Relying on the Dragon

CHAPTER THREE

Kala

    The cell was dark and cold, Kala slowly opened her eyes with a groan only to see darkness. She slowly rolled over on the cold, hard floor, and a flare of pain went through her ribs. She was certain her uncle had broken a rib this time, as she struggled to breath through the pain. Her left eye was throbbing and it felt huge, she could barely open it. She curled up into a ball, trying to gather some warmth into her cold and stiff limbs. Her mind traveled to when her life had turned upside down. 

    When her uncle had taken over two years ago, her life had changed forever. He had arrived with fifty men, announcing the death of the Baron, Baroness and their daughter. Her father’s men knew instantly that her uncle had not realized that Kala had not gone to the High Court with her parents and had stayed behind to look after things. So, she went into hiding among the servants. She left her chambers, her exquisite gowns that spoke of her station, all of her belongings and moved into the servants quarters. To protect her, her father’s men swore loyalty to her uncle, though it was a lie. They were loyal to her alone, and it was the only way they could have kept an eye on her and kept her safe. 

               ****************

Six months ago.

    As time went on, her uncle became very suspicious of her father’s men, and they started disappearing over time. Kala knew that her uncle was having her father’s men killed. Also, her uncle was becoming suspicious of her. While the servants tried very hard to not make it obvious that she was not one of them, they still treated her like their mistress. They took on her work and did it for her, they protected her. Her father’s men also stuck close to her, making sure that she was serving them and not her uncle or his nasty men. When she went to the meadow to get herbs or in the village she was always accompanied. It was hard for her men and servants to treat her lower than the station she had been born into. 

    That fateful day, when her identity had been exposed by a desperate villager; a villager had been caught stealing from the marketplace, due to hunger. She had entered the great hall, when her uncle had announced the man’s punishment: death. The villager had seen her in that moment and called out to her, begging for her mercy and her help.  She had stopped in her track’s stunned, her uncle had looked at her and squinted at her then recognition had hit him. The villager lost his head that day, in her uncle’s rage. Kala had just stood there frozen and in shock, not knowing what to do. Her uncle had then ordered her instant death. Screaming at her, screaming at his men, the world had turned to chaos in that moment. Her father’s last faithful man who had been across the hall had cursed and made a run for her, while she had remained frozen. Two of her uncle’s men had also started running at her. She couldn’t get herself to move, she couldn’t get herself to react, she couldn’t take her eyes off of the headless body. Her father’s man was screaming at her to run, she just couldn’t get herself to obey. He collided with the two men who were also running at her. She watched the battle unfold before her, swords clashing, but it was two against one, and her uncle’s men fought dirty. There was no honor among her uncle’s men. Her rescuer was overtaken in short order, and ran through. One man shoving his sword through his stomach, and twisting to ensure it was a killing blow, the second into his neck. She would never forget his look of shock, as death took him. Tears had started pouring out of her eyes, and that was when they had turned their attention back to her. They started towards her again, and that was when she forced her limbs into action, and she turned and ran back for the kitchen. There was a door to the outside and she just needed to reach it, she knew she could hide in the village.

    “WAIT! STOP!” Her uncle had then called out. Causing everyone to stop, including her and turned their attention on him. “I’ve changed my mind.” Confused, she squinted at him, trying to figure out his game. 

    “You may be of some use to me little mouse.” That was the first time he started using that nickname on her. “You are very sneaky, but no more. You want to be a servant, be a servant, but know this that from this day on, you are dead to the outside world. You are no longer heiress, you have given up that title. You ever make it known to any visitor who you are, I will kill you.” He threatened. She nodded, anything to help her survive. Those had been the first of many conditions to her staying alive. She would do anything, but what he didn’t know was that she would also do anything to escape this new prison, and get her home back. 

                 **********

    “Are you awake, little mouse?” A voice brought her back to the present, out of her memories. There was still no light, so she stayed quiet. She hoped if whoever was outside her cell believed she was still unconscious they would leave. It was not to be, a torch was lit, and she closed her eyes against the sudden light. Squinting in the light, she opened her eyes to see Thomas standing outside.

