A War Of Traitors( ARTK, Book 2)

Chapter 108

Anug 22nd, 3329 A.G

Anna pulled at her dress, grimacing when her fingers brushed against a few bruises on her sides. It was too cold for such a thin one and no furs, but Torcull didn't care- and he'd been in a continual bad mood for months.

Things hadn't always been like that. He'd been cruel when they were younger too, but nothing told her just how bad it would get. She'd known how wrong it was from the moment he told her they'd marry- and then struck her when she refused, but she'd enjoyed their wedding night. He was gentle, but not too gentle when she asked for more-

And then he punched her two days later for making eye contact with a servant for too long. There was always some reason after that- her dress was too thin or thick depending on what he wanted in that moment, she wasn't wearing her hair the way he liked it, she spoke too sharply or asked a perfectly reasonable question- she'd worn a brown pigment on her eyelids once and quickly learned her lesson. To protect herself, she'd started completely avoiding the things that set him off-

And it still wasn't enough.

He would not strike her in front of people, but she could almost feel it coming when they were alone again. She felt her feet sink through a finger's width of snow- then became aware of every small movement. One of their guards coughed and she flinched. Torcull lifted a hand to move hair - desperately in need of a cut, away from his eyes.

Anna flinched again, and that time he noticed.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his tone one that sent shivers down her spine. "Or should we retire to my chambers where it's warmer?"

Anna shook her head.

The sky had been clear, and it was warm enough enough that she'd felt comfortable wearing nothing under her dress. There was enough fabric against the breasts to cover anything she didn't want shown, but she had no intention of going further than the Whittaker's private courtyard and there was no female servant who hadn't seen her nude. She left her hair down, letting it cover that area and a bruise on her neck some too.

Remembering what they'd done made her want to vomit, but it was too late now. She'd left her chambers wearing no shoes, the stone cleaned recently enough it didn't matter. Torcull was in the hallway talking to a servant about that night's dinner, but he sent her away immediately and went to Anna.

"What in the gods name's are you wearing?" He'd asked.

"A dress I've had since we were twelve-"

"You look like a whore. Go change it and do not argue." He didn't look angry yet, but Anna understood now how quickly he went from smiling to screaming.

"The neckline isn't l-" The strike to her cheek then had been so hard she fell sideways and knocked her forehead against the wall. She hadn't bled, but it would be only a few more days before he made her do so.

  "I'm fine." She finally said. "Today is.... a beautiful day. Cold maybe, but I'd like to stay out as long as I c-"

  "I wasn't asking." Torcull interrupted l. "You are my wife. It's my duty to make sure you're warm, no?"

  He raised an eyebrow, though Anna knew better. He had other things in mind. Though it was easier when she layed there and let him do what he wanted,   She'd avoid that as long as possible. "Of course. I just think we should-"

  Anna frowned. What she heard then didn't come from him or any of their other gaurds, but far off. Footsteps. At least a few hundred of them.

  Soon they heard it too- and one of the guards wanted them to go back to the safety of their walls, but Torcull refused.

  And when the three hundred and twenty seven survivors of the lake battle came into view, he did not regret it.

  Each one appeared more defeated than the last, each terrified to face their lord but one. He walked through all the others- ready to deliver what'd happened.

"My lord-" He fell to a knee and lowered his head. "My lady. We.... surrendered to save ourselves. There was.... well, she had eight giants. Not three... and.... her soldiers....."

Torcull was not a patient man, so his fists were already clenched. Anna closed her eyes for a moment. She could stay close to other people all she wanted but later- In one way or another, he'd take this out on her. "How many men did we lose?"

Torcull looked out at the few men before him, holding onto hope that there were more further back.

"We... My lord...."

"How many?" He repeated. "If I must ask again your head will decorate the south gate."

"There are.... three hundred and twenty seven of us left, my lord." He gulped.

Anna's stomach sunk. They'd sent seventy two hundred men out.

"You must understand my lord- the way they fought was...eerily good. At times it felt like the gods were on their side." Torcull pulled his arm back to punch him. Anna had felt those punches before. Torcull was thin, but he was much stronger than he looked.

Her hand was on that arm before she could stop herself. His fist stopped midair as he slowly turned to glare at her.

"Their surrender has saved a little over three hundred of our men." Anna forced a small smile, trying to appear unafraid. "That is not an insignificant amount. Three hundred men.... could be the difference between us dying this month or next year. Their surrender gives you enough time to come up with a plan to destroy the... usurper."

As she said them the words felt wrong- but what choice did Anna have?

Torcull glanced back over his men, thinking of how many they were left with. There were just over eighteen hundred back in his walls......

"Very well." He shrugged. "We'll be careful of her giants, but if Nara Ashhand can kill over six thousand of my men in one battle- I see no reason we can't return the favor."