Page 6 of Villainess's Redemption
I backed away, hands raised. “Stay away from me, or I’ll tell the soldiers what you tried to do.”
The soldiers didn’t care what the overseers did with us criminals but one thing they adhered to was the rules and if Bren got caught getting bribed, there would be hell to pay. I would also pay for ‘bribing’ but it would be satisfying to take him down with me.
He hesitated, glancing at the other miners who were now openly staring. With a snarl, he turned and stomped away, leaving me trembling but defiant.
It wasn’t until he was gone that I opened my clenched fist to reveal the weight in my palm. During our struggle, I deftly slipped my fingers into his coin pouch, taking a single gold coin. The muscle memory from my past evil days had served me well.
I quickly tucked the coin away, heart pounding. It was more money than I’d seen in months. Enough to buy real food, and even medicine for Sebastian.
Desperate times called for desperate measures. And if anyone deserved to be robbed, it was that pig Bren.
As the break ended and miners shuffled back to their posts, I took a deep breath. I’d deal with the consequences of my actions later. For now, I had work to do.
* * *
I trudged home from the mines, my body aching but my spirits lifted by the weight of the gold coin in my pocket. The sun had long since set, plunging Outlaw’s Den into darkness broken only by the occasional flickering lantern.
My first stop was the apothecary - a shabby hut on theoutskirts of town. They were already closed but I knocked anyway. The door opened and the old man eyed me suspiciously as recognition and disgust filled him. He tried to close the door but I wedged my foot, stopping him in time.
“Not so fast,” I put a sweet smile on my face but his demeanor changed when I produced the gold coin.
“Medicine for broken ribs and deep cuts,” I said quietly. “And whatever food you can spare.”
He nodded and quickly pocketed the coin, bustling around his cramped shop. Soon, I left with a few small vials of potent herbal tincture and a bundle of dried meat and hard cheese. It wasn’t much, but it was more than we’d had in weeks. Months, if we count the meat.
As I neared our hovel, a chill ran down my spine. Something was wrong. Torchlight flickered where there should have been darkness, and the sound of raised voices carried on the night air.
My pace quickened, heart pounding. As I rounded the final bend, my worst fears were confirmed. A group of soldiers surrounded our home, their armor glinting in the torchlight.
What were they doing here? No. This can’t be happening.
The bundle of food and medicine slipped from my numb fingers as a scream tore through the night - my mother’s voice, raw with terror.
“No!” I gasped, breaking into a run.
I burst through the door to a scene of chaos. Two soldiers restrained my mother as she thrashed and wailed. In the center of the room stood Commander Maxwell, his face a mask of cold fury. He gripped Sebastian by the hair, forcing my brother’s head back at a painful angle.
“Tell me what you’ve been feeding to the enemy!” Maxwell snarled, giving Seb’s head a vicious shake. “What secrets have you sold, you traitorous mutt?”
No. God, no. Please, no.
“Please!” I cried, falling to my knees before the commander. “He’s done nothing! We’re not spies!”
Maxwell’s head snapped towards me, his eyes narrowing. With a grunt, he released Sebastian, who crumpled to the ground with a pained groan. In two quick strides, the commander was upon me.
His hand shot out, fingers wrapping around my throat as he hauled me to my feet. I gasped, clawing at his iron grip as he brought his face close to mine.
“Then you tell me,” he hissed, breath hot on my cheek. “What information have you been passing to our enemies? How long have you been betraying your kingdom?”
“We haven’t!” I choked out, tears streaming down my face. “I swear it! We’re no spies - just trying to survive!”
Maxwell’s grip tightened, spots dancing before my eyes. “Lies!” he roared. “You think I don’t know about the meetings? the missing gold from the mines? Only you could give them the maps. Didn’t you already whore yourself out to Elenthar before? It wouldn’t be tough for you to do that again.”
I flinched. My past continued to haunt me.You deserve it.
Through the haze of pain and terror, I realized this was the end. Looking in his eyes there was nothing but conviction. He had already decided that we were guilty and no pleading from me would change his mind.
But still, I had to try. For Seb. For Mother. For their future— even if it was bleak.
