Helene made her way down narrow, damp stone steps, each one slick under her feet. The air grew thick with a musty scent, clinging to the rough-hewn walls that seemed to close in around her. Torch sconces lined the passage, casting flickering shadows that danced eerily across the uneven floor. The dungeon was hot for it was filled with people. Not just any people but the wives and daughters of nobles who are known for their great beauty. On the surface the king's intentions may seem obvious, but Helene knew it wasn't that simple. Most of these women are awakened and well trained. They will be made to grace the King's bed every 7 days all to make the king more powerful than he already is. It sounds ridiculous no matter how she thinks about it, but she's certain of it now. He scares her, she must admit, but some things have to be done.
"Helene" a voice called with a touch of restrained elegance.
Helene turned towards it to find Penelope, wife of the Duke of Altstadt, and her 2 daughters. She was standing close to the bars, holding them gently. Her ivory cream dress still had the splashes of blood from the battle she had fought but her eyes retain its calm and dignity.
"How long does your king plan on keeping us here?" she asked.
"I don't know" Helene replied, approaching her.
"Does he really think these bars can hold me?" she spat as if she felt insulted.
"No," Helene replied calmly. "The gates are without locks too, and there are no guards or spells, but I would advise against doing anything rash. If the king wanted you dead you won't be here."
It would seem like the words got to her but Penelope was no fool. There's no way she had not thought of that and more.
She let out a sigh.
"I would like blankets for my girls at the very least" she said.
Helene looked at the 2 young girls curled on the straws on the ground, sleeping.
"I will see what I can do" she said, and turned and left.
She walked further down the dungeon and crossed the doors of the other part of the dungeon.
Grace's heart skipped a beat as the sound of footsteps echoed through the isolated part of the dungeon. With a start, she sat up , eyes holding the visitor as she slowly closed the door behind her. The dim light of the room made it hard to know who it was but she could make out the shape and elegance of a woman. It is a single cell room with the cell facing the entrance directly. Though it seems long, from one end of the wall to the other, uninterrupted, it is quite narrow that sleeping with face upward would mean her body almost touching the walls and the gate. She didn't like it, she has never been good with close spaces, so the coming of a visitor gave her a reason to stand up.
Before the dim light could reveal the face of the visitor, Grace already knew who she was. The royal court's old witch, Helene. The pleasant fresh forest scent that seems to always follow her everywhere quickly overpowered the damp smell of the dungeon but in a natural way and not to seem overwhelming, and her strides, as womanly elegant as always brought her closer to the cell.
"It's been decades since I set foot in this dump of a place" she said, looking around. "It was used to house the criminally impossible who the king did not want to kill but did not want to free either and hope to forget." She took an audible breath in, and out. "Old times"
There was silence for a moment. Grace did not know why the witch was here but she appreciated the company.
"I know the damage my carelessness had cause, Lady Helene" Grace began, "If I can have the King's mercies this one time I promise it won't happen again"
The witch laughed softly and began approaching again.
"You think your life was spared because what happened was a result of carelessness?" she said, a stress in the word carelessness, and Grace said nothing. The witch was now very close, with just the bars of the cell separating them. She smelled nice.
"The king wanted your head regardless, I barely saved your life" she continued, "Imagine what would have happened if he knew it wasn't mere carelessness?"
Fear gripped Grace but she has worked for nobles for years, she was a master at keeping her emotions in check which is why her resolve didn't crumble as she held the witch's gaze.
"I don't know what you are talking about" Grace replied, her voice steady.
"Hmm" Helene replied, holding the gaze for a moment longer, as if to ascertain something then she moved away, her back to Grace. "I don't know why the king seems forgetful nor why the Queen chose to ignore" she said, "but I know it's not possible for Rowena to be successful without you been complicit"
Panic was setting in, her heart beating faster.
"Perhaps they thought you had no reason to be complicit" she turned slowly, her gaze on Grace's belly.
She knows! Grace thought. By the goddess she knows!
"How far is it?" she added.
"I-I don't know what you are talking about" Grace stammered, her words stumbling over each other in her haste to respond.
Lady Helene sighed, then began returning to Grace casually.
