Bound In Blood (Bound In Blood - Book One)

Chapter Fourteen

Conner and I were at Miss Sapphira's side at the crack of dawn, ready to perform our duties. Individually, we would escort her about her home and do whatever she pleased while the other was sharpening their skills. This morning, Conner had the privilege of looking over Miss Sapphira while I practiced with Krestian on the frosty pitch with a couple guards standing idly by. I was still sore but it was of no use for me to do nothing. Miss Sapphira had expected me to train and so that was what I would do. I had never much been one for caving when in such pain. I wasn't weak.

One of the guards - Michael - trained with me. With his sword, he'd deflect almost every one of my attacks. I felt his blade briefly graze across my arm, tearing my already-tattered armour.

"Ye'd better have that fixed, I'd say," he told me. "Can't have ye armour failin' on ye. Ma'am Sapphira wouldn't be pleased."

"Ya think Claudius'll patch it?" I asked him.

"Sure would, I reckon. N' if not, there's always Miss Margret. Makes the nice clothin'. Not too shabby with leather," he explained. "Ye know, steel's stronger'n leather. Ye should try it."

"Too heavy," I told him. "Need ta be light on my feet." He nodded before taking a swing at me. I narrowly evaded the attack, rolling out of the way with quick reflexes.

"Impressive," he commented.

The two of us continued to train until Miss Sapphira came to fetch me to do her jobs. Conner's face was grim when he came to the field, instilling no confidence in me as I took my place at her side. She led me into her formal sitting area, commenting on my posture all the way.

"Your back should be straighter. Roll your shoulders back. Lift your chin. Hold your hands at your back. Wipe your hair from your face. Keep your face straight." She was relentless but I obliged to her every command as I would, had it been Silva. I never disobeyed my master then and I would not now.

She took a seat on one of her sofas and I resisted the urge to do so, also. Instead, I stood at her side, looking off into the distance with my hands clasped behind my back in a formal manner. She did not say anything about it but I expected nothing else from her. It quickly became clear that praise was not so easily given.

Silently, she paged through a complicated-looking book. The only sound to be heard was her touching her thumb to her tongue and flipping through page after page. I had never done something so mind numbing in all my life. I couldn't bear to stand so still while listening to the incessant sound of her reading. The act had me wanting to pull my own hair from my scalp.

With great effort, I tried to keep my eyes forward, taking a deep breath so as not to lose my mind. As I often did, I disappeared into my own head. Once again, that beautiful woman was there with her white gown and long, blonde hair that reached her lower back. Her peachy skin was free of all imperfections and her lips looked as soft as silk. Her cerulean eyes were brighter than a thousand stars. She smiled, holding a white blossom to her chest. A soft breeze picked up and blew at her feet, lifting her dress only slightly, revealing her bare feet. She looked as though she was about to say something when her entire body froze, a sudden darkness falling upon her. One by one, the petals of her flower were plucked and drifted away until she only held the stalk.

Her gorgeous eyes were suddenly strained and her loving smile turned meek, her eyebrows furrowing. She appeared... sad. Her lips moved, mouthing something but I could not comprehend it before she fell back and I was thrown back into reality where Miss Sapphira stood, tapping her foot impatiently.

I shook my head free of the strange scene but I almost wished I hadn't. "I do not pay you to daydream." I apologised profusely but she didn't much seem to care. She waved me off and then had me set on some other task.