Tales of Love and Power

Chapter 4: Mahaila

She woke with the sun in her eyes.

With the sound of chirping birds and the smell of morning dew.

The vividly blue sky was devoid of clouds.

The wind was no longer howling but reduced to a gentle breeze.

The storm had passed and a new day had begun but Mahaila would forever be haunted by the storms clashing and howling.

Mahaila couldn't help but feel that the world was mocking her. As she woke to feel as if her light had been extinguished, the sun still shined as if it were any other day. It felt cruel that the world continued to move interrupted when she, herself was trapped in a pit of sadness.

The guards came to her in the morning and freed her from her restraints. She slumped to the floor tired from standing up for so long. Her fear did not permit her to sleep. The guards silently picked her up by her arms and dragged her back to the servant's quarters where Supervisor Kalza stood waiting. Mahaila struggled to stand before her. Her body was weak and desperate for sleep.

Supervisor Kalza seemed satisfied by Mahaila's defeated expression.

It was clear that her spirit had been broken.

"I hope that this is your last act of rebellion. Did you learn your lesson?" She spoke with a hint of a smile appearing on her face.

Mahaila was slow to answer her question. Her weakened state made her slow to form words. Her mind struggled to create a sentence that would appease Kalza. "I did supervisor Kalza. I won't give you trouble again." She spoke weakly.

"Good, I'm glad that we've come to an understanding." She spoke, at last satisfied.

"Is my punishment over?" Mahaila asked desperately.

"Your punishment is far from over. I hope you slept last night because you have a long day ahead of you. First, you will clean the main courtyard, then you will wash the dishes from the morning meal, then you will distribute new linen to the concubines. Once you've done these tasks, then you will eat and rest. But until then, I expect for you to be working and I expect for you to be grateful that you still live. Is that understood?"

"Yes, I understand," Mahaila replied back barely above a whisper.

After Supervisor Kalza left her further instructions, Mahaila went inside the servant's quarters and began on her task. She changed out of her wet and soiled clothes and into a new uniform. She picked up the broom that had been left by the doors and made her way to the courtyard. As she began sweeping the fallen leaves from the ground, she swiftly realized that her task would be more difficult than she previously thought. For every leave she'd sweep two more would fly in the wind and scatter across the courtyard.

After an hour of sweeping, she heard the laughter and giggles of a group of women approaching her. She continued sweeping believe that they would walk past without acknowledging her. Her wishful thinking was quickly broken when she heard the voice of a familiar concubine.

"Well, well, well." She spoke in a slow taunt. Three other women walked behind her. It was clear that two of them were favored concubines as they were dressed just as lavishly as she. "If it's not the disrespectful slave. I see Supervisor Kalza is serving you your punishment." Mahaila avoided raising their her eyes hoping not to provoke them, but her ignoring them only worked to make them more willing to ridicule her.

"Look ladies, they've cut out her tongue." The raven haired concubine said with a chuckle.

"The little witch deserves to have tongue cut out." Said the first concubine. Mahaila did not speak up as the women taunted her. She hoped that they would grow bored and leave her be but her silence only served as further provocation. The first concubine kicked the pile of leaves before grabbing the broom from Mahaila's hand.