Betaed by Skippyscatt

~ * ~

Duo lay in his bed watching Heero wake up. It was a revelation. Heero opened his eyes and was
awake instantly. Duo smiled to himself. The man was a warrior that was plain, a warrior of some
stature by the way he acted. Perhaps he was a general, all these riches could be spoils of war.

Suddenly, Duo held his head and whimpered softly.

Heero was by the bed before Duo could silence himself. He cringed into the covers. Masters
didn't like sick slaves so he braced himself for a beating.

"Sshhh. Pacchiri, what's the matter? Are you sick? What hurts?" Heero gathered Duo into his
arms and cuddled him gently. "Don't be afraid. If you can tell me what's wrong, I'll fix it, if I
can."

Duo blinked at Heero for a second, but another wave of pain made him whimper again. As soon
as it passed Heero gently lowered him onto the bed again. He went to the door and told the
footman to get Master Chang, then he returned to Duo.

Duo peered at him for a moment then struggled to sit up. Heero got him into a seated position
and waited while Duo got himself together.

Duo touched his head then looked at Heero. He couldn't for the life of him figure out how to
explain.

"Something wrong with your head?" Duo nodded. "Good. The way you sounded. . . does it
hurt?"

Duo started to nod again, but that was making his headache worse. So he just blinked at Heero
and hoped, his hopes were rewarded. Heero settled Duo back against his pillows with a soft pat
to his shoulder. "Chang will be here soon. He'll have a tea for you, I'm sure." Heero laughed
slightly at Duo's dismayed face. "I know, they all taste foul. But they work. Which would you
rather have, a nasty taste in your mouth or a headache?"

Duo gave Heero a comical, considering look, placing one finger in his mouth and screwing up
his face. Then he mimed drinking tea, only he stuck out his tongue in a childish fashion.

"Yes, but your head will feel better. I'll give you some sugar."

Duo started to mime something else but had to stop as another wave of pain made him cringe.
~ * ~

Chang Wufei knocked then entered without waiting for permission. He watched for a moment as
Heero awkwardly tried to comfort his slave, who was crouched in the middle of the truckle bed
rocking back and forth.

"Let me get a look at him, please. What seems to be the matter?"

"I think his head is aching. He acts like he's in agony. Do something."

Wufei gave a short nod. "As soon as I'm sure what the matter is I'll do something. It wouldn't do
to make him worse, now would it?" Heero grunted and got out of Wufei's way.

Wufei carefully pulled Duo into a more or less seated position. "Can you look at me?" Duo
squinted against the suddenly painful morning light. "Light hurt?" Duo nodded carefully. "If you
can't nod or shake your head comfortably, blink once for yes, twice for no. Understand?"

Duo blinked, rather blearily.

"Good. Does your head hurt?" Duo blinked once. "Point to where it hurts."

Duo pointed to the side of his head. Wufei started to run his fingers through Duo's hair but he
flinched away biting his lip.'

"Well that answers my next question. It's very sensitive?" Duo blinked once. "Have you suffered
a blow there?" Duo looked at Wufei for a moment, then shrugged slightly. "You don't know?
How could you not know if . . . never mind, that's a stupid question. I need to touch the site of
the pain. Hold still for me."

Duo gave Heero a beseeching look. He knew it was going to hurt, so he looked to Heero for
rescue.

"I'm sorry, Pacchiri. If Wufei wants to poke at you, you should let him. He won't hurt you more
than necessary, and he needs to see exactly what's wrong so he can help you. Come to me. I'll
hold you while he tortures you."

Wufei snorted. "You'll scare the poor man into a relapse. I have no intention of torturing him."

Duo looked from Heero to Wufei doubtfully, but decided that Heero was only teasing Wufei. He
crawled into Heero's open arms and settled against his chest. He knew this was going to hurt,
any pressure on that particular spot hurt like hell. But if it would make the pain stop
permanently, he was more than willing.

Wufei probed and poked at Duo's head until he was ready to scream with the pain. When he
stopped poking, Wufei frowned for a moment then settled back on his heels.

