Amira's Slave

Chapter 26

Back in her old room Amira could not stop the tears. She kept looking at the bed in the corner where Claire had once slept. She wished she could turn back time and be here in her room with Claire and Chelsea. All she had thought about back then was how to get Claire to safety but now she realised Claire had been safest when she was here as Amiras own slave.

"Princess Amira?" A small voice said from behind her.

She turned to see a maid standing by her door. "Yes" she answered uncertainly

"Um I saw you arrive and wanted to say hi you were kind to me once when I was a new slave here a long time ago."

"You were one of my mothers slaves?"

"Yes I worked in the kitchens and sometimes served you at mealtimes. I made a mistake once and you didnt tell your mother and saved me from being beaten. Im glad your back now are you staying?" The girl asked her.

Anira looked at the girl in front of her she had tried to be kind to all the slaves she passed in the house and she didnt remember this one. She shook her head "No I cant stay hear not now Cl.." she broke off unable to say the words out loud without breaking down.

"That slave that Edward was given she was yours? You helped her run away?" The maid guessed.

"Yeah but look where it got her, I was an idiot." Amira answered.

"At least you tried that probably ment a lot to her its unsual for someone to do something like that for a slave."

"Wait" Amira said as she realised this girl may know what happened to Claire "Did you know Claire.. um Edwards slave?"

"Not really she wasnt allowed to speak with us and was rarely out of his sight. I saw her walking around the castle with him though."

Amira noticed the sad look in the maids eyes as she remembered seeing Claire. "Please I have to know, how bad was she treated?"

"I dont know I only saw her a few times but she always wore chains, I never saw her with her hands free. She had scars like all slaves but I really didnt see much of her. Sorry."

Amira sighed she didnt understand why she was torturing herself with mental images of Claires last moments but she had to know exactly what happened to her friend before she could even begin to let go.

"I better go now" the maid said "Im glad I saw you again."

"Wait" Amira called "This new King my brother I thought he didnt believe in slavery why are you all still here."

"He said he cant release us as there would be nowhere for us to go. Most of us dont have families anymore. It is better now though we get fed and punishments are very rare."

"Do you know how..." She trailed off why did she feel the need to know all the details of Claires fate.

"Im sorry, I dont know what happened to your slave The King took her away, I heard her screaming but I dont know what they did to her. One of the other slaves said the King was destroying her as Edward had left her in such a bad way."

Amira knew she should leave the castle and get as far away as she could but somehow she couldnt stop her legs carrying her towards the meeting room. Her mother had alwways worked from there and she hoped that this would be where she would find the new King. She flung the door open and at the far end she saw a man sat at the desk. His long hair was tied back and he looked up at her startled.

"What did you do to her?!" Amira screamed as tears fell from her eyes. "Please I need to know how? How much did she suffer"

The King turned to her "Calm down child I have no idea what your saying."

"My slave or Edwards slave, please I have to know" She said as she fell to her knees.

The King stood up "So your Amira? Im so glad I got to meet you" he said rushing to her side "Im your brother Frederick."

"Please" Amira begged "What happened to the slave girl?"

"Nothing happened to her, come with me" he told her.

Wipeing her eyes Amira followed the King through the door at the back of the meeting room. It felt strange that despite growing up in the castle there were parts she had never seen before. The King started to unlock a door and Amiras anxiety grew. Amira followed him into a large bedroom which appeared empty. The King turned to Amira "I dont know what Edward did to her but shes very frightened."

Amira followed his eyes to the corner where Claire sat cowering. She hadnt noticed amira walk in as her eyes were firmly glued to the floor.

"Oh my God Claire!" Amira shouted racing to her slave. "I am so sorry I will never let you down again!"

Claire looked up into Amiras face, she had these dreams often and knew that she would wake up at any moment. She stared for a while before she realised it wasnt a dream.

"Mistress" she gasped

"No Im not your mistress any more I am your friend if you can ever forgive me for letting you down."

"That wasnt your fault" Claire whispered

Could this really be happening thought Claire, had Amira come back to stay? Maybe the King would let Amira visit her sometimes that would be nice.

Amira looked at Claire huddled on the floor she had been through so much and Amira knew the only hope of Claire getting over her fears was to get her away from the place where she had been tortured so badly. She was about to ask the King when he turned to Claire himself. The King handed Claire a roll of paper and laughed at her confused look. "You are free child, you can no longer belong to anyone. Im sure my sister will take care of you but you are now a free person and can do whatever you like."

Claire stared up at him in disbelief unsure if she had heard him right.

Amira hugged the King "I cant believe it, thank you!" she squealed. "Oh my god Claire you are finally free!". Claire was still sat on the floor in shock.

The King laughed at Amira's excitement "Im glad I got to meet you, you will always be welcome at the castle. When you get back to the free land you should be able to get through as I have shut down all the security there. If you do have any trouble just show those papers." He said gesturing to the papers in Claires hand.

Amira hugged him again "Thank you so much for saving her" she said.

"I just wish it could be a happy ending for all of them" he said shaking his head sadly. "Kali will be sad that your leaving" he told Claire.

Amira assured him that they would visit often but for now she needed to get Claire as far away as possible. Gently she took Claires arm "Come on lets go and see the others!"