I waited for it. I knew it was coming. I was just leaving the palace library when it came.
"Master Lukas, sir? The queen is calling for you." The dark haired, half-elf servant said, eyes downcast.
She could have been mistaken for my sister.
Golden Leaf.
I put my hand under her chin and raised her head to face me.
"No, sister," I said, smiling kindly. "Don't lower your head to me. I'm a Golden Leaf half-elf, just like you."
I felt my jaw tighten when she faced me. She had been marked. Branded by a slaver, the slave mark took up the entire left side of her face.
"See? Keep your head up, Nala. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
She smiled, her lips moving on the unmarked half of her face. "Thank you, sir. Graveth said you weren't like what the other servants said."
"How long have you been here?" I asked, I didn't recognise her, I began to walk. I turned and waited.
She hurried to join me.
