Jesella
“Augh!”
Jesella groaned, the sting of the whip unbearable.
“How dare you escape without my permission!” her master hissed, his drunken breath filling her head with mind numbing fumes. The master grabbed Jesella close in the shrouded darkness of her shack, a place she knew was her home no longer. She twisted around; her face so close to the gnarled face of her captor she cringed.
“You have never owned me, and as of today, it is official.” Jesella spat in his face. When he released her in surprise, Jesella stabbed her elbow into his beer-gut and took off into the early morning twilight, her black hair streaming behind her.
----
Jesella opened the door to the empty tavern, panting and clutching the notice. The barmaid was snoring with a rag in her hand, half-wiping the table in her slumber. “Miss.” Jesella nudged her but the maid snored on. She persisted, “Miss!”
The lanterns above them began to rattle. Jesella turned around to find a unshaven giant of a man storming down the stairs that seemed to go through the house.
“What the… What are you doing here?? Do you realize what time it is?” The man rubbed his eyes.
Jesella swallowed. “I need to find Maike. It’s an emergency.”
“What for? He’s a busy man. He doesn’t have time for prostitutes in need of extra cash.”
“Prostitute!?” Jesella considered some harsh words. “This… notice. I’m interested. Highly interested.”
Maike squinted. “I am Maike, but I don’t know if a woman would be fit for an expedition of this nature.”
“Excuse me? Do you know who I am? I am not a woman. For my entire life, I have been a slave. I am ready for anything.”
Sighing, Maike exclaimed, “What is it with women these days? Always thinking they are some ‘adventurous’ soul. Unlikely. I don’t need some kind of runaway anyway. I should be turning you in right now.”
Jesella laughed, “But you aren’t. You need me and you know it. Stop all this flirting.”
The forgotten barmaid chuckled. “She’s right, sir”, she said, “That girl’s a swashbuckler at heart!” She smiled and showed off all seven of her teeth.
"Do you even know what you are signing up for?" Maike suddenly sat down. "I'm not sure you know the extent of danger you are putting yourself in by even being here. Yes, yes, I know you are a slave. We won't be leaving for another few days... You may stay upstairs in the spare room. I will make my final decision later."
The room grew eerily quiet. Jesella wrung her hands, suddenly realizing the ridiculousness of the favor she had asked. The barmaid, with some struggle, lifted her heavy-set body out of the chair and crept out of the tavern. Maike stared at her.
"I will show you upstairs." he said decidedly.
Jesella followed closely behind, having no other choice.