Duo looked at Wufei with his hopes shining from his beautiful violet eyes. If he could fix Duo's
head, master would be pleased because Duo wouldn't be such a nuisance. Sometimes the pain
was so bad that he got physically ill. Masters didn't like that. They wanted healthy slaves who
could do their work.

"Chang? What is wrong? In small words that a common soldier can understand."

"He's got a depressed fracture of the skull." Wufei pointed to Duo's head. "Right there. It's
pressing on his brain. That's the cause of his pain and probably of his amnesia as well. Possibly
the cause of his muteness too. It might even be the cause of his persistent weakness."

Heero eyed Duo for a second, there was a great deal more to his slave than met the eye. How he
would have gotten a skull fracture wasn't the question, how he'd survived it was. Most slaves
died of such injuries.

Duo looked from Heero to Wufei, he wanted so badly to ask questions, dozens of questions. He
wanted to talk to Heero, to tell him of his gratitude for the care he was giving him. All he could
do was take Heero's hand in his and kiss it.

Heero absently stroked Duo's cheek in return. "You're so good. You must be hurting so badly.
You have tears in your eyes. Lay down again until Wufei brews your tea."

Duo obediently allowed Heero to help him scoot down in the bed.

~ * ~

Heero followed Wufei to the fireplace where Wufei put a small kettle on the coals and poured
water from the ewer on the washstand into it.

"How bad is it?"

"Not that bad. He didn't die of it. But there are repercussions of the surgery. The main one being,
it could kill him. I think not, but I could be wrong."

"The chances of that being?"

"One in six. Or there about. I doubt it'll kill him if the original injury didn't. But it's entirely up
to you."

Heero thought carefully. He didn't want Duo to be ill. He wanted the sparkle in his eyes all the
time not just right after a nap or first thing in the morning. He wanted to be able to love the man
without feeling guilty. Right now he felt like he was taking advantage of a 'not quite right' child.
Not conducive to a proper relationship with a love slave.

On the other hand, he didn't want Duo to die either.

"I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose him, but if the operation will help him . . . hell . . .
what do I do?"

Wufei poured the boiling water on the herbs and set the small brewer aside to steep. "I think you
ought to leave it up to Duo. It's his life after all. No matter that he belongs to you. He belongs to
himself first. I won't operate if he doesn't want it."

Heero glared at Wufei which did absolutely no good at all. He muttered. "Stubborn jack ass."

Wufei just stood, bowed and murmured. "Thank you."

Duo was cuddled in his blankets, holding his head and rocking again. He was obviously in a
considerable amount of pain.

Wufei shook his head. "I wish I could ask him how long these attacks last and how often they
happen. Too bad he can't write."

Heero snarled. He'd completely forgotten about finding Duo a tutor, everything was at sixes and
sevens here. He decided he was going to have to find a manager for this domain no matter what
he'd promised his father.

"Dammit. I promised to find him a tutor to teach him to write. I don't suppose you'd consider
it?"

Wufei shrugged. "It depends on how dedicated he is. I won't put up with a dabbler. And I'm
considerably stricter than most tutors."

Heero just looked stubborn. "He'll do as you say. And I'll check his lines every evening. Just
remember your own advice and don't put too much on him at one time. I don't want him
exhausted." Heero smirked at Wufei. He was happy to have the opportunity to turn Wufei's
words back on him for once.

Wufei just snorted and went to see if the tea was brewed yet.

It was, so he poured a cup and took it to Duo. Duo accepted the cup and gulped it down in two
quick swallows. It wasn't a good idea.

Duos' stomach didn't like the tea it's rejection of the brew was sudden and messy.

Duo whimpered softly, then choked. Heero shook his head. Somehow the muteness didn't seem
to be a result of the skull fracture. This choking wasn't natural. He started to bring this to
Wufei's attention but was distracted by Duo's attempt to get out of bed and clean up the mess.

"Don't do that, you'll only get sick again. That's what I have maids for. I'll call one now. Lay
back down."

Duo gave him a disgusted look. The bed was now nasty and stank from the vomit and mess.
Heero just picked him up and helped him stand. Then he went to tend the fire. It was burning
away to coals and needed building back up.

