10. King

Lark found that her anonymous life in town was surprisingly lonely. She'd spent so much time in the orphanage that most of the village residents had never met her. Her clothing and hairstyle designated her as important and none of them considered that she could be one of them. She had taken an inventory of her clothing and found that she could afford a carriage and protection to the next town but would struggle to establish herself without additional funds. Her necklace was worth a significant amount but she was unwilling to part with it. It seemed like she may not have a choice. As she spent her days shopping at the market for essentials and meals she tried to choose her next step. She could assume a new name and stay here close to her former master. Or she could now freely leave for a nearby village, even travelling to another kingdom. 

For now, she realized she would have to stay here. She could try to find employment and raise money for her relocation. She advertised tutoring services in the market on the village board. She was quickly contacted by a local farmer. He had begun to earn a decent living and was transitioning to the much more lucrative position of merchant. This allowed his family to elevate their status and they were now able to afford a tutor for their children. They wouldn't be easily accepted into higher society unless their children were educated. 

Lark moved out of the inn and into their large but humble stone house. They had a beautiful farm which grew vegetables and raised animals. It was their high quality honey and cheese that had allowed them to gain enough attention to become a legitimate business. They had made enough money to hire several staff, including Lark. She shared a small room with another employee, the cook. She was a surprisingly young woman who had grown up in a nearby village. She was tall and muscular with large hands and browned skin. Her hair was always covered with a loose scarf and folded behind her and she wore a tunic and trousers with a leather belt. Lark liked her immediately, and was drawn to her constant jokes and rough laugh. 

She was happy as the weeks passed, teaching the daughters some of the skills she had learned in the castle. They quickly improved, especially their embroidery skills. She taught them how to stitch a simple bird, and they decorated squares of fabric with them to turn into a quilt. Lark earned a modest salary, stashing all of her earnings in a new trunk with her remaining gowns. She had already purchased a dress for work, something less conspicuous. Her employers liked her and the cook, Juna, often made her the chocolate cake she had always loved. It was peaceful and productive, but Lark could not seem to forget her time at the palace.

In her free time she liked to spend time with the farm animals. The cows especially had become very familiar with her. She hitched her skirt up and wandered in their pasture, patting each one gently on their forehead. One calf bumped her playfully, leaping into the air and tumbling over as his mother grazed nearby. Lark smiled but her thoughts were clouded. She could picture August's face in the window as she had seen it when she left. It haunted her as she laid back in the sun soaked grass and daydreamed. 

Her memories had become blurred but his face was clear. He had released her so easily. But with so much regret. She felt a flicker of regret herself. His compassion had ignited curiosity within her. She had spent her life afraid of vampires. She had nearly been killed by one before seeking sanctuary in the castle. But August made it seem like they could be so human. She wanted to learn more.

She knew that she would be free if she returned. Her heart seemed to pull her towards the possibility. It was a much more exciting prospect. The thought of leaving this farm to find another humble life was pleasing. But she could not deny the magnetism of the harem. August had shown a particular interest in her. Her prospects were good as his pet. She sighed and the playful calf returned, plopping down beside her in the grass and resting his head on her legs. Lark rubbed his head absently, unable to focus. He grunted at her impatiently and she laughed, pushing him gently off her lap. She decided to write to the lord, and see id he would even reply. That was the only step she could take next. She gave the calf one last pet before heading back towards the main house. It was almost dinner time. 

Juna met her at the kitchen door holding a bowl of strawberries. Lark snatched one from the bowl while Juna frowed disapprovingly and shooed her out of the kitchen. Lark went to her room and smoothed her dress and hair. Then she sat in her bed with a piece of parchment in her lap and wrote the lord a message. 

My Lord,

I owe you my thanks for your generosity. I am settled and happy.

Lark

She folded and sealed the note in an envelope and brought it to one of the boys working in the stable. She paid him a few coins to deliver it on horseback. Few vampires could keep pace with a fast horse so on the main roads he would be safe alone. She returned to the house for dinner, trying to put the note from her mind. She doubted he would even answer. 

She ate dinner with Juna, who had already served the farmer and his family. A beautiful meal of butternut squash soup with goat cheese, fresh bread, and roasted chicken was quickly dispatched by family and staff and Lark stayed behind to help clean the kitchen. Juna cut her a generous slice of chocolate cake and served it to her with strawberries. She retired to their shared room and worked on her newest embroidery piece. But she was distracted. Her eyes strayed to her caged raven, hanging in its frame on the wall beside her bed. Beside it hung her other piece, the freed bird. Now she tried to stitch a bird settled in a home made of flowers. But she lacked inspiration. Before Juna had even returned to the room she had set the project aside and pulled on her cloak for an evening walk. 

