SHE

Chapter 1: The Lady and The Lord

Rue Scarce

✳

My ears are ringing from the wailings of the women in the room just behind the iron door.

Clenching my fists, I stopped myself from standing from my seat but didn't cease the trembling.

The guards seem to catch on and they head inside the room, closing the iron door behind them.

A woman of her thirties in a maid attire placed a cup of warm milk on the table in front of me, its mild scent filled my nose.

"Master requires for your good health, my Lady. Do eat properly." She insists and I took the cup in hand towards my mouth for a sip.

The iron door opens and the guards came out, their pants tainted in dark red substance.

"What news?" I demand, not taking my eyes off of them.

"We apologize, my Lady. They still won't talk." One of them said, avoiding my eyes.

Raising an eyebrow, I clutched the hot cup that it shook with clinking sounds. The maid cleared her throat.

"Not a good answer. What a pity, men. Make them talk." She demands but I placed the cup down.

"Never mind." I head towards the men, seeing them tremble under my gaze, I walked past them.

"Apologizing is to make sure not to make the same mistake in the future." I murmured and the men opened the iron door for me to enter.

I took a step inside, my eyes darting towards the four prisoners in chains and blood tattered clothes. Their hair looked a lot like a bird's nest, and their eyes all teary and red from crying.

"We don't know anything beyond the borders! Just let us go! Please." The blonde one pleads and I rolled my eyes.

"Freedom is not for free, ladies. You of the lost village should know better." I say, folding my arms over my chest.

"Talk in exchange for your freedom. Where is your husband?"

They all looked at each other. Two of them nods but the other two looked uncertain.

"We--"

"We don't know any of these nonsense!" The brown haired woman cut in the conversation, making me shift my attention to her.

"If you're gonna lie, make sure to look factual." I hear a voice say from behind me.

The guy stood beside me and gave a slight bow, his yellow hair dropping a bit.

"Don't tire yourself in this, my Lady. Let me punish these witches."

I didn't speak but he took it as a sign of approval and made his way in front of the prisoners, holding a sharp knife.

"I don't like people who don't answer my Lady's questions." He murmurs, stabbing a leg of one of the women, making her scream in agony.

"Or I can say, I despise them." He pulled the blonde woman's wrist and broke her arm in a blink.

"AHHHHH!!!!!"

I flinched. I hate screaming. It's not an opinion, just a fact.

"Kieffer." I called. The guy in front of me tensed but he stood and faced me, looking at the ground.

"Yes, my Lady?"

"Step aside." I ordered.

He obliged, moving out of my way. I stepped up, crouching in front of the woman who appears to be the youngest among them.