    “I knew you were awake.” He said, smiling cruelly at her, lust was in his eyes. He unlocked her cell door, and she forced herself up into a sitting position. Her heart started pounding, wondering what he was going to do as he entered the cell. He closed the door behind him, making sure it was unlocked.  “We have visitors, and unfortunately that means we need you upstairs to help look after them.” He was carrying a clean, servant's gown under one arm to replace the one she was wearing, along with a pail of hot water and a cloth draped half in and half out of the water. He approached her, his smile still in place. “We need you cleaned up, and upstairs by evening meal. I brought you a new gown, but first you have to earn it.” He stopped beside her and put the items on the ground, and then started loosening his pants. He licked his lips, his eyes hungry.

    Kala’s eyes got big, realizing his intentions, she scrambled to get away from him. “You are not going to touch me! You can’t!” She protested. The cell was too small though and there was nowhere for her to go. 

    “Haven’t you heard? I can do whatever I want, and you are going to pay for what you did to me.” He chuckled at her, “and I’m going to enjoy every second of it.” It was easy for Thomas to catch her, even with his pants around his ankles. He landed on her roughly, and he tore at her dress leaving it in shreds, as she pushed on him with all her might, kicking and flailing trying to get him off, but she was no match for his size and strength. Forcing his mouth on her, he took her roughly, forcing his tongue inside, at the same time forcing his c**k inside her. She cried out at the intrusion, tears streaming down her face, as he pumped in her hard and fast not caring that he had just robbed her of her maidenhead. Screaming against his mouth, she fought harder to get him out of her, but she was in too much pain from her broken ribs, and the beating she had endured earlier, she was too weak, and it felt like she was fighting a brick wall. Lasting only minutes, it seemed like forever before he pulled out, and he released on the floor. She was grateful for that at least, that there wasn’t a chance of her getting pregnant with an unwanted child. Leaving her in what was left of her dress, he stood and grinned down at her. 

    He pulled his pants up around his waist and tied them up. He wiped his mouth. “I can’t wait to do that again. Until then, get cleaned up and dressed. You’re needed upstairs, hurry up.” He headed to the door, pulling it open he turned back to her. “Until next time, little mouse.” He left, leaving the door open. 

    Pulling her knees up to her chest, Kala cried uncontrollably. So, it had finally come to this, how was she supposed to find a husband now to help her take her home back, when her virginity had been taken from her. She was now ruined. No man was going to want her now. 

    Now, she was expected to go up there, and face their guests, and him knowing what he had done to her. How was she going to face the shame of it all? She eyed the pail of hot water, she crawled to it, stiff, and grabbed the cloth, stripping her tattered dress off, she took the cloth and started scrubbing her skin until it was red. There was no soap, so she prayed the water was enough to get Thomas’ rancid stench off of her skin. She scrubbed her body so hard she was waiting for it to bleed, but it did nothing but turn an angry red. She scrubbed her face, though she was gentle when she reached her swollen eye. She had no mirror, but imagined it was probably very ugly looking. When she was somewhat happy that she couldn’t smell him anymore, though she could still feel him, there was nothing she could do about that. She started to run her fingers through her hair, he had not brought a brush down for her, so she had to do the best she could. Slowly, she got to her feet, and grabbed the clean dress. Unfolding it, she pulled it over her head. Taking a deep breath, she limped to the door, praying that the bleeding Thomas’ forced entry had caused would stop. Swallowing hard, she pushed the urge to cry away. She was determined now, more than ever to escape this horrible place, and find her mother’s people. 

               ************

Drake

    Drake paced the room he had been given, restless and angry. Something wasn’t right, and he couldn’t place it. He had been overwhelmed with pain, and defeat. He didn’t understand where it was coming from. He was standing in a room, why would he be feeling pain? He was a dragon, he didn’t know defeat. Then as quick as it came, it left and was replaced with determination. Where were these emotions coming from? It was distracting him from the matters at hand, he needed to figure out what he was going to tell the usurper, to keep him hanging on, and keeping him and his brother’s in these walls, so that they could find the heiress. 

    It didn’t surprise that the usurper would lie to their face about her being alive. The man was truly stupid. Drake was not surprised that they had been separated and confined to chambers until the evening meal. Drake was actually grateful for it, as it meant that he didn’t have to be around the vile man more than he needed to be. He couldn’t stand humans, but he really couldn’t stand that one! The man made his blood boil, and made him see red. He wanted his blood on his claws and his head mounted in his cave as a trophy for his revenge for Oceana. He growled at the thought of ripping the man’s heart out, how much joy that would bring him and his brethren. 

