Indebted

3

The newly minted female slaves met back up with the males from the trailer in a dining room, other slaves who were finishing their shifts eating quietly at tables in tight knit groups. Esti, and the others were directed to line up, and each given a small bowl of porridge while Agnes considered where to place each and every one.

Even with the new group huddled around a single table, effort was made by the others to avoid getting too close to Esti. She was tainted and that taint might be contagious. Clearly Agnes hated Esti, and since Agnes would be determining everyone's fate, all knew it would be better to stay in the better graces of Agnes. Esti was glad they all showed a little self preservation, they were going to need it to survive here.

The few quiet moments spent eating, enjoying being clean and in new clothes were over far too quickly for Esti. A slave with dark tan lines showing on his arms emerged from the shower room, wearing a thick strapped nightshirt tunic, tan lines marking him as someone who worked mostly outside the castle. His hand moved like lightning to flick Esti's bowl off the table as he walked behind her. The last bit of her thin porridge slopping on the floor as the battered ceramic shattered on impact.

He continued on his way as though he had not done anything. Returning his own bowl to the bus pan to be cleaned and heading out into the night just as Agnes returned. Her eyes narrowing as she looked at Esti, kneeling on the floor trying to clean up the mess. "I know a former lady such as yourself must rue your circumstances but you are only hurting yourself Estella." A wicked smile crossing her lips, "All damages caused are only added to your debt to the crown." Esti opened her mouth to try and protest. She hadn't done it, it wasn't even an accident.

Agnes did not care to hear the truth, not from Esti and no one spoke up on her behalf. Instead the collar around Esti's throat was activated. The electric shock sending her sprawling to the floor. The clean tunic soaking up the porridge from the floor. A jagged edge of the broken bowl cutting into Esti's thigh. No one spoke up in her defense. The actual perpetrator already long gone.

After Agnes finished the unwarranted punishment, she made Esti finish cleaning the mess, Esti was made to change into another clean tunic. The cost of the bowl, spilled food, rags for cleaning and the soiled tunic all added to her debt. Along with a fine for the perceived insolent behavior.

Esti took it all silently. Arguing with Agnes would get her nowhere. She had accepted that this was going to be a hard life. Esti knew she had been stupid to think for a second that it could include fairness. All the cards were stacked against her. She was playing a game she could not win. Esti's mind was already hunting through every memory she had of her mother complaining about a servant or slave. The myriad ways they had offended her, how she expected them to behave.

Esti's heart wanted to cry over the injustice. However knowing it would serve no purpose. Would only mark her as weak, a target for other slaves to use to make their own sorry lives seem more bearable in comparison. She held herself in control. She had enough problems without openly outing herself as weak in front of anyone right now.

Esti certain that Agnes left her assignment until the end to prolong her torment. Most of the younger slaves were assigned to the kitchens and gardens. The older boys sent to the soldiers barracks. One homely girl was sent to the head maid for her assignment as some sort of cleaner. Two others sent to the head laundress.

Leaving Esti. Agnes smiled, eyes sharp as she focused on Esti. "I found the perfect assignment for you Estella, scullery maid. You will light fires in rooms and haul coal and wood until your back is bent, and your lungs fail from coal dust and smoke." Esti could tell that Agnes was enjoying herself far too much in this moment. Waiting for Esti to protest, to ask for something easier. Scullery, was usually a man's work, too much heavy lifting for most women.