2 02

Mistress is pissed. That's for sure.

That day had kept revolving around the topic. She promised me freedom and a commendable marriage with a businessman. That as a price for leaving my husband, Teus.

Teus fell dead silent when I told him about the day. He asked me what I wanted to do. I said that we will simply continue on our plan for future. He told me that I should bear patiently, now that this situation had arised.

The following day, Mistress rarely spoke at all, busy writing letters. She sent me away early. And Teus was late for some reason. I would sit down to study that time but worry kept distracting me. Before I knew it, I rushed outside. Not to the training grounds. But to the Mistress's quarters. My hunch turned out right.

Teus and I caught each as he rushed out of Mistress's room. Inside the woman was smiling.

When she saw me walking trouble-free the next day, her eyes narrowed dangerously. And so has begun my days of extreme labour. More and more duties are dropped on my lap. Even the ones men do. Along with several cleaning chores, I am also supposed to take care take care of her horse in the barn. And I am anytime to deliver something outside.

Other girls are effected too. Sono, the frailest one, is made to carry heavy loads from the delivery boys, instead of them taking it inside. She tumbles and I have to rush there before she drops the load on herself.

By the time I come back home, each muscle hurts to even move. I drop my weight on the mattress.

"Who are the ones who served at the lunch party today? Come forward," Mistress orders all the slaves gathered in the room.

Five of us step out of line. Mistress's vibrant red robes flow elegantly as she walks before us. I don't remember much of the lunch and the friends Mistress had called. I had simply served the food and stood in a corner of the garden while the guests chatted happily. Normally I would pay attention, learn things of their social standing, which would be helpful when Teus rises in rank. But my mind was in a daze.

"Your behaviour today has left me ashamed," Mistress says by pointing me out.

All the rest stare at me. I remain standing with my head low.

"Some of the guests called you to get something and all you did was stand and stare rudely. What was your reason to behave like that?"

"Mistress?" I stare dumbly.

Now that I think of it, a couple of women did stare at me for a long time before they frowned and turned away. Was that their signal to call me?

"Apologies, Mistress, I did not realize," I answer.

"You have been given plenty of time to leave your wildman ways and adopt Antoro's refinement ever since I bought you," she says with a demeaning look. "And look at your coat. Do you not realize what slaves and workers are required to wear? You do as you wish right before my eyes."

The slave girls stand in a tensed silence.

"Hmph, just like you tribesmen to do what you want. Have no sense of boundary that you should not marry your brothers."

The girls breathe sharply.

"Teus is not my brother, Mistress," I say immediately, feeling stung.

"Oh?" She smirks. "If someone shares your blood, they are your family. You both have similar eyes and face cut. Teus must have more common sense than you do. He did not have children with his own sister. He lets you be, with your rough hair and terrible clothing, so he can work for a better life. You don't even bother where his heart lingers. Yet as his wife, you are so clueless."

She waits for me to respond. The whole room does. The girls look between me and Mistress with a horrified face. She has deliberately humiliated me before everyone, after treating me like that for days. They wait for me to cry or scream or attack.

"Mistress," I say in amusement.

"What?" She says, her face wrinkling in a deep frown.

"Clever insults should be reserved for someone high enough rank to rival you," I say with a broad smile. "Not me who is so beneath you. I am also touched that you care for my relationship with my husband, Mistress. Rest at ease. We are well and happy with no secrets held back. We tell each other everything."

"Is that so." She dismisses us with a dark expression.

Outside was not the reaction I had expected from others. All the girls had a look of cold resentment or fear. I reach out to Rei and Sono who shrug me away, leaving me standing baffled.

Memi bursts out on their behalf, "Sister Kericki, why did you talk back to Mistress like that?"

"This is how we usually interact, Memi. You know that," I say.

"Big sis," Memi turns from anger to hesitation. "I don't know what to think. You are so different from us. You are strong and brave and upright. But because we had been close, Mistress is targeting us along with you. Please, apologise to her and do what she demands. Or she will sell us all away to some old man."

The fear and pleading reflect on everyone. For a while I don't know what to say. The girls look at me like I am not one of them. They see me as an outsider from the wild western mountains and not of this city.

It is my fault. I have acted like I am stronger than everyone here. But in the end, Mistress still has the power to decide our fate. It hurts, these girls are precious to me, but I have to lose their trust.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I'm sorry but no. Teus is my beloved husband and her methods are unacceptable. Please understand. I won't be around you from now on."

