The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

35. Anchor

"What has happened?" Hara is looking in horror at the blood and mud-stained clothes.

I hid them from Bea and Dara for obvious reasons.

"Can you please get rid of them?"

"But this is fine silk, little mistress. Hara can wash it for you."

"Then wash it and keep it. Or sell it on the market if there are people who want to buy it."

"Certainly there are, but Hara can make it look like new."

"You are too kind. But please take care that they don't see you."

"Of course. Hara has worked in the castle for a long time. Can proudly say I know all the ins and outs."

After last night, I'm not sure about that.

It makes me wonder though, maybe the priory had a secret exit too and that's how Fera escaped.

I will never stop wondering why she did it. She had to, there is no question, but why?

And here I am now, after a very clumsy attempt to run away, which made my life even more dangerous. Now I owe a big favour to an obscure man. One doesn't need to be very smart to guess how that will turn out. But since my head is still attached to my body, at least he didn't tell anybody for now.

Good enough that I have nothing to lose.

Paisa enters my room in her usual merry way. She has only three moons left till the child will be born. It started kicking some time ago, and everyone's excitement increased. Sure, not all the excitement is genuine, but one should know that by now.

"Zaretha, you look..."

"Ugly today?"

"Tired. And what happened to your face?"

"I tripped." It's actually true this time.

"Oh. How?"

"I was dumb."

"I know you believe that, which makes it technically true, but you are evading my question."

"Gosh, you are also smart, not only a magical lie detector." I sigh. "I need to tell you something."

"Yes, I imagine something happened. Your neck doesn't get bruised from tripping."

I ignore her allusion.

"I... Am in debt to your cousin."

"You are what?!" she whispers in an almost angry tone; something totally unfitting for her. "How in the name of the spirits did that happen, taking into account that you never talk?"

"We did. Last night."

"Night?! Zaretha, are you aware of what you are staying?"

"Yes, and now I owe him a favour, he said very ominously, he will collect at some point."

"Zaretha, you talked to a man at night! Did anybody? I mean, even the trace of anybody, see you?"

"No."

"Did he touch you?!" she asks, aggravated. "Nah, he couldn't have." She changes her mind. "If he had, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"It's really touching that you actually care if something happens to me."

She raises an eyebrow.

"Of course I do. Do you know how lonely I was before you got here? How awful it is not being able to trust anybody, even with half of your things?"