure fear on his face. “I'm going to tell my parent's what you did!” he hissed at me. “And I will tell the Seraphim Guard on the other side of the garden wall what you just tried to do to me! In spite of my halfcaste status, the Great Lords look very unkindly on a rapist! What do you think your father will do when he comes home to find seraphim in his house?” I kept my voice low as well. Before things could escalate further, we heard the squeals from the girls welcoming Arcel home. As Ran pulled his clothes together, he glared at me. “I'll remember this, you sneaky little halfcaste!” “As will I, sir!” He went to greet his father and noted that there was a Seraphim Guard in the street, ostensibly doing the usual rounds of the neighborhood, but, as I later overheard, giving Ran the fish-eye as he passed. After that he gave me a wide berth, but still egged his siblings on whenever he could.
no subject
I was put to work in the kitchen scrubbing pots and doing other menial chores. I did not mind it, but Daria was an exacting mistress. If she thought she saw a spot of dirt on anything I was cleaning she would cuff me and make me do the chore again to her satisfaction. Lyiera was put to work in the kitchen making bread or helping the cook with meals. Once Arcel saw how clever Catalan was in fashioning things for our little shed, he decreed that Catalan would earn his keep by doing repairs around the house. There were a number of thing that needed repair as the sons fought with each other and the daughters were prone to throwing things when they got into a temper, which was often.
I quickly learned to keep out of the way of Arcel and Daria, as well as their children, as was possible. The few times any of the children were near me when I was alone, they pushed and shoved me, trying to make me cry. Fortunately, I was able to sense them if they lay in wait and usually managed to skirt the area they were in. That I was faster, taller and stronger than most children my age was something they never took into account and also worked to my advantage. The one I had the most problems with was the oldest boy, Ran, who was about five years older than me and as much of a bully as his father.
We had been there about three months when I was working in the garden one day. Daria, who had a fondness for opiates, was 'resting' in her chambers; the girls were, for once, quietly playing in the great room, while the boys were somewhere with their cronies. Arcel and Catalan were meeting with one of Arcel's clients while Lyiera was shopping. I sensed Ran coming into the garden but decided to ignore him and continue with my chores. Until I felt his hands on my hips and his throbbing member against my buttocks. It was not until later that I found out that my Tellurian heritage provided me with the means to do what I did next – I gathered all of my mental indignation and 'pushed' against him. He flew away from me, landing on his now naked backside, the offending member woefully flaccid and a look of pure fear on his face.
“I'm going to tell my parent's what you did!” he hissed at me.
“And I will tell the Seraphim Guard on the other side of the garden wall what you just tried to do to me! In spite of my halfcaste status, the Great Lords look very unkindly on a rapist! What do you think your father will do when he comes home to find seraphim in his house?” I kept my voice low as well.
Before things could escalate further, we heard the squeals from the girls welcoming Arcel home. As Ran pulled his clothes together, he glared at me. “I'll remember this, you sneaky little halfcaste!”
“As will I, sir!”
He went to greet his father and noted that there was a Seraphim Guard in the street, ostensibly doing the usual rounds of the neighborhood, but, as I later overheard, giving Ran the fish-eye as he passed. After that he gave me a wide berth, but still egged his siblings on whenever he could.