Assa tried squirming away from him, but he laughed and kicked at her. Not too hard. Not enough to cause damage, but enough to let her know he was still in charge.
She stopped squirming and relaxed. He eased back on his boot, just a bit, to let her know he was willing to be a little nicer if she was willing to cooperate.
Assa’s belly smoldered with resentment and anger. If she had the fuel, she could have unleashed a yards-long flame into this area. She could burn them all.
But she had no fuel. Nothing. So she waited.
Presently some heavy footsteps clumped up the stairs that she had been dragged over. The guards all turned to the top of the stairs, waiting. Assa heard a puffing, labored breathing and she knew who was coming. The king. The fat king was about to enter the broken room.
Al
