Thoughts In Her Room

Lingering for several moments on the small window which was raised practically to the ceiling and her mind tried to calculate whether or not escaping from that window was worth it or even feasible. It was very much out of reach, and possibly even too small for the petite body to fit through still the temptation was there. It was always there when Islana spent any amount of time in her room.

Not just was the task not at all accomplishable but then the actual escape would be very difficult. The guards and dogs would hunt down in an instant.

The room itself offered very little in way of help, just a small cot-like bed, that could barely be called such. A chair and a rack to hang her clothes. Her clothes were all designated by Vasant. The only thing that Islana had that was truly her own was her bird pendant and her memories.

Sitting on the bed, her mind wandered back to home, the woods, and her siblings.

”Father is not going to like you asking.” Cathal explained to his youngest sister.

Her brother was right, of course, but Islana was tired of always being left behind. “Why does everyone get to go but me?”

‘You know why.” Cathal thought for a moment. “If you don’t bother father with this, I’ll take you fishing with me tomorrow.”

“Fine. It’s unfair though. You and Aine are both going with Father but I have to stay here.” Eight-year-old Islana crossed her arms in front of her and kicked a small rock as if it was the source of her problems. “I wish I didn’t have this stupid ability, it ruins everything.”

“Islana, how many times have you been told to not speak of that outside the house.” Her father’s reprimand came before Islana even noticed the man standing there.

“No one is here. No one is ever here.” Islana was in a mood and clearly upset but perhaps pushing her father wasn’t the best thing. “And that thing does ruin everything. I can’t even go with you to the festival. Am I ever going to be able to leave these woods?”

Her father looked irritated at first but then seemed more sympathetic. “Maybe, in the future but not right now. It’s too dangerous and you know the festival brings all kinds of people to it.”

The one-day Islana kind of wished the man was drunk because then maybe he would let her finally go to one of the festivals, and of course, he would be sober. She was so tired of never being able to leave the woods.

If there were a few things Salos was known for it was the landscape filled with dense thick wooded areas and rolling plains of fertile land, the slave industry which thrived under the current ruling class, and the festivals.

There were three festivals a year, marking the beginning of spring, summer, and fall because the current King enjoyed the festivals. They were huge parties that brought people from all over Tojas and the occasional outsider. Her brother and sister went to try to peddle some skins, jerky and dried flowers and things that they had procured over the year. Her father drove them and usually ended up finding people to buy him far too much to drink, which put her brother in charge of driving them back. If they were really lucky then by the end of the day they would have enough to pay their taxes and a little extra left over. Just enough to pay the taxes was a decent day.

Islana had heard all about these festivals but had never experienced any of them. She truly wanted to go, just once. She was willing to work. Didn’t care that they had to live out of the cart. Would take care of the borrowed horses. The redhead just wanted desperately to not feel left behind so often.

“In the future.” The girl huffed. “Everything is always “‘in the future” or ‘“when you grow up”. I’m really tired of waiting.”

Shaking his head, Angus Annora, said. “So much like your mother.”

“What does that mean?” The redhead asked.

“Nevermind, we need to get going.” Angus seemed to ignore the question.

“Fine,” Islana knew to drop the topic and stormed off towards the house.

If she had only known what she knew now, there would be no wishing to leave those woods.

A knock on the door brought the young woman back to the present. A confirmation of it being one of the servants who tended to the lady of the house before Islana opened the door.

“Lady Vasant has requested your presence and Lord Vasant said you were to go to her.” The servant said.

“Thank you,” Islana was surprised. She knew Lady Vasant had been getting worse but the Lord had been keeping Islana away from her, things must be worse if he agreed to this. “I’ll be right there.”

True to her word the slave made her way to the Lady’s room.