Free Shadows and Light by Cari Z. Page A

orphans, he had been paraded out in front of the visiting High One, next to last in a long line of whimpering, sniveling children. Others had averted their eyes, cringed away and cried like their hearts were breaking, and perhaps they had been. It had been completely different for Rafael.
    It had been as though when Rafael set his eyes on the High One, he had discovered his heart for the first time. What had come before was nothing. The past had melted away, mother and father subsumed by his sudden, certain desire. He would be chosen. There had been no other option. He’d known it from the start, and had waited patiently for the man to reach him. He’d stared at him worshipfully, eyes unwavering as the man approached. The High One had crouched before him and inspected him. The paleness of his eyes had disconcerted Rafael for a moment, but he hadn’t draw back.
    “Would you leave this place to learn from me?” the man had asked after a long moment.
    Rafael had nodded.
    “Nodding is an inadequate reply. Speak aloud.”
    “Yes.” His voice had been soft but firm.
    “Can you be strong?”
    “Yes.”
    “Clever?”
    “Yes.”
    “Obedient and loyal?”
    “For you,” Rafael had said earnestly. The man had tilted his head appraisingly.
    “For me?” He’d chuckled and looked over at the orphanage’s manager. “Did you teach him to say this?”
    “No, my lord,” the man had protested. “Not a word of it.”
    “Hm. Then I suppose he really is for me.” Reaching down to his belt, the High One had pulled out a long-handled black dagger. He’d taken Rafael’s right hand in his and cut across his thumb with it, a sharp, shallow slice. The touch of the blade had burned his skin, beyond what he expected from a simple cut. Rafael had winced but hadn’t cringed away, instead staring in amazement as the High One had licked the welling blood from the cut. “Now I know your taste, pet.” He’d cut his own hand then, and held it out. “Drink.” Rafael had complied unquestioningly. It had been strange and salty and warm, and he’d licked it twice to be certain he’d gotten every drop. The High One had put their injured hands side by side. “Watch.” Rafael had done so, his eyes widening in shock.
    The cut on the High One’s hand had been almost completely healed in moments, the gash becoming a slender bright thread that soon dwindled into nothing. The cut on Rafael’s own hand, astonishingly enough, had also been disappearing. It had happened much more slowly but the bleeding had already stopped, and after another minute the cut had been completely scabbed over without any pressure or bandaging. “And now you know my taste as well,” the High One had said with satisfaction. “What’s your name, pet?”
    “Rafael, sir.”
    “My name is Xian, Rafael, but for our purposes you will call me master. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, Master.”
    “Good.” He’d stood and gestured to the manager. “Loose him.” The man had hurried over and cut the cord binding his left foot to the children on either side of him. “The standard fee.” He’d handed over a purse of coins. “In his case, a great bargain for me.” Then the High One had turned back to Rafael. “We’re going to my home. Pay attention to the route. Questions are acceptable if there’s something you really don’t understand. Obey me and I’ll take care of you, pet.”
    “Yes, Master.”
    It had been a long walk to the Upper City, and Rafael had been stumbling with fatigue by the time they’d arrived at Xian’s shadowed, windowless house. No sooner had they reached the round chamber than Xian had turned to him and said, “Your training begins now. You say you will be obedient?”
    Rafael had licked his dry lips and nodded. “Yes, Master.”
    “Good.” His new owner had pulled a hood from beneath his cloak and suddenly dropped it over his head. Rafael had been plunged into darkness, and he’d cried out and reached up to remove