Bolstoii Manse

The damask curtains were finally failing at keeping the morning light from wafting against the few inches of golden skin that had escaped from under the blankets. Two fingers grabbed the blanket and pulled them back over the escaped skin.

Why does morning have to come so early?

In the blanket cave Kharinya curled up like a cat. It had been three days and this morning she noticed that his scent had started to fade from her bed. Three days, Aelion should be returning later tonight if all went well. Hopefully things had gone well and her father would be pleased with the horse he brought back. Once her father had been taken care of Aelion would sneak into her room and take care of his daughter. A gigglish smile crept over her even as her fingers moved down her thigh in sweet memory. 

Tonight!?

The blankets flew off the bed seemingly of their own accord and a moment later the golden girl followed them. 

I cannot believe I waited until now… he is depending on me! Foolish Kiki… foolish!

The ruminations continued while Kharinya got dressed and primped. Twenty minutes later she swept out of her chambers and headed toward the kitchen.

---
The only paid servant on the Bolstoii estate was Ingrid, the cook. Styopa insisted on having a human run his kitchen. 

“I simply won’t stand for any of that elven grub to make it onto my table.” He was fond of saying. 

The rest of the staff consisted of slaves and a few indentured servants, all of them with at least a fraction of elven blood running through their blood. For his home he had selected the best pointed ears he could find. 

Corrisan, his butler, was a full blooded high elf born into slavery. He was arrogant but at the same time meticulous and ran the Bolstoii household with an icy glare few dared to challenge. Wood elves stocked his kitchen, bustling under Ingrid, their abilities with herbs and vegetables exploited as far as Ingrid could manage. Nithhil had bargained his way out of charges of racketeering and ran Styopa’s accounts with such finesse that Styopa always made money, even when at first it seemed he should not (if a bit of the fat was trimmed into Nithhil’s pockets no one had yet noticed). Even his stable boy was a half Twilight Elf, Aelion, who had a gift with horses that only his kind possessed. 

It was Aelion’s gift with other creatures, however, that was the topic of discussion in the kitchen this morning. 

“I promise it is what I saw!” Tanna brought down her knife and split the potato on the counter in half to punctuate her point. The shining blade rose up and pointed at the other lithe wood elf. “You don’t think I would lie about something like this do you?”

“Lower your voice! And that damned knife Tanna…” the slightly nasally voice of Marianna hissed with a whisper and an anxious glance over her shoulder. “It isn’t that I don’t believe you think you saw something… but perhaps you misunderstood what you saw? Just because you think you saw him slip her a note just before he left does not mean anything inappropriate is going on there… and perhaps now is not the time to discuss it at any rate…” 

“Pish Posh and kettle pots.” Tanna spat back at her sister. “I know what I saw and it isn’t like the whole estate doesn’t already suspect something.” But she did bend back over the counter and continued to dissect the potato before reaching for another one.

Marianna’s knife dove into the turnips, “Master Bolstoii doesn’t… and it would be best if it stayed that way I would imagine.”

“I don’t know… maybe he’d reward whoever brought it to his attention.” A contemplative smirk crossing the pink ribbons of Tanna’s lips.

“Yeah… sure… ‘reward’ them. String them up right next to your beloved Aelion I’d bet.” 

“He isn’t my beloved!” 

Marianna laughed as she listened to her sister’s voice drop and her eyes rise into little storm clouds.

“Suuurrre… That’s what this is really about isn’t it? You’re jealous. Jealous… jealous” the words turned into a taunting little sing-song.

Thud! Tanna’s knife came down hard and got slightly stuck in the butcher’s block. “Jealous!? Of Khayrina? Little Kiki? Are you kidding me? What have I to be jealous about? The fact that she has more air between her ears than brains? That she’s eaten one too many of Ingrid’s cakes over the years and is spreading out faster than her father can buy her dresses to cover that wide expanse of her ass? The only thing that girl has going for her is her father’s money!”

Still shaking with laughter Marianna kept her eyes on the turnips, “And possibly Aelion buried between those massive thighs of hers…”

Tanna pulled the knife out of the butchers block and accidentally sent a quarter of a potato flying across the kitchen. Sending a murderous glare at her sister she dropped the knife and spun on her heel to go after the lost bit of produce. 

Marianna kept up with the turnips and tried to stifle her laughter. 

Delicate elven fingers found the bit of potato and rose only to drop it again as the emerald green elven eyes fell upon Kharyina standing before her. Anger and embarrassment flushed her cheeks a dark red and Tanna bent back down to recollect the starchy little wedge. “Pardon me Miss…” she whispered humbly as Kharyina’s wide blue skirts danced around her. 

