The King of Saminu

Chapter 10

 It hadn't taken long after my bath for me to fall asleep. I was thoroughly exhausted, mentally and physically, and I didn't know how to deal with pain. Yet, my body shot right up when I could feel the moon started to appear. It was five at night from what I could tell, even though back in Slifni it would be eight by now. But, as someone who was gifted with powers that could only be used during the night, my body knew when to wake up. I was still exhausted, but I was able to heal myself. Every inch of my body felt like it was throbbing. I checked the door, making sure that it was locked from the girls who seemed to want to stare at my unclothed body. They had tried to give me a bath, something I had fought valiantly on. They were shocked when I had kicked them out, as if I hadn't been polite in asking them to do so.

There were no windows in this room, and the coast was clear from the door. I unbuttoned my shirt, saddened by the fact that a couple buttons fell off as I did so. This was my favorite shirt. Still, it didn't deter me from quickly unwrapping my chest and placing my hands on my ribs, healing everything as fast as I possibly could. My ribs morphed back into the position they were supposed to be in, and it felt glorious. Almost like an itch that had been begging to be scratched. Next, my hands moved to my wrists, healing the injuries I had sustained from being dragged by metal cuffs for a little over a day. My face was the last of my problems, a dull pain that was the easiest to forget about. Yet, after I was fully healed, but still recovering from having my chest binded for so long, I was able to notice that the room I was in was beautiful.

The walls were made of the same colored stone I had seen on the way into Horegi. It was mostly white, with veins of orange and occasional yellow running through the bricks of it. Everything in the room fit the same color scheme of white with yellow and orange accents. The floor was a pure white, as was the large armoire on the far left wall. There was a mirror hanging above it, something that had been a luxury item for us back in Slifni. A small writing desk was next to the door of the washroom, with a white chair to match. The bed I was laying on was framed with white, yet the blankets that I hadn't used were orange to match the walls. It was a magnificent bed, one I was almost uncomfortable sleeping on. It was too large, too much for me to use on my own.

I lay back in the bed, staring at the ceiling and tracing the marble patterns with my eyes to pass the time. I could feel that it was nearing seven, and I knew that I needed to get ready for whatever dinner the king had planned. I got up, wrapping my chest once more and sucking in a breath as the fresh discomfort of binding set it. Just as I finished, someone knocked on the door.
"Ms. Rensker? I am here to get you ready for dinner with our king," One of the girls' voices announced, and I threw my shirt back on, trying to hold it together as best as I could for when I opened the door. The girl before me was the taller of the two servants from earlier, and I recognized her to be Þura. It was strange to hear someone calling me "Ms.", and the girl seemed to take notice of my discomfort.

"Are you okay? Do you need anything? Why are you wearing that filth?" The girl questioned, looking as if she were upset over my well being. I was offended, as anyone else would be. This was my favorite shirt, and while it was dirty and close to being unusable, I had nothing else to wear. Gamm had taken my belongings when I had been forced to leave them during my chance of escape. My chest ached at the thought of my family. They had been called liars, and if Spenn was anything like Slifni, they would have been executed.
"Come in, Þura, I guess," I muttered, leaving the girl in the doorway as I made my way to the armoire. And with no surprise from me, it was empty.
"Oh no! What will you wear to dinner?" Þura asked, and I grunted as a form of response. The king had said his room was down the hall, where I knew he had to have clothes for me to wear. I shrugged, leaving the room without a second thought.

"Where are you going?" The girl asked in her heavy accent, chasing after me.
"To get clothes," My response was short and I opened the door to the king's chambers, beelining for the large, open closet. I grabbed the closest button up, looking for shorts to change into as well. Finally, I found a pair in one of the drawers of the closet, and I turned, coming face to face with Þura.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting dressed? After you leave, of course," I answered, and the girl's eyes widened.
"The king has asked that I keep an eye on you. If I cannot help you change, I will wait outside of His Highness' room. Call for me if you need me," She scurried away after that, and I sighed in relief.