Page 2 of Bought to Break
They both raised their brows in surprise. Perhaps they weren’t usually spoken to like that by slave girls.
The one not called Viktor produced the coins and held them out to her while the other simply watched the exchange. She edged forward, afraid one of them was going to grab her as such things had begun to happen with alarming frequency over the past months. But they both stayed still, as if afraid she’d flee if they pushed her.
She took the coins gingerly from his open hand and looked him in the eye while she did so. She was no quaking waif. She’d have been the richest girl in the valley if her mother hadn’t died. He looked like he was trying to suppress a grin, and she had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at him. She’d been punished for less in the past.
The coins secreted away in her rags, she made to take the reins from them, but they stopped her.
‘These are not docile farm stock. They’re war horses, girl,’ Viktor sneered. ‘They’ll bite, kick and stomp on you as soon as look at you.’
Lana simply shrugged. Less work was fine by her, so she left them to take care of their own mounts while she brought the coins to her master. Ather was nowhere to be seen, so hopefully he’d gone to the tavern and she’d be safe until tomorrow afternoon when he woke with a throbbing head and in a foul temper.
She found Dirk staring into the flames in front of the fire instead of passed out into oblivion as she’d expected.
‘Master,’ she said softly, ‘two men have housed their horses in the stable for the night.’
He didn’t look until he heard the clink of the money as she placed it on the table next to him. He turned his head to look at the silvers.
‘How many years have you been here, girl?’ he asked after a moment.
‘Eight, Master.’
‘So long?’ Dirk leant back in the chair, still staring at the coins. ‘And your da never came back for you,’ he murmured, half to himself.
Lana frowned, wondering if his mind was finally going soft. ‘He’s dead, Master, remember?’
He snorted and glanced up at her. ‘Your ma told you that so you’d stop asking about him after she married Garrick. She made him go.’
Heart suddenly pounding, Lana sank into a chair. Her da was alive? Why had he never come back for her? Did he not know her mother was dead?
‘I don’t understand. Why are you telling me this now?’
He shrugged. ‘Thought you knew. He disappeared for awhile, but heard the other day he’s made his fortune in Kingway.’ He gave her a measured look. ‘I know you were dealt a bad hand. Your stepfather … I’m sorry, girl. In truth I took you when Garrick came to me because I thought I could keep you safe until your kin came for you and bought off the Writ. But he never liked you and he’s a spiteful bastard. Had to treat you as a slave, he said, and he checks up you know. If it’s not done proper, he’d force me to give up the Writ and take you back.’ Dirk looked her up and down despite her awful appearance. ‘And you could guess how that would go now you’re grown.’ He heaved a deep sigh and put his head in his hands. ‘And then no one came. I know how my boy treats you, don’t think I don’t. None of it sits well with me, girl, but …’ He looked up, shame in his eyes. ‘I don’t have it in me to stop either of them. I can’t help and this place will be the death of you.’ He patted her hand. ‘Next time you have the chance, flee to your da in Kingway. But don’t get caught. Garrick will take it out of your flesh any way he can.’
Lana stood up, her mind reeling. Escape? She’d thought about it before, but she’d had nowhere to run to. Her mind started to turn. She’d need food and supplies before she could flee this place. How far was Kingway, even? It would be difficult and dangerous, but for the first time since she’d become a slave, she felt hope blooming in her chest. If she could get to her da …
Dirk’s gaze returned to the coins on the table and her thoughts of fleeing were halted for the time being. She thought he might give them to her for when she got away, but, as his eyes glittered, her heart sank. ‘Get me a flagon, girl.’
She closed her eyes with a short prayer to the gods. She was still a slave for the moment, and she suddenly had a very bad feeling.
‘Yes, Master.’
Chapter 2
Viktor
Viktor watched the girl leave the barn from the corner of his eye. She was unkempt and dirty and the rags she wore stank of horse shit. He missed the north. Even slaves washed themselves up there, and he knew of none who wore rags in such a sorry state. Her dark hair was plaited untidily down her back. It looked dark, anyway. It might be golden as ripe wheat under all that filth for all he knew.
Viktor saw to his horse and looked around while Sorin tended to his own. There didn’t seem to be much more than a few houses, a stable, a shop or two, but they’d just finished a tedious job at the local keep and this was the nearest village. They’d be able to get a bed for the night before they journeyed on. Thank the gods there was a tavern in this backwater at least.
They walked the short, muddy distance to the inn, finding, to their good fortune, that a roaring blaze and a hot meal could be found. At least they wouldn’t have to beg, threaten or steal for a meal tonight.
Inside, they found a few men. Some were eating their suppers, others having a quiet chat over a tankard and minding their own businesses. There was a group of bawdy young men nearest the hearth. They were uproariously drunk and guffawing over a story one of them was relating complete with flailing arms.
Viktor rolled his eyes as he sat with his Brother at a table in a murkier corner. A sizeable wench sidled over. They ordered ales and whatever food there was from her ample chest and both surveyed the room in silence, more out of habit than the actual possibility of a threat.
Viktor had no interest in the group of men per se, but he kept an eye out as he glanced over at Sorin. He expected his Brother to be watching them as well, but his attention had been grabbed by something over Viktor’s shoulder. He turned and immediately noticed the ragged slave girl slipping through the room, keeping to the wall as much as she could with her head down, trying not to be noticed.
His eyes narrowed as he observed her. Stupid girl. Didn’t she know that every man’s eyes followed her? The more she tried to hide, the more they were intrigued.
