FIVE

ALINA

I was awoken by a massive splash of water on my face. I jerked up from where I lay, it was bright already. The bucket of water I carried on my head was lying a few feet away from me. I blinked severally and wiped my face with my palm. Madam Zak was standing in front of me, hands akimbo, and some of the relievers were also around me. I must have slept off sometime in the middle of the night.

"You slept off when you were supposed to keep watch!" Madam Zak screeched.

I lowered my head and the stink of my urine wafted into my nose from my dress. I have not been able to get out of the dress. I have not even been shown a place to keep my properties. My little properties were still dumped like a heap of dirt in front of Madam Zak's tent and on my first night here, I slept outside.

"I'm sorry," I said slowly.

"Your master will arrive soon, what are you still doing here? Have you mopped his tent? Have you prepared his bath? Have you taken his food to his tent?!" Madam Zak was yelling at me. It seems she could never talk to me without yelling.

I had been told all I have to do for my master the previous day and I was ready to work like a horse, but I couldn't just leave where she had placed me and go somewhere else, she will still punish me for it.

"I'm sorry, Madam Zak," I said again and quickly stood to my feet, my dress dripping with water and weighing me down a little.

"You stink! Make sure you clean up before going into your master's tent. Dina, show her where to clean herself up."

I quickly went over and picked my bag from the front of Madam Zak's tent and hurriedly followed the girl whom Madam Zak had assigned me to. She walked with hurried steps in front of me as if she was scared of being associated with me. We got to the tent, and she dashed in, I went in with her and saw other servants there. They stared at me like I had horns on my forehead. The tent was large; each girl had her corner, with a small bed and her belongings stacked up beside it. It looked like I won't have a space there, but I found a small available corner and dropped my bag.

They covered their nose when I went closer and I ignored them, taking off my stinking dress. All I wanted was to be quick and get my chores done before my master returned. I feared those warriors more than I dreaded the ridicule I went through from these people. Once I was done having my bath and changing into my other dirty dress, I tied my red hair in a messy bun and set out for the day's work.

Once out of the tent, I spotted Madam Zak standing with some servants. I have been here for only a night, but her sight makes my heart skip. I started towards my master's tent.

"Alina!"

I halted. "Yes, Madam Zak."

"Come here!"

What have I done this time? Trouble seems to follow me wherever I went. With hasty steps, I walked up to her and clutched my hands demurely in front of me, making sure my gaze rested on her feet, my heart thumping uncontrollably.

"You are going to double for her."

I looked up and found her pointing toward a girl that was bluer than the rest. These people's color already looked like they were sick, but this girl looked like a ghost of herself.

"She is sick and would be spending some time at the healer's place, so you will cover up until she is fine."

"Yes, Madam Zak."

"She was serving The Commander, so you will pick up from where she stopped. Quick, go now, the Commander must be waiting."

I hurried off, wondering how my master would react if he came back and finds out that I have not done anything. I decided to do both works at once. I quickly dashed to the kitchen, grabbed the heavy tray of food, and walked as fast as my legs could carry me. Since I starved him last night, food should be the first thing I should serve him. Once I dropped the food in his tent, I rushed off to The Commander's tent.

At this point, my heart was drumming so loudly in my ears, and I could feel my whole body quivering as I approached the tent. I got there and listened for any funny sound, but heard none, I decided to speak.

"Commander..." My voice came out so low I could barely hear it myself. I cleared it and tried again. My legs were shaking uncontrollably now. I don't know the power this Commander has over me, but that power was wrecking me. I have never been scared of anyone in my entire life. It still surprised me that he let me go free after spilling soup on his feet and sandals. "May I come in?" There was no answer.

I peeped from the creek in the tent flap, no one was inside, so I went in. His tent was large and one of the decorated ones, but inside looked like an arsenal. Different war equipment than I could imagine hung in the room. There was a board with a map, his large comfortable bed, and a table with papers, but nothing looked personal, it was more of a workspace than a living area. Not wanting to waste time, I glanced around to find what to do. I saw his food on the table already, then my eyes rested on the sandals, I soiled yesterday as I moved toward it, the flap of the tent opened, and he stepped in.

His form blocked the light from the entrance and all I did was stand there, shaking like a leaf in winter.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my tent?" his voice boomed.

"I... I asked...I asked...I was..." My own voice failed me. I couldn't come up with words to say.

He moved to the bed, sat down, and started to unbuckle his sandal. I wasn't looking but I knew his eyes were on me. Not knowing what else to do, I dashed towards the sandals I soiled yesterday.

"Let it be, little human, my servant will take care of that," he said standing up again to his full height. He removed his armor belt and dumped it on a table.

"I am your new...new servant," I said and closed my eyes, waiting for an outburst but none came.

"What of the other female?"

"She is sick, and I am covering up for her."

He grunted and when I heard his shuffling footsteps behind me, I spun only to be met with his very naked back. I staggered back and shut my eyes. He went into an inner part without noticing my reaction. I quickly grabbed his sandals and ran out of the tent. Once I was outside, I released my breath again. This man was surely going to be the end of me. I always hold my breath when I am around him without even realizing it. Having no time to waste staying idle, I quickly went to the well to get water and clean the sandals. I had a lot of work to do when it was only one master, serving two masters was not going to give me the liberty of time.

I managed to maneuver through the chores for both masters, running from one tent to the other to make sure none of them needed my presence when I wasn't available. In all this, I forgot that I have not had a meal. It is two days now since I ate last, my stomach churned and grumbled but I was only allowed to eat when I was done with the day's chores and my masters were in bed.

It told on me in the evening, by then I was so knackered and could barely lift a hand. My whole body felt like I was hit with a jackhammer, and my legs felt like they were two heavy bricks, but I managed to drag them to complete the last chores of the day. We were not allowed to sleep before our masters so, I had to stay awake for my masters to sleep first, despite my eyelids feeling like heavy bricks were placed on them. I know I will feel worse in the morning, but I will still have to pull through it unless I want to lose the 4 Tia by the end of the month. The Commander's troop was not keeping watch tonight, so I had to wait, despite not sleeping last night. My first master slept quite early, and I was relieved.

I waited around for The Commander to sleep but it looked like it wasn't on his agenda. He was still busy stroking his swords each time I checked on him, so I lingered behind his tent while he sat in front stroking his sword. The camp was getting quiet now and at some point, I must have dozed off because I kicked a bucket, and the noise alerted The Commander. I saw him draw his sword and aimed at where I hid.

"Show yourself," he commanded.

I crept out of my hiding place like a mouse and stood face down with my hands clutched in front of me.

"What are you doing?" he questioned.

"I am not supposed to sleep until you sleep." This was actually my first time making a whole sentence in front of The Commander without stuttering, maybe because of my desperation to rest.

"Can you compete staying awake with me, little human?"

"But—"

"Go to bed," he said. It was a command and I obeyed.

But getting to the tent where I was supposed to stay with the other servants. I found my ratty belonging outside. I looked into the tent; the girls have occupied the whole space with their beds. The message was clear, I was not welcomed there. I picked up my belonging and turned away, to find a place to rest my head.