Blind Success {Book 1 - Blinded Trilogy}

15 - Palace Dwellings

"Nothing in the world is worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty... I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well." Theodore Roosevelt

Sure enough, it's been about five weeks and I'm walking around the palace of Asgard in a uniform. Only I opted for the pants and tunic as I really don't like wearing dresses. I was the only female worker to wear pants and a shirt. All the others wore dresses. The cut Sigyn had given me on my face was now a jagged scar that reminded me of all the pain she put me through.

Oddly, my mind kept drifting to the boy who I had slapped in her house. I hadn't seen him since; except for a few times he had been in the training ring with other guys. I would stop and watch them for a few minutes before continuing whenever one of them would look my way. Being one of the stronger servants - also one of the tallest - in the palace, I did a lot of the heavy lifting stuff. I swear I now had some muscle on my arms because of all the stuff I have lifted.

I was carrying a collection of wooden planks at the current moment. I had managed to get away with tearing the sleeves off my shirt so that they were sleeveless; my pants had been rolled up to keep my legs cooler as I carried them through the palace. Carrying the heavy weight didn't bother me too much, it let my mind drift away from problems that I may have faced and it channeled all my emotions to one place.

"Andrea!" I turn my head and smile when I see one of the younger servants, a 15 year old girl named Lilianna, run up to me as I walk.

"What's up Lili?"

"There's a celebration on tonight for Prince Thor's birthday. We have been put on duty for the feast." She squealed excitedly beside me, grabbing my free hand and squeezing it. I laughed.

"Anyone would think you're excited."

"You're not?" I scrunched my nose.

"Not really. I was planning to spend some time with my brother." Loki and I had planned to hang out tonight after I had finished for the day, guess that won't be happening now though.

"Maybe you can see him afterwards if you're not too worn out." I hum in agreement. Walking out into the sun, I let it soak into my skin, making me shiver a bit from the warmth. Training was in progress as I walked around the edge of the arena to the other side to put the planks with some others I had put there earlier. Kneeling down behind the wall, I unroll my pant legs before grabbing a dagger and tearing them so that they are more like shorts. Standing back up, I sheath the dagger in my belt and tie the cut pieces of pant around my upper arms like ribbons.

I could still hear sword fighting going on in the arena and like most other times, I watched them for a moment. Watching them made me wish that I was back in New York and training like old times. Let's face it, when I go back, I will be a different person... If I get back. Shaking my head, I walk back towards where Lili was. She refused to go near the training grounds because it scared her. So she waited at the entryway while I entered and did whatever job was required of me.

"Hey! Servant!" I bristle when I hear a male voice yell out at me. Turning my head I look at him. Most of the guys that were training today appeared to be around my age, maybe a bit older. The one who had called out to me was not hiding the fact that he was checking me out.

"I have a name. Use it." I answer before turning and continuing towards the door.

"I thought a servant's job was to do whatever someone told them to do." He retorted. Lili grabbed my hand, trying to prevent me from turning but to no avail. Pulling my hand from her grip I turn and storm towards the self-centered guy who was smirking as if he owned everything.