Long Way From Home: Unfortunate Journey Part 2

By Liz Carmichael

When Mira becomes Remy's nursemaid, it feels as though she has moved up in the world. For a while she acts superior because her new position in the main house brings new clothes, and a real bed in the room she shares only with the child in her care.

Before long she discovers the change does not protect her from the possibility of being sold the same as any other slave. Nor does it keep her safe from those who spy on others to better their own life.

While trying to plan her escape before the sleepy town of Herculaneum is buried, she has to face the loss of a young friend and catch the spy who is jeopardising her place in the villa.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Liz Carmichael
• Release date: Aug 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476231068

Liz Carmichael

Liz is an editor as well as a writer. Reading is her greatest enjoyment after writing, and she especially loves historical fiction. Her other great love is painting - not walls, though.Born in Scotland, Liz has lived in many countries but is now happily settled in Melbourne Australia.

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Long Way from Home

Unfortunate Journey Part 2

Liz Carmichael

Copyright © Liz Carmichael 2012

All rights reserved

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Published by Daimhin Books

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Restless First Night

By the time Vestra, the housekeeper, delivered Remy to me, I had almost chewed away my fingernails – such a bad habit, and painful too.

It surprised me Remy’s wet-nurse did not follow Vestra. I asked where she was in case the baby needed her in the night. Vestra said I should give him water and sing him to sleep. ‘He mustn’t be spoiled. A child must learn early that he cannot make demands until he is a person.’ She lowered her eyebrows at me until I nodded agreement.

I did not agree, however, and thought it pure silliness to say a child was not a person until they learned to speak.

‘Take this,’ Vestra handed me a gold bulla, ‘and make sure you do not lose any of the boy’s talismans. He’s too young to wear it, but keep it with him at all times.’ She spun on her heel but turned back. ‘He needs bathing.’ Then she marched from the room.

Well, I thought, he may need bathing, but he is in the dream world and I will not shock him back before he is ready. It seemed to me Vestra could have no children of her own not to know such a thing.

Instead of disturbing Remy’s dreams I sat on the window’s ledge and let the cool sea breeze play over us. While I watched him, his eyes dart here and there behind his closed lids. I smiled as I thought he must be watching the children of the gods at play for his eyes to be so busy.

While Remy dreamed I did too. I imagined the path made by the sun on the waters of the bay was shining on the fields of my home. The voices calling softly to each other in the distance now belonged to my father and mother, and perhaps my brother: now old enough to choose a bride if he were anything like Papa at that age.

The quite knocking on the door interrupted my reminiscence. I brushed away my tears before calling out for the person who had knocked to come in.

Levi peered round the edge of the door. ‘We have water for young Master’s bath, if he is ready for it,’ he whispered.

‘Vestra sent you.’ I tried to keep the annoyance from my voice. ‘The young Master is asleep, but you may fill the bath now you’re here.’ I stayed sitting at the window. ‘Is the water hot, or only warm enough for a baby?’

As he carefully emptied the water bucket, Levi smiled at me. ‘I made it hot in case he was asleep. You’re not the type of person to waken him from his dreams.’ The other two slaves sniggered, and nudged each other as they emptied their buckets. After shushing them, Levi turned back to me. ‘We can bring cold water if you need it.’

I shook my head. ‘It will have cooled enough, I think, by the time Remy returns from the dream world.’

Levi did not leave with the others. He shuffled his feet and stared at me with those amazing obsidian eyes. ‘If you wish to bathe while the water’s hot, I could ask someone to come here and sit with young master.’

His continued thoughtfulness towards me, in so many little ways, meant more than I could say. Always, though, at the back of my mind were the words of warning of so many years ago. Yes he showed great loyalty to our Master, but did he run to him with tales of wrong-doing by the other slaves? I had no way of knowing the truth or falsehood of that.

Remy moved in my arms, snuffled a few times then opened his sea-blue eyes – and smiled up at me. Levi chuckled. ‘He knows you already,’ he said, coming closer. ‘Shall I send up the cold water?’

‘Wait.’ I walked to the bath and tested the water with my elbow. ‘It will be perfect by the time I’ve undressed and oiled him. Thank you.’

Levi bobbed his head before leaving. I think he was unsure of how to treat me now that I had moved into the main house, and had what everyone considered my own room. Sharing it with Remy did not make it less my room to the other slaves, who all slept in the rather dark slave quarters at the rear of the villa.

‘So,’ I said to young master Remy. ‘It’s you and me now. I will care for you as though you were my own child.’ I kissed his soft cheek, and rattled his bulla. ‘This holds your talismans. Your papa sacrificed a goat at the temple, and had the priests throw the bones to find out which were the best ones for your protection. We must never lose them.’ Then I laughed at the way he studied me. ‘Don’t worry about it now,’ I said. ‘I’ll look after them until you‘re old enough. Now, bath time young master.’

I did not sleep much that night. Mostly I watched Remy, scared he might be too cold, or too hot, or the bed not comfortable enough, or – or – or…

Next morning when the housekeeper strode into the room, to take Remy to be fed, my eyes burned as though a pitcher of sand had been poured into them. Vestra eyed me. ‘You must get your sleep, foolish girl. You can’t care for the boy if you‘re only half awake. Sleep now. I’ll get someone to look after him for an hour or so.’

‘No.’ I stood my ground when she turned her hard glare on me. ‘He’s my responsibility, not yours. I can sleep when he sleeps, the way my mother did with my brother, and probably with me too.’

‘Well, the mouse squeaks again.’

Before Vestra said anything more, I spoke up.