Free The Enchanted Castle (Shioni of Sheba Book 1) by Marc Secchia

age. Please confirm your name. And speak up, girl, my ears are not what they used to be.”
    “I –I am Shioni, my Lord.”
    He tapped the scr oll, giving her a friendly smile. “I neither growl nor bite–well, only when I’m feeling grumpy. Not today. How old are you?”
    “Eleven, sir. I think.”
    His red velveteen robes were decorated with such a weight of gold brocade that the cloth stood in stiff folds, rather than hanging loosely. Only the High Priest himself wore more splendid attire than this. Shioni wondered how someone could move under such heavy clothes. Never mind surviving the heat!
    “What happened to your eye?”
    “Training with the warriors, sir.”
    “Mama Nomuula stitched that, or I miss my mark,” he noted, correctly. Shioni touched the spot self-consciously. “She has a deft hand. It’ll heal almost without a scar, I think.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    What if she told him there was a monster python somewhere beneath his feet, Shioni wondered? She had not forgotten, even amongst the bustle of preparations. Mama Nomuula had been driving her slave-girls from dawn to dusk and beyond to ensure the castle was in perfect condition to receive guests.
    The Archivist jotted several notes on the scroll. “You are the Princess’ bodyguard and companion?”
    “I take weapons training, yes–what is that you are writing with?”
    The kindly eyes considered her more closely. “It is a reed-pen and ink, Shioni. Different to the quill pen I assume your mistress writes with. Am I to understand you can read?”
    “No sir,” she lied quickly . “It is against the law.”
    “That it is,” said the Archivist, jotting something quickly on another, smaller scroll. After a few minutes, he signed it with a flourish. “But you will find that not all in Sheba is as one might expect.” Reaching inside the neck of his robes, he drew out his slave-necklet and briefly showed it to her.
    Shioni gasped . “But… sir! I don’t understand!”
    He picked the scroll up and blew softly on the ink . “There was a time before the King’s law against slaves being taught to read and write. I find one cannot unlearn what one already knows, even if a King commands it.”
    With a practised movement, he rolled up the scroll and sealed it with a wax seal . “This is the official record of your ownership, Shioni of Sheba. Give it to your mistress, the Princess.”
    Bowing her head, Shioni accepted the scroll . She decided to risk the question that was burning in her heart. “Sir, are you saying slaves can be freed?”
    “That is also illegal.” But the Archivist’s eyebrows twitched as if to suggest his displeasure with this law. “You are a truly expensive young lady. One whole talent of silver! I hope the King knew what he was getting when he bought you.”
    A blush stole up Shioni’s cheeks. “I try not to cause too much offence.”
    “No, no, I meant it in a good way! I don’t care that you’re a ferengi–” his smile creased up his whole face again, “–or a slave, or a girl. Trust an old man, Shioni. You need to chase your dreams to catch them. And don’t let your position as a slave stop you.”
    Shioni studied her toes, feeling baffled and buffeted by the ideas he had put into her head.
    “You are dismissed,” he said. “Until we meet again.”
    “ My Lord.” She bowed deeply.
    S he left the short interview convinced he was a very peculiar man indeed.
    Why tell her those things? Why call her ‘famous’? Simply a nonsense! Had he suggested the King regretted purchasing her in the first place? No… and her glib lie hadn’t fooled him in the slightest. He knew very well she could read and write. Was he trying to encourage her? Surely not.
    Well, she had better hurry. Mama Nomuula’s enormous pots had been bubbling and spitting and spreading the most delicious smells around the castle for several days now. They had gobbled up chickens, goats and whole cows. A team of twenty slaves had been occupied