A short time later a knock came to the door, then a young girl entered with a tray of food and a jug—assumingly my drink.
She didn’t seem any older than Talia, much too young to be working here that was for sure.
“Mistress gave me these, my lady. A fresh change of clothes and she said you should lock the door when I leave. Just to be
extra safe. She said your horse will be placed into our paddock to stay warm.”
Thanking her kindly as she left, I demolished the food without really taking a breath. I didn’t realise how hungry I was but
I’d escaped just before dinner was served.
Nicholas was sure to notice my absence by now, but likely assumed I was hiding out in my rooms, especially after our
conversation. After eating, I took a look at the clothes the girl had brought me. They were somewhat simple but would be
warmer for the road ahead.
The room seemed very dated, and the bed was not at all comfortable. I wondered how many had slept here before me and a
shudder ran through my spine. I wondered how many had died or been killed here, too. I tried not to stare too hard at the
suspicious stains on the floor.
I’d have loved a hot bath to help ease my aching muscles, but there was no such thing in a place like this. Instead, I
managed to wash a little using the water in the basin. Even if the water did not stay warm for long, I was grateful to wash the
mud from my hands and legs.
Laying down onto the bed afterwards, I made sure to use the cloak as a blanket. I dared not sleep under the sheets. The
thought alone sent another shudder through my body. I tried desperately to fall asleep, to close my eyes, but sleep refused to
come.
It would not arrive as much as I begged it to.
After a couple of hours, I was awoken to the sound of the door handle being shaken. Loud banging and shouting came from
the hallway. I sat up right, quickly taking a hold of the candlestick next to me. Not a weapon at all but better then nothing.
Perhaps I could use it to burn the intruder. The door caved in, falling to the floor and revealing not just one intruder but three
others. All three were peering at me from the darkness of the hall.
The front Fae was plump and round, as if he ate all the pies in the kitchen and left not a crumb behind. He licked his lips,
looking me up and down. I was prepared for sleep, laying in my undergarments and a camisole. In came the other two, one
stopping to lift the door up from the floor and plonking it back into the doorway. Whatever good it would do now as it was
clearly broken. I could feel my body trembling with fear.
Standing up quickly, I brandished the candle out in front of me as if it was a sword. All three of the intruders bellowed out
deep, taunting laughs.
“I heard once ya taste a lady’s cunt it’s the best ya ever had.”