Wufei shook his head. "This is my fault. I should have asked him if he got nauseous as well. I'll .
. ." Wufei trailed off as he rummaged in the folds of his robe for something. Duo watched with
interest.

Wufei found what he wanted, which was a small box containing black pills of some sort. Duo
had never seen a pill that he could recall, so to him it looked like a rabbit dropping. When Wufei
told him to chew it up and swallow it Duo shook his head so violently that he sparked a new
spasm of pain.

Duo made a soft sound of distress. Heero rushed to him from where he had been kneeling
tending to the fire.

"What the hell did you do. Wufei . . . I swear . . ." Wufei was just standing gazing at Duo with
mild reproof. "You . . ." Heero eyed the pill with some disfavor.

"It's just mint leaves and honey. It'll settle his stomach."

Heero snorted. "Looks like a rabbit turd. I've told you and told you. Don't offer those things to
anyone without telling them they're medicine."

Wufei sighed. "Duo. Do you really think I'm so . . . uncivilized as to offer you dung? . . . really."

Duo eyed Wufei then Heero. Finally he lowered his eyes, his flushed cheeks were answer
enough.

"Well, just try it. If your stomach is upset, mint will settle it. Then we'll try the tea again . . . this
time drink it a little more slowly. Throwing up is definitely not good for your head."

Duo sagged slightly, he wasn't going to be punished. Heero saw his relief but was distracted by
the maid, who entered just then with the clean sheets.

She walked in and just dumped them at Duo's feet. Duo started to pick them up, but Heero
snarled at the girl, asking her what she thought she was doing.

"Oh, sir. I just brought the sheets like I was told. The slave can change them himself."

Heero propped Duo up and snapped. "You change them. He's sick. If you're told to do
something, you do it. You don't delegate it to someone else. Do you understand me?"

The girl obviously didn't, as her blank look wandered from Heero to Duo to Wufei.

Wufei just poked the girl. "Make the bed. Take the dirty sheets to the laundry, also take all the
dirty dishes and cups. Work . . . now." His glare got the girl going, a follow up glare from Heero
got her going fast.

She scrambled around the bed making it neatly despite her rush. She also gathered all the dishes
and bundled them into a stack. She somehow managed to get the sheets, dishes and herself out
the door without breaking anything. Duo snickered, then groaned and choked as his head gave a
warning throb.

Wufei waited as Heero tucked Duo back into his bed, then he gave Duo more tea. Duo didn't
need Wufei's caution to drink it slowly. He sipped carefully, making a face at its bitterness.

"I'm sorry it's bitter, but it's the inner bark of white willow. If you'll take one of these pills and
chew it slowly, it'll take the taste away. I'm sorry I didn't tell you it's medicine . . ." Wufei
chuckled. "Now that Heero pointed it out, they do look like . . . er . . . rabbit pellets. . . . "Duo
rolled his eyes at Wufei. "Yes, roll your eyes at me. Please do . . . I can see why Heero calls you
Pacchiri."

Duo made a face. He didn't like nick names much. Even when he knew what they meant.

"And what's wrong with calling you Pretty Eyes?" Heero was slightly indignant.

Duo wearily eased back down, the clean sheets were nice, but his headaches usually left him
feeling lethargic and slightly confused. He carefully rolled his head side to side in a 'no' gesture.
He knew he shouldn't say no to his master, but he didn't care at this point. He couldn't hurt any
more outside of a whipping.

Wufei patted Heero on the shoulder. "Let the tea do its work. You go get breakfast. I'll stay here
with him. Bring him back some porridge, with dried fruit. And honey and butter . . . oh, and
milk."

"Yes, Master. Of course, Master. Anything else, Master?" Heero had to laugh at Wufei's
commanding tone of voice.

Wufei looked puzzled, but Duo rolled one eye at Heero, smirking. Then Wufei realized what
he'd done, but he only flapped one hand at Heero in a shooing gesture and settled into the easy
chair.

