Chapter 1: New King

The new King was crowned today and the streets where humming as she cleaned her captors stalls. She slept with the horses and the nights had turned rather cold already. Her knuckles raw and red shoved the old hay into a wheel barrel. Molly her you get sister ran into the barn and skidded to a stop. "Holly the new king has been crowned and he opened up the castle for whole to request an audience. We could go ask for supplies and maybe better living conditions." Her eyes shines with hope and I shook my head as I continued to move.

"He's a King not a charitable man." I said as I grabbed a new bail and broke it apart. "Come on Holly! We can try." I shook my head again as I led the horse back to his stall. "And when we have to come back, or if we are caught running from Lord Wellin. Then what Mol? We just stay outside in a tree?" I laughed and pulled the next horse out. "No we stay here and we stay alive."

Molly huffed and slammed the barn door closed. By night I was finished and washed my hands under the hot water making my skin burn and split. Maryann came into the kitchen amd handed me a towel. "He's in a mood tonight, so grab the food and come right back unless he instructs you differently." I nodded and took his plate and wine to the table.

"You redhead." He called as I placed the plate on the table and poured his wine. "Yes Lord Wellin?" He eyes me before I pulled back and bowed. "Where is that little redheaded rat you call a sister? She didn't do her chores today." My eyes bulged and realized I hadn't seen her after she ran from the barn this morning. "I'm sorry my Lord I haven't seen her since this morning. She was dressed to work." His hand came down and slapped my face. "If she's not back by morning you will take on her chores as well and a few strikes might loosen your tongue as well."

I got up and one of his guards tore the backnof my dress. "Stand down there so I can watch." Lord Wellin pointed as I was dragged to the chair. I knew moving or screaming would do no good, so I slid my braid to the side and gripped the chair as a leather whip slid across my back. "Where is she girl?" I looked over and shook my head. "I don't know Lord Wellin." Another sound of the whip cut into my flesh and tears gathered in my eyes. Two more whips before he yelled enough and two guards picked me up from under my shoulders and tossed me into the kitchen.

Mary Ann helped me to the table as she gathered snow. "Stupid girl what did you do?" I whimpered as the snow was placed on my back. "He wanted to know where Molly was, and I don't know." Mayann tutted as she hurried around the kitchen and added an ointment as the snow melted. "They are healing quite slow. When did you eat last Holly?" I shrugged and immediately regretted it. "Here eat the left overs quickly before I have to feed the dogs." She handed me a half eaten chicken leg.

I ate and passed out the warm meat feeling good on my empty stomach. The following morning there was still no word of Molly so I rushed the horses and ran into the house to make the beds and empty the chamber pots. Why didn't they just get a toilet I thought as I made the beds. He acted so poor, but everyone knew he was one of the wealthiest men in Ireland. I wondered if the king used chamber pots. King? Oh shit that's where she went. The little shit left me.

I moved quicker as the fire inside seared through my veins. I finished with no problems and headed back to the barn to fill the horses troth and puck the ice if it had frozen over. I grabbed a few apples and cut then up into the oats. After dinner I wasn't questioned and thankfully got to scurry off into the barn for warmth. Maryann sat in her chair by the fire. She had served her you get years here as well as a nanny and Lord Wellin had a soft spot gor her allowing her to sleep indoors.

I curled up under my cape and hoped Molly had made it and was safe. Everyday it was more of the same. By noon I had finished the horses and did the chamber pots to hear horses in the distance. Great more wealthy people I thought as Lord Wellin's daughter ran through the house. I ignored her as she peeked around d the corner. "The King is coming. Make yourself useful and dissappear." ahe huffed as she ran down the hall. Her golden curls bouncing behind her. I tossed the sheets up and the nasty pail and headed the back way down the stairs.

"Maryann we are in for a..." The words died in my mouth as I saw Molly holding the hand of a man. "Hey Holly." She waved her little fingers as I dove towards her. "I am going to kill you, do you know what I had to do because you left and the punishment I got." She froze and her eyes grew wide. "Yeah." I said as I pulled her into me. "But I am glad you are safe, and clean."

The man that stood at the door smiled. "The King wants to meet you and all the women in the house hold if possible. Is there some place you can wash?" He looked down at my stained dress. "No we wash in the river it's about a mile that way. U less his Majesty wants to wait." I said a little sarcastically. The man laughed and Molly pulled my red hair from it's bun. Making my hair tumble down in waves. She smiled and took my hand as she pulled me outside.

"Tell him we will be back in about an hour or so Captain Davis." The man bowed to my sister as she ran us to the river. "What was that about." She smiled and handed me the soap. "Wash up its cold out here." Molly said as she pulled her new thick cloak around herself. "Well what do you think I'm gonna be after I go I to the river?" She shoved me in and I came up ready to curse her out.

"Hurry up! Or the king will leave us." She said as she dropped the soap I to my hand I scrubbed as I grimaced through the cold. "Why would he take us?" I said before I rinsed my hair. I came up and my sister wrapped me in her cloak before we ran to the barn to grab my other dress. It was still torn, but it was clean. "Cover your back Holly." Molly yelled as she saw my back clearly. "I covered it with my shawl. "Better come on."

She ran through the kitchen and Lord Wellin yelled at her for stomping. I heard him order a guard to whip her for leaving and I ran up the stairs after her ignoring Maryann. She grabbed my cloak and I slipped it off running after Molly. "Lord Wellin I'll take her place." I said as I shielded Molly with my body. A wild sea scent wrapped itself around me. I looked up to see the daughter of Lord Wellin sitting propper as she grumbled about insolent help. A woman with beautiful brown hair and feathers weaved into her braid sat to her right and she eyes a man next to her at the foot of the table. That man had a strong jaw and his light brown hair glistened next to her and she rested her had on his elbow as if to calm him. I glanced over to see his dark eyes flash gold and I looked away from the table with Lord Wellin.