Under the dark sun
Chapter 23
Lucinda Borthwick POV:
"It is already dusk, we should get inside the house" I said nervously as I was pressed to the wall of the kitchen hut. Merchant Rolfe was not completely physically touching me to keep me stuck to the well but, he is not at all touching me with his hands rather his intense eyes were doing that.
"We are not moving from here until you address me as 'my dear', Bride" Merchant Rolfe said and I knew that I had to say that in order to escape. But, do I really want to escape? Oh yes I do, I very much do as now, my body is very hot and there is absolutely no difference between a volcano and me.
I was hesitating to call him my.... my..... de.... whatever he wanted me to because, I never heard my sister call her husband that. She was the only married woman that talked to me and so, I had to learn from her. I could not call him which I did not practice. Just to clarify, I never practiced to call a man my lord as I somehow knew that I would not get married to anyone.
No, I am not lying, I never practiced....... Well, no never. Well....maybe once or twice I did practice. I just wanted to know how it feels to call a man like that. But, it feels very strange to call Merchant Rolfe the way he asked me to.
"No more backing away Bride, this is your punishment remember?" Merchant Rolfe spoke still pinning me to the wall with his eyes. Ah....those beautiful eyes. Let me just take the punishment then.... Just say it once and I will be free.
"My......." I started but, I could not finish as it was very strange to call him so. Merchant Rolfe was encouraging me to call him as he said so but nodding his head. This is a punishment remember? PUNISHMENT.... With those words in my mind, I at last called him "My Dear".
"And you are to call me so always" Saying that Merchant Rolfe freed me. He walked towards the house and stopped in the middle of the way and turned back slightly and looked at me. Why was he looking at me now? I would die of overheat if he keeps making me nervous. I could loose my breathe anytime soon and could easily die if he were to look at me like that.
"Let us go inside the house Bride" Merchant Rolfe said and I readily marched behind him and got into the house. We went inside and he asked me to sit with him for a moment before sleeping. I sat nervously as to what he wanted to speak.
"Bride, from tomorrow, Cedric will be accompanying me to sell the goods" Why is he telling me about this? Who is Cedric? Why shouold I know of this? I wondered...
"Who is Cedric?" I questioned softly and raised my head when I did not hear any answer from Merchant Rolfe. I saw Merchant Rolfe looking at me intensely and I yet again wondered why?
"Cedric" Merchant Rolfe called and I did not know if the person he was calling was here. As soon as the name was called, the servant appeared
"Yes, Master" the servant said. "Have you not introduced yourself to your mistress?" Merchant Rolfe questioned.
Cedric is the servant. I felt ashamed for not knowing his name previously. "My apologies Mistress, I am Cedric" Cedric said and I just nodded giving a little smile. So if Cedric goes with Merchant Rolfe that would leave me alone in the house.
"You can go now" Merchant Rolfe said and Cedric left us alone. It is alright if he is going with Cedric, So, what does he want to say? I looked at him nervously only see him already staring at me.
"Bride, you are all alone in the house" Merchant Rolfe said and I understood what he was intending to. I have to do all the chores from tomorrow. That is what he was talking about. I know how to do the house works, I also taught myself to cook. This can keep me away from the memories of my home and my loved ones.
I nodded and Merchant Rolfe escorted me to my room to retire for the night. I slept early than I thought while thinking on what will be awaiting for me to do the next day. I woke up early than I thought and it was still dark and dusky, I finished cleaning myself and went into the hut and found Cedric chopping the vegetables.
I stood by the door and as soon as he saw me, he stood up and said "Pleasant Morning, Mistress" I nodded and walked into the cooking area where there was broth boiling waiting for the vegetables to be poured into.
I wondered how come he woke up so early? It was still dusk when I woke up. Did he not sleep at all? Does Merchant Rolfe wake up this early? I wondered. "Yes Mistress, Master wakes up very early. Master already left for business and I am to accompany him as soon as you wake up" Cedric said. Did I question out loud again?
I kept my questions to myself and knew that it is reasonable for him to leave now and accompany Merchant Rolfe. "You may as well leave now and accompany Merchant Rolfe" I said not wanting him to leave Merchant Rolfe alone for that long.
What if Merchant Rolfe gets angry if Cedric arrives late? No, I do not want that. "I will leave once I fetch water for you for the day from the clearing nearby" Cedric said and I nodded. Cedric left carrying two mud pots.
Did he forget what he was doing? As, he left without putting in the chopped vegetables in the chicken broth. I walked towards the boiling broth and added the chopped vegetables and stirred the broth. I waited for few moments and all the broth was thick as well as the vegetables were fully boiled. I took a spoonful of the broth and tasted it.
Something was missing but, it was delicious. I wanted to add few medicinal herbs to the broth and so, I went to get the herbs from my trunk. I got back to the hut with the herbs and added grind them properly and added them to the broth.
After few moments, I tasted again and now the chicken broth was complete and tasty. By the time I slowly shifted the pot from the fire pit to the table outside the hut, Cedric arrived with two pots of water. I went back into the hut and put out the fire and collected two empty boules. I went out and saw Cedric standing by the door of the hut. I placed the two bowls on the table and Cedric started talking.
"Mistress, I will go to Master now" Cedric said and bowed. What how can he leave without eating? He needs to do a lot of labor in selling the goods. "Have the chicken broth before leaving" I said and offered him a bowl full of broth.
Cedric could not deny it as I already offered the bowl to him. He took the boule and thanked me. He slowly finished the broth while standing and I had my own serving of the broth and slowly enjoyed it. Once Cedric finished his food, he patiently waited for me to finish after washing his bowl.
"You may leave" I said and he nodded and left. Once he left, I was again alone like how I used to be back home. I finished my meal and washed my bowl. I went into the house and rested for few moments. I wondered what my brothers and sisters where doing back home.
Hey People...
Here's another chapter. Hope you all like it.
Do vote, comment and share the story if you all liked it.
Will update soon.
Iyana.
YOU ARE READING
Under the dark sun
Fantasy'Would you be able to change something that you're born with? Even if you do change, would you be able live without your true self? If it was up to me, I would have not chosen this. Would anything change even if I think about the past? No, it would...
