Questions and Agitations

She clenched unto hope, anxiety fully seated in her chest, hands folded, her thoughts disturbed and for heaven's sake! she wasn't herself.... so far from being herself, and also, close to the edge of death.

Alone in a dark and cold cell, she lurked her gaze around trembling and dizzy at the same time... chapped lips, she looked downward, fidgety of a certain presence, the Lord's presence, even though there was no one with her in this dreadful dark place, she could still feel his presence, she accepts now. The Lord is nothing but her doom.

She grasped and understood her current situation, this is hell! All she had at this time, this moment was her thoughts that began hunting her every single moment she guesses what the Lord might do to her next.

Will he cut her head off and serve her limbs to his dogs as he did with the man she had witnessed his death the other time? will she rot here in this dungeon? her mind wandered in anguish, despair.

She finally concluded; there's no surviving this, there's no way out, this is the end... But, even if she did survive this, she will never act stupid like she did last time, she will be a very obedient slave to her master and worship him with all her heart and most importantly she will try to learn the meaning of the word "Power."

****

Rumors about the slave who acted unruly towards Nazarack had spread across the castle, to the kitchen department, tailoring department, the soldiers and guards, and also Lady Daniella's chambers.

"Sabrina instructed to take her to Askgard after receiving 20 lashes of the cane, I heard it was Lord Nazarack that ordered the madam because the slave acted rude to him last night." One of Daniella's maids said.

"And who's this girl? what has she done for him to order something so cruel? She's not a criminal or traitor, why would he send the poor girl down there." She grinned, stood from the bed, and walked towards her accessories desk.

"I am not sure my lady, but according to what I heard it's because she didn't pleasure him the way he wanted; well, I guess not everyone can be a s*x slave, more of the reasons why the Lord should focus on you my lady, you are his woman after all," Monalisa said ignorantly. Daniella's smile dominated to a frown immediately causing her to throw deadly glares at her.

Everyone in the castle knows the Lord hates Daniella and she's always received shameful words and insults over it, the maids do not respect her knowing full well she's not just any lady but a princess also.

"You talk too much and if you are not careful, you might have to take responsibility for your words." The girl understood too quickly.

"I am sorry my lady, forgive me." She pleaded on her knees.

"You don't have to be you have the freedom to talk you just have to be careful with what you say so it doesn't get you killed in return. Now, tell me more about this girl." A warm gentle smile as she sat on her couch gracefully.

"The Lord came back from his raid yesterday and it seems like she's one of the slaves he brought back, last night he instructed Sabrina to dress her up as she will be spending the night with him, everyone says the Lord must have taken interest in her to call her in on her first day here, but with the way things are turning out to be, it's getting complicated...."

"Wait! do you mean my husband called her over to pleasure him on her first day here?"

"Yes my lady, that's what I just said."

"I can't understand this and I can't accept it either, did he call her in because I provoked him last night? or was it because of reasons unknown to us? whatever it is I don't like the idea of that girl being around him, I think Nazarack has saved me yet another stress again..." She muttered beneath her breathes. "Tell me, do you have a friend among Sabrina's girls that I can trust? I want her to report every single detail to me and she shall receive handsome pay as well."

"Am not sure my lady, Is it very important?" Monalisa queried.

"Of course!"

"Then, I can only think of one person, she will do anything for money, you can trust her too."

"What's her name?"

"Emily, her name is Emily..."

LORD NAZARACK'S CHAMBER

"My Lord..."

He was seated on his fancy couch at the balcony embracing his knees solemnly while staring at the empty air as he enjoyed the beautiful serene outside when his voice broke the awkward silence that had fully entrenched.

"You called?" Nazarack questioned. He was dressed in a black aesthetic suit that fitted his muscles perfectly.

"You seem lost and troubled, I have been pointing these files towards you sir and you don't seem to notice, is everything okay?" He asked but Nazarack only sighed at his words.

"Am okay Declan, I just need to rest." He said in reply.

"It doesn't seem so, I have never seen you look so weak and troubled, can you share with me what's troubling you? Moreover, you were to come over to the minefield today but you instructed me to come instead which is very unusual of you sir" The fine young man asked mainly out of concern.

