My Way to Freedom

Chapter 6: Back to Work

The walk to the manor left me in a state of depression. If walking here hurt, then what was waiting for me when I got to work?

“Your one second late. Seven lashings after your shift.” Onica said not turning around.

“Yes, ma’am.” I said, my eyes looking at the new shoes Ashley had bought for me a year ago. I had refused to wear them thinking that they were too nice for stable work. And they were, but I was not in the stable anymore now was I? 

Onica gasped jumped up and turned around to see me dressed in a slave’s full splendor. “Oh it’s you!” she exclaimed. She ran over and hugged me real tight. “Oh, never mind what I said earlier. You don't deserve any lashings!”

Much to my dismay I let one word slip from my mouth, “Ouch.”

Onica let go and I could breathe again. “Oops. Are you OK? I thought I killed you or something. It was just so awful seeing you like that, hanging just so lifelessly onto that post. Here, ummm, turn around”

I looked at her for a moment then slowly began to turn.

Onica gasped--again, “OH, my goodness,”

After a second, I turned my head to see the eye wrenching lashings layered one upon another and then the bruise backdrop sporting colors of black, yellow, purple, red, and something in between. You could see almost every one peeping out of my low backed dress. Even then, the ones that weren't seen out of it were seen through it, thanks to the thin white layer of fabric separating half my back from the sun.

“What? What's bothering you? The color clashes or the lashings themselves?” I inquired in a sarcastic tone I really shouldn't be using considering the gashes on my back. But, really I couldn't help it.

“Well, uh, your lashings are…very… disturbing,” she was trying to sound sincere though it but, finally the Onica in her broke out. “But, the baby blue just is shattered by the red eye sores on your back. Here…. take this,” she handed me a balm in a porcelain container that I was afraid I might break. “It's special medicine imported from China. Put it on your back in the morning, take it with you to work so I can put some on you in the afternoon, and then take it home again and put some on in the evening. I'll try to arrange with my father that you go home earlier so that you can get some more sleep. And if I can't arrange it with him you can sleep in my bedchambers until it's time for you to go. I want you to get to sleep around 9:00. You must be in PRESTEEN condition before my wedding announcement ball, which, by the way is in two weeks.”

“You’re getting married?” This news shook me up so much that I jerked my head upward and looked into Onica's eyes, only for a second though, before I collected myself and started staring at my shoes again.

“Well, yes. And I must have you in tip top shape so I can present you to my husband, Prince Roger Gabriel Windinski the eighth.” Onica said very high and mightily.

I just nodded to this news, but inside I was swarming with questions.