Chapter 8

The first light of dawn filtered through the narrow slit of a window high above the Prince's chambers, casting a weak, silvery glow across the stone floor. I had been awake for hours, lying still on the floor, listening to his ragged breathing and the intermittent rustle of guards changing shifts outside our door. It had been three days since Lark's last visit and I knew eventually I would have to swallow my pride and give him another gold bangle.

But I couldn't do that. I had only six left and with the meagre supplies Lark gave us, I would run out of things to give him before the next full moon.

There was nothing else to eat. The last bit of soup, I made sure I had given to the Prince. I ate nothing the night before. I knew that today, I had to find a solution.

The prince was quiet, whether or not he had noticed that the food portions had grown smaller he didn't mention it. He was probably accustomed to the hunger. But I couldn't stand by and watch him go hungry, not when he was starting to get well. I knew I had to venture out to procure more supplies if we were to survive another week.

With great care, I stood up from the floor.

I went to the small storeroom where I slept, wrapping my cloak tightly around me and tucking my braided hair beneath the hood. It would not only cover my face, but my Otsayak mark, which always seemed to repulse people and make them treat me horribly.

In the stillness of the chamber, I checked the pouch at my waist, feeling the reassuring weight of the gold bangles I had taken from l Lady Isabelle's collection. I hoped it would be enough to buy the herbs and food we needed. And some other necessities that we might need.

Moving to the door, I pressed my ear against the wood, listening for the telltale signs of the guards. Their voices were distant, relaxed; it was a small blessing. I had observed their routines closely over the past days. At first it started out as a idle pastime, a way to pass time, but then I realised that if I learnt their movement, I might be able to find a way to leave when no one was watching. I had memorized the moments when their vigilance waned.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door when the voices of the guards were faint, indicating that they had left their posts. I found a hallway at the end of the Prince's chamber, revealing a narrow passageway that led into the depths of the castle. Silently, I slipped into the darkness, the chill of the stone walls seeping through my cloak as I made my way through the labyrinthine corridors.

Minutes felt like hours as I navigated the passages, avoiding the occasional echo of footsteps. At last, I reached a small, unguarded door that opened onto the castle's outer courtyard. The cool morning air hit my face as I stepped outside, the sky above still a soft grey with the approaching nighttime. I pulled my hood lower and hurried towards the market, keeping to the shadows.

The marketplace was clearing little by little. Some people already packing their wares and getting ready to leave. The familiar scent of spices and fresh produce filled the air, mingling with the chatter of late customers. I kept my head down, my steps brisk as I approached a jeweler's stall nestled in a quieter corner of the market.

"Good evening ," I greeted the jeweler, my voice low and steady. He looked up, his eyes narrowing as he took in my cloaked figure.

"Evening," he replied cautiously. "What can I do for you lady?"

I reached into my pouch and pulled out the gold bangle, holding it out for him to see. "I need to sell this. How much will you give me for it?"

The jeweler's eyes widened slightly as he examined the bangle, weighing it in his hand. After a moment, he nodded. "It's a fine piece. I hope it's not stolen?"

He questioned as he glared into my eyes.

I shook my head wearily.

"No. It belonged to my mother."

The jeweler examined the gold bangle again.

"I can give you a bag of coins for it. That's all it will fetch."

I nodded. That was better, better than I had anticipated. That would last us for at least a fortnight. I tried to hide my relief as he handed me the bag. "Thank you."

With the coins safely tucked away, I made my way to the herb shop, a small, dimly lit store at the edge of the market. It was connected to a much larger shop, which looked like a tea shop, but I had no need for tea so I ignored the larger shop and stepped into the small herbs shop.

The scent of dried herbs and flowers filled the air as I stepped inside, the shelves lined with jars and bundles of various plants.

The shopkeeper, a tall man with dark hair and sharp eyes, glanced up from his counter. "What do you need?" he asked, his tone wary.

"I need some herbs for healing," I replied, my voice steady despite the nervous flutter in my chest.

"I do not sell my herbs to just anyone."

He said and I looked up at him. For a second I wondered if my mark was not concealed properly, if he had noticed that I was on Otsayak.

I adjusted my veil and continued.

"My master is ill, and I must bring back what he needs."

The man's eyes narrowed as he looked at me, his gaze lingering on my cloak and the veil that covered my face. "Once again, I don't sell my herbs to outsiders. You don't smell like one of us," he said suspiciously. "Are you from here?"

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to remain calm. "No. I am not. I was brought in as a slave from Braam. I am just a servant, doing my duty," I said quietly. "Please, my master will be angry if I do not bring back the herbs he needs."

Braam was an auspicious far away country that housed a variety of entities. Humans, supernaturals and all kind of creatures that crawled the earth somehow managed to live there in harmony. Braamins were often travellers, but when they did travel, they would be captured and used as slaves. Something about them being exotic and being from a country like that made them interesting enough to the upper echelon class. Owning a Braamin slave was seen as a sign of true luxury.

The man hesitated, his eyes searching my face. "I'll sell you the herbs," he said slowly, "but only if you show me your face. I want to see who I'm dealing with."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. There was no other option; I needed those herbs. Slowly, I reached up and lifted my veil just enough to reveal my amber-colored eyes. The shopkeeper's gaze softened slightly as he looked at me, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Very well," he said, nodding. "I would never forget those eyes." He gathered the herbs I needed and handed them to me in a small cloth bag. "That'll be three coins."

I handed over the coins, my hands trembling slightly as I took the bag. "Thank you," I said softly, lowering my veil once more.

The shopkeeper watched me for a moment before nodding. "Take care, and may your master recover soon."

With the herbs in hand, I hurried out of the shop. I made two more stops, to get more food supplies and soap. Then I headed back towards the castle, my heart pounding in my chest. The streets were beginning to fill with people, and I kept my head down, moving swiftly through the crowd. As I reached the castle gates, I slipped back into the narrow passageway and made my way through the dark corridors once more.

I was lucky that the guards weren't back yet, so I was able to slip back into the chambers unnoticed.

Finally, I reached the Prince's chambers, my heart heavy with relief and exhaustion. I walked into the kitchen and hid all the things I bought. If Lark managed to find out that I had food somehow, he would know.

I pushed the remnant of the bangles and the coins that remained in a secret panel under the stone floor. I was content knowing it was there, where Lark would never find it.

I took off my veil and my cloak.

I would make the Prince some rice and soup. So he could eat. I was lucky enough to find some grains in the market before they closed the shop for the day.

I was about to start on the vegetables when I heard someone call my name.

I rushed to the Prince's room, knowing he rarely called my name.

"Your highness! Are you okay?!"

The Prince lay where I had left him, his breathing shallow and labored. I knelt beside him. I placed a hand on his forehead, he seemed to be running a slight temperature.

"Where did you go?"

He asked as his eyes travelled up to mine.

"Just to get some supplies."

"I thought you... I thought you left me."

"I heard when you opened the door. And I didn't hear it open back again. I thought you had found a way to leave for good."

"That you had found a way out. Out of this wretched place."

I shook my head.

"No. I went to get you food and medicine."

Prince Rowan looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"You were outside?"

He asked and I nodded.

"Yes. I was."

"If you were outside. I don't understand, why didn't you leave? Why did you come back to me?"

And then it dawned on me. He thought I was running away. He expected me to run away. It was what any normal sane person would do. If Lady Isabelle was in my place, if she had found the way out, she would have run away too.

I could have ran away.

But all the time I was outside, the thought didn't cross my mind once.

All I thought about was the Prince.

And how to make him feel better.

I turned to him and shook my head.

"I told you before. You are my master and I will serve you.”

"I am not leaving you."