Stepping into the cool air, Lark knew she only had a few safe minutes left to travel alone. Rogue vampires avoided the village but the farm was far enough away to be at risk. Due to the lord's protection she was probably safe. But her last encounter had traumatized her. So she stuck to the farm itself, wandering far out into empty pastures. As she reached the treeline on the end of a long field, she could hear the desperate cries of an animal. It was clearly a bird and sounded as though it was in distress. She could easily identify that it was a raven calling. Despite her fear, she ducked under the fence and hurried into the trees and towards the sound. She soon located the poor creature. 

It was a raven, tangled in thorns in a dense thicket. It's wing appeared to be injured, and its cries were becoming weakened and more pitiful as it struggled to escape. Lark slowly and quietly approached the bird, slipping off her cloak and holding it in her hand in front of her. The bird shrieked as she drew nearer but did not move as she covered its eyes with the cloak and quickly untangled it from the thorns. Carefully wrapping it up, she tucked the bird into her arms and carried it back to the barn. She shut herself and the raven in a small hay loft and unbundled it. It was surprisingly calm as she inspected it for injuries. There were no broken bones but several lacerations. Lark spoke to it softly. 

"I will keep you safe while you heal. Then you can go back to the forest, okay?" 

The raven fixed its black eye on her and cried loudly as if protesting. It began to become bolder and nipped at her fingers. It was understandably frustrated. As she lowered it to the floor it fluttered its wings anxiously and hopped away, trying to find an exit from the hay loft. But it was shut tight. Sensing the bird's unease, Lark ducked out of the loft and got a bowl of water. She brought him food as well, a handful of berries and some pork from her last meal. The bird was uneasy but settled quickly, swallowing the food in a few huge gulps. It scrambled over the wooden floor, searching for more food. Lark was enchanted, admiring his dark feathers. He was blacker than a thundercloud with eyes like stars. He had a very intelligent demeanor and was eager to explore his new environment. Lark could hardly stand to leave him and brought a bedroll into the loft itself to sleep for the night. She was kept awake by his forlorn calls and determined destruction of the loft, but awoke with a huge sense of relief that he already seemed to be improving. 

She carefully tended his wounds as he struggled to escape her grip but he seemed grateful. Each day he drew closer to her and was distressed when she left the loft to do her daily tasks. She had explained the situation to her employers who were supportive but ensured she did not neglect her duties. She kept her students away from the raven despite their keen curiosity. She knew the wild bird would not welcome visitors. On the third day she named him. She called him King. He came to recognize the name very quickly and would come hurrying to her when she called him. He ate voraciously and healed quickly. Lark was overjoyed by his recovery but also saddened. She was reluctant to be apart from him. But she knew it was his best chance at a normal life. He was soon ready to fly free. 

King could tell that she was dejected when she came to feed him for the last time before releasing him. He approached her for affection and she stroked his head feathers. He tried to cheer her up with his typical antics, rolling over himself on the floor and taking her fingers gently in his strong beak. He mimicked her laugh quietly, hopped around her enthusiastically, and brought her small treasures he had found in the loft. She smiled as he laid a rodent bone, a dried flower, and a lost coin at her feet. But her sadness hung around her like a mantle. King ate his food warily, sensing that something had changed. Not wishing to cause him any stress, she said a quick goodbye and exited the loft, leaving the door open.

Overwhelmed by curiosity, King followed her. He swooped neatly under the doorframe and into the sky, circling happily overhead. As Lark watched him her heart was burdened by her affection for the bird, which made this goodbye so much more difficult. As she carried her bedroll back to the room she shared, he came to rest on her shoulder. Lark was startled and dropped her blankets but King fluffed his feather contentedly as if nothing had happened. She gave him a kiss on the head and he lifted back into the sky, crying out in excitement. She could hear him echo her own laugh as she watched him spiral into the sky and disappear over the trees. 

In the following days he visited her often when she was in the garden, and she found gifts from King in the hay loft whenever it was left open in the afternoon. She was delighted that he had not abandoned her completely. On days when she felt lost she could pull out the box where she held these treasures and appreciate his gratitude for her help. 

Then, one afternoon, a letter came for her. Her name was scrawled across the envelope in a familiar script.  It was from August.