The main Thavil family estate in Aflajiri city spanned one hundred and forty four acres. Of those, Alkia was assigned four. Sanga garden was in the north east part of the estate, furthest from the main house. The job, rough work tending to the delicate blooms under the hot sun in a rarely visited corner of the estate was unwanted. Aside from the low possibility of getting promoted while away from the centre of power, there abounded rumours of the villa attached to it being haunted by the wronged spirit of one of the wives of the first patriarch.
The steward had assigned it to her as an afterthought, belatedly noticing her after issuing all the lucrative jobs to the rest of the new contract slaves. She had long been used to people ignoring her presence, even welcoming it.
The large woman with neatly ironed uniform and a cold face glanced her up and down, her gaze lingering on the faint scar running across her right cheek. An ingratiating smile and a heavy pouch in hand and moments later she was assigned the most remote corner of the estate.
The job suited her needs just fine with no one to report to except the lame head gardener who came by once a week to inspect her work.
The tender plants bloomed beautifully under her care, even the out of season zangi trees quickly flowered in her hands, seven spiral petals opening up to the cool chill of the cold season, before quickly withering under her urging.
The work kept her mind and hands occupied and the quiet allowed her space to think and plan. She preferred the quiet. They would never think to look for her in this place where no one knew her as anything other than a gardner. Her past could remain just that.
Night set in early in the cold season. She had brought in the drying herbs she had grown in the bare plot of land behind the servant quarters and eaten a sumptuous meal she had made in the attached kitchen. With herself as the only employee assigned here she had the whole space to herself.
She extinguished the flickering lamp, draped her heavy dark cloak over her shoulders and locked the door behind her. She draped the knapsack across her body and stealthily made her way to the back wall of the estate behind the main villa in Sanga Garden.
Finding the familiar hand and footholds she easily climbed over the wall and landed in a dark empty alleyway. She pulled the hood higher up her head and quickly joined the flow of evening traffic towards the central business district.
The night market was even more lively with the upcoming rain praying festival. The narrow streets were crowded with vendors and pedestrians squeezing around the rushing carriages and carts. She picked her way down the main street, turned into a more quiet lane and walked to an apothecary. The bell chimed as she walked in. She pulled her hood off once she had confirmed she was the only customer in the room.
"Welcome to Mayira Apothecary. Are you here to purchase or vend?"
"Sell."
She placed the bundle on the counter in front of the tall reedy man behind it. Slowly she undid the straps revealing the neatly organised stacks of herbs in the handsewn pockets.
"Ah, my favourite customer. It still fascinates me how easily forgettable your unforgettable face is."
"Stop flirting or i'll take my business elsewhere."
"Right. Right." He reached out and pulled the bundle closer. His bony fingers sifted through the piles, weighing and calculating with the trained air of a professional.
"Right. Tender water buds, dried rivella roses, hand of glory each 1000 grams and ten shoots of damica and xyleri each in excellent condition rounds up to twenty gold and eight hundred silver. I rounded up the ninety seven copper just for you." He gave her a wink.
"Fair enough. Tally up the money."
She left he shop, her bundle lighter and her wallet heavier. With the business for the night concluded she walked with a lighter step back to the estate humming a tune to herself. She made her way over te wall and landed quietly on the grass, taking a moment to listen for the sound of any patrols. Her heart sank when she heard the shouting and the hurried footsteps.
"Catch it. The young mistress will have our heads if we don't"
"There, up a head!"
"Put out that torch before you startle it you dimwit!"
"It's moving toward the garden.
She silently crouched down, her hand gently stroking the grass before she nibly climbed up the zangi tree beside her. She was so focused on the sound of approaching footsteps that she failed to notice the small dimly flickering light approaching her from behind. She saw it out of the corner of her eye, hovering beside her.
She was startled, rarely getting surprised by other beings. This must be what they were hunting. Never before had she seen a spirit. It was smaller than she had imagined. She crouched there for a moment, dazzled by itsgold colours. She got the impression it was contemplating her.
She reached out a hand to swat it away.
"Shoo!"' she hissed as it dodged before tapping the back of her hand. She snached her hand as if shocked y electricity.
"Go find somewhere else to hide," she hissed.
It hovered for a moment, as though in contemplation. The voices of the search party increased in volume as they drew close and closer.
Then, as though having made a decision it dashed straight into her chest and disappeared.
Shit!
She reached for her chest where the spirit had disappeared, feeling the fading warmth under her palm. It didn't hurt.
"Search every bush and rock if you have to. It is injured and there is a seal o it. It can't leave the estate even if it wanted to."
She groaned silently in her heart. Her time as a gardener had been good while it lasted. She reached for the tree branch and concentrated. Then, on this moonless night a sight to see happened in theThavil Estate. All the plants bloomed at once as though in spring.