The Final Straw

It was one of those days that hinted at an early spring, the cold of winter giving way to a time of unseasonable warmth. The light lasted longer now but spring had at least another month before it would officially arrive. It was one of those days when being outside would be preferable to the indoors, when the flowers could get confused by the atmosphere and begin to attempt buds, perhaps a little too early.

This was the day that would change Islana, Lord Vasant, and everyone at the manor. It would be the beginning of the end of the redheaded slave's time there, even if there had no way of predicting the course of events that would occur.

It was late afternoon when the message came to the staff, Lady Vasant had gone to be with Zin. The woman had held on longer than anyone thought possible but in the end, her body had no option but to give up the struggle.

The entire staff was fairly silent the rest of the day, going about what they needed to do but with a prevailing sadness overwhelming the manor. Islana was rather distraught about the Lady’s passing but also knew the pain endured was now over. This wasn’t like the death of her brother, which had been sudden and unexpected. This had been coming for a long time, it was still devastating in its own way. The Lady was too young, too kind, too good to have this happen - but it had.

The next week or so was spent on the funeral, the actual burning of the body was quickly after the death so there weren’t many people there, but the service for the Lady’s memorial was much larger and brought the upper class from all over. Even the King, while he didn’t attend himself, sent a beautiful wooden plaque that read:

In Memorium
Lady Elydis Vasant
Wife and Daughter
May her light shine in Zin's Garden

Then it went on to give the birth and death years. The plaque had carvings of flowers on either side of it and would be placed over her portrait for the time being.

The death of Lady Vasant would inevitably make things worse for the redhead but that hadn’t happened, just yet. Islana went about her routine every day, never knowing when the Lord might lose his temper but her role hadn’t changed. It felt as if she was holding her breath every time he came near her, just waiting for the day that man would tell her it was time.

About three weeks after the funeral, Islana had barely woken up when Lord Vasant came through her door, slamming it behind him. He held a journal. Lady Vasant’s journal. In it was a notation from her doctor. “Read it,” The man ordered.

“I …I …” Islana was clearly terrified and had no idea what Vasant was going on about.

“If you say, you can’t read. I swear I’ll beat you within an inch of your life.” The man seethed through his teeth.

Islana had never said she couldn’t read, Vasant had always just assumed she couldn’t and she hadn’t corrected him. Had he always known she could, did he somehow just find out? None of this made sense.

“It...It says that the Lady Vasant was mumbling something about …me and the committee.” He knew, Islana didn’t know how but he clearly knew.

“You’ve been lying this whole time. You little, no good, ungrateful …” The string of expletives the man used was like a hammer slamming in a nail little by little. “I knew you were lying when I asked you what she had told you that day. I knew it. She told you about the committee, what we’re planning.”

The details of what the staff heard that day would be the talk of the manor for months, yet not one of them tried to stop it, they knew better. By the time Vasant was done, Islana was left a crumbled, broken mess in the corner of her room.

Vasant’s parting shot was the final blow, “No one will believe you. No one. You are never leaving here and you can just stay in this room until I’ve decided to let you out. When I return, I’ll turn you into the breeding whore you were meant to be.”

He slammed the door behind him and she could hear the click of the lock. Locked in, no escape. It seemed that way for a long time, several hours in reality. The house seemed surprisingly quiet and she was in such a state that the girl didn’t even remember why.

Then there was another click on the lock and the door opened slowly. Islana tried to back further into the corner but there wasn’t any place else to go, he was coming for her… he was...

“Islana, Islana, it’s me…it’s Saul.”

Though tear-stained eyes, the girl dared look up. It was Saul. He had crouched down next to her. “Where, how?” She wasn’t even sure what to ask.

“I just started my shift,” The guard explained. “I was told about what happened by one of the few servants that didn’t go to the festival.”

The spring festival, that’s why the house was so quiet. “He’s ….oh, I can’t stay here any longer.”

“I agree.” Saul quietly said. “What do you need?”

“I need an escape. I can get the rest.” Islana responded, drying her eyes with her fingers.