Page 16 of A Broken Promise

“Care to explain yourself, Inadios?” The General’s firm voice now sounded closer; each cell in my body could feel his approach.

“Oh, my d-d-dear Lord D-d-destroyer General. Forgive your humble servant. I—I wanted to deliver a gift to you. This girl-this girl is a Creator, my Lord.” Inadios paused, looking for even the slightesthint of approval from the General, only to find stone cold loathing displayed on his face.

Inadios rapidly continued. “I know you prefer them much younger, my Lord, and I deeply apologize and regret I couldn’t find something more to your taste. But I beg for your forgiveness and plead with you to accept this Magic Wielder as a gift from me.” Lord Inadios motioned the guards to drag my trembling body closer to the General.

The musty air burned my lungs. Shoved by the guards, my broken body hit the floor a second later, my nose now inches from the armored boot of the General.

Breathe,I commanded to myself.

Just breathe….Please. I pleaded, but I was locked out.

My mind, my body, my control was gone. As if a fire, pure panic burned everything within me.

Icouldn’tbreathe. I forced myself to open my mouth, gaping like a fish out of the water.

Large, callused hands roughly grabbed my face. The armor covering his hands was so cold, yet felt scorching against my skin. I winced, feeling the ghost of the Cleansing flame on his hand.

I closed my eyes shut as he jerked my head up, darkness soothing my soul.

“A Creator you say?” He stared at me. I could feel him piercing my soul with his eyes.

“I know she is quite displeasing to look at my Lord, I apologize. She doesn’t quite fit the type, but it was confirmed by the Kahors. She is indeed a Creator.”

“So, an unsuitable oldCreator? Is that really what your gift to your master, Lord Destroyer General, is, Inadios? I find it a bit…insulting.” He still gripped my cheeks tight between his fingers. My eyelids quivered but righteously remained shut, even as I heard a loud thump. Inadios landed on his knees.

“Forgive me, my Master…” Inadios trembled. “Magic Wielders are so scarce these days, and especially children. They…seem to be finally going extinct. But I should've known better. Forgive me, thy unwise servant. I will dispose of the girl myself and will not trouble you. I might not have any Magic Wielders in my lands left, but I will find you the most beautiful children to your taste, even if it’s the last thing I do.” The General's grip loosed on my face slowly and he let my head slump down yet again. My short hair covered my pale face. I opened my eyes just briefly to see his boots turn silently to face Inadios.

“All I hear are excuses, Inadios, and you know how I feel about them. Or do I need to add another limp as a reminder?”

Inadios whimpered.

Bile burned my throat, turning my face shades of pale green. My lungs were still spasming, only letting gulps of air in.

I watched the armored boots as they marched away from me towards the wooden door, pausing near the threshold. His soldiers were still standing motionless across the room.

The General’s razor-sharp voice rumbled through the room as he decreed.

“I’ll accept theso-calledCreator this time, but do not disappoint me again, Inadios…Orest and Broderick, bring her to my quarters.” He quickly glanced over the Royal guards by the door, trembling under his gaze and added, “Keep your useless dogs away, Inadios.”

My heart sank as two soldiers quickly approached me. I was so, so nauseous and the pain…gods, the pain was so unbearable. My mind was wrapped in a thick fog. They didn’t bother making me stand up as one of them threw me over their shoulder like a large flour sack and followed the Destroyer General out of the hall room.

This was too much.

All too much.

8

Islowly opened my eyes. The bright summer sun almost blinded me immediately. I didn’t have a chance to even blink twice, as nauseating dread rolled through me. Panicking, I raced my eyes to the wall-length windows and then back to my damaged body. It was still daytime, and I was still dressed in the same clothes.

Good.

I couldn’t have been out that long. The rope was gone from my neck, but it brought little relief as I realized that my wrists were tightly wrapped and anchored around one of the four large bed posts with rope just long enough to move my arms.

Alive. I was alive. Though, still a slave, now to the worst kind of monster. I took a second look around. It was a very spacious room, furnished with taste and luxury. The ceilings were high with an exquisite golden chandelier. The hardwood floors matched the color of the wooden beams through the ceiling. Right across the bed I was laying on was a large couch made from the albino tiger fur with a magnificent glass and metal coffee table in front. Tree-like plants in the large, painted pots were neatly trimmed and stood in two of the corners. The statues, the one-of-a-kind art on the textile-like walls,were much more luxurious than in the throne hall or anywhere else in the manor.

My eyes paused on two doors in the room. I didn’t have to question which was which as one abruptly opened, and the Destroyer General walked in.

His muscled body was steaming, and I could swear glowing, as small droplets of water rolled down his naked, smooth chest. He wore nothing but a wrapped white towel around the low of his waist. He ran his fingers through the still-wet hair, neatly trimmed on the sides and ruffled on top, and walked towards the dresser across the room.

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