My arms screamed in protest as they stretched upwards, my legs forced apart, my core muscles a tight band around the General's dagger handle. The terror of his potential cruelty was a grim anchor, keeping the knife lodged within me, my grip a relentless clench. My mind sought refuge in memories of my homeland, a silent exercise as I subtly practiced my kegels, my mother's lullaby a faint echo in my thoughts. My sole purpose was to not let the knife slip. The moments crawled by. Just as my head fell forward in defeat, my grip weakening, he entered the tent. I kept my head down, refusing to look up.
I heard the sound of clothes being shed, followed by the scraping of a stool being placed before me. "Raise your head," he commanded, and I complied, my movements heavy with exhaustion. "You held it in. I'm impressed." I turned my gaze away, refusing to acknowledge his words. I felt him slowly withdraw the dagger handle, and a groan of relief escaped my lips as it finally left me. I watched him as he stared at the soaked handle. "You've completely drenched it," he said, his eyes narrowing at me. "Open your mouth." I met his gaze with a silent refusal, keeping my lips tightly sealed.
He stepped closer, his steely gaze demanding obedience. "I said open," he growled, and I immediately complied. He then thrust the soiled dagger handle into my mouth, roughly working it back and forth. "Clean it." He ignored my choking as he pushed it deeper, though he was careful to keep the blade away. I gagged, desperately trying to suck the fluids from his tainted dagger handle.
"Hmmm, a tempting thought to just leave this lodged in your throat," he mused, his voice low and dangerous. But he thought better of it, setting the dagger back on his wardrobe. "Good news, princess," he said with a menacing smile, "You will be spared the whip, the spectacle, and death... at least for tonight." He then released my feet from the block, unhooked me from the rope, and untied my wrists. I stood there, trembling, the sudden release leaving me vulnerable and acutely aware of my nakedness in his presence.
He settled into a seat, his eyes studying me with an unreadable intensity. His expression gave nothing away. He looked as though words were forming on his lips, yet he remained silent. I started to move away. "Sit," he ordered, and I instinctively moved towards his bed. "Not there," he said. "There," he gestured, pointing to the ground. I sat on the cold floor. "Have you eaten?" he inquired. What was this sudden change? What was he planning? What had happened during his absence? I shook my head. He looked at me, then left, returning quickly with a plate of food and a bowl of wine.
He slid the plate and wine away from himself, leaving them on the ground. "Eat," he instructed. I moved towards the meager offering, instinctively trying to shield my nakedness with my hair and hands as I reached for the bowl. "Stop!" he commanded, and I froze. He moved swiftly to bind my arms behind me. How much longer would I endure this bondage?! "Eat like the animal you are, with only your mouth," he said, his voice laced with disgust. He grasped my long, dark burgundy hair, using it to guide my head as I bent down to consume the food and drink. My hunger and thirst were so intense that I wouldn't have hesitated to drink from the livestock's watering holes and eat from their feeding troughs if that was all that was offered.
Once I had finally finished eating, he untied my arms and tossed a cloak at me. "Put this on. You will stay here, but you will sleep on the ground." He sneered, "Forgive me, I don't have a grand luxurious bed for you to grace with your slumber." Sleep here? I was usually kept in the prisoners' holding tents. Why here? Would I ever escape the General's cruelty? I quickly wrapped the cloak around myself and retreated to a far corner, drawing my knees to my chest, not daring to meet his gaze. For some unsettling reason, his stare remained fixed on me, burning into me.
"This is madness. I am to be joined with a princess from Evermere. Why have the Gods cursed me with such hatred?" he mumbled to himself, but I heard it clearly. What? A union? I am to be his?! No! Never!
--
1 week later.
As the Kingdom of Ravenmarch drew closer, my journey was unlike that of the other slaves. Instead of being pulled along with the masses, I was seated on the General's horse, his presence a constant pressure behind me. For the duration of our travel, I had remained in the General's grim company, making sure never to incite his anger. If he ordered me to eat, I ate in the manner he specified. If he told me to stand, sit, or stay away, I obeyed instantly. He inflicted no more pain, but neither did he offer any trace of warmth or compassion.
