Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Sixteen: A Deeper Pit

"Slave Owners may sell their Slaves at their own discretion. The Association of Slave Owners must be notified within forty-eight hours after the Slave is sold."

Nadia knew that Lady Skye was headed directly to the rear courtyard to retrieve the satchel which held Nadia's golden ball and she bolted out the door after her. Skye flew down the staircase with her turquoise locks bouncing behind her, and Nadia slid down the railing to pass her by. She and Skye dodged around pillars, hopped furniture, and shoved past people as they fought to reach the rear courtyard before the other. Then Skye finally recalled that she had authority in this household.

"Stop her!" she shouted. "Grab her!"

A few servants tried to catch Nadia, but she managed to slip right through their fingers. Nadia caught sight of her orb only a few feet away beside a large flowery bush just beyond the exit out of the castle. She was so close! She dashed out into the garden when suddenly, she felt a heavy weight pull her down just as she stretched her hand out for her orb. She quickly found herself flat on her stomach in the grass with her fingers barely brushing the gold and to the amazement of everyone around her, a small group of pixies lifted the satchel off the ground and carried it away from Aimonbay Estate. Nadia heaved a sigh of relief, but now she had to worry about her punishment for her exceedingly rash exploits. Skye brought her father out to the rear courtyard with her and watched him take care of the situation with her arms crossed over her light green and yellow dress.

"What is the meaning of this?" Rallian demanded.

The servants who held Nadia down yanked her off the ground and set her on her knees before her master. He stood there glaring down at her, but she refused to look back at him or his insufferable daughter.

"You're having a bad day, Lila. What happened here?"

"I found something in her drawer, Father," Skye answered for Nadia. "When I asked her about it, she attacked me and fought with me. When she got it, she threw it out the window."

"You fought with her?" Rallian asked Nadia.

"She hit me, Father!"

"I see. I guess we're taking you downstairs, Lila, where you're going to explain what Skye found in your drawer."

Nadia expected this and immediately the servants dragged her down the narrow stairwell to the cold, stone dungeon beneath Aimonbay Estate. Nadia repeatedly told herself that her actions were worth whatever punishment would take place. Rallian could never learn of her curse, no matter the cost. She braced herself and remembered that it would be over eventually, then she fought to power through each lash that cut her once soft flesh. In the middle of her reprimand, Rallian descended the stairs and had the servant with the whip pause for a moment. Nadia listened to him speak while she trembled and panted, tears streaming from her eyes. Hopefully, the abuse was almost over as she wasn't sure how much more she could bear.

"I figured I'd inform you about why I sold Garnet while I had you restrained and incapable of words," he said. "This way I can be certain you get the message. I sold her because you keep secrets from me, Lila. And I don't appreciate that. I own you. You have no right to keep secrets from me. Perhaps if you reveal everything it is that you're hiding from me, I will buy Garnet back. So, let's start with your relationship with Polaris. What's happening there?"

Nadia gulped, first resolving not to answer until she concluded that she was in enough trouble already. Perhaps making matters worse by staying silent wasn't the best idea.

"He's giving me sword-fighting lessons," Nadia answered softly. "In exchange for house work."

"He's giving you sword-fighting lessons?" Rallian asked, confused. "What – " Realization showed on Rallian's face and his voice became softer. "You've already decided that you want to..." He couldn't bring himself to say it. He shook his head as he struggled to accept it. "When did this begin?"