The falcon's daughters

Chapter 22

The pain cut through Kit's body as the guards threw her into the cell. Lesia hurried forward and fell to her knees at her side. She laid her on her back and gently stroked a hand over her forehead.

- Oh dear child.

She blinked a few times when she  opened her eyes and looked at Lesia through the dim light. Her throat was dry and her voice cracked as she spoke.

- Help me up.

Lesia pulled Kit's arm over her shoulders and supported her with one arm behind her back. When she got her to her feet, she led her to the bed where she collapsed. She turned to her back and reached out for Lesia’s hand. She grabbed it and held it tenderly.

- Don't worry, child. I'm right here.

- We have to get out of here.

She blinked a few times at her words and thought that Crayden had finally broken the girl. No one could escape from this hell. She didn't let her thoughts come through her voice tho as she soothed the girl to rest.

- Sch. Rest now. We can talk later. Now you have to get your strenght back.

Kit closed her eyes and soon slipped into a painless dark. Lesia fetched water and the remains of Kit's old shirt. Carefully she began to wash away the blood and dirt from her face. She put her hand next to Kit's leg as she turned to rinse out of the cloth. When her hand hit the moisture on the blanket, she looked down and saw the blood spreading over the worn brown blanket. She choked out a gasp and gently twisted Kit's body to the side. On the back of her thigh she could see the deep wound that was bleeding profusely. She picked up the broken shirt and ripped strips of the fabric. She folded a piece neatly and pressed it against the wound while she wrapped the other strips around her leg and tied it hard. A red spot quickly began to appear on the white cloth before it slowly stopped growing.

- I hope this is enough.

The hours crept forward in the small cell and Lesia remained silent at Kit's side while the girl was asleep. Now and then she put a hand on her forehead and stroked back the black hair from her eyes. She took the cloth and soaked it to put it on her forehead, which began to get alarmingly hot. The cold cloth against the skin woke Kit.

- Lesia.

Her voice was only a cracked whisper and she tried to sit up only to gently get pushed down against the bed.

- Lie down. You have a fever and you've lost a lot of blood. You need to rest.

- I have to find Lace. We need to get out of here.

- Right now you can’t even stand up. If you get up, your leg may start bleeding again.

In the glossy green eyes, a glimmer of hope lit up and she saw pleadingly at Lesia.

- Will you do something for me?

Lesia leaned down to hear the weak whispers. The heat that radiated more intensely from Kit's body worried her and when the girl fell asleep she got up and walked to the cell door and gave it a few hard bangs.

- Guard!

- What is it?

- It's the girl. She has a high fever and she’s lost a lot of blood. I need things to take care of her unless your Lord wants to lose her. But I'm afraid she won't survive the week. She has asked to meet her father.

The guards' voices softened. He had seen the shape of which the lords cruelest guards had left the girl in.

- I'll see what I can do.

- My lord.

Crayden looked up at the guard that kneeled in front of him. It was one of the prison guards.

- I hope there is no problem with the prisoners.

- No, my lord. But the girl wants to meet her father.

- And why would I allow it?

- The woman said she has lost a lot of blood and has a fever. She has asked for things to treat the girl but she is afraid she won't survive the week.

- I understand.

Crayden thoughtfully pulled his fingers over his chin and nodded slowly. The girl had proven to be a challenge and he wasn't done with having his fun with her.

- Well I'm not done with the girl yet. Give the woman what she needs and let the father stay with the girl for the moment. That should give her some hope. Hope that I will happily use to crush her will.

- Yes my Lord.

In a damp cold cell, Lace sat and stared at the sky that was visible through the small window in one of the upper parts of the walls. He no longer had any idea of what day it was. Only if it was night or day. From time to time, a guard would bring him food and fresh water. A rat rushed across the floor and disappeared into a c***k between two stones in the wall. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed deeply before continuing to stare up at the twinkling stars. He didn't care for the weak rattle outside the door. It was probably just the guards playing some dice to get the night going faster. When the creaking door opened, he looked away from the sky. A guard stood in the doorway with a bundle in his hand.

- Come on. It's time to go.

- Where am I going?

He got up and walked to the guard who handed him the bundle.

- You'll know soon enough. Take this. It will be needed.

They wandered through the dark corridors that were only lit by a few torches. Outside another cell, they stopped and the guard opened the door. He pushed him through the doorway.

- He was allowed to come.

The door closed behind him again and Lace took a look around, confused in the dark. A woman rose from a bed by the wall.

- Are you Lace?

- Yes, who are you?

- Lesia. I'm a friend of your daughter.

He sighed relieved and smiled at the unknown woman.

- Finally. I have been trying to find out how she is for weeks now. Do you know where she is?

- Here.

She motioned to the bed beside her and Lace could faintly discern the body that lay on the bed and rushed forward. He sat down on the edge and as his eyes adjusted to the dim light he saw the discolored face of the girl he raised. He softly stroked her cheek and tears ran down his face.

- What happened to her?

- I don't know. When the guards came back with her after her latest meeting with Crayden…

- Her latest meeting? She met him?

- Three times. He wants her to give him a child. She has refused and Crayden is a cruel man.

- So he's the one who's done this to her.

- If he hasn't done it himself, he's ordered it. What is that? 

Lace looked at the bundle that he placed on the ground.

- I don't know. The guard gave it to me.

- Do you mind if I open it? It might be the things I asked for to treat her wounds.

He nodded and Lesia began to examine the contents of the bundle. She picked up bandages and various ointments and powders. A package of narrow, sharp needles and thin thread were also there. She smiled and couldn't contain a joyous laugh.

- I can't believe it. Here is everything I need to take care of the wounds and bring down the fever.

Lace moved so Lesia could access the wounds. He stood at the bottom of the bed and a thought hit him. He leaned forward and pulled a finger along the inside of Kit's boots. A low laugh filled the cell as he pulled out three knives from her left boot.

- What is so funny?

Lesia turned to look at him and gasped as she saw the knives in his hand. 

- Where did you get those?

He smiled as he thought about how skillful his adoptive daughter was with the tiny blades.

- If Crayden did this to her, he probably has a lot of wounds himself. Or he has some guards taking care of theirs right now. I gave these knives to Kit the day she turned fifteen. She’s got six of them. I guess the three that’s missing she used to defend herself and the guards never checked to see if she had more.

- I thought I heard your voice Lace.

Her voice was just an echo of the girl that he left the islands with and he took her hand and patted it gently.

- I'm here my girl.

- Good. I was afraid that ...

Her voice broke when she thought about what Crayden could have done to her father.

- We must escape.

- That we shall. But you need to rest and get some strength back first. We won't get far in your condition.