    There was a knock on his door, bringing him out of his thoughts. He stopped growling, realizing he was still doing it. 

    “Come!” He called, expecting it to be one of his brothers. The door cracked open and a human head popped in. One of the usurpers servants. The woman was pale with fright. 

    “The meal is ready my lord.” She said, and he forced himself to relax, sending out calming energy to her to show her he meant no harm. He saw her visibly relax.

    “Thank you.” He said gently. He may hate humans, but he knew he couldn’t go around scaring the help. Not when he knew they might be his link to finding the heiress. The woman backed up, as he approached to follow her to the great hall. He pulled the door open wide to let himself out. The woman walked quickly, but he kept up easily. 

    “I am looking for someone.” He said, bluntly. They were alone and he didn’t have the patience to hint at why he was there. He needed to know where to start looking for Kala.

    “I know who you are looking for, my lord.” The servant said quietly, which surprised him. 

    “Really? How would that be possible when I haven’t even said who it is I’m looking for?” Drake asked, suspiciously. 

    “Because, the baron has no allies, no one wants to be his ally, and why else would dragons be here? We know the tale of her ladyship being blessed with the protection of your kind. We knew you would come for her. Why else would you be here?” The servant looked at him out of the corner of her eye, her voice was so quiet, he was grateful for his senses being heightened by his dragon side or he may have missed that she was talking to him at all. He stayed quiet, not knowing how to respond to her. He had not been expecting this at all. “You’ll see her ladyship soon enough.” She stopped walking, Drake looked ahead at the staircase that lead down into the great hall. She turned to him, her eyes were hopeful. He stopped, watching her carefully. 

    “We are happy you are here, my lord. All we ask is that you don’t bring attention to her, and get her out of her quickly. We are afraid for her, and we know that she can’t stay strong forever. Her uncle is bound and determined to break her, but we need her to fight, but she can’t do it alone.” The servant said quickly. Before he could respond, she turned and scurried off. 

    Drake stood there, stunned. He knew the servant had risked a lot to reveal what she had. He felt his brothers approaching, and he turned to them. All three were frowning as if they were all in deep thought. 

     He asked, he did not want what they might have to say landing on unwanted ears. 

    This place is strange, the people are strange. Thorne said, he seemed baffled. 

    Yeah, the servants aren’t scared of us at all. Kargeth said. They seem…. He cut off like he couldn’t find the right word to describe how they were being treated.

    Grateful, relieved. Tolan finished for him. Drake nodded. The servant that had just left him, appeared scared, but she was still able to deliver her message without hesitation. 

    I believe they have a lot more to be afraid of us than four dragons. Drake said, relaying the message that he had been given. 

    What can be more frightening than us? Kargeth asked, confused.

    Death, torture, having a loved one disapper, watching your ladyship get beaten and tortured. Take your pick. Thorne answered his younger brother. Drake looked at Thorne, who shrugged. I delved into a few minds, that was what I saw. They started walking to the great hall. 

    Let’s just keep watch. I want us all to spread out, we need information on the usurper, his routines, his men and what their strengths are and weaknesses, any detail you can find out, we also need to know what the servant routines are, especially our heiress, and we need to know what the plans are for her. Drake instructed. I was told we will be seeing her soon enough. His brothers nodded, as the walked down the staircases, entering the great hall proper. 

    Men had started to appear and get seated for the evening meal, servants were already placing dishes on all of the tables. There were two looking over the head table, placing silver platters upon the table with covers. For an acting Baron, these were very lavish dishes. Does he think himself a king? Drake thought to himself. While his men’s food was served on the standard wooden platters, he ate off of silver. Considering there were only three seats set for the head table, Drake wondered where all of the food was going to go, as surely the three of them wouldn’t eat that much food, despite him being a dragon.  

    The usurper looked at them as they approached. The smile given to them was truly fake and forced. Drake nodded to him, out of feigned kindness.

    “Ah, my lords. There is only enough room for one of you at my table, I thought for sure that your men would like to sit among mine?” He addressed Drake, like his brother’s didn’t exist. The table was long and wide, surely enough room for the four of them, but Drake knew this usurper liked the spotlight, and didn’t share it well, so he nodded. This would give his brother’s ample opportunity to get to know their surroundings. 

    “That is fine, my lord.” Drake said, and his brothers dispersed to different tables, fanning out.