"My patience is running thin, child" she said, "You think I need convincing? Do you not know who your king is?"
Grace was convinced and Helene saw Grace's shoulders slumped, a silent admission of defeat as she met Helene's unwavering gaze so she asked again, "How far is it?"
"The fourth week" she replied.
Helene made face as if she was calculating something then she began approaching her again.
"I will make for the king to release you," she said "after that you will move in with me, until the child is born"
Grace didn't expect the offer but she wasn't shocked either. When it comes to nobles you expect anything.
Helene dipped her hand into the pouch on her waist and brought out an ornate glass vial. She handed it to Grace who was looking at it suspiciously.
"If I intend to hurt you, there are more satisfying ways to do so than poison" the witch said, "Take a sip after each meal"
Grace was conflicted. Even though she had no choice, she was reluctant to accept the deal.
"Why are you doing any of this?" she finally asked, eyes on the witch. "What do you want with the child?"
" Don't ask questions which you know you won't get an answer for, " she replied," How many know of the child?
"None" she answered.
"Not even Rowena?"
"Yes"
The witch didn't look convinced but she nodded.
"Make sure to keep it at that. For your sake." she said, "I will try to get you out before sunset. Have your mind made up by then"
Grace watched her leave. Her eyes on her even after the doors closed. She didn't trust her, not even a little bit, but not trusting her would mean not just her but her entire family.
She looked at the potion in her hand again, contemplating. At the same time, shadows were wafting from the darkness from the corner of her eyes. There were two of them.
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
The camp fire crackled in the silence of the fire sending sparks of flames to the large wild rabbit roasting on the stake over the fire. All that could be heard was the sound of an owl in the distance and the chirping of night insects.
Ophelia sitting shamelessly on the ground, a free unsewn red fabric draped on her, was hungrily biting the last bits of what had been a fat chunk of meat. Desperation in each bite, she was taking them in one tear. Barely having chew down the last one she would be going for the next bite.
Eder was eating too, though less voraciously, his hunger was palpable. Nadia wasn't. She was just watching Ophelia, no judgment in her eyes.
The dark elf scrapped the bone clean then casually tossed it away. She reached for the wine skin bag, took a long loud drink. She let out a sigh of satisfaction and relief when she was done drinking, but began crawling towards the roasting rabbit.
She knelt beside it, picked up the knife lying by the fire and began cutting the lap of the rabbit with her only hand. Her hand was still shivering but Nadia knew better than to offer to help so she just watched.
The big chunk of meat she was cutting fell into the fire but she picked it up like it was nothing and, held it between her teeth and began crawling back to her position, her cloth making movement difficult.
"What about your guards" Ophelia said, then bit into the juicy rabbit meat, tearing a mouthful. She said the word 'guard' in a mocking tone but Nadia chose to ignore it.
"They left to take care of something," she replied, "They will be back in a minute"
Ophelia didn't acknowledge the information, she just kept eating. When she was done, she tossed away the bone, further than the last.
"Help me with another, would you?" she said to Nadia.
Nadia stood without reservation and went to the roasting meat. She picked up the knife and began cutting.
"No, no, no. Get more" Ophelia protested.
"This is the last of 3 rabbits we caught" Nadia replied, still cutting. "The guards will need to eat to conserve energy if we are to get back in time"
"Fine, I will do it myself" Ophelia said and approached the fire with a crawl.
Nadia stopped and waited till she came and collected the knife.
"How far before we meet your master?" Ophelia asked, continuing from where Nadia stopped but widening the cut for a much bigger chunk.
"We will be there before sunset" Nadia replied as she sat back on the fallen old tree trunk.
"Tommorow?" Eder spoke up for the first time in the night. "The master you spoke of is the king of Drakoria?"
"Yes".
Eder went silent, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Ophelia glanced at him, still cutting for a bigger chunk. "What about him?" her tone showing no interest but mild curiosity.
Eder turned to her. "He was but a prince before you went under," he said. "Rumors have it that he is a high sorcerer, and a water mage"
"Is that possible?" she asked.
"No," he replied simply.
"Hmm" was all she said and then turn back to the meat she was cutting. The silence returned until they heard the thundering hooves of approaching horses.