Handmaiden

Chapter 8

Saché lost track of how many minutes had passed. She was attempting to count her way through an hour, which would help her and Governor Bibble keep track of time. Unfortunately, Saché's once acute mental focus was failing her.

There were no windows in the dungeon. It was musty and disgusting. Saché wondered how no one in power in Theed had raised concerns to Padmé about the conditions down in the supposed shower rooms. Had Padmé or her advisors swept away the concerns, or had they really never been down there to see how their servants lived? If Saché survived, she vowed to make things better for servants like Tabine.

Governor Bibble let out a guttural snore from across the room. He was lying atop a bench, using bunched up fabric from his robes as a pillow. The wrinkles on his face seemed to multiply by each passing hour. Time in captivity was not good for an older man such as Governor Bibble.

There was muffled chatter outside of the door, and Tabine slid inside the room. She had two small loaves of bread, and a singular cup of water.

"Here," Tabine said, putting the food in Saché's outstretched arms. "This is all I am allowed to give you today."

Governor Bibble stirred. Seeing Tabine and the food, he quickly perked up. "Is this our humble breakfast for the day?"

"I don't think it is just for breakfast, Governor," Saché said, handing Governor Bibble his slice of bread.

The look on Tabine's face confirmed that fact. She shifted her weight nervously from one foot to the other, dark face contorted with worry. "I've heard the other servants talking. They're coming back down today. I don't know when."

Saché fought the chill that crept its way up her spine.

"Thank you, Tabine," Governor Bibble said, nodding pleasantly at the girl.

Tabine excused herself, closing the door with a definitive slam.

Saché pulled a piece of bread apart from her loaf, and began chewing it gingerly. "What do you suppose they want?" She asked, passing the Governor the cup of water.

"I'm not sure," he said, licking his lips decisively at the idea of hydration.

The bread was tasty, and it felt nice on her empty stomach. Saché tore off a piece of her clothing and set the bread atop it for later. If she saved her food throughout the day, then she could better adjust her stomach to eating much less than normal.

Saché thought about Viceroy Gunray and his comrade, Rune. What could they possibly want from the Governor now? Surely everyone on the Royal Cruiser figured out how to block future transmissions. So what could they ask of Governor Bibble going forward? A horrifying thought popped into Saché's mind, and her stomach dropped instantly.

"What is it?" Governor Bibble asked, tone dark and serious. He was still nibbling on his bread.

"They won't hurt you, will they, Governor?" Saché asked. She felt her shoulders slump. In the back of her mind, she had held onto a sliver of hope that they would not hurt her again. But now the Neomoidians were coming back, and they wouldn't hurt Governor Bibble because he was an important Naboo figure.

"I don't think they will," he said softly, guilt itching into his tone.

"I'm not up to date on Repulic laws," she said gently. "Is there some law prohibiting it?"

Governor Bibble shook his head. "Not a law, per se. They aren't too worried about following the laws, but I do not believe they would harm someone with a government title. If this treaty isn't signed and they are brought on trial in the Senate, harming me or another official would expedite the process and hurt their case. It would be a cautionary move on their part, but one I believe they would take."