“No bother. I have some errands to run today and was just looking to grab a few rolls and jelly to take with me.” Came the human’s dismissive comment.

Tanna rose up and found herself now looking at Kiki’s back. Four or five right? And a few tarts while you are at it and no one is looking, huh?

It was true that Kharyina was not what one would call thin, especially in comparison with the two tall graceful elven creatures that were crawling around the kitchen. She was what one would call buxom. The additional weight she carried on her short frame had thus far spread mainly to her hips, when squeezed into a corset, as she usually was, her body became a full buffet of curves for anyone with a rich pallet. To a non-jealous eye the curves were actually a blessing rather than a curse. Without them she might be considered rather plain. Her eyes were muddy, her hair glossless and straight (no matter how many egg whites she soaked it in), even her lips were on the mundane side. Her complexion was beautiful though, at least to humans who preferred the darker radiating golden hues. 

Tanna saw no beauty in those overly emphasized curves or in the glow of her complexion as she watched Kharyina dig through the pantry. Maybe Marianna is right, how could he love a lumpy sack of flour like you when he could nibble over me anytime he wanted?

She tried to control her sour expression and returned to her station. “Of course Miss… take what you require.”

Marianna waved her blade point at Tanna warningly and the two girls set back to chopping up vegetables.

---
Offering a deep bow despite the fact that it wrinkled the tailored blue velvet he wore Corrisan began to step out of the library. Across his chest a leather bound ledger was clasped tightly. 

“Oh… one more thing Corrisan…” Styopa’s voice stopped him in his tracks, a midnight blue gaze lowering to his master. “Next week is Anya’s birthday, see if you can find some appropriate gift.”

Corrisan’s head dipped again, “I already have. Priethsly will have it wrapped and brought the house the day before, sir.” 

His master laughed and nodded. “I should have guessed as much. Whatever would I do without you Corrisan?”

Probably die…

“Get your wife the same gift every year for her birthday?” He offered outwardly, which warranted another laugh.

“Yes I suppose so. Well… get on with your duties Corrisan.”

“Yes sir…” I was trying until you called me back

Corrisan offered another small bow and finally slipped out of the room. A few feet from the door was Kiki, happily shoving a biscuit into her mouth, unmindful of the crumbs that it left across the swell of her bosom. 

“Oh! Is my father in?”

Another wrinkle creased through the velvet as Corrisan dipped another bow. “Yes Miss he is. Shall I announce you?”

“Oh no… I’m just peeking in for a moment. Thank you though.” She offered a warm smile before opening the door.

Corrisan smiled back but as usual the expression did not meet his eyes. I bet you will ask me to announce you when you wind up carrying Aelion’s child now won’t you? For all of your fraternizing with my kind you still treat me as a servant don’t you? When the time comes, and it will, which side will you choose? Will you run off with your penniless lover? Or will you throw yourself upon your father’s feet and beg his mercy and the protection that his money can buy? Enjoy your fun while it lasts… your father will learn of what you have done… soon. 

The smile finally touched his eyes as he wandered down the hall.

Inside the library Kharinya plopped herself into a chair opposite her father and began to brush the crumbs off her gown.

“Good morning father.”

“Ah… my Kiki… you look lovely today. Is that the blue dress your mother ordered from Palat?”

She giggled and nodded. “Yes. Do you really like it? I’m not sure the color goes well with my eyes.”

“Beautiful dear. You are always beautiful. Did you need me for something?”

The color in her cheeks made her complexion glow brighter. She shook her head. “Not really no. I was going to run some errands, thought I would drop in and see if you needed me to pick anything up… or drop anything off while I was out.”

“Hmmm… no not that I can think of. Although…” Styopa paused here and fixed an appraising eye on his daughter, “although if the mood strikes you perhaps you should consider what you will be wearing to your mother’s birthday party next week. I have invited some of the best families in Drasnia to come, and some have some very eligible sons.” He grinned.

The color rose and the balls of mud rolled in their sockets. “Father! Please. I’m only seventeen, don’t start marrying me off already.”

“I’m not marrying you off Kiki. I’m just suggesting you find a dress.” Throwing his own pudgy fingers up in defense.

“Alright father. I’ll see if the mood strikes me. But I make no promises.”

“Good.” 

“Well… if that’s all. I’ll be on my way then.” She got up.

“A kiss for your old man before you head out love?”

Kiki smiled and wandered over to him, leaning over to place a kiss on his shiny forehead. “Of course father. I’ll see you at dinner.”

“Yes…”

Styopa could hear her humming through another biscuit once she reached the hallway. He shook his head and smiled at himself before reaching for his stationary set.