Heero left to get his breakfast, still smiling. Wufei was much more than he wanted anyone to
know. Someday Heero would discover his story, but for now he was just glad to have Wufei as a
friend and confidant.

~ * ~
Wufei watched Duo watch him, finally he had enough. This silent staring match wasn't to his
taste at all.

"Do you want to learn how to write?"

Duo nodded carefully, his headache had eased to a dull throb and he didn't want anything to start
it up again.

"I'll teach you, but you will have rules to follow. I'll set you lines to write. You must complete
them in a timely manner and no slopping over them. Do you understand?"

Duo gave him an indignant look, then made writing motions, then grabbing ones.

Wufei snarled in frustration. "I don't understand. We'll just have to try it out and see what
happens. First I'll teach you the vowels. Then connectors. This writing is symbol oriented, do
you understand what that means?"

Duo blinked slowly, once. "I think that you do. I'll make a list of symbols. You copy them
exactly as I write them. The first time through I'll tell you which sound they represent, then
you'll have to remember. Heero will help you if he's around. You just have to practice."

Duo sighed, he was happy. His master wanted him to learn to write so they could communicate.
And he'd found the promised teacher. He hoped Wufei wasn't too fond of the cane. Wufei hoped
Duo wasn't a slacker. He didn't have time or patience for such types.

~ * ~

Heero returned nearly an hour later with Duo's promised breakfast and some honey candy.

"Have you taken your tea like Wufei said?"

Duo sighed and sat up. The tea was awful, but he'd taken it when Wufei gave it to him. White
willow bark was a well-known cure for pain of all kinds, it just tasted terrible.

Heero put the tray on Duo's lap and settled on the side of the bed. He had every intention of
feeding Duo if he didn't eat of his own volition. But Duo eagerly snatched up the eating sticks
Heero had brought up with the food.

Heero blinked once then realized that Duo might not know how to use them.

"Here let me help you. I should have checked that they put silverware on the tray."

But Duo was happily shoveling the thick porridge from the bowl into his mouth. He was using
the eating sticks with considerable skill. Heero relaxed and watched with amusement as Duo
made a pig of himself.
Wufei watched as well. He was glad to see that Duo had a good appetite, if he gained some
weight the operation would go much better.

He had to admit that he was worried about operating on Duo. He had no idea how long his skull
had been fractured, how sick he'd been, or if his strange weakness was hereditary or caused by
the fracture. He wondered if he might find a cure in one of his books.

He settled more comfortable in his chair and told Heero and Duo of all his concerns, then looked
Duo in the eyes.

"I told Heero I wouldn't operate unless you gave me permission. What do you want? Do you
want me to operate?"

Duo nodded slowly, he knew it was a dangerous operation, but he wanted it. He wanted to be
well. He couldn't remember feeling really strong, or healthy. He'd always been feeble and
sickly. But he felt that he'd been strong Before. Before what he wasn't sure, he just knew that
Before had been better than now. Only this now was definitely looking good.

Duo rubbed his head then winced. The sores on his scalp were healing and the scabs were
beginning to come off. He'd caught one with a finger. Heero grunted, "Let me look."

He parted Duo's hair carefully, then checked another place.

Wufei, these scabs are starting to pull. What should I do?"

Wufei didn't bother to look. He had checked them at the same time he'd looked at the fracture.

"They need to be pulled off. At least the one's that are loose do. There's a blue bottle on the side
shelf by the tub. Shampoo his head with that and the scabs that are ready will come off. Just pull
them away. If it hurts him, leave it."

Heero nodded his understanding and turned to Duo, but Duo was already out of bed and headed
for the bathing chamber.

"Hey! Wait for me. I don't know why you're in such a hurry."

Duo stopped in the door and turned. He pointed to Heero then held his nose, flapping one hand
beside his face.

Heero's jaw dropped, was his slave trying to tell him something. At his incredulous look Duo
lifted his arm and sniffed his own armpit, then he pointed to Heero and held his nose again.

"I do not. I took a bath yesterday." Heero nearly fell over laughing when Duo sneezed.

