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Mila

Gwynhoiarn and I are assigned to keep Leona safe.
She was branded with the mark of a traitor soon after Mara and the lord leave, and I am shocked at how callous people are to Leona's plight.
One man spits at her, a young woman pours salt over the brand, and yet another tries to remove her fingers with a tool that I have never seen before, not even in the town where I was born.
They truly are the worst of humanity.
I notice that Gwyn and Leona spend most of their time looking at each other. Interesting.
It is nearly midnight when Lord Albus returns. Asteropia and Mara are following him closely, their eyes are fixed on their feet. The lord looks regal in the moonlight, and I'm afraid that he will hurt us for taking care of Leona.
Lord Albus lets Leona down from her restraints, and she drops like a stone, her arms held close to her chest as though she means to shield herself from any more harm.
Lord Albus looks her up and down.
" you are a gladiator through and through..." he muses.
" I honestly don't know if we can make you fit into the carer role. We will try however."
Gwyn curls her hands into fists, and I try to imagine what is going on in her head.
Leona rises to her feet, showing that- surprisingly- she is taller than Lord Albus.
Her knees buckle, and she ends up kneeling before Lord Albus.
The lord smiles and pats her head.
" that's a good little warrior."

Gwyn and I carry Leona inside, and prepare her for a role as 'carer' by applying a new layer of clothing and some powder to her face.
The role is obviously forced.
There is no one with eyes who could look at this woman- with her muscled body and traitor's brand- and say that she was born for the role of looking after another person. She looks too feral for that by a long shot.
She looks like a wild animal in a gilded cage.
Once we are done, we escort her to the lord's office.
He smiles briefly when he sees our transformation, but scowls when he sees the thick kohl lining Leona's eyes- mimicking the nomad paint of Aife's people.
The lord stands and marches towards Leona.
" who did this?" he snarls, his eyes shadowed by anger.
Gwyn steps forward.
" It was my doing, Lord." she nearly spits.
Lord Albus raises an eyebrow and sighs heavily.
" don't tell me you support the war of the Grief-Queen... If you do then I will be legally required to take action against you."
Gwyn jerks her chin up defiantly, eyes blazing with pride.
" Would I be anything other than a loyal member of the kingdom?" she asks sarcastically.
Lord Albus smiles.
" of course. I would be crazy to think that you might be.. Oh, I don't know.. A spy for the Jaka-ii."
He laughs at the look on Gwyn's face, and turns away.
" I'll turn a blind eye for now. But tell me.. What on earth possessed you to paint her eyes? With the traitor's brand on her as well, she will be killed if she bears any resemblance to the wild tribe"
Gwyn puffs up a little.
" I wanted her to be fearsome. Like the Jaka-ii warriors."
Lord Albus takes a long look at Gwyn, and nods.
" I can see how you could be Jaka-ii. What is your name"
Gwyn shakes her head and backs away from the Lord.
" names have power, lord. I would not be so foolish as to reveal mine to you."
Lord Albus nods.
" I will call you Silent for now. Which is what I wish you were."
Gwyn scowls- and is about to retort when the lord dismisses us with simple wave of his hand.
As we trudge down the stairs, Gwyn takes Leona's hand in hers, and I wonder why they are doing that.
There's no danger of them getting lost, so why are they holding onto each other?