Page 7 of A Broken Promise

He barked at the guards.

“Take her to the maids, have them get her ready for him. Get her fed and cleaned up for his arrival tomorrow.” Lord Inadios then turned to me and angrily rumbled.

“Let’s pray, girl, for you and for me, that you are able to put on a show forhimtomorrow.”

4

Dimitrii hastily pulled me down a poorly lit hall. Small torches on the walls were now no more than charcoals. I still didn’t dare to fully raise my eyes, only chancing small, hidden glimpses to count the doors and stairs, watch the pathways and listen to the stomping of guards’ boots.

I took a long breath as we finally stopped; the air was heavy and humid. Two maids stood by, close to the wall. One was about my age, tall and slender. Her neatly made bun looked so pristine and clean. Right next to her stood an older lady. Her hair was cut short, down just slightly past her ears. Wrinkles and a cold look covered her face. They both wore the same uniform, with a small, white headband tying it together.

We had arrived at a bathing chamber, I realized, as I noticed a towel in their hands.

We were just a few more steps away from the maids when Dimitrii grabbed my arm painfully tight and whispered into my ear, “Don’t worry, bitch. I’ll come see you later tonight and have you moaning ‘yes,my Lord’to me.” His mouth stretched into a wicked sneer.

Blood left my face at those words. I glared at him, but he was onlydelighted at the fear in my eyes. I yanked my arm, but he just held on to it tighter. A rush of adrenaline made my knees shake.

Once. I allowed the wave of panic to run through me for once.

I survived this far, and I will survive more, I assured myself a second later.

How?

I had no answer to that.

I might not be a Magic Wielder, but I had time and I would think of something. I would figure it out. Maybe the maids would help me.

Viyak always said that sometimes support comes from the most unexpected places and I had to believe that now, because I was alone.

So completely alone.

I took a low breath—almost a snarl—and stared at his eyes again. This time, refusing to let fear come to the surface.

Even if Fate decided against me today, even if it deemed me worthy of the punishment. Even then, I would endure.

At the request of the maids, he unshackled the heavy chains around my ankles. I recoiled at his possessive, lingering touch. Thoughts of Dimitrii forcing himself on me, and the impending doom of the night approaching, made me want to puke.

I took a small step and almost fell. For the first time in three-hundred-ninety-six days, I was free of rusty shackles on my feet and wrists. I took another step, this time more confidently. My feet were too light. I felt so unbalanced. My arms flopped around in an odd manner without the heavy weight of iron. The younger maid insisted on taking off the rope from my neck as well, though Dimitrii hesitated at first.

I was immediately grateful for her.

This bathing chamber was different from what I expected. It was on the bottom level of the Rock Manor, with just two small windows. Dim lighting was provided from bronze braziers and a large fireplace. Two bulky, circular tubs stood right next to each other. Clouds of steam piled above one of them and all manner of oils and salts were lined up on the small stool right next to them.

“I hope you don’t have any attachment to these rags you are wearing,because I am throwing them in the fire,” the old maid gently said, pulling my clothes off. I nodded my head in agreement. I knew I shouldn’t, yet as I watched her throw my clothes into the small fire pit not too far from me, my lip trembled as I fought back the tears.

No, I knew the grimy, stiff-from-dirt scraps that I called clothing couldn’t be saved. They weren’t even actual clothes, only two linen cloths tied together in a makeshift dress. It served as the unofficial uniform of the Rock Quarries’ slaves. Stripped upon arrival of all their possessions, slaves were given a pair of thin gray pants and a shirt. After only weeks of working, the clothes ripped, leaving the slave's bodies at the mercy of the harsh elements. With no other clothes available, we were allowed to take old linen sacks used to transport the slop we ate. Year after year, the slaves wore that. I wore that. Viyak wore that. The harsh linen was rough against the skin, but it was thick and kept our bodies protected.

I swallowed a lump in my throat as I realized that those burning threads were the one and only thing I had left connecting me to Viyak; to the last year of my life. I never had many possessions. In fact, I only ever cared about two: a large necklace with the eye-shaped green stone from Tuluma, and the very first copper coin I ever earned myself. It was a mere penny, but it was everything to me. The first money I had ever had. The first feeling of control. I kept it for good luck and as a reminder that I could do something with my life.

Though looking back, clearly the coin was a sham of a Goodluck charm, because it was probably rotting in the pocket of my clothes left back in the Quarries. The necklace was ripped off my chest by a so-called friend right before he chucked me into the slave wagon.

I watched the last of the clothes dissolve into ashes. Warm flames reflected in my moist eyes. Another part of my life burned, destroyed by fire.

Maybe it was for the best, I decided. There was no point in keeping anything, since it all would be taken anyway from me at one point or another.

I wiped away my tears discreetly, but the younger maid still noticed. Her face filled with sadness.

“Oh, dear. I am so sorry. I wish the world wasn’t such a cruel place,” she gently whispered as she gestured to the steamy tub. I didn’t care enough to nod my head to agree.

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