Damasci Illuvia packed the last of her bags. Her hands lingered over the catches. The last three years had been both the easiest and the hardest contract she had taken yet. Treolia Academy had warned her she was nearing the end of her useful years as a courtesan. Her contracts were thinning out, they said. This would be a huge boost to her reputation, and she could net a few more active years.
She’d only been active twenty one years. At forty years old, she understood her appeal was beginning to fade, but there were courtesans in her academy that were pushing fifty that were still active. She hadn’t seen a notable decrease in her contracts. She had a suspicion she’d been tricked into accepting this assignment by her Head Matron out of spite because of her personal views.
Damasci hated children. It wasn’t that she didn’t see them having their uses. They certainly needed children to continue the cycle of new courtesans in the academy. Damasci personally had never wanted a child of her own however and made that a clause in all her contracts. She was almost out of childbearing years anyway, so soon it wouldn’t be an issue. Then her Head Matron had set her up with this. One of the ironclad requirements of this contract is that there had to be a child from the union of her and Lord Mislav Kelcrag.
Well, she’d done her duty and given him a child. She glanced over at where her two year old daughter Verena sat playing with her doll, the only toy Lord Mislav had given her. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to give her more toys. His family wasn’t as wealthy as some of the others in the lower court and credits were tight, especially considering he had five children with his wife to support.
Verena didn’t seem to mind the lack of variety. She was a quiet child, only fussing when she needed something, usually a clean diaper or food. She entertained herself for hours with that doll, a fact Damasci appreciated. It gave her the opportunity to entertain Lord Mislav and her side amusements without fearing interruption by a temperamental toddler.
Lord Mislav also stated in the contract that the child would be staying with him, a fact that the academy had protested vociferously in the beginning. He apparently told them they could either accede to his wishes or he’d go to a different academy, and any court assignation was considered highly sought after so they’d accepted his condition. Verena would be staying with her father and living at court instead of returning to Treolia Academy and eventually training as a courtesan.
Damasci was relieved. She hadn’t wanted to put her life on hold for the next six years, and possibly miss out on another contract or two, to raise Verena. “All right, Verena. I’m packed. You’ll be staying here with your father. Lady Avalyn will be your mother now.”
“Mama go?” Verena looked up from her game.
“Yes, mama is going. Verena is staying,” Damasci told her firmly.
“Okay.” Verena went back to her game.
There was a chime letting Damasci know that someone was at her door. She opened it and was greeted by Lord Mislav. “Good morning, Lord Mislav.” She smiled at him.
“Your enforcers and the porters are here.” Mislav looked at her luggage. “Are you ready to go?”
“I am.” Damasci glanced at her daughter again. “Verena knows she’s staying behind, but I’m not sure she understands I won’t be coming back.”
“We will deal with her when she does realize you have left for good.” Mislav smiled fondly at his youngest daughter. He helped Damasci with her bags and turned her over to her enforcers and the porters. “Safe travels, Damasci.”
“Thank you, Lord Mislav. I hope Verena continues being an obedient child for you and Lady Avalyn.” With that, Damasci turned her back on the Kelcrag household and left. She was already thinking of what her future held, putting her daughter out of her mind, as she boarded the skimmer and headed to the port.
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