"There, see what you get for making fun. Come on. We both probably need a bath."
So they ended up in a tub full of warm water and a bath oil that Duo poured from a small jug.
Heero sniffed appreciatively. Sandalwood and bay, perhaps some thyme as well. He also smelled
aloe and sweet almond oil. Definitely Wufei's work.

Heero didn't realize how different he and Duo were from most masters and slaves and wouldn't
have cared if he did. He waited on Duo, bathed him, fetched him food and fussed over him. All
of which he enjoyed very much.

Duo however was very aware of the switch in their positions and it bothered him. What if Heero
got tired of fooling with him? The novelty of having someone dependent on him was sure to
wear on Heero soon. So Duo was determined to prove his usefulness.

He started by washing Heero all over, then Heero pinned him down and washed him. Duo sighed
happily, this was nice.

Heero turned to lean against Duo, but Duo stopped him with a gentle push.

"Humm?" Heero watched as Duo mimed washing and pointed to Heero's head. "Oh, that green
jar is mine. Wufei put your stuff in purple containers. The body soap is in the medium jar with
the seal on it. And the shampoo is in that tall glass bottle. Hand them here then you can do my
hair."

Duo did as requested, but Heero noticed that his hands were shaking slightly. He sighed, he had
been hoping that Duo would get stronger faster than he was. So Heero gently moved Duo around
so that he was sitting on the seat in the big tub. Duo settled where he was put, between Heero's
knees. He wanted to finish washing Heero but the pain in his head had worn him down. He
decided to let Heero wash him first, but he was going to insist on finishing his job.

Heero used a dipper to wet Duo's hair. He admired it as he applied the shampoo.

Duo's hair was thick and silky, it was in sad shape though. Parts of it were several inches long,
other parts were little more than velvety fuzz, with every length in between. Some of the shortest
spots were covered with pealing scabs with hair growing through them.

These scabs were causing Duo's discomfort. They were starting to come loose on the edges.
Some of them were just held on by the hair growing through them. And they itched. When Duo
forgot and scratched them they pulled the hair.

Heero waited a while for the shampoo and water to soak the scabs, then he carefully started to
peal them off. Duo submitted with good grace now that he understood that Heero wasn't going
to yank his hair out by the roots.

"Hold still. You can't see what I'm doing. Silly boy. I'm sorry if I hurt you. You can grab my
hands if it hurts too much. I don't want to hurt you at all, but it's sure to be uncomfortable."

Duo leaned into Heero's hands, it didn't hurt at all. Heero was holding the hair near the roots and
pulling the scabs up the hair shaft, so it wouldn't hurt him. Duo relaxed even more, Heero would
just have to hold him up. Heero didn't mind in the least.

"There, one more and I'm finished. Do you like that? Pat my knee if you do . . . dammit. We
need to work out some kind of simple system of hand signs for everyday things. You can't write
and even if . . . all right. You can't write my language." Duo had been gesturing some what
fiercely. "Besides, what are you going to do, carry around a writing desk?" Duo snorted. "No, I
didn't think so. So hand signs? We'll work on that later." Heero rinsed Duo's head one last time.
"There! All done. Now you can do me. If you get too tired just let me know."

They switched places and Duo shampooed Heero's hair giving him a nice scalp massage in the
process. Heero decided that he could really get used to this.

They both got out of the tub and Duo handed Heero a towel. When he turned to get a towel for
himself, Heero stopped him.

"Wait! Let me look." Duo shuddered and tried to wrap the towel around himself. "No! Don't do
that. I want to look at that scar." Heero held Duo with one hand as he ran the other over the scar
on Duo's side. "That's an arrow scar. And this on the outside of your thigh. That's a sword cut.
What the hell . . . who are you?"

Duo just wrapped the towel around himself, then he shrugged. He didn't know and even if he did
he couldn't tell Heero. Heero snarled in frustration. Duo knew things that no slave would know.