The Kingdom of Ravenmarch finally came into view, the townspeople shouting with triumphant glee. King Florian waved, surrounded by his many consorts and queens, their spoils of war – both material and human – trailing behind, with the formidable army marching closely behind. Yet, all I could feel was a crushing sadness for my lost family, my entire lineage extinguished, leaving me as the last remaining heir. My kingdom was small, not as grand as High King Florian's Ravenmarch, but it was still a kingdom with a deep-rooted history of nobility. We had our share of enemies, as all kingdoms do, and my father's early rule had been harsh, but over time he had changed, helping his people and neighboring lands, finding redemption. In the end, it all dissolved into bloodshed.
We stopped before the imposing gates of a vast castle, waiting for the drawbridge to descend. "Ready the feast hall!" the General barked. "We will cleanse ourselves and dine, then prepare for this union with Princess Evermere. The quicker this is over, the sooner I can ready my forces for the next siege!" He urged his horse forward, his grip tightening on my waist as we rode into the castle entrance, a wave of the King's followers close behind. A flurry of activity ensued. Slave masters gathered the slaves for bathing and task assignments. Servants surrounded the King and his company, and stable hands took charge of the weary horses. I was led away to be prepared for my wedding to General Valorik. This needs to happen soon. My resolve was firm. I would find a way to end this.
--
As maidservants led me away for the preparations, it became a lengthy process – a full week of cleansing my body, having royal dresses tailored, and my bedchamber made ready. A doctor also examined me. "Good, she is a virgin," he declared after a thorough inspection. "Though her first intercourse will be quite painful. In my assessment, while her core is quite small, her hips are acceptably wide, a favorable combination for childbirth. To prepare her for the wedding night and potentially aid in hip alignment, I recommend a diet rich in fatty meats and potatoes, coupled with stretching exercises. "Why?" I asked, not entirely naive about what transpired on such nights, my maidservant back in Evermere having shared stories of immense initial pain that lessened over time. "The General is... well-endowed," the doctor explained, "It will be quite painful initially. But fear not, that will pass."
His size was not what truly frightened me; it was his penchant for using punishment as a tool of torment, even though I hadn't experienced any more since that horrific night with his dagger. My greatest fear was that our wedding night would mark a return to some form of abuse that I wouldn't be strong enough to endure.
--
The banquet hall was lavishly decorated to celebrate the Kingdom's recent victory and my impending marriage to Valorik. Amidst the revelry, I saw women and some men weeping for their fallen kin, while others openly lamented the General's upcoming nuptials – who could mourn such a vile man? Most, however, rejoiced in the victory and the union, their expressions ranging from glares to forced congratulations directed at me. I was adorned in exquisite jewels and rich attire, seated on a throne with a mountain of food before me. The event took a lively turn as music filled the hall and people began to dance in joyous abandon.
My gaze swept across the boisterous scene and locked with Valorik's, his stare unwavering. I tried to look away, but an unseen force drew my eyes back to him. His intense gaze left me feeling exposed. I rose and walked out onto the balcony, seeking a moment of fresh air. The brief respite ended as I sensed his approach, his presence unmistakable even without looking.
"Princess," he stated sharply. "General Valorik," I returned, my voice tight. "We are bound by the King's order. This was not my desire; I craved your drawn-out, agonizing end," he said, his gaze piercing. I turned to him, a surge of anger giving me courage. "I never knew you existed! Why this hatred?!" I seethed. "I hate," he breathed, his face close to mine, "the very blood that runs through your veins," he hissed, his jaw clenched. "Shall I spill my own blood to atone for my family's sins?!" "I cannot and will not do this. King's command or not, it is still a choice. The King can always find another," I insisted.
He simply stared, his expression unreadable. "The King says there is no other. I am the only one." I met his gaze for a moment. "My father was a tyrant, a monster, but he found atonement, he redeemed himself," I declared, uncaring of his reaction. A chilling smile stretched his lips, devoid of joy. "Your precious father... he raped my mother, then tortured and murdered her. He tortured and murdered my brother and sister, forced my father to witness it all, then tortured him for five days and five nights until he begged for death, while I was made to watch. And the exquisite detail? His men whipped me and used me for their vile pleasure." He moved directly behind me, his whisper a venomous caress against my ear. "Use that beautiful, adorned head of yours to contemplate what kind of pleasure, my future queen."
He moved away, stalking into the shadows. I collapsed to the floor, disbelief washing over me. No, this couldn't be real... it couldn't be true! My father... he was truly monstrous, even more so than the General!