Three

JAPANESE WORDS USED IN THIS CHAPTER AND THEIR MEANINGS

Shujin- Master

Tennabe- iron pot

Ōkina tennabe- big iron pots

Kami- god

13:04pm 1608年3月16日 (15th March 1608)

As she rouse from a heavy slumber she is first aware of the coolness of the air and it's loamy fragrance. The ground is lumpy as if she were on a bed of earth and rocks. Her tattered sack cloth feel as damp as a flower in the dew of the dawn.

Caulifla sits up to take in the shafts of light that burst through the gaps in the leaf canopy above. That was when she remembered what had happened, how she was severely beaten with a whip.

She could not believe she was still left in that same spot where she was whipped, at least it would have been a lot lenient if they had carried her inside.

Her body was all decorated with uneven marks, varying in sizes, due to the merciless whipping. She tried to stand at first but she is so weak to. Her body felt so sore.

She wondered how long she had been unconscious. Closing her eyes as she lay on the ground, she thinks of how to get up.

She tried the second time with no success as she fell to the ground yet again, crying as it pained more.

"You are awake" She opened her eyes to see the fat man who had beaten her with a whip standing with the other slim man whom she hadn't seen since today.

"I thought you were dead. Now you get up. We have to go to the palace" The fat man had said as he dragged her torn sack cloth, making her stand forcefully. He tied her arms as he pushed her towards the carriage, not minding if she was limping.

"If i had known we would have made do with her before we sell her to the king. She is a beauty and will make do very well" The slim man said, looking at her with unhidden lust as the other man pushed her.

Caulifla wrapped her hands around her body as the mere thought of what they would have done to her if she had not fainted hit her. Now she did not regret why she fainted instead she silently praised her Kami for saving her from these horrible men.

"If not you had broken my pot and had fainted, i would have had fun with you before giving you to the King.

"But time is quite against us and unfortunately, we have to let go of you without satisfying our desires, so count your self lucky beautiful one" The fat man said as he pushed her yet again, making her fall to the ground.

The world rushes by in a blur and she knew the pain that was to come after that heavy fall. It goes by fast, yet slow, almost suspended. Then impact.

She felt her bones move in a way they shouldn't, jangled. Without looking she knew there was blood seeping from skin that seconds ago was smooth. She didn't move - anything to delay the part where the excruciating pain will dominate her and make her feel so hurt.

Torn and dirty skin, reddened, weeping.

The slim man came to where Caulifla was and forcefully dragged her up, making her shout from the pain it gave.

"This is just the beginning girl, you have more to experience while in the Palace" He said as he pushed her towards the carriage with two horses and a man at the front.

She gave out a sigh of relief as she realised she wouldn't be trekking to the palace. She didn't even have any strength in her and she couldn't imagine trekking a long distance in her condition.

She entered the carriage with the two other men, making sure she creates a distance between them despite her tied hands because after all what she had heard them say, she did not want anything to happen even in the carriage.

She adjusted her thorn and blood stained sack cloth very well so it won't attract them, at least not sexually.

Caulifla closed her eyes weakly as she silently prayed, pouring all her emotions on that single prayer;

"Watashitoisshoni ite kudasai. Watashi ga ima motte iru no wa anata dakedesu. Watashi o seikō sa se, shōri sa sete kudasai. Watashi no teikoku no tame ni nandemo"

(Please be with me. You are the only one i have now. Make me successful and victorious. Anything for my Empire).

And soon the carriage started moving, into the path leading to the palace of the Persian King.

The palace was an old country mansion that had been extended over the centuries. High upon the hills, it overlooks the town, it's many pointed towers giving it the look of an eccentric crown. It now had four sides around a central quadrangle and maybe five hundred rooms or more.

The walls were a white stone that glistened in the summer sun and the roof was grey slate. It was as big as twenty of the ordinary houses of the town and it might take a small army of servants to upkeep such a large abode.

Around the palace were the horse pastures and kitchen gardens for the royal family, and around that was a stone wall topped with iron spikes which might be guarded day and night.

The sculptures in front of the palace had been made long ago by masters of the craft. They were set on pedestals amid the water of the fountains and the perfectly manicured hedges that looked like different animals.

The palace seemed more like a status symbol, it set her above the peasants and that is where she needed to be, separate, apart, superior, untouchable.

Caulifla admired the building as the carriage stopped just in front of the gate. The two men ordered her to get out of the carriage.

Walking to the entrance, two guards were seen at the entrance.

"Salaam alaykum" (may peace be upon you)" The two slave traders greeted and the two guards bowed in greeting.

"We are here to see the King. Can we see him?" The slim man asked.

"I will go and tell him you want to see him" The guard on the right hand side of the entrance said.