"Big sis." Sono bursts into tears. "We don't want to see you hurt. Please."

I smile at them like a mother to her daughters. "I'll be fine."

Have patience.

A few days after that, we receive the new business item that creates excitement among everyone. We all forget about our chores and gather to look at the sample piece of the boxes. This is a new jewellery for women that is also a device that tells you time – a wristwatch.

"Look at the shape and colour," Rei says, trying to figure out how to wear it. Then it snaps and fits to her wrist size. "Amazing! This is so unique. But how do you tell time?"

"You're wearing it wrong," Sono says and snaps it out of her hand. "Look at these needles? They are called hands. It's similar to a shadow clock, this small hand moves to show how long the day has reached."

We all let out a "wow" at how knowledgeable Sono is. Maybe I should study technology and latest trends too.

"What other hands do? And how does it work?"

While Sono explains us, we hear the Mistress's familiar bark from distance to get back to work. And to put the new boxes in her bedroom.

"I'll take them," I automatically say.

"It's okay, I will do it," Memi says and shoves me away. Oh right. But the boxes are obviously dense and taxing her. I smile.

"The food may get burned. Go attend it," I say.

She hands the boxes to me and leaves without a word.

Heavy. I heave a sigh after placing them in the room. I look around. The Mistress is writing letters in her study room. So this one is empty. Mistress is a typical lady of Antoro, as well as a businesswoman with good intuition of constantly changing lifestyle in her society's women.

She once said what a woman wears says a lot about her. So women are being more particular about time now? Or maybe travel. That makes sense. If you are a businesswoman, you are required to go out. A wristwatch will be very handy.

I blink, realizing I should get back to work too and walk out.

By the time evening comes, the world turns upside down.

"Nobody leaves the place! Guards, bar the entrances!" Mistress orders.

Everyone is gathered in the common room. The slave girls, other women servants who have come and went in the Mistress's quarters in the day and the Mistress all in their respective veils. The two guardsmen and her business assistants are present too.

"Who has stolen the wristwatches, confess right now!" Mister shouts.

Nobody knows how to react to the situations.

"Who has placed the boxes?" All eyes turn to me. Mistress's narrows dangerous as she looks at me.

"You," she glowers. "I should have known. You have finally showed your true intentions."

"I did not steal anything, Mi-"

"Silence! There are about ten wristwatches missing and only you have been with them. Do you take me for a fool? Come clean or I'll have you punished."

"Mistress," I say with all seriousness.

"Fine," She says. Then she turns to the guardsmen. "Strip her and check her clothes."

Chills run down my spine. Everyone looks horrified. But nobody dares to say anything. The guards move without hesitation toward me.

Have patience. I need to bear this patiently.

First my scarf is snatched off and the rosegold locks come undone over me. They provide a level a coverage as they proceed to strip my coat, my undershirt and pants. Bearing me open before everyone to see. I keep my head low. But know some stare without shame. There is no use trying to cover myself with the arms. I stand like a dead stone.

The guards inspect my clothes thoroughly, the rustling of clothes fill the chilled silence in the room. I want everyone in this room to immediately die. Nobody leaves. Not after doing this to me.

They let me go after finding nothing on me. I clothe myself in a corner as they proceed to inspect others.

Voices call as I walk on the road but don't bother to stop.

They surround me anyway. Crying like little children.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Memi chokes, hugging me tightly. They all say it, shaking and sobbing. "Mistress threatened to sell us to a slave-master. I was so scared. I couldn't say." she chokes again. "I couldn't say no one stole them."

"It's okay." I spread my arms over their heads. "No one was at fault. Maybe there was a mistake. Forget about it, okay?"

At home, Teus has gotten the news. He looks upset and angry. He grabs my shoulder and asks what had actually happened. I try to calm him, while telling the story. But he looks completely shattered.

I tell him to sleep and keep me in his arms the whole night. I need some strength. And we will think up something next day. His shoulders drop but he complies.

Only to have disappeared in the middle of the night.

I stumble up on my feet, panicked. His coat is not here. Oh no. No. I hit the road. Praying he did not go where I fear he did. I reach the Mistress's quarters where voices are already raised.

Teus, he is beaten and taken away by the guards. Already a crowd is being gathered. Mistress is at the door, crying about being ruined by him. Her eyes fall on me.

"Mistress," I growl.