~ * ~

Duo sat at Heero's desk. Heero settled in the easy chair and watched was Wufei started Duo's
first writing lesson Wufei handed him a pen and watched as Duo gripped it correctly without
being shown. Wufei handed Duo a piece of cheap foolscap paper and pointed. "This is the first
lesson. Each squiggle", Duo gave Wufei an offended look. "They're called forms, represents a
sound. This is long a, long e, long i, and so on. I'll pronounce each of them for you. If you
forget, have Heero remind you. I want you to write each one of them twenty times. If you could
talk I'd have you say them. Since you can't, please think them to yourself. Do you understand
me?"

Duo nodded. He pointed to a line of characters down the side of the page, then raised his
eyebrows.

"Those are numbers. I numbered each line so you wouldn't loose count. Also, so you could learn
numbers."

Duo settled down to begin his lesson while Heero and Wufei discussed some of the problems on
the estate. Wufei counseled, Heero who listened carefully to Wufei's advice. Duo wrote each
form the required number of times stopping to make notes in his own language in the margins.
Heero leaned over his shoulder to see what he was doing and sighed.
"You should pay attention to what you're doing. This scribbling isn't productive. If you don't
quit wasting time, I'll punish you. Pay attention to your lessons."

Wufei leaned over the other shoulder to see what Heero was talking about. "What is this? Some
private code?"

Duo bit his lip. It was his native language, but if he said that, he'd be punished for lying. If he
agreed with Wufei, he'd be lying. He hated this. But Wufei took the problem out of his hands.

"Well, it really doesn't make any difference what it is. Does it help you to learn?"

Duo nodded.

Heero threw up his hands. "If it helps, go ahead and do it then. Wufei, is there anything I can do
to help him?"

Duo looked at Heero for a moment, then he reached over and picked up a ledger book. He
motioned writing in the book then patted it, then his chest.

"You want the book?" Duo nodded, then pressed his hands together in a pleading gesture.
"You're welcome to it, but perhaps you might like this one better?" Heero took a very nice
journal book bound in calf skin from a shelf and offered it to Duo.

Duo clutched it to his chest. This was a great gift. The book was expensive, the paper smooth to
the touch. The pages were heavy cream-colored, high rag content paper. The end papers were
hand colored. Heero smiled as Duo opened the book and ran his fingers over the pages
appreciatively.

"It's yours to do with whatever you please. I think you might use it to start keeping notes on your
lessons. Then you could write whatever you want in it."

Duo nodded, he knew exactly what he was going to do with it. He pointed to a small shelf
behind Heero's desk. Heero reached over and took the small collection of odds and ends off it.

"Yes, you may have the shelf. Put all your lessons there. I'll give you that pen and find you some
brushes. You'll need them, ink, more foolscap, some scroll rods and holders. . . Wufei. . .
anything else?"

Wufei shook his head. "Not just yet. He'll need illumination tools if he decides to go that far.
But for now that's all he'll need."

Heero rummaged in his desk to find the required items and place them on the shelf. He found the
scrap of parchment Duo had written on, he put that on the shelf too. Duo sighed, he really felt
like bursting into tears. He could so write, just not anything anyone here could read.

He settled back in the chair and continued to work at his writing lesson.

~ * ~

Heero and Wufei continued to visit comfortably settled in front of the fire place.

"Well, spit it out Chang. What is eating at you?"

"I took off some curses, but perhaps I didn't get them all. I'd like to examine him again. He
won't like it much. I need to have him in a pentacle."

Heero thought for a moment. "What curses were on him?"

Wufei poured tea and handed Heero a cup. "A spell that made him feel anxious. And an
obedience spell. The anxiety spell made him fearful all the time the obedience spell made him
want to obey his master. Together they are very effective in keeping a slave obedient and docile.
I dislike such spells as they tend to make the person less capable of taking care of themselves.
That's probably one of the reasons he's in such bad shape. He would ignore his own needs for
the needs of his master. I removed those spells and a couple of curses. And before you ask, I
didn't bother to note what they were for."

Heero sipped his tea and sighed. "He's so frail. Thin, boney, if he was a horse I'd put him
down." Wufei gave Heero a horrified look. "Oh, don't look at me like that. He's to beautiful to
hurt have you . . . stupid question. His eyes are beautiful and his hair. How anyone could cut it to
the scalp like that, I don't understand."

