Chapters 09 -15

 Chapters 9 – 15 are all on this post. You may print and read at your leisure.

New Beginnings

Chapter 9

Farewells

Dor sat on the back of the wagon and watched as the castle and surrounding town slowly shrank in size. He knew every dark corner good for hiding in. He knew every locked door closed to him and every friendly door open to him. He knew who to steal from and who to stay away from. He’d taught himself how his trade and chose not to take everything available. Castle guards suspected him, but were unsure if he was a thief. It was a game to him and not to get caught. The games were becoming more and more meager.

Chapter 15

Abiya’s Freedom

Abiya halted in front of the mirror in the bath chamber and stared in disbelief. Who is that retched creature? She raised her hand to her once beautiful, brown hair, now stringy with grease. Her hand traced the smudges on her face. Both hands passed over her dirty, soft pink dress that hung loosely from her too thin frame. The lace around the neck was torn. There was no lace on her right sleeve.

Chapter 14

New Handmaiden

Abiya woke. She felt chilled from fear. She remembered having a nightmare. Only she couldn’t remember what she’d been dreaming. Where was she? This wasn’t her room. Her four-poster bed was made of bronze. This bed was made of wood. Her canopy and bedding was plum. This was scarlet. How vulgar. Then the truth came flooding back. She’d been given away. That was the nightmare; she’d been given away to a warring prince.

Chapter 13

Priorities

“Where have you been?” Rheaux stood on the porch looking tired and swollen, and ready to pop the baby out at any second.

“Providing for my family,” Dor said, as he pushed past her. He really wasn’t in the mood for her yelling.

“Thieving,” she accused.

Chapter 12

 Yamie

The night after the wedding, Abiya was unusually calm. Yamie hoped Abiya had finally realized her fears were baseless. The king was handsome and polite. He treated servants with respect and the peasants as equals; he was a good man. Abiya had nothing to worry about. But after the wedding night, Abiya had changed. She refused to see the king. She refused to leave her room. She refused all meals not brought to her by her handmaiden Yamie’s hand.

Chapter 11

Mistrust

“NOooooo,” Abiya snarled as if her handmaiden had suggested that she run naked through the courtyard.

“But, my lady, you have not bathed in weeks,” Yamie declared. “Your dress is filthy.”

She thinks to undress me so she can take my clothes and search for Topaz, Abiya thought. “No, I will not let you!”

Chapter 10

New Journey

Witch sisters were like vultures, devouring every bit of magic with no purpose or goal for their powers. For the sake of expediency, she abandoned most of her possessions and only packed three of her most valuable books of spells, two dresses, one red, one green, both so dark they appeared almost black, her deep blue-gray hooded cloak, food and water. Since she did not know where she was going or what kind of herbs would be available, she brought potions and seeds to start her own garden.

Chapter 09

Farewells

Dor sat on the back of the wagon and watched as the castle and surrounding town slowly shrank in size. He knew every dark corner good for hiding in. He knew every locked door closed to him and every friendly door open to him. He knew who to steal from and who to stay away from. He’d taught himself how his trade and chose not to take everything available. Castle guards suspected him, but were unsure if he was a thief. It was a game to him and not to get caught. The games were becoming more and more meager.