Elara stood by the window, watching the people hurry, grabbing their things and preparing for the night ahead. Her fingers drummed lightly against the sill, and she turned when the door opened behind her.
The head maid entered, bowing deeply. "You summoned me, Lady Elara?"
Elara stepped away from the window. "Yes. I want the girl—the slave, Adina. Assign her to the outer fields tomorrow."
The head maid blinked, hesitant and worried. "The outer fields, my lady? That's the largest quadrant. And the most exposed."
"I'm aware," Elara said flatly.
Matilda hesitated, her eyes flicking to the floor. "My lady, the first storm of the season begins tomorrow. Heavy rains are expected. Perhaps it would be wiser to—"
"You're not paid to think," Elara cut in sharply. "You're paid to carry out orders."
Matilda swallowed hard. "Forgive me for saying, My lady, but the king has begun to lose faith in me. He is looking to replace me if I make another mistake. Can you plea—"
She was cut off by Elara, who hissed loudly, stepping much closer to the woman. Elara was a tall, slender yet extremely confident woman. She was the general of the kingdom. Everyone would tremble at her feet.
Matilda froze, her heart pounding hard as Elara gripped her chin, forcing her to look up. "I brought you here, Matilda. I can't take you out easily. Thorne firing you will be the least of your worries if you don't do as I've ordered."
Matilda trembled internally, almost wetting herself. "Understood, my lady."
Elara hummed, turning her back on her. "I don't know what the hell is going on, but I'm not going to take chances. Not after what happened." She scoffed, remembering the scene. Thorne carried a slave in his arms? A slave? The only person he's carried into his arms and looked worried for was Roseanne.
Why would he ever…
The door creaked open, and Jocelyn stepped in, a sharp smile on her face.
"Elara, won't you come welcome your favorite aunty back?" Jocelyn said, her tone saccharine as she stepped into the room. Her eyes lingered on Matilda before curving into a sharp smile.
"That will be all, Matilda," Elara dismissed Matilda before turning to the great aunt. "Oh, aunty, I didn't realize you'd returned. How was your journey?" She asked, walking over to the woman.
"Welcome back, Lady Jocelyn," Matilda bowed before stepping out.
Jocelyn chuckled, patting Elara's back. "Oh, my dear Elara. Just how long are you going to carry this kingdom on your back while Thorne refuses to see what's right in front of him?"
Elara smiled thinly. "Don't worry, Aunt. Thorne will come around. Eventually."
"You're too good for this kingdom, Elara. Too good."
—————
As the thunder rumbled in the cloud, the slaves were scattered through the castle, lighting lanterns and pulling down storm shutters. The storm would break by nightfall, any fool could feel it in the wind.
Adina clutched the basket to her chest, shoulders hunched. The fields were quieter than usual; most of the workers had already been pulled in or reassigned for the coming storm. But not her.
The head maid had reassigned her from the farm to the mines instead. There was more work to do there, and she wasn't even allowed to leave, not until she'd done half of it.
Now the tall grass whipped violently against her skirts. She tried to work faster, bending and snipping despite her aching fingers. There were still red marks from the last farm work she had done. Her skin stung as the first drops of rain fell.
"Faster!" the slave master barked from where he stood. "You're not done!"
Adina's hands trembled as she went faster, digging with her bare hands. She couldn't afford to be caught in the rain.
She barely made it a minute before the thunder hit and the rain started. In seconds, the ground became wet and slimy. Around her, the few remaining slaves dropped their tools and ran. No one looked back. No one waited.
"Wait!" Adina called out, stumbling forward. "Wait, I—!"
Her foot caught on a twisted root, and she fell hard. She shrieked as the pain shot up her leg. She tried to stand but hissed painfully. Something was wrong. Her ankle throbbed, already swelling.
She looked around only to realize even the slave master was gone. The fields were now completely empty. Everyone had run for protection against the storm they'd been waiting for.
The rain became heavier by the minute. Adina managed to crawl, soaked to the bone and trembling. She dragged herself through the grass. At the forest's edge, she spotted the remnants of an old supply shed. Half-collapsed, leaning into the trees.
It would have to do.
She pulled herself inside. The roof was mostly gone, but the walls blocked some of the wind.
She curled into a corner, cradling her injured leg.
Adina froze when she heard it. A loud piercing howl. Any wolf that was under this storm was certainly bad news. A rogue maybe? Or even worse, a rebel.
Her breath hitched as the wolf growled. Her skin prickled, and every instinct in her screamed run, but her body wouldn't obey.
Another growl, it was closer now.
Something large moved just outside the shed. She squeezed her eyes closed tight, praying to the goddess.
For a second, she heard nothing and slowly opened her eyes. Her body went rigid just as lightning struck again, and she saw it even clearer. A large black wolf stood outside, eyes glowing gold, stuck on her. It was larger than any wolf she'd seen.
A scream came up her throat but never made it out. Her voice died in her chest as the beast stepped closer. Rain fell over its massive body, soaking its midnight-black fur.
Adina whimpered, trying to push herself deeper into the corner of the shed. Her injured ankle burned, but she didn't care. She would have crawled into the earth itself if she could have.
"Please don't kill me."
The wolf stepped in slow and deliberate. It had to duck to fit inside. The walls creaked as it moved, the scent of wet fur and raw power filling the space.
But it didn't lunge.
It didn't growl.
It simply stood there, watching her.
"Please, please, please don't kill me," Adina begged.
Then, to her disbelief, it lay down, as if to tell her he wouldn't hurt her.
Adina's eyes widened. She couldn't look away. Why wasn't it attacking?
Why did she feel safe?
"What are you doing?" She muttered to herself. "Why are you outside during a storm?"
The storm grew heavier, the shed shook like it was going to fall apart. No, no, no. If the shed fell, then she was done for.
Suddenly the wolf stood up again, walking towards her slowly.
Adina's heart sank . "No, please don't. S-stay where you are. We can use the shed together…that's what you want, right?" She rushed m, but the wolf didn't stop, not until it got closer to her, then it sat down again, placing its massive body between her and the open space where the rain mostly came from, like a shield.
After some minutes of seeing the wolf wasn't there to attack her, Adina finally relaxed. The heat from the wolf was staggering, rolling toward her in waves. Her body instinctively leaned toward it. She tried to resist, but she was too tired and too cold.
Minutes passed, and tentatively, Adina reached out. Her fingers brushed against wet, coarse fur. The wolf tensed, muscles rippling under her touch, but didn't recoil.
And just like that, her body gave in.
She curled slightly, her head resting inches from its shoulder. Her hand still touching its fur and slept off.
The next morning…
The storm had passed.
Adina stirred, groggy and sore. Her leg ached, but she wasn't cold anymore. She blinked, eyes adjusting to the light.
The wolf was gone.
She sighed, wishing she'd been able to thank it for its company. She moved to stand only to flinch from the pain that shot up her leg. She looked at her ankle only to see it wrapped in a black handkerchief with a V inscription at the edge.
She blinked, startled. How did that get there? Whose was it?