"Nothing Declan! nothing, let's talk about business, has Quinn been acting suspicious lately?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary, this is the ledgers and the records seems to match with the weekly update, also ten out of the laborers have been selected for auction next weekend, seven women and three men..."

"Declan, I am not talking about the profits or how you operate it, when I said business, I meant real business. You know I have my reasons for putting Quinn in charge of the minefield, he's a fool who only cares for money and doesn't know how to keep his tracks clean. Indeed he's the best candidate to make me aware of who my enemies are since everyone knows the minefield is an important source of income to me, those that do not wish me well are devising a plan to take it from me, I mean those that are smart enough to know that staying under the radar is crucial and will want to use the minefield against me." He paused, crossed his legs then continues... "And, since Quinn is that kind of fool who loves money and a betrayal that knows nothing about loyalty, they will surely use him to get through me... Now, since I know this and you do as well, all I need is names. I want to know my enemies so I can attack them at the most critical time, which is why you should keep your eyes on Quinn..."

"Like I said sir, nothing for now. But, according to what I heard, Lord Maverick will attend the auction that's taking place next weekend." Alas!!!

"Maverick?! why?"

"That I do not know sir, I will try to find out more."

"Maverick has stayed quiet for so long, why now? why is he poking his nose in my business now of all times, why now when I just found the girl?!" He raised an alarming question.

****

Vetta stayed in bed weeping her eyes out. She knew something was wrong, she knew it can't be so perfect! and she warned Adia, she tried all her best to prevent this from happening. In just two days they have gotten here, Adia is about to die.

She clutched her hair as her head was throbbing hard due to a headache, she felt the urge to throw up, die, vanish! anything that might halt her from thinking any further.

If Adia should die how else would she continue living? she thought but it was cut short when someone barged in, she looked up and it was Rodia.

"You are crying?" Rodia teased. "A beauty like you shouldn't cry. This is no time for that, things like this happen here every day." She said as she walks her by.

"Is that your way of consoling people? what if it was your friend?" Vetta half yelled.

"If it was my friend? Hmm... well, I have never had that thought before but if it was my friend... well, everyone dies eventually."

"What?!"

.

"You heard me pretty, now if there's nothing to talk about I need to take my rest." She said and pooped down on the bed.

"I don't know how you have lived your life up till now, but that's not the right thing to say."

"And you still think there are right and wrongs in the world we live in? if so you must be so naive and stupid.." Rodia said, Vetta's gaze lingered on her.

"My village, it was so peaceful! we do not have much but we have always been happy, during festivals we don't need scrumptious meals or expensive dresses, as long as we are happy, a lamb is enough for celebration, no one cares about power, we were just ourselves..."

"If so my dear, your village is really poor and pathetic."

"What?!" Vetta couldn't be more shocked.

"If killing a lamb during festivals makes you happy, it's either people there are just naturally stupid or because you don't understand the meaning of power yet! Once you understand what power can do and what wealth can turn we people to? then you know that there's nothing like right and wrong, peace or terror. it's just the powerful against the weak, so wake up girl stop crying, and look for a way to save your girl." Rodia emphasized.

"But, there's nothing I can do. It's not like we can escape from here?" hearing that Rodia sat upright as she rubbed her chin as if in thought.

"What if you can escape here? what if I can help you and your girl?"

"Shush!! what do you mean? you made it clear to us, there's no escaping here, do you want to have us all killed? what if we were caught while escaping?"

"If you are going to trust me there's nothing to worry about, I have a secret I want to share with you. What if I know the escape route of this place, somewhere no one knows of yet, if I do, will you escape with me?"

"Escape route? even if you do what if the Lord catches us? he will slice our throat without even thinking twice"

"Trust me, that statement is only for a fool, for I Rodia have it all planned all I need is a yes from you, will you escape with me?!" She asked once again as Vetta began to drown in a question of Yes or No...

She needs to save Adia but can she trust a stranger she knows nothing about.

*

*

***Fun facts about Ubirea Empire; many centuries ago before the existence of the empire, it was only a small kingdom under the rule of a powerful Empire known as "Alynthri." At this time Ubirea was ruled by a respectable royal family known as "Dinioz.* And, the family of (Dinioz) only had two sons before the end of their rule***