Soon the boiler was empty. The guards left, locking the door behind them. Sated and got a little more freedom, the slaves lay down on the straw and fell asleep. The princess also perched on a hay pile, but the dream did not go. Nearby, buried in her shoulder, quietly snuffled the baby, because of which she had to attack the cocky girl.

Ilma understood that someday this red-haired girl would take revenge on her, and this could happen very soon. She also understood that Milard would take her away from here for his comfort, and then many captives would be forced to submit to the "chieftain." There was only one way out - to remove her from the barrack. But how to do that?

- Uri, - flashed through the girl's head, - Hope is not enough, but still worth trying.

The princess quietly rose from her seat and walked to the door of the shed. Looking through the gap, she saw the peacefully sleeping guard. Not far from the corral, the senior guard sat on a rough shop and repaired his clothes.

Ilma whistled softly. Uri turned around. He slowly set aside the unfinished jacket and carefully, so as not to wake the guard at the door, approached the gap. Putting a finger to his lips, he pointed to the side. The girl nodded and went to the place indicated.

“Speak only quietly,” Uri said.

- I wanted ..., - Ilma suddenly fell silent.

“This is what,” the security guard almost moved his lips silently, “Tomorrow morning I will take you for a couple of hours to me.” Then let's talk. And now go to sleep.

Without waiting for an answer, he slowly stepped aside and stopped, thinking about something. The princess carefully watched the soldier, not departing from the gap. It suddenly became clear to her that this big guy is not as bad as it seems. The girl smiled discreetly and returned to her seat.

The neighbor, her eyes ajar, muttered something and lay back on her friend's shoulder. Ilma suddenly felt very tired. Her eyes themselves began to stick together, and the girl fell into oblivion.

***

The faint rays of the sun, sneaking through the cracks of the barn, timidly glided over the faces of the sleeping slaves, as if afraid to wake them before the appointed time. The door creaked softly. Walking carefully on the dirt floor, Uri easily found Ilma and touched her shoulder. The girl did not sleep, and therefore was not scared.

“Let's go,” the guard whispered, “Only quietly.”

Trying not to rattle the chains, the princess rose to her feet and already wanted to follow the guard, but he cautiously raised her hand and stopped. The slave woman did the same, keenly peering into the darkness of the dwelling.

“Come,” said Uri, almost soundlessly.

They got out, and the man threw his woolen cloak over Ilma’s shoulders. It was still early, and the yard was empty. Through the morning haze she was able to better view the castle wall. It was made of large rough hewn stones dirty gray. In those places where the sunlight did not reach, the wall was thickly covered with mold, which emitted a sickening smell. It was dark in the windows, apparently, and they were still sleeping in the house.

Suddenly, the window on the second floor burst open with a noise, and a body fell out of it, which with a dull thud splashed into a flowerbed with drooping flowers. Ilma, wide-eyed, almost cried out. Before her lay a naked, still very young girl. Her thin arms were tied behind her back by thick wire that slammed into her skin. The head thrown back was devoid of hair, and the face was severely disfigured: the lips and nose were cut off and gaping with blood stains, the teeth were knocked out or pulled out. Horror froze in his big eyes. The warped little body also suffered. Both nipples were absent, and blood was flowing oozing from small, not yet formed breasts.

- Quickly we leave! - strained the guard, - Now the servants will run.

Grabbing the stunned slave by the hand, he pulled her into a small hut, hidden in thick willow thickets.Uri quickly unlocked the door and pushed the princess into the dark room that had not yet come to life.

“Sit here quietly,” he ordered, removing his cloak from the girl, “I will be back soon.”

The huge figure of the guard disappeared behind the door, and Ilma soon heard his thunderous voice. Uri quickly gave orders to his subordinates, who immediately ran around the yard, creating an unimaginable noise. Suddenly everything was quiet.

“Glory to the Gods,” said the senior guard, taking a deep breath, entering the hut, “The owner has not yet left.” Have a little time.

- Who's that girl? - Ilma asked timidly.

“Who cares,” Uri replied sadly, waving his hand, “One thing is clear - she is happier than you.” I was tormented.

He sat down on a rough bed made of a battered veil and leaned back against the wall. The princess sat on a small low stool and looked at the landlord with interest. Now this huge man with a big saggy belly for some reason did not seem so scary to her. The girl even felt safe next to him.

“Do not be afraid of me, slave,” Uri said in confirmation of her thoughts, “I will not touch you.” You want, sit down next.

The slave gently sat on a straw-filled mattress. The guard pulled from the drawer of the canteen a loaf of gray bread and a piece of cheese and handed it to his guest. After some thought, he pulled out a large stein and poured some wine from the jug into it.

Having waited for Ilma to eat, he looked sullenly at her and forcedly squeezed out:

- What did you want? Speak

“There in the hut,” the girl began uncertainly, “There is one red-headed slave.”

- Well? - interrupted her Uri.

- As soon as we were driven into this barn, she immediately began to command. Having chosen the weakest and helpless girl, she demanded that she ...

- I gave her my portion, - continued Uri, - Familiar picture. And you stood up for her and now you fear that this girl will take revenge.

“I’m not afraid for myself,” answered Ilma proudly, “I’m worried about that baby.”

“I see,” the guard drank his wine straight from the jug, “Today I will send this“ Redhead ”to the barracks to fieldworkers with her singers. Farther?

“That's all, sir,” the girl bowed her head submissively.

“Only one condition,” Uri straightened up. I will know everything myself.

“I had no other way,” the slave replied through tears.

“But the princess should not cry,” the guard suddenly said tenderly, wiping the tears of the girl with his huge, rough palm.

“I will not,” said Ilma with a sob.

“Now listen to me, girl,” becoming serious, Uri laid a hand on the guest’s shoulder, “I know what happens among the slaves.” And you will tell me everything that you see and hear in Milard's house.

- Yes, sir, - the slave nodded her head, - Why?

“You'll find out later,” the guard smiled wryly, “Did he see you himself, then?”

“I don’t think,” Ilma shook her head, “When his bandits broke into our palace, I managed to slip through a secret passage.” And then I, as a simple city woman, was captured by his soldiers.

“Does any of the slaves know who you are?”

“Everyone knows,” the girl shrugged her shoulders in bewilderment.

- The devil! - cursed Uri, - We'll have to drive the whole party to the fields. Spoke - you end! And me too.

- And that baby? - scared the princess.

“Okay, I’ll think of something,” Uri promised, “Come on, we have to go.”

Ilma, reluctantly, rose from the couch. Still, it was more pleasant to sit here than in a smelly hut. But nothing can be done. Such is the fate of the slave.

- Wait a minute! - the guard took her hand, - Sorry.

He suddenly abruptly hit the girl in the corner of his lips. Slave quietly screamed more from surprise than from pain. Smiling, Uri, wetting a finger in the blood that had come out, held it on the cheek a couple of times, leaving a trail of blood. The guard also left the same mark on his chest, in addition squeezing it so that a small bruise remained.

The senior guard kept his word. That same morning, the red "ataman" together with her companions was sent to the plantations.

- Too obstinate and little attractive ... Read more →