"I think it was another way to keep him . . . humble? Humiliation will break even the strongest
man sooner or later. You have quite a lot of work to do to make him trust you. Be firm but fair.
If you make a mistake admit it at once."

Heero gave Wufei a short nod. "Yes. I understand. But when you get a chance, I want you to
look at a few of his older scars. He has a sword scar and one that I'd swear was caused by an
arrow."

Wufei shook his head, he also thought that there was much more to Duo than they knew.

"No slave should know the whistle signals. And I thought I saw him going through some
exercises like the one's you taught me, the katas, but he must have heard me open the door
because he stopped before I could see much."

Wufei sighed, "His head wound could have been caused by a morning star, or some other blunt
weapon. Perhaps a flail of some sort. Or a war hammer. Not the sort of wound you'd expect a
slave to have."

They settled in to drink tea and think.

Duo continued to work on his writing, giving no sign that he'd heard every word they'd said.

~ * ~

Heero was called away to see to something about a cow and took Wufei with him.

That left Duo alone in the rooms as usual. He didn't mind that much, it gave him time to start
making his dictionary.

As he settled more comfortably in his chair, he felt a draft on the back of his neck. It was chilly
so Duo started looking for its source.

He stood with his back to the chair he'd been sitting in and carefully examined every wall that he
could see. There were no openings that he could see from this position.

He put one finger in his mouth and wet it, then he held it up, testing for the direction the draft
was coming from. As he moved his finger around the draft blew across it cooling it on the side,
the draft was coming from.

He finally found its source in an odd corner of the room. The wardrobe sat against the wall
almost in a corner. But it was far enough away from the corner that it was easier to clean around.

When Duo looked carefully, he realized that the draft was coming from the corner. He examined
it carefully poking at the decorative carved trim on the wardrobe.

Suddenly the short space of wall between the side of the wardrobe and the room wall slid back
and disappeared behind the wardrobe, revealing a very dirty, narrow corridor.

Duo bit at his lip. Heero had said that he wasn't to go into the grounds without him, but he
hadn't said anything about secret corridors. Duo entered the corridor and peered into the gloom
beyond the reach of the light from behind him. The narrow space went quite a distance before
fading into the gloom.

Duo returned to the room and lit a candle with a splinter of wood he ignited in the fireplace. He
took the candle and returned to the corridor to explore it.

He found that the narrow corridor traveled the length of the room to the outside wall of the keep.
Then it turned and followed the outside wall away from Heero's rooms. Duo couldn't see that it
really went anywhere, until he rounded the final turn.

The corridor led to a suite of rooms. His candle barely illuminated them. He wasn't sure exactly
where they were, but they had been abandoned for quite some time. They were filthy, the
furniture falling apart and the cushions rotten. He realized that they were probably a concubines
rooms. There were three rooms, not counting a bathing chamber that was down right decadent.

The main chamber contained several couches with attendant tables, a desk, a bookcase full of
fairly well preserved books and a scriptorium full of pens and other writing tools. From the main
door he could see into the bed chamber and the bathing chamber. There were no doors, nor signs
that there had ever been any.

He entered the bed chamber and sneezed several times. The chamber was thick with dust, the
floor covered with it and a large rotting carpet. The bed was also in sad shape, the hangings in
rags and tatters, the coverlet dirty and moth riddled. He checked and saw that the fireplace was
as ill attended as the rest of the room. But there was a window, barred and shuttered behind
drooping curtains. This was the source of the dim illumination that aided his candle.

The bathing chamber was large and contained a huge tub, deep and filthily. It had several built in
seats and a wide ledge around it. A few sagging shelves held the remnants of bath oils and soaps.
A small table held towels, now nests for mice.

The last room turned out to be a walk in closet and as nasty as the rest of the rooms. The clothing
folded on the shelves was home to a whole colony of mice. The beautiful silks and leathers were
chewed into bits and stank of the years of mouse attentions.

He smiled happily as he realized that he had found a sanctuary. His own secret place.