Page 10 of 1000 of You
Chapter 8
Freed
She wasaware of his absence before she opened her eyes. For the space of a handful ofheartbeats, her body tensed as she wondered if she was still insideMuam’shut, or if the demons had taken her back toKolis’scamp. That is, until she felt the tickle of afurred pelt against her skin, and realized she wasn’t lying on the hard, packedearth.
Muamhad already left. Before his departure, he hadrefreshed the fire. She also noticed two more copperduasitting on the stones, next to her bowl and spoon. Smiling, she got up and madeherself presentable before heading out to the market.
Muamsaid little when he came to eat later that morning. Itwas clear he was pensive and didn’t wish to talk, but the silence wascomfortable. He didn’t stay long, and she didn’t ask why. He was involved inhis work, and she had no objections.
Theirmiddle of the day meal followed the same pattern. When he returned at the endof the day, she continued working on stitching the wolf pelts together as hebathed. After they ate, he spent some time polishing the dagger he’d managed tofinish as she returned to working with the furs.
This is the way my life will be,shemused, glancing over the fire pit at whereMuamsatcross-legged. His head wasbowedover the weaponlying on the deerskin spread across his lap. Every so often she would add morewood to the pit so he could continue working without interruption.
She glancedover at his bed. He had not kissed her again since awakening her that morning.Neither had he held her, or touched her in any manner. Two nights ago, she’dslept on his furs. Last night, he had joined her in hers. She wondered wherethey would end up tonight.
“How are thepelts working out for you?”
Hisquestion caught her unaware. Fortunately, the firelight managed to hide theblush rising to her cheeks. She hadn’t expected him to speak. She wondered ifhe’d been thinking the same thing she was.
“I am notan expert seamstress, but the covering is coming along nicely. The pelts werewell-tanned. Very supple. My needle pierces them like butter.”
“Good thingthe weather is growing warmer. You will not need to use any of the furs to makeyourself a coat for protection against the cold.”
She lookedat his bed again. They hadn’t needed the pelts these past two nights. Their ownbody heat had kept them warm. She tried to hide her smile as she tried toimagine what it would be like to lie naked on those same furs.
“Gova.”
She inhaledsharply and looked up atMuam. That same kind ofsmile briefly crossed his face before he dropped it, but she’d seen it. Again,she was glad for the blaze in the fire pit.
“Gova, I have been thinking.”
Settingdown her work, she patiently waited for what he wanted to say.
“I havethought all day about this, and I have made a decision. I cannot, in goodconscience, keep you here as a slave.”
Her bodywent numb. Her hands shook in expectation of what he would say next. He kepthis eyes on the dagger and would not face her.
“I am not aslave owner,” he continued. “I do not know how to treat someone as a slave.”
Silently,she began to plead with him not to utter the words she knew he was about tosay. That he had decided to sell her to someone else, or…
“Which iswhy I have decided to release you from your bondage. You are no longer a slave.You are free to go where you wish.”
It took hera moment to find her voice. “Wh-what would I do? Where would I go? How would I earn mykeep?”
“There aremany jobs you could get. You could work for a merchant. Help him sell his waresin the market. Or you could offer your services as a caregiver. Take care ofchildren or an elderly mother.”
“That’swhat slaves are for,” she bitterly replied. “That way their owners do not haveto pay them any wages.”
Muamslowly nodded. “There is wisdom in what you say. Thendo you have a skill you could use to earn your keep?”
Govatilted her head at him. “Are you saying I can stay ifI find a way to bring in a fewduato pay for mykeep?”
Hehesitated as he looked straight at her. “I am trying to find a way for you tosurvive when you leave here.”
Sheclenched her hands to keep them from shaking. “Are you sending me away?”
“I amgiving you your freedom.”
