Okay, I lied. This is Chapter One/ Part One. I fixed it up a bit and made it longer. Don't worry, I don't think Part two will be as long.
Chapter One—
The shadows flickered around me, and the cold seemed to go right through my clothes. I wrapped the old blanket tighter around me, though it made no difference, and inched closer to the fire. The flames were almost licking my face; any closer and I would have been burning my toes.
I glanced up at the boy across from me. He was only a couple years older than me, however old I was. I couldn’t count, and even if I could I would have given up trying to keep track. What was the point? I didn’t even know my birthday. But, back to the point, he looked only a couple years older than me.
If I wasn’t so conscious of my own lack of beauty, I would have told Kamion how handsome he was. His black hair brushed the lower back of his neck, and his bangs were constantly being brushed out of his eyes. His eyes. They were the best part of him. He had intelligent, grey-blue eyes, and it was obvious he was wiser than his age told when you looked at them. He was lean, but muscular, and atleast half a foot taller than me. That was the reason I had been so scared of him when he first found me.
“Jade,” he said, and I jumped, realizing I had been staring at him. I looked away sheepishly, because he had also used my fake name. I couldn’t use my real name. There was too much danger of it somehow being heard, and someone recognizing me. “Here.” He pulled his own blanket off his shoulders and draped it around mine. I shivered with pleasure, but I knew it wasn’t right to use his things.
“Please, I am fine. I do not need this, use it for yourself.” I said quietly, starting to pull it off. He held it up.
“I am not cold, and your fingers are turning blue.” He smiled as I quickly slid my fingers beneath the blanket.
“Very well.” I murmured, looking down at the empty bowl in front of me and wrapping his blanket around me. I almost hoped that it would smell like roses and honey, just for the romance. But it didn’t. It didn’t smell any better than mine. All we had to wash our things in was dirty pond or lake water. Sometimes all we had were puddles.
We fell back into silence again, and I looked up at the dark sky. I heard Kamion yawn, and smiled slightly. I had often worked until late at night, and I could stand being up so late. Kamion, though, apparently wasn’t used to it.
“Time to dream.” He suddenly said brightly, and I was once again taken by surprise. It was what my mother said to me, and all it basically meant was that I should go to bed. All I could do was nod solemnly and hand his blanket to him. But he shook his head, his eyes shining in the moonlight.
“I do not need it.” He smiled, then whistled softly. The bay stallion who had been grazing some ways off lifted his head and trudged over obediantly. I watched the brute fold his legs under him, and Kamion leaned back against its side.
“Good night.” I whispered, but wasn’t sure if he heard me. If he had, he didn’t make any attempt to respond. I sat there for a moment longer before draping my blanket on the ground, laying down, and pulling his over my shoulders. I lay there, staring into the fire, as the two fell asleep.
~~~
“What happened?” His voice rang through the room clearly. I cringed and turned my head just enough to see from the corner of my vision. The young girl in front of Him was obviously having a hard time staying still. “I asked you already! What. Happened.” The deep voice broke off into a growl.
“I-I was just b-being clumsy.” The girl mumbled, choking back her tears. He smacked His hand across her face, sending her stumbling back. I cringed, but continued wiping off the table with the wet cloth in my hand.
“You will address me as sir! Now get back to work and don’t expect dinner!” He spat angrily, and the girl nodded, her eyes wide as she rubbed her cheek.
“Y-yessir.” She stammered before turning and scrambling away as fast as she could. I watched her dart out the door, sympathy etched into my face. ‘Dinner’ wasn’t that good anyway, moldy bread and old cheese. Atleast we had a clear stream to drink from, which was more than most slaves got.
“Rima!” Hearing my name from His mouth almost made me drop the towel. Scared I had done something wrong, I turned and dipped my head.
“Yes, can I help you, sir?” I murmured cautiously, careful not to show my fear. I looked up as His shadow fell over me, and cringed at his ale-stained breath.
“You’re one of my most valuable workers. Which is why I’m selling you, the money will be good profit for the farm. But before I can do that, you must meet with The Council, and they will decide if you may sell.” That’s what they did. Sell us off like cattle. Rage burned up in me, but I held the flames from my tongue.
“Yessir.”
“They test you. I don’t want you to fail. Got it?”
“Yessir.”
“Good. Continue cleaning.” He turned and strode away. I stayed like that for a second longer before turning and looking around the old house. I had to admit that I had no friends here, nor any family. My mother had died when I was young, and I never learned how. All I could remember was that she had been coughing a lot, but she always told me she was fine. I knew now that she just didn’t want to trouble me.
Like all woman who weren’t wealthy, they got plucked from a crowd, given to a random man, and they were depended on to make a child. Once that one was old enough, she was given to another man. I knew I must have had atleast a dozen brothers and sisters, but I would never know who they were. I must have been the youngest though, for I was the one to see my mother ‘leave’.
~~~
I woke up with the memory still lingering in the corners of my mind. That had been a long time ago, when I had first gone in front of The Council.
Kamion was already up, and cooking something that made my mouth water. It definitely wasn’t the grime we had last night. Grime was a basic food for slaves and peasants like me. It was tasteless, grey matter, that was like paste with lumps in it. Not many people favoured the food.
I sat up and glanced at the horizon. The sun was just a sliver above the trees, casting a dim light over the land. Kamion must have packed while I was sleeping, because the bowls and supples were gone, and the horse was saddled. A pack was resting behind the saddle, tied to it with an old rope.
“Here.” The boy handed me a type of food I had never seen before, and I was rather hesitant in taking it. To tell the truth, it didn’t look all that appealing. A strange, tan leaf was wrapped around what looked like watery meat. But it smelled nectareous, and after studying it for several more moments I realized the ‘tan leaf’ was actually some sort of bread, flattened out.
I swallowed, then took a bite, but I would never have been prepared for the taste that exploded into my mouth. Without further hesitation I regrettably admit that I devoured it. Like a starving wolf, if I must explain more. Kamion didn’t seem to mind, he ate his quietly, and when he was finished he stood up and slung another pack over his shoulder.
“Are you coming with me?” He asked, tilting his head at the horse. I glanced around, not sure how to reply. It was dangerous out here, whether you were alone or not, and I had no experience. Nor did I have any supplies but my blanket and several pairs of clothes. “I won’t mind some company. A horse doesn’t make up for a person very well.” Kam said, as if sensing my thoughts.
“Okay, if you don’t mind.” I said uncertainly, trying to hold back my pleased smile. Not because I knew I would be dead before evening without him, but the idea of having a person to talk to, who wasn’t going to scream after every word you said, was quite enticing.
“Have you ever ridden a horse?” He patted the stallion’s neck and smiled at me. I shook my head, hoping he wasn’t going to suggest what I thought he was going to. Unfortunately I must not have hoped enough. “Well, you’ll learn now. Come on.” I stepped forward uncertainly as he draped the reins over the horse’s neck.
“Watch me, it isn’t that hard to get on.” He slipped his foot into the loop, with was attached to the saddle by a leather strap. He swung his leg over, then looked down at me, holding out his hand. “Left foot goes first, and then you just pull yourself up.” I paused as he took his foot out of the loop, then I replaced it with mine and took his hand.
I was surprised at the strength that he pulled me up. I barely had to do anything, except get my other leg over the horse’s back. As soon as I had settled in behind him, my feet in the loops, his pressed against the horse’s side, he kicked it into a trot. I yelped, and he glanced back at me.
“Hold on!” He laughed, and I just managed to get my arms around him before the horse was cantering through the woods.